Bear School Astartes

Chapter 436. Rogner’s Demon Spirit

"This was the first corpse we investigated at the time; he also ran the farthest among this group of soldiers."

Ged stood behind Lann, who was crouching, his eyes darkened from drinking Cat’s Eye, alertly scanning the surroundings.

"There are still seven corpses ahead; their death is eerily similar to his... These soldiers thought there were only a few ghouls that had run into the tomb, so under orders, they went down fully armed and roaring with vigor. But when the demon spirit appeared before them, they realized the steel swords and armor they carried couldn’t harm the enemy or protect themselves."

"Simply put: It’s the inexplicable confidence of amateurs."

Ged’s tone carried no mockery; he was used to such events, so he merely shook his head expressionlessly.

When taking on tasks in the countryside, there would always be some young fellows brandishing pitchforks, sickles, and threshing flails, swaggering around near the demon hunter.

They said the demon hunter just swung his sword a few times and demanded a hefty sum from their village, which was utterly unfair.

They would also claim that their pitchforks and sickles could accomplish the same feats as the demon hunter’s sword and use this as an argument to assert the demon hunter shouldn’t earn so much.

Lann originally didn’t know if this situation existed in the southern Niflgaard Empire, but judging from Ged’s expression, the farmers from both north and south were pretty much the same.

They all believed they knew better than the demon hunter how to deal with monsters.

"Can’t expect more, Ged. You should know, even demon hunter training can be considered higher education in this world."

Lann stood up from his crouching position, dusting off his hands.

"Most people’s knowledge doesn’t even support them to fluently use parallelism and irony like you do. What more can you ask for?"

While the two were speaking, a quiet and eerie green light began to reflect from the water surface at the corner of the distant tomb chamber.

At the same time, a coldness unlike the subterranean moisture began to spread.

The faint green firelight seemed like the glow from some kind of oil lamp.

Accompanied by the sound of rusted iron chains shaking, the swing of the lamp’s glass cover, which wasn’t securely fastened, caused the eerie green light to flicker over the water.

Ged silently drew the silver sword from his back, while Lann’s left hand rested on the scabbard at his waist, his thumb slightly pushing aside the guard of the Lady of the Lake’s Sword.

"My... child!"

There was no sound of flowing water being stirred by footsteps, but the dry, wheezing voice with an almost hollow throat grew closer.

Filled with jealousy toward the living and the resentment of feeling wronged by everyone and even the entire world.

"Calanthe! You owe me... you owe me a boy! You should have given me a son!"

"I should have a heir... my bloodline..."

Lann and Ged exchanged a glance; both appeared as skilled demon hunters, naturally unfazed by the cold atmosphere brought by the vengeful spirit.

In fact, if there were food, they both could pause to drink a round before the vengeful spirit.

If one doesn’t have the courage to play hide-and-seek with vengeful spirits in haunted houses, then the profession of demon hunter isn’t for them.

At this moment, the curiosity, gossip, and amazement in Lann and Ged’s eyes were more evident than fear.

"Judging by the content... was he Calanthe’s deceased husband? Rogner of Aebin?"

Without a sound, Ged’s mouth formed an ’wow.’

"I heard he was quite amiable in life, a gentle king; how did he turn out like this after death?"

Lann smacked his lips once and glanced at the corner of his retina.

Mentos’ timing system was ticking perfectly; it was now three seventeen in the afternoon.

Neither noon nor midnight.

This indicates the demon spirit transformed by the king is neither a day spirit nor a night spirit.

Most likely, it’s just an ordinary demon spirit.

"Who knows?"

Lann turned around, facing the direction of the eerie green light with Ged.

"By the sound, he’s blaming Calanthe for not bearing him a son. Understandable, kings care most about this. Besides, Calanthe was called ’Sintra’s Lioness’, but no one ever called Rogner ’Sintra’s Lion’.

"Suppressed all his life by his strong-willed wife, even the gentlest man might have some resentment upon death."

"Ha, I bet it isn’t that simple," Ged laughed mockingly.

"Ever heard the rural gossip among Sintra people? The rumors about that ’lioness’?"

"Haven’t heard and don’t want to know." The young man began stepping forward, the water splashing audibly without hindrance.

Lann glanced lightly at Ged.

"Even gossip has its limits; if you hear something truly significant, you’re just inviting trouble for yourself. You should understand this principle."

"Hehe, I owe you a favor, it’s up to you."

Ged shrugged, instinctively twirling the silver sword in his hand into a flower-like pattern, following in Lann’s footsteps.

And in that tomb chamber corner, a floaty, ragged demon spirit with no feet beneath its tattered skirt began to wander out.

Its head, which had turned to bare bones, was still crookedly wearing a crown.

Upon seeing the two demon hunters, the demon spirit seemed to collapse inward into gray smoke, disappearing without a trace.

The two demon hunters seemed oblivious, continuing to walk forward.

The necklace around their necks started to tremble, and Lann and Ged seemed to have agreed.

One took a swift half-step forward, the other made a small backward jump, creating just the right distance gap.

As they retreated, a cloud of gray smoke appeared out of thin air in the space they vacated, then expanded outward, reforming into the demon spirit.

As soon as it appeared, it unfolded its decayed arms, twirling them like a windmill.

In one hand, it held a rusted thin sword, and in the other, an oil lamp with a glass cover.

Those ordinary soldiers probably died like this.

They didn’t know a demon spirit could teleport instantaneously, nor did they know their ordinary armor was ineffective against the demon spirit’s weapons.

But now, the two present were experts in dealing with monsters.

They were professional enough and extremely calm.

"Clang!"

Iwami Style: Climbing Carp!

The Lady of the Lake’s Sword actively met the rusted blade before the demon spirit could finish its first spin.

Then, a dazzling burst of sparks erupted in the dark tomb.

The demon spirit’s ethereal body lacked stance, but this skillful block still prevented it from completing the second spin.

Lann completely blocked the demon spirit’s movements.

While Ged then executed a forward lunging stance, delivering a powerful blow prepared for one second!

The whistling wind demonstrated the speed and power of this strike.

The dingy oil glow on the blade was another of Lann’s material contributions.

Ged’s enraged downward slash was comparable in technique and power to Lann’s initial move.

The Evil Spirit Oil coated slash tore off half the demon spirit’s shoulder.

The golden glowing long knife followed closely, chopping off the demon spirit’s skeletal head.

In a scream seemingly piercing the soul, the eerie green flames ignited on the demon spirit.

Soon, only a pile of ashes remained beneath the ankle-deep water.

Previously, Ged had delivered an impressive slash; even now, he hadn’t had time to retrieve the silver sword, quickly squatting down.

With his hands, he scooped up the ashes.

Muttering to himself, "Evil Spirit Dust! Hehe, Evil Spirit Dust!"