Bear School Astartes

"Teacher?"

Maria scanned the room, her eyebrows initially furrowed under the velvet-feathered tricorn hat, suddenly showing a hint of surprise.

She walked a few steps forward to the long bench with only one person sitting on it.

"This time... even you are included?"

Despite her surprise, Maria spoke calmly and lightly, due to her personality and her habits as a Hunter.

Her voice was like a lucid dream’s murmur.

The bench held only one old man.

He wore a tall formal hat, the brim frayed.

His lean form was clad in a fitted suit with suspenders, draped over his shoulders was a wide shawl.

Once elegant and smooth, the shawl’s hem had become ragged, perhaps from enduring too many trials.

If it fluttered, it might resemble the claws of a demon.

The old man tilted his head up, steadying his hat; beneath it lay pale hair and a face with a sharp hooked nose and unkempt stubble.

The First Hunter, Gremman.

Founder of the unique profession of Hunters in Yan’an.

He alone sat on this bench, not because others shunned him, but because they respected him.

When he saw his student, a hint of smile appeared on his aged face.

Yet he didn’t answer Maria’s query, merely lightly patted the empty spot beside him.

"Sit down, Maria," he said calmly, "It’s about to begin."

His gaze at his student who sat beside him was unusually complex, but it was only for a moment.

Maria was a capable and mature Hunter.

She came from the Blood Nobility of Cainhurst, but lacked their flamboyant, indulgent vices.

Her white hair was simply braided and tucked under the tricorn hat with swan feathers.

The hat held back her hair and veiled a face refined and beautiful due to her bloodline.

Clad in black leather with a half-caped left shoulder.

Her tall boots and riding breeches made her appear tall and striking.

Yet unfortunately...

Gremman’s eyes revealed complex emotions.

That was all in the past.

Maria didn’t see the complex emotions in her teacher’s eyes, hidden under the brim of the hat.

Maria’s face, identical to the doll mistress Lann had, turned quietly, gathering more information of the Great Cathedral in her eyes.

The serene expression seemed much like the doll’s.

The Great Cathedral was noisy, filled with Hunters, clergy, scholars, all in their circles conversing.

Though Yan Nan People, wary of the night’s dangers, tended to speak softly, the gathered voices were chaotic.

However, not all talk was hushed.

"Your decision was too impulsive, Ludwig."

A voice slightly stood out from the ’buzz’ of chatter.

Many turned their gaze toward the sound.

Among the hunters who spoke softly, the volume could be called a ’challenge’.

An Old Hunter, clad in charcoal black leather, was sternly addressing the Church’s First Hunter.

Ludwig was Church’s First Hunter, Gremman the First Hunter of Yan’an, a differing concept.

Their relations were well, after all, Yan’an’s hunting techniques stemmed back to Gremman.

The Old Hunter questioning Ludwig, everyone recognized him.

Chuila, a hunter known for his foolish kindness. Often engaging in meaningless and redundant actions during hunts.

It’s said that recently, he’s mixed with hunters fond of gunpowder weapons, causing chaotic scenes, aiming to create a new branch beyond the traditional Hunter Workshop.

Claim it would be called—Gunpowder Barrel Gang.

Hunters murmured.

"Ha, he’s up to something tedious again."

"What does it matter what Church Hunter does? That’s Ludwig’s business."

"Let those rookies get some quality blood exposure early, isn’t that good? Haha."

The murmur of the hunters revealed not only irritation...

Thick scent of blood! Horror in shadows! Malicious intent!

Originally, the old Hunters present were all skilled at hunting countless beasts.

Their pores are saturated with the blood of beasts.

The thick stench of blood on their coats can’t be washed away, no matter how many times they clean them!

Yet none of the old Hunters feel discomfort or displeasure... because they’ve all become accustomed to the scent of blood, even intoxicated by it.

The Yan Nan People fear the old Hunters because they can probably no longer distinguish clearly whether the Hunters and beasts have a clear boundary between them.

Moreover, is it the Hunters’ obsession with the impulse of blood that blurs this boundary? Or... has this ’clear boundary’ never truly existed?

In short, if a regular citizen of Yan’an were to enter this Great Cathedral now, their first instinct wouldn’t be to feel safe and relaxed due to the presence of so many Hunters.

And the old Hunters in Yan’an mostly do not view the townsfolk as objects they need to ’protect.’

After all, aside from blood, they rarely care about anything else.

"Please trust me, Chuila." Amidst the grim and terrifying atmosphere caused by the murmurs of the old Hunters, Ludwig, being the questioned party, bowed his head and spoke sadly yet earnestly.

His appearance was upright, and the attire of the Church Hunter on him was heavier than the coats of ordinary Hunters.

The difference in equipment indicates that the monsters they face are not of the same level as the ordinary Hunters.

Back then, Alfred was the Church Hunter who gifted Lann with a "Fire Paper" as a greeting gift, and he wore this same attire in the ’future’ of Yan’an.

"I also wish to employ a gentler method to gradually elevate the Church Hunters’ acceptance of high-quality blood. But... we are out of time."

Among the many old Hunters, Ludwig is likely one of the few who wouldn’t instill panic in ordinary people.

On his back, he carries a large Hand-and-a-Half Sword wrapped with cloth strips, devoid of a scabbard.

Whether because this sword is wrapped, it gives Ludwig a sort of calm aura.

"The gray blood sickness is rampant, and we’re short-handed. To protect the Healing Church, the Church Hunters urgently need strength."

"And Holy Blood! That Holy Blood cultivated by the Church can grant us the power to protect the innocent!"

Protecting the innocent... after these words were spoken, most of the old Hunters present either remained indifferent or smiled wryly.

To them, a vial of blood seemed more like a reason for combat than so-called ’protecting the innocent.’

But unlike the others, Chuila is somewhat similar to Ludwig. That’s why he seizes this opportunity to question the Church’s First Hunter.

For those novices recruited into the Church Hunters.

"They will struggle to endure those bloods; it is too early for them."

Chuila’s voice, too, floats gently like smoke under the night’s veil, even seeming a bit listless, yet it does not diminish the seriousness in his tone.

"Those bloods are dangerous!"

"I appreciate your concern for the novices, but please don’t alarm, Chuila."

Having finally touched the core of the topic, Ludwig’s face immediately grows serious.

The head initially bowed in his sadness now lifts.

"Blood therapy is pure and holy, only its acceptance requires a peaceful process. Currently, there is no rigorous data indicating that past tragedies are directly linked to blood therapy."

"If you don’t have substantial evidence, don’t slander Holy Blood; you’re equivalent to undermining the foundation of the Healing Church!"

Saying this, Ludwig furrowed his brow tightly in his gaze at Chuila.

"Only blood therapy can save Yan’an; you shouldn’t say such things now."

Chuila, facing Ludwig’s expression that was serious to the point of being intimidating, calmly shook his head.

"It’s because I trust you that I speak this way. I believe you indeed care about those young newbie Hunters. But here... I only trust you and no one else."

Saying this, the old Hunter clad in charred leather looked around.

And the other old Hunters sitting on the benches, when faced with Chuila’s gaze, mostly responded with a blood-soaked smile.

The priests and scholars on the pulpit were even more indifferent.

Having kept his head low while conversing with the gloomy scholar beside him, the archbishop appeared completely oblivious to what transpired below the pulpit.

He stepped forward, arms wide. The broad Pope’s Robe made him conspicuously positioned in the main area.

"Almost everyone is here; let’s discuss the main topic. Chuila, please sit down,"

Lawrence stated calmly, his unassuming voice repeatedly echoing and amplifying within the church’s intricate architectural structure.

The Hunter wearing a charred black coat sighed slightly but sat beside Ludwig.

And this devout Church’s First Hunter immediately focused his serious gaze on the pulpit the moment the archbishop spoke.

"The current Yan’an is becoming increasingly dangerous; the number of gray blood sickness cases is still rising, though beast transformation cases are stable, they don’t appear to be suppressed."

Lawrence first briefly explained the situation in Yan’an.

Not mentioning the gray blood sickness, it’s not a big deal. But once the plague of gray blood sickness is added, the troubles usually easily dealt with become less than optimistic when piled together.

Yet among the Hunters below, only a few listen attentively, like Ludwig, Maria.

Lawrence is not surprised by this; he simply continues speaking.

"Most of this pressure comes from gray blood sickness and the useless Good Golden Cup Church."

"And I’m honored to inform you that, through the relentless efforts of the Church clergy, we have identified the source of this dreadful plague."

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