Wizard: This witcher is neglecting his duties.

Chapter 185 The Hedgehog Man, Uchion

In the Wizarding World, no one can resist the allure of Gwent.

With the conflict resolved, the atmosphere at the banquet returned to its cheerful state, and Wayne and the Skellige delegation played Gwent with great enthusiasm.

As a professional Gwent master who has played no fewer than a thousand Gwent battles over the years, Wayne did not immediately use an overwhelming approach to defeat these Skellige strongmen.

In the previous drinking and arm wrestling games, Wayne had already proven his strength and spirit to these warriors of the sea. Now, when playing Gwent with them, Wayne would deliberately control his strength, often winning two or three rounds and then cleverly losing one, so that while gaining experience and coins, he could also let his opponents experience the joy of defeating a strong enemy.

This performance piqued the interest of the Skellige men, who then joined in the game of Gwent.

After all, most of the members of the Skellige delegation in front of them now will become important figures in the major families of the archipelago in the next twenty years.

Although Wayne wasn't afraid of them, it was certainly better to be friends than enemies.

Actually, it wasn't just Wayne who thought this way; the Skellige men on the other side thought the same. Although they had suffered a setback in the previous match, it didn't stop them from acknowledging Wayne's abilities.

In the era of cold weapons, people with great strength were often more powerful in combat.

This means you will have more stamina, wear heavier armor, use heavier weapons, and exert greater power.

Soon, with the deliberate matchmaking of both parties, Wayne seamlessly integrated into the cheerful atmosphere of the Skellige delegation. They drank and ate together, boasted, and played Gwent. Before long, they seemed to have become good friends.

Even King East and the Sea Boar Kratz showed goodwill towards Wayne. After all, they were not enemies, and Wayne was not Kratz's rival. It was better to have one more friend than one more powerful enemy.

This greatly disappointed many nobles who were watching them. As the biggest competitor in this marriage selection, the Skellige delegation was something everyone else wanted to see fail rather than see them gain another powerful ally.

However, the joyful atmosphere at the banquet did not last long. Just as Princess Paveta was influenced by Wayne and his friends' cheerful atmosphere and was playing a tutorial game with Wayne like a novice at a card game, a guard wearing golden armor walked in from outside the banquet hall.

This was a strong-looking guard. He bypassed the crowd around the banquet table, quickly walked to Queen Calanthe's side, and whispered something to her.

Then, with Queen Calanthe's expression slightly changing in approval, and accompanied by the guard's loud announcement, a knight dressed in full iron plate armor, wearing a spiked helmet, and with a face sculpted into the shape of a dog's mouth, walked in through the gate.

Uchion of Illenwald is the name of this knight.

With the arrival of this uninvited guest, the atmosphere at the banquet subtly changed. Wayne clearly felt that Princess Pavita, sitting opposite him, trembled and stared intently at the figure clad in full plate armor, while the chaotic magic emanating from her body increased.

Seeing this, Wayne chuckled and gave the princess a meaningful smile. While everyone else's attention was drawn to the armored monster, he leaned over and whispered:

"Your Highness, is this the person you've been waiting for?"

"Fate is truly amazing; you actually fell in love with someone who lied to you from beginning to end."

Princess Paveta's attention was originally focused on Uchion, who had just walked in, but after hearing Wayne's words, her attention was immediately diverted. She couldn't help but tremble and look at the handsome young man in front of her with astonishment.

Wayne winked at her, then held up a finger in a shushing gesture, and whispered mysteriously:

"After today's banquet, I will tell you some truths that you don't know."

"A kind and innocent person like you shouldn't live in lies."

After saying that, he didn't look at Princess Pavita anymore, but instead, like everyone else, turned his gaze to the armored monster who was walking into the banquet hall.

Accompanied by the clanging of armor and the dull thud of iron boots on the ground, under the watchful eyes of everyone at the banquet, the man wearing the spiked dog-head mask walked to Queen Calanther's throne and shouted:

"Your Majesty, gentlemen, please forgive me for interrupting your grand banquet."

"I am Uchion of Illenwald, please forgive my unannounced arrival."

Queen Calanthe, seated on her throne, shifted her posture, scrutinizing the armored man before her with sharp eyes. After a few seconds, she spoke:

"Since you're here, you're a guest. There's a seat for you at the banquet. Please find a place to sit."

"Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty."

However, this man who called himself Uchion did not retreat to the banquet as the queen had instructed. Instead, he clenched his gloved hand into a fist, pounded his chest, and loudly proclaimed:

"But I am not here to attend the banquet. In order not to waste your and your time, I would like to explain the situation directly."

However, his attitude angered Queen Calanthe. The beautiful queen raised an eyebrow and directly rebuked him:

"How incredibly rude! Attending my banquet, facing the host, you dare not show your true face!"

"Take off your helmet, and I'll give you time to explain. Otherwise, I'll have the guards throw you out."

However, after a few seconds of silence, the armored Uchion spoke in an apologetic tone:

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty, and esteemed gentlemen, but my appearance cannot be revealed to the public for the time being, for I have sworn a knightly oath not to remove my helmet before midnight. I hope you will grant me permission."

As he spoke, many people at the banquet immediately shouted angrily, believing that his knightly oath was just an excuse and that there must be something shameful hidden behind his mask.

However, Wayne noticed that as people's anger grew, Princess Pavita's expression became very tense, while the Archdruid Mossak, sitting in the corner of the table, moved his lips slightly and silently recited a spell. A special magic permeated the entire banquet, and even the badge on his chest began to tremble slightly.

Unfortunately, with Wayne's current knowledge of magic, he couldn't discern what kind of magic the Archdruid was casting.

Queen Calanthe stared at Uchion for over ten seconds. In the Middle Ages, the knightly oath was a highly respected vow, and few dared to break it. In the end, she nodded and gave him time to explain.

Having received the Queen's permission, Uchion, clad in armor, seemed to take a light breath before continuing in a loud voice:

"Fifteen years ago, your husband, King Rogner, got lost while hunting in Irenwald. While wandering in a remote place, he fell from his horse and broke his leg."

"He would have died long ago if it weren't for the help of others."

Queen Calanthe frowned and said:

"I know about this. If you know about it too, I guess you're the one who saved him."

Uchion responded loudly:

"Yes, it was because of my rescue that King Rogner was able to return to your side unharmed."

Queen Calanthe's face remained expressionless; she simply said:

"I am grateful for your help. Although my husband has passed away, my gratitude is not diminished by it."

"Tell me, if your assistance wasn't given for free, how should I thank you?"

"A fiefdom, a title, wealth—I can provide all of these."

Uchion, seeing Queen Kalanser feigning ignorance on the throne, immediately shouted:

"You know very well that my assistance is not free."

"You know very well that I'm here today to collect the reward that King Rogner promised me."

Queen Calanthe was silent for a few seconds, then stared intently at Uchion with sharp eyes, her dark green pupils seeming to blaze with green flames, and said in a mocking tone:

"So, you found a wounded person at the bottom of the canyon who was completely helpless."

"Faced with such an injured person, would you only help him if he promised you a reward?"

"If he doesn't agree to your demands, you'll leave him in the canyon to die, right?"

"Your actions certainly conform to one of your knightly oaths, don't you? You are truly a noble knight."

As Queen Calanthe uttered her mocking words, the noise in the hall immediately grew louder. The guests at the banquet all looked at Uchion before the throne with contempt, believing that a man of his character was not worthy of being called a knight.

Seeing that her words had the desired effect, Queen Calanthe looked at Uchion with an even more furious smile and said:

"Fifteen years have passed, and you've come to my banquet specifically to demand a reward. Do you intend to take it all back, with interest?"

As she spoke, the queen gave a cold laugh and said in a sinister tone:

"Since you say it's Rogner who wants to reward you, then fine, I'll send you to another world to see him, and let him give it to you personally."

"I love my husband deeply, and the thought of you bargaining with him while he's seriously injured fills me with disgust."

"Do you know? In my kingdom, you are just as close to death as Rogner was back then, like a lamb to the slaughter."

"If I allow you to leave alive now, shouldn't you give me the same in return?"

Queen Calanthe's death threats immediately caused the temperature in the banquet hall to drop several degrees.

The guests present also noticed that something was wrong with the Queen. Logically speaking, even if a knight of bad character came to ask for something in return from the person he had helped, the master, even if he disliked him, would give him some compensation instead of threatening him with death.

Among those present, Archdruid Mossak was one who knew some of the inside story. He was worried that the stubborn Queen Calanther might actually disregard the odds and deliberately kill Uchion, who had come to demand payment. Such an act would be tantamount to the greatest desecration of the ancient law of the odds.

Throughout human history, anyone who defies the laws of chance often suffers the consequences of fate and endures an extremely tragic destiny.

This is not a fictional story. In a world where gods exist, fate is a real and powerful force that ordinary mortals have no power to resist.

As spellcasters seeking the truth of the world, they understand this better than ignorant commoners or nobles, and they have a greater reverence for the power of fate.

Thinking of this, the Archdruid first looked at Wayne beside him. Although he did not know Wayne, he could guess that this young man with amazing strength was probably also a member of the Witcher.

However, Wayne did not notice the druid's gaze at this moment. Instead, he watched the scene in the banquet hall with a smile on his face, like an audience member enjoying a play.

Receiving no response, the archdruid immediately turned his gaze to Geralt, the witcher, standing beside the throne.

The two old friends met eyes and immediately began to exchange subtle glances. Mossack hoped that Geralt would step in to protect Ugion, as he did not want his good friend, Queen Calanthe, to act recklessly and ultimately suffer a tragic fate.

However, Geralt, who had accepted Queen Calanthe's request, was also in a state of mixed feelings. Before understanding the whole story, he had not yet decided which side he should help.

In the banquet hall, facing Queen Calanthe's accusations and threats, and the whispers of the surrounding guests.

Uchion did not become nervous; he said loudly:

"Whether what you're saying is true or not, you know very well."

Queen Calanthe, enraged, laughed and said:

Are you accusing me of lying?

Instead of answering directly, Uchion said loudly:

"You should be well aware of what happened in Ihrenwald."

"After King Rogner was rescued by me and returned home safely, he found that his beautiful queen, who is you, had given birth."

"Yes, I have waited fifteen years, and today I will receive my reward."

"The purpose for which everyone here has come here has been in vain."

"Because according to the oath, Princess Paveta has been mine since the day she was born."

"This marriage selection banquet was a mistake from the very beginning."

Uchion's words immediately caused a great uproar among the guests, with some nobles shouting:

"This is impossible, it's unheard of."

Others said:

"That's absurd. What evidence do you have to prove all of this?"

Faced with the crowd's scolding and questions, Uchion remained calm. He spread his arms wide and loudly addressed the crowd:

"The Queen's expression says it all; this is no exaggeration."

Upon hearing this, the guests all looked at Queen Calanthe. Sure enough, as Uchion spoke, the queen, who was usually so confident and aloof, now looked very unpleasant. She pursed her lips, her expression complicated, and looked at Uchion below the throne, but did not give any orders for a long time.

If Uchion was lying, given the Queen's personality, she would surely have already ordered this rude man to be beheaded.

However, this eerie silence made the guests present realize the truth, and they began to whisper among themselves.

As the noise in the banquet hall grew louder, Wayne, standing beside Princess Pavita, noticed that although the princess remained seated quietly, the chaotic magic surrounding her had begun to twist and distort. Clearly, the possessor of the ancient blood was experiencing extremely complex emotions, so complex that her feelings were affecting the chaotic magic throughout the banquet hall.

Princess Pavita, though a natural-born source mage, had never studied any magic or received any spell training; her method of manipulating magic was almost instinctive.

After a silence of nearly two minutes, Queen Calanthe suddenly beckoned to a male servant and whispered an order in his ear.

Then, the male servant, with a surprised and complicated expression, accepted the order and ran out of the banquet hall.

King East, who was standing behind Wayne, also stood up. He left his seat, walked to the center of the banquet hall, and calmly asked Queen Caramel:

"Is he telling the truth, Calanther?"

Queen Calanther, standing before the throne, had lost her usual composure. She bit her lower lip, looking at the Kingdom of Ister with a pitiful expression, and asked:

"Even if it's true, so what?"

Although King Ister felt pity for his beloved, he still frowned and said:

"If this is true, then the promise must be kept."

"Otherwise, I would think you take promises so lightly. As a ruler, if you don't value promises, how can you expect your allies to keep their covenants?"

(End of this chapter)