In no time, Wayne's days at the lumberyard came to an end. The recent days had been remarkably peaceful, devoid of werewolf attacks on the logging camp or vengeful werewolf children seeking retribution. Wayne felt a sense of relief.
He briefly provided Deacon Ozick with information about Geralt, who would be taking over the duty in the afternoon. After a simple farewell, Wayne mounted Lucifer and retraced the path back to Vizima City.
Despite a week passing, the city remained unchanged. The bustling atmosphere persisted, driven by the ongoing construction of the new city, creating a demand for numerous workers. Employment opportunities had become more accessible, even improving the living conditions for impoverished families in the slums.
Upon reaching home, Wayne discovered Geralt was already there. Shirtless and engrossed in carpentry, Geralt wielded a hammer and wooden saw. A sizable pile of wood and thatch occupied the open space in the backyard.
Curious about the scene, Wayne inquired, prompting Geralt to explain somewhat sheepishly. Apparently, the horse had broken free from the reins the previous day, ventured into the front yard, and consumed a significant portion of the flowers and plants Wayne had planted.
Additionally, the mischievous Godling Lala, emerged from the well at night, displaying anger. Using some unknown magic, Lala caused the horse to experience diarrhea throughout the night, leaving the yard covered in horse manure.
Recognizing the need for a solution, Geralt had taken the initiative to purchase materials and planned to construct a stable in the backyard.
Wayne nodded in approval, displaying a lack of anger. With a vast area of 3000 square meters, his residence had more than enough space for additional amenities. A stable, martial arts arena and back garden would comfortably fit.
Observing Lala's affinity for the flowers and plants in the front yard, Wayne recognized an opportunity. Having collected numerous herbal seeds from the forest, he decided to build a greenhouse next to the well in the backyard. This would serve as a convenient spot for herb cultivation, eliminating the need to journey to the forest every time he refined medicine. Lala would become his free gardener, tending to the plants.
Despite his desire to approach the legendary Lake Goddess, Wayne acknowledged the impracticality of forcing such interactions. The Lake Lady's Sword possessed formidable power, making it an ideal weapon for any swordsman.
Turning his attention to Geralt, who toiled diligently and seemed to be enjoying the work, Wayne noticed a missing presence. Inquiring about Jaskier's whereabouts, Wayne learned that the bard had left Vizima the day before. As a student of Oxenfurt University, Jaskier's vacation had ended, prompting his departure in a carriage. Geralt added a complaint about a borrowed Oren that remained unreturned.
Oxenfurt College stood as a prestigious institution in the Northern Kingdom, located in the renowned city of Redania. It provided an avenue for ordinary people to acquire scientific knowledge. Notably, Shani, a renowned heroine was a distinguished alumna of this academy.
Completing his carpentry work, Geralt wiped the sweat from his brow and turned to Wayne. He inquired if Wayne could build a stable, suggesting to save the task until his return. Curious about the recent events in the logging camp, Geralt asked if Wayne had encountered any special monsters in the area.
Wayne hummed, scrutinizing the stable that Geralt had just finished laying the foundation for. The style appeared ordinary, but the thick wood used indicated sturdiness once covered.
Recounting his experiences, Wayne informed Geralt of encountering a werewolf kidnapping a logger on the first day at the logging camp. The werewolf was cursed, controlling its mind, and Wayne ultimately had to kill it. Surprised, Geralt inquired about the rare encounter, stating that his last confrontation with a werewolf was over 30 years ago.
Wayne nodded, providing details of how he handled the werewolf, concealed the werewolf child, unveiled the murderer, and expressed his emotions about the tragic turn of events. He emphasized the villains' actions as more detestable than monsters, turning what could have been a beautiful ending into a tragedy due to the three criminals.
Reflecting on the outcome, Wayne shared his regret about the lone orphan cursed to navigate a challenging life. Geralt, silent for a few seconds, sighed and regarded Wayne with admiration. It was evident that Wayne's humane approach resonated with Geralt.
Geralt expressed regret, citing Vesemir's teachings about the scarier nature of human hearts compared to monsters. He acknowledged the scarcity of werewolf cases and the lack of an accurate method to lift the curse. The child, he noted, might endure a miserable life due to the curse.
At lunch, Wayne once again took charge of cooking, treating himself and Geralt to a delicious meal.
Other amenities in this home may not be perfect, but the kitchen was gorgeously outfitted from day one. The only drawback was that the Middle Ages lacked facilities like refrigerators. To preserve food freshness, one could only achieve this by constructing a cellar for storing ice cubes in the future.
After a satisfying meal and conversation, Geralt mounted on his horse and departed for the lumberyard, leaving Wayne alone at home. Wayne, however, didn't remain idle. He headed to his room on the second floor, closed the door, and initiated the process of opening the treasure chest.
Throughout the seven days of guarding the lumberyard, Wayne acquired one expert-level treasure chest and six ordinary-level treasure chests. As he opened the treasure chests one by one, a disappointed expression appeared on his face.
Ding! Expert-level treasure chest, open. Obtained: 142 pieces of Oren.
Ding! Ordinary treasure chest * 6, open. Obtained: 71 pieces of Oren, three bottles of intermediate healing potions.
Intermediate Healing Potion: A potion made by an Azeroth alchemist. It can quickly restore a small amount of vitality and treat medium-sized internal injuries. The interval between uses is one hour.
It seemed that the luck from the previous time had waned. This time, among the seven treasure chests, the expert-level ones did not yield much, but the ordinary-level ones produced three useful potions.
Wayne understood that the Azeroth healing potion differed significantly from the Swallow Potion used by Witchers. While it might lack the long-lasting effect of the Swallow Potion, the alchemical potion could be consumed by ordinary people without side effects, providing rapid relief. It could serve as a life-saving medicine for civilians with serious injuries.
After opening the treasure chest, Wayne took a hot bath at home, changed into lighter clothes, and visited Master O'Henry's blacksmith shop. Now that he was free, learning forging technology became part of his agenda.
That afternoon, Wayne absorbed basic blacksmithing knowledge from Andrew the dwarf, and bought a simple furnace, essential forging tools, and some materials from the blacksmith shop. He then hired a bullock cart to transport the equipment back to his home.
By the time he finished unloading the cart and returned to his room, dusk had settled. Just as Wayne was about to take a shower and prepare dinner, a timid voice emerged from the corner of his room.
"Wayne, is that you?"
Startled, Wayne instinctively cast a Quen shield and directed his gaze toward the corner. There stood a purple-skinned little Godling wearing a wreath on its head, only half a meter tall and dressed in a special leather suit, looking at him with big watery eyes.
It was the little Lala. Wayne breathed a sigh of relief, adjusted his mood, and asked in a kind tone, "It's me, Lala. What's the matter?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Lala stepped out of the corner, gazing uneasily at Wayne. In a pleading voice, it said, "Wayne, you're a Witcher. My brother was captured by a group of Dagon worshippers at noon. My parents don't know where they are. I want you to help me rescue my brother."
Ding! Task Triggered [Save Godling Fitz], expert level.
Accept/ Decline
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