Commune with Melitele

How do I kill the Wild Hunt?

This is a difficult question to answer.

The Red Riders can ride freely through the air, unleashing spells from above powerful enough to destroy a large city.

Leaving aside ordinary people and witchers, even experienced warlocks are few and far between when it comes to flying.

This is a huge chasm that is difficult to cross.

It's like in a previous war, one side had air and space superiority, and could come and go as they pleased.

Meanwhile, the other side could only hold steel spears, ride horses, and wait on the ground for a vague and uncertain opportunity.

Therefore, Ailin had no doubt about the background story of the Ain El conquering the worlds in the original novel and game.

If all these worlds were like the Witcher world...

That was a complete annihilation, one hit and they were all silent.

He increasingly felt that in the game, just a few witchers Sorceress were enough to make the Wild Hunt abandon its aerial advantage and land to fight a group of "primitive" magic swordsmen...

They even lost; not a single Ion El escaped...

It's so absurd, it's like they've been given a mentally challenged aura.

But Ailin didn't expect the Wild Hunt to be so irrational when facing themselves in reality.

Therefore, how to deal with the Wild Hunt is currently an almost unsolvable problem.

The only solution Ailin could think of was to use the attraction of the Adagath's Gate to lure them into a narrow space and make them land and fight on foot.

But let's not even discuss whether the Ain El, who have conquered countless worlds and experienced countless wars, would really be that arrogant...

Hmm... it's hard to say, but it was probably possible at first.

But Ion El is not just a few people, so after one or two attempts at seduction, it will definitely be difficult to succeed.

not to mention.

If we actually let them land, will we be able to wipe them out?

The Witcher recalled the devastation of the Gors Velen and the May Festival in Arland, and sighed inwardly.

"How to kill the Wild Hunt, that's something we can't answer right now..." Vesemir's voice rang out.

"Cannot be answered now?" The Old Duke grasped the key phrase.

"Yes." The Witcher Master glanced at Ailin, carefully choosing his words. "You should know that we Witchers have many schools of thought..."

The Old Duke nodded.

"In Nilfgaard, there is a branch of Witchers called the School of the Viper. The purpose of the School of the Viper, founded by Grandmaster Iva the Evil Eye, was to eliminate the Wild Hunt."

"Moreover, when Grandmaster Iva underwent the Witcher mutation, the mutation that occurred in his eyes is said to allow him to see the Wild Hunt rampaging and slaughtering across the worlds."

"Therefore, when we were about to leave the Gors Velen, we sent someone to Nilfgaard to invite Grandmaster Iva to come and meet us."

Vesemir was telling the truth.

The Old Duke remained silent for a while after hearing this.

He spent half his life fighting on the battlefield and witnessed all kinds of cruel and bloody scenes.

Their mental fortitude is as hard as iron.

But at this moment, I feel somewhat powerless.

Wild Hunt...

Even the most orthodox and powerful School of the Wolf among the Witchers is powerless against this.

Could a school of witchers he'd never even heard of, located far away in Nilfgaard, really have a way to deal with those damned monsters?

As for Vesemir's claim that the School of the Viper was founded to eliminate the Wild Hunt...

But then what?

So many years have passed, have they been eliminated?

Why does the Wild Hunt still come to his country to wreak havoc and harm his nation and people?

Seeing the Old Duke's silence, Vesemir could roughly guess what he was thinking.

To be honest...

When Ailin first invited Iva the Evil Eye, he didn't believe that the rumored "madman" could really deal with the Wild Hunt.

Even now, he doesn't believe it.

But what other options do they have?

Seeing that the Old Duke's expression was not very good, Vesemir was about to speak and make up some words to boost his confidence.

after all.

It's not easy to find allies who share a common hatred for the Wild Hunt.

"Yes, I can wait," the Old Duke suddenly spoke up. "Even if you can't invite that Iva Evil Eye, I can send someone to Nilfgaard in the name of the Temeria royal family..."

Almost simultaneously, everyone looked up at him in surprise.

"I don't have many years left to live," the Old Duke said, his eyes flashing with a fierce light as he looked at Vesemir and Ailin. "I have only one wish for the rest of my life..."

"I want everyone to know the cruel consequences of unjustly invading the territory under the banner of the White Iris..."

"Whether it is human or not, even if it is called a calamity and regarded as an unstoppable natural disaster..."

"I'm going to take that damn Wild Hunt with me..."

"... to be buried with me."

"Sizzle!"

The sound of lightning and thunder broke through the air barrier and suddenly entered the spacious room.

Amidst the howling wind, the candlelight flickered violently.

At this moment.

Ailin felt the Old Duke's gaze suddenly fix on his eyes, as if waiting for his answer.

"You will get what you want." The Witcher looked directly into those deep brown eyes. "No matter how difficult it may be, the Wild Hunt is doomed!"

"Very good!" The Old Duke tapped his cane on the ground and stood up. "If there's anything I can help with..."

Then, he turned his head and called out "Pablo".

"Your Grace." A simply dressed middle-aged servant respectfully emerged from the corner.

"Even if I'm not in Arland, you can always find him in the castle," the Old Duke, looking at Ailin.

Ailin and Vesemir nodded slightly.

then.

The Old Duke glanced around and then waved his hand:

"Alright, Ianna stays. The rest of you can leave."

"Knock knock knock~"

After the witchers and Sorceress left, the Old Duke glanced at the attendants and Guard Knight around him and waved his hand again.

"You all go out too."

"Yes, Your Grace."

A short while later.

"Squeak~"

The door was closed.

Only the Old Duke and Ianna remained in the room.

After standing there for a few seconds, he didn't speak to the High Priest of the Temple of Melitele.

I walked quietly to the window and stared intently at the torrential rain, lightning, and thunder outside.

The room remained silent for a long time.

"The Black Death, the Conjunction of the Spheres, the Dark Sun Curse..." The Old Duke didn't turn around, his voice low and seemingly to himself, "And the Wild Hunt..."

"Is the world about to descend into chaos again?"

Ianna looked out the window.

The once dignified and robust man, even with his back straightened, is now hunched and aged.

"You already have the answer in your heart, don't you?" She sighed. "Besides..."

Is there ever a day in this world that isn't chaotic?

After leaving the city gate tower, the group went their separate ways.

Vesemir, Vesemir, and Mary went straight back to the temple, while Lyra, holding an umbrella, walked into the city of Arland.

In the market square of Arland, Mary, there was a group of patients waiting for their dressings to be changed, along with their caregivers.

As for Ailin...

He followed the Guard Knight Arthur to the home of a man named "Redo Ras," a famous court painter in Arland.

As a time traveler and a demon hunter of the School of the Wolf.

For him, the knighthood was merely a prestigious title; the Witcher didn't value it as much as the inhabitants of this world.

so.

Although Arthur was very enthusiastic about accepting Ailin as a knight of Arland, he did his best to arrange every step of the knighthood ceremony perfectly.

However, family crests are meaningless to witchers who have lost their fertility or have become reproductively isolated from ordinary humans.

therefore.

For their family crests and banners, the Witcher casually chose the menacing wolf head motif from their School Emblem to signify their identity.

Then, at the strong suggestion of Redo Ras and Arthur, the black background of the Temeria coat of arms was chosen as the base color.

It is worth mentioning.

Both Arthur and Redo Ras tried their best to get Ailin to add a white iris pattern to his coat of arms.

However, the Witcher rejected him without hesitation.

Are you kidding me?

Even if the School Head is indeed the Duke of Toussaint's heir and Earl, who is ranked ahead of Ailin.

But to paint Temeria white irises on family crests and flags is a bit too much of a stretch.

Despite the Witcher's strong refusal, Arthur didn't insist too much, only looking regretful.

I've been busy with matters related to the title for most of the day, and I haven't even had time for lunch.

It wasn't until almost dark that it was nearly finished.

"Wait, Ailin, there's something else I haven't given you yet."

After having dinner at a tavern, the Witcher and Arthur bid farewell to the middle-aged knight and were about to return to the temple.

Suddenly, Arthur called out and stopped him.

The Witcher watched as he pulled a familiar leather sheet from his chest and handed it to him.

"This is Duke Mason's way of expressing his gratitude," Arthur said with a smile.

The Witcher took the leather document with its unique texture, opened it, and instantly gasped.

This is indeed a deposit slip from the Vivaldi Bank, but it contains a full 20,000 Oren, a sum no Witcher has ever seen before.

Even if it were to be shared with Ms. Vesemir and Lady Vesemir, it would still be a large sum.

Including the more than 3,000 Oren who were invited to "participate" in the May Festival celebrations before the holiday.

He has already received nearly 10,000 Oren from the Old Duke's bounty alone.

This doesn't even include the money spent on acquiring the Specter Oil.

Ailin had originally thought that the knighthood bestowed upon him that morning was the Old Duke's entire reward.

After all, while the value of a knighthood is difficult to measure, it is indeed very precious.

Moreover, after being granted a title, one will be bestowed with a sword, a shield decorated with knightly crests, spurs, and a cloak made of fine fabric or silk.

Even if you calculate it in kind, the value of the item itself might be around three or four thousand Oren.

Not to mention the title of knight.

Many wealthy businessmen are willing to pay tens of thousands of Oren, yet they cannot obtain it.

After all, taking this step means entering the circle of the nobility, which not only changes one's social class, but may even lead to further advancement.

That's not even all.

"Master Vesemir and Lady Vesemir's letter of thanks has been delivered by someone else; this one is for you," Arthur added.

Um?

Ailin was taken aback.

Holy crap! All 20,000 Oren are mine?!

The Duke Mason's gratitude was simple yet profound and heartfelt.

"Duke Mason is so generous!" the Witcher exclaimed after recovering from the enormous sum, without intending to refuse.

after all.

Although the gratitude was overwhelming, he did do a lot for May Festival.

"Duke Mason has always been very generous to talented people who have contributed to Arland and Temeria."

Arthur smirked, making his umpteenth explicit statement of the day.

but.

Ailin, who only wanted to be a loyal Witcher Master of the School of the Wolf, could only pretend not to know Arthur's attempt to win him over and completely side with the Old Duke, and sincerely thanked him:

"The Duke Mason's generosity is astonishing. Please convey my thanks to the Duke."

"I will." Arthur understood Ailin's underlying meaning, nodded with regret, sighed, and left.

After watching Arthur's figure disappear into the distance, Ailin walked towards the temple.

When he reached the border between the temple district and the lower city, he inexplicably found himself outside the city gate.

The rain has stopped.

A golden rainbow hung in the clear blue sky.

The ground was covered with muddy puddles.

far away.

Under the setting sun.

The person holding the umbrella has left, and the figure of the bereaved person kneeling in the mud remains unchanged.

It was like a stubborn rock.

The Witcher took a step forward, his instinctive compassion prompting him to do something.

But after taking only a few steps, they slowly stopped.

He thought for a moment, then turned and walked to the city gate guards, leaving behind a hundred Oren and asking them to keep an eye on things.

They strode away.

Upon returning to the temple, Ailin did not seek out anyone else, but went straight back to the icon room.

Looking at the three saints statues, which appeared kind and gentle yet slightly dilapidated in the dim light, he stood quietly for a long time before finally letting out a long breath and breaking free from his inexplicable emotions.

Ailin touched the deposit slip placed on his chest.

The Old Duke's determination to seek revenge against the Wild Hunt is unwavering.

He didn't even need to actively pursue it as Ianna had planned May Festival; he naturally gained one of his most steadfast allies.

This was an ideal development that the Witcher could never have imagined before coming to Arland.

Of course, the cost was unexpectedly high, although he did not pay it.

Duke Mason, the mysterious House Kuhn, and the enigmatic Iva the Evil Eye...

The alliance against the Wild Hunt expanded rapidly in just a few dozen days.

In the original novel and game, there were rumors that the arrival of the Wild Hunt would bring the White Frost that would destroy the world.

Therefore, this applies to Ailin, the School, and all intelligent beings in this world.

Countering the Wild Hunt's expansion is a good thing.

"Undoubtedly a good thing!" Ailin emphasized, looking at the hard stone sculpture.

The three statues remain silent.

He simply smiled kindly and gently.

It sounded like mockery, yet also like pity.

After a long silence, the witcher sat back down on the ground, looking somewhat dejected.

Much later.

As the sun completely set and the icon room plunged into complete darkness, the Witcher seemed to suddenly come alive and remembered his plans for the night.

With a thought, he opened the Witcher's Handbook.

"Ding! Spend 100 Experience Orbs to reach the Divine Realm [Meritellie]?"

"WARNING: Using this method to communicate with spirits carries an extremely high risk of encountering deities. Please use with extreme caution!!!"