The Divine Hunter

be my buddy if you finish this.
And I always treat my buddies well.”

***

It had been harrowing for Cardell over the last few days.
Her stomach was heavily injured in the fight against the childhunter, and it was still throbbing.
Then the revolutionists brought bad news.
The second march wasn’t going too well.
The baron’s bloody counter scared off the opportunists who were weak in their conviction.
Even though it was nearly the day of the march, they only managed to rally fifty people.
With that amount of people, they would only be seen as a joke.

Cardell sighed.
It’d be great if everyone was like Roy.
He’s smart, brave, knows how to fight, and isn’t afraid of monsters.
It’s a pity he’s a witcher’s disciple.
He’s not going to stay long.
Cardell went back to her office, feeling crestfallen, but the moment she went in, the strong smell of alcohol wafted across her.
She frowned, but still she followed the trace to her desk.
And then her eyes widened in horror.

There was a body under her table.
The face was bloated and pale, but she would recognize it even if it turned to ash, and she felt her soul leave her.
“The great leader and my mentor, Vernon, is dead?”

Roy was in the yard, caressing the hornbeam.
He saw Cardell going into her office, then she came out with a letter, looking furious, and he sighed.
“I didn’t want to scare you, but you’re the only revolutionist I know.
I’m sorry.
Take it as the meal you owe me.”

***

“So the House of Cardell’s principal is the revolutionists’ top brass.” Seville nodded in approval after listening to the report.
“My sources had known that something was wrong with the school, and I had my own suspicions, but there was no evidence.
Good work, Roy.
The baron’s lackeys didn’t notice you, and my friend, Ken, is finally back to the place he wanted.”

Seville extended his hand and said, “A promise is a promise.
I told you you were my buddy if you settled this matter for me.
No need to be formal, Roy.
What do you need? Money, wine, or weapons?” Seville knew Roy must’ve had something to ask from him the moment he took the request.
“Or do you need my help? I’ll do it if I can.”

Roy hadn’t expected the request they’d set aside when they’d come to Aldersberg to help him to this extent.
He hadn’t gone through much for it, since it’d just been a delivery request.
“Mr.
Seville — ”

“Call me Seville, Roy.
It’d be rude if you kept the honorific.”

“Oh, um… Seville,” Roy said, correcting himself, though he couldn’t imagine being buddies with a septuagenarian.
Formalities, I guess.
“Do you know any sorcerers? Someone who lives near Aldersberg, and it’d be best if they were a sorceress from Aretuza.”

Seville pinched his beard and gave it some thought.
“Sorry, Roy.
As far as I’m concerned, no sorcerer lives near Aldersberg.
There’s a black-haired one in Vengerberg, but that’s too far away.
Why are you looking for one though?” he asked.
“If you trust me, why don’t you spill the beans? Maybe there’s another way to settle this.
I don’t mean to brag, but I call some shots in this city.”

Roy thought about it and told him about Toya.
Nothing to lose here.

Seville had a weird look on his face once he was done listening, and he looked at Roy as if he were an exotic animal.
“Roy, if I’m correct, you’re a witcher’s disciple, and you’re going to be a witcher.
Why are you helping an ugly country girl by sending her to Aretuza? She might not even remember you after her training.
Just because you pity her?”

He told Seville what he thought.
“Don’t you think witchers and sorcerers are alike, Seville? They have a tragic childhood and are forced to make choices they don’t want.
I think she should have a chance to choose, and I hope someone will give me a chance if I somehow get into a compromising position someday.”

Seville felt something stir within him after hearing the story.
He thought that Roy was interesting, though he wasn’t as handsome as a dwarf, and he laughed.
“You’re an interesting guy, Roy.
Most witchers I know wouldn’t interfere, but you did.
I’ll help you because of the things you said alone.
I’ll send a carriage and some dwarves to escort the girl to Thanedd Island.
She should have a chance to choose, just like what you said.
But whether she can get into Aretuza, well, that depends on her own effort and luck.”

“But it’ll have to wait for a few days.” Seville stood on his tiptoes and grabbed Roy’s shoulder.
“It’s nearly Saovine, and I think the coachman has a right to celebrate it.
I hope the revolutionists can stop though.
I wonder if they’ll pull something crazy, since they did receive their leader’s body out of nowhere.”

“I left a letter for Miss Cardell too,” Roy answered.
“It’s a threat letter written à la Sparrow Triad.
She might not be fooled, but at least it’ll distract the revolutionists from blindly protesting against the baron.
That way, they might not be used for any scheme.”