Witcher's Atelier

Night - Between the outskirts of Elland and the floating forest -

After eating the roasted basil chicken carefully prepared by Chef Victor, Angouleme sat by the fire and started to talk endlessly with the hawk. Since Catherine came, Angouleme's silly words have significantly decreased. Maybe it was because she reminded him, or maybe he said all the silly words to her.

He didn't avoid Angouleme, because she couldn't see the difference anyway. Victor set up a small pot to boil water and started the incredible alchemy. He put in mandrake, Nostrik, allspice, blood moss, black vine petals, and a little dwarf liquor, and then started to stir.

Thinking about it carefully, after more than a year in the world of hunting demons, my physical fitness, swordsmanship, and traditional alchemy have all improved significantly, but the incredible alchemy has progressed slowly, and the only types of blending I am really good at are still those.

Apart from the new formula of the energy soup, other formulas such as the aphrodisiac soup, hangover medicine, and the post-work medicine that is being made now are all masterpieces that have been refined in the alchemy world for a long time. Then there are the food and furniture categories.

Victor knows the reason for the slow progress. One is that his mental power cannot support a longer period of concentration and coordination. The second is that the past rational education has limited his imagination, resulting in it being difficult for him to create in the void if he cannot simulate the process that can be reproduced in the real environment in his mind.

And these two points are not problems he can solve now.

When he was in Banard, the boy tried to find the formula to improve mental power, but unfortunately the formula was monopolized by the magician group, because they also need this kind of thing to improve themselves, and several materials that may be useful are very expensive and rare.

The influence of rational education is even more troublesome, because the so-called "belief" is a very idealistic feeling, and even a trace of doubt will affect the success of the incredible alchemy.

But his worldview was formed in the Internet age where everything he saw was plastic surgery and everything he heard was a voice changer. It was his deep-rooted instinct to question everything, so he could only improve it by expanding his knowledge and slowly improving it over time.

The light flickered slightly, and Victor controlled the colorful light of the alchemy cauldron to a minimum. He took out a dozen tablets as delicate as candy from the cauldron, put them into a small leather bag, and threw them to Angouleme.

Angouleme caught the small bag and looked at Victor with a puzzled look.

The boy said while packing up the cauldron: "You know, the captain always gives you the best. This is the best emergency medicine."

"Emergency medicine?" The girl's expression continued to be confused, and it seemed that she could not understand the boy's implicit language art.

Victor could only lower his voice and try to be serious: "This is a contraceptive medicine, which will definitely be effective within three days after the event. There may be some dizziness, headache, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and fatigue, but they are all very mild."

He said it very clearly, but she was confused.

"So why give it to me?" she asked.

"Wasn't it a celebration yesterday? I saw you and Xilang doing that... cough cough... cough cough cough... so, um... you know."

"Oh! Captain, you said **! I didn't have ** with him!"

The unexpected answer made Victor look confused, "Uh... no? Then why is he chasing me so closely...?"

"He likes me, but I don't have ** with anyone other than Hansa." Angouleme said as a matter of course.

It was the Hansa theory again. Victor understood it, but was also stuck. "But I am the only man in the brigade now? Could it be you?"

Angoulême said with a simple face, "No, Captain! You know my past, so I decided a long time ago to have sex only with people in Hansa, and only with handsome and strong people. Captain, you are strong enough, but unfortunately you are not handsome."

She smoothed the feathers of the hawk and continued, "It doesn't matter to me. Anyway, several years have passed like this. My needs are not high, and now I have Catherine to accompany me.

But if the captain really cares about my problem in this regard, then quickly recruit a handsome and strong man into the brigade!"

Victor smiled on the surface, touched his nose, and was fierce in his heart. "Just bear it, the brigade will not accept any men before you are forty years old!"

"Anyway!" The girl tossed the small bag and stuffed it into her arms, "Thank you for your concern, Captain, I will accept this."

...

The tent is quite spacious, more than enough for two people to sleep.

After packing up the alchemical equipment, when Victor went into the tent, Angouleme was touching something outside. It was not until he was about to fall asleep that Angouleme came into the tent quietly, slightly interrupting his sleepiness.

When she got into a good sleeping position, she spoke naturally: "Captain, do you know? Catherine misses the forest very much."

Angouleme initiated a bedtime conversation, and Victor's sleepiness was attacked again.

"Really?"

"Well, she feels uncomfortable here. There are no tall trees to live in.

I also miss the forest a little, and my friends who drank and danced with me. It was really fun yesterday. Captain, do you think we will see them again in the future?"

Victor paused: "It's better not to think so. If you think too much, it will come true."

"Ah, I thought you would at least want to see Toruweier again?"

"Listen to me, if you see them where humans gather, stay as far away as possible. They will definitely cause trouble, in various senses."

"I thought we were friends with them?"

Under Angouleme's continuous harassment, Victor's sleepiness suffered a serious blow.

The young man simply turned sideways to look at Angulan and said seriously, "Then let me ask you, if they fight with the Fugang Garrison one day and you are at the scene, which side will you support?"

"It's very simple, help them!" Angoulan answered decisively.

“…….”

Victor didn't expect that Angouleme actually had the answer to the question that he was slightly entangled in. He thought about it over and over before coming to a conclusion while making the medicine.

What's even more frightening is that this idiot's answer is actually the same as mine!

Thinking of this, he asked curiously: "Why did you decide like this?"

"Because they are closer to us."

"But the guards are the same humans as us?"

"Race is not a priority. Zoltan said that, and I think it makes sense."

"Oh...what did he say?"

"The year before last, when I followed Uncle Geralt to search for Ciri, we met Zoltan for the first time. At that time, he and his dwarf companions were helping a group of human women and children escape from the flames of war. However, those women relied on their protection but... and despised their vulgarity.

I felt a bit disgusted and wanted to run to him to complain, but I heard him chatting with Geralt. This is what he said to the uncle at that time──"

Zoltan. Qiwa: “My biggest shortcoming is unbridled altruism.” He said, “I can’t see others in trouble and not help them.

But I'm a sensible dwarf and I know I can't help everyone. If I really do this, it will be just a drop of water into the ocean for the entire world and all creations living in it.

In other words, it’s a waste of effort.

Therefore, I decided to only help specific people so as not to waste my efforts.

I give priority to helping those close to me. "

Angouleme's imitation of Zoltan's accent was so lifelike that Victor almost felt like he was actually listening to the dwarf make these remarks.

Yes, it is too difficult and too stupid to distinguish right from wrong anytime and anywhere in this chaotic era. It is better to stick to the bottom line and give priority to helping those close to you.

Victor sighed: "Zoltan is such a wise dwarf!"

"Then will our brigade do the same in the future?"

"Yes! The Phantom Troupe always sides with its friends."

Soon after ending the topic, the girl's breathing gradually became evener, and Victor also fell asleep again.

…

At midnight, Katherine chirped and flapped her wings.

The Angouleme cat jumped up and said, "Kathleen said there is danger!" He picked up the steel sword and immediately got out of the tent.

Victor quickly followed, and as soon as he left the tent, he smelled a faint odor wafting in the wind.

Juvenile product... fine product... how to classify this stinky smell that I have never smelled before.

Then he took out four tubes of potion from the herbal bag and handed it to Angouleme. "Drink these three tubes immediately. The sword oil will be poured on the sword. It's a group of evil spirits. Please pay attention to my reminder later. I may drop a bomb." , I hope there are no ghost warriors."

Then he took out four more tubes of potion, bit open the stoppers of three tubes and drank them all in one gulp. On the last tube, he pulled out the silver sword and poured the ogre oil on the sword solemnly.

Under the moonlight shining like water, Victor adjusted his breathing. He was a little nervous. This was his second time slaying demons. Although his opponent was just an evil spirit, there was no doubt that tonight would be another long battle.

I wish everyone a happy Valentine's Day, be happy and stay safe. Thank you for your recommendation votes, support and messages of encouragement.