Bear School Astartes-Chapter 817 - 800: Tools and the Sheep-Horned Demon
"Devil? What do you mean?"
Lann stands with his arms crossed, looking intrigued.
In the context of Demon Hunters, a devil isn’t the general term for ’evil’ seen in religious tales.
It’s a genuine species.
Like Deer-headed Demons, Sheep-Horned Demons, Female Special Monsters.
Vesemir looks as if saying, "Don’t mention it."
"Back in the day, Belengar suddenly went mad for some reason and went hunting a Sheep-Horned Demon. That thing built a nest in the valley behind Ker Morhan."
"Belengar was unhappy at Ker Morhan and didn’t trust his mates. He always thought we’d sabotage the sword we were forging for him, so he took all the equipment to hunt the Sheep-Horned Demon... but who would have that kind of free time? What a bad habit."
By the end, Vesemir mutters a curse under his breath against the old Belengar.
But it is just one curse.
"Anyway, that Sheep-Horned Demon was quite skillful. He could only bury his head and run for his life, carrying all that heavy sword-forging equipment—how could he flee? So he had no choice but to abandon it all and returned covered in blood."
"Ah, a disgrace through and through. He came back silent, soon packed up and left Ker Morhan, only now has he returned."
When Vesemir mentions ’now’, he visibly brightens up at Belengar’s return.
"This time he said he wants to start the forge and needs sword-forging equipment. But when he asked, he realized that all this time, I hadn’t retrieved it from the Sheep-Horned Demon for him..."
"And that made him angry?"
Lann raises an eyebrow with amusement.
"Is he a child?"
"Want the truth?" Vesemir lifts his gaze to look at Lann.
"Being able to act like a child here, getting angry in front of me, feels great."
"He can only get mad in front of this old fellow, right?"
As Vesemir speaks, all dissatisfaction and difficulty vanish from his face.
There’s only a forgiving smile... like a father.
"Got it," Lann says, his amused expression fading too.
He looks down at Vesemir, yet his gaze seems respectfully upward.
"I’ll take care of it."
"Geralt will go with you tomorrow; he’s familiar with the terrain around here. It’ll be easier to find the nest."
Vesemir arranges everything meticulously.
"Besides, he already got hold of Belengar’s dual swords; now it’s time for him to put in some effort."
"Though I’ve never seen a real Sheep-Horned Demon..." Lann scratches his cheek.
"But with both of us going, isn’t it a bit too much combat power?"
"Is excessive combat power bad?"
Vesemir advises Lann earnestly, as if it’s his professional habit.
"If we can ensure every job is risk-free, why not do it? Demon Hunters used to work alone for efficiency’s sake, but this time it’s not about money."
"I’ve always taught you all: stability and survival come first. Even if you’re about to be hanged and your neck’s in the noose, don’t forget to ask for a glass of water. Who knows what might happen just as you’re drinking."
Vesemir’s monk-like nagging successfully makes Lann’s already hazy head ache even more.
"Whatever you say."
Lann grips Vesemir’s hand, swinging with the speech.
This grip stops the hand’s motion, seemingly also shutting down the mouth speaking.
"Tomorrow we’ll handle it, but for now... let me go back and sleep, okay?"
-----------------
Early the next morning, Lann dons his armor.
And Rong Buqiu is also excitedly dressed in his acorn shell outfit, darting back and forth on Lann’s shoulders.
"This is the first time hunting with Lann, meow!"
"I think it’s the first time for that Ancient Deer-headed Spirit, isn’t it?"
The two chat away, and as the man and cat step out, they see Geralt, fully geared, leaning against the wall outside the door.
The two Demon Hunters get straight to business, walking side by side out of Ker Morhan.
"Bringing the little cat today? Wasn’t it doing morning exercises with Ciri?"
Geralt asks in his recognizable deep, raspy voice.
Without waiting for Lann’s reply, Rong Buqiu stands up on Lann’s shoulder and raises its hand.
"Because I’m already an experienced hunter, meow! Unlike Ciri, meow!"
Evidently proud of acknowledging its combat skills and experience, Rong Buqiu speaks with great confidence.
The little cat’s head is raised high, standing with arms akimbo on Lann’s shoulder.
If a person did this, it might appear too arrogant, but with Elu Cat doing it... it’s just cute.
"Alright, alright, ’old hand’."
Geralt chuckles and replies to Rong Buqiu.
Then he turns to the shoulder underfoot Lann, speaking earnestly.
"What you taught Ciri is precious. She can’t become a Demon Hunter, and we won’t subject her to mutations. Your skills offer her a new path."
"No need to thank me." Lann gestures casually.
"The old man who taught me these things only did so because he saw my talent and got a whim to see how far I could learn."
"Now I’m feeling spontaneous too."
They cross the wooden bridge in front of the castle, with Geralt not bothering to ride out.
Because the path Belengar found to the Sheep-Horned Demon’s nest follows the riverbed upstream, full of rocks, shoals, and small pools.
Geralt’s ’Roach’ wouldn’t manage on such terrain.
As for Qilin... Lann can only sense this guy indulging in the mountains.
Lann’s sole request is: keep emotions and power in check, don’t conjure a storm nearby.
And preferably don’t provoke the strange creatures deep in these Blue Mountains.
This world, humans’ civilized part occupies only a small piece, while at civilization’s edge, who knows what horror awaits further in the mountains?
Alzur’s summoned Saliva Demon could crush half of Maribo City with a roll, its full length extends several kilometers like centipede monsters, no less than Ancient Serpent King Dragons in Valley of Miasma alive.
They have now vanished from under people’s noses.
Not to mention weird curses, magic... compared to natural creatures like Ancient Dragons, magical creatures’ abilities appear even stranger and insidious.
Even experienced Demon Hunters failing unexpectedly has become common.
And Qilin, the ancient dragon with sporadic effort and continuous apathy... Lann indeed worries about it.
However, Qilin still has [Lightning Speed], a profoundly useful trump card.
Lann and Geralt once teamed up before, breaking a curse on a Baron that changed him from a cormorant back into a human.
This joint venture feels even more familiar.
