Bear School Astartes

"Get me a drink, Roche! My throat's on fire."

Veltrest shouted without turning his head.

A man in his twenties or thirties behind him naturally walked toward the tavern's bar.

Moments later, he placed two mugs of Codwin dark beer in front of Veltrest and Lann.

This man always had a clenched jaw, squinting eyes, and wore a torn, shabby cloth hat, looking quite unremarkable.

But what set him apart from others was that when he approached Lann, he showed no unusual emotions.

Whether it was due to his exceptional emotional control, or because he had a big heart that didn't care about anything.

Either way, it's a good trait.

Not everyone can stand before a creature that single-handedly slaughtered over two hundred elite warriors without trembling.

After delivering the drinks, Roche returned to his original position on his own.

"He's a great warrior, isn't he?"

Veltrest took a big gulp and lightly laughed at Lann, pointing at Roche behind him.

"Son of a whore, rolled and fought in sewers, then I discovered him and nurtured him to where he is now... Just for that, I cremated my cousin's corpse on the spot. He didn't deserve to lie in state under Meretelli's gaze."

Lann nodded slightly at this.

A king capable of discovering and nurturing a young man with such a miserable origin must not only have an eye for talent but also a concern for the lower strata.

One can imagine his attitude toward the slave trade cases.

"Did you settle those children well?"

Compared to a lump of lifeless flesh, Lann was more concerned about the living.

Veltrest dealt with this matter immediately after burning his cousin's body.

"They will be taken care of and reunited with their families."

"I guess you won't just reunite them with their families? They are powerful weapons against Steza's reputation."

"Naturally, they are essential for handling the residual reputation of Steza, but at the same time, the bigger their fame, the safer they become. It's a win-win."

Understanding each other, the two on either side of the table clinked their glasses.

"Now, let's talk about you."

Putting down his glass, Veltrest snapped his fingers behind him.

The man named Roche came forward with a bag that looked quite heavy in his hand, heading toward the table.

"Five thousand Oren, along with the platemail components you dismantled in Vizima and that good horse, to reward you for breaking a slave trade link. Personally, I'd love to reward you for smashing my cousin's head, but considering it would provoke his remaining forces too much, I regretfully can't."

Alia at the table quickly embraced the bag in Roche's hands with both arms.

It was heavy, but Alia was happy.

That weight brought a smile even to Blood of the Running Wolf.

"That's plenty, I heard the reward for breaking the princess's curse was only three thousand Oren."

Lann nodded and said. The M|V|LE&MPYR team worked hard on this chapter.

The impulse to do good comes from an inner sense of morality, but isn't it better if you can receive a satisfying reward afterward?

Seeing Lann accept the money, Veltrest nodded approvingly.

"You've asked about the children, aren't you curious about Merigold?"

"As a royal advisor who protected royal interests in the event, I have no need to worry about her."

Lann's indifferent attitude prompted the other party to shake his head uncontrollably.

"I'm not talking about safety... You have no idea how triumphant she looked today."

Veltrest chuckled lightly.

"This is probably the closest she's come to the concept of 'power.' Normally, the polite nobles are now eagerly inquiring her about last night's details, subtly drawing the topic to her friend with extraordinary abilities, that is, you. Until today she didn't even know those dignitaries wielded such immense energy."

"These powers usually don't show themselves in front of a female warlock, but now, because of you, they not only generously displayed these complex fields to my advisor, but would also be overjoyed if Merigold plunged into their realm of power. Just because she has a friend like you, everything she sees has become friendlier."

"Power and wealth are aphrodisiacs, Lann. I bet if you showed up in front of Merigold now, neither of you would be out of bed for a week."

Lann sipped from his cup.

...Damn! Feudal kings have quite the insights!

Can this actually be done continuously for a week?!

Is a female warlock a monster?!

Originally appearing as a mere young lad, now Lann's ears were a bit red.

Yet Veltrest's tone turned serious after finishing the dirty joke.

"A warrior who can take down a kingdom's top powerholder within a top-level guard's top manor... Your appearance has caused unfathomable tremors among Temeria's upper echelons, Lann."

"Do you know what they call you?"

With Veltrest's tone growing serious, Lann's relaxed expression also calmed down.

"They call you the 'Hunting Marquis.'"

The king's voice was low, like telling a tale from a distant past.

But the little girl sitting beside the king couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow."

The few present all turned to stare at her, prompting Alia to hastily cover her mouth.

"'Earl Hunter'...," Lann smirked, "Such a pompous name... Feels like something out of a knight's novel."

Lann's disdain didn't change the king's opinion.

"The style of the name isn't important; it's their attitude toward you that matters."

"Some fear your reckless killing of nobles; others think they can use you to eliminate enemies... A means that breaks the rules of the game, it's not surprising to see such competition and utilization in its early stages. But as a king, I can't let the situation worsen."

Lann could imagine the attitudes of the bigwigs in Vizima toward him.

Fear and dread sure, but in light of the profits one could gain, what are those?

There will always be those looking to use me; after all, despite my strength, I can't possibly know everything, right?

Fabricate some universally condemning crime for their rival and leak it to the public. Can I meticulously investigate everything?

And a warrior so powerful that it's beyond comprehension inevitably brings along a bloody aura with his deterrent effect.

Society's operation requires the intimidation of blood, but not too much blood.

Veltrest cannot accept that.

Lann understood this and nodded.

"I solved your problem, you gave me my reward. I suppose our relationship can be considered... decent?"

The Demon Hunter looked at the king inquisitively.

Veltrest nodded candidly.

"Mutual benefit, we could call ourselves friends, Lann. Everyone wants to be friends with a hero who rescues slaves, especially when this hero seems like he walked straight out of a story."

"I'll take that as a compliment. So what can I do to stop the chaos?"

"It's quite simple..." Veltrest pointed in the direction of Vizima.

"I hope you never appear in Vizima again. If you need my help, you can communicate through Merigold, but you yourself should really not show up in Vizima."

Vizima is the political center of Temeria, and being far from the political center for the dignitaries is akin to cutting themselves off from power.

The ones who want to use Lann and their enemies mostly gather in this city.

As long as Lann stays away from this city, the problems decrease by seventy percent immediately.

"No problem, in any case, Vizima doesn't seem like a place suitable for a Demon Hunter to make a living. Curse-breaking work like the princess's might only appear once every few hundred years."

Lann agreed nonchalantly.