Surprise

Evening.

The Blue Mountains.

"Croak~ croak~"

The cries of Drowners could faintly be heard from the depths of the forest.

Ailin, who was using his Witcher senses to track, closed the mutated organs on either side of his nostrils upon hearing the sound.

In his vision, the red mist that had manifested from his sense of smell abruptly vanished.

The Witcher apprentice glanced back at Vesemir, and the Witcher Master nodded, signaling him to act freely.

Ailin acknowledged with a nod and slowly advanced, following the Drowners' cries.

Even though he had already confirmed the enemies were Drowners from the tracks and sounds, the Witcher apprentice didn't let his guard down.

"Caution keeps a Witcher alive longer."

Those were the Witcher Master's exact words.

Relying on a single sense couldn't confirm the enemy's type and numbers with 100% certainty.

Smell, hearing, sight, and magical perception—none could be absent in a hunt.

In fact, due to the Witcher's weak magical perception, it was even more prudent to wear their school medallion during a hunt for added security.

He stepped over the dirt pit, his boots sinking slightly into the soft grass with each stride.

The Drowners' shrill cries grew closer.

Two bare maple trees couldn't obstruct the Witcher apprentice's vision.

By the small river, seven Drowners appeared before Ailin.

He cross-referenced with his four senses and confirmed there were no other monsters hiding nearby.

The Witcher apprentice expertly maintained a distance within the Drowners' perception range.

He drew his sword, and his internal magic surged.

His left thumb and index finger curled slightly, tracing a triangle in the air before him.

"Quen Shield."

A faint yellow glow shimmered on Ailin's brand-new dark leather armor.

With all preparations complete, the Witcher apprentice no longer hesitated.

He stomped his right foot on the ground, his body launching forward like an arrow from a drawn bow. In a flash, he pierced the air and swung his sword at the necks of two Drowners.

"Squelch."

"Squelch."

Viscous blood spurted from the severed necks, and the two Drowners died instantly.

Immediately after, Ailin held his sword in his left hand to protect his front and extended his right index finger rapidly.

Igni Fire Sign.

A wave of heat rose from near his heart, flowed through his right hand, and erupted outwards.

The shockwave, carrying intense heat, not only staggered the two Drowners who had charged at him alertly.

Several jets of flame even ignited the slime on the leading Drowner's body.

Although Drowners were considered representative monsters of water elemental matrices in Alchemy, the slime secreted from their bodies was highly flammable.

Before the burning Drowner could succumb to the flames, Ailin swung his sword and ended its life.

Then, taking advantage of the other Drowner trembling in fear from the fire, the Witcher apprentice circled it with a dancer-like half-turn.

A flash of silver, and its head slid from its neck.

One Drowner had now overcome its fear of fire.

Three Drowners remained.

These monsters were disoriented by the sudden flames erupting on their companion.

The Witcher apprentice seized the opportunity.

His feet moved rapidly, alternating left and right, and in a few steps, he was in the center of the three Drowners.

His blue cat-like eyes widened slightly. In an instant, Ailin calculated the angles and then swung his sword.

A silver arc cut a smooth curve, and then—

"Clang."

The sound of the silver sword returning to its sheath echoed. Only then did the three monster heads seem to react, sliding from their necks.

Black and red, foul blood sprayed from the severed ends.

The clear riverbank was instantly filled with a nauseating stench.

The battle ended in less than five minutes, from start to finish.

Skillful and efficient.

[Ding! Monster Swarm "Drowner" LV6 Defeated!]

[Reward Settlement: Victory Against Odds, Base Rating D, Superiority in Numbers +1—D+, Decapitation Deterrence +3—C+]

[Final Evaluation: C+]

[Acquired Loot: Drowner Heart Essence Fluid *7, Lesser Experience Orbs *7, Drowner's Chest *2]

[Hunting Quest: Drowner I (Drowners Killed 189/200)]

[Quest Reward: Unknown]

"Clap, clap, clap."

Ailin looked towards the sound and saw Vesemir clapping his hands as he walked towards the river.

"When it comes to hunting Drowners, even I can't be faster than you. You truly live up to the name 'Drowner Killer'..."

"Witcher Master!" Ailin called out helplessly.

Ever since the Witcher Master heard someone address Ailin by that title, he'd been teasing him from time to time.

What kind of honorific was "Drowner Killer"?

It wasn't even a proper nickname.

"Alright, alright, I won't say anymore." Vesemir shook his head, looked up at the sky, and said, "It's getting late. Pack up, let's head back."

Vesemir hadn't participated in the hunt that afternoon.

The Witcher Master had merely used his Tracking skill, at least LV4, to point Ailin in a direction. The subsequent tracking, exploration, hunting, and processing were all done by Ailin.

In reality, with Ailin's dual Tracking skill stacked, he wouldn't even need Vesemir to point him in a direction.

The Witcher apprentice already possessed the ability to hunt Drowners independently.

Thus, while processing the materials, Ailin casually asked, as if by accident.

"Witcher Master, do you think I'm capable of hunting Drowners alone now?"

Vesemir nodded and said, "I don't think any Witcher could say you aren't. At least when it comes to hunting Drowners, I can't do any better than you."

There's a chance... Ailin's heart leaped with joy. He said, "Then starting tomorrow, you don't need to accompany me. I can go alone..."

"No!" Vesemir's tone was unwavering as he decisively refused Ailin's request.

"Why?" Ailin asked.

"I am your mentor. I need to be responsible for your life."

The sun was setting, its golden rays slanting across the black, wide-brimmed hat.

On his sharply defined, handsome face, his eyes, obscured by shadow, were firm and stubborn.

Ailin, who was familiar with the Witcher Master, knew that this was a look that couldn't be persuaded.

Sighing inwardly, Ailin lowered his head and continued processing the Drowner materials.

Without Vesemir, even if Ailin was familiar with the gate guards, he wouldn't be able to leave Kaer Morhen.

Or rather, even if he managed to sneak out once, what about afterwards?

Unless he never returned to the School of the Wolf, if Vesemir found out, he would lose even the hunting opportunities he currently had.

As for leaving the School of the Wolf and going far away...

Ailin wanted to leave the castle, not to avoid the Trial of the Mountains.

He had a cheat system, so why would he still evade it? Couldn't he pass the trial and become a proper Witcher?

He was the Child of Miracle, the man destined to save the world!

"Squelch."

The last Drowner tongue was cut off and placed into the material pouch.

Ailin brought up the hunting quest again and glanced at it.

He was only 11 Drowners away from completing the quest. He could finish it in another day.

If the hunting quest hadn't occupied Ailin's quest slot, his Lesser Experience Orbs would have been at least one-fifth more.

It was a shame he could only trigger one quest at a time.

Until this quest was completed, Ailin wouldn't be able to find an opportunity to trigger other quests.

The Witcher apprentice glanced at the "Unknown" reward for the quest and sighed, thinking:

Perhaps tomorrow, the Witcher's Handbook will give me a surprise?

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