When Wren opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on a small soft bed with a wrap at the foot of the bed and his black knife made of Tassa's magic iron beside it. It was a bright room, and the light from the window was warm and powerful, with a subtle perceptual difference from the sunlight cast by the magic of the underground training camp.

There was a chair in the corner, and there was a look on his face that should have been different—no, Vaolet, who should have been broken down to a pile of scum, with a smiling expression on his face.

Wren glanced at him, then slowly closed his eyes.

"That's not the reaction of a person who comes back from the dead, rookie."

"Of course," said Valolet, "I think you already know what the whole process is all about. ”

"Where is this?"

Wren asked with his eyes closed.

"'Hunting Camp' - to the east of the temple, where our daily office, training, and living are located."

Valolet replied.

'We'?

Wren's face twitched, but he didn't open his eyes or mouth, as if he had made up his mind to play dead to the end.

"Don't look like that, no one owes you anything here."

Valolet snorted coldly, "Say something, you've just gone through an exciting final test, don't you have anything else to say except ask, 'Where is this?'" ”

"I went through a hoax, a big show!"

Wren snapped his eyes open, "I should have guessed - the enemy is a group of perverted outlaws, but there have been no casualties except you all the time, and now that I think about it, this is simply abnormal!" ”

"yes, you should have guessed, but you didn't. And, do you know what's the most ridiculous? 'It took us seven months to successfully connect to your teleportation circle,' they said, and you believed it! ”

Valolet smiled very poorly, "I suggested deleting this line beforehand, really, anyone with a brain knows that teleportation circles are very, very sophisticated magic circles, and it is almost as difficult as walking to the moon on foot to bypass the owner's authorization and connect a teleportation circle without permission—I doubt you rookies are really carrying heads on your shoulders?" Are you sure it's not a melon with a human face or something? ”

"That's because you guys act too much like that!"

Wren gritted his teeth and said, "'There are four courses in this Witcher Reserve Assessment', right? 'There are two forms: practical and written test', right? It's wonderful to have you! ”

"Did I say that? Well, that's true when I say that – but who can guarantee that everything will go according to plan, and who can guarantee that what you're going through won't really happen? ”

"A lot of people were seriously injured and almost died!"

"'Almost,' isn't it?"

Valolet was a little impatient, "Come on, I don't understand what you have to complain about, to get you into trouble, to really motivate you, and at the same time not to hurt the lives of you rookies, do you think it's a simple thing?" Do you think it's something that the higher-ups can do by patting their heads after drinking too much — 'Hey, let's have some fun with those young guys, they're going to be fun fighting for their lives'? ”

Wren didn't know how to refute for a moment.

He knew that Valolet was right, that the 'first time' was always tense, and that nervousness was easy to go wrong (and the consequences of a mistake in a battle were not as simple as 'not being able to get in'), and his colleagues who had left the seminary and went straight to the training camp really needed a real and bitter battle to quickly turn their minds around. It is much better to put them through a life-and-death test in relative safety and control than to throw them directly in front of a real enemy and experience the baptism of blood.

"Well, I know, it's a fantastic test that everyone will never forget."

Wren rubbed his eyes, and asked helplessly and worriedly, "So, what is the result?" ”

"You are one of the seven people who passed, and now, you are a real witcher."

In the most relaxed tone, Valolet said the answer that Wren was most afraid to hear.

"Oh, don't laugh!"

Wren let out a painful groan as if he had been struck by lightning, "Something must have gone wrong!" Did I, a man who couldn't use the Holy Energy, join the Demon Hunter Squad so easily?! ”

"It's true that there has never been a precedent in history for a non-Holy Ableman to become a witcher, but do you know what is rarest than that?"

Without waiting for Wren to answer, Valolet sneered and said, "It's your reaction, rookie." Everyone thinks that joining the Demon Hunter Team is a great honor, and that a Reserve should be excited, crying, or cheering when he learns that he is officially a Demon Hunter - unless I'm delusional, you look like you've stepped into the sewers. ”

Stepping into the sewers? No, no, it's like stepping into the grave with one foot!

"Don't get me wrong, sir, I'm just- just a little hard to believe."

Wren said unlovedly, it is really better to count people than the sky, and the future is dark. Since the matter is a foregone conclusion, unless you draw a knife and wipe your neck on the spot, it is useless to say anything.

He has not forgotten the contract he signed earlier, as long as he passes the examination, it means that he must bear the corresponding responsibility, and any violation of his duty will be regarded as a shameful betrayal and will be severely punished. As for resignation, apparently it was also delusional, and before a witcher died in battle, he could only be relieved of his burdens and return to a peaceful life after being examined by the temple and determined that he was no longer physically or mentally fit to fight—just like the Shuk Monk who guarded the teleportation circle.

At this moment, no matter how frustrated Wren was, he had to force himself to accept that new identity.

"I wonder, how the hell did I get through?"

Although the 'what do you like about me, I can't change it' is no longer feasible, Wren still asked unwillingly: "I don't think I have anything more outstanding than others in this assessment - if it is judged by 'persevering to the end', then except for those ten guys who are greedy for life and afraid of death, everyone else persevered until Lord Rhodes appeared, in my opinion, they all performed very well, why did only seven people pass in the end?" ”

"Don't ask me, the results of the selection are decided by Lord Rhodes, Archbishop Mycella, and several other senior leaders, and I don't know how the process will be."

Valolet smiled, stood up and walked to the door, as if ready to leave—he grabbed the doorknob and paused, turning his head to look at Wren, "Of course, from my personal point of view, I think you've behaved well enough. Even though you're still a good eater, you're good enough to qualify as one of the seven passers. ”

Wren was a little frightened, as if he had heard the phrase 'please marry me' from Valolet's mouth—and after a moment's hesitation, he said awkwardly, "Well, sir, it doesn't feel bad to see that you're still alive." ”

Valolet snorted coldly, opened the door and was about to leave, only to find someone standing outside the door with his hands in his hands. He was slightly stunned, and then said respectfully, "Lord Rhodes." ”

"Are you done talking?"

The chief witcher turned his head and smiled, "So, you should have told Wren the good news, right?" ”

"yes, tell him, that kid is going crazy."

Valolet glanced coldly into the room, turned back and said, "My lord, ...... are you?" ”

"I have something to say to Wren,"

Rod gave him a gentle look, "The induction ceremony of the seven newcomers will begin soon, Vaolet, please go and see how the other young people are preparing." ”

"Yes, my subordinate was about to go over just now."

Valolet said respectfully. After he left, Rhodes went into the room, sat down on the chair in the corner, and said with relief: "It seems that the relationship between the two of you seems to have eased a bit, which is good, after all, you still have to work together for a long time." ”

"So,"

Wren was silent for a while and said, "I've really passed the final assessment?" ”

"That's right, as Valolet just said."

Rod nodded, "Under normal circumstances, the results of the assessment should be conveyed by the instructor, and you will also have to give some explanations for your future life and training, but Valolet obviously has his own ideas - I guess, he wants to tell you the good news personally, and for a person who is not good at expressing feelings, Valolet can only congratulate you in his own way." Also, let me say another word - congratulations, Wren, on becoming a true witcher. ”

"I should congratulate you, my lord, for the result is exactly what you expected."

Wren said indifferently.

"Why, you seem to think that the reason why you succeed is because I gave you some special attention in your judgment?"

Rod asked with a smile, and although Wren didn't answer, the expression on his face already said what he was thinking.

"You know, I don't have to do that, I can't do that. You've seen Archbishop Mysella's temper, Wren, it's already her bottom line to allow you to enter the training camp, and she won't tolerate any other outrageous behavior from me. ”

Rod sighed softly, "Believe me, you can get to where you are today thanks to your own efforts. With the help of Magical Vision, the examiners were able to witness the 'invasion' that took place in the underground training camp in its entirety, from beginning to end, without missing any details. ”

"But I still don't understand, if your judgment is absolutely fair, why only seven out of thirty-one people finally passed the assessment?"

Wren asked with some distress.

"The world is big, Wren, but even if you go to all the corners, I'm afraid you won't find 'absolute justice'. Yes, there is no such thing as absolute impartiality, but I believe that the results of this selection are objective enough. ”

Rod smiled, then leaned back in his chair slightly, "In the event of an invasion, each reserve has an initial score of 100 points, which will be deducted based on your subsequent performance. We designed a total of four levels, the first of which was 'Teleportation Scrolls', and I thought there would be at least two or three unclaimed scrolls left - obviously I was overly optimistic. Ten young men who insulted their 'dead' mentor for their lives, and when they were teleported to Mycera's face and understood what had happened, the mournful cries they let out are beyond your imagination. ”

"Actually, I can understand what Claudie was thinking,"

Wren sighed, "Caught in a trap, you can only be slaughtered like an animal - this kind of death is really meaningless." ”

"Oh, I can also understand, after all, it is the instinct of all intelligent beings to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, but there are always some things that cannot be weighed by benefits and disadvantages,"

Rhodes said calmly: "It's true that under the shroud of the paralyzing enchantment, they can't do anything, it seems that they can only wait quietly for death, but don't forget that there is at least one thing they can protect, and that is the 'bottom line'." A person who abandons the bottom line is also abandoning everything, even if he is alive, he is no different from the walking dead, and you didn't disappoint me, Wren. Plus-"

"Besides, I'm afraid Myrcella wasn't very happy that you could get through the first hurdle, and though she hid it well, I could see it—I knew I shouldn't have told you that, but she was so pleasant." ”

“……”

Wren rolled his eyes in his heart and asked, "Then the second test is 'Samantha's betrayal', right?" ”

"That's right,"

Rod said heartily: "I'm glad that the rest of the people have passed this hurdle. ”

"If the third level is 'hostage rescue', the fourth level is 'The Final Battle'?"

"Yes, the first two links test your heart, and in the last two links, we have carefully evaluated everyone's fighting strength, and any cowardice, mistakes, hesitation, uncalmness, and unreasonable behavior will be deducted corresponding points - and this is the result, seven of the remaining twenty-one people passed, in fact, this number is about the same as I expected."

"Is that all there is to it? It's so unfair to the others, to the eliminated ones, who have worked hard all year and have shown enough loyalty and courage in this test. ”

Wren slandered in his heart, the person who desperately wanted to stay had to leave, and a person like himself who ran away with his heart couldn't leave, what happened to his grandmother?!

"It's a pity, but that's the way it can be. However, unlike the ten young people who abandoned the bottom line, the rest of the eliminators can still choose to work in the clerical system, and after some special assessments, they will still have a chance to enter the demon hunting team in the future. ”

Rod shook his head slightly, "It's impossible to see the big picture as an insider, Wren, and you don't have time to observe the shortcomings of others in that tense atmosphere - you may think that each of them is doing well, but for us onlookers, it is not. ”

"What about me? Am I really that good in the eyes of an onlooker? ”

Wren couldn't help but ask, maybe others would scold him for 'shameless' when they heard this, but Rhodes heard a sense of 'what is me'.

"Can't you accept that fact even now? Well, while you're not allowed to know your final score, I guess I can at least tell you something else. ”

Rhodes smiled and said, "You know, in our original plan, after Samantha helped you regain your freedom, her mission was over, and she had to leave the underground training camp regardless of whether anyone wanted to go with her or not - at that time, your sudden hijacking of her was a little disgraceful and unexpected, but you did it right and smart, and it undoubtedly made the rescue of the hostages a lot easier." ”

"I'm afraid it's not just me putting a knife on Samantha's neck that surprised you, right?"

Wren said with a gloomy face, "No wonder, no wonder when I sneaked up on that gray-robed mage, Polly suddenly used the immobilization ray against me—missed, hum, what a miss!" ”

"Ah, yes, it was also an accident that was beyond our expectations,"

Rhodes' eyes were full of smiles, as if he was proud of the accident caused by Wren, "Fortunately, Mr. Polly stopped your next move in time, otherwise, the Grand Mentor of our Capital Mage Tower would have to be replaced." ”

"What?!"

Wren almost dropped his jaw in shock, "That guy - that Calvin, he's Mr. Polley's mentor Bloomfield?!" ”

"That's right, in this attack, we want to make sure that the 'deaths' of Vaolet and several of the invaders are not visible to you. I have to make sure that you don't hurt your lives, and that the 'invaders' won't be taken by you, and I can't find a second person other than Mr. Bloomfield to do that. ”

Rhodes said with emotion, "When you were wounded and left the battlefield and your comrades entered a state of 'mercy', Mr. Bloomfield cast a very difficult illusion spell that had been prepared for a long time. In the illusion, the three intruders were successfully killed, and in fact, the battle should have ended at this point, perhaps because Mistress Christo was also interested in you, so he 'lived' a little longer - in private, he gave you a good review, Wren. ”

"Oh? Was Christo's real identity a 'grown-up'? ”

Wren raised an eyebrow, "So, that damn old guy is also an important figure in the Holy See?" ”

"For the sake of the whole invasion, your adversaries have borrowed the notoriety of the Wendland Brotherhood. I hope that after I have clarified who they really are, you will maintain the necessary respect for them in the following conversations. ”

Rod's face was a little ugly, but his tone was quite calm, "You already know that the gray-robed mage 'Calvin' is actually the Grand Mentor Bloomfield, and of course Lady Samantha is not a voodoo witch, she is my friend, a wandering warlock from the 'Bolan Field'; Kim and Ted are indeed true brothers, they are both witchers and my very cherished subordinates; as for Carter, Carter is just an ordinary person, and of course, he is really Christo's entourage." ”

"As for Christo......"

Rhodes sighed, and continued: "You should know, Wren, no matter where our Pontiff goes, he will be accompanied by twelve powerful guardians, who are known to the outside world as 'Holy Sword Knights', each of them has a strong strength of one in a million, and they are also a model for all paladins. ”

"Could it be that Christo guy — I mean 'sir' — he's a Knight of the Holy Sword?"

Wren pondered, "Indeed, he is too powerful, even if he is not much better than you. But as far as I know, those twelve cannot leave the Pope's side, they are the guardians of the 'first' and 'last', and this is their eternal mission. ”

"Christo is more than just a knight of the Holy Sword, he is also the chief knight of the former Pope, the 'holy' Lord Zachariah. After quelling the turmoil caused by the Wyndland Brotherhood, he, like Lord Zachariah, chose to retire. ”

"Yes, Christo has seen first-hand the turmoil of those years, he has seen firsthand how the Holy See has allowed the Wendland Brotherhood to grow unchecked, and he has also seen the terrible price we have paid to correct our mistakes. For such a person, playing the role of 'Leader of the Wendland Brotherhood' would be tantamount to uncovering the wound once again, but Mistress Christo agreed to my request anyway, because history should not be forgotten and shame should not be hidden. ”

"Well, what a respectable figure."

Wren said nonchalantly.

"Well, you already know the whole story of the invasion, including the real origins of the participants, Wren, and you have shown a very admirable composure, calmness, and adaptability and leadership skills in the process - yes, I can say that from the heart."

Rod said gently, "Of course, the last thing you said to Master Christo about 'faith' really deducted a lot of points for you. So now, I'm going to ask you a serious question, and I hope you can answer me seriously, okay? ”

Wren was a little nervous, but nodded anyway. His intuition told him that the ultimate purpose of Rod's trip was to solve this problem.

"You know how great my lord is, but you don't believe he's that great, do you?"

Rhodes asked, and Wren was silent for a moment before deciding to answer truthfully.

"That's right, the power of Dinos is indeed unquestionable, just look at the abilities of you Holy Powers. But I really don't believe him, look at the tragedies that have happened, are happening, or are about to happen in this world, the priests always teach believers to do more good deeds, and only after death can the soul go to heaven or something—if the Supreme God is really righteous and great, why doesn't he just turn the world into heaven, why doesn't he let the good people get good rewards while they are alive? ”

"I see, I see."

Rod's tone was relaxed, which made Wren stunned.

"You understand—understand what?"

"I see what you really think."

"That's it?! Aren't you going to fire me? ”

"I obviously don't plan to do that, I'm only here to make sure of something that I wasn't sure about before, not for the sake of preaching."

Rhodes stood up, his eyes filled with eagerness that Wren had never seen before.

"I wish I had a devout believer in the Light in front of me, but I would rather see a strong defender of life - the Most High God did not save your mother, Wren, and he did not save poor Dominica, yes, the world is still full of suffering, reunion and laughter are not always in sight, and that is why we exist. And the next question I'm going to ask you is, will you be able to use it when you meet innocent people like your mother, or Dominica, or any other innocent who is as kind as them are—"

He pointed to the black knife placed at the head of Wren's bed, and then pointed to Wren's heart, "—use them to do your best to protect and save?" Can you fight—not for mission, not for faith, but so that other children in this world don't lose their mothers and fathers don't lose their daughters? ”

Rod's fiery gaze and sharp words swept through a loosening in Wren's heart like a wave, and at this moment, he seemed to suddenly understand the true meaning of 'freedom'.

It's peace of mind.

"What else can I do?"

Wren shrugged, "The contract has been signed, and I've passed the test in a daze, so as you can see, I don't have much choice. ”

He smiled self-deprecatingly, then looked Rhodes in the eye and replied in a deep voice, "I said this a year ago, Lord Rhodes, but I feel compelled to say it again—I am not a coward or a traitor. ”

"Good."

Rod said lightly: "Let's go, your joining ceremony will start soon." ”