A Monster Among Us, Part One

Chapter 88

Roy and Letho were talking in the carriage. "Why did it kill all the kikimores? To keep the villagers safe?" Roy couldn't believe his guess. The killer was a strong monster from what they'd seen, and none of them would go out of their way to help humans. "Do you know what the killer is?"

"Probably. Everything else matches it, though there's no urine." Letho didn't look too sure. "But best not speculate before we actually see it."

"So why did it do this?" Roy asked. "Is it protecting the villagers?"

Letho answered, "Probably a coincidence. Maybe it just moved here, and it's very territorial, so it killed all the kikimores. The troupe should be fine if they get out of its range." Letho calmed himself down. "Don't worry too much about it, and don't tell the troupe about this."

At the same time, the troupe was keeping a close eye on the duo. "You've been getting along with them well, Eveline. I trust you know them fine enough?" Alan crossed his arms, his eyebrow arched quizzically. "We don't hear anything bad about the Viper School in the north, and they look normal enough, but for some reason, I think they're hiding something."

Eveline bit her lip. "I'm sure Roy's fine. I can trust him, but…" She changed her tune. "I'm not sure about Letho. He's a man of few words, and even fewer emotions. I get the chills every time he looks at me. It's like he can see through my soul. His injuries don't seem fake though."

"They say witchers are emotionally messed up. Looks like that isn't just a rumor after all."

Collins thumped his hairy chest. "Fret not, Alan. I'll keep an eye on those two. It's just a witcher with a limp and a little brat. They don't even have weapons to boot. We can take them down easily."

"Watch it," Alan warned him. "They're our guests, so don't get on their bad side. We might need their help some day." He turned to Eveline. "Eveline will keep an eye on them for us. Don't let them out of your sight. Roy's interested in Gwent, right? Get Amos to play a match or two against him. He'll win some crowns for us. And Collins, don't let them run around tonight."

"Yes sir!"

Eveline went back to the carriage Roy was in, while Alan leaned against his carriage and let out a shrill whistle. A moment later, Art darted out and perched on his arm, holding a greyish-white feather in its beak.

Alan's face fell. "You cheeky boy." He smacked Art's head. "Pulling a prank on Arri again when she's asleep? She's your sister. You should protect her, not bully her."

Art cawed for a while before staring down like a child who got scolded. Then it pecked at Alan's hair, trying to get back in his good books. "Alright, fine. But if there's a next time…"

Art tucked its trembling wings in and nodded incessantly.

"Good boy." Alan stopped his bad cop act. "My boy, do you think I can find my love in Ellander this time?"

Art cawed again.

"Good boy. I knew it. My love is in Ellander." Alan caressed his falcon lovingly, but there was great sadness in his eyes.

***

Letho was meditating and healing himself up in the carriage, while Roy was staring at the long road ahead of them, worried. The killer that wiped out a whole kikimore colony must've been as strong as the leshen. Even though it couldn't revive, the traces it left told them that the monster was faster, stronger, and had a bigger bite than the leshen.

Roy didn't think he could go against that monster in his current condition either. Letho was injured, and their items had run out. The whole troupe would be in danger if they were attacked by it.

Everyone in the troupe was also Observed by Roy. Most of their stats were slightly higher than normal humans. They were nimbler or stronger too, but only slightly. Also, they had one or two basic combat skills, so the troupe members were on par with normal soldiers, but not even a dozen of them could take on that monster.

"Something's wrong. The members don't seem too strong, so why's Alan so confident they could beat the bandits? Is it overconfidence? Or something else?" Roy thought the case wasn't so simple. From what Eveline had told him, he realized the Troupe had traveled to many countries and regions, but they'd never gotten into any big trouble.

Since he couldn't figure it out, Roy ignored it and concentrated on his character sheet.

'(1) attribute point(s) and (1) skill point(s) left.'

Roy allocated the attribute point to Constitution, and then he felt a surge of warmth course through his body, as if he were bathing in a hot spring. He could feel countless hands massaging him, rejuvenating his body.

'Constitution: 5.5 → 6.5

HP: 55 → 65'

Since he had experience adding two attribute points at the same point, adding only one point didn't burden him at all. In fact, the comfort was slowly making him sleepy, but it was not to be.

He noticed a gale coming toward him, and he dodged by reflex. Annoyed, he looked up to see a card spinning back to its owner. Then out came a man in a white robe. His head was covered in a turban, his long mustache wiggling on his lips. The man was lanky, but he was built big.

Amos the Gwent performer looked surprised when Roy had managed to dodge that. The thing he threw at Roy was a standard Gwent card. "You're nimble, boy. As expected from Letho's friend."

Roy held his anger back. "Is that so?" He sized Amos up. "That's a unique way to say hi, Mr. Amos. This is the first time someone tried to kill me just to say hello. Is this your hometown's custom?"

Amos leaped up to the carriage, his robe billowing. "It was just a friendly greeting. Besides, you're fine, aren't you?" Amos leaned against the carriage smugly.

Roy stared down and made a decision. "Do you need something?"

Amos raised his head in provocation. "Eveline told me you're a great Gwent player despite your age. Coincidentally, Gwent's my hobby. Care to play?"

"Sure." Roy rubbed his hands. "Why don't we make this spicier? Let's bet something." He smiled innocently.

Amos beamed. "I don't see why not."