Demon Hunter: School of the Wolf.

Chapter 674 Good boy, we meet again
"Grand Master! What are you doing here?"

Zebi Ortega's exclamation startled a flock of birds, which chirped and fluttered their wings from the deep, secluded forest, flitting through the misty morning fog.

Also shrouded in the misty morning fog, besides the birds, was an ordinary little wooden house with its exterior walls covered in moss and vines.

Except for the lack of any fence, it was no different from any ordinary hunter's hut on the edge of woodland.

But that's the little house where Lydia, the devout believer, once lived. Perhaps it holds the secrets of Gwendolyn, the Daughter of Spring, the Child of Miracles, and the White Frost and the End of the World...

However, when Erin looked over, his first glance did not fall on the wooden house he had been longing for, but on the strange creature in front of the house.

It was a reindeer, but it was hard to call it a reindeer.

Golden sunlight streamed through the hazy, dissipating morning mist, pouring down from between the leaves in the dense forest and illuminating its massive, ebony-like horns covered in drooping moss.

The interwoven lapis lazuli and gold colors resembled more of a crown for this strange creature than deer antlers.

The pure white fur shimmered with a unique luster, highlighting the strange creature's handsome and powerful muscle lines.

Wild, beautiful, and majestic.

Everyone who sees Him will involuntarily fall silent, just as a traveler on a long journey will be amazed by the magnificent mountains and rivers of nature.
But Erin didn't...

The moment his gaze fell upon that magnificent creature, his heart skipped a beat, and goosebumps rose on his skin.

He knew Him, he had seen Him, right there by the lake in the deepest part of the sacred grove…

He knew that He was the Grand Master of the Maidalud Ring, the Druid who had gone the furthest on the path of Druidism, a demigod among mortals...

"Why is the Grand Master of the Ring of Maidalui here?"

Erin showed no outward expression, but his steps faltered slightly, and his mind began to race.

He had long known of the existence of the Grand Master, and having studied the Druidic path in the Ring of Maidal, he had naturally expected to encounter Him.

People might laugh at me if I said this out loud.

After all, even the people of the Ring of Maidalui rarely see the Grand Master even once in decades, let alone an outsider who won't be staying for long.

But Erin was just that confident, or rather, he had a unique grasp of his own specialness.

Just after descending the mountain, they encountered the legendary sorcerer Hen Gedimidis and the gluttonous "Hakor" of Cordwin in Ban Ade. They were almost locked in the city of Wenger Castle due to the conscription order of King Demavi II of Aden.

The High Priestess of the Temple of Meritelli, Ianna, personally exorcised the evil spirit from him. The master of Elland, the noble Duke Mason, granted him the title of knight, and Tissaya de Veris fought alongside him.

Ottolan, the owner of the Risberg Civil Cooperative, was perfectly fine in Ban Ade, planning the future of the sorcerer kingdom with Sunny. When he went to rescue the free elves, who were dozens of kilometers away, he ended up clashing with Ottolan and Sunny.

If they had gone any further, Zoe and Vera wouldn't have easily encountered important figures in Kaer Morhen, but he happened to run into them one after another not long after he began his Trial of the Grasses.

It seems that important people can always find a way to get involved with him, even in a roundabout way.

You could certainly say that Soi and Vera are blood relatives of him and have always been watching him.

High Priestess Ianna thus indirectly developed a close relationship with him, which was inevitable rather than accidental.

But other important figures don't have that.

Moreover, the very fact that those inevitable events occurred might itself explain something.

Whether it's just an accident or something more metaphysical...fate, this "miracle child" who seems to bring accidents wherever he goes certainly needs to have some self-awareness.

Therefore, even before he learned of the existence of the Grand Master from other druids, he had a premonition that he would meet the true master of the Ring of Maid, who stood at the pinnacle of the druidic path and almost represented the will of nature.

He had imagined it would be in the Sacred Forest, or at the border between the outer and inner rings, but he never expected it to be now, or in this very place…

"Have they discovered Lydia's unusual behavior?"

"Or did you discover the secret of an ancient elven god hidden here?"

"Was it the sound of Mother Nature calling 'Gwendolyn' last night that startled him?"

……

"but me……"

"And how should we deal with it?"

The Witcher's mind raced, and he instinctively took a few steps forward, hiding right behind his mentor, Zebi Ortega.

He is now only grateful that he habitually creates a divine wall for his sea of ​​thoughts using the Ottrop sign before leaving the house.

Otherwise, his thoughts and secrets would be exposed to the Grand Master.

Master Zebi Ortega did not notice the Witcher's movements, nor did the Grand Master; His gaze merely glanced at him and then swept over him like a dragonfly skimming the water.

This actually relieved the Witcher.

He thought to himself, "They're not after me."

“Your mission has changed somewhat,” the reindeer said in an old, hoarse but powerful voice. “I went to the crow’s nest but didn’t see you. I asked Simmons and found out you might be here.”

"My mission has changed?" Zebi Ortega was taken aback. "What major disaster has struck the Skellige Islands again?"

The reindeer shook its head, but did not explain immediately. Its clear and intelligent gaze shifted and landed on Erin's face.

Erin remained expressionless, but a chill ran through him.

“He’s the hunter I told you about… the druid apprentice Arlin. Survival of the fittest is the principle he taught me,” Zebi Ortega gently pulled the witcher’s arm, drawing him from behind to stand in front of him. A smile played on his lips, and pride filled his eyes. “But he can no longer be called an apprentice…”

"Just last night, he officially broke through the barrier of the forest and saw the majestic figure of the oak tree."

Just say it.

Before the reindeer could respond, Zebi Ortega turned to Erin and introduced him:
“Aelin, this is our Grand Master of the Ring of Maidalui… uh…”

Zebi Ortega paused, glancing at the Grand Master: "Nobody knows his name, and he doesn't want to say it himself, so you can just call him the Grand Master."

Erin suppressed the erratic beating of his heart caused by the reindeer's oppressive gaze and obediently said, "Great Master."

The reindeer's aged yet sharp eyes scanned the hunter up and down, sending shivers down the hunter's spine.

He thought he had been exposed.

"We've entered the oak forest..." The reindeer nodded almost human-like, its large antlers, covered in moss and vines, tracing an elegant arc in the air. "Hmm, good boy, you're very good."

“You taught very well, Ortega.”

Zebi Ortega shook his head, about to say something.

After glancing at Erin out of the corner of his eye, he paused, then pointed to the cabin behind the reindeer: "Erin, why don't you go and sort through Lydia's belongings? I have some things to discuss with the Grand Master."

"Also, it's the same place this afternoon, don't forget." Erin paused, glanced at the Grand Instructor, and asked, "Weren't you leaving today?"

“There’s no rush,” Zebi Ortega smiled. “Although you have entered the Oak Forest and officially embarked on the path of the Druid, there is still a long way to go. For a sapling to grow straight and upright, the beginning is the most important time.”

"If you don't correct the direction in which the branches and leaves spread, and don't study the frequency of absorbing sunlight, it will be difficult to get back on the right track after many years if you go astray."

"You have talent, don't waste it."

Erin and Zebi Ortega locked eyes for a few seconds, then Erin nodded with mixed feelings:

“I know, mentor Zebi Ortega, I will arrive on time this afternoon.”

Zebi Ortega nodded in satisfaction, patted the Witcher's hair, and then left the secluded woodland with the Grand Master.

"Whoo~"

Erin watched Zebi Ortega and the Grand Master disappear into the dense forest, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The Grand Master did not possess the malevolent and oppressive aura of large monsters or host beings of evil gods. The Witcher did not even sense any magical favor or oppressive aura emanating from the Grand Master.

But when the reindeer's ordinary, aged eyes fell on the witcher, the witcher felt a strange sensation that all his secrets had been completely stripped away.

This feeling... is awful...

fortunately.

The great mentor didn't come looking for him.

That makes sense, though. No matter how mysterious and powerful the Grand Master is, he is still just a Druid.

Even Hen Gedimidis, who stands at the pinnacle of the extraordinary world of the Northern Continent, can be betrayed by his own apprentices and forces. How could there possibly be someone in this world who can see through all the secrets at a glance?

Even Eredin Brick Glass, the King of the Wild Hunt, couldn't do that.

Otherwise, Erin wouldn't have survived either.

"However, now that mentor Zebi Ortega has left, I should also find a reason to leave Maina."

Erin walked toward the cabin, thinking.

He has also embarked on the path of the Druid, and everything that happened in the Sacred Forest a few months ago has been explained. The Kano Beast cannot be found in a short time, and even if the Ring of the Maidaldo is found, he can only inquire from the side. It is likely that it will be difficult for him to break through the Mountain Aspen realm for several years.

Even according to the challenge issued when the Wild Hunt King Eredin Brick Glass first appeared in the Forest of Passoron, he only gave this world less than two years.

He needs to improve himself as quickly as possible.

It's difficult to catch up with the Archdruid level, so the priority has to be postponed.

In this way, he has done almost everything he could in the Ring of Maidens. Once he settles things with Lydia and Gwendolyn, the Daughter of Spring, it will be time to return to Kaer Morhen and prepare for the expedition to the Cave of Ten Thousand Demons.

The Wolf School is expected to send a large group of witchers this time, which is a good opportunity for the Witcher Legion to make its debut and enhance its strength...

Currently, only the Mystic attribute is not yet at its maximum value among the five attributes, but researching his unique secondary mutation cannot wait until all attributes are at their maximum value; that would be too wasteful of time…

Ok……

Before returning to Kaer Morhen, it's best to visit the Temple of Meritari; there are still quite a few treasure chests you haven't opened yet...

The skills granted by the memory crystals of the immortals, while costing him a fortune to unlock, only required enough experience orbs to unlock "Red Cavalry Standard Horse Sword Technique," so he desperately needed to recover some health...

"Tap tap tap~"

The Witcher walked toward the dilapidated wooden hut, his thoughts already returning to Kaer Morhen.

His thoughts were only brought back when the wooden door began to creak and groan.

What came into view was a dilapidated room filled with strange and monstrous items such as parchment, metal ores, and stone slabs. It should be considered the living room.
Erin wasn't quite sure, because this hardly could be considered a place to entertain guests.

Warehouse might be a more accurate term.

The living room has four doors, three of which lead to the actual storage room, which is also filled with various things, and only one should lead to the bedroom/study.

There was a bed made of piled stones with wooden planks on it, but they were rotten and full of wormholes, as well as a simple desk that was very clean.

There was only one candlestick on the desk, nothing else.

It looks like the homeowner has gone on a long trip and packed up their belongings.

Furthermore, there was no blood in any of the rooms.

No wonder Lydia was misunderstood by the druids as having left without saying goodbye.

Also.

Apart from an oil painting on one wall that seems to depict a forest in full bloom, it's hard to tell from the decorations that an elven sorceress once lived in this little house.

of course.

He hadn't seen many elven sorceresses' rooms; to be precise, only Ada Emin and Francesca Fantaby had. However, they both used portable gadgets such as incense, etched candles, paintings, and sculptures to make their rooms exquisite.

These little gadgets may seem numerous, but they are not a burden for the powerful elven sorceress.

Moreover, according to Erin's understanding, decorating a temporary residence is no small matter for the female elves.

Elegance, dignity, and nobility are the medium through which they commemorate the past glories of the mountain people, and also serve as an inspiration to remind them not to forget the past.

However, although the furnishings of the cabin were not typical of mountain dwellers, it was not as dusty as mentor Zebi Ortega had described, suggesting that someone had cleaned it beforehand.

"Then the question comes..."

Erin crossed his arms and looked at the parchment, slates, etchings, minerals and other items that filled the four rooms, feeling somewhat troubled.

"With so many things, where should we even begin?"

As he pondered this, the morning had passed by unnoticed, and it was time for Zebi Ortega's last lesson.

However, finding something that the druids hadn't noticed was destined to be no easy task, so Erin was well-prepared.

Seeing that it was getting late, he left Lydia's cottage and headed to the agreed-upon class.

What he didn't expect was...

When he arrived at the agreed-upon classroom, he was not greeted by his tutor, Zebi Ortega, but by Simmons, Olga, and a pale-haired, unfamiliar druid whom they were staring at with excitement and anticipation.

Hearing the noise, the druid turned to look at Arryn and smiled kindly:

"Good child, we meet again..."

(End of this chapter)