Before My Father's Father

Chapter 20: Before My Father's Father (Thanks to reader "aka_" for the monthly ticket)

"Hmm... Ailin, are you done?" Vesemir asked, unsure.

Leto was too shocked to speak, but hearing Vesemir's tone, he glanced over and thought:

You don't know either, so why were you so cocky earlier?

Ailin adjusted his mindset and said, "Yes, I'm fine now."

Leto couldn't help but pat Vesemir on the shoulder and ask:

"Damn it... What's going on with the mushroom soup? Did he get distracted reading smutty books? He dares to skimp on the apprentice's mushroom soup?"

"You better watch your mouth, the one cooking the mushroom soup is Lady Vesemir." Vesemir, valuing camaraderie, couldn't help but remind Leto.

"Vesemir? Which Vesemir?"

"Vesemir of Toussaint, the Bloody Red Fox..."

"Holy crap... Is that the Chieftain's old flame?" Leto was incredibly surprised. "Has the Chieftain finally realized the difficulty of a school without a formal sorceress?"

Before finishing his question, Leto eagerly pressed on, "How did he lure the sorceress over? Do you have any information?"

"I don't know, and let me remind you..."

Vesemir glanced at Ailin, who pretended not to hear anything, and reminded him again:

"Ailin is currently studying Alchemy with Lady Vesemir... they meet every day..."

Leto's face immediately darkened.

He believed the apprentice wouldn't speak carelessly, but most sorceresses could read minds.

If Vesemir read what he just said...

After Leto's brain spun at high speed, his face turned even darker.

"Vesemir, why didn't you warn me just now?" Leto scolded angrily.

"Are you sure I didn't warn you?" Vesemir's face was etched with the expression of having done his utmost.

Slap

A slap landed on his forehead.

Leto asked stubbornly, "What is the signature magic of our most, most respected Lady Vesemir?"

"Vesemir's Transformation, also known as the Leech Transfiguration Spell. It is said... that the leeches transformed from Witchers have extremely high medicinal value..."

"Can I beg the Chieftain for mercy?"

"If the Chieftain knows what you just said, he might not help you..."

Amber cat-like eyes trembled in their sockets. Leto paced back and forth in front of everyone. After a moment, he suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong? Did you think of a solution?" Vesemir asked curiously. "Actually, you don't need to worry. Even for the Chieftain's sake, Lady Vesemir wouldn't kill you no matter what."

"There are plenty of methods more cruel than death, and Lady Vesemir is precisely the one most skilled in this art." Leto rolled his eyes and said, "I plan to go hide outside."

"You're not planning to spend the winter at Kaer Morhen this year?"

"What do you think? Let's go, aren't you taking the apprentice to catch Drowners..."

Leto frantically urged Vesemir.

Vesemir reluctantly bid a hasty farewell to the apprentices and then called Ailin, walking towards the outside of the castle.

"Lady Vesemir... isn't that fierce, right?"

Ailin couldn't help but ask while walking down the mountain.

"What are you joking about, the Bloody..."

"Leto!"

Hearing Ailin's confusion, Leto couldn't help but want to explain to the ignorant apprentice what the Bloody Red Fox was.

He was quickly stopped by Vesemir.

Leto could only offer an apologetic smile and then walked silently at the front of the three.

Vesemir withdrew his gaze, carefully pondered his words, and explained to Ailin:

"Leto is brainless. He offended the lady unintentionally..."

This statement was less a conversation with Ailin and more Vesemir, on Leto's behalf, expressing an apology to a sorceress who might witness this scene.

After finishing a long version of Vesemir's "Leto's Self-Criticism," Vesemir seemed a bit apologetic and advised:

"Ailin, you should show more respect to Lady Vesemir. She comes from an era even older than when I was born... before my grandfather's grandfather was born..."

Ailin's expression turned strange upon hearing this.

He suspected that if Lady Vesemir really knew about today's conversation, she would punish Leto or Vesemir.

Witcher Master, age is a big taboo for women!

"Lady Vera's methods were occasionally a bit extreme, but it was a chaotic era. Everyone, regardless of good or evil, treated their enemies similarly."

"As far as I know, Lady Vera never bullied the weak, so you don't need to be afraid."

Since Lady Vera never bullied the weak, he didn't need to be afraid. Ailin couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Vesemir really knew how to talk.

It was really difficult for the Witcher Master to say he was weak so tactfully.

"Shh! We're here!"

Leto, at the front of the group, suddenly stopped and turned to remind them.

"The first lesson in monster hunting is tracking," Vesemir said softly, pointing downwards with a serious expression. "Use your keen Witcher senses to find this group of Drowners."

[Ding! Main quest discovered: Tracking (Find the Drowner pack 0/1)]

[Quest Reward: Tracking LV1]

The ghost system was finally making a move.

Heaven was indeed outside the castle of Kaer Morhen.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Ailin looked down.

The ground in late autumn was covered with scorched yellow broken leaves, scattered without any pattern.

Ailin didn't notice anything different at first glance.

If Leto had pointed out the tracks, Ailin might have suspected he was being toyed with, but Vesemir wouldn't. He was very serious about teaching his apprentices.

So, Ailin settled his mind and tried to observe from different angles.

Since Vesemir and the system both confirmed it was a pack of Drowners.

It was definitely correct to start from the characteristics of Drowners.

Ailin looked up to observe the direction of the sun, then walked to the opposite side.

The spot Vesemir had pointed to indeed had a small area that was glittering.

It was the reflection of liquid, definitely left by Drowners.

"Good. I didn't expect you to find a clue on your first hunt," Vesemir said, nodding with satisfaction. "Continue, find them, and then deal with them."

Ailin nodded seriously upon hearing this.

"Crunch~ Crunch~"

The autumn leaves were dry and yellow, making crisp sounds underfoot.

Ailin walked at the front of the three-person team, Vesemir observed from the back, and Leto lagged behind absentmindedly.

As the air gradually became more humid, a small stream soon appeared before Ailin.

"Gurgle~ Gurgle~"

Ailin quietly crouched down and looked in the direction of the sound.

There were about eight Drowners, frolicking on the grass by the stream.

"It's simple to judge the strength of Drowners..." Vesemir whispered a reminder from the side.

"By their physique," Ailin added.

"That's right. So, these ones are not weak; they are much stronger than the one you killed yesterday," Vesemir said.

"It's indeed not easy to find so many weak Drowners," Leto chimed in, sounding deeply resentful.

Vesemir ignored Leto.

He looked at Ailin and asked softly, "How many do you want?"

His tone was as relaxed and casual as if he were asking how many breads they wanted for dinner.

Ailin didn't reply immediately. He used an appraisal on the closest and strongest-looking Drowner.

[Name: Drowner]

[Level: LV6]

[Stats: Strength 13, Agility 11, Constitution 23, Perception 8, Mystery 1]

Only LV6, a difficulty I can handle.

Ailin's eyes lit up slightly, and he turned to Vesemir, saying:

"I want them all!"

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