Witcher's Atelier

The "Barrel Festival" is an indispensable and important festival after the grape harvest every year. Although Toussaint began to use mechanical juice extraction a long time ago, tradition requires...

Since morning, in the courtyard of the palace, leather drums and tambourines have been beating cheerful rhythms, and flutes and harps have been singing beautiful melodies. There was a huge wine barrel on the central stage, and there were many acrobats doing somersaults around it.

The courtyards and corridors were crowded with spectators, including nobles, knights, courtiers, merchants and common people, as well as the "Phantom Troupe".

Wearing casual clothes, Victor has a steel sword at his waist. The people who stood beside him to explain customs were still his old friends Milton and Palmerin.

As for Angouleme, he took advantage of the fact that he was a girl and was familiar with her. He sneaked into the special seats at the auditorium and was chatting with the newly acquainted palace ladies.

After a while, the ceremony began. Palace Steward Sebastian Le Goff first paid tribute to Duchess Anna and Fringilla on the auditorium, then turned around, raised a wooden staff wrapped with vines, and knocked on the ground. Three times.

"Ho, ho!" he shouted, "lords and ladies, knights, countrymen!"

"Ho, ho!" the crowd responded.

"Ho, ho! It's an ancient tradition! Let the vines grow! Ho, ho! Let the grapes ripen in the sun!"

"Ho, ho! Let them ripen!"

"Ho, ho! Let them ferment! Let them absorb the strength and flavor of the barrel! Let them become wine! Let the wine flow into our cups, and then to our duchess, to the beautiful ladies, to the brave knights Raise a glass to the hardworking winemakers! ”

"Ho, ho! Cheers!" Mixed in the crowd, Victor shouted loudly, fully experiencing the joy of the celebration.

Then Sebastian raised his voice: "A beautiful lady is invited to come forward!"

Two women walked out of the brocade tent on the other side of the courtyard. From a distance, they were both blond and beautiful. They wrapped their bodies in bright red long cloaks, but when the witcher looked at one of them with extraordinary vision, that kind of It was so stunning that even someone like Victor, who was used to seeing beautiful women, was shocked.

The three-dimensional coordination of her facial features is just the basics. What is amazing is the wonderful charm in her eyes, which is both arrogant and gentle, and there is a hint of worldly sorrow in her innocence and purity.

Sensing Victor's gaze, Milton said cheerfully next to him: "You also noticed it! That beauty is the most beautiful noble among the palace maids - Vivienne Tabris."

After hearing the name clearly, Victor suddenly realized that it was her, the leading heroine of a certain series of side missions. No wonder she had such a charming beauty. In the game, the adventure in the Principality of Toussaint was jokingly said to have two major regrets. The first regret was that the Duchess Annaetta could not be overthrown, and the second regret was that Vivienne. Tablis cannot be overthrown.

"Now, let the young people come forward!" Sebastian continued the process on the field.

The "young people" he referred to were two handsome and strong young men. They had been waiting not far away for a long time. When they heard the call, they immediately trotted in.

At this time, the two beauties took off their cloaks, including Vivienne. Tablis, the crowd immediately burst into thunderous cheers. Victor also swallowed a little.

Ignoring the other one directly, the witcher activated his extraordinary vision to focus on Vivienne! She was wearing a sleeveless white shirt, the fabric was as thin as a spider web, and the length just reached her waist. The lower body is wearing lace underwear, other than that there is no strands or any decorations. Her bare feet were spread out, and her snow-white toes could be seen.

With a sound of "Bang!", the two young guys collided because they were both heading toward Vivienne. Tablis stretched out his arm. Of course, this scene was not planned.

"What does that fool want to do?" Palmyrin scolded in a low voice, shaking his newly grown gray hair.

Milton couldn't help laughing and explained to Victor in a low voice: "The blond young man is Guillaume Lauenfar, Palmerin's nephew. He seems to be in love. He should have hugged the other one." That’s right!”

If there were only men's names, Victor might not be able to remember them, but because Vivienne was also present, he suddenly realized that he felt like witnessing history. It turned out that Guillaume. It was today that Raunfar became Vivienne. Tablis's subordinate──and the client of the side quest.

The little episode passed quickly. With his pleading eyes, Guillaume won the right to stretch out his arms to Vivienne, and the two young men carried the two beauties to the huge wine barrel.

Guillaume helped Vivienne, and his partner helped another beauty. With the help of the man, they stood up straight in the barrel. The crowd cheered.

"Ho, ho!"

Vivienne and another beauty stood face to face, putting their hands on each other's shoulders in order to maintain balance in the pile of grapes that reached their knees.

Then amidst the cheers and music of the people, the two women began to step and dance in the wine barrels, spinning and laughing like children, using their healthy white calves and even half of their thighs to squeeze fresh grape juice.

Seeing the purple juice splashing wantonly on the thin shirt, almost becoming a second layer of skin, with full three-dimensional effect, Victor declared with the majesty of his extraordinary vision that the person who came up with this ritual, Gentmade, was a genius!

"Ho, ho!" the crowd shouted, "let them ferment!"

During the dance, grape juice flooded around the calves of the two women and bubbles appeared in a blink of an eye.

After a while, the palace steward tapped the ground again with his wooden stick. When the music and drums stopped, Guillaume and partner A stepped forward to help the two beauties leave the barrel. Almost their entire bodies were dyed bright purple.

Then again, the person who came up with this ritual, Gentmade, is a genius!

Victor also noticed that when Guillaume's partner hugged his beautiful partner with both arms, she gently bit the man's ear, with a dangerous light in her eyes. It was estimated that the two of them would have some romantic activities in the garden later.

On the other side, Vivienne did not make any move towards Guillaume, but Guillaume had completed his self-strategy and fell in love unilaterally. The gentleman was so confused that he didn't know where to look.

Finally, the two beauties returned to the viewing platform and wrapped themselves in bright red cloaks again. Half of the crowd let out a sigh of regret, not knowing whether they were sighing that the ceremony was over or something else.

"Ancient tradition and precious value," Milton touched his beard and sighed, "it is worth passing on from generation to generation, what do you think?"

"Without a doubt." Victor's face returned to firmness and seriousness.

Palmerin put his hand on his forehead, "Wait a minute, what else does that fool want to do?"

When the ceremony was over, Palmerin's blond nephew did not leave immediately. Instead, he returned to the wine barrel, which was in the center of the courtyard. He put his hands on his hips and shouted loudly: "I--I am Guillaume Lauenfar." ! I hereby announce that Miss Vivienne Tablis is the most beautiful woman in the world! If anyone has any objections, I will wait for you by the Froviv River every day!

The crowd suddenly burst into earth-shattering cheers. They were cheering for this brave knight and for such a reckless show of love! This... is Toussaint's style!

However, Victor could see clearly from a distance that Vivienne was obviously not tempted by Guillaume's high-profile display of love. Speaking of which, there are as many people who want to pursue her as there are crucian carp crossing the river. This level of performance is indeed still far away from success, and if there is no white wolf in the game. With Geralt pulling the strings, Guillaume is destined to be unable to catch Vivienne.

Victor touched his chin. It was still early anyway, and no one asked him to intervene. He would just go ahead and admire Vivienne's eyes for today's ceremony, so that she could be happy and satisfied.

Having made up his mind, the witcher was about to leave when a palace lady unexpectedly approached, "Knight Victor, Her Royal Highness the Duchess invites you to come over and speak!"

Turning around and looking at the viewing platform, he happened to see Anayetta waving to him. Victor couldn't help but have a headache. After all, he had "selective amnesia". What if the Duchess asked about the "evil beast" again? How about perfunctory her?

…

Taking the handkerchief to wipe the nosebleed, Matilda looked at the silent witcher, "Is life always so painful? Or is it only like this when you were a child?"

Looking into the girl's clear eyes, Leon hesitated for a moment and said in an apologetic voice, "It's always like this."

──Excerpted from "This Witcher Is Not Too Cold" 20XX theatrical version

…

Following the maid into the palace, this was a semi-public meeting, with a similar configuration to the last meeting, including soldiers, footmen, and page boys standing like statues, plus a boring clown.

The difference is that there were almost twenty people present, including the palace steward Sebastian who looked like a pastry chef, and the indispensable captain of the guard Damien. Tours, Parmelin and Milton were knights loyal to the duchess, and several auxiliary courtiers wearing gold chains.

In addition, there were some cronies dressed in black who looked like members or judges. Later, Victor learned that these people were Emhyr of Nilfgaard. Emperor Emres, his naive cousin who is a political fool, an elite diplomat and administrative advisor stationed in Toussaint.

Of course, the most important thing is the "respectable lady" ─ Fringilla. Wei Ge, the sorceress, was sitting next to the duchess. She and Anayetta were the only ones sitting in the audience.

Because he was wearing regular clothes without armor, Victor held his chest and saluted, preparing to deal with it perfunctorily. However, the Duchess did not pursue the matter of the evil beast, and the topic went directly to a place that the witcher had never thought of beforehand.

After a period of time.

"Oh, oh, oh," Duchess Anna Henrietta wrung her hands and sighed, "Lyon's story is so sad, Mr. Victor. I have read "The Witcher Is Not So Cold." After "The Glorious Document of Humanity", sadness took over my heart."

She sniffed and stretched out her hand. Vivienne next to her. Tablis, now fully clothed, immediately placed a linen handkerchief embroidered with his initials into her hand. The Duchess touched her handkerchief to her cheek lightly to avoid smudging her makeup.

"Oh, oh." she repeated, "thank you for putting it on the bulletin board. I haven't read such a touching story in a long time. But from what you said, you are also interested in Lyon's cemetery or Matilda's whereabouts. Don’t know anything?”

"I'm sorry, enlightened lady," Victor said calmly, "I deeply regret that I didn't know this senior Lyon in the past, and I didn't even know the school he belonged to. I haven't been active for a long time since crossing the Coraz Desert. Short, even this glorious record of human nature is just a narration from a businessman I met by chance on the road. I did not witness it myself. I just thought that such deeds should not be buried in history, so I took the liberty to write it and put it on the bulletin board.

From this point of view, I admit that the original intention is not pure, and I hope to clear up the stigma for our ethnic group! Please believe that even though there are some depraved and unscrupulous elements, more witchers are still working hard... Just like me, my senior brother Eskar, and my master Vesemir, we work hard like old farmers and kill diligently. Demons and monsters. "

Listening to Victor's explanation, Angoulin hid herself behind the crowd and took a deep breath. Her face was twisted and she gritted her teeth, otherwise she was afraid that her wild laughter would shake the roof tiles in the next second.

Anna Henrietta sighed again and took the handkerchief from Vivienne again.

"I admire your integrity, Victor, and fully understand your impure purpose. In my opinion, this expectation is noble and sincere," she said. "For this reason, I inform you in advance that I have assigned Several writers began to search for information, trying to complete this narrative. I stand with you wholeheartedly on this matter, and with your cultivation as a dragonborn poet, Mr. Victor, you must be willing to serve as a consultant and assist me in my assignment. writers, making their compilations more authentic.

The doors of Beauclair's library and bookstore will be open to you. I believe this will be a fierce collision between literature and human nature. Don't act hastily or be too hasty. As a consultant, you can stay in the principality as long as you want. "

Hiding in the crowd, Angouleme suppressed her laughter even more painfully. As the first victim of "The Legend of the Solid Snake", "The Past of the Dragonborn" and "This Witcher Isn't Too Cold", she could fully imagine those writers being Fooled until he looked stupid and stupid.

"Thank you for your kindness and generosity, Your Highness." Victor bowed, "As a visiting professor of the Poetry Department of Oxenfurt University and a top student graduating from the Philosophy Department, I am very happy to meet with knowledgeable writers during my stay. Discuss the details I know.”

Some keywords in Victor's answer moved the Duchess. She unconsciously crossed her arms and stroked her left forearm rhythmically, as if stroking a kitten. Anayetta murmured in a low voice, "I didn't expect it." He is actually 'his' junior..."

After pondering for a moment, she stood up from her seat and said with her head held high, "Listen! Witcher Victor Corleone. Toussaint needs your help. The Hortens vineyard has been closed due to the invasion of giant centipedes. For a long time, the owner of the park announced that he has given up his business qualifications. Now I use this right as a reward to entrust you to eliminate monsters in the park. Are you willing to accept it? "

Although I don’t know the details of the commissions and rewards that fell from the sky, I knew it wouldn’t be a bad thing just from Anayetta’s friendly eyes and the vague commotion around her.

So Victor stroked his chest as a gift and said, "Thank you Duchess for your generosity. I am honored to accept this commission."

The courtiers and knights began to whisper, which sounded like the rustle of the wind through the woods. Duchess Anayetta smiled, "Well, I still have activities to participate in during the festival, so the audience will end here." She glanced at the witcher for the last time, and left the hall with her companions and entourage.

"Damn it," Milton came closer, "It's really surprising. This is a great honor, Lord Victor!"

"Don't rush to congratulate me. I haven't understood the situation yet," Victor said. "I am an expert in dealing with monsters, but what does the winery management rights mean?"

Touching his short gray hair, Baron Palmerin answered, "In Toussaint, there are countless ordinary wineries, so you don't need to pay attention to them. However, the 'Sanselet's Lost' produced by Chateau Hortense once worked for him. The operator brings a 'Baron' status. In other words, if you can eradicate those monsters and resume production smoothly, Mr. Victor Corleone will soon be called 'Your Excellency'."

The witcher stretched out his hand and touched his nose, "Tsk tsk! In other words, this is actually the ticket for noble Zhang, even though it is a red wine noble bound to the winery?"

"Yes, the future Baron Corleone," the person who responded was clearly the palace steward Sebastian. He quietly approached at some point, wearing sweet and fragrant clothes. "Remind you, please prepare the family coat of arms as soon as possible." , just submit it to the treasurer of the principality. In the past, you could have no mark as a knight errant, but as a noble, this is a necessity for family heirlooms. "

"Don't think that the red wine aristocrats are not nobles. In Toussaint, the red wine aristocrats are aristocrats! Although it is very difficult, if you brew a popular product, it is possible to be directly promoted to viscount or even earl." Milton clenched his fist and tapped it. Victor's chest congratulated.

At this moment, another maid approached from the side. She bowed her head slightly and said, "Mr. Victor, please come with me. The 'respectable lady' wishes to have a private conversation with you."

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