Bear School Astartes

Chapter 936 - 918: Farewell, Archbishop

Lann listened to the Three-Floral Kitten’s words, and gave it a surprised sideways glance.

Unexpectedly, the kitten also knew how to care for children.

But Rong Buqiu accurately caught the gaze of its boss and puffed up its fur, emphasizing shrilly!

"Meow! Don’t get any ideas! I won’t keep doing such boring things, meow!"

"That’s what you say, but in the end..." Lann joked with Rong Buqiu while holding Othello and stepping onto the elevator.

"If you encounter another unattended child, can you pretend you didn’t see it?"

The Three-Floral Kitten’s triangular ears flattened against its head, and it let out a dissatisfied low ’meow’, then ignored Lann, choosing to squat in a corner with its back to him.

The creaking of the wooden floor resounded as the elevator reached its level.

Rong Buqiu darted past Lann, squatting on the railing to look down.

Then a ’whinny’ sound of flaring nostrils came up from below.

Lann leaned over for a look and found that the Qilin was taking care of itself quite well.

It seemed to have dismantled a tree from the high walls of Losric and crushed it beneath its hooves for firewood.

The firelight was ample, and as the sky brightened, the Qilin seemed quite spirited.

"If you don’t need my help, I’ll head down first, meow."

Just like a fleeting cloud, Rong Buqiu was full of energy again in no time.

The lively, optimistic, and hardworking nature of the Elu Cat makes it difficult for them to maintain a long-lasting bad mood.

Lann nodded, and Rong Buqiu gripped the wall’s cracks, sliding down to the Qilin’s side.

Preparing for when Lann would summon it again, to act as auxiliary combat strength.

Meanwhile, the Demon Hunter continued forward, and after passing through the long stone corridor, found himself once more atop the Highwall Church.

"He’s back!"

Knight Commander Lorenzo of the Losric Knight Order, who was recuperating inside the church, was the first to spot the Demon Hunter, then called out to those around him.

He excitedly rose from his seated position, supporting himself with the Losric Knight’s Greatsword.

His metal armor clanged with friction and collision during this.

But what caught Lann’s attention were the sword marks on Lorenzo’s armor and the jagged nicks from clashes on his Greatsword.

It seems they had been through intense battles during this period.

Besides the Losric Knights and clergy who were here before he left, there were many others in the church now.

"Klimte, you finally made it."

Lann greeted the familiar face in the crowd while flipping over and jumping down from the second floor of Highwall Church.

Almost everyone present had witnessed his extraordinary agility, so no one was particularly surprised.

The team originally planned in the Profound Church had finally reached Losric.

Lann was puzzled about how they managed to overcome the elevation differences raised by Losric’s two princes.

Once Lann landed, almost everyone in the church, both knights and clergy, silently saluted him in respect.

They had heard the second bell rung by the Firekeeper.

They all knew it symbolized the final step of Losric’s Fire Transmission process.

The gradually improving weather also indicated that Lann’s contribution was much more significant than just delivering a message.

Losric is a nation that exists for the purpose of Fire Transmission, and the knights and clergy here prioritize it above all.

Though they weren’t aware of Lann’s exact contributions, it was undoubtedly a ’support in reigniting the flame.’

This honor was enough for the knights and clergy to salute him.

Yet there was no cheering or celebration; such actions did not match Losric’s style, which sought a serene ceremony even in death.

They only saluted silently amid the clinking of armor.

Klimte was originally beside Lorenzo, and it seemed the two were discussing something.

Lann’s arrival brought the group over.

"It wasn’t easy for us. Who would’ve thought Prince Lorrian and Prince Losric would commit such treason, attempting to extinguish the flame!"

Klimte’s grizzled beard concealed his serious face. He wasn’t wearing the conspicuous archbishop’s ceremonial robe, but a common hood and robe used by the clergy.

Yet his solemn demeanor as an archbishop was still prominent.

"Ilyushil dispatched little demon couriers with wings at the Great Bridge. As the archbishop, I have a small ring standard to command them. Along with the Winged Knights who can fly, we’ve brought everyone over."

Lann turned his head and confirmed seeing the Winged Knights among the crowd, with their plump armor designs and small wings on their shoulders.

They were the same three gold-armored Winged Knights who once fought against Elderidge. They were currently performing restorative miracles to heal some Losric Knights.

Judging by their interaction, the Winged Knights were indeed a loyal and trusted unit before Rosalie was expelled from Losric.

"Wait!" Klimte caught sight of the oversized baby in Lann’s arms and suddenly seemed shaken, lowering his voice to exclaim.

"Is that... a Divine Race baby?!"

As the White Sect Archbishop, Klimte certainly recognized the Divine Race.

It was common knowledge that in this Fire Apocalypse, the once-thriving Divine Race had declined, with only a few members known.

And the one before them, appearing as an ’infant’ at such a special age... a suspicion flashed through Klimte’s mind almost instantly.

"Is this... Prince Othello?!"

The Priestess Emma almost rudely pushed her way through the crowd immediately after Klimte spoke, taking the blue-white infant from Lann’s hands.

Such actions were simply unimaginable for someone of her status and temperament.

She pulled up her robe and wrapped Othello in it. This robe wielded the power of prayer, and as the Priest of Losric, she was essentially the nursemaid to all princes.

Every movement and piece of clothing was handled with adept familiarity.

Golden light emanated from Priestess Emma’s body, and immediately the half-dead expression of this Divine Race infant finally relaxed somewhat.

It seemed the Divine Race nursemaid was indeed suitably entrusted. This made Lann breathe a sigh of relief.

The little one had reached out to him for help before, and if he couldn’t be saved, Lann himself would certainly feel unsettled.

"You’ve found Prince Othello, which means... the rumors are true."

Priestess Emma began working miracles, causing the prayer power on her robe to flourish, glowing golden.

She whispered to Lann.

Klimte and Lorenzo exchanged a glance, discreetly creating distance between those gathered around Lann and the Priestess, forming a small circle.

They moved, guiding the small circle towards the corner of the room.

Lann pursed his lips, summarizing his journey.

This included the madness of King Ausloes, whom he had killed, as well as Guta’s resistance, and the current situation at the Fire Transmission Altar.

Any one of these events, when mentioned, was shocking enough.

Especially the madness and death of King Ausloes.

When he said he had killed him, several people looked at Lann as if they’d seen a ghost.

The former strength of the Losric King was evident.

However, Othello’s existence largely confirmed Lann’s words.

Because the rumors about the little prince had spread through Losric even before the Fire became disordered.

The royal prince had reportedly hidden his shape in pain and fear, so that no one could find him, hearing only the tragic cries of the infant.

The Queen, too, went mad because she could only hear her child’s cries but could not protect him in any way, later disappearing.

It seems now that the one who tormented the little prince was the King.

"I will take His Highness back to the Profound Church."

Klimte spoke with barely concealed excitement.

"We shall welcome both Saint Gecide and the Prince back, surely the Queen would be comforted by this!"

"But this is a Losric prince!" Lorenzo launched his counterargument.

"If you ask me, it’s better to have the Queen return to Losric too, to fight against the inner city’s two princes and the sages with us!"

"Knight Captain, do you mean to let the severely wounded Queen return to fight her two sons again?!"

Lorenzo’s suggestion was straightforward, but simultaneously it left Klimte dissatisfied.

In the view of Klimte and all those heading to the Profound Church, Rosalie was already physically and mentally exhausted to the limit.

Even when they saw Rosalie willingly suppress the darkness for Lann, they were struck by surprise.

At least it proved their Goddess had not been turned into a puppet, driven mad by cruel reality.

And on one side, holding the infant and performing miracles, Priestess Emma swayed gently as she spoke softly.

"Let’s do as Klimte suggests, Lorenzo. The city isn’t safe now, and our battle with those traitors continues with undiminished intensity, look at your armor and sword. We can’t protect the little prince here."

"Moreover, at the Fire Transmission Altar, currently only Lord Rudus holds on alone."

Priestess Emma’s tone was somber, she clearly knew what that meant.

"The second bell tolling has sounded, the Ashen Ones will awaken and embark on the journey of the Hunting King."

"The Falan Undead Team, Giant King Yum, Elderidge, and... our two princes."

"The Lords of Cinder unwilling to transmit the fire will have their kindling mercilessly taken by the Ashen ones. It would be too cruel if the Queen or the little prince witnessed such scenes."

"Let’s go to the Profound Church."

"Just hide safely there, and endure through this Fire Transmission Ceremony."

As someone appointed Knight Captain under emergency, Lorenzo, though equal in status with the Priestess, still respected Priestess Emma’s words.

After the tone was set, he didn’t say much more.

While Klimte, after the small circle dispersed, pulled aside the Demon Hunter.

"As per our pact, Lann."

The grizzled archbishop looked at him solemnly.

"We will go to rescue the Saintess, then deliver both the Saintess and the little prince to the Goddess’s lap. Afterwards, we shall join you to pursue Elderidge, cleansing the darkness lurking within you."

Lann looked at Klimte, knowing this was something the archbishop sought confirmation on.

So Lann nodded, responding with a sentence Klimte had spoken to him at the Profound Church.

"Mutual assistance, it’s logical."

"In these increasingly difficult times, there’s a rare trust among us. It’s a precious thing, I won’t betray it."

"Moreover, I am grateful for the Goddess’s help before."

The archbishop, having received the promise, smiled with gratitude.