71. Can Talk Your Way Through?

"Whoo~"

Exhaling deeply, Allen stood up. Although he was the one who benefited from the recent battle, and his stamina consumption from multiple entries into the Monster Hunt state was supplemented by essences, the invasion of the monster's aura and his intense focus on the fight between the Old Speartip and the Drowner King had left him mentally exhausted. After the battle ended, with his energy relaxed, he felt like he could fall asleep right there. However, he knew the witcher apprentices were probably still worried about him. So, Allen only rested for three to four minutes before planning to continue with the next part of the trial.

As for the loot and essence of the two large monsters, the witcher apprentice planned to open them after he returned. The upcoming part wasn't dangerous. The final trial with the rock trolls could be passed with some clever talk. Moreover, who knew when he would next have the opportunity to kill such monsters. Allen decided to wait until he was back at the apprentice dorm, the place where he once got double rewards, before opening the chests.

Pat, pat, pat.

Allen stepped through the blood, heading toward the cave. He stopped when he passed by the head of the Old Speartip. The bodies of the Drowner King and the Cyclops were temporarily left there. Although the Monster Hunter Journal had an inventory, it could only store rewarded items or items crafted from rewarded recipes.

But...

"Shouldn't I take some proof back?"

Allen pondered. The title of Witcher Master required the recognition of all master witchers in the school to be awarded. Although the Grandmaster had promised to strive for his title, primarily due to the impact of the Killer Whale potion, not really to commend his ability to kill a large monster, it was unclear what his standing would be among the other wolf school masters. In the upcoming Kaer Morhen Defense, this period of authority was crucial to him.

"Killing two large monsters this time makes my title well-deserved. But that's not enough to make an impact; the benefits haven't been maximized yet. First impressions are crucial. I need an entrance that leaves all of them deeply impressed and convinced..."

After a moment of consideration, Allen looked at the two heads, nearly as tall as he was, soaked in blood, and had an idea.

Step, step, step.

Allen walked to the large head of the Old Speartip, grabbed its long hair, and placed the two heads together. Then, drawing a small knife from his belt, he cut a hole in the Drowner King's red fin.

"Rustle~"

Moments later, the witcher apprentice carried the heads of the Drowner King and the Old Speartip on his back.

"Now I look like a proper monster hunter with trophies."

The witcher apprentice looked at his new image in the blood pool, nodding in satisfaction.

"It would be better if I had a horse like Roach."

Feeling the heavy burden on his back, Allen fantasized as he moved deeper into the cave.

...

The Old Speartip's cave was dark and dim. Although there was some air circulation, the thick stench of rot permeated the darkness. No wonder, given that drowners were scavenger monsters, and the Old Speartip fed on them. With such waste accumulating in the cave, the smell was bound to be unpleasant.

"Step, step, step."

Heavy footsteps echoed in the darkness. Although there was no light around, the steps remained steady. It was Allen. In his vision, the cave was not completely dark. A trail of red footprints extended from his feet into the distance. The red path twisted and turned, showing signs of the owner's uncertain sense of direction, but fortunately, it showed no signs of hurried evasion.

"It seems the cave is safe now that the Old Speartip is gone," Allen thought. These red footprints were part of the Monster Hunter Journal's special tracking skill. The regular tracking skill used scent to locate the target's general direction, which wouldn't help him avoid rough terrain. Unlike the regular skill, the special tracking skill used vision to reveal footprints, similar to the witcher senses in the game, making it much more useful in dark caves.

"If only I could get a skill point for each level," Allen sighed, shaking his head slightly. Then, following the footprints, he started to review the previous battle. The wolf-eats-tiger strategy was undoubtedly successful. With his own strength, he could hardly defeat either of the two monsters. By making them fight each other, the witcher apprentice could benefit. And in the Monster Hunter Journal's evaluation, the wolf-eats-tiger tactic added three points, raising the battle's final rating by one tier. Half of the rewards came from that rating.

The Monster Hunter Journal encouraged him to use various tactics to kill monsters. This also fit Allen's professional characteristics. Witchers were never heroes. They didn't need to fight honorably like knights. They were professionals who just needed to use every means possible to kill monsters and collect their rewards from employers. So, if another monster killed a monster, what was the harm in that?

This was why Allen wasn't worried that the wolf school witchers would reduce his credit or good impression because of the wounds on the two monsters. Wisdom was a weapon too. As for where the Drowner King came from? How would an apprentice witcher know? He believed the Grandmaster, who knew many of his secrets, would help him smooth it over. For now, he had to trust the wolf school Grandmaster. After all, the Damocles sword named the Kaer Morhen Defense was hanging over his head, and he had to seize every opportunity to improve his strength.

Moreover, Allen had already begun to build trust with the Grandmaster and the sorceress. Regardless of what the prophesied future held, their sincerity over the past month showed they were on the same side.

Step, step, step.

In his footsteps, the witcher apprentice was thinking about handling his relationship with the Grandmaster and the sorceress when his nose involuntarily twitched. The surrounding stench suddenly cleared. Allen looked up. The faint daylight illuminated the gray and dark stone wall ahead. The red footprints in his sight scattered here, then extended forward, turning right and disappearing. Seeing this, Allen breathed a sigh of relief and dismissed the tracking skill.

"Finally about to pass the trial!"

The witcher apprentice thought. As for the upcoming rock trolls, wouldn't it be easy to pass them with just talking?

...….

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72. Could It Be Such a Coincidence?

73. Don't Add to the Chaos!

74. A New Type of Task.

75. The Circle of Elements.

76. How Can the Notes Be Changed?