Would You Submit?

Killer Lake.

Soyer pulled Vesemir aside to a willow tree, some distance away from the group of Witcher Master.

The chief, noticing Vesemir's absent-mindedness, deliberately tried to distract her, saying:

"Vesemir, are you going out again after you come back this time?"

"We're not going out. We've done most of the investigation. We'll wait until after winter to do the rest."

The Sorceress's gaze still drifted, intentionally or unintentionally, over that Killer Lake.

Seeing this, Soyer sighed and comforted him:

"Don't worry, Wei."

"We've all seen the effects of that potion; there won't be any problems at Killer Lake."

After a brief pause, seeing that Vesemir's expression had not improved, the chief continued:

"Old Spearhead is probably still asleep right now, and the trolls will just throw some stones to scare the apprentices."

"Don't worry, Vesemir, Ailin will be fine," Soyer repeated.

The Chief of the School of the Wolf was not lying; although the Trial of the Mountains had a high mortality rate.

But this trial is not meant to send apprentices to their deaths.

This time of year is when the temperature in Kaer Morhen is at its lowest.

The activity level of water ghosts has decreased.

Old Spearhead also enters a state similar to hibernation, sleeping for many days at a time.

As long as the apprentices can remain calm and apply their knowledge and skills, they will surely pass the trial.

Of course, this is assuming you're not too unlucky.

However, most apprentices were unable to remain calm during the Trial of the Mountains.

At least in the icy Killer Lake, it's hard to stay calm when facing an indistinguishable number of water ghosts.

But this is not the case with Ailin's apprentices.

Fear stems from the unknown. If you know where the danger is, will you still panic?

Once you get through Killer Lake and adapt to the perilous atmosphere, your survival rate will increase significantly.

after all.

It's not easy to wake up a sleeping Old Spearhead.

As for trolls.

So far, at least, not a single apprentice has died at the hands of those docile monsters.

The Sorceress's expression softened considerably upon hearing Soyer's explanation.

She lowered her head and pondered for a moment, then sighed:

"Your situation is not optimistic."

Upon hearing this, the Chief of the School of the Wolf subconsciously glanced at the Witcher Master not far away.

The witchers, who were all quite old, were focused on the chief and Vesemir.

When he saw the chief's gaze sweep over, he immediately looked around as if he had done something wrong.

"Smack!"

A snap of the fingers.

A semi-transparent shield enveloped the chief and the Sorceress.

Soyer sighed, looked at the Sorceress again, and asked:

How pessimistic is it?

The Sorceress didn't speak, but simply shook her head solemnly. Then she walked to the willow tree at the edge of the protective barrier, turned her back to Soyer, and said:

"The king is indeed going to make a move against you."

"And it's not just you; the School of the Cat is also one of his targets."

"Why?" Even though he had expected it, the Witcher couldn't help but raise his voice. "The School of the Cat is one thing, but our School of the Wolf has always been neutral and will never get involved..."

"Soyer!"

Vesemir interrupted the chief's questioning.

Yes, the Sorceress considered it an interrogation, though certainly not directed at her.

"Is it possible that the reason why the Glutton wants to target you is precisely because you have always been neutral?"

The Sorceress paused for a moment, then continued:

"Besides, there aren't many monsters left, are there?"

The Witcher fell silent.

He may not really understand politics, but he's lived for hundreds of years, how could he not understand such a simple principle?

With fewer monsters around, there's no need for witchers anymore.

"So, the apprenticeship tournament between the School of the Wolf and the School of the Cat is a trap?"

"Most likely," Vesemir nodded, "But you still have to send someone."

"Why?" the Witcher asked, puzzled.

"If you don't go, the Glutton can simply use 'disrespect' as a pretext to send troops to attack Kaer Morhen."

The Witcher fell silent again.

After a long pause, he finally asked earnestly, "Vesemir, what should I do?"

Upon hearing this, Vesemir countered, "Are you willing to lead the School of the Wolf to submit to the Glutton?"

The Chief of the School of the Wolf naturally shook his head and said:

"The School of the Wolf adheres to neutrality; without this tenet, there would be no Kaer Morhen."

"And..."

Seeing that Soyer hesitated, the Sorceress asked, "And what?"

"A few days ago, the Glutton sent another messenger to inquire about the elves..."

Before he could finish speaking, Soyer suddenly seemed to remember something and said:

"By the way, Ailin contacted me a few days ago because of that messenger."

Upon hearing "Ailin," Vesemir looked away.

She looked at Soyer, her expression focused.

"Ailin said that the wizard is problematic, and the entire Ban Aard Wizarding Academy may be hostile to Kaer Morhen."

"Ailin also said that he dreamed of the wizards, who, along with farmers and monsters, destroyed the Ancient Sea Fortress and slaughtered all the witchers of the School of the Wolf."

Vitara remained silent for a long time after hearing this, then inquired carefully about the details of the messenger's arrival, and finally sighed.

"Soyer!"

"The problem has become even more serious."

The Chief of the School of the Wolf felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this.

The situation is already this serious, how could it get any worse?

"I asked a lot of people before I left this time."

"So?" Soyer asked in a deep voice.

"Among them is a male wizard... and he's even the headmaster of Ban Ade Academy..."

Vesemir sighed, glanced at the chief's unpleasant expression, and continued:

"Soyer, the ' The Glutton ' should already know by now..."

"We are starting to doubt him."

[Slay the Level 19 "Foglet" Monster Horde!]

[Rewards Settlement: Victory over the enemy, base rating D, defeating the enemy with fewer troops +1—D+, decapitation strike deterrence +3—C+]

Final grade: C+

[Loot obtained: 2 Foglet Heart Essence Fluid, 7 Experience Orbs, 3 Foglet @#￥%&'s Chest]

[Ding! The Monster Bestiary "Foglet" has been activated]

[Ding! Hunting Quest: Foglet I (0/100 Foglet Kills) has been activated. Accept?]

"Call"

After hearing the notification sound from the Witcher's Handbook's Notes.

The Witcher apprentice finally breathed a sigh of relief and sheathed his sword.

"I never imagined that the system notification when the campaign was completed would be so useful," Ailin thought to himself.

Then.

He looked at the first line of the system notification: the level of the Foglet.

He glanced down at the barely passing grade and the meager reward, and couldn't help but sigh.

"The level was indeed raised too high."

But there's no other way; we can't risk our lives just to get more rewards and ratings from killing monsters.

The Witcher apprentice consoled himself and continued reading.

Huh?

Every time a quest is activated, the Witcher's Handbook is just handed to him directly, making it impossible for him to refuse, right?

Why are you asking him if he accepts this time?

Is it because of the changed evaluation? After becoming a new Witcher, I finally have autonomy?

Ailin shook his head. Even though he had it for a month, he had to admit that he still knew nothing about the Witcher's Handbook.

The task must be accepted, of course.

Then the Witcher Apprentice switched the panel to the inventory.

He planned to open the treasure chest before leaving.

Although they were already confident of the Trial of the Mountains, who would complain about having too many treasures or a high success rate in passing the trial?

New author, new book! Please read, comment, add to your favorites, and vote with monthly tickets!