The Divine Hunter

by your injured comrade and went through Smiack together.”

“Mire (Wisdom).
You found the truth behind the ritual of the seven deadly sins and caught the real perpetrator.”

“Generose (Generosity).
You deducted the money Huckle had to pay for your services, and his bakery remains because of your deed.”

Roy was surprised about that, and he lamented. I’ve gone through a lot, huh?

“You possess all five virtues.
I, Vivienne, shall now represent all creatures in the Lake of Vizima, and I ask you…” The Lady of the Lake’s voice started booming, and she had a serious look on her face.
“Will you take my sword and carry out justice once more? Will you venture into Black Tern Island again and take out Dagon, the evil creature who resides there?”

Vivienne’s voice reverberated throughout the fog, and Roy felt an invisible power lifting him and Vivienne out of the water.
Vivienne’s naked body was revealed fully to him, but Roy didn’t even look panicked.
He had matured after going through so much, and he was no longer the young man who would do anything for anyone just because they asked.
He wouldn’t go on a suicide mission just because Vivienne asked him to.
“Goddess Vivienne, allow me to ask you a few questions.
Is Dagon the master of all fallen vodyanoi?”

“That is correct.
Dagon whispered in the ears of the vodyanoi and led them to corruption.
He built a dark and evil altar on the island that twisted the bodies and wills of the lake’s creatures so he could absorb their strength and turn it into his power.”

What the hell kind of monster is that? Roy was starting to get concerned about the eventual encounter.
“Where did it come from? What kind of creature is it?”

“Very well then.
I shall tell you the truth.” Fear flashed through Vivienne’s eyes.
“Dagon is not of this world.
It comes from a chaotic and twisted dimension.
Many years ago, it stumbled upon the lakebed by chance, and through the cracks between dimensions, it projected a sliver of itself into our world, but that act exhausted all its strength.
Now its projection is corrupting the lake itself.
If it is not stopped, Dagon will have accumulated enough strength in decades or centuries at most.
Once that happens, he can descend upon our world itself.” Vivienne’s voice became somber.
“By then, it will be too late.
The world shall tremble beneath Dagon’s tentacles.”

Dimensions? World? “Lady of the Lake, pardon my honesty, but…” Roy looked at the ground and answered honestly, “If you are no match for Dagon, then how do you expect me to stop its plan? My power is nothing compared to yours.
You should search for a more powerful hero for this mission.” I am just a young witcher.
How am I supposed to fight an evil creature who’s from another dimension?

“Power is of no importance if they cannot pass the trial.
No matter how powerful someone may be, they are not to be trusted if they fail the trial.
However, you passed, and all the five virtues are shining brightly within you.
I trust you, but I also understand your worries.” Vivienne smiled brightly, and a gentle breeze brushed across the lake, causing ripples to blossom on its surface.
“I will not send you marching into certain doom.
However, I cannot do this myself, for most of my strength is used to suppress Dagon.
This creature is not that more powerful than you are, excluding its bizarre conversion spell.
But I can handle that.

“But of course, Dagon is keeping me in line as well, barring me from going onto the island.
And more creatures are getting corrupted with each passing year, while the number of my believers keeps dwindling.
The delicate balance will soon be broken.” Vivienne’s voice became weaker and weaker, until it was nothing but a whisper.
“Dagon will eventually take over the lake and absorb me as well.” She looked at Roy with an unspoken plea in her eyes.
“Roy, you, like other humans, are flawed, but that does not hide your virtues.
You passed all five trials in a single year.
That is proof that you have conviction, even if you do not admit it.
Now, will you lend your strength for the creatures of the lake?”

“If it is possible…” Roy stared down.
Since Vivienne was already pleading, he stopped arguing.
“I shall kill Dagon myself.”

Vivienne extended her right arm, and a ripple appeared on the surface of the lake, but a moment later, it started bubbling, as if it were boiling water.
Then, a deep red blade pierced the surface and rose into the air.
Vivienne grasped its hilt with both hands and held it up straight before her chest.
Roy recalled what he did in the original game, and he knelt on one knee. 

“Roy from the School of the Viper, will you accept my sword and hold true to the virtues of courage, sympathy, glory, wisdom, and generosity? Will you vanquish the evil residing on the island for the creatures of the Lake of Vizima?”

“I accept the request.”

The moment he said that, he felt Vivienne tapping the blade on his shoulders three times, then she announced, “Witcher from an unnamed land, I, the daughter of the lake, ruler of water, Vivienne, hereby grant you the status of knight.
I bequeath you the title—Roy of the Lake of Vizima.”

Roy started hyperventilating and took the sword he had been waiting for. The Lady of the Lake’s sword.