NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14: Chapter 14
Chapter 14: The Witcher's Predicament
Lan did not respond to the question echoing in his mind. He remained silent, both verbally and internally. The sound of hooves continued to clop rhythmically as Oreton came into view. The silence stretched on longer than expected, long enough for Mentos to believe that Lan was genuinely reconsidering something.
"Mentos, what should I order to drink when I get to the tavern? For mercenaries and witchers, when they visit a tavern, it's a must to indulge a bit, right? I've gathered all the money from my teacher. Maybe I'll have a Royal Vizima? I saw it on the shelf last time. Honestly, aside from the few magical potions made with alcohol during my transformation, I've never properly tasted the drinks of this world."
Lan was earnestly seeking advice from Mentos. The AI momentarily struggled to respond.
"Any amount of alcohol entering the digestive system is not advisable. For witchers, alcohol-containing potions are essential due to their resistance to toxins and work requirements. However, I still recommend that you avoid alcohol in your daily life. If you must drink, please choose something produced through strict processes, preferably something expensive… no!" Mentos, after offering that suggestion, suddenly realized.
"We weren't discussing this topic."
Lan, however, seemed unfazed. "There's no need for that, Mentos."
"It's very necessary!" The AI's tone turned serious.
"The 'Survival Mode' requires me to be deeply concerned about your safety. I know you came here with a purpose. You feel a certain responsibility toward the families of those two farmers and wish to make amends."
"That's correct," Lan agreed, "but—"
The voice of Mentos thundered in his ears. "But sir you are already a witcher."
The causal link between these two statements was not strong; it felt disjointed. Even a person with basic education would not stumble over their words in such a manner. Let alone a biological AI based on logic.
But understanding the words required context.
In a world where ethnic tensions ran high and massacres could erupt at any moment, being a witcher meant more than just a "career path." It marked Lan as someone who had entirely transformed, becoming a being not recognized by the mainstream intelligent race—namely, humans. He would forever be a witcher.
That was what Mentos intended to convey.
He must dwell in the wild, among monsters and beasts, as both cities and villages would harbor disdain and hostility toward witchers.
This was a perilous world, and Lan was now trapped in a profession fraught with danger. To eat, to survive, he must engage in the violent struggle of this profession to earn a living. It was a prison constructed from the prejudices of society.
As a witcher, wanting to pursue a different profession? Ha! The Jewish people in Germany during World War II also wanted to do something else, but most ended up confined in concentration camps. In those times, identifying a Jewish individual in a crowd was far more challenging than spotting a witcher.
Mentos had a bleak outlook on the future. Bordon's lessons had been meticulously recorded by Mentos, noting every word and tone. According to the records, a qualified witcher should master exceptional swordsmanship, skillfully apply signs, be adept at brewing various alchemical products, and, most importantly—possess superhuman tracking skills and knowledge of monsters.
The latter two were especially critical, determining how long a witcher could survive in this land.
While one could choose not to accept a task, one must first understand what they would face to draw reasonable conclusions.
Mentos had assessed Lan's abilities as a witcher against Bordon's standards. The conclusion was—apprentice level, not yet a full-fledged witcher.
Swordsmanship and signs, the tangible powers, were naturally enhanced with the help of the AI. However, the lack of knowledge and experience was extremely dangerous, akin to having only one usable leg when two should be functional. The witcher schools contained the hard-earned experiences of hundreds of masters and the research findings of great magicians regarding monsters and curses.
Yet Lan currently had… nothing. He was like a prisoner stuck on a narrow path at the edge of a cliff, cautiously advancing in an environment that could shatter him at any moment… with just one leg!
Mentos was anxious. It wished Lan would immediately withdraw Bordon's hidden savings, use that as capital to find a stable environment, and spend some time acquiring the skills he lacked.
Then he could implant the gene seed from the glass vial into his chest, regardless of its unknown effects; it was better than the risk of dying in the future, right? After that, he could return to the path of being a witcher and seek to develop his skills. This was a prudent and reasonable plan.
Born from the Federation, the biological AI analyzed its master's life safety as a primary concern and concluded that this was the best route. In such a rational and clear-headed plan, it was hard for anyone to voice a rebuttal.
"I refuse." But Lan didn't hesitate for even half a second. He outright rejected the AI's proposal. His voice was steady and assured, just like his current emotional state.
The graph that Mentos had compiled based on hormone levels and brainwave activity now lay flat, resembling the ECG of a deceased person. Wild emotional fluctuations should be typical for a young person.
Yet for Lan, while he had just been moved and joyful about reclaiming his freedom and life a moment prior, the next moment, two corpses swung before him like keys on a keychain, reminding him of the harshness of this world.
But he would no longer let such things throw him off balance. This world contained both joyous and repugnant things. People lived in such a world.
"I will do what I believe I should do in the next chapter of my life. After experiencing the life-and-death struggles of mutation… I have made my decision."
Though he spoke passionately, Lan's tone now mirrored that of Mentos, a voice of reason. Calm, steady, focused. Not because of data-driven calculations, but from the moral conviction that came from being human.
Mentos fell silent. It didn't know what else to say.
"A biological AI is a [support] for humanity." Suddenly, Mentos recalled a phrase buried in its foundational logic.
In the Federation's definition, possessing data capabilities far exceeding those of humans, biological AIs and their intelligent interfaces were not particularly rare or significant. What mattered was the human.
The one who clarified their resolve and the value of life—human. In the brilliance of that will, even the stars could be toyed with by a diminutive being. The biological AI existed to [assist] and to select such individuals; that was what made it important.
Uncontrolled by Mentos, the AI's foundational logic stirred. After a series of precise condition checks, a hidden unlocking criterion—[University Level Achievement Completion]—was quietly achieved.
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