Bear School Astartes

"I have no national sentiment for Temeria, Lord Earl."

Lann's address remained respectful, but his current action—clutching the Count's face with one hand, dragging him like a dead dog—was a stark contrast.

"So whether you truly have exhausted yourself for this country, endured humiliation... I do not care at all."

The Count's pampered body struggled fiercely, his thrashing feet scattered pebbles on the expensive cobblestone path.

Yet, none of these actions could slow Lann's steps by even a fraction.

The eyes peering out from between fingers seemed to understand where this path would lead.

Count Steza suddenly screamed in terror.

"What are you doing?! Where are you taking me?! Damn you, mutant mongrel! You... ugh ahh!"

This path leads to the estate gate.

The Count's scream was cut off by the sudden increase in grip strength on his face.

"Where to?"

Lann questioned back.

The path had reached its end, the estate gate stood before Lann.

This gate was wooden with iron edging, standing four meters tall, and ten centimeters thick!

Normally, when the Count went out, it would take two warriors all their strength just to push it open.

But now, Lann opened the inner latch of the estate gate and pressed the Count's head against the wooden and iron-plated door panel.

"Actually, I thought what you said earlier made too much sense. One must have a spirit of contract. So, in this game..."

"You are about to cross the boundary."

Peeking through Lann's fingers, Steza's eyes bulged with terror, almost popping out of their sockets.

"No! You can't do this! I haven't crossed... ugh ahh!"

With one hand, Lann pushed the gate open. Amidst the creaking sound of the door opening, human screams were particularly piercing.

Lann could distinctly feel the spherical structure of the bones in his hand reaching the verge of shattering... just like Count Steza's psyche.

The gate opened slowly, and the human screams grew increasingly loud.

Finally, when the opened gate revealed a sliver of light from the outside...

Lann, expressionless, announced the game's verdict.

"Now, you have officially crossed the boundary."

"Mongrel."

The hand gripping Steza's face slightly recoiled, then, after a brief buildup, slammed the head against the gate!

"Bang!"

The sensation was like a ripe watermelon smashed to the ground.

The once elegantly dressed body in Lann's hand now twitched with the residue of nerve signals.

Lann, carrying this 'thing' in his hand, pushed the estate gate open with one hand.

Outside the gate, nearly a hundred members of the security force, holding torches, stared dumbfounded at the Demon Hunter emerging from the renowned estate.

~~~~~~

The security force commander felt he must go pray before Meretelli tomorrow.

Throughout the night, from the moment he saw fire erupting from Steza Manor, his heart felt as if it would leap from his chest!

Who doesn't know the Count and the King are like fire and water?

But who could have anticipated... there would be a move made in the city?!"

The shadow of political conflict loomed over every commoner, although he was not exactly a commoner, as he held command over several hundred men in the security force.

But compared to the status of that person within the estate, he was merely a large ant.

He pleaded with countless lords to pass the message to the ear of Vizima's mayor.

Then received the order, "Go immediately to investigate the cause of the fire and calm the situation."

The security force commander stared at the small paper with the order and personal seal, exhausting his lifetime of political wisdom trying to discern its intricacies.

But if he possessed such ability, why would he waste his life as a security force commander?

Erring on the side of caution, he brought just under a hundred subordinates to the location of Steza Manor.

He thought to himself, anyone daring to make a move against the Count must be His Majesty the King.

Otherwise, in all of Temeria, who else has the bloodline, inheritance rights, or strength to qualify?

The mayor was the King's man, so sending him to 'calm the situation' likely meant the Count had already been dealt with.

He was merely there to clean up the aftermath.

Bringing too many men might cause those attacking the manor to confuse them for reinforcements for the Count; being killed on the spot would be fortunate! Worse yet, his family's noble status could be affected!

Thus, bringing fewer men was preferable yet enough to clean up properly, making close to a hundred hands suitable.

The deputy commander of the security force was the Count's man, whom he replaced with a trusted aide before this mission.

Hence, though he had often received benefits from the Count before, the major situation was settled; he naturally sided with justice, which was the side of the victor.

The commander silently congratulated himself for his accurate judgment.

But upon arriving at the estate's gate, he realized the scene was somewhat different from what he imagined...

Normally, anyone with battlefield knowledge would naturally understand what a tough target Steza Manor was upon seeing it.

If a force were to besiege it, a thousand-man show of force would be indispensable.

However, upon reaching here, the commander only heard screams, cries of alarm, and flames within the manor.

But... where were the forces attacking the manor?!

Outside the estate, there wasn't even a hint of resistance!

If Count Steza was so easy to deal with, why would he be a match for His Majesty the King?

Not only was the commander confused, but also the subordinates he brought were equally bewildered.

"Sir, sir!"

The commander hesitated, unsure whether to go directly to the gate, as the manor was now silent, complete stillness.

It seemed clearly done.

Behind him, a subordinate tugged at the edge of his armor.

The commander turned impatiently, then followed the subordinate's anxious, fearful gaze downwards.

His eyes suddenly widened in shock as he swiftly lifted his foot.

His lifted foot caused a "splashing" sound.

It was a layer of blood, already reaching the soles of his boots!

Blood spilled from the gap in the estate gate!

The commander's action drew the attention of his subordinates to the blood flow at their feet.

The location of the estate was the most brightly lit area in the trade district.

Yet, the soldiers felt as though they were in the Temple District in the dead of night.

Shadows were encroaching upon the light, and within that darkness, tangible and intangible monsters hungered and thirsted...

The troops were unsettled by unstoppable agitation.

Because the present situation defied the common sense of everyone here.

Amid the tense commotion, the estate gate made a dull thud.

Then came wide open.

A hefty figure, dragging a... 'person'? Walked out alone. Thank you for reading. This was brought to you by M|V|L*EMPYR.

"Are you here for him?"

Stepping through the blood, that person with glowing eyes calmly approached the security force.

With a wave of the hand, the object resembling ornate clothing—mired— landed at the foot of the security force commander.

The lifeless eye squeezed from its socket stared directly at him.

"Are you here to clean up, or as reinforcements?"

The figure tossing the corpse quirked his head in inquiry, as he reached for the sword handle behind him.

It was long before the commander realized this was the massively powerful Lord Earl.

He instinctively reached for his sword and ordered his men to charge.

But before his hand touched the sword at his waist, four hands reached out from both sides and firmly grasped his arm.

Two subordinates beside him used a tone like frightened children, stammering in his ear.

"Sir, sir! He is alone... alone!"

Typically, this statement was followed by "Don't be afraid, let's go."

But today, even a fool knew that was far from this soldier's intended message.