Bear School Astartes

To the farmer behind the leader, Lann seemed like he was petting a little puppy as he lightly tapped the man's head.

With a "bang," the leader was knocked sideways directly to the ground.

Then, that towering figure, with eyes like a snake, swept over the crowd, and all the courage everyone had extracted from their fervent excitement evaporated like dried water traces.

Thus, the remaining five or six villagers came to an abrupt halt as their originally determined charging feet scraped harshly against the ground.

The fierceness that had momentarily flared up on their faces was more than half gone.

Three or four meters away from Lann, they frenziedly waved sickles, wooden sticks, and various tools.

It didn't look like they were attacking Lann, but rather like they didn't want Lann to come closer.

Lann quietly tilted his head, watching them.

He was sure they really were just farmers.

Is this situation... treating me like the bad guy?

No one shot an arrow anymore because the only bow was carried by the leader lying at his feet.

Probably this guy worried that if he didn't lead, the remaining farmers wouldn't dare to charge, so he had no choice but to carry the bow and rush.

The majority of these people were thin, wearing loose clothes on their upper bodies, and only a loincloth below. Their emaciation made their joints appear particularly large and awkward.

The leader was better off; he wore 'armour' adorned with a few bamboo strips, and the armour extended downwards, forming a hem that covered half of his thighs.

Lann shook his head, ignoring the farmers who were at a loss for what to do and nudged the leader lying on the ground with his toe.

"Hey, wake up, mate."

Lann had a bit of confidence in his control; that tap was at most enough to cause temporary unconsciousness.

Sure enough, after nudging twice, the leader groggily opened his eyes.

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

"I'm truly sorry!"

The leader — Kotaro, was now prostrate on the ground, his forehead pressing against the earth as he shouted apologies. He was a commoner, thus had no surname.

The farmers he brought along were in the same posture, though keeping a slight distance away.

This posture seemed to be a very solemn apology stance here in East Japan.

When Kotaro awoke from his brief unconsciousness, he also shook off the pre-battle thrill.

With a slightly rational examination of Lann, he promptly dropped any hostility and instead displayed an expression of sincere fear and trepidation.

Lann found this scene more troublesome than Kotaro charging at him with a bamboo spear earlier.

He knew that it's unrealistic to emphasize dignity or personality to ancient East Japan soldiers or farmers. But he couldn't stand being treated as a superior person.

He always felt uncomfortable with overly enthusiastic service, even when pulled to eat at a hotpot restaurant before!

It wasn't Kotaro's thoughts; it was Lann feeling uncomfortable himself.

Thus, he sidestepped, avoiding direct confrontation, and crouched beside Kotaro, hugging his knees to minimize the height difference.

"In our negligence, we attacked and disturbed your journey to join the Hirate family; we are deathly guilty and beg your forgiveness!"

"No, it's alright, after all, no one got hurt... except you."

Lann struggled to cope with Kotaro's excessively formal apology while gathering some information.

Joining the Hirate family? There is indeed a conflict happening here... They've developed to recruiting ronin?

"What made you so eager to attack me? It seemed senseless."

Lann asked while Kotaro, lying on the ground, had already respectfully raised his head.

"We sincerely apologize! Previously, because the Inner Mansion forbade us from worshiping Longquan, we began resisting Inner Mansion's rule. Inner Mansion Army is now stationed outside, and this year is the triennial worship of Longquan. You look unfamiliar, and we feared you meant harm to the sacred water shrine, hence the impassioned charge."

The Inner Mansion? When did East Japan have this term? Is there a discrepancy in this other world?

And for the sake of faith... that's not surprising, though.

Lann pursed his lips without saying more.

He himself did not believe in gods; even regarding the Lady of the Lake, it was respect, coupled with gratitude and friendship.

However, the world's reality is: killings because of faith occur daily.

"Sir, looking at your stature, handsome appearance, and silver hair... you surely must be noble, right? Moreover, the style of this precious yet unseen armor obviously isn't from the Inner Mansion."

Kotaro promptly explained his reasons for dropping hostility upon awakening.

Lann glanced at him with slight surprise.

Seeing this unremarkable commoner soldier, yet he has a structured thought process. This would be considered inherently talented in any ancient country, only with his background, further education would be unlikely.

Kotaro remained prostrate, showing respect and eagerness.

"Sir, since you've reached the water shrine, you must be lost, right? Let me, Kotaro, lead you to Hirata Manor! With your valor, you are certainly employable by the Hirate family!"

"Ah Gui, stop hesitating! Go ahead to Hirata Manor and report! This gentleman surely is a mighty warrior!"

Kotaro shouted without turning back to the farmers behind him. A farmer cautiously glanced at Lann, seeing no reaction, then got up and ran frantically.

Lann opened his mouth several times, but no words came out.

"Oh ho, sir, you're being led then."

In his mind, Mentos' voice rose.

Lann, appearing at a pivotal place amidst a tense situation, needed a rationale, didn't he?

Unless Lann were to silence these farmers right now, not even the Yakxi Rune could catch those who jump into rivers and swim downstream.

Would Lann kill these farmers?

Mentos was too aware of that. If Lann were capable of such, he wouldn't be Lann anymore.

Lann mentally suppressed the intelligent being, telling it to shut up.

"So you think I'm being led? Naïve! Just with the stacks of glass bottles containing Magic Potions in my supplies! I couldn't possibly be a traveling merchant?! Once at Hirata Manor, will my mouth just eat dry rice? Just watch me..."

Yet, before Lann could mentally show Mentos his 'well-thought-out plan' smile, Kotaro's next words rendered Lann speechless.

The little soldier's tone carried a hint of relief.

"Sir, it's fortunate we met you. Iwami is a mountain country; if you wander in, you might not come out for ten days or more. When the Inner Mansion attacks, they'll surely sweep and slaughter everywhere, perhaps even bandits won't survive."

Lann's smile froze, silent for a moment before he firmly nodded.

"...Exactly, by having you lead the way, I'm sure to be employed by the Hirate family!"

A deploying army to sweep isn't a scene easily handled by mere hundreds of warriors.

Without backing support, even Lann today wouldn't think he could wrestle with an army.

As for 'traveling merchants', when the fight ensues, bloodthirsty soldiers won't care if you're a merchant or not.

The biological intelligent being became momentarily at a loss for words too.

"Sir..."

"Shut up."

"...Understood."