The Divine Hunter Chapter 5

As darkness enveloped the land, the villagers began extinguishing their lamps. Husbands and wives retired for the night, while children gazed at the starry expanse, counting imaginary sheep. Thompson, the village watchman, made his rounds, his only companions a flickering torch and a worn sword. His duty was to ward off any wild beasts or brigands, and to sound the alarm should any threat approach.

The only beacons of light piercing the gloom were the dwelling of the village chief and the humble establishment known as Ol’ Captain’s Inn, situated at the heart of the village.

Occasionally, solitary young men, seeking refuge from the monotony of home, would visit the inn. After a few rounds of drink, they would invariably seek out the innkeeper, One-Eyed Jack, for a spirited game of Gwent. One-Eyed Jack, a man adorned with a thick beard, often regaled his patrons with tales of his seafaring adventures in the Skellige Isles during his youth.

Within Ol’ Captain’s Inn, a cozy ambiance prevailed, thanks to the cheerful blaze of the fireplace and the soft glow of candles adorning the walls. It was a tranquil haven where a handful of patrons savored their beverages after a day of arduous labor.

Roy stood poised before the Gwent game board, a spark of excitement in his eyes as he admired the intricate and exquisite cards. To his amazement, these were genuine Gwent cards!

Gwent, a game conceived by a dwarf to combat ennui, rapidly gained widespread acclaim owing to its straightforward mechanics and engaging, dynamic gameplay. Both the aristocracy and common folk embraced the opportunity to partake in a few matches during their leisure hours.

The characters depicted on the cards were inspired by the world’s legendary figures, including Emperor Emhyr of Nilfgaard, King Foltest of Temeria, King Demavend of Aedirn – identifiable by his regal crown – and the captivating Queen Meve of Lyria and Rivia.

Each Gwent card represented the culmination of a dwarf's dedication and artistry. Their impeccable craftsmanship, stunning visuals, and flawless design were truly divine creations, beyond the realm of mere imitation. Certain unique cards were the product of a dwarf grandmaster's skill, elevating them to the status of masterpieces.

A standard card typically commanded a modest price, usually a few crowns, and was readily available in most establishments. Some of the more elusive cards could command a price equivalent to a dwelling in Vengerberg, the capital of Aedirn, though purveyors of such rare items were few and far between.

After observing several games, Roy noted the presence of Nilfgaardian and Northern Kingdom decks, as well as those from the Skellige Isles. However, he found no monster cards or Scoia’tael decks. Monster cards were scarce, and as for Scoia’tael decks…

The Scoia’tael were an organization that aided Nilfgaard in their assault on the humans of the Northern Kingdoms during the war. As the Northern War had yet to commence in the year 1260, the Scoia’tael remained unknown, and consequently, no decks featuring them existed. Scoia’tael decks would only surface after the Northern War, when a dwarf grandmaster would subsequently release the expansion pack.

“Hey, Roy, why aren’t you at home? It’s past your curfew. You shouldn’t be loitering in an inn like this.” As One-Eyed Jack reached out to pat Roy’s head with his calloused hand, Roy deftly sidestepped the gesture.

Roy offered him a disarming smile. At thirteen years of age, employing a charming demeanor was hardly a source of shame. It was all about acquisition. “I’m waiting for Brandon, Jack. He promised to treat me to some fruit wine tonight,” Roy fibbed. His actual reason for waiting was an obligation he had to fulfill. He intended to demonstrate a simple magical trick he had acquired during his previous existence through unconventional means, the internet.

The Gwent match, however, presented an unexpected opportunity. Roy surmised he could potentially profit from it, recognizing the players in the world of Witcher 3 were invariably drawn into the addictive allure of Gwent.

A grotesque smile contorted One-Eyed Jack’s aged, wrinkled visage. “That glutton? He'd pilfer his father's coins just for a swig of ale here. His wine is watered down, you know. If I didn't resort to that, old Fletcher would have caught on and given him a thrashing. Best not to pick up that sort of habit.” Simultaneously, his eyes gleamed, and One-Eyed Jack swiftly placed a white Gwent card onto the game board.

That particular move rendered his opponent’s face as pale as the card Jack had just played.

“Take that, Otter! Freezing Frost! All your Close Combat cards’ strength is now reduced to 1! Thirty-five to twenty! Game, set, and match!”

Jack raked the amassed crowns into his possession, the coins cascading onto the table as he gathered them.

Otter the farmer’s countenance sagged. “Blast it. My luck is worse than the fishes in Kovir. That’s it. I’m calling it a night.” With that, he abruptly departed the inn.

Roy then promptly assumed Otter’s vacated seat, fixing his gaze upon One-Eyed Jack.

“Find another seat, lad. An old friend is due soon, and tonight, I intend to claim all his crowns. I won’t take no for an answer.”

“Jack, since neither of us has pressing matters, how about I play a warm-up match with you?”

Jack scoffed, shaking his head. “Do you even possess Gwent cards? It’s highly improbable a child like you could afford them.”

“Oh, come now. It’s common knowledge that Captain Jack is quite the collector. You possess a vast assortment of cards in your hoard. Surely, you must have duplicates of some. Could you not fashion a deck for me?” Roy clasped his hands together, his eyes sparkling as he looked up at Jack.

Jack let out a sigh, his gaze fixed on Roy. "You were once so sweet and timid. What has become of you? Did someone fill your head with stubbornness? You refuse to back down." Jack raised his hand, intending to strike Roy, but a sudden thought stopped him.

"Fine, I owe you this. I’ll let you borrow my cards, but playing Gwent without stakes is pointless. If you lose, you have to clean my inn once. A deal?"

"And if I win?"

"You get one crown."

"But you usually get two crowns per win," Roy couldn't help but blurt out. Jack was on the verge of exploding with anger, but Roy quickly covered his mouth before he could utter another word.

Not long after, Roy found himself with a Northern Realms deck, consisting of thirty-five cards. Thirty-one were unit cards, each with a strength of six or less, and four were weather cards. Astonishingly, there wasn't a single unique hero card among them.

The Gwent cards possessed a smooth, soft texture. The sensation was even more delightful than the flawless skin of a maiden, causing Roy to hesitate momentarily before letting them go.

Meanwhile, Roy had no clue about One-Eyed Jack’s deck composition.

The game commenced shortly thereafter. A while later, Brandon bustled over to the table to observe the match, accompanied by a dark-skinned man who stood well over six feet four inches.

PR/N: Six feet four is around 1.93 meters.

They simply watched in silence. Roy initiated the game cautiously, playing his cards with a degree of hesitation. In contrast, Jack appeared entirely nonchalant. He folded his arms whenever it was Roy’s turn and played with astonishing speed when it was his. Roy, as expected, forfeited the first two rounds.

However, as the matches progressed, Roy managed to turn the tide, securing victory after victory. Jack stared intently at the board, his eyes unmoving. He found each subsequent move more challenging, and his expression soured with every loss.

"You cheated, you little scoundrel!" Jack roared, leaping to his feet. It was half an hour later. His face, flushed red from the intense concentration, resembled that of an enraged lion. Before he could make a move, an impossibly muscular hand firmly pushed him back into his seat.

"I've been observing the entire time, captain. Roy did not cheat. I vouch for it." Seeger's face conveyed absolute certainty, though a subtle smile crept onto his lips. He relished moments when Jack experienced defeat, as Seeger himself had never managed to win a Gwent match against him.

Roy offered the red-haired man a grateful glance.

This man was Seeger, a blacksmith from Kaer village, who also served as a repairman for the villagers' farming equipment. Roy had heard that Seeger was once part of Jack’s crew, and they had operated a trade ship across the Skellige Isles. Following Jack’s retirement, Seeger had accompanied him to Aedirn to settle down. Seeger was not a native of Aedirn; he hailed from the Skellige Isles and was known for his honesty.

"You should be thanking the horse that collided with you, Roy." Seeger lightly smacked Roy's head. "You used to act like a girl, but now, you're starting to resemble a man."

***

Following that brief interlude, the Gwent match continued for another half hour, concluding with a total of eight games. One-Eyed Jack succumbed to defeat in five of them, and a substantial five crowns lay quietly on Roy’s side of the table. He would need to collaborate with Fletcher for over a month to earn the amount he had amassed during that single night.

"Unbelievable. Are you truly siding with this whelp, oh great Melitele? My deck is twice as potent as his, yet I lost five matches? This is preposterous. Even with his skill, he shouldn't be able to defeat me so easily."

Still reeling from his loss, Jack glared venomously at Roy. Roy felt a pang of unease under the intense scrutiny. Had he overstepped?

He had indeed resorted to trickery, but no one had witnessed it. When no one was looking, Roy had stashed two weather cards within his inventory. Throughout the matches, he had subtly swapped cards to unleash freezing effects upon Jack's units, thereby diminishing the considerable strength Jack had painstakingly accumulated. Truly, it had been an exhilarating experience.

"Because I am fortunate," Roy replied, striving for a tone of composure. "No one is luckier than I am when it comes to Gwent. The great Melitele has bestowed her favor upon me."

"Blast it all!" Jack exclaimed, striking the wall with a resounding impact that caused it to tremble. "If it weren't for that accursed thief, Sasha, you wouldn't have won. She pilfered my Mysterious Elf card!"

Sasha? The mention of the name caused Roy to pause momentarily. He had a fleeting sense that he had encountered Sasha within the game but couldn't recall her identity.

Brandon, the young, portly boy, pondered for a moment and then exclaimed, "Isn't Sasha the rider who collided with Roy?"

The recollection of the accident prompted Jack to cease dwelling on his defeat. "Let it be. Had I not been pursuing her, she wouldn't have been startled and crashed into Roy. I shall overlook this matter today."

Roy connected the pieces, finally understanding why Jack had expressed his debt and offered to lend him a Gwent deck. It was because Jack possessed a rare card, and a thief had attempted to steal it. This incident was also why Roy had been knocked unconscious and subsequently merged with him.

"Return here at the same time tomorrow night, Roy. We shall engage in several more matches. Your luck will not hold out indefinitely. I will uncover your method of cheating, one way or another."

Roy accepted the proposal instantly. Earning five crowns in a mere thirty minutes was a compelling reason not to forfeit his most lucrative venture. Captain Jack harbored an obsession with Gwent, mirroring the plight of those dwarves who met financial ruin due to the game.

Brandon, eager to partake in the spectacle, tugged at Roy’s sleeve. “Roy, Roy, teach me that magic trick!” He then produced a cluster of fragrant, sweet, golden-hued snacks from his pocket, offering them to Roy.

“These are cracklings. They possess a delightful taste, correct? Fletcher prepares cracklings whenever a pig is butchered. If you impart some of your tricks to me, I shall provide you with snacks daily.”

Observing the innocent, childlike, and plump boy, Roy offered a smile. He smoothed a stray strand of hair that protruded from Brandon’s head. “Let us proceed swiftly. It is nearly time for bed.”

***

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