The Divine Hunter Chapter 1

Reaper Scans

Chapter 1: The Farmer’s Child

[TL: Asuka]

[PR: Ash]

“Have you heard the news? Moore’s son was hit by a horse.”

“What a pity for the child. He’s only thirteen, isn’t he? I heard he’s paralyzed for life.”

“That’s old news. Roy has already woken up, but his mind seems to be affected. He just stares blankly around the yard.”

The farmers toiling in the fields were abuzz with talk of the misfortune that had befallen a boy named Roy. A burly man, overhearing them, quietly set down his hoe, his fists clenching. He was consumed by rage, despair, and a profound sense of powerlessness.

This man was Moore, the very father of the boy the farmers spoke of. Like everyone around him, he was but a simple peasant, having toiled the land for most of his life. He possessed no striking looks, no special talents, and no wealth. No woman had been eager to marry him, until his wife appeared and accepted him despite his shortcomings. He was twenty-three at the time.

The couple welcomed their child when they were twenty-five. In their era, most individuals were already parents by sixteen. Having a child at twenty-five placed them significantly behind their peers. They cherished Roy deeply, constantly fearing for his safety, which led to him rarely being tasked with field labor.

Roy himself was a quiet child. He heeded his parents’ words, kept to himself, and always wore a bashful smile. He was a stark contrast to the boisterous children who would run wild through the village at every opportunity.

“Roy is such a good boy. It’s a true tragedy…”

The thought of Roy’s current state only deepened Moore’s anguish. They had envisioned a life of lifelong happiness and tranquility with their son, but fate had cruelly intervened. Four days prior, a woman had galloped through the village on horseback, and Roy had been in her path. The horse had merely brushed against him, yet that single impact had left him incapacitated.

The village’s untrained herbalist had been unable to diagnose Roy’s condition, believing the boy was beyond hope. However, the following day, almost miraculously, Roy awoke. Yet, he was transformed. His eyes held a vacant look, and he remained silent, unresponsive to any address. He simply gazed at the sky, appearing as if his mind had been lost.

Moore let out a sigh. As dusk approached, he retrieved his hoe, turning towards home, his heart still heavy with worry for his son.

The villagers’ dwellings were crude and unappealing, constructed from thatch and wood. A strong gust of wind could easily dismantle these ramshackle structures. Kaer was a modest village, home to approximately one hundred families.

Moore’s modest home stood on the western edge of the settlement. It was high noon when Moore returned, the sun beating down relentlessly. Despite the intense heat, a young boy stood facing the sun, his eyes unblinking, resembling an empty automaton. Beside him, a plainly dressed village woman with weathered skin was occupied with feeding the chickens.

“Why is he staring directly at the sun? What if it damages his eyes? Susie! I told you to keep a close watch on him. Don’t you know that’s harmful?”

Moore hurried into his yard, pushing through the overgrown weeds to reach his son. He gently guided Roy away from the sun and seated him near the front entrance, affectionately ruffling his short, buzz-cut hair.

A flicker of tenderness softened Moore’s weathered, sallow face. “Don’t ever do that again, Roy. Alright?”

Roy had remained unresponsive to all stimuli since he awoke earlier, but upon hearing his father’s plea, a spark ignited within him, and his eyes began to regain clarity. “Huh? Dad? Luo Yi… No, Roy,” he stammered. “Right. My name is Roy now.”

“Y-You spoke, Roy?” Moore exclaimed, his voice filled with astonishment. He moved closer, drawn to Roy, seeking confirmation. His son, silent for the past three days, had finally begun to speak again. Relief washed over him; at least his son hadn’t lost his voice.

“Susie, come here! Stop tending to the animals! Roy just spoke!” Moore called out urgently. Susie arrived moments later, clearly flustered.

The couple embraced Roy, and as he spoke their names, tears streamed down their faces. Roy observed his parents, Moore and Susie, more closely. They were not conventionally attractive, nor were they unattractive. Their hemp clothing appeared worn, and their skin was rough, marked by the toll of hard labor. They exuded an aura of simple, benevolent villagers.

“So, they are my parents.” Tears welled in Roy’s eyes, and an unfamiliar emotion stirred within him. He hugged his parents in return.

Simultaneously, two distinct sets of memories began to coalesce within him. Prior to this existence, he was Luo Yi, a high school graduate who had dropped out in C Nation. Concurrently, Roy had resided in Kaer, a village situated in Lower Posada, on the southern frontier of a nation known as Aedirn.

Luo Yi’s parents had perished in an unfortunate accident, leading him to abandon his studies. He became a recluse, immersing himself entirely in the digital world of gaming. Once his inheritance funds were depleted, Luo Yi intended to end his own life. Without parents, a vehicle, or financial resources, and burdened by his gaming addiction, his original existence was essentially a death sentence within his society.

Conversely, though Roy was the offspring of humble, impoverished cultivators, his parents’ love for him was undeniable. Luo Yi yearned for such a familial bond.

“I became addicted to games to fill the emptiness in my heart. Now, I’ve been given a second chance. The gods must be on my side.” Luo Yi assimilated all of Roy’s emotions and recollections, fostering a sense of closeness with Moore and Susie.

“What happened to you, Roy?” Susie inquired, her voice laced with concern. “You truly frightened us!”

“Th-The horse startled me. All I could recall was the sheer terror. I’m not sure what transpired,” Roy stammered.

“Enough with the questions, Susie!” Moore admonished his wife. “The only thing that matters is that Roy is safe. That’s all that’s important.” He then affectionately ruffled Roy’s hair.

After placating his anxious parents, Roy surveyed his new dwelling, a wry smile touching his lips. The walls were rough and seemed ready to crumble, the dwelling furnished with little more than a fireplace, a cauldron, a few basic tables and chairs, and two beds ⁠— if one could even call a pile of straw covered with threadbare cloth a bed.

Lunch was prepared shortly thereafter. A meager offering of dry, hard, misshapen loaves of bread, a single egg, two pieces of preserved fish, and a bowl of mixed vegetable soup was presented. The fare was remarkably plain, entirely lacking in seasoning. Salt, it seemed, was a rare commodity in this household.

Roy found the food peculiar, yet he took a bite nonetheless. “Don’t be picky, Roy. You didn’t have access to such fresh, organic greens in your previous existence.”

Driven by the fundamental instincts of his new body, Roy’s palate adapted to the food’s taste fairly quickly after the initial bite. Ravenous after days without sustenance, his hunger compelled him to devour the meal rapidly. Soon, the already scarce provisions dwindled further.

“Eat slowly, son. You wouldn’t want to choke,” his father advised.

His parents observed their son with indulgent smiles, continuing to pile food onto his plate. They partook sparingly themselves, snatching a piece of dried fish here and there.

***

Moore and Susie departed later that afternoon, having resolved to butcher a chicken for Roy that evening. It was then that Roy’s demeanor shifted, becoming markedly serious.

Aedirn. The name resonated deeply. Roy had spent countless hours immersed in “The Witcher 3,” and “Aedirn” was a name intimately familiar. It was one of the Four Kingdoms, a land populated by witchers and fraught with monsters. Bandits, beasts, widespread plagues, and natural disasters were a daily reality in the world and era Roy now inhabited. Humanity fought a brutal struggle for mere survival, clinging to any sliver of hope to live another day.

If I remain powerless, I could perish at any moment.

According to Roy’s original memories, the current year was 1260. If the established lore held true, the formidable ruler of Nilfgaard, the Emperor Emhyr var Emreis, known as the White Flame, would initiate the first Northern War in three years. Although the conflict would erupt in Cintra, a distant realm to the west of Lower Posada, soldiers might seek refuge in their region, inevitably bringing chaos.

And then, seven years later, in 1267, the second Northern War would commence, a conflict from which Aedirn would not emerge unscathed.

Do I possess any innate abilities? What course of action should I pursue? My foremost priority is to ensure Moore and Susie’s safety. Despite being merely thirteen, Roy recognized that time was of the essence if he intended to protect his parents. Fortunately, his transmigration was not without aid; like many who traversed worlds, he possessed his own unique advantage to aid him in his endeavor.

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