The Divine Hunter

It's a day or two away from Ms. Druid's appointment.

Roy chose a remote street corner, randomly hypnotized a Mayena guard who was lucky enough to pass by, and asked about Yurga's servant Profi and Ainz's servant Mato.

These two are important witnesses for Geralt's exoneration.

The guards have limited information -

Since the accident of the honorary ambassador Ainz, the whereabouts of the two have been unknown, so they were regarded as accomplices in kidnapping by the sheriff.

Naturally can not enter the city.

Roy decides to try his luck at a refugee camp outside the city.

...

The old cripple was sitting on the high slope of the camp, on the low stool in front of the old canvas tent, smoking a dry cigarette, the lazy afternoon sun shone on the dirty linen clothes, and the cold hands and feet swelled A warm feeling.

He looked out comfortably at the crowded and noisy refugee camp below.

In the eyes of the vicissitudes of life, love and hate are intertwined.

"Old man, can I ask two people?"

A very friendly voice sounded, and the old lame man glanced at the witcher with his cloudy eyes, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"Since the day the camp was established, the old cripple has been sitting here!" The old man's gray beard trembled slightly with the voice, and he shook the cigarette bag in his hand. "Although I am old, my legs and feet are weak, but my memory has not deteriorated."

"In the past few months, who has entered the camp and who has never returned, I have kept it firmly in my mind. It is no exaggeration to say that the old cripple knows all the big and small things here." The old man nodded and wrinkled up. Ruqiu's forehead, "But boy, you have to understand that memory is a labor-intensive job..."

"There must be hope of eating and drinking, otherwise, I will be powerless." After speaking, he looked at the witcher eagerly.

Well, doors open for money.

This is the fifth refugee Roy has consulted and the oldest.

"I understand, please have a drink." Roy put ten copper coins into the palm of the old man's palm very politely.

The latter smiled instantly, and concealed the money into the empty dark wine bottle beside his feet, and hid it under the bench.

"Tell me, what are their names,

What does it look like? "

"Mato, Profy. Here, portrait." Roy took out two portraits, which he drew according to the physical features described by Yurga.

This time Coral was not around, so he could only do it himself.

However, he has no artistic talent and can be called a soul painter.

The masterpiece is twisted and twisted, like a twisted "stickman".

The old man looked at the two shocking works, his sparse gray eyebrows were tightly wrinkled, and a row of large yellow teeth was bared in admiration.

Other than having a basic human shape, it doesn't seem to have much in common with a human being.

Fortunately, features such as birthmarks were highlighted by the witcher.

"Profey, well-proportioned, six feet tall, unlike the skinny men in the camp, the mole on the left side of his face is even rarer." The old man patted his head with a cigarette stick, "It's easy to identify, I have an impression, a week forward…"

Roy pricked up his ears.

The eerie red light in the woods didn't happen exactly a week ago.

"Alas!" The old man slapped his knees suddenly, and looked pitifully at the witcher, "I'm sorry, the old lame man has only eaten a piece of free black bread that is so hard that he is so hungry that his stomach is so hungry that the acid water is burning fast. My throat and brain are bad, my whole body is weak, this lame leg is starting to hurt again, I really can't remember."

"Give!"

The witcher magically pulled out a spiced roast chicken thigh.

The old man swallowed greedily, glanced at Roy who was smiling but not smiling, and devoured it. The crazy and heroic expression seemed to be rejuvenated and turned into a young man.

"Hmm..." A minute later, the old cripple wiped off the oil on his fingers, patted his belly, and let out a sigh of satisfaction. He chewed the whole chicken thigh and even the crispy bones. "The old cripple remembers!"

"Profey entered the southern area of ​​the refugee camp a week ago. After staying for less than a day, he left in a hurry. He looked flustered. I think he should be going for a long trip."

Roy's palm oozes cold sweat, so Yurga's servant is probably on his way back to Livia.

"Mato, with a slightly chubby body, a horse-like face, and a short beard... Isn't he the servant of Ainz, the Honorary Ambassador, and I can't forget him even if he was turned into ashes!" ,

"Mato is famous?"

"Not only the old cripple, everyone in the refugee camp knows him. He and his master often distribute relief food to us." The old cripple paused,

"But I heard that Ainz was kidnapped a week ago. Maybe Mato has some responsibility to hide. Isn't he wanted in the city? Anyway, I haven't seen him in the last week."

A trace of regret flashed in Roy's eyes. Mato was not hiding near the refugee camp, so it would be troublesome to find him.

But he could hear a hint of irony in the old man's tone.

"You don't seem to like Ainz very much?" Roy stared at the old man with mocking eyes, "Didn't the honorary ambassador often help you?"

"You've never been in a camp before." The old man stroked his short white beard. "Ainz didn't distribute food for free, and the mayor would give it compensation. In fact, the selling price was lower than the market price."

"Apart from Ainz, there are several big businessmen who are also helping our group of refugees who 'eat and drink for free'."

"But the free food given by Ainz..." The old man hesitated.

"Is there a problem?" Roy's heart moved.

"Why get to the bottom of it? Dude, I've already told you everything about Mato and Profy, and I'm sorry I couldn't help you." The old man shook his head at him, signaling that he could leave.

Roy, however, heard some overtones, and put some money into his palm, this time a whole crown.

The old cripple pinched the coin and put it into the bottle with his teeth.

"If you get such a crown, even if you want to die, you can enjoy it before you die!"

The old man paused, lowered his voice and whispered in Roy's ear,

"The bread that Ainz sent us was the worst flour, maybe even expired flour. The profiteer also added silt and grass clippings to the bread."

"Everyone in the camp has diarrhea after eating his food, especially an old man like me who has a poor stomach, as well as women and children." The old lame shook his head, and his heart lingered, "I almost didn't go to see Rebioda directly at that time."

"But if I don't eat, I'm very hungry. The young man's body is slightly better, and he can endure the discomfort and eat."

Roy rubbed his chin.

Yurga's testimony flashed through his mind—the honorary ambassador Ainz approached him to discuss a business of purchasing inferior grains, but the righteous Fatty refused directly.

The old cripple's confession completely matched what Yurga had revealed.

This honorary ambassador is undoubtedly a black businessman with a wolf-hearted heart.

"Is this kind of thing the mayor doesn't care about? No one reported him?"

"If there is any kind of person in this world that is the most humble and lowly," the old lame man suddenly sighed, showing deep sadness, "it is a refugee who has left his hometown and is not valued by the 'adults'!"

"It is a great mercy that they are willing to give us a bite to eat! Who cares how well we eat? We don't have a way to report it!"

"Our only hope is to wait for His Majesty Foltest to return to our homeland after he has reorganized the shattered mountains and rivers of Soden."

Roy turned silently and glanced at the bustling crowd below, pale and thin, starving for a long time.

Some were arguing and shoving, some were sobbing in a low voice, and some were sitting on the wet ground like a puppet without a soul, with no life in their eyes.

In the camp, there are all kinds of suffocating negative emotions.

"By the way, Ainz's evil deeds don't stop there. He took advantage of his wealth and power to spoil several beautiful women!" The old lame man said with a hint of jealousy and disgust, "I heard that, I just listened to it. Said that one of the women was pregnant with his child, not only did he not take her back to live in the city, but he also called her a bitch, had a bad relationship with an adulterer, and sent someone to beat her to abort."

"Women are wronged. The blind man in the camp who dared to touch Ainz wants to starve to death?"

the old man sighed,

"Then the woman couldn't stand the blow and became a lunatic. After she ran out of the camp one day, she disappeared."

"Every day people disappear from the refugee camp. What does it matter how many die? Except for the druid female doctor, who will really be pitiful and care about us?"

The witcher bowed his head.

"When I mentioned this, I suddenly remembered something!" The old man stood up together and limped around the low stool, "Not only did Ainz look for women from the camp, but his servant Mato and the camp One of the women in there is also involved!"

"But this kid has to be more sincere and low-key. He is raising the woman as his wife, and he plans to take the woman back to live in the city after a while. Mato's whereabouts are unknown now, and his woman may have some inside information."

"Think about it, old cripple. Her name is Lilin. She escaped from Soden Birch Village and lives in the southern area of ​​the camp, in that purple tent."

The willows are dark and bright.

Roy couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. He was impressed by this unremarkable lame old man, who could be called a know-it-all in refugee camps.

But Birch Village sounds pretty familiar.

"You know all this?"

"The old man's memory is not bad, before Soden was destroyed by Nilfgaard. I was the butler of the nephew of the important minister of the old King Eckhard who died in battle. Every day's plans, trivial life, I have to memorize half of it. A ledger." The old man stroked his sparse white hair happily, "The old man likes to observe and listen. The widows and old ladies in the camp like to gossip with me. When I feel depressed, come and listen to me for a few words of enlightenment and encouragement."

"Then I hope you have been so happy and open-minded!" Roy finally gave him two crowns and walked away.

...

Leaving the high slopes north of the camp, Roy crossed the narrow, crowded road.

The smell of onions, potatoes, cabbage, and feces permeated my nose. Some of the large iron pots on the left side of the tent were simmering potatoes, and less than half a meter on the right side, there was a large pool of fresh excrement.

The Xiangqi was blown by the breeze and floated to the cauldron, adding a distinctive smelly "flavor" to the food.

The little black dog fell in love with these messy smells, and Wang Wang softly circled around the Witcher's feet, chasing and biting his tail on his own, and having a great time.

Golfin Tabby followed closely behind his buttocks, a pair of claws danced into afterimages, and kept hitting the buttocks with Meow Boxing, teaching this unruly little brother a lesson.

Along the way, there were several yellow-faced and thin heads sticking out of the tent, with greedy eyes and licking their lips to look at the two fat cats and dogs, thanks to the owners around them who didn't seem to be messed with, they were not caught. Sprinkle with spices for a medium rare "massage".

...

In less than five minutes, Roy entered the familiar area south of the refugee camp, with colorful tents close together.

Showing her pure white arms and a large piece of skin in front of her collarbone, the cool-dressed woman walked back and forth with pots and pans, scolding her companions from time to time.

In the only open space in the center, an iron pot was boiling a soup mixed with turnips and radishes.

Birch Village, Roy remembered at this time, it was the village close to Liuye Village.

That's where the widows' acquaintances came from!

"Mr. Oakes!" I don't know how the blond widow's eyes are long. She saw the witcher at a glance. She hugged the child and got out of a sky blue tent. The golden braids are lively and bouncing.

"How come here?"

"I'm here to find Lilin from Birch Village."

Upon hearing this, Yogni did not ask the witcher why.

Simply greet him through a group of Yingyingyanyan,

"Humph! When did Eugenie hook up Oakes?" said a freckled woman jealously.

"Who told someone to be prettier than you, with bigger breasts, ass, and waist than you, and a good son. Maybe tomorrow he can get rid of this nightmare-like place and go to live in the city." The tall and burly woman said, "I hope we will not forget our sisters at that time!"

...

The two did not pay attention to the gossip on the way.

Quickly came to the center of a purple-red, embroidered rose pattern outside the tent, which was obviously a grade higher than the surrounding.

A woman of twenty-three or four years old was sitting at the entrance of the tent, staring at the sky in a daze.

Appearance and figure are among the best among these women.

"Lilyn!"

"Ah, Eugenie, who is this?" The woman was suddenly awakened, her eyes wandering suspiciously between her friend and the witcher,

"Didn't I just say yesterday that Mr. Oakes escorted everyone to the refugee camp." Yugni glanced gratefully at the witcher, "If it wasn't for him, we would have died on the way."

Lilyn immediately smiled softly at Roy, with a hint of approval in her eyes.

"What is Mr. Oaks looking for? I'll make it clear in advance that I'm not in business!"

"Ms. Lilin has misunderstood. I'm here this time just to help your boyfriend Mato clear his grievances!" Roy stared into the woman's eyes, and spoke straightforwardly and righteously!

"Ah? Who is Mato? What kind of grievance, I don't understand what you mean!" A trace of panic flashed on the woman's face, and she sat on the ground and climbed back a few steps, leaning against the tent wall.

"I don't like to beat around the bush. You should know that Mato's owner, Ambassador Ainz, had an accident on the outskirts of the city, and Mato was identified as one of the criminals by the sheriff. Now I can't go home, and my friend is even more pitiful, and was taken to the dungeon. ."

"We need Mato's testimony, as long as he helps testify!" Roan said, "I promise to restore his reputation!"

"You are mistaken, Mato hasn't come to my place for half a month, I don't know where he is!" Lilyn turned her face and reluctantly changed her words.

Yunig suddenly stepped forward, grabbed his friend's arm, and comforted him, "Mr. Oakes guards everyone all the way, without any wrongdoing, and keeps his promises, which is absolutely worthy of trust."

"Lilin, think about it, I lied to you before? Even if you don't believe him, you should believe me!"

Lilin turned her eyes between the two, lowered her head and bit her lip into a tangle.

And Roy took the chubby little black in his arms and touched its belly, "Mato is in a very dangerous situation now, if he continues to drag on and waits for the sheriff to convict the crime, he will never be in the future. I can't be with you righteously!"

"Think of your sweet time in the past, are you willing?"

"If he is convicted, you will also lose your support completely. What will happen to this beautiful woman who has no support in this refugee camp?" The witcher's voice stopped abruptly.

"Stop talking! I know he's there, and I'll tell you his whereabouts!" Lilyn trembled, her eyes sparkling and her lips trembling. "But can you guarantee his safety?"

"I will do my best to exonerate him and let him live." Roy took off his sunglasses, his irises shone brightly, "I swear by the name of the witcher!"

...

Five minutes later, Roy said goodbye to Yunig, who was hesitant to speak, and followed Lilyn out of the refugee camp, all the way west, into the bushy wilderness.

Walked about an hour.

Saw Mato in a wooded cabin covered with moss and vines.

Horse-faced, with a short beard, wearing a fine woolen sweater covered in mud and plant debris, and gray trousers woven from linen and cotton, it can be seen that before the accident, the standard of living was not low.

It's a pity that in just a week, he has changed from a slightly fat man to an outright thin man, with high cheekbones, a strange flush on his face, and a lot of bloodshot eyes in his eyes.

When he saw his girlfriend walking into the room, his expression relaxed and he forced a smile, just about to say hello.

Then the witcher who walked into the wooden house made him feel like a great enemy.

"Who is he?! Well, Lilyn, he betrayed me! It's a shame that I gave you my heart before!"

Mato snorted rough air, poked his index finger at the two, his face was full of anger, and his heart quickly turned ashes.

Swah——

The witcher's five fingers swept past his eyes.

The man's excitement subsided instantly.

The whole person calmed down.

Against the wooden wall, scrutinizing the witcher cautiously.

"Don't worry," Roy explained to the woman with questioning eyes, "I just let him regain his senses."

"Mato, let me just say it straight, I was entrusted by Yurga to clear his grievances. You know very well that he didn't kidnap your master at all - Honorary Ambassador Ainz!"

"The initiator of everything is that red light, you saw it with your own eyes, didn't you?"

As soon as Roy mentioned the red light.

Mato, who had just returned to being quiet, his face changed greatly, his pupils showed extreme panic, his face flushed even more, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

It's like falling into a nightmare!

"Red light, red light..."

Fortunately, the effect of Axifayin to soothe his mind was still there, so he did not lose control further.

"Mr. Oakes, every time he mentions that incident, he loses control of his emotions, please help him!" Lilyn begged.

Roy observed and inspected Mato, but was surprised to find that this guy had nothing abnormal except for a slight increase in body temperature.

He became more and more perplexed.

Yesterday, Yurga told him about the events that happened that day, and repeatedly mentioned the red light, but he did not show any abnormality.

Why does this Mato have a strange situation.

His master Ainz was burned to ashes?

What's the difference?

Is this a psychological effect or is there a hidden effect.

Five minutes later, Mato's emotions stabilized and he took a deep breath, "You're right, Yurga and the white-haired man are innocent."

"But I can't stand it. When I think of the light in the woods, I feel sick all over. It's like a fire is burning in my head. I really can't help them!"

"In your head?"

Mato swallowed, and Lilyn stepped forward and took his hand, "Don't be afraid, dear, we are here, and I am with you."

"I," the man's voice trembled as he slowly recalled, "That red light..."

"When I first went in, everything was fine, but after three minutes I felt something was wrong. The bad and painful memories of the past kept popping up, completely out of control."

"Bad thing? Can you be more specific?"

Roy's tone was smooth and gentle, trying not to irritate him.

A drop of cold sweat ran down Mato's cheek.

"As Ainz's accomplice, I helped him deal with some shameful things. Harm innocents and competitors, and partners, and reselling spoiled and moldy food."

"When I was illuminated by the red light, I seemed to be back in those bad days... Repeated in my memory, struggling, I was going crazy!" Mato's voice became sharp, his tone was full of panic, "Then the red light became like fire Hot, hot, hotter and hotter, it's going to set me on fire from the inside out!"

Mato cried out in emotion,

"It's going to burn me a sinner!"

"Do you know what I thought at the time? This red light is the divine punishment from the goddess Meritelli, the eternal fire!"

"Specially punish those who are guilty of sin! Burn the darkness of the world."

"Punish us for our past mistakes!"

"Ainz-sama... Ainz-sama, the crimes he committed are countless and heinous! That's why he was burned to ashes!"

Roy was like a dick, and quickly captured an inspiration about the red light, but he couldn't be sure, because he didn't see the legendary light and the scene where it showed its mighty power with his own eyes.

In the observation, Mato's physical condition is normal.

Except for a little fever.

"Even now, the red light in the woods has long since disappeared... But I often think of my ugly and cruel actions." Mato suddenly covered his face and sobbed, "It's like burning all over."

"The flames are like maggots on the tarsal bones, I can feel them, they are still deep in my bone marrow, watching me all the time... woohoo! Once those dirty memories start rolling, they will come out again and burn me The skin, the flesh, the bones, make me suffer! Until it turns to ashes."

...

"Then do you regret it?"

Knowing about the matter, Roy said the purpose of the trip, "Are you willing to atone? When I'm ready, I'll meet the sheriff with me, testify for Yurga and Geralt, and point out Ainz's crimes! "

"If there's one way you can be free and free from pain, it's by confronting the unfortunate memory of the past and making amends and correcting it."

Mato's chest rose and fell violently, he gasped heavily, and his face changed.

After a while, his expression was ferocious, and he quickly clenched a steel tooth.

said categorically,

"I agree!"

"No!" Lily pleaded, "You have made mistakes in the past, so you won't be implicated in doing so? When the time comes, you will be arrested, what should I do?"

Mato hesitated.

He couldn't let go of this relationship.

"Dude, talk to us?" Roy looked at him and comforted him softly, "What crimes have you committed?"

"No!" Lilyn put Mato behind her like a hen guarding her calf. "Stop torturing him! You didn't tell him how painful it was just now?"

"Let me say." Mato hugged the woman behind him, flames ignited in his pupils, "If enduring a moment of pain will give me long-term peace and relief, then I will!"

In a hut in the woods.

The sunlight through the window showed a reddened, pained, remorseful man's face, and he began to speak briefly and repent at the same time.

The witcher and a woman listened quietly.

...