Bear School Astartes

Early the next morning, Lann routinely got up and went to the inner residence courtyard for his morning exercise.

The current Demon Hunter had the Aron Dite, gifted by the Lady of the Lake, strapped to his back, while an Iwami-made katana hung at his waist.

This blade was not a rare treasure and could not compare to the Hirate family's famed sword—Wedge Maru—that the Wolf carried on his waist. Nor could it compare to Iwami Yixin's Golden Iron Dragon-Slaying Blade.

Lann chose this samurai sword on a whim to increase his proficiency in [Iwami Style].

Although [Iwami Style] is a swordsmanship from East Japan, the Eastern cultural vibe within it made Lann feel more comfortable than the [Bear School Swordsmanship].

He is now considering whether he should specialize in the techniques of Eastern swordsmanship, using Western swordsmanship's tactical thinking to master these skills.

It could be a way to explore the direction of 'East-West integration'.

"Aron Dite is the Lady's sword... If I ask her, she should be able to modify its shape, right?"

Lann muttered while instinctively swinging the katana.

The Lady of the Lake's sword is a hand-and-a-half sword without a curve, which does not fit many techniques in [Iwami Style].

In his mind, Mentos was both calculating Lann's various physical movement data and making sarcastic comments.

"Sir, I think you could be more confident."

"You just need to stand before the Lady of the Lake with a sad face, adopt a lower stance, and gaze up at her with watery eyes at a forty-five-degree angle, and she'll likely be moved to melted hearts. It's no big deal."

Lann imagined that scene briefly, causing his blade-swinging motion to falter slightly.

"Haha... Thank you, Mentos."

"You're welcome, sir. It's my honor to serve you."

Great!

The bio-intelligent system can now pretend not to understand sarcasm!

...Who exactly taught this wicked being?!

Lann completed his routine morning exercise during a banter with Mentos; a guard from the inner residence witnessed the scene, approached him, bowed slightly, and reported.

"Lord Lann, a... warrior from the manor is waiting outside the inner residence's gate, saying he wants to see you. Shall I go send him away? He really doesn't seem like a trustworthy warrior."

"No need, I have nothing else to do now, so I'll go and see him."

As the guard spoke, Lann already knew who had come to find him.

That guy Kotaro indeed doesn't make a good impression. On the day he was assessed as a lower-class warrior, many people didn't even want to look him straight in the eyes.

When Lann arrived at Hirata's Inner Residence's gate, the two large trees burned down had been removed long ago, and two small saplings were transplanted.

Thus, the courtyard in front of the gate appeared somewhat spacious.

Kotaro, dressed in a warrior's everyday attire, was already waiting there.

No matter what kind of clothing, it needs to be filled out to look good, so Kotaro, who was less than 1.5 meters tall and was slender, looked more comical in warrior attire.

It's not surprising the guards of the inner residence looked down on him. Because the absorption efficiency of the Source Water is related to one's physique, people who aren't tall enough in Iwami Country usually aren't much valued.

Besides, he was not good-looking.

But local people's preferences don't affect Lann. He has always been opinionated and persistent.

"Hey, Kotaro! Long time no see."

Lann waved with a smile as he walked and shouted.

He once felt displeased at Kotaro's overly strong sense of hierarchy when he was newly promoted to lower-class warrior.

But looking back, he realized there was no reason to blame him, considering that Kotaro was a farmer footman without experience or good education.

Lann isn't perfect; his temporary moods can affect his attitude toward people.

Yet, his worldview and moral upbringing constantly remind him not to let fluctuating moods always influence his interpersonal attitude.

Seeing his former group leader, Kotaro first grinned happily and then seemed to suddenly realize he was now a lower-class warrior.

He quickly tried to maintain a 'warrior's dignified appearance' with a stern face and a ninety-degree bow.

"Lord Lann!"

The young man deliberately diverted a bit as Kotaro bowed, approaching his side and patting his shoulder.

"Warrior sir, how come you're free to see me today?"

Kotaro straightened up, and Lann's teasing made him scratch his head in confusion, causing his seemingly unsophisticated face to blush.

"Calling me 'lord'... You're joking."

"I came this time to ask you about that matter of the Tairou Soldier."

In Lann's mind, Mentos immediately pulled up an image.

The Tairou Soldier was that two-and-a-half-meter-tall chubby guy showing traits of the Tang Family Disease, the night the bandits invaded.

Kotaro said then that he was initially a disabled child adopted by Immortal Peak Temple and was trained as part of the Hospital Monk Soldiers. He was probably abducted by the bandits from the mountain.

At that time, as the Tairou Soldier did not really kill anyone, Lann simply knocked him out to finish it.

"Did he go berserk during labor?"

Lann frowned slightly, asking.

Not all bandits were killed that night, some were captured.

Don't expect any kindness in medieval East Japan; the Hirata Manor requires labor for reconstruction, so all these people were put to work.

Though the Tang Family patients look somewhat dense, with the Tairou Soldier's physique, a little rage might mean very few could control him in Hirata Manor.

"No, that's not it."

Kotaro scratched his head and explained to Lann.

"We actually want to send him back to Immortal Peak Temple."

"He didn't kill anyone that night, and many in the manor are devout of the Immortal Peak Temple, knowing the Tairou Soldier's situation. No one blames him. He's also been hardworking these days, doing the work of at least seven or eight people alone... Everyone thinks he shouldn't be pursued further."

Lann listened and nodded.

"Yes, indeed makes sense."

Just a laborer, to be frank. With his current prestige in Hirata Manor, releasing him is just a sentence away.

"If everyone's okay with it, then let him go. But why are you rushing to tell me? Oh right. You have a ritual called... Star Offering Ceremony at Immortal Peak Temple, right?"

Lann led the way to the labor area, preparing to deal with the Tairou Soldier's situation directly.

Meanwhile, he casually asked Kotaro.

"Yes, you remembered."

"That was the last thing your mother did for you before she passed, arranging a ritual at a prestigious temple, that's quite remarkable."

Kotaro fell silent briefly, then nodded firmly.

"Exactly, so I must go to Immortal Peak Temple for the ceremony. Along the way, I can return the Tairou Soldier to Immortal Peak Temple; the masters there must be worried about him."

"This trip is not only for blessing but also for fulfilling my mother's last wish. I will also pray for you at the ceremony!"

Lann hurriedly waved his hand.

"That's really unnecessary, the ceremony was sought by your mother for you alone. Truly unnecessary, I don't even believe in Buddhism."

After walking for a moment, they arrived at the labor area.

On the dusty construction site, a muscular 'mountain of flesh' stood out.