Bear School Astartes

[North Wind] has many directions for improvement under Tishaya's hands, but the former dean of Airetusa considered that Lann primarily uses it in battle. So, it enhanced the cold penetration of this Frost Bomb.

Previously, [North Wind] had a cold feeling similar to winter in the north.

But now it's similar to winter in the south, where the cold seeps into the bones under the action of Chaos Magic Power.

Owl is a seasoned ninja, with endurance and willpower far beyond ordinary people.

However, when even the synovial fluid and ligament tissues between his bones and joints were invaded by the cold, pure willpower couldn't help him withstand his physiological reactions.

Butterfly rushed forward immediately, breaking Owl's limbs, but to her surprise, she didn't find any ninja suicide molar poison in Owl's mouth.

"No, no need to look."

The Giant Ninja admitted his failure, looking rather calm.

"My actions aim to become a noble existence that can live until the end of time. Of course, I wouldn't consider suicide. Life is precious, you know."

Wolf and Lann were baffled, Butterfly seemed to understand but unwilling to elaborate.

"I see... no need to confess to me, that old man Yixin would probably personally inquire upon hearing about your betrayal, even if he's already in recovery."

"Yes." Owl shivered as he laughed. "After all... we're comrades who have faced life-and-death situations together!"

When Lann and the other two dragged Owl out, Wolf immediately went to find the previously settled Yuzi Jiulang, guarding them closely.

It seems the Lonely Shadow Group retreated swiftly because both of their commanders were taken out.

Lann stayed at the inner mansion wooden bridge with Kotaro and the others, easily repelling over a hundred bandits that regrouped, encountering no further danger.

Turning around to push into the inner mansion, they easily eradicated the remaining small groups of bandits.

Though the inner mansion of the Hirate family is large, it wasn't particularly resistant to fire. After one night, everything that could burn had almost burned down, leaving only those things that couldn't ignite.

As daylight approached, the rain that had poured all night also ceased, and the human screams of mutual slaughter gradually calmed.

The black smoke rising from the buildings made this morning sad and bewildering.

Only the waters of the Longquan River flowed with the same familiar sound as usual.

The surviving residents of Hirata Manor had endured too much suffering last night, leaving most of them blankly staring at the corpses and blood stains on the road.

As well as the charred remains of houses and immobile neighbors.

When people suffer a heavy blow, they tend not to howl in grief but become numb.

But Lann had no solution for this; he was now sitting in the Rōnin Longhouse with Yuzi and Lady Butterfly in the Castle Town.

This is one of the few places within Hirata Manor where people can gather for meetings.

Although Yuzi Jiulang looks small, long-term noble education has taught him what he should do at this moment.

He first rewarded those who performed excellently in the night raid and consoled the families of the fallen warriors, promising not to reclaim their land.

The rōnin and ashigaru who rampaged with Lann last night were mostly beaming brightly.

Nojima Iizuka was sent for recovery and would assume Nogami Genji's role once healed. Kotaro was even made a lower-ranked warrior.

Most of the Hirate family's belongings weren't taken last night, aside from the burned items, killed people, and livestock.

Since Lann and his team started cleaning from the Castle Town, Hirata Manor is located on a selected cliff, so most bandits in their robbing frenzy had no chance to enjoy their spoils.

The valuables lay alongside the corpses inside Hirata Manor.

In this era of East Japan, as long as the main family had people, it wasn't considered declined. Moreover, there were such wealth and property.

When Hirata Manor is rebuilt, these materials flow into the people. Now, the villagers outside even feel life has become easier.

Lann wasn't keen on staying in the Longhouse; he was more concerned with the civilians outside.

He watched these people start gathering the aftermath after shedding tears, cleaning the filth, and striving to survive.

Human society always spirals upward in the cycles of destruction and rebuilding.

Perhaps destroyed by natural disasters, perhaps by human catastrophes.

But as long as people still aspire to live, they always find the courage and resolve to start again.

Soon, there was the sound of a large group moving outside Hirata Manor.

This time, the patrol defense system temporarily arranged by Lann naturally took effect.

A soot-faced ashigaru ran into the Longhouse, half-kneeling before Yuzi.

"Lord, the main family's reinforcements have arrived."

The people inside the Longhouse, upon hearing this sentence, showed calm expressions tinged with some resentment.

Calm because the danger had passed, resentful because the rescue from the main family was insufficient.

Though they understood that the Inner Mansion's troops were outside, and last night was a rainy night difficult for marching, understanding is one thing; whether they have emotions is another.

Still, Yuzi Jiulang, with a general's demeanor, stopped his subordinates' murmurs.

His youthful face was full of seriousness.

"Gentlemen, I understand what lies in your hearts, but last night's changes were natural and man-made disasters. The delay of the main family's support should not be blamed. Even if you feel resentful, please endure it for the sake of Hirata Manor's reconstruction!"

Hirata Manor cannot rebuild without the supplies and commerce of Iwami Castle.

After listening to the young master's earnest speech, most of them still pursed their lips but no longer whispered.

Thus, Yuzi instructed the ashigaru still half-kneeling on the ground.

"Open the gates, welcome the reinforcements, and bring the leader here."

"Yes."

Before long, the street outside stirred with commotion again. The startled cries from the villagers, now like startled birds, upon seeing the unfamiliar army.

A warrior dressed in large armor, wearing a red Array Feather Weave, adjoined with cow horn helm and elder's mask, walked in with a long sword at his waist.

This man was about the same height as Nogami Genji, close to Lann, and even taller than Lann once he donned the cow horn helm.

The whole person appeared robust and vigorous, making him quite intimidating. However, the Array Feather Weave stuck to the armor from the rain, looking somewhat unsightly.

"I'm Yamai Diansan, sorry for the late rescue, Lord, forgive me!"

Upon seeing Jiulang, he immediately sat cross-legged, fists on the ground, and bowed deeply.

He seemed embarrassed while speaking, likely witnessing the undispersed black smoke over Hirata Manor. Then seeing Yuzi gathered a crowd in the Castle Town, clearly, the inner mansion was utterly ruined.

For someone leading reinforcements, it's definitely late.

"Are you the nephew of the Seven Spears—Yamana Shikibu Rissho? Many thanks for your assistance. Hirata Manor might need you to take over defense completely. We have no one left."

Jiulang's maturity surprised Yamai Diansan, but he quickly regained composure.

"Indeed, it's me. Rest assured; I certainly will guard Hirata Manor, ensuring no chance for thieves to strike again!"

Thus, a round of East Japan's official discourse, mutual praise, and loyalty exchanges, completed the liaison between the Iwami Castle's reinforcements and the Hirate family.

Lann heard plenty of official discourse from his own nation, finding East Japan's quite interesting now.