MTL - Astartes of the Bear School

Chapter 898 880. Departure from acquaintances (3000)

Although the residents in front of me have not yet turned into wandering souls, their thinking and movements have begun to become stiff and sluggish.

 “I would like to ask, where is the gate of the village?”

The villager put his hat on his chest, and it took him a while to understand what Lan En meant.

 He turned around stiffly and raised his fingers high behind him.

 “Go from there. Keep going to higher places. You’re there.”

This village is also located in a mountainous area. The area of ​​a village is not large, but the height difference is quite large.

 It seems that the village gate connected to the bridge into Lothric is at the highest point.

"Thanks."

 Lan En maintained a cautious posture while thanking the villager.

“Is the situation in the village very bad recently?”

 It's just that they are walking their own way if it has nothing to do with them.

 “I have some food here, do you need it?”

 According to the nature of this world, Lan En actually believed that the tree might have absorbed too much nutrients, souls, humanity, etc. from the undead limbs, and then became alive.

Lan En didn’t expect to meet him directly. It was more important to get things done quickly.

"In the past, our iron cage only contained one undead person, but now we have to stuff seven or eight dry wandering souls into it. It looks like a spider, with several arms and several legs."

But he quickly put his palm in front of his mouth. After the bread crumbs accumulated on his palm, he poured the crumbs on his palm into his mouth.

“Those are the mentors of the Netherworld Church. We originally thought they were here to transport away the increasing number of undead, just like before.”

 He said that a spellcaster actually came to this village some time ago. Although Lan En didn't know the specific abilities of the so-called [Spellcaster], the name sounded like it should be a person who has supernatural powers such as [Magician] or [Priesthood].

He was eating and talking, his movements seemed a little anxious, and a lot of dry bread powder spurted out of his mouth.

"But they seem to be different now. They say that we can deal with the undead by ourselves, whatever we want. They always tell us stories that we have never heard before."

 Lan En asked again if any outsiders had been in the village recently, or if any strange things had happened.

Lan En handed over a piece of black bread, and the villager quickly took it in his hand and started eating it immediately.

There is not much else to say. This villager does not know the whereabouts of the old knight Fordolink.

This villager told the truth.

Lan En was walking in front and said without looking back: "I think it's because of the darkness that people are no longer good."

I don't know how much time the nutrition of bread can support his body.

 “I thought they were all bad people, meow.”

 The villagers answered questions while eating. It seems that the nutrition of bread reminded him of the common sense that 'eating people has a short mouth'.

The witcher looked at him and saw that after eating a few mouthfuls, his body seemed to be nourished and his soul became clearer.

 So when the world collapsed, the people here first had nothing to eat and drink, because they did not produce food themselves.

"But now there is no better way. There are more and more undead people who are still a little sensible and want to fight for a neat way to die."

So, he continued to lead the horse towards the heights of the undead settlement.

 The witcher looked up at the 'Bleeding Eclipse'.

 “That doesn’t seem to be the case now.”

Also, the sacred tree enshrined in the village is now used as a place where they temporarily place the remains of the undead. Rumor has it that many people heard deep breathing near the tree.

The industry of the undead settlement is entirely to deal with the undead. In normal times, Lothric and the Church of the Underworld would provide considerable subsidies for this 'initial process'.

 Lan En asked seemingly unintentionally.

“But that’s not what we said before. The mentors of the Netherworld Church told us to be careful not to shed too much blood when we kill the undead. That blood can bring ominousness.”

“I met a fat woman on the way here. She looked really scary.”

 “I won’t judge people by their appearance anymore, meow.”

 Before he left, Lan Endo gave him a piece of bread as a reward.

  If we meet, we can communicate with each other.

This villager gave a lot of valuable information.

It scratched its beard and said.

On horseback, Flannel Ball’s claws left the hilt of the sword and he breathed a sigh of relief.

 “Food? Want, want.”

As long as the flames have not regained their vigour, the undead will not cause trouble. Food shortages are enough to kill most people in this world.

 This is what the villagers rely on for a living.

There are also many villains here like the slaves in the Netherworld Church, but when there is no Netherworld erosion, they don't seem to be hostile to Lan En.

 Eventually the soul will deteriorate.

As he was talking, Lan En was climbing up the hill, looking towards the outside of the hillside below.

Outside this road, on the top of another hill, a familiar figure was standing there, looking into the distance.

The distinctive dusk-colored armor, shield, and flaming sword are Fodolink.

  Still a bit lucky.

 Lan En thought to himself.

 Hands on, I don’t care whether the maneuverability of riding a unicorn will scare others.

 Getting on his horse, he pointed to the top of the mountain for Qilin: "Go over there, I see an acquaintance."

Gu Long shook his head and looked to the side.

There is a bottomless cliff below. The people of the Undead settlement are obviously not in the mood to put up a fence on the mountain road, so they can just die if they make a mistake.

 And Qilin did not comment on this.

The hoof lightly scraped the ground twice to show respect for the terrain, and then jumped up lightly.

  Jumped easily to the cliff on the opposite side. The limbs of the ancient dragon are much harder than rocks, and you can easily step into them, then climb up the stairs to the top.

 “Hey, Fodolink!”

 Lan En's voice was somewhat happy.

It is indeed a joy to meet an acquaintance who has helped you in a world that is gradually becoming chaotic, dark and dangerous.

Lan En jumped off the horse and walked towards Fordolink who was standing on the edge of the cliff looking out.

 But the further he walked towards him, the joy on Lan En's face faded and his steps became more hesitant.

 Finally, he stopped three steps behind Fodolink. The palms of his hands also clenched unconsciously.

 This old knight has started to feel bad.

 Lan En's brows furrowed completely.

　　When he first met Fodolink, the old knight neatly dealt with a group of wandering lumberjacks.

At that time, although his eyes looked tired, he still looked like a normal person.

 But now

With the clang of armor, the former paladin turned slightly.

Under the dusk-colored pointed helmet, a mask made of rags only exposed the eyes.

 But the look in his eyes was like a wooden thorn stuck in the nail seam, making people feel dangerous and painful.

 “Can you still communicate, Fodolink?”

The witcher pursed his lips and asked with difficulty.

This old knight was already an immortal before. Now, it is not surprising that he has turned into a wandering spirit or a living corpse.

"comminicate?"

 Unexpectedly, Foldolink showed a well-organized response to Lan's question.

But this tone

 Lan En’s expression, which had been a little surprised just now, suddenly became solemn again.

 Jeering, malicious, and cruel. This is not a character that Fuldolink has shown before.

 Nothing like it at all!

“For now, I can still communicate with you. But, people will go crazy one day, especially those who cannot die, haha.”

It was still the voice of the old knight himself, but what was revealed under the voice was completely different from that of a guy who could help ordinary passers-by.

He's crazy.

 Lan En realized this clearly.

"Since you are going crazy, what are you doing here? Your madness is just daze?"

As the witcher spoke, he looked covertly over Fodolink's shoulder and followed his gaze just now.

 Is it the big tree that is revered as sacred by the villagers of the Undead Settlement?

“It’s so funny that I realized the truth of the world only after I went crazy—the gods have put shackles on humans.”

 Foldolink walked past Lan En, and he didn't seem to have any intention of taking action.

 Instead, it was just as if he wanted to introduce his ideas to Lan En.

 The undead did not become living corpses or wandering souls, but instead claimed to have obtained the ‘truth’?

It's really a ghost.

“Now is not a good time for us to talk, Lane. Look, I even remembered your name.”

"When you get mad and understand, you will know where to find me. We will use sacrifice to form a bond."

“By then, we crazy people will be family.”

Lann turned around and looked at Fodolink who was gradually leaving. His hand slowly wanted to move to the handle of the knife at his waist, but he finally gave up.

—

 Foldolink, as well as the overall situation of the undead settlement, have fully reflected the chaos that the fire is going out and will bring to the world.

 People’s sanity is collapsing, and supplies and logistics are also drying up.

Whether it is body or soul, you will face despair at this moment.

 After all, the ‘world’ as the world’s beings know it is about to collapse.

 There were no more twists and turns after that, Lan En arrived at the gate of the Undead Settlement all the way.

There is a warrior here who calls himself the "Sun Knight", and he tries his best to help the people here.

He seems to be a kind-hearted person. Under his management and restraint, at least there hasn't been any big trouble here.

 “Don’t trust those teachers from the deep church.”

Lan said to the Sun Knight.

This guy is wearing a set of chain mail and plate armor that looks quite strong. On his head is a barrel-shaped helmet with only a viewing slit, and a feather on the side, which is unique.

It’s just that the sun pattern with a human face on the chest blouse reminds Lan somewhat of the Nilfgaardian emblem.

“Those teachers have apostatized and now teach profound stories.”

“Hey, I also know what you said makes sense. There is something wrong with the stories of those teachers’ sermons.”

The Sun Knight's roaring sound came from under his helmet. Helpless and distressed.

“But they are people from the Netherworld Church after all, and they have been cooperating with the Undead Settlement for hundreds of years. Now people are panicked, and everyone wants to grab some life-saving straw. In short, I can only try my best.”

 “Just try your best.” Lan En said while leading Qilin away. "Archbishop Klimt said there is no need to be too pessimistic. The city of Lothrik has always been in control of the fire ceremony."

“I’m not worried that the fire-passing ceremony won’t be able to go on, that’s impossible.”

Sun Knight sighed and shook his head.

“I just wonder how many people will die in this world when the fire passing ceremony is completed.”

"Okay, I'll ask someone to open the door, and you can go out. The pilgrims in front of you will arrive half an hour earlier than you. They will also go to Lothric to admonish the prince face to face. You can join them."

Lan En nodded and walked out of the village gate.

 “Thank you, may the flames bless you.”

 “May the sun guide you, my friend.”

 (End of this chapter)