NOVEL NEXT Chapter 37: Chapter 37
Chapter 37: Gors Velen
Even with the warning about the potential cannibal group lurking in the shadows, Lan had already relayed his suspicions to the local security in Velen. What else could he do? Go in solo and take them head-on? Ridiculous; that group must be composed of dozens of individuals, a scale necessary to develop the ceremonial significance represented by the hand pendant. Witchers aren't gods, and no one is foolish enough to think a single sword could take on dozens of swords.
As for Phillip's priorities, Lan couldn't argue. The crime of child abduction was difficult to compare with the horror of cannibalism in terms of severity and influence. Furthermore, the scale of missing children was evidently larger, making it entirely reasonable to address that case first.
All Lan could do was hope that the cannibal group wouldn't cause any major disruptions before Velen's security forces could be mobilized.
The young witcher didn't linger in Crow's Perch and soon mounted Popeye, his damaged armor strapped securely behind him.
Before leaving, he asked Phillip to pass a message to Oreton, indicating that he needed to visit Gors Velen and was not intending to breach any agreements. Ivan would regularly come to Crow's Perch to procure materials, so it wouldn't be difficult to communicate this message, and Phillip readily agreed.
The solitary journey was uneventful, aided by Mentos's conversational capabilities. Lan kept himself entertained by humming a few tunes during the ride. Although Mentos would suddenly go silent when he did so, at least it prevented Lan from feeling too lonely. Talking to a horse would be a bit too pitiful, after all.
As he passed through marshes and villages, the sight of abandoned houses and farmland cast a somber yet vividly beautiful aura over Velen. The bright colors of flowers, clear blue skies, and lush trees stood in stark contrast against the gloomy backdrop.
Lan thought that even if he had a camera from his world, no amount of editing could capture such vibrant color dynamics.
The journey passed quickly, and he followed the map to the coastal city he had never visited before. Surrounded by high walls and towering spires that glinted in the sunlight, Gors Velen's entrance was impressive. To one side lay the ocean, its gray-green surface reflecting the morning sun, dotted with white sails.
This was the first settlement that Lan had seen that truly deserved the title of "city." Though, according to Mentos's calculations, the population inside was likely no more than five thousand, it was still significant in this world.
In the harsh and impoverished lands of Velen, it was like a pearl.
Wearing his hooded cloak, Lan kept his cat-like eyes shrouded in shadow. The guards at the city gate were seasoned enough to be unfazed by such a mysterious appearance. No one was getting past without paying the entrance tax, and Lan carefully counted out the necessary coins from his pouch, handing them over to the gatekeeper.
A tall, broad-shouldered man with two swords strapped to his back, meticulously counting coins while mounted created a somewhat incongruous image.
Once Lan passed through, the gate guards began to chatter.
"That guy just now, wearing a cloak, I thought he was some important figure. Turns out he's just counting coins like a common merchant."
"Carrying two swords? I thought he was some formidable mercenary. A famous mercenary wouldn't be counting entrance fees, would he? Anyone who counts coins can't be that important."
As Lan walked away, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.
"Not understanding the importance of saving and managing money; no wonder they'll be gate guards for life!"
"Indeed." Mentos quickly followed with a sycophantic tone, "Daring to mock you, that's a sure path to death! They'll never rise above being mere guards!"
The young man straightened his back, his demeanor becoming more composed. It was clear he was enjoying the flattery. "Tone it down a bit, Mentos."
The AI's tone immediately shifted to a polite and elegant one. "As you wish, sir."
Once inside the city, Lan found himself on Kardo Street. According to Phillip, this street spanned the entire city, connecting the city gate with the harbor. Crossing the harbor would lead him to the great bridge that extended toward the island of Aretuza, the home of the magical academy.
The witcher's keen eyesight swept across the not-so-large city, focusing on the harbor. There, a faint blue shimmering veil appeared to block passage. Was it a barrier?
He hadn't heard that the Academy of Aretuza operated with a closed management policy. Lan furrowed his brows slightly.
In fact, a significant portion of Gors Velen's economy was supported by the mages from the Academy. Given this economic connection, one would expect a more integrated relationship between the Academy and the town.
Yet, observing the reactions of the townsfolk as they passed the shimmering veil, they remained unfazed, neither nervous nor fearful. There wasn't even much curiosity.
Lan shrugged it off; perhaps this was just a normal occurrence for the Academy. The residents here seemed quite accustomed to magic, as even the noblemen from remote regions likely had seen fewer spells in their lifetimes than the people here.
Perhaps he could seek work here in the future.
Lost in thought, Lan followed Phillip's directions and soon found the blacksmith shop that was said to have "master-level" certification from Novigrad.
The young witcher scrutinized the storefront, confirming that he hadn't made a mistake. There was no forge, no anvil, and no grinding wheel. From the outside, it looked like a clothing store. It was a typical wooden commercial building. However, upon entering, Lan immediately realized he was in the right place.
Inside, there were indeed "clothes" on display, but they weren't high-end, tight-fitting garments made of soft velvet. Instead, they were sturdy pieces of armor.
As Lan entered, the doorbell tinkled, announcing his arrival. Inside, a stout dwarf with a headscarf and a blond girl with braided hair were busy behind the counter—if one could call it "busy." It was clear they were playing cards.
Seeing a customer, the dwarf jumped up as if he had been granted a reprieve, exclaiming, "Ah-ha! A customer! Get up, Yoana, don't let them think we're unprofessional!"
If he hadn't nearly overturned the card table in his excitement, Lan might have believed his enthusiasm for customers.
The girl at the card table was equally surprised, letting out a shriek. "Fergus! You were just about to lose! Don't try to back out of this! Give me that earth elemental!"
Wow, she had quite the fiery temperament. The young man raised an eyebrow in surprise.
The dwarf bore a classic stereotype with a large, bulbous nose, but his well-groomed beard didn't hide his relatively wrinkle-free face. He was likely only around eighty years old, making him quite young for a dwarf. He quickly dashed from the card table to the counter, ready to greet Lan.
With this, the shop moved into a more professional mode, while the girl simply stared wide-eyed at the sudden turn of events.
"Welcome! Welcome to the workshop of Master Tor. If you need anything, just let me know. I'm Fergus, the chief apprentice at this blacksmith shop."
"If you see something among our displayed items, we have clear prices, and you can take it with payment. If you have custom requests, please specify first, and we will consult with the master regarding difficulty before providing a quote."
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