Bear School Astartes

”No need to emphasize the obvious, I know.”

Tishaya subtly shifted her gaze away from Lann’s smiling face.

”That’s exactly why I haven’t just drowned Rita in a bathtub full of East of East red wine.”

The current dean, with a guilty look, buried her head under the parchment, while the Demon Hunter at the guest seat twitched his lips, barely holding back his broad, light-hearted smile.

East of East red wine, a national treasure wine from the Land of Knights—Toussaint. A bottle from within five years, from a good grape-growing year, costs around fifteen Florin.

Converting a Niflgaardian Florin to a Temerian Oren, that equates to about one hundred and fifty Orens.

Lann’s suit of armor overhaul costs only two hundred Orens; talking about drowning someone in wine... Even when this Female Warlock makes threats, she is so lavish, isn’t she?!

Rural youth Mr. Lan, once again, confirmed his own poverty.

”So, what do you want to surprise me with, Lann? Last time you came, you directed us to a groundbreaking path for the Magic, Academy’s research?”

This time, Lann appeared a bit hesitant as he scratched his chin before speaking with a slight chuckle.

”Well... didn’t you say earlier that the markets for Dimensional Steel, enchantments, are looking pretty good?”

”Indeed they are, and that’s thanks to your ’Hunting Marquis’ initiative,” Tishaya said affirmatively.

Lann nodded and continued.

”Assuming that the current Dimensional Steel, enchantment, and freelance Mage markets are profitable, do you think it’s possible for us to initiate some innovative research and make something extraordinary out of it?”

Tishaya reached out her hand, her eyes meeting Lann’s cat-like gaze, her finely crafted features and lips subtly breaking into a smile, ”The Steel from another world, perhaps? Show me what you have.”

Being witness to the entire development of human metallurgy across the dimensions, Tishaya might not claim omniscience, but she’s got a fair sense of the birth of any new and sensational metallurgy techniques.

Lann placed the Dragonbone Dagger from behind his waist onto the desk.

Tishaya carefully unsheathed it and casually summoned a decoration sword from the back wall with a Floating Spell.

She scraped the sword’s blade with the backside of the dagger as its long blade left faint scratches, showing the incomparable quality of the Dragonbone Dagger.

Keeping her expression neutral, Tishaya handed the sheathed dagger back to Lann.

Watching her expression, the Demon Hunter felt a pulse of apprehension in his chest.

Could it be that Valerian steel performs so poorly?

The Female Warlock organized her hands again on the desk.

”It’s excellent-quality steel. How much of it do you have?”

”Uhm... Not much, just a few daggers, if you want those now,” Lann replied, still scratching absently at his chin with some hesitation.

Tishaya frowned: ”Are you suggesting that we perform weapon enchantment at Airetusa, and then auction them at a premium price as high-quality weapons?”

”Not... well... as you mentioned, how’s that plan for Dimensional Steel, enchantments, and hiring freelance Mages?”

”That’s correct, and we owe it in large part to your ’Hunting Marquis’ initiative.”

Lann nodded, but was left feeling a little unsure.

”Look here, Tishaya. I don’t have the stock right now. But... perhaps if we use Airetusa to enhance weapons, we could sell them at premium quality in auctions? What do you think about that?”

Tishaya raised an eyebrow: ”So you really don’t have a plan for the steel from another world?”

Lann hesitated, then scratched his chin, ”Well, not exactly... but if you’re interested in current stock, I might have... possibly...”

Tishaya took a deep breath and fixed her eyes directly on Lann’s cat-like pupils.

Her well-tuned and delicate face, those plush lips slowly parted.

”...Huh? Every time you and Lann come, I feel like he’s the one acting as the workaholic dean...”

The Demon Hunter gently lifted his forearm from the armrest and gestured with an unobtrusive smile.

”I am not a Warlock, and I’m a man.”

”No need to emphasize, I know.”

Without a trace, Tishaya diverted her gaze from Lann’s smiling face.

”And because of that, I haven’t simply drowned Rita in a bathtub filled with East of East red wine.”

The current dean guiltily hid her flowing blonde hair behind the parchment, while the Demon Hunter, seated on the guest seat of the desk, struggled to maintain a bright yet gentle smile, his lips twitching slightly.