Bear School Astartes

The place where the ronin lived didn't surprise Lann.

To put it bluntly, the 'ronin' group itself carried attributes of mercenaries and vagrants.

Originally just a farmer, during the chaos of war, they tasted the sweet fruit of violence and many couldn't let go of their swords. These individuals, with some mental issues and an addiction to exchanging blood for money, were the main body of the 'ronin'.

During wartime, these people would be hired by noble landlords, but no one would truly trust them.

Ancient East Japan castles typically had the lord and warriors living at the center. Then, because of economic concentration, ordinary citizens would gather at the periphery, known as 'Castle Town'.

Arranging ronin here was quite normal.

The thin wooden door was pushed open by the escorting soldier after he issued a report.

Instantly, an unpleasant smell came rushing out.

The smell of sweat mixed with the scent of blood, along with some alcohol stench... Although Lann, who had lived in King's Landing for some time, could tolerate it completely, the psychological discomfort still made him frown.

Walking into the small courtyard before the longhouse, with just a glance, many disheveled men could be seen sitting or lying directly without any discipline, scattered throughout various spots inside the longhouse.

A layer of dark grime from sweat and dust covered most of them; it seemed that a rub of the hand would turn it into mud balls.

Their samurai swords were stuck into their chest or waist, and even though it was autumn, a few insects interested in the smell flew around the swords.

The origin of the bloody odor was there.

Lann's summary of the 'ronin' wasn't wrong. Most of these men were farmers who were making a living through killing, thinking that fighting only required brute force and ruthlessness.

But they had no idea how to maintain their own swords.

Just a bunch of amateurs capable of chopping people.

And among them, in the center of the longhouse hall, a young warrior was sitting kneeling with closed eyes there.

Although he appeared to be in meditation, Lann noticed his clenched jaw and the fist placed heavily on his thigh, making it seem more like a situation where ignorance was bliss.

He wore a blue-and-white swordsman outfit and had a samurai's chonmage hairstyle.

Whether in appearance or bearing, Lann was sure this person was the 'Nojima Iizuka' mentioned by the soldier.

At this moment, this young warrior didn't even open his eyes but impatiently waved his hand.

"Another ronin seeking refuge? Let him go, Lord Nogami Genji instructed to stop accepting ronin today, and I should return to the young lord..."

But before Nojima Iizuka finished speaking, the soldier who led Lann in quickly ran up the steps, took off his shoes, stepped onto the wooden floor, and spoke closely next to the warrior's ear.

"But, Lord Iizuka, this ronin... he's a bit different!"

Though a soldier drawing a salary wasn't meant to be meddling... but Lann's appearance was really quite attractive, wasn't it?

Who would harbor ill-intentions against a good-looking person, regardless of gender?

Moreover, Lann had been not arrogant or vicious along the way, and his polite conversation with a low-ranking soldier was something he had never experienced in his life!

Naturally, there would be some favorable words.

Impatiently, Nojima Iizuka opened his eyes and, immediately, saw the exquisite and luxurious longsword of foreign design in the soldier's arms.

Curious, an unarmed ronin himself?

Driven by such curiosity, having long had enough of ronin, Nojima Iizuka's eyes turned toward the entrance.

"..."

The young warrior's mouth slowly opened, and his eyes blinked.

Tall build, handsome face, silver hair, foreign armor and sword... too many combination elements! He couldn't handle it!

Lann, on the other hand, leaned against the closed wooden door, arms crossed.

Noticing Nojima Iizuka's gaze, he raised a hand in greeting.

"Lann, a Ming Country man, trained among Southern Barbarians, here to seek employment with the Hirate family today."

As soon as he spoke, there was a moment of silence, followed by a buzzing of discussions in the longhouse, like flies.

The self-introduction was only a few words, but just these words pieced together were enough to leave people's heads spinning.

'Southern Barbarians' in ancient East Japan, generally referred to Westerners. As they often landed in southern East Japan by boat, they were thought to be southern barbarians.

On the way, Lann heard from Kotaro that East Japan was in the end of the Warring States era.

The Inner Mansion Army had already subdued the entire kingdom except for Iwami.

Consequently, Lann figured that this 'Inner Mansion' might be an alternate version of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

He intentionally exaggerated his experiences, making it absurdly fantastical. After crossing Eurasia, he supposedly journeyed again.

Since the Inner Mansion Army wanted to plant spies in Iwami Country, it seemed unlikely they would choose such a conspicuous person.

The more noticeable one is, the more they can be trusted.

Like Nojima Iizuka before him, although he was stunned, he never suspected that the man before him was a spy.

What spy doesn't cover up their face this much?

Walking the streets, who wouldn't take another look? How would they conduct their work?

The young warrior's brain was almost overloaded, and he instinctively scratched his neck with his initially placed upright hands.

"Ah... Well, you did arrive today, as a ronin here."

Nojima Iizuka even unconsciously used honorifics.

He stood up, walked down the steps in front of the house.

Lann's previously calm eyes slightly widened, and as the other stood up, Mentos measured the other's height.

170 centimeters.

The warrior's height was even more exaggerated compared to ordinary East Japan of the same period.

There must be something special in this world exerting influence.

Iizuka walked in front of Lann, looking up at the Demon Hunter.

So tall... Is this a Ming Country person? Just like a Samurai General.

Amazed at heart, the young warrior struggled to find suitable words.

Although the Hirate family recruited ronin, it wasn't an indiscriminate acceptance, as that would undoubtedly include spies.

They still conducted basic background investigations.

In this era, people might never travel beyond ten miles, and relationships between them were very easy to check.

But this person saying 'Ming Country' and 'Southern Barbarians'... where to check?

But to say having such formidable combat power and pushing it away in these tense times would certainly be wasteful.

"May I ask... how did you enter Iwami?"

Iizuka thought, even if it can't be checked from afar, there should be traces of how you came here.

But Lann was impervious to the question.

"Upon entering East Japan, I traveled the deep mountains, unfamiliar with the land, wandered aimlessly and happened to wander in just as the Inner Mansion Army stationed outside, unable to leave, hence only seeking refuge with the Hirate family."

Meaning no one knew how you entered Iwami.

But there was nothing wrong with this explanation. For armies, Iwami was steep and hard to penetrate.

Large groups and supplies found it difficult to invade.

However, if one is solitary, skilled, and a bit lucky, one could quite possibly enter thoughtlessly.

The ronin, at this moment, also attracted by the fresh 'elements' emerging from Lann, eagerly laid on the longhouse's floor at the door, watching for more excitement.

Just then, a notification came from the wooden door behind Lann.

"Lord Iizuka, Lord Nogami Genji commands! Lead all the ronin sheltered here to the main house for him to personally inspect."

Nojima Iizuka breathed a sigh of relief.