Bear School Astartes

Lann led the horse, walking into the rift of the celestial sphere convergence like shattered glass.

Although he had already put a blindfold on the horse, the Chaos Magic Power still made the beast uncomfortable, snorting several times.

There was no choice; Lann had to grab its ear and pull it into the rift of the celestial sphere convergence.

"Get used to it, buddy!"

Without this horse, he would have struggled to carry those ten thousand gold dragons and the dragon's skeleton.

After crossing a few steps through the bewildering passage, Lann, leading his otherworldly spoils, returned to the world filled with Chaos Magic Power.

"Splash—"

Just as his eyes adjusted to the environment, Lann felt the response from the touch of his boots.

The place he emerged from should still be the temple of Da Gun.

The marble surface, slightly sinking into the lake, still had lotus flowers and leaves quietly floating.

The sunlight over Vizima Lake shot through the middle of the marble columns, shimmering and without disturbance on the water.

A moment ago, he was searching for the traces of the passage in the swampy mud scent of Jingze.

The next moment, his nostrils were filled with a fresh and clear lake water fragrance.

Lann knew well that normal lake water would never have such a special fragrance.

So he turned around, releasing the ear of the horse, and gracefully made a bow.

The elaborate and stringent court etiquette was handled expertly by him, full of grace.

"Good day, Lady."

The lake water before him stirred slightly, a graceful green finger entered his view and lifted the young man's chin.

With Lann's head lifted, a tender green, alluringly curved, unclad body floated into view.

"Welcome back, my champion."

Lann blinked, trying to lean his head back a bit.

This time, the lady stood just a 'bit' too close, if he didn't lean back, her considerable 'fore armor' might end up right in his face.

Seeing Lann's obvious retreat, the Lady of the Lake smiled indifferently.

Casually, she drew out the sword she had bestowed upon him from Lann's back.

Like reading a scroll, the lady's fingers brushed over the blade inch by inch.

Then, she became even happier.

"My sword tells me I haven't chosen wrong, Lann."

"Now it seems I can further discuss the upcoming matters with you."

The lady returned Aron Dite to Lann's hands, the Demon Hunter was a bit puzzled at that moment.

"Upcoming matters? Lady, I don't understand."

The whole string of events began when Da Gun invaded this world, then he expelled Da Gun's material entity, and Alia was responsible for switching the connectivity of the celestial sphere convergence rift.

Now that he's back from the otherworld, what could possibly remain?

Facing the Demon Hunter's inquiry, the Lady sat back gently. The lake water embraced her, defying gravity naturally and supporting her body.

"Remember what I said, Lann? This rift originates from the 'tide of Chaos Magic Power'. Even I or Gant Odim can merely exert some influence over it, but not fully control it."

Lann, while calming the horse beside him to behave less timid, furrowed his brow.

"You mean... the rift can't be closed for a while?"

The lady nodded slightly.

"Exactly because it can't be closed, this rift is unsettling many people."

With the word "people", the lady chose to emphasize. She knew Lann, who overheard her conversation with Gant Odim, understood what she meant.

Especially unsettling those maintaining world and nature's operation, the 'world structure'. That is—

Gods or demons.

An uncontrollable rift in the celestial sphere convergence is a high-risk item. Looking at the ordeal faced against Da Gun, you know.

According to the lady, she and her companions had been hunting Da Gun in the world's depths for quite a while before finally pushing to expel the material entity.

And for mortals, it's not good news either.

The humans of this world came from another world, and within just a few hundred years post-landing, they drove the once greatest Elf Race to their current state.

Now unless no race wishes to collectively give up land, it's wiser to avoid introducing external races.

"What can I do?"

Lann did not shy away and asked directly.

He knew it was unlikely he could return home through this rift.

Thus, this world, where he had built many friendships and relationships, became his landing ground.

He wouldn't want something nastier than Da Gun to appear any day.

The lady didn't mince words: "I have been entrusted with the duty to guard the rift, and my duty needs your assistance."

"I can block the gaze of those extraordinary beings connected through the rift from their world. But if the rift is discovered by a native intelligent race and reported to their master, I'm powerless."

"So Lann, I need you to enter the otherworld then to prevent the intelligent beings there from discovering the rift."

Lann pondered for a moment and nodded lightly.

In terms of risk, if the world beyond is akin to Alia's homeland, it would almost count as otherworld travel.

And if the world is more dangerous... Lann has always thought, his current world is already quite perilous.

"Understood, I accept the task."

Lann patted the dragon skeleton and money pouch on the horse next to him, accepting the lady's task.

Indeed, most Demon Hunters frequently take up tasks where they are commissioned to explore certain places or tombs.

The main purpose of the commissioner is actually to have Demon Hunters clean out the Demon Spirits and monsters in the ruins, so they can retrieve certain important items inside.

As for all other things in these destinations, they are assumed to belong to the Demon Hunters.

It's a kind of commission that relies on part-time earnings.

If Lann lists his gains from this trip, many Demon Hunters would likely rush to take the job.

"Looks like we've reached a cooperative agreement, my champion."

Smiling lightly, the lady walked down from the waves' embrace, gracefully approaching Lann.

Just as she smiled like a blooming flower and extended her hand towards Lann, the Demon Hunter turned around and unloaded the dragon's skeleton from the horse's back, placing it perfectly into the lady's open arms.

"...?"

The lady stared blankly at Lann who had a serious expression and blinked.

The Demon Hunter was speaking in a deep voice at this time.

"Lady, the immediate issue... you must send me back to the shore!"

Immediately, the responding lady waved her hand with a light-hearted smile. But Lann felt a slight shiver when observing that smile.

Suddenly, a big wave covered Lann and his pack horse on the previously calm lake surface.

"Wait! Whoa whoa... I didn't mean... this way!"

"Whinny!"

Lann's stomach was filled with several mouthfuls of lake water, but before he could adjust to a swimming posture, he felt the ground beneath him.

The Demon Hunter pulled a small crab out of his hair and looked up.

This was already the small dock of the dark water.

A journey of over forty minutes was crossed in a wave lift and fall.

The pack horse stood up from the lakeside's shallow water, and a pair of exquisite ladies' sandals appeared in front of Lann.

Looking up, there were round toes and plump and fit legs...

"Ha, our 'hero' has returned."

A lukewarm, slightly sarcastic female voice came from above.

It was Margaret.

"Sir, if you had followed the lady just now, you wouldn't have seen this scene!"

The biological intelligence in his mind was chattering away.

Lann held his head and directly muted Mentos.

"Shut your mouth!"