Chapter 3: Hoffer Village
A free settlement, ungoverned by the Lord!
Arthur had little reaction to the term, but Kolgrim seemed genuinely surprised and pressed the matter: "A settlement not under the Lord's jurisdiction? How is that possible?"
Walker pointed toward the scattered firelight in the distance: "Why is it impossible? Look, that's our village up ahead."
"The Lord certainly didn't want it, but it was the King's ruling, so all he could do was forbid Hoffer villagers from entering White Orchard. That's why I had to sneak in at dusk to buy my tools."
Arthur offered a prompt compliment: "I'd bet there's a magnificent story behind that."
Walker laughed heartily, adjusting his shoulder straps: "Naturally! The tale of Hoffer Village could be told for three days and three nights and still not finish. Would you two be willing to be my audience?"
This time, Kolgrim didn't object. Arthur smiled: "We'd be honored. We actually have a bit of vodka left and were just looking for a good gentleman to share it with before it goes sour."
Hoffer Village was small, consisting of only seven or eight households in total. Walker's home was right in the center, with a well located near the door.
Walker pointed to the well, his voice brimming with pride: "That cursed Lord restricted us at every turn, thinking everyone would submit. But I dug the well out anyway! With this water source, more and more people will come to Hoffer Village!"
"Come to think of it, you two not getting a room at the inn is probably my fault. The Lord must be afraid we'll recruit helpers, so he sent Kory to cause trouble at the tavern."
Arthur asked out of curiosity: "What exactly did the Lord do to make you so determined to break free of his rule?"
Walker chuckled knowingly: "Witchers are famously uninterested in local disputes, but you're a curious one."
Kolgrim drained the liquid from his cup and suddenly spoke: "Arthur isn't a Witcher. He's someone I picked up in Pontar. He's sturdy, and he never slacks off. If you need a hand here, you can keep him."
The statement was so abrupt that Arthur turned to stare at Kolgrim in astonishment. The Witcher calmly explained:
"Why the surprise? I only asked if you wanted to be a Witcher because you had no other path, not because I actually need an apprentice.
"Besides, you're already too old. The chances of passing the Witcher trials are too low. You'd be better off staying here and living as a regular man."
Walker burst into laughter:
"Sorcerers and nobles always say Witchers are heartless bastards who only care about coin. Now it seems that's just another load of crap they spread.
"Little brother, if you want to stay, Hoffer Village welcomes you. We're close to Vizima, the capital. You won't lack for opportunities to make money."
Suddenly becoming the center of attention, Arthur felt a little flustered.
Become a Witcher? That meant risking his life and facing possible social rejection from humanity.
But if he stayed here, how long would it take for him to unlock the full potential of his cheat?
As he struggled with the choice, Kolgrim intervened:
"You don't need to decide immediately. Just figure it out before I leave."
Arthur sighed in relief and quickly steered the conversation back to the origins of Hoffer Village.
Walker clearly wasn't used to strong liquor. A few cups of vodka had already left him tipsy. He climbed onto a stool and gestured wildly:
"A hundred years ago, the Vileleth family backed the right side during the Endless Wars and were rewarded with the lordship of White Orchard.
"The old-timers in the village say they did well at first. They earned a lot of coin through the timber and fruit trade, and the village population grew quickly.
"But things changed when that old scumbag Ignatius became the Lord. When he was young, he loved to drink, and when he got drunk, he'd ride his horse right through the wheat fields. People pleaded with him several times, but it did no good.
"That we could endure. White Orchard's main job is feeding Vizima, so trampling some wheat wouldn't kill us. But that old bastard has an even more despicable son, who recently showed up at Peter's wedding and stole the bride, claiming he was exercising some sort of Right of the First Night!"
At this point, Walker's voice grew hoarse, and his eyes shifted toward a house visible through the window:
"See that house with the black ribbon on the doorframe? That's Peter's. His father, Hank, ran up to the Lord's castle to demand his daughter-in-law back, and he was cut down—didn't even make it back to the village before he died."
Arthur continued
"So you went to the King to file a complaint?"
Walker: "I knelt in the Vizima market for half an hour, holding Hank's bloodied half-face. Even the King came out. He immediately canceled all our duties and obligations to the Lord and allowed us to establish a self-governed village as citizens of Vizima."
Arthur pressed: "And the Lord and his son? Did they receive any punishment?"
Walker let out a heavy sigh:
"Everyone knows the one who cut Hank was the young lord, Florian, but the old Lord took the blame for everything. He tried to argue that Hank hadn't removed his cap first, so he only administered a light punishment. He just claimed he was too drunk at the time and mistook the blade for the flat of his sword."
His face turned crimson as he reached the painful part of the story, slamming the table as he roared:
"Those two bastards were released the very same day! I stood there like an idiot, and as Florian rode past on his horse, he actually smiled at me!"
Perhaps he was drunk on the liquor, but Walker suddenly grabbed Kolgrim's hand, pleading desperately:
"Master, my parents died young. Old Hank raised me. Please, you…"
Kolgrim pulled his hand back: "Apologies, but I am a Witcher. Humans are not on my list of enemies."
Walker glared at him, his expression terrible, as if he might throw the Witcher out at any second.
Just then, Arthur felt the insect-like buzzing sensation again, only this time it was passing over him.
He looked in the direction of the feeling and saw Walker give a huge yawn: "Ugh, I'm too tired today. I need to rest a bit first…"
His head dropped lower and lower. Before he could finish his sentence, he was slumped over the table, emitting heavy snores.
"You moved your hand like that—what were you doing? Did you use magic to change his mind?"
Arthur covered Walker with the cloak, clumsily mimicking Kolgrim's previous hand movement.
Kolgrim shook his head: "Witchers lack magical talent. I used a Sign—the most rudimentary application of magic.
"And don't look at me like that. A man's mind isn't so easily swayed; even a master sorcerer would find it difficult! I merely amplified his natural fatigue."
..."It seems this village is no place to linger. You had best continue on the road with me tomorrow."
Moonlight slanted in through the window, casting Kolgrim's face in stark relief.
"Are you saying the Lord will come looking for trouble? But Hoffer Village was established by the King's decree. Would the Lord dare disrespect the King?"
Arthur was curious. In his modern mind, Hoffer Village should be in a relatively protected position.
Kolgrim let out a soft laugh, his hand stroking the scabbard of his sword:
"Lad, I've traveled through over a dozen kingdoms and met at least eighty nobles, if not a hundred. I have yet to see one willing to suffer a loss at the hands of a peasant."
Arthur gasped: "Stealing a man's bride and killing his father without even offering an apology—you call that a loss?"
Kolgrim sighed: "To a noble, standing beside a commoner in court is itself a disgrace. The Lord of White Orchard must have offended the King to have even been summoned to appear."
Arthur:
"Should we warn Walker that the Lord might retaliate?"
Kolgrim:
"It wouldn't help. His mind is currently filled with notions of fairness and justice; he wouldn't believe you."
He paused, then offered a small reassurance:
"However, as you said, the Lord has already gained all the advantage he could. He probably won't retaliate too wildly… At most, he'll tear down Hoffer Village. Perhaps no one will even die, and the matter will be considered finished.
"It's you, as an outsider, who might become the object of his fury in the process…"
Kolgrim spoke to himself for a moment, but Arthur offered no reply.
He straightened up to look, and saw Arthur leaning against the wall, his eyes dark with troubled thought. He turned his head and said:
"Teacher, I want to practice the sword."