A Big Explosion

The sorceress took the Drowner Whistle and examined it closely. "It looks exquisite, but it's clearly not a magical item. How could it possibly be something I made?"

She casually tossed the whistle back to Soyer.

The Chieftain of the School of the Wolf caught it and silently looked at the Drowner Whistle for a moment, ultimately unable to discern what was so exquisite about the strange, eerie bone whistle.

"Vesemir said you made it?"

"Vesemir?" the sorceress murmured, repeating the name. She seemed to have some recollection of it.

"He is Ailin's current mentor, and after the Trial of the Mountains, he will also become Ailin's mentor for his travels," the Chieftain paused, then continued.

"Sincere, diligent, and responsible. He was my personal choice for the most suitable travel mentor for Ailin."

Vesemir blinked, saying, "You mean the Witcher who lost a silver sword worth twenty thousand Oren to Ailin."

"17,325 Oren," Soyer chuckled lightly. "That sword also has a name: Elsa."

Upon hearing this, Vesemir shot the Witcher a look. "What's so funny? I remember when you were a child, you even named a stick by the roadside..."

"Vesemir!"

"Don't bring up childhood matters again!"

The Chieftain of the School of the Wolf, uncharacteristically, raised his voice in front of the sorceress. Then, before Vesemir could speak, he quickly changed the subject.

"The reason I mentioned Vesemir is that Ailin told him this item was made by you."

The sorceress fell silent.

"Vesemir, if you didn't make it, and you never taught him how to make it, then where did he get this knowledge from?"

"Moreover, this item, without the slightest magical fluctuation, managed to lure out almost all the Drowners in Killer Lake."

The sorceress said with some difficulty, "He is, after all, a Child of Miracle. He must have some special qualities..."

"Vesemir, you don't need to convince me. I care about Ailin just as much as you do. Right now, I'm just worried that he's been misled by some entity."

"There aren't many entities that like to create items from bone. None of them are safe."

Taking a deep breath, Vesemir's emotions stabilized.

She looked at the Drowner Whistle in the Witcher's palm. Even without any magical fluctuations, the more Vesemir looked at it, the more dangerous and eerie it seemed.

Or perhaps it was precisely because there were no magical fluctuations that it felt dangerous and eerie to her.

She had been to Killer Lake many times.

If she were to create an item with a similar effect, within twenty meters, the magical fluctuation of the item would cause Soyer's insignia to glow.

"Tomorrow, I'll have a good talk with him..."

The Chieftain of the School of the Wolf was about to nod in relief when his movement froze due to a cold gaze.

"Also, we are different. My love for Ailin is millions of times greater than yours."

"At least if I were in this castle, I would never let him encounter something like this!"

Snap

A snap of the fingers.

An orange portal appeared once more.

"Firmly remember your oath... Soyer Henryetta."

"If you still wish for the Ancient Sea Fortress to stand peacefully amidst the gray mountains..."

Before her words had even finished, the sorceress disappeared into the orange light.

Witcher Apprentice Dormitory.

The Monster Hunting state ended, and Ailin gasped for breath.

Although his Stamina still showed 40, the complete depletion of 150 Stamina still felt somewhat uncomfortable.

However, this was much better than in the afternoon.

After lying on the bed to recover, Ailin got up, quietly held his steel sword against himself for a moment, and then lay back down.

As for the effect...

How to put it?

"It seems like it works, but it also seems like it doesn't..."

Ailin looked at the bloodstains on his arm and muttered, pushing the affinity for Chaos Magic to the back of his mind.

Blocking swords with his body was still a distant hope.

To be like a normal Drowner, Ailin felt he would need at least twenty points of affinity.

He just didn't know if affinities for different attributes would stack or be calculated separately.

After a moment of thought, Ailin shifted his gaze back to his inventory.

The experience orbs, totaling nearly ninety thousand experience points, were a pleasant sight no matter when he looked at them.

However, this time, Ailin quickly shifted his gaze to the enticing treasure chests.

The eight treasure chests from the Drowner King would naturally be saved for last.

He decided to open the regular Drowner chests first to warm up.

[Ding! Drowner Chests *23 opened]

White, white, white… Gold, blue, purple…

?

One gold and one purple!

He got some good drops!

He hadn't expected the Drowner chests to give him such a surprise.

Ailin quickly focused his gaze.

After a dazzling golden light, his vision suddenly went black.

Huh?

Before he could react, a drop of blood fell from above his field of vision.

Ailin instinctively looked up and saw a blurry, monstrous face.

It resembled a Drowner, a Ghoul, and a Rotfiend.

Its body was oozing blood.

As if noticing the Witcher apprentice's gaze, the grotesque, blood-colored face let out a roar and instantly closed the distance.

When it was only a finger's length away from Ailin, it exploded into a mist of blood.

As the blood mist dissipated, a blueprint appeared.

Before Ailin could get a good look, another purple light flashed.

Then, a murky heart appeared, pulsing before his eyes.

As it continued to pulse, the heart transformed into a blueprint.

[Obtained: Rotting Flesh *12, Lesser Experience Orbs *8, Drowner Whistle *1, Ghoul Oil Sword Oil Recipe, Drowner's Heart Essence Fluid Potion Recipe]

"Whoa!"

Were the Drowner chests on a roll tonight?

It felt like all the good stuff in his inventory had just dropped.

This surprise was truly massive.

To be honest, the Ghoul Oil recipe definitely deserved a gold rating, but for some reason, the Drowner's Heart Essence Fluid was only purple.

For a Witcher apprentice, this was practically a divine potion.

Ailin glanced at Hughes, who was still trembling, and sighed for him. If he had this for next year's Trial of Grasses, he might not have to suffer so much.

However, tonight's dinner was also his last "proper meal."

Ailin refocused and mentally opened the recipes.

[Name: Necrophage Oil]

[Type: Sword Oil Recipe]

[Refining Requirement: Alchemy LV1 (Not Met)]

[Recipe: Dog Fat *1, Dandelion *4]

[Effect: Apply to weapon to enhance damage against necrophages.]

[Notes: Why bother with a silver sword? Brew a pot of Necrophage Oil – cheap and convenient!]

It was indeed the Necrophage Oil from the game!

He just wondered how the damage enhancement in the game would manifest in the real world.

Putting away the Necrophage Oil, Ailin opened the next recipe.

[Name: Drowner's Heart Essence Fluid]

[Type: Potion Recipe]

[Refining Requirement: Alchemy LV4 (Not Met)]

[Recipe: Drowner Heart]

[Effect: Increases Strength and Constitution attributes, restores stamina, enhances the body's absorption capabilities.]

[Notes: Just Drowner's Heart Essence Fluid, and it's still not enough?]

It was more than enough.

He really couldn't ask for more.

Drowner's Heart Essence Fluid pairs very well with Witcher apprentices.

Especially during the time before the Trial of Grasses.

Ailin felt he was a bit late even when using the essence fluid.

Many stats were wasted.

After his reflection, and taking advantage of his good luck today, Ailin quickly opened the remaining 18 Drowner King's Chests.

[Ding! Drowner King's Chest * 18 opened]

Gold...

?

Holy crap!

The first one gave gold!

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