Fifth of December, 1260.

The weather was great for once on Mount Carbon. The warm sun broke through the snow, melting away the doom and gloom that enveloped the city, and all of the dwarves were wearing broad smiles.

Some of the inhabitants were standing around the stakes in the plaza, where the Scoia’tael members and leshen’s head hung, and they buzzed with excitement. 

“I was on guard duty that night when the witcher and his comrades dragged that monster into the valley. By Mahakams that monster was hard to look at. Its whole body was charred, and it looked more like a whole ball of arrows than a leshen.”

“Holy Mahakam! I have never seen such a hideous creature before in my life! I’d have run for my life if it’d still been alive.”

“Of course you would. You aren’t the witcher. He’s one capable man, he is. I mean, he killed off the monster that plagued us for months, and he took out those scum too. I’m going to raise a toast for him at tonight’s banquet.”

“And don’t forget about the witcher’s assistant. He’s only around twenty-seven in dwarf years, but he was already involved in the hunt. That’s a real man right there! Gotta raise a toast for him too.”

“Our archery champion and his brothers also took part in the hunt too, and Elder Brovar is going to praise them tonight.” The dwarves looked envious. “Those guys are going to be popular with the ladies after tonight.”

As if by coincidence, the dwarves omitted Kaerwen from their discussion.

At the same time, the people they were talking about were staying in the guest room, where the witcher was. Reagan’s head and thigh were bandaged, and he was explaining the situation to Roy, though he’d glance at Letho from time to time. Letho paid no attention to him, since he was meditating.

“Just a slight concussion. They’ll be fine. Barney and the lads are snoring away in the infirmary. They’ll be alive and kicking at the banquet tonight.”

“That’s good to hear.” Roy heaved a sigh of relief. “I wouldn’t have forgiven myself if something had happened to them.”

“That’s not your fault.” Reagan was surprisingly calm about death. “If they somehow hadn’t made it, then I guess Mahakam must’ve loved them more. Dying in a battle in the Mahakams against monsters and Scoia’tael scum would be an honor for them.” Reagan paused for a moment. “If you think about it, those scums were behind the death of my brethren. If we hadn’t stopped them in time, they would’ve ruined even more families. Their deaths are necessary for the tribe, and killing them is truly a heroic deed. Our souls will be welcomed in Mahakam after our passing.”

Roy changed his opinion on the dwarves. He thought they were ignorant drunkards before the hunt, but then he knew they were actually devout, loyal, and courageous people.

“Did you see their faces when we hauled the leshen’s trophy and those Scoia’tael scum back?” Reagan grinned and smacked his leg, but he hit his wound at the same time, and he gasped. “Those guards and crossbowmen were gawking at us like idiots! Those guys were usually arrogant bastards who’d insult us whenever they got the chance. Barney’s got it the worst.” Reagan laughed. “Now everyone knows we took part in the hunt, and we’re heroes of the tribe. You, Letho, and I were the only ones who could stand tall among them. I could imagine how charming I must’ve looked to the ladies.” Reagan grinned. “Some of them were beaming at me too! I know they were looking at me, because you and Letho weren’t their type. I can smell romance in the air, Roy. And it’s all for me! I would have gotten my hands on one of them if it weren’t for the fact I have to team up with Paul soon.”

Such an optimistic guy. Roy listened in silence as Reagan babbled on and on and on, relieving him of the sadness and disgust he felt. All he could think of for the past two days was Scoia’tael’s hatred for him and the illusion the leshen showed him. He’d often fall into a trance. 

“Looks like I have to congratulate you on your romance.” Roy grinned. “But are you sure you want to leave Mount Carbon? Why don’t you just marry some lady and raise a family?”

Reagan shook his head resolutely. “I’m going to seek Paul out in Kaedwen next year.” The battle with the leshen and Scoia’tael only made his interest in the outside world swell, since he couldn’t do much in Mount Carbon.

“What about them?”

“I can’t shake Barney off, so he’s coming. Not sure about Drew and Dave.” Reagan pinched his beard, sounding slightly dismayed that half his squad might not follow him. “Not every dwarf is ambitious. Some prefer a stable life.”

Roy had a feeling he might bump into Reagan in his adventures. “Maybe we’ll bump into each other in Kaedwen,” he blurted.

“I’ll be sure to welcome you with open arms.” Reagan shook his hand firmly and bumped shoulders with Roy.

“When are we going to the infirmary, Reagan?”

“Patience. Get ready for tonight’s banquet for now. Elder Brovar’s going to reward you two in front of everyone. Not everyone gets this chance, so you shouldn’t miss it.” 

Reagan took out a grey, petite notebook, and a message that read “A gift to Roy. From Reagan Dalba.” was written on the cover. 

“Remember when you said you wanted to delve deeper into crossbows? I jotted everything I know in there, so take it.”

“Thank you.” Roy took the notebook with both hands, touched by Reagan’s gesture. Once he saw Reagan off, Roy quickly concentrated on his character sheet.

‘Roy

Age: Thirteen years and eleven months old

Status: Civilian, witcher’s disciple

HP: 45/55 (Lightly injured)

Strength: 5

Dexterity: 5.1

Constitution: 5.5

Perception: 7

Will: 6

Charisma: 5

Spirit: 6.5

Skills:

Massacre Level 3 → Level 4

(Bloody Aura: Any enemy within (one foot → two foot) of you has a (ten percent → fifteen percent) chance of being Feared by the aura of massacre. If the enemy’s Will is lower than yours, they will lose control of their body for a maximum of (one → two) seconds.

You deal (ten percent → fifteen percent) increased damage to any species you have killed before.

New active skill: Fear. You may cast Fear to release the aura of massacre, affecting a single target within a two feet range. The target is then forcibly controlled, and if their Will is lower than yours, they will lose control of their body for a maximum of two seconds. Five minute cooldown.

Tip: Fear will level up based on the number and types of creatures you kill.

Observe Level 2

Meditation Level 1

Crossbow Mastery Level 1

***

Level 3 (330/1500)

Inventory space: 1 cubic square.’

***

After killing the Scoia’ tael members, the sorceress, and leshen during that fight, Roy gained over three hundred EXP. His Massacre even leveled up to four, thanks to the leshen. It was also thanks to his new skill, Fear, that he managed to kill Kaerwen. However, that wasn’t his best loot.

He scrolled down to the new sheet that came right after his skill sheet.

‘Job interface:

You have killed a grave hag, drowner, childhunter, elf sorceress, and leshen, coming to a total of five magical beings.

You have learned meditation from a witcher.

You have acquired basic alchemy and monster knowledge.

You have unlocked a job — witcher.

(Witchers are mutants who have gone through the Trial of the Grasses. They possess superhuman speed, strength, reaction speed, coordination, life force, and recovery. Their main work comes from various requests, most of which involves monster hunting.)

Do you accept this job?

Attention: You may only have one job at your current level.’

I can only have one job at my current level? Does that mean I can have more jobs when I level up? Roy was excited at that thought, but he stopped thinking too far ahead. He had no better choice at the time being, so he accepted the job, and his level turned into his job level.

‘You have gained a job.

Level 3 Witcher (330/1500)  

Rank: Disciple (Conditions for next rank: Pass the Trial of the Grasses and kill ten types of magical creatures (5/10). Next rank: Rookie witcher.)

School: Viper (Unconfirmed. User hasn’t taken the Decoction of the Grasses yet.)

Job perks:

Main stat: You may choose one stat as your main stat. Be warned that this choice cannot be undone. Every time you level up, your main stat will be increased by 0.5 without any cost (Disciple).

Evolving Arms: You may bind a steel sword, a silver sword, and a ranged weapon for this job. Bound weapons will grow alongside you, becoming stronger every time you level up. You will be able to feel the connection between you and your bound weapons no matter the distance, and you may summon them no matter where they are.

Full Recovery: You will make a full recovery every time you level up. Most injuries can be healed, including internal injuries and broken limbs. Debuffs such as hunger, fatigue, poison, plague, and curses will be removed.

Loot Package: You receive an additional cubic meter of inventory space (Disciple). You have two cubic meters of inventory space as of now.

Locked.’

***

Roy was elated. Finally! I’ve been a weakling for too long! That risky leshen kill was worth it! Look at this! Full Recovery is already awesome enough! An instant full recovery was akin to second wind in the world of witchers, where danger lurked behind every corner.

Roy could think of a few ways to use that, one of which being to keep himself from leveling up despite having a full EXP bar so he could keep Full Recovery in store. If he ever found himself backed into a corner in battle, he’d use it to turn the tides. I can even use this in the trial. Roy couldn’t be happier, and Evolving Arms was tailor made for him. He was about to give up on using Gabriel because it couldn’t keep up with him, but with Evolving Arms, Gabriel could grow with him as long as he bound the weapon to him.

Of course, binding the best crossbow would maximize his profit, but Roy didn’t want to give up on the things he’d been carrying with him if he had the choice. 

“Looks like you’re not out just yet, old buddy.” Roy sat on the bed, caressing his hand crossbow.

‘You are about to bind Gabriel to you. Are you sure you want to choose Gabriel?’

‘Gabriel

Type: Hand Crossbow

Materials: Mulberry wood, tendon, hemp

Details: Weighs five pounds and measures two feet. Has a draw weight of twenty pounds and an effective range of a hundred feet.’

Yes. The moment Roy had that thought, he felt an inexplicable link between him and Gabriel. To be precise, it felt like a connection, or a mark. When he held it again, Gabriel felt light in his hands, as if it were his body’s extension. Roy knew every inch of it byheart, and the crossbow became a coordinate he could always find, no matter the distance between them. And when he closed his eyes, he saw Gabriel floating in the darkness of his consciousness.

Even if he was blindfolded, he could easily find it with that link between them. He cheekily tossed Gabriel at Letho, and then Roy extended his arm. A moment later, the crossbow disappeared and reappeared in his hand. This could be useful. 

He had no swords to bind, though he was planning on seeing the weapon Brovar would give Letho, and he smiled. Letho should be able to use it even if I bind it to me, right?

***

He was in a dilemma over which stat he should choose as his main one. Should I go with Perception? That’s my strong suit. Or should I go with Constitution or Will? That’d help me pass the trial. Perception could increase the range of his vision and provide more details about his target, giving him more options to ambush, while Constitution could improve his HP. That alone showed how crucial it was to Roy. Will could be used with his new skill, Fear, providing a fearsome combo in close quarter combat. If his enemies had lower Will than he did, they’d be frozen in place the moment they got in range, and Roy would finish them off.

Strength and Dexterity would boost his close quarter combat skills a lot, and he wouldn’t be able to call himself a witcher if he couldn’t swing a sword. Spirit was useless, but it wouldn’t be for long. He’d have to learn about signs eventually, and Spirit would boost the signs’ power significantly. He could use signs once he passed the trial and unlocked his mana pool. It was hard to pass up on Spirit, since it’d help out a lot in the late game.

The only useless stat, at least to him, was Charisma. Roy caressed his young, smooth face, and his taut biceps. After embarking on the path of the witcher, Roy had changed into a lean, handsome young man, but that was useless. Not like my enemy’s going to show mercy to me. And it’s not like being handsome can help me survive longer. No, wait. A high enough Charisma can be used in battle. The leshen managed to get the beasts to help it with its Charisma. And it managed to brainwash strangers, turning them into believers. But he wasn’t interested in using his charisma to fight.

***

Roy was in a dilemma indeed, but no matter. It was still a while before he’d level up, so he’d choose after he’d made all considerations.