Bear School Astartes

Just like Nojima Iizuka from daytime, the short ninja even had to insert his blade backwards into the ground to stop himself from being propelled further away.

"Which side's ninja are you?"

Lann stood still, not pursuing. The thumb of his left hand lightly flicked again, and a slight 'click' sound came from inside the arm guard.

After seeing the maneuverability of these two ninjas, he really didn't think he could compare to them in terms of mobility efficiency.

But if they really wanted to run, his ranged attack wouldn't be so easy to dodge either.

"Ninjas should also distinguish between friend and foe, right?"

The metal tube under the arm guard was already aimed at the ninja.

The short one unobtrusively took a few deep breaths, the earlier swing of Lann's sword, like a tennis swing, seemed ineffective but had actually left him a bit breathless.

This foreigner's strength is tremendous!

And it wasn't just brute force that's easy to deal with.

The ninja beside Lord Yuzi—the Wolf, with eyes devoid of ripple, looked at Lann and the purple-clothed ninja behind him, who was now limping but unable to run.

"Did you betray us, Lann?"

His voice was low and hoarse, speaking very briefly, with awkward pauses, as if not having spoken for a long time, leading to a decline in his language ability.

The Demon Hunter raised an eyebrow, slowly loosening his sword stance.

Reaching back, the second [Alder's Rune] erupted!

With a soft 'bang', the purple-clothed ninja on the other side had his intact leg cut open this time, and he lay prostrate on the ground.

He was an outsider newly arrived from another world, able to accurately call out my name. Unless the Hirate family has already become a sieve on the intelligence level, it's truly unlikely for the Inner Mansion to know.

Lann observed that most people in Iwami Country still seem to have a spirit of resistance, surely they wouldn't falter at higher levels?

Wolf realized there was some misunderstanding between them and slowly released his East Japan swordsmanship stance, frowning.

But he still maintained a safe distance from Lann, walking cautiously towards his prey.

Lann had no intention of stopping him, just maintaining basic vigilance against the ninja.

"Since you know me, why let the other side speak to me first? And after I attacked him, why fight me?"

Lann followed the Wolf beyond a safe distance, arriving at the fallen position of the purple-clothed ninja.

As expected, this guy had already committed suicide by poison. Every ninja is a death warrior; suicide when escape becomes impossible is very common.

Wolf professionally inspected the body from left to right, then slashed down to take the head cleanly with a single stroke.

"You were just here, killed the person who was patrolling with you. And then encountered the enemy."

"And for a ninja, risking their lives just to earn the trust of lurking fellow comrades is all within reason."

The qualities of a ninja allowed him to immediately see what happened in this area.

His tone was still halting, but at least it was longer than before.

"This, such a coincidence. No, normal."

Lann shrugged indifferently, "If you're willing to listen to an explanation, I actually think I have a pretty reasonable one."

"No need to tell me, we'll go back together and let Lord Yuzi decide."

As he said this, the ninja's cold, inorganic eyes fixed back on Lann. The Samurai Sword in his hand also slightly raised.

"If you refuse, I'll kill you here."

"Oh?" Lann showed a curious expression on his face. "Can you really kill me?"

"I die, you die, double kill. That's all three possible outcomes."

As he spoke, Lann's eyebrows slightly furrowed.

It was at this moment that the Demon Hunter truly understood the 'ninja' group, not just a trend from past cultural interactions.

They truly didn't care about their own lives, even if it meant dying on a futile or impossible task.

When threatened by the other party, Lann was slightly angered internally.

However, when the other revealed his attitude, Lann's anger dissipated instead.

After all, such people have already become like tools... just like Bordeaux in the past.

With a "swish," the Lady of the Lake's Sword returned to its sheath.

"Tsk, then let's go."

Lann walked over with a calm expression.

"I told you, I have quite a sound reason."

The two individuals, one tall and one short, one robust and one slim, cautiously and vigilantly, headed towards Hirata Manor.

As they passed by the headless corpse of the purple-clothed ninja, Lann tapped his chest with the tip of his toe.

Just testing his luck, but unexpectedly, there was indeed something!

"Hmm?!"

Lann's eyebrows jumped in delight.

This texture... there's really a secret manual!?

The sensation from the tip of his toe was akin to a book, and under Wolf's calm gaze, Lann felt around the chest of the headless corpse.

He easily pulled out a thread-bound book.

"The Ninja Techniques of the Lonely Shadow Group".

Signed by a person named Oshibu Shogoro.

In ancient times, many characters were used in East Japan; Lann could easily understand the text, but upon reading the contents, many inexplicable ciphers popped up.

"I just knew..."

A ninja speaking plainly in a technique book was indeed suspicious!

Lann looked up and found the short ninja still watching him from afar. He lifted the technique book in his hands, gesturing to him.

"Didn't you find this during the body search?"

"Basic techniques of the Inner Mansion's Lonely Shadow Group." The ninja spoke without any emotion, "I'm more familiar with it than this guy."

Lann pouted, understanding that he was referring to the headless corpse on the ground.

Since Iwami and the Inner Mansion had been fighting for so long, ninjas under their command killing each other to this extent was quite normal to know.

But in any case, this was Lann's first gain in Oriental martial skills.

He naturally tucked the technique book into his bosom.

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

When Lann returned to the gates of Hirata Manor, it was still the same group leader, dressed in a conical hat and straw raincoat, leading the guard duty.

He lifted the brim of his hat to see Lann returning alone, curling his mouth and sighing.

"What a hassle... wasn't I told to keep it low-key?"

Killing one or two could be overlooked, but taking out all seven brought along... even for the Ranger Group that's overkill!

In ancient times, no matter the location, a military force was a brutal organization, built on violence and hierarchical balance, where superiors had life-and-death power over subordinates.

So when Lann first assumed the role of a temporary squad leader, killing one or two troublemakers to establish authority would pass without criticism.

But this was... too harsh.

The group leader squinted, looking at Lann's smiling face. Unexpectedly, someone with such a beautiful face could be so fierce.

"Now then, I must take you to see Lord Nogami Genji directly."

He spoke, preparing to walk behind Lann, pushing his shoulder to guide him along.

Regardless of whether punishment ensues, escorting him meant maintaining appearances.

Yet as he passed by Lann's side, he noticed behind this tall foreigner.

The palm-sized railing post of the wooden bridge, upon which was crouching someone who had remained silent and unnoticed all this time!

"Eek!" The group leader first cried out in surprise, then settled down from the sudden fright.

"You are... Lord Yuzi's ninja?!"

"Indeed." The Wolf spoke in an emotionless voice, "I will take him directly to see Lord Yuzi. You, step down."