Praise the Mother of All Things

It might be very difficult for Rock Troll, who are used to living underground, to suddenly learn to forage in the mountains.

But this is not because the Rock Troll can't catch any creatures.

In the mountains, rivers, and lakes surrounding Kaer Morhen, there may be little of everything, but there will certainly be plenty of water ghosts.

Moreover, water ghosts are mindless monsters; they don't care whether the enemy is strong or weak, they just charge in.

From the conversation between the Mountain Stone and the Big Stone, it is clear that the Rock Troll from Viscount Hudson's abandoned mine have captured quite a few water ghosts not long after they arrived.

However, because its flesh is so unpalatable, it seems that not only is it not on the menu of the Big Stone, but even the Rock Troll brought by the Mountain Stone are unwilling to eat the blue-skinned monsters they have captured.

certainly.

This doesn't mean that Rock Troll can't eat water ghosts. You can tell from the craving for rotten flesh in Big Stone, Broken Stone, and Little Stone that Rock Troll are also carrion-eating or omnivorous monsters.

Just like humans, they can eat grass and tree roots during famines, but once conditions improve, who would want to eat things that are neither nutritious nor tasty?

"No wonder Big Stone is unhappy. Trading water ghosts that nobody likes to eat for their food reserves is already a favor from Big Stone, showing that he values the relationship with Mountain Stone."

Ailin smiled to herself.

so...

"To get the Big Stone to accept the Mountain Stone, all you have to do is make the water ghost 'tasty'."

With that thought in mind, he opened his inventory and scrolled down rapidly.

I finally found it in the very corner...

[Title: Twenty-Three Cooking Methods for Water Ghosts]

[Type: Miscellaneous]

[Function: None]

[Introduction: The second book in the "Delicious Little Guys" series]

[Note: Written by legendary chef Troll Longer, a bestseller for over 300 years]

How nostalgic!

This was the first treasure chest he had opened since he transmigrated to the world of Witcher.

He never imagined he would actually need it one day...

Although it's unknown whether the Troll Longer is Rock Troll, they are both trolls, and he's a legendary chef who has been a bestseller for over three hundred years. Presumably, his cooking method for water ghosts should suit the tastes of the Big Stone.

Now only one question remains...

Do Big Stone and the others know how to read?

After hesitating for two seconds, under the expectant gaze of the Mountain Stone, Ailin reached into his wallet and quickly took out a thick book from his inventory. The short side was as wide as a witcher's shoulder, and the long side was almost as tall as a witcher.

The leather cover is a deep blue color, with a smooth texture and a faint, peculiar fishy smell.

The origin of the material is self-evident.

The strange, slippery texture made Ailin pull it out and throw it on the ground with a slightly disgusted expression.

Smack!

It has a powerful impact.

Countless specks of dust were thrown up and scattered.

After the smoke and dust subsided, a row of huge, very abstract text was revealed on the top quarter of the cover, which should be the title.

Ailin couldn't recognize a single word; perhaps it was a script unique to trolls.

But he could guess that the meaning of these words should be "A Brief Discussion of Twenty-Three Cooking Methods for Water Ghosts".

The title also includes color illustrations rarely seen even in books about the Witcher world.

A troll, its body a vibrant orange-yellow tinged with red, resembling a ball of flame, gripped the fin of a water monster, only a tenth its size, with one hand, while its other, thick, sparking hand gestured upwards.

Judging from the eerie smile on the water ghost's face, Ailin estimated that the gesture was similar to a thumbs-up.

In front of the troll was a large cauldron with a fire burning underneath, filled with bubbling blue soup.

But upon closer inspection, those bubbles are all large and small, light blue and dark blue, various kinds of smiling water ghosts.

It's really quite creepy.

but...

Although the strange book was eye-catching, the surrounding Rock Troll only glanced at it because of the sound it made when it landed.

Almost simultaneously, everyone's gaze shifted to the Witcher's slightly open leather armor, where a large, pointed bald head was covered with question marks.

"Knock knock knock~"

Little Stone even walked over and reached out as if to tug at his leather armor, but was stopped by Big Stone punching him on the forehead.

The Witcher naturally noticed something was wrong.

However, ever since I obtained "A Brief Discussion of Twenty-Three Cooking Methods for Water Ghosts," it has been sitting at the very bottom of my inventory and I have never taken it out. By the time I finally took it out, it was too late.

But actually, it doesn't really matter.

To these simple-minded Rock Troll, his secret was probably less important than a piece of rotting flesh.

certainly.

Ailin quickly diverted their attention, saying:

"Big Stone, Mountain Stone, do you recognize the words on these?"

"Knock knock~"

The Rock Troll ' attention was instantly drawn to the book on the ground, "A Brief Discussion of Twenty-Three Cooking Methods for Water Ghosts."

Big Stone stepped forward, his beady eyes fixed on the unfamiliar words on the cover, and instinctively shouted:

"...%#&..."

Upon hearing this, Ailin was overjoyed.

Although he couldn't understand it, the intonation and rhythm were orderly, clearly indicating that it was a language.

Sure enough, the Big Stone actually recognized these characters.

With a rumbling sound, the Mountain Stone also came over, staring intently and bending down to examine it closely.

"...%...&..."

It's also similar, a very difficult-to-pronounce roar.

Although he couldn't understand it, Ailin felt that the Mountain Stone paused too much, like a babbling infant, completely unfamiliar with the writing.

Compared to the Big Stone, it seems to be missing a few syllables in the middle.

"... Where... did the good witcher find the book?" The Big Stone raised its head, its small, beady Little Eye filled with very complex emotions, emotions that shouldn't be the kind of complex emotions Rock Troll should have.

"I got it by accident," Ailin said. "Is it useful?"

The Big Stone seemed to sense that the witcher didn't want to elaborate, so it didn't press the matter. It simply glanced up at the Mountain Stone, who was still struggling to learn to read, and then turned back to ask:

"... A good witcher wants the trolls... to leave the Mountain Stone behind?"

The sentences are grammatically incorrect, but they are noticeably more coherent than usual.

Ailin paused for a moment, and only nodded seriously when he felt the longing gaze of the Mountain Stone.

The Big Stone remained silent for a moment.

The rough, stone-covered hand rubbed against his abdomen, as if trying to wipe away non-existent dirt and mud.

Then he slowly bent down and carefully picked up the blue book from the ground with his four-toed giant hand.

"Splash!"

The pages were turned, and the text inside was unfamiliar to Ailin as well, and the surrounding Rock Troll probably wouldn't understand it either.

Even the Mountain Stone just scratched its head, looked at the Big Stone, and awaited judgment.

The emotions he expressed were not as complex as those of the Big Stone.

The Big Stone carefully turned the pages one by one, seemingly examining the contents closely, but the Witcher felt it wasn't that simple.

"Have you seen this book before?" Ailin asked curiously.

The Big Stone paused, then shook its head.

Have you seen similar books?

This time, Big Stone didn't shake his head, but he didn't answer either. He simply closed the book and handed it back to the Witcher.

"... The book... is useful... the Mountain Stone remain..."

The roar of the Big Stone had not yet subsided.

The Mountain Stone and his Rock Troll companions around him immediately cheered.

"...Good Witcher... Good Witcher..." the Broken Stone roared, echoing the greeting that had just been used to welcome Ailin.

At the same time, Ailin also sensed that the way the Mountain Stone was looking at him had changed.

To put it in a more easily understood way, it would be something like...

[Because of your gift of the book, Big Stone has accepted the Mountain Stone Rock Troll Clan. Mountain Stone's favorability towards you has increased by 30, and your reputation with the Mountain Stone Rock Troll Clan has increased by 300, reaching Revered.]

[The Ancient Sea Fortress grants the Legendary unit: Rock Troll 14/14, Rock Troll Lord Mountain Stone 1/1]

This relieved the Witcher.

In a great mood, he didn't accept the book "A Brief Discussion of Twenty-Three Cooking Methods for Water Ghosts".

This book is of no use to him. Although witchers have high poison resistance, water ghosts are not on their menu. It would be better to give it as a gift to increase the favorability of the Rock Troll.

"No need to return it to me. It belongs to you trolls, so I have no use for it." Ailin shook his head with a smile.

After hesitating for a few seconds, Big Stone said "thank you" and put it away, looking very pleased with it.

The matter of settling the Rock Troll has been resolved.

Ailin was about to warn them about the possible tremors that might occur soon before heading to Old Spearhead's cave to complete the summoning quest.

Unexpectedly, after running to the camp and hiding "Twenty-Three Cooking Methods for Water Ghosts," Big Stone came back, still looking strangely awkward.

"What's wrong?" Ailin asked.

Big Stone hesitated for a moment before glancing at Ailin with his beady eyes:

"... The troll also wants... a book... with words..."

"You want me to help you find other things related to trolls, like this book, right?"

Although the Big Stone spoke vaguely, Ailin had spent a considerable amount of time with the trolls and easily guessed the meaning behind his words.

The Big Stone nodded repeatedly, then scratched its head sheepishly.

"... Big Stone ...nothing to exchange...now..."

"No need, we're friends..." Ailin smiled, seeing that Big Stone was stamping her feet anxiously after hearing this, knowing that she had some inexplicable pride and was unwilling to get something for free, and said, "Witchers only collect payment after completing the quest."

"So let's talk about the reward for finding it after I actually find it."

to be honest.

A large group of Rock Troll have already agreed to defend Kaer Morhen, and he doesn't really have any particular desire for the Big Stone.

The only thing I'm curious about is her background.

However, it seems that Big Stone has no intention of revealing this at the moment.

If you haven't built up enough goodwill, you'll just have to take it slow.

Upon hearing this, the Big Stone gratefully opened its blood-red maw and gave Ailin a "friendly" smile, insisting on inviting him to the upcoming Rock Troll Feast.

but.

When the Witcher was enthusiastically invited to sit on the rock by the Big Stone's monstrous strength, and heard the Big Stone directing a group of Rock Troll to dispose of the water ghost's corpse while it boasted about showing off its newly learned cooking skills, it instantly jumped up from the rock.

He repeatedly declined, using excuses like "I just ate" and "I have something to do later," a series of phrases commonly used by office workers in his previous life, before the enthusiastic Rock Troll finally gave up their idea of treating him well.

Drinking the Heart Essence Fluid extracted from the water ghost's heart, along with the potion made from the Drowner Tongue and Drowner Brain, was already the most acceptable and extreme use of the water ghost for Ailin.

The way the Big Stone made full use of the maggot-infested, rotting water demon's blood, flesh, and bones was far too advanced for modern witch hunters.

then.

After warning that "an earthquake might happen in a moment," the witcher bid farewell to the group of silly trolls who were eagerly preparing for their Water Ghost Feast.

The Old Spearhead's cave was as dark as ever, pitch black.

After opening the reagent bag and drinking the cat's eye, the water ghosts that had somehow wandered into the cave and were now everywhere were cleaned up.

The Witcher stopped where Old Spearhead used to sleep, found a relatively spacious spot in the corner, and took out the chalk, sulfur, enchanted dust, and mercury solution that he had prepared beforehand.

Although the Goddess Meritellie said in her divine realm that the fluctuations caused by ordinary Conjunction of the Spheres are very small, as long as they are used in a sheltered place, such as a cave, they can be completely avoided from being detected by the Wild Hunt.

Even in the wilderness, the probability of being discovered is very small.

After all, he had summoned the Conjunction of the Spheres once in Elland, and then spent almost a week in the temple without seeing the Wild Hunt.

However, since summoning missions are a newly introduced mission type, the strength of the Conjunction of the Spheres is still uncertain.

More importantly, Ailin was quite curious about the "Meritellie's Concealment Ritual" that the goddess had taught him.

[Title: Meritellie's Concealment Ritual]

[Note: In essence, this is not a concealment ritual, but more like remotely transmitting a message like "Mom, I'm hungry." All subsequent concealment processes will be remotely controlled by the recipient of the message using Divine Power.]

The notes, in particular, seem to suggest that the main function of this ritual array in shielding spatial fluctuations from the Wild Hunt is not "concealment," but rather "Meritellie."

so...

Is there any possibility?

Each time "Meritellie's Concealment Ritual" is used, Ailin can contact the goddess and ask her to grant a harvest buff.

Without a reason, a Witcher certainly wouldn't bother someone just to get a buff or open a chest.

But now that I have an excuse, I have to give it a try.

The ritual circle, drawn with chalk, is an interlocking circle symbolizing the unity of a goddess, a young girl, a pregnant woman, and an old woman.

Mercury was placed on young girls, magic dust was poured on pregnant women, and sulfur was poured on old women.

After carefully setting up the ritual according to the requirements in her mind, she walked around the entire ritual array four times clockwise, stopping precisely in front of the ritual circle symbolizing the girl.

After checking it again, Ailin took a deep breath and prayed fervently:

"Homage to the Mother of All Things, Goddess of fertility, harvest, and childbirth, eternal maiden, mother, and guardian of the old..."