I Am The Only Witch Hunter

Quinlan and Bas had soon returned to Everia.

Jude and Caterina had settled down and made peace with themselves. They were still the targets of Ever Night and danger lurked around them at every corner. But that wasn't Siderius' business anymore. He had completed the job he was given.

Finn had joined the guild. A surprise addition to his guild. A skilled craftsman was always useful.

George paid his debt to Siderius but not entirely. He had joined the guild alongside Finn and made a vow for his eternal loyalty with Siderius.

But there was still something needed to be done about him.

Siderius sat down with George at a secluded table in the banquet.

"Enjoying the night?" Siderius said.

"Yes, my lord." George sip the cup of ale, eyes lingering to the sky above. "Do you have an assignment for me, my lord?"

"Not an assignment. I just want to know what happened to you. Why did you leave Mucktown?"

"Argh. A rather short but tragic tale. Do you really want me to bore you with it?"

"Please. We may not know each other for long. But we are brothers, George. Our vows made us so."

"I understand, Lord Watcher. Sometimes I still forget about that. The guild truly treats all members equally.

As for what happened to me. Throughout my years of researching the Petrinium Steel, I have never succeeded in creating it. But with the help of a noble, I was able to create something special.

A sword that can heal itself."

Siderius raised an eyebrow. It caught his attention but he stayed silent.

"I named it the Sword in the Stone. Or Stone Breaker for short.

I always thought that Petrinium was made because it had some kind of special ores or material. A unique element that I can't replicate.

But I have no way to access those kinds of materials being a small blacksmith of the secluded Mucktown.

So I traveled to the county of Alanshire. The Count of Alanshire was a powerful Lesser Witch for many years. He is very interested in craftsmanship and smithing."

"Let me guess. You come to him and say you can make a sword like no others." Siderius said.

George nodded.

"And the Count told me that he would pay me a thousand gold coins if I can make it."

"I guess he never pays you."

"He didn't. And when I demand payment. He accused me of disrespecting the High Lords and being greedy for a commoner. He stripped me of my titles and ordered me to be killed.

I ran. With nowhere to go, I returned to my homeland, hoping he would let me live in peace."

"But your existence is a threat. He can never have you survived. Otherwise, people will know the true owner of Stone Breaker."

George nodded again.

"The Bailiff caught me and ordered me to be hanged. I lost all hopes.

But that fateful night. I woke up in the night to see you killed the guards and left the prison."

Siderius grinned. "The count of Alanshire. A lesser witch, huh?

Do you wish for vengeance, George?"

"No. I just wish to get back the Stone Breaker and be rid of this hiding life."

"A kind but very naive ambition, my friend. Sometimes, to live your life in peace, blood needs to be drawn."

George trembled slightly. His fist clenched tight.

"I am no warrior. And I am also no witch."

"But you are a member of our guild now. We will take care of you."

George looked at Siderius with surprise and hopefulness.

"You should say farewell to Finn soon. I will ask Jude for a favor to erase any trace of your time here.

The count of Alanshire will not stop until you're dead. It is wiser to hide your identity and live in some place that no one can find you.

As a coincidence, I have just the place.

Change your name and come to Santa Roberto. You will be the new steward of Santa Roberto.

It is my property and I need you to take care of it."

"The Santa Roberto monastery?! I don't know if I can do it, my lord…"

"You are sharp enough to take on this task, George. It can also provide you a quiet place to continue improving your craft as well.

Santa Roberto is very near to Scalize as well so Finn should be able to visit you anytime.

And here, take this."

Siderius secretly passed a gold coin into George's hand.

"This should be enough for you to hire some people to look after the place.

Anna, the former maid of Jude wants to serve me. Do not tell her about the guild. She has talents in tending to plants. She can be your right hand man at most of the things.

Test her loyalty and resolve regularly to see if she can be trusted.

The people you hire should be few and know to mind their own business. We don't need many people to look after Santa Roberto at the moment. Just make sure it won't be ransacked by looters and robbers is good."

George looked around and quickly tucked the coin inside his shirt. This single gold coin was worth one thousand bronze coins. It could feed many people for years, enough to look after the monastery for a while.

"I… I can't be grateful enough for the opportunities you gave me, my lord. I am forever indebted to you."

Siderius pat George on the back.

"We are all brothers in the guild. We bleed together. And we feast together. Always remember that."

"Yes, my lord!"

With that, Siderius arranged Santa Roberto nicely. He was thinking of recruiting Tanya into Santa Roberto as well. Her knowledge about the plants would be a perfect combination to Anna's talents. Siderius was thinking of raising Anna to be a herbalist as well.

Tanya was good but she wasn't his people. Anna was a better candidate.

He also had some other people that he deemed were worthy to join Santa Roberto.

The Casper Kid and Buster Cass, those two gamblers that he had a chance to share a game of dice with. One was a capable warrior. The other was very sharp and smart. These two would be great additions to help George in maintaining the monastery.

"I wonder where those two are right now." Siderius rubbed his chin.

He pulled Jude aside from his drinking.

"Need something, White Witch?"

"Have you ever heard about the Casper Kid and Buster Cass?"