Bear School Astartes

”Now protecting convoys, there are far more attacks from the Squirrel Faction than from monsters. People are posting notices to eliminate Squirrel Faction outposts far more often than monster nests.”

After a routine exchange of insults with Lambert, Belengar looked as if nothing had happened and explained Lann’s question seriously.

”You know, typical Demon Hunters often adhere to neutrality. We don’t get involved in national feuds or racial conflicts; we only kill mindless monsters. Because that keeps us free of any entanglements and trouble.”

While speaking, Belengar invited Tuer Butcher to sit down and found stools in the corner for Fergus and Yuna.

”Lambert doesn’t mind killing people; in fact, he even plays around when killing highway robbers. But that’s ultimately passive, coincidental resistance, psychologically different from the current situation with the Squirrel Faction.”

”If he accepts another mission, he’ll be going to kill Elves, Half-Elves, Dwarves...”

When mentioning Dwarves, Belengar glanced apologetically at Master Tuer Butcher, who pursed his lips and shook his head, indicating it was fine not to worry.

”My greetings to you, Duke Lann.”

This Dwarven forging Grandmaster, who had once repaired Lann’s first set of armor, solemnly greeted the young Demon Hunter holding a workshop operation record book.

After receiving his response, he sat down on the chair opposite Belengar.

”No need to be so formal, Master.”

Lann smiled and said while putting back the operation records, all checked and analyzed by Mentos, into the filing cabinet.

Turning around, he smiled at the Dwarf Grandmaster and his two friends.

Standing behind the master, Fergus and Yuna seemed relaxed facing him, especially since they played Gwent before his last departure.

Incidentally, winning a special edition leader card of Veltrest from Fergus.

But it had been a long time since Tuer Butcher had any interaction with Lann.

He only knew this was the owner of a piece of Demon Hunter Armor he once repaired, and the person had made a name and accomplished much in just a few short years.

”A Duke without a fief, not even comparable to a Baron, right?”

Lann joked, but Tuer Butcher just slightly curled his mouth.

Normally, a ’Duke without a fief’ just wouldn’t exist.

Without strength, how could they wear a hat of prestige?

And if it were merely a title or position bestowed by the King to a close minister, it wouldn’t be possible either.

Because those genuinely powerful and influential Dukes would see it as an insult from the King.

But Lann’s situation clearly wasn’t ’ordinary’.

...Which family would have a Duke who rose to position only after crashing an unprecedented grand battle involving over ten thousand people?

If you’re not a Duke, lacking Duke-level strength, what right do you have to get involved in such a grand battle?

Are you even comparable to ordinary Dukes? Can you be discussed together?

Additionally, Tuer Butcher had very little dealings with Lann, couldn’t fully grasp his temperament, so he chose a cautious approach in their interaction.

until Lann strolled behind Belengar’s seat, stood with arms crossed against the wall, displaying a stance of ’let’s talk’.

The bald bearded Dwarf Grandmaster then only refocused on the Old Demon Hunter.

”Ahem.”

With a dense white beard already, Tuer Butcher cleared his throat, speaking seriously.

”I represent the majority of the non-human race blacksmiths in this Valerian Steel Workshop to meet with you, Belengar, Technical Chief.”

Emphasizing positions reflected the formality of this meeting.

Tuer Butcher hoped this was not just a private, casual chat between colleagues.

Then Belengar, who was supporting his elbows on the table holding his brow, lifted his eyes and straightened up to sit properly.

”Alright, a talk... Ah, I’ve spent the past few months all in goddamn talks!”

”Come on, what do you want to say?”

Belengar spread his hands.

”Over the past few months, humans have been telling me non-human races aren’t trustworthy, while non-human races say they don’t feel safe now. I really don’t know how a Demon Hunter like me has become ’one of their own’ on both sides now?”

”We indeed feel the lack of safety, Belengar.”

The Dwarf Grandmaster ran his hand through his great beard.

”But it’s not because of you, it’s due to the overall social atmosphere. Now for some reason...Ah, fine. No need to beat around the bush, it’s because of the Squirrel Faction.”

The Dwarf Grandmaster sighed.

”The Squirrel Faction attacks humans, humans can’t catch them, so they retaliate against non-human races in the cities, and thus the situation escalates.”

”Of course, we’re feeling unsafe. Yesterday after work, a few humans followed me with ill intentions on my way home. I showed off the axe on my belt, and those cowards finally turned and ran away.”

”They kept saying: ’You dwarves will eventually have to spit out the money and jobs you’ve taken from humans.’

The Dwarf Grandmaster sneered and spat disdainfully.

”Pah! I earned my job through hard work, talent, and time-honed skills! It has nothing to do with those human street thugs!”

”But...”

Tuer Butcher was initially dismissive but became serious towards the end.

”But most of us still hope to work here, Belengar.”

The Old Demon Hunter, though impatient, listened carefully and nodded occasionally.

”It’s not because the wages here are particularly generous; we are all skilled craftsmen and most of us have experience running our own shops.”

The dwarf listed their advantages to the Old Demon Hunter, counting on his fingers.

”We were the first craftsmen to begin working with Valyrian Steel, and there’s no one in this world with more experience than us.”

”If we start working elsewhere, those places will likely still approach us after buying Valyrian Steel billets. So we wouldn’t earn any less by any means.”

”But we still feel that we must stay here to work.”

”Why is that?” asked Lann, who stood behind Belengar with his arms crossed. ”Why do you say that?”

”Because we must learn to get along with humans, Duke,” Tuer Butcher said emotionlessly, looking up at the young Demon Hunter.

”We have no choice. I understood this a hundred years ago and left Mahakan to open a shop in the human world.”

”I must let you see with your own eyes that we’re not so different from you. There’s no need to guard against each other like enemies, and certainly no need to kill each other for a peaceful life.”

”I’ve always been committed to this. To achieve this goal, I and others I represent believe we need a platform where races can work together without discrimination.”

”We need this platform to showcase and prove ourselves, just like when I hired a human woman in the shop.”

”Although humans might not have the forging talent that dwarves have, and few women can endure the heat of the forge and molten steel, I still hired her, even if only as an assistant for odd jobs.”

As he spoke, Tuer Butcher gestured towards Fergus and Yuna behind him.

Lann exchanged a brief glance with Fergus and Yuna, and upon hearing the stereotype about human women from the Dwarf Grandmaster, Yuna pouted disapprovingly.

It was clear she held a disdainful attitude towards this stereotype.

However, given the current situation, Master Tuer Butcher’s mindset was already commendably clear and progressive.

He was someone who, from a pragmatic standpoint, sought to promote harmonious coexistence between the races for the future of his people.

”You don’t need to worry about those trivial matters.”

Belengar nodded in agreement after Tuer Butcher finished, indicating he was already aware.

”Just work diligently here, and don’t bother with other issues. You saw it today, out of those three troublemakers, two were humans and one was a dwarf.”

”This place enforces equality, and if anyone wants to cause trouble, they’ll be treated equally regardless.”

At this point, Tuer Butcher’s stance on behalf of most of the non-human blacksmiths in the workshop was clear.

Not much else they could do, so after nodding to Belengar and Lann, the Dwarf Grandmaster left with Fergus and Yuna.

After they left, Lann sat where the Dwarf Master just sat and looked with interest at the troubled-looking Belengar.

”It seems like managing work environment conflicts isn’t supposed to be your job.”

”Indeed,” Belengar sighed wearily and irritably, ”I’m just a technical supervisor, managing technology. This really shouldn’t concern me.”

”But since my skills and strength can keep them in check? The supervisor sent by Airetusa might be competent, but these blacksmiths don’t respect him in their hearts.”

When the Valyrian Steel business first started, Belengar joined as a technical supervisor.

A professional manager appointed by Airetusa conducted specific management of the workshop and production, essentially acting as a COO.

But unexpectedly, under the current circumstances, Belengar, once despised and rejected for being a Demon Hunter — by both humans and non-humans — suddenly found that this identity had become a reason both sides trusted him.

Stance often matters more than capability.

So although Belengar’s management abilities were nowhere near the professional manager sent by Airetusa, both sides saw him as impartial, thus willing to listen to him mediate.

The professional manager now barely dared to show his face.

”I will, in the name of the academy, issue a commission to Lambert, asking him to ensure the security of the roads along the workshop during the shift changes.”

Lann told Belengar.

”No swords, no killing. Use fists, or maybe clubs. He’s also a Demon Hunter, so he shares your stance advantage in this matter.”