Ban Ard Academy

Ban Ad is indeed very close to the Hundred Fruit Garden.

Carrying the gifts from the villagers, it only took half an hour to cycle.

The tall, blue city walls and ancient, towering spires came into Ailin's view.

certainly.

As these sights drew closer, a repulsive, nauseating stench began to assault the Witcher's keen sense of smell.

"What an unpleasant city!"

Vesemir, mounted on his horse, frowned and sighed.

Because they weren't in a hurry, the witchers didn't set off early.

When I cycled to Ban Ade, I managed to avoid the peak time of morning when people lined up to enter the city.

"Halt!"

Vesemir, who was holding the reins, was stopped by two guards.

"Entry fee is five copper coins..."

Notice the dark gold Cat Eyes beneath Vesemir's Black Wide-brimmed Hat.

The guard paused, instinctively took a step back, and gripped his spear tightly.

"What's wrong, Rice?"

Another guard frowned and asked.

"Those damn freaks are back!"

Although the guard named Rice spoke very softly, it was clearly not enough to escape the Witcher's hearing.

Even the young witchers behind Vesemir heard it all clearly.

Huus, Bont, and Fred, who had just been chatting animatedly and comparing their praise of the villagers, all fell silent instantly.

Half an hour ago,

They were warmly seen off by the villagers at the Hundred Fruit Garden.

Half an hour later,

He was insulted and called a freak by a group of guards he had never met before!

The difference is too great.

Fred was somewhat impatient, would have grabbed the steel sword with his right hand if Bont hadn't held him down.

"Can we go in now?"

Vesemir had a stern face and didn't seem to be in a good mood.

However, he still pointed behind him and handed the guard the twenty-five copper coins that he had prepared beforehand.

"The five of us are together!"

The guard who was exposed at the front because Rice retreated instinctively took the money bag.

Coming to his senses, he saw Vesemir and several witchers behind him, their heterochromatic eyes glaring with a chilling, wildcat-like intensity.

He instinctively leaned against the wall, as if avoiding a plague, covered his mouth, and waved his hand, urging them to go inside quickly.

"Da~Da~Da~"

Amid the sound of horses' hooves.

The Witcher enters Ban Ad.

The guard's unsettling, disgusted gaze lingered on the few witchers.

At the same time came their malicious words, which they thought no one knew.

"Damn it, why are these damned monsters here again?"

"Don't you know? Tomorrow is some kind of fighting tournament between the School of the Wolf and the School of the Cat of Witchers..."

"How do you know? And what about the School of the Cat and the School of the Wolf? How come those monsters who deserve to be punished by the gods have schools of thought?"

"Oh, didn't you see the notice the Jazz issued a few days ago?"

"Uh... I can't read... Let's not talk about that. So, does this mean these freaks will be living in the same city as us for the next few days? What idiot came up with the idea of having those monsters compete in Ban Ade? These freaks, hated by the gods, will bring misfortune to this city..."

"Shh! Are you crazy?! This is an event hosted by the King!"

"Ah..."

The guards' gossip was gradually carried away by the wind.

Vesemir and the young witcher's mood did not improve.

The air was thick with a stench, and human and animal excrement was everywhere on the ground. Most importantly...

The hostility emanating from the streets and alleys was several times stronger than when they first came.

"Those cat-eyed monsters are back again! Don't get so close!"

"Keep an eye on the child. I heard from the mother of a relative of my distant cousin's family, who works as a cleaner at Ben Ade College..."

"These freaks can't have children of their own, so they like to steal other people's children."

"Unable to have children? Good heavens, these blasphemous monsters, may the Goddess Meritellie protect them..."

Ban Ad...

This city is hostile to them!

Amidst the hostility of the entire city, the Witcher silently led his horse forward, his mood growing increasingly heavy and uneasy.

Just then...

"Ailin!"

"Ailin!"

Who's calling me...? Ailin looked in the direction of the voice.

A man in a long black robe stood behind the city wall, waving excitedly at him.

"Robin!"

The visitor was none other than Robin, a former wizarding apprentice of the School of the Wolf and the librarian of Kaer Morhen Castle.

"Hahaha, it's me, it's me!"

It was clear that he was very happy to meet a friend he hadn't seen in a long time, and he ran over in just a few steps.

"Master Vesemir!"

Upon approaching and seeing Vesemir, Robin first greeted him reservedly.

Then, smiling, he looked at Ailin and said:

"I heard you came to Ban Ade more than ten days ago. Why didn't you come to see me before you left?"

Ailin was taken aback by what he heard.

"Forehead..."

"The last time I came to Ban Ade, all the hotels were full, and I couldn't find a place to stay... um... let's not talk about that..."

How did you get here?

"Did you come here specifically to pick us up?"

After giving a brief explanation, Ailin changed the subject.

To be honest, if Robin hadn't come this time...

He honestly couldn't remember that he actually had a friend in Ban Ade.

Is it because he has never had a good impression of this city that he subconsciously feels that the place his friend longs for should not be like this?

Or perhaps her hostility towards the male wizard was growing deeper, so she instinctively distanced herself from her friend whose identity had changed.

after all...

The story of the Sorceress and her elven friend breaking apart due to their differing stances is truly profound.

Ailin thought to himself.

But looking back now.

Robin's dull and naive demeanor, it's hard to imagine under what circumstances Ailin would actually turn against him, a man obsessed with books.

"How come so many hotels in Ban Ade are fully booked?"

Robin scratched his head, muttered something strange, then stopped thinking about it and nodded.

"Yes, Farouk —the wizard who went to Kaer Morhen to pick me up—told me yesterday that you would be coming to Ban Aard today, and asked me to show you around Ban Aard College..."

Ailin wasn't surprised that the wizards knew their whereabouts.

After all, ever since the king sent them materials for the North Wind Bomb, or even earlier...

Their whereabouts had already been exposed.

"I was just going to wait for you at the academy gate, but I figured you'd never been here before, so I met you there..."

As he spoke.

Robin led the way into the inner city.

Along the way.

Several witchers felt the city's disgust even more deeply.

However, after learning from Robin that the madmen of the School of the Cat had recently killed the innkeeper for refusing to let them check in, the witchers were no longer so surprised.

Although they weren't particularly welcome when they came last time.

Besides the increased hostility towards the Witcher.

Half a month is clearly not enough time to change the face of a city.

Urine and feces, household garbage, and suspicious brown spots are still openly present in dark alleys, corners, and even on the main street.

This made several witchers very uncomfortable.

"What an unpleasant city!"

This is a consensus among all Witchers.

After they reached the upper town, the smell became milder, and for some reason, Robin gradually became less talkative.

"Is it very difficult to get used to?" he asked.

Ailin nodded.

"The capital of Kedwen, Adkale, has the same smell. Someone told me it's the atmosphere of a city, the smell of prosperity..."

Fred couldn't help but interrupt Robin:

"Who's lying? This just smells like feces!"

Robin adjusted his glasses and smiled.

"This is what Farouk, who brought me here, said..."

"However, I think the same way as you!"

Ailin noticed that Robin seemed to be acting strangely:

"What's wrong?"

"Aren't you happy living here?"

Robin was uncharacteristically silent for a moment before speaking:

"I was recommended by Lady Vesemir, so naturally I have no problems with work or life."

That means there's a problem elsewhere... Ailin patted Robin on the shoulder:

"We're friends. You can tell me directly if you need anything. Maybe I can help you?"

Robin turned around, hesitated for a moment, and then looked at the witchers with a complicated expression:

"It's not that I have a problem... Ailin... it's that you guys are in trouble!"

The witchers looked at each other in bewilderment upon hearing this.

They have indeed been in trouble lately, and quite a lot of it.

I just don't know which one you're referring to?

King? Warlock? Or a Witcher from the School of the Cat?

Unaware of the Witcher's strange expression, Robin furtively glanced around, and only after confirming that no one was around did he whisper:

"Ailin, has the school offended the wizards or the king?"

"Ban Ade's sorcerer concocted a batch of Esk's Disguise Potion and just sent them to your opponents a few days ago."

"Esk's Disguise Potion?" Vesemir frowned.

Robin nodded:

"Yes! It's the kind of potion that can disguise your age, making you look three to five years younger after taking it."

"Although this potion has a weak effect, it also lasts for a very long time and is difficult to detect."

Robin looked at Ailin with a rare serious expression:

"In tomorrow's Apprentice Combat Tournament, your opponents are not just new demon hunters like you who have just finished their trials; they are all seasoned School of the Cat demon hunters!"

After Robin finished speaking, he thought Ailin would be surprised and ask him more questions.

Unexpectedly, not only Ailin, but all five Witchers showed no reaction whatsoever.

"I'm serious, why aren't you guys reacting at all?"

Robin was getting anxious.

"I've heard that the School of the Wolf's swordsmanship is no match for the School of the Cat's; they're a school of demon hunters who specialize in killing..."

"Ailin, why don't you just withdraw from the competition?"

"This is too dangerous..."

"Hmph!" Ailin snorted, interrupting Robin.

The former School of the Wolf wizard apprentice then realized what he was saying.

He glanced at Vesemir and the other young witchers, gave a dry laugh, and said:

"Um... the School of the Wolf is different from the School of the Cat after all. Your swordsmanship is for protection, for justice..."

"However, this competition is too dangerous, you really shouldn't participate!"

Looking at Robin's anxious expression.

Ailin felt warm all over.

Although he and Robin were friends, they had only known each other for a few days.

For Robin, who had already joined the Ban Aard Academy, leaking secrets was tantamount to betraying the wizards.

Once discovered.

as a result of...

Well, in the eyes of Ben Ade's wizards, Robin should be Lady Vesemir's man.

Life safety can still be guaranteed.

But this still cannot erase the kindness of Robin, who took a huge risk to come and inform him of the news.

As for why the Witchers weren't surprised or worried about this news?

Naturally, it's because they are confident.

He looks five years younger.

In other words, their opponents should all be around twenty years old, which, according to the School of the Wolf, means they have just finished their travel trials.

What's there to worry about?

Based on the memories of the two School of the Cat witchers that Ailin experienced.

Even the geniuses of the School of the Cat couldn't reach LV2 in the School of the Cat Two-Handed Sword in five years.

The Dharma Seal is even less of a topic to discuss.

So not only were Ailin, Huus, Bont, Fred under no pressure, but even Vesemir, who was usually very worried, was not worried at all.

"How did you find out about this?" Vesemir asked, changing the subject.

Robin looked up carefully and glanced around before saying:

"After arriving at the academy, because I came from the Witcher school of wizards, I was very familiar with the knowledge of potion mutations."

Farouk assigned me to the potion warehouse to manage Magic Material.

"But..."

Others may not know my background.

"A few days ago, several wizarding apprentices came to me to pick up materials for registration."

"During their conversation, they complained that their mentor had sent them to the stinking lower city to deliver the Esk's Disguise Potion that they had made to those lunatics of the School of the Cat..."

The secrets concerning the king and the wizard were thus leaked in casual conversation.

really...

No matter the world, seemingly prestigious organizations are often just a bunch of amateurs.

It is riddled with errors and omissions.

Ailin thought to himself.

However, it's also possible that those wizards never thought much of the witchers.

After all, in the minds of most wizards, whether it is the School of the Cat or the School of the Wolf.

All witchers are simply creations of wizards.

Why would a male wizard who claims to be the creator keep secrets about his creation?

Ailin had a feeling that perhaps the latter was the truth.

Don't worry!

He patted Robin, who was so anxious he was practically jumping up and down:

"Now that we know, nothing will happen."

"Thank you for telling us this!"

Robin was still a little worried when she saw this, but since Ailin had said so, she didn't try to persuade her any further.

"After all, I was born and raised in Kaer Morhen..."

"If I hadn't been far more talented in magic than you all, and had been much luckier than you, and hadn't been chosen by the wizarding school, I might be a witcher of the School of the Wolf now!"

"That's not necessarily true," Ailin retorted jokingly, "He might also die in one of the trials..."

Robin shrugged, not angry at all.

"That's certainly more likely, but who knows?"

"Let's keep going."

Back on the main road in the upper town, Robin stopped mentioning the apprentice competition.

Instead, he talked to Ailin and the others about some things to be aware of within the academy.

that's all.

The group soon arrived at the place where towering towers stood, the only male wizard academy on the Northern Continent.

Ben Ade College.

"That's right!"

At the entrance of the academy, Robin suddenly stopped and turned to look at the several witchers:

"Beware of Ban Ade's sorcerer..."

"Whether it's a male wizard or an apprentice..."

"They might not be very friendly to witchers!"