Let Go?

"Bang!"

Fred dodged the oncoming rock by sidestepping it, and shouted loudly to Bont and Huus:

"Didn't Ailin say these trolls were easy to get along with?"

"Why are they throwing stones at us the moment we meet?"

Huus and Fred frantically dodged the rocks, large and small, as they ran toward the only mountain path.

"The Witcher... is bad... The apprentice... is bad too..."

About forty meters away, three ugly-looking monsters were shouting something incoherently.

They are Rock Troll.

It was robust, with small eyes and sharp teeth, though not as large as the Cyclops.

But its robust physique, coupled with its hard, mountain-like outer shell of limestone.

It looks like the kind of monster with amazing defense, making it extremely difficult to deal with.

"Was it because you pointed the sword at them when you handed it to them?" Huus dodged a rock bigger than his head and shouted at Fred.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Fred froze for a moment, nearly getting hit by an irregularly shaped black stone.

As he fled, he kept thinking about what Ailin had said the night before.

"Rock Troll are generally good-natured. As long as you don't act hostile, they will let you pass normally."

How can we show a non-hostile side?

"Hmm... Just hand over your swords whenever they ask you for weapons."

This was something Ailin mentioned to them last night when they were talking about this final hurdle.

The method to clear the game was summarized from the storyline that Ailin played.

In the "Final Trial" quest, Geralt and Lambert need to go to the Circle of Elements to strengthen their amulets.

When they passed by the dwellings of the Rock Troll, they handed over their weapons to the trolls and were then allowed to leave.

However, since he hadn't expected to be separated from the other apprentices, Ailin didn't go into too much detail.

After all, although he had the idea of hunting down Old Spearhead, he didn't really have any hope of it.

In the dark cave, it was already a stroke of luck to escape from the Old Spearhead's clutches.

Even if the Conjunction of the Spheres to summon the Drowners King.

With nothing in sight, the Witcher apprentice didn't think he could sit back and watch the fight unfold.

On the contrary, one careless move could cost you your life.

So his original intention was to complete the game with Huus and the others.

Unexpectedly, the Old Spearhead was so accommodating that he came out of his lair.

Without Ailin's guidance, the Witcher apprentices felt insecure and inevitably nervous when encountering these seemingly ferocious and invincible monsters.

At that moment, Fred was walking at the very front of the three when he was the first to be blocked by a hideous Rock Troll.

In the tension, my mind went blank, and I only remembered that Ailin had said to hand over the sword.

So he drew his sword, pointed the tip at one of the trolls, and thrust it forward.

"Is it really my own problem?"

"But even if I was going in the wrong direction, I didn't use any force..."

Fred dodged another rock and couldn't help but ask himself a question.

Fortunately, most of them had undergone rigorous training, and their bodies could instinctively dodge just by hearing the sound of rocks falling.

Fortunately, those Rock Troll seemed to be just venting their anger and didn't seem to have any urgent intention of killing the apprentices.

"Phew~"

After emerging from his demon-hunting state, Ailin let out a long breath and wiped the blood splattered on his face.

Two more Essence Fluid were used to fully restore stamina.

This was the first time he had been able to stand firmly in place after killing a monster using the [Demon Hunter] skill.

In the past, besides the [Demon Hunting] skill requiring stamina, actions such as running and jumping also required a certain amount of stamina.

It's rare, and generally won't affect operations.

However, if you add the [Demon Hunt] skill, which consumes a lot of resources, it will directly deplete your stamina.

Dizziness and fainting are inevitable.

However, as my physical condition improves, this situation probably won't happen again... right?

Thinking about this, the Witcher apprentice suddenly felt a little insecure.

After all, each level up in [Demon Hunter] increases stamina consumption by 50, and increasing constitution attributes becomes increasingly difficult as you progress.

"Eh~"

"Let's take it one step at a time!" Ailin thought to himself.

The mechanical voice of the Witcher's Handbook had not yet sounded.

The Witcher apprentice remained calm, took a deep breath, and activated [Witch Hunt] again.

Under spiritual perception, the Drowners King's magic favored the weakened aura, making it stable and even.

This is a real sign that someone is about to die.

However, Ailin did not rush forward recklessly. Instead, she cautiously increased the progress of the demon hunt one sword at a time under the [Demon Hunt] skill.

Anyway, it just takes a little more time and consumes two more portions of the Drowner Heart Essence Fluid.

A moment later.

"Ding! [Demon Hunting] Progress 100%"

The red footprints reappeared.

This time, however, the route pointed straight at the Drowners King's neck.

As expected, with a "whoosh" sound...

Elsa's silver light flashed.

[Ding! Monster "Drowners King" Lv26 and "Cyclops" LV24 have been defeated!]

[Rewards Settlement: Victory over the Enemy, Base Rating D, Killing a Monster Above Its Level +3 - C, Decapitation Intimidation +3 - B, Drive Wolves to Devour Tigers +3 - A, Victory Against a Large Monster (Small Monster) +2 - S-]

Final Rating: S- (Bonus *2)

[Loot obtained: Drowner Heart Essence Fluid *2, Cyclops's Heart Essence Fluid *2, Experience Orbs *26, Drowner King's Chest *12, Cyclops's Chest *12]

The System Notification kept ringing in Ailin's mind.

It took a while for things to quiet down.

"Bang!"

Only then did the Drowners King's enormous head hit the ground.

However, not much blood flowed from the severed neck.

However, the Witcher apprentice's attention was no longer on the two monsters, nor on the evaluations and rewards that flashed before his eyes.

"Pat-pat~ pat-pat~"

In front of the Old Spearhead's cave, blood had flowed into a small river.

Ailin stepped through the blood and found a still-dry corner to sit down.

The Trial of the Mountains had weighed on his mind since his transmigration finally came to an end with the deaths of the Old Spearhead and the Cyclops.

All that's left is to fool a bunch of honest trolls and activate the School Emblem, Ailin will be able to become a true witcher.

"Phew~"

The Witcher apprentice breathed a sigh of relief, gently laid Elsa on his lap, and looked up into the distance.

Killer Lake exhibits distinct stratification from near to far.

No matter how much blood the Drowners King and the Old Spearhead shed, it could only stain a mere twenty or thirty meters.

Further away lies the clear lake water, surrounded by a vast expanse of white trees and snow-capped mountains.

"Splash~ Splash~"

Since the Trial of the Mountains began, it seemed that Ailin had heard the sound of Killer Lake for the first time.

Clear, gentle, and soothing.

It seems that under such a sound, all distracting thoughts can be washed away, and all attachments can be let go...

"Eh~"

The Witcher apprentice suddenly sighed.

"It's not time to let go yet."

He said to himself.

"The annihilation of the entire Kaer Morhen defense is imminent; it's not time to let our guard down, it's not time to relax..."

He repeated it again.

Even so.

"But right now..."

He looked up again at the pure white in the distance, his gaze distant and relaxed as he murmured:

"Let me rest for a while without thinking about anything..."

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

Thank you to reader "Mr. Top Hat" for the generous donation.