Astartes of the Bear School

Chapter 1970 (1942) - Malenia
In the silent yet reassuring tranquility, the girl's expression softened and became gentle again. The sound of the mortar and pestle became much lighter.

"Marie Mare," the girl said, seemingly in a good mood, and brought up another topic, "He worshipped Malenia, he worshipped Crimson Corruption."

"But is it because he shares the same affliction as Malenia? He suffers from his own family's disease, yet he now believes in the illness that torments Malenia."

"As a believer, or someone who resembles the object of their faith, are all people like him?"

Melina didn't seem to expect a clear answer from Lann.

She was simply expressing her doubts, and what those doubts revealed in her observations of the world.

This perspective made Lan En glance at him slightly.

After all, generally speaking, only outsiders can observe the events and people in a place from an observer's perspective.

Lan En now often takes on the role of both 'outsider' and 'observer'.

But Melina... where did she get this 'observer' perspective?
The flames continued to lick the bottom of the crucible, causing the medicine to boil and churn.

But then, the Witcher removed the cauldron from the flames, his expression unchanged.

Melina was somewhat surprised, not understanding why Lan En had stopped halfway through before even finishing a pot of anesthetic.

After more than a week, although Melina was only helping out in the warehouse, with her efficiency and her not-so-stupid brain, it wasn't difficult for her to understand Lann's process.

Before Melina could even understand what was happening, the warehouse door was suddenly pushed open with a loud bang!

Melina didn't see anyone at first glance.

Then, my gaze shifted downwards, and I saw the velvet ball that had pushed the door open and entered.

The Palico didn't waste any more words.

"Boss, the Holy Tree Legion should have arrived, meow!"

As the velvet ball opened its mouth and beckoned, the Witcher had already walked towards the door.

The light brown-haired girl, who hadn't entered a pure spirit state since arriving in Sunshade City, silently put down her mortar and pestle and vanished in a burst of blue light.

The Witcher walked out of the warehouse, with the plush ball leading the way on all fours.

"This way meow!"

Actually, there was no need for the cat to lead the way. Sunshade City wasn't very big, and Lann had already thoroughly familiarized himself with the terrain and castle structure during this time. It was just that the feline was incredibly diligent and enthusiastic.

They headed north, and since Riyin City was located at the northernmost tip of the Yatan Plateau, further north lay only a vast ocean shrouded in fog.

Along the way, many people Lan En passed through Sunshade City bowed to him and made way for him.

Doctors who heal and save lives are respected everywhere.

Moreover, the current situation is one of the collapse of the Golden Law, and all the perfumers in Sunshade City have rebelled and been found to be corrupt perfumers.

Not to mention, just over a week ago, it was this very Faded One who thwarted Elon Mel's conspiracy, a scheme orchestrated by an inside man, preventing Sunshade City from falling into the hands of such a person.

So, although after that day, for some reason the city lord of the Mare family, while expressing his heartfelt gratitude for the Faded Ones' help, became even more resistant in attitude.

However, the soldiers in Sunshade City, and the victims who came to Sunshade City seeking treatment, all treated Lann with great respect.

We walked all the way to the northernmost part of the city wall of Sunshade.

The weather was lovely today; the golden trees shielded the sun from its brilliance, turning the sky over the Yatan Plateau a bright, golden hue.

However, the sea was gloomy and overcast due to the blockade of the fog-shrouded sea, carrying a fishy smell.

Bald eagles and seagulls were circling overhead, and their numbers seemed to be much greater than usual.

Maré Maré stood in front of a hinged door that looked like it hadn't been used in a long time.

Seeing Lan En approach, he immediately stood in front of the winch that opened the gate, drew the rapier [Ant Sting Rapier] imbued with crimson corrupting power from his waist, and looked at the Witcher with a fierce look.

Clearly, he remained wary of Lan En, who had discovered his secret faith. He simply couldn't understand Lan En's views on faith, especially since he was an 'unbeliever'.

The winch had been started, and the sound of the chains being tightened came from the gate.

Mare Mare was not alone; he was accompanied by seven or eight soldiers from Sunshade City.

However, the soldiers who should have stood with the city lord and the lord in the past did not move even though Marley Marley had already drawn his sword.

They looked around with their heads, which were covered by pot-shaped helmets, turning their heads frequently.

He pursed his lips and gritted his teeth, his grip on the gun barrel or sword hilt shifting between loose and tight, repeating this process many times, yet he still couldn't draw his sword or lay his gun flat.

Lann and the velvet ball stopped in front of Mare Mare.

Without doing anything, the Witcher simply glanced past him at the seven or eight soldiers behind him, and Marley Marley froze.

A long sigh came from beneath the iron mask that resembled his ancestor's face. This sigh seemed to drain Marre Marre's spirit, causing his shoulders to suddenly slump.

"I don't know whether to call you terrifying or to take it for granted?" The Lord of Sunshade City lowered the scarlet ant-sting slender sword in his hand, his tone desolate, with a bitter smile.

"It's only natural that a knight like you, who upholds righteousness, would attract the admiration of the masses and win the hearts of warriors. But in just over a week, they..."

As he spoke, Maré Maré turned to look at the seven or eight soldiers who had come with him to open the door.

The soldiers followed him to open the door, but that was all. They couldn't bring themselves to draw their swords against Lann.

The soldiers lowered their heads in the face of the city lord's gaze, but still showed no intention of raising their weapons.

These were the veteran soldiers who had served here since the founding of Sunshade City by the first head of the Mare family.

The relationship between the Mares and the Mares is not only one of subordination and loyalty; the heads of the Mares have even watched each generation of Mares being born, growing up, and dying.

Their feelings for each other are very deep.

Even so, just over a week after Lann arrived in Sunshade City, even with Marley Marley leading the charge and drawing his sword, they hesitated to draw their weapons against the Witcher.

Marre Marre knew that Lann had done Sunshade a great favor. He had thwarted Elon Mel's and the Fallen Perfumers' inside-outside attack, which was even a matter of saving their lives.

But ultimately, even if it was a life-saving favor, this faded one had only been in Sunshade City for a little over a week. How could he possibly make these veteran soldiers waver and hesitate like this?
There is only one truth... Beneath the iron mask, Marley Marley looked wistfully at the calm Witcher opposite him.

—It's this person's problem!

If it weren't for Lann, Marley Marley felt that even if someone had made the same choice as the Witcher more than a week ago, these veterans wouldn't be standing behind him now, with not a single one drawing their sword.

In just over a week, Lan En managed to combine his prestige, gratitude, and other factors to surpass the authority that the Mare family had inherited for generations.

Maré Maré felt a sense of loss, yet couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.

But Lan En didn't have that many feelings.

“You don’t need to block this way.” Lann simply stood two meters away from Mare Mare, not even intending to approach. He shook his head. “I said: I won’t stop you from opening the port passage to the Holy Tree Legion. Besides…”

Before he could finish speaking, the Witcher had already turned his head, shifting his gaze from the head of the Mare family to the northern city wall of Sunshade City.

"Even if I wanted to stop them, they wouldn't allow it, would they?"

Instantly, everyone's eyes focused on the direction Lan En was looking!

"Meow?!"

The plush ball was very sensitive to movement and sensation. The moment it saw it, its three-colored fur seemed to stand on end! It let out a startled cry.

The warrior's alertness sensed danger, but its fighting spirit made its first reaction to grit its teeth and grip the hilts of the two swords on its back, rather than flee.

On the northern wall of Sunshade City, two tall, thin figures stood.

Under the gloomy sky by the sea today, there is no backlighting from a high vantage point that would make it difficult to see clearly.

One of the two figures was wearing golden armor and appeared to be about the same height as Lann and Elon Mel. However, even with the armor, she was noticeably thinner, making her appear taller and thinner.

He wore elaborately decorated golden armor, a red cloak trailing behind him, and a full-face winged helmet. A rapier hung at his waist, and he held a crescent-shaped war scythe in his hand.

Lan En could easily recognize this well-known equipment standard.

The Knight of Corruption.

The Knights of Marlene, a demigod. They are renowned as 'Invincible'!
Meanwhile, the venerable knight stood behind the other figure, clearly displaying an attitude of superiority and rank.

That figure was even more familiar to Lan En than the Venerable Knight.

After all, he had only seen the equipment specifications of the Dignified Knight in Sir Hundred Wisdom's collection of books.

And this man... he had only recently seen a portrait of Maré Maré on the wall of Maré Maré's private prosthetic workshop.

—【Valkyrie】Marinia!
As the lord of Sunshade City, Mare Mare was completely frozen at this moment!
He turned his head and looked up at the demigod on the city wall behind him in a contorted posture.

He looked at the demigod's long, scarlet hair.

Looking at the delicate, beautiful thin lips and jawline beneath the golden winged helmet that covered the upper half of her face.

Marlenia wore far less armor than the venerable knights beside her.

Aside from her prosthetic limbs, the only armor she wore was her helmet. The rest of her attire consisted of a simple dress covering her body and a red cape.

"Pfft!"

Mare Mare, with his ant-sting rapier, silently knelt heavily on the city wall.

But the next moment, a female voice appeared between him and Lan En.

"A Faded One?" No one knew what had happened; only the long, scarlet hair fluttered in the air. "Why would there be a Faded One in Sunshade City?"

Marlenia's voice was cold, indifferent, and sharp.

Honestly, if she were a little less sharp, Lan En thought she sounded a lot like Melina when she spoke.
(End of this chapter)