The Divine Hunter Chapter 5: Monty’s new life

The wind blew from the ocean to the land, and a thick dark cloud drifted across the sky, hovering directly above Novigrad.

In the civilian area in the south of Nuo City, there is a dark and cramped alley with moss-covered walls and sewage flowing on the ground.

A boy squatted in the corner, his thin body huddled tightly.

The cold wind in the winter morning howled through the narrow alley, blowing his sticky brown hair and the rags on his body with great force.

He was like a trembling little quail hiding in the reeds, pressing his chapped and pale lips tightly, and a trace of fear flashed in his cornflower-colored eyes.

Under the pressure of hunger and cold, my brain is more active than ever.

He fell back into his past assumptions.

He originally had a happy family. His parents were doing business in Nuo City, and they lived by selling a spice shipped from the Skellige Islands...the income exceeded 90% of the people in Nuo City.

The family lived a warm and happy life.

But something unexpected happened, the ship returning from Skellige encountered a storm, and all the goods purchased by my father and all his wealth sank into the boundless sea.

Then the nightmare began. One after another, creditors came to collect debts and took away expensive decorations, furniture, and valuable clothes.

In the end, even the houses in the business district were taken over by the dwarves of Vivaldi Bank to pay off debts.

With no choice but to do so.

The frail and sick mother rented a shabby little house in a slum area and supported herself by helping others wash clothes.

She often suffers from insomnia and wipes her tears in the dead of night.

Long-term exposure to cold water and high-intensity labor caused her cough to quickly deteriorate into pneumonia.

Because he had no money for treatment, he died within a year.

Monty will never forget the last scene - his mother lingering in front of the hospital bed, holding his hand, her lips trembling but unable to make a sound, cold tears sliding down her bloodless and withered cheeks.

At the age of eight, Monty began to wander the streets.

But in Nuo City, even begging requires permission. Those beggars don't like his spoiled, shameless, and boring gourd-like personality.

He was driven from one street to another, scurrying away like a lost puppy.

If you disobey, you will be beaten and kicked.

He had no choice but to go to the Eternal Fire to pray for mercy.

When my father was still alive, their family would donate a sum of money to the Eternal Flame every year, praying for the selfless flame to clear away the darkness ahead.

Bring light and hope.

But now it seems that the donation has not had the slightest effect. The priest of the eternal fire only gave him a few meals of vegetable soup that was comparable to water, and then dismissed him hastily.

Among a group of street children, only the luckiest few can stay in the church.

He wandered alone again, fainting from hunger, picking vegetable leaves in the market and digging food from the garbage dump. But after three months of living like this, he couldn't hold on any longer.

…

"Wow..."

The heavy rain poured down, and the gray rain curtain fell on a dark and tattered canvas.

Monty tightened his grip further.

The pupils dilated slightly, and the vision in front of him began to distort.

Several pictures vaguely appeared in my mind.

The corpse collector wearing a thick black coat loaded a skeletal corpse with cornflower eyes onto a wheelbarrow and drove into the endless darkness.

My mother and father, who had been separated for a long time, were floating in the air not far away, their almost transparent bodies hooking their hands towards him.

"Dad, Mom...there are no kind people in the world except you."

No one wanted to help him.

"Not one!"

Tears of grief and anger filled the corners of Monty's eyes, his vision went dark, and he lost consciousness.

…

The body seemed to be floating in the sea, and the warm water waves were like a mother's caress, passing over his skin, washing away the tiredness, stains, and freezing coldness.

A ray of light emerged from the darkness.

The dim soul, like grabbing a life-saving straw, risked all its strength and ran towards the light!

"Child, are you awake?"

"Um...I, where am I? What's wrong with me?" His pupils changed from dilation to focus, and Monty no longer saw the smelly, dirty alleys and the windy sky in front of him.

It is a solid ceiling that is closed on all sides.

He couldn't remember how long it had been since he'd been in a sheltered house.

The surrounding wooden walls exude a rotten and fermented smell, but there is not a speck of dust or cobweb in sight.

The tough and warm touch on the back is definitely not the cold ground.

He was lying on a made bed.

"Child, you are unconscious in the alley." A low and gentle voice sounded again, and a completely unfamiliar face came up and said, "We brought you back."

The straight bridge of the nose and the vicissitudes of the cheeks.

A lightning-like scar ran straight through the right side of his face.

And his eyes, amber vertical pupils, had no warmth at all, just like a wild beast!

Monty opened his mouth wide, instinctively wanting to scream.

A purple triangular charm was suddenly reflected in his pupils.

For a moment, he saw the thick lips on that face move, as if a breeze was blowing through his heart.

The panic and nervousness disappear inexplicably.

The mood became quiet and peaceful, as if I had returned to my long-lost home.

The same cheek with heterochromatic pupils and lightning scars is no longer hideous and terrifying.

He suddenly realized something——

"You saved me?!"

"It's just a piece of cake...son," the big man said with a smile on his stiff face, "Don't worry, you are safe now and your fever has gone down. Are you hungry?"

As he spoke, the big man turned around and took a bowl of steaming broth from the cauldron on the dark table by the window and brought it to him.

The boy's nose moved, and saliva in his mouth secreted uncontrollably.

He took the bowl and ate heartily.

Sweet carrots, soft potatoes, and meat.

He couldn't remember how long it had been since he had eaten such delicious food.

For a long time, the moldy and rotten dirt in the garbage heap were luxuries to him.

A large bowl of broth was swallowed up completely, not even a drop of soup was left.

Monty sat on the head of the bed, caressing his slightly bulging belly, took a long breath of comfort, and reluctantly licked the stains at the corners of his mouth.

You Zi stared at the big iron pot on the table without blinking.

But he didn't speak.

He is afraid of angering the other person.

"You have been hungry for too long, so you have to temporarily control your appetite, otherwise it will damage your body. I suggest you eat this much first."

"You..."

"Call me Eskar."

"Escal, I...my name is Monty...can you tell me, where is this place?"

Monty asked with a low eyebrow and timid eyes, fearing that this was a sweet dream and would be broken if he made any louder noise.

"Gawain's House, an orphanage." Before the man could answer, another voice came from behind him.

A group of men poured in outside the open door: bald, with scars on their faces, and looking like albinos... they surrounded him.

This group of people have strong bodies, much stronger than the sailors on the deck he saw with his father when he was very young. They have a unique temperament and are different from everyone Monty has ever seen.

Two pointed handles popped out from behind his shoulders, which made him panic inexplicably and shrink his shoulders.

There is a dark gold pupil in the center. The youngest man looks like he has the sharpest eyes. He is like a flapping eagle, circling in the sky, overlooking the prey on the ground.

"Monty, welcome to Gawain's House..." The young man put his hands on his hips and smiled gently, with stars twinkling in his eyes. "Congratulations to you for becoming the first resident of this orphanage!"

The boy muttered these words in a daze, and suddenly pursed his lips. He was driven away by the eternal fire not long ago, but after being comatose, he easily moved into the orphanage he dreamed of.

It was as if fate had played a joke on him, placing a beheading sword behind his neck. Before the execution, the sword was suddenly replaced with bread, and it was thoughtfully put into his mouth.

A mixture of sadness and joy.

The thin body sat on the bedside, rubbing his eyes and sobbing.

"Uuuu...Why didn't you come earlier...Uuuu...Dad is dead...Mom is dead too..."

"Okay, little Monty, don't cry like a little girl, you are a man, right?!"

"Focus!"

Askar's huge palm like a leaf-leaf fan gently pressed on his shoulder, and he immediately sat up straight as if he was electrocuted, "Listen now, remember...these are the nannies and teachers of Gawain's House. …”

"This is Roy in the middle, and the big bald guy next to him is Lei Suo..."

Monty's hazy tearful eyes looked timidly at the big men through the gaps between his fingers.

Silence.

Happy to the point of panic.

He wanted to cry and laugh at the same time, but he couldn't understand why these uncles and brothers who looked different from ordinary people helped him.

Pick a dirty and smelly child out of the garbage and bring him to such a warm and clean place.

Aren't you afraid that he will stain the quilt?

The witchers exchanged looks.

A man covered in a cloak and wearing a mask said softly,

"Little Monty, your fever has just subsided and your body has not fully recovered yet. Just rest peacefully in your room today and recuperate before starting training tomorrow morning."

His pupils are like scarlet lightning, which is breathtaking.

"Can I stay in the room? Can I sleep on this bed?" Monty pinched the soft quilt with surprise on his face.

"It doesn't matter how long you want to sleep..." The white-haired uncle sighed, and the light of memories flashed in his dark cat eyes. What kind of experience would make this child so sensitive, "Just settle down and settle down." , treat this place as your home."

"Then... teachers, what does training mean?"

"Read, read, and exercise, and depending on your choice, you may also add farming and raising poultry and livestock. These are the daily projects in the orphanage," Lambert stared at the man who was about to speak. The boy stopped, "What's wrong, kid, you don't want to?"

"I...but I have no money, no money to study!" Monty seemed to have remembered something and said timidly. He was born in a wealthy family and he also knew some common sense.

No matter where you are, learning knowledge requires paying a price.

"Silly boy, are you having a fever and your head is confused? Gawain's House is an orphanage, not a private school. All services are free and open until you are cultivated into 'useful talents'!" Luo Yi said meaningfully,

"I won't accept you even for a penny!"

"Free?"

Roy smiled and nodded at him.

Children must not know that free things are the most expensive!

"You won't drive me away?!"

"As long as you are obedient and don't make trouble unreasonably." Oakes narrowed his eyes and said.

Monty immediately hugged the quilt tightly, trembling all over, and his light yellow hair swayed behind his shoulders, "I, I swear! I am obedient, please, teacher, uncle, let me stay here!"

"Don't let me go back to pick up trash, woo hoo..."

Serrit glared at his brother fiercely.

He winked at everyone.

"Don't worry, he's scaring you...just stay by yourself for a while tonight and be quiet."

Everyone left the room.

The boy stared at their backs and sat in a daze for a while. Then he changed his position and knelt on the bed. Through the open window next to him, he looked at the lush alder forest and the blue sky not far away. Sky.

He took a deep breath of the earthy and grassy air.

After I started wandering, it was the first time I felt that the world was so beautiful.

"Mom, Dad, Monty survived."

"Are they...well-meaning people?"

……

In the yard outside the door, a group of big men were secretly observing the scene inside the house through the crack in the door.

"Brothers, how do you feel? How is this little guy's physique? Does he have any talent as a demon hunter?" Oaks asked.

"When he was in a coma, I had touched his bones. There were many skin injuries on his body, but they were not harmful. He is young and has strong recovery ability. As long as the supply of meat is ensured, he will recover quickly." Ai Scar said, "The talent is just barely good, not good, not bad... at least far worse than Roy."

"Since there are new recruits reporting, we should get ready," Oaks said impatiently as he glanced at the empty yard, cracking his knuckles, "Both the stakes and the dummies must be erected!"

"How to arrange tomorrow."

"According to the plan, three brothers will be left to teach."

"The rest will continue to search for orphans in the villages around Nuo City. Your Excellency Gawain will send people to cooperate with us."

"Don't fight alone, or you may be regarded as a trafficker by the villagers!"

"There is another big problem, guys. Monty is the first child on the first day of the opening of the orphanage. We must introduce him to the way of the witcher as much as possible!" Cat Eagle emphasized, "This must be settled. Little devil!"

According to their agreement with the collector, training can only be carried out if the child is willing to do so.

They don’t even bother lying or cheating!

"He needs some guidance. I'm afraid we might scare the kids because we are big and strong, so let's let Carl play..." Roy pondered, "There is no generation gap between him and Monty. It is most suitable for people of the same age to guide others of the same age!"

"Mao Jiu, from now on your disciple will train with the newcomers and have healthy competition."

"Now, call him over and I'll teach him a trick!"

…

"Hello, my name is Carl. I am eight years old this year. Are you there?" The little apprentice from Mao Faction quietly entered the room at the instigation of the teacher, extended a hand of friendship to his peers, and smiled shyly.

"I...my name is Monty, and I'm as old as you." The boy hesitated for a while before speaking.

Looking at the companion who is half a head taller and has a strong body.

The eyes showed envy.

When I was in Nuo City, many of the street kids around me fought against me in order to compete for the spot in the Eternal Fire. Monty rarely saw such friendly peers, and his mood couldn't help but become lively, "Are you also an orphan from Gawain's House?"

"To be precise, I came here with my teacher. My teacher's name is Furius, the man with sunglasses and a cool face."

"Is he your father too?" Monty asked enviously.

"No, he is my great hero!" Karl held his head high and chest proudly, and his cheeks were as delicate as a girl's with excitement. "He avenged me and killed all the people who killed my parents. !"

Monty's heart skipped a beat, murder?

Revenge for your parents?

Inexplicably, a deep hidden excitement surged out of my heart.

In this era, any boy from an ordinary family has a dream of being a knight, traveling around the world with a sword, and meeting noble ladies and famous ladies. "Is your teacher very skilled?"

"Hmph," Karl made a disdainful sound from his nose and said boastfully, "Seven or eight big-bodied men can't get close to him. Because he is a demon hunter, he has the speed and reflexes of a cat and the strength of a bear. and physical strength."

"They are not the bad, pus-oozing mutants that idiots talk about. They specialize in killing heartless villains and man-eating monsters, and can easily cut off the heads of those who do evil!"

Karl's voice became louder and louder, "I am now practicing hard with my teacher, and I will become a demon hunter in the future!"

After saying that, he suddenly jumped up in front of the wooden bed. He jumped and turned around. He held the air in his right hand as if holding a long sword and thrust forward. The circle formed by the tiger's mouth and index finger gently Touched Monty's chest.

Made a standard lunging movement.

As beautiful as dancing, it shows the effect of recent hard training.

Monty seemed to be stabbed in the chest, stunned and stunned.

A picture flashed through his mind. He was squatting on the ground holding his head, and fists rained down on him.

If only I had such skill back then.

An impulse surged in my heart.

He licked his chapped lips, his cornflower-colored eyes hinted at anticipation, and his voice trembled, "I, can I also be trained to learn to become a demon hunter?"

"You have to think clearly. To become a demon hunter, you have to endure a lot of hardships and undergo all kinds of cruel training." Karl's fair face became more serious than ever before, and his eyes shone. "You have to have enough perseverance. and a strong desire to change your destiny!"

"If you feel a little tired and complain~IndoMTL.com~, then you might as well skip it! Why don't you just follow the teacher to read and read, and learn the techniques of feeding chickens and growing vegetables." Karl raised his chin, "I'll be there later. Become a farmer in the fields and live a stable life."

Monty's black nails clenched the quilt tightly, and his thin, dark cheeks were full of tangles.

The little boy has never made such a difficult decision.

Having learned that such a magical demon hunter existed, how could he be willing to go back to being a bastard?

The young man felt itchy in his heart.

"The first training will start tomorrow morning," Kalwu rolled his eyes, and his dullness turned into cunning in the face of the seniors, "You should train first and then make a decision."

"Of course I will accompany you to train, and soon, other friends will join the orphanage.

Karl has been practicing hard for several months and finally has someone to show off to, and he looks excited.

"Let's work together!"