Bear School Astartes

”I understand.”

After Bilbo stepped forward, Lann sighed and nodded.

It’s only right for the dwarves to reclaim their homeland, and Lann had no reason to stop them. These words were just a reminder to Sorlin for peace of mind.

After nodding, Lann prepared to leave with Rong Buqiu.

But as the little cat lightly jumped from the opposite rooftop to Lann’s side.

”Meow~”

The Elu Cat People stood up, with two white front paws drooping, its furry head hesitantly looked at the two small boats of the dwarves, especially at its friend Bilbo, then back at Lann.

”Um... Boss meow! How about letting me go with them?”

”Hmm?”

Lann looked down curiously at Rong Buqiu, as did Bilbo.

”This time they mostly need to act stealthily and steal a gemstone, right meow?”

Rong Buqiu raised its head and spoke softly.

The plans of Sorlin’s national reclamation mission were something the little cat had roughly heard about.

”Bilbo’s feet have cushions, and so do mine. The dragon isn’t familiar with his scent, and Smaug certainly hasn’t caught mine either meow!”

Rong Buqiu initially seemed uncertain but grew more confident as it spoke.

Finally, it directly puffed out its chest, standing with its paws on its hips.

”Stealing things! I’m quite skilled, meow!”

”As long as we’re not discovered while stealing, the dragon won’t awaken, and everyone will be out of danger, meow! Ultimately, stealing the gemstone is the most crucial part, right meow?”

”I can help, meow!”

The little cat’s declaration caused a small commotion among the dwarves.

The dwarves were also excited by Rong Buqiu.

”Yes!” Gorion scratched his bushy beard and said, ”What’s important is stealing, and if we don’t have to face Smaug, that’s the best!”

”We have Bilbo! He’s a Master of Flying Thieves—everyone knows!” Bombo sat in the boat like a softened lump of meat, ”But wouldn’t it be better to have another little cat Master of Flying Thieves? Double the masters! Double the success rate!”

Even the usually toughest Dwalin of the Lonely Mountain Expedition Team crossed his arms and kept nodding his bald head.

”For homeland, we fear neither death nor confronting the dragon. But if we can safely follow the plan, why not?”

But now, Bilbo, who had bravely spoken up earlier, was waving his hands repeatedly.

”No! Stop!”

He said loudly, wobbling as he stood up from the boat, looking at Rong Buqiu on the shore.

”This is dangerous, Rong Buqiu. I can’t... I can’t let our friendship lead you into this adventure with me. I don’t have that right. It’s a dragon! Stealing from under its nose is my mission.”

”But succeeding in stealing will bring safety to many, meow!”

Rong Buqiu’s furry little face looked seriously at the hobbit.

”I’m not helping just because we’re friends, meow! This is my own decision, meow!”

Finished speaking, the Elu Cat turned and looked up at its boss, eyes big and expectant.

”Is it okay, boss meow?”

Rong Buqiu’s sudden decision made Lann squat down, looking directly into the Elu Cat’s eyes.

The two pairs of cat eyes met in silence, and suddenly, the demon hunter’s eyes showed a smile.

”You’re progressing fast, Rong Buqiu.”

”Meow?”

The surrounding flames still crackled, while Lann stood upright again.

He smiled at the little cat in front of him.

”You’ve gathered information and made your own decision based on it. It’s a brave and persistent decision... Didn’t you say at the start of adventuring with me that your goal was to become a great Hunting Cat?”

”Now, you seem spirited! Your actions towards your goal are solid, completely unlike anything else.”

Outside the wall, the Qilin tilted its head, then its ruby-like eyes narrowed dangerously, bowing its head towards Lann.

It was immediately restrained by the demon hunter, preventing it from coming closer.

”I’m happy for you, Rong Buqiu. Seeing a friend’s progress truly brings a good mood.”

Lann nodded to the little cat looking up at him.

”Once you’ve decided, go for it. Don’t worry, I’ll support you.”

”Thank you, boss meow!”

Rong Buqiu jumped up happily, high-fived Lann in mid-air, and then, adjusting its little cat helmet, skipped onto the dwarves’ boat.

-----------------

For Long Lake Town, the long night had passed.

The previous night was truly too cruel and sudden for the townspeople.

Though Long Lake Town was poor and life was tough, due to the land being impoverished and desolate from Smaug, they lived on rocks in the lake, and while the elves nearby in the forest were difficult to deal with, they were ultimately a kind and orderly race.

Ever since Smaug fell asleep, Long Lake Town has been peaceful for over sixty years.

Gradually, people only knew there was an evil dragon in the Lonely Mountain, but didn’t even know what Smaug looked like.

The evil dragon’s nap alone lasted more than sixty years, but how many sixty years can short-lived humans have?

Most of the elders who had seen it fly out of the Lonely Mountain to plunder and devour were gone.

The vague descriptions left behind turned into stories, which were then twisted into something far from the truth.

Just like in the Magic Middle Ages, where modern warlocks’ understanding of ancient warlocks is distorted.

And now, the residents of Long Lake Town finally understood what true cruelty meant... the massacre brought by battle.

Even a small band of beastmen caused great damage to the town, which had neglected its defenses due to its peace.

In the evening, the ashes blown into the sky by the heat of the flames gradually burned out and floated down.

The gray ashes mixed with the white snowflakes made people feel cold not only in body but also in heart.

The snow suppressed the remaining flames, thankfully preventing the fire from spreading throughout the town. Still, while walking on the wooden boardwalk, one had to occasionally lift their leg to step over the bodies lying dead.

Lann, wearing boots made of gliding lizard skin, stepped onto the boardwalk and gently squatted down to take down a corpse nailed to the wall by the rough knife of a beastman.

This person might have been living an everyday life, discussing the future with family or friends, but now, nothing remains.

Last night, Lann killed all the beastmen he saw and led all the humans he found to the square defense line.

But the beastmen had already prepared dispersed formations for their attack, initiating action from various parts of Long Lake Town, which Lann could not entirely oversee.

The heavy yet slow sound of collisions came from the wooden piles holding the boardwalk above the water.

When Lann looked back, it was the former town mayor’s boat, which had set sail from the mansion during the beastmen invasion.

At that time, the golden sheen of the boat was blinding against the flames.

But now, only half of the boat remains afloat in the waterway, with a few scattered gold coins stuck between the wooden board gaps, while the rest of the treasure has sunk.

And that portly mayor lay backward on this half of the boat, his legs in the water, with only his upper body staying afloat due to friction.

The lace neckerchief around his neck had soaked up the blood flowing from his throat.

The whole person looked pale from blood loss and blue-white from cold.

Even now, his rigid hand still tightly grasped the handle of a gold cup.

”The dragon sickness...”

Lann muttered as the half boat carrying the body drifted along the icy waterway.

The town still had many trails of smoke rising from places that had been on fire.

From the ruins came cries, either suppressed or heart-wrenching.

Lann advanced toward the square, unsurprisingly, the closer to the square, the louder the noise from the crowd.

The square in front of the mayor’s mansion was initially meant for gatherings, and now those frightened from last night remained nervously there, unwilling to leave even as snow fell.

The safety of this place from last night was what mattered most to the townsfolk facing this calamity.

Shield Guards had been replaced to rest within the square, as a group of male townsfolk took up shields, weapons, and armor, tensely standing at last night’s defense position, watching the dark corners and the shattered ruins outside the defense line, wary of the departed beastmen.

And the mayor’s mansion had begun bustling with people, as many female townsfolk carried out large basins of hot water and food.

Bard was busy moving around in the middle of the square.

”Thank goodness! You’re here!”

As soon as Bard saw the tall figure outside the square, he came over, calling out.

”Looks like you did well, Master Bard.”

Amidst the curious and amazed gazes from the townsfolk, Lann was welcomed inside by Bard.

”Don’t say that.” Bard frowned, showing exhaustion, ”Everyone’s terrified from last night, now they insist on staying in the square, but snow is falling now, we can’t live outdoors.”

After saying this, Bard seriously looked at the Demon Hunter.

”Thank you, Lann. We all heard from the townsfolk you brought over yesterday that you saved many people. And your warning to the mayor allowed the guards to wear their shields in time and hold a defensive line later.”

”And my kids... If anything happened to them, I truly wouldn’t know if I’d have the courage to live on.”

Bard sincerely spoke, looking behind him.

Lann turned his head as well, seeing Bard’s three children helping others as much as they could,

”I might not be able to repay your help now, but please believe, our family will always remember this kindness.”

”No need for more words.” Lann waved his hand with a smile, ”Just some food would be nice, I’ve been busy all night and haven’t had a hot meal yet.”

Bard nodded, calling to his youngest daughter.

”Sigrid, bring some food, make sure it’s hot!”

Then turned back to Lann.

”Let’s eat together, talk while we eat. My mind is a mess with problems everywhere needing solutions.”

”But I heard you’re a descendant of the Lord of River Valley City.”

”I am the City Lord’s descendant, but I grew up in Long Lake Town. I can fish and shoot arrows, but have never done these things.”

Bard’s youngest daughter brought over two steaming plates, but before Lann and Bard could sit and eat, there was another commotion on the square’s perimeter.

It was two elves appearing in front of the people.