Chapter 164: The Pitiful Aspects of a Hateful Person

Heading west from Tottheim leads back to Harviken, while continuing further east brings one to a small hill near the sea. It was said that the pirate leader Hammond always went there to pray to the sea god for a bountiful harvest.

In the evening, in the forest not far from the small hill, the Phantom Troupe made camp once more. After a simple meal and preparation for battle, they used spyglasses to observe the enemy's distribution. Unlike the night a few days ago, no matter how they looked at it, the pirate leader had no more than ten men with him. A surprise attack would easily erase the numerical disadvantage.

Victory was virtually certain; the troublesome issue was...

"Vic, what do you want to do about Lisse?"

Seated upon a tree stump, Viktor furrowed his brow and pondered for a long time. "I want to hear your opinions."

Angoulême turned to face Vigie, gesturing for him to speak first.

On the road from Tottheim, the young girl had already consulted the rogue. He felt there was nothing to hesitate about and spoke bluntly. "Actually, it's very simple: just slaughter the lot of them. I'm sure that guy Louv, if he knew his childhood sweetheart married their enemy and is now pregnant, would have hacked them to pieces as well."

From an angle the young man could not see, the girl gave the rogue a thumbs-up.

"After all, she was Louv's beloved, and the original target we set out to save, and now she's pregnant... I want to let her go alone and leave her to her own fate. We came here in Louv's place, and Louv might not necessarily want Lisse to die here."

With that, Viktor continued to gaze into the distance. "Angoulême, what is your view?"

The girl yawned. "No matter what, Hammond has to die. As for Lisse... since she married a pirate, enjoying fine food and treatment, she should bear the subsequent retribution. She is also a beneficiary of human trafficking.

"However, if you really don't want to dirty your hands yourself, Vic, how about taking her to Harviken and handing her over to the Blackhand for judgment? Let the Jarl decide how to deal with the pirate's family."

The young man covered his mouth with his hand, watching the fluttering snowflakes. When an avalanche falls, not a single snowflake is innocent.

According to Vigie's thinking, he stood firmly with the boss lady; the Skellige style brooked no other consideration, and he would have dispatched her with a casual slash of his blade.

Yet within the leader's value system, as long as someone had not directly harmed others, there remained room for mercy, especially for women, and above all for pregnant women.

"Let's go. Do not harm Lisse for now, take out the other pirates, subdue Hammond, and then we will consider her problem."

Until the very end, Viktor had not decided what to do. Hesitation in thought could only be compensated by decisive action.

***

At the same time, in Harviken──

Having concluded today's outdoor festive celebrations, Horg Blackhand returned to the Jarl's longhouse, followed by his nephew, Hjalmar.

"My Jarl, the Dovahkiin has been gone for four days with no news sent back. Should we send someone to scout? If he is still alive, we can ransom him back. After all, he is the Dragonborn proclaimed by King Bran, and it is clear that Lugos and his son value him greatly. Would it be detrimental if he were to die here?"

Sitting boldly upon the raised platform, pouring a cup of cold water and draining it, the Blackhand wiped his mouth. "Don't overthink it. He probably made a boast and is too embarrassed to come back outside! Even a rogue knows that three people fighting over a hundred is courting death. Could the Dovahkiin possibly be more foolish than Vigie?"

Hjalmar said nothing, nor did he look away.

Staring at his heir for a few seconds, Horg waved a hand. "Very well... then send someone to take a look!"

Hjalmar bowed and left the building.

Coming to sit by the hearth, the Blackhand added a few logs of firewood, giving the matter of the Dragonborn not a second thought. The firelight flickered across his face as he considered where to go raiding come the return of spring.

Faintly... he seemed to hear the sound of singing carried from afar, a chorus of many voices... men and women singing together in unison...

Dovahkiin! Dovahkiin!

He once slew a bear with his bare hands, and slaughtered a hundred pirates alone!

Hearing the roar of his victory, even the fiercest enemy would flee in terror...

***

East of Tottheim──

The altar atop the small hill was piled high with shattered weapons, swords, and shields. Several bonfires burned around it, casting a bright glare over the platform.

With gold torcs and armlets adorning his wrists and arms, Hammond sat bare-chested in the snowy weather, displaying a torso covered in tattoos and thick muscles, sitting cross-legged before the altar in prayer.

"God of the sea, my offerings to you have never been sparing. Please protect my pregnant wife, Lisse. In two more months, my child will be born; please grant them safety, and I shall worship you with even more plunder hereafter."

Yet his solemn ritual was interrupted by a cold, mocking chuckle.

"Tsk tsk, truly astonishing piety, Hammond, but I don't think the sea god has any fondness for stolen goods."

"Who the fuck are you?" His prayer interrupted, Hammond turned angrily, snatching up the weapon placed beside him.

His appearance was fierce and beardless, his jaw thick and broad. Like the slave masters, he was another wielder of dual hammers, looking exceedingly capable in a fight.

Biting open the cap of a Blizzard potion, the young man swallowed the concoction. "Never mind that, I'm just passing by..."

Realizing the newcomer harbored ill intent, the pirate leader roared loudly, "Shit, what are the lads waiting for? Rush him together and cut him down!"

His voice carried far into the distance, yet the wind and snow remained desolate, with no response.

The young man murmured softly, "The pirates of Tottheim are dead, and the men you brought are dead as well. They are all waiting for you to reunite in another world. I don't know where that place is, but I can be certain it's not heaven."

Realizing his shouts had drawn no attention whatsoever, Hammond's heart sank. Could what this suddenly appeared bastard said be true? All his men had been eliminated?

No... impossible... There were over a hundred men at Tottheim, holding the fortress; even the Blackhand would have to weigh the casualties required to wipe them out. He must be trying to frighten him.

More importantly, Lisse... could she be in danger?!

At the thought of his wife's safety, Hammond raised his great hammer, roaring as he charged toward the young man. At that very moment, the light of the bonfires illuminated three figures approaching gradually. The instant he made out their silhouettes, the frantic war hammer in his hands clattered to the ground.

The pirate leader abruptly dropped to his knees, raising his hands high. "No... don't harm her, I beg you... I am willing to hand over all my wealth, and the treasure map buried on the deserted island, if only you spare us."

Poised for action and ready to hone his combat skills, the young man was left speechless as the pirate lost his will to fight. Glancing slightly to the side, he saw it was indeed Angoulême and Vigie.

The major situation had just been settled, and after leaving the two of them to mop up, Viktor had come ahead to find Hammond. Once they finished off all the subordinates, they had easily caught up with the accompanying Lisse and brought her straight along under guard.

Everything was normal, yet looking at the panicked, kneeling pirate leader begging for mercy, he suddenly felt as though he had become the villain in this scenario, holding a hostage to prevent the hero from striking.

Shaking his head, Prometheus tilted his sword upward. "Pick up your weapon. Defeat me, and I'll let you go."

A glimmer of hope shone in the eyes fixed upon the young man as the bulky Hammond said in a trembling voice, "Y-You're serious...?"

"I am not joking." Viktor flicked his steel sword, his thumb nearly tapping the crossguard before he caught himself just in time.

Unsheathing Prometheus right now truly harmed his aura; he would need to upgrade his enchantments soon. If he had been using the Flame-touched strike with fire flickering along the blade, it would have been both imposing and formidable.

Having received an affirmative reply and confirmation from the other two that they acquiesced to the young man's promise, the pirate leader raised his two-handed hammers and let out a harsh roar, charging into the fray.

At the onset of their clash, Hammond's dual hammers offered a wide attack range, immense power, and swift movement, yet Viktor consistently maintained himself one step outside his striking distance. That single step forced the pirate leader to expend far more stamina, because the moment he relaxed even slightly, the young man would lunge forward and drive his sword tip into his body.

Even more embarrassing was his lack of armor. If he had been wearing his usual full plate armor, he could have pressed the attack more boldly, but he lacked it now, forcing him to hold back power with every swing of his iron hammer to guard against the opponent's thrusts.

The young man, however, was not as relaxed as one might imagine. The opponent was a formidable strongman with skilled martial arts, capable of exerting devastating effects in group combat and holding his own in single combat. Indeed, he was a fine sparring partner.

After a prolonged entanglement, as the blade struck the hammer shaft for the umpteenth time, the sound of clashing metal echoed across the altar, making even the bonfires tremble.

"Not bad." They each stepped back a distance. Hammond panted heavily, while Viktor still had plenty of stamina left. "Not bad, Hammond, you're a fine opponent, but that's the extent of it. Prepare to fall."

Knowing he could not win, the pirate leader rasped, "Wait! May I know why you came after me... A warrior like you shouldn't be unknown. Who on earth are you?"

The falling snowflakes paused for a second as the young man spoke in a resonant voice: "I am the Dragonborn Viktor Corleone from east of Zerrikania. Louv of Seagull Village—the youth you sold to Novigrad, Lisse's childhood sweetheart—entrusted us to eradicate the pirates and rescue his beloved."

"D-Dragonborn... So you are the Dovahkiin. No wonder... To fall to such a warrior is my honor." Gathering his spirits, Hammond mustered his remaining strength to grip his weapon and lunged fiercely at Viktor.

With a forward step to bait, an instant backward retreat to evade, a renewed forward step driving the blade beneath the armpit, and a side-step into a flank, accompanied by the pirate leader's miserable cry, the young man sheared away his arm, just as he had done to his subordinates.

"No...!" Witnessing this, Lisse violently shook off Angoulême's grip. Out of consideration for her pregnancy, the girl had not held her tightly, allowing her to break free instantly.

Stumbling, she ran to Hammond's side, removing her outer garment to stem the wound, her eyes fixed on Viktor. "W-Wait, My Lord, was it Louv you mentioned just now? I remember who he is now; I have nothing to do with him, he only had a one-sided crush on me!"

Long hair, expressive eyes—no wonder Louv had never been able to forget her.

"So what? I am here to eradicate the pirates. As for you, if you were living poorly, I would send you to a safe place. If, on the other hand, you were living well, then I will not interfere."

Pearl-like tears fell from her beautiful eyes. "But My Lord, misfortune is about to befall me; you are about to kill the father of my child..."

"My Lord... I beg of you, I am already a cripple, and for the rest of my life I only hope to remain by Lisse's side. I am willing to offer all my wealth and hidden treasures, if only you let us go." Clenching his teeth against the agony, Hammond used his remaining arm to shield Lisse as he pleaded bitterly.

Kicking the weapon on the ground far away, Viktor pointed his sword tip downward. Angoulême and Vigie also drew their weapons and stepped closer.

In truth, there was nothing to deliberate over; the young man simply wanted to make them believe he was considering it. After maintaining the posture for a time, he spoke in a deep voice: "Angoulême, take Lisse away first."

Then turning to Lisse: "You will be sent back to Harviken to live. Do not worry about your husband; I promise you, I will not kill Hammond. But if you do not leave, I am likely to change my mind."

The young man's expression was resolute and indifferent, signaling that this was the final verdict.

The pirate leader reached out and pushed his wife away. "Go. Believe in the Dragonborn's promise; I will come find you later."

Lisse's tears burst forth, filled with lingering reluctance, but in the end, she let go.

The snow fell without ceasing, watching the young girl lead the pregnant woman as they trudged step by step through the snow until their figures vanished from sight. Viktor stepped back two paces from Hammond, whose face was as pale as paper from excessive blood loss.

"Don't scream; Lisse might suffer a miscarriage if she is startled by the agitation." He spoke quite calmly. "Vigie, if you would."

"Trouble me?" The rogue was momentarily uncomprehending.

Lifting his arm to the side, the young man extended his thumb and pointed it downward.

***

Over the following days, the heavy snow fell ceaselessly day and night, draping a mantle of silver that covered every trace of past bloodshed.

Standing on the docks to admire the streetscape, one could see lively Skellige children everywhere having snowball fights and building snowmen.

Today was the day the Phantom Troupe, the Dragonborn, departed Harviken, yet those who came to bid them farewell were merely the Jarl's heir and his attendants.

Hjalmar placed a hand over his chest and bowed. "Salutations to you, Dovahkiin. I am sorry my uncle has taken the ships out to sea and has not yet returned, so he could not come to see you off."

Viktor nodded nonchalantly in return. "It doesn't matter, I understand. Seeing the empty berths makes it clear that almost all of Dimun's ships have sortied to earn this homecoming profit."

"Yes, thanks to you, the clan will have an extra source of income this winter."

"It's fine, it was merely on the way; at its core, it was just a personal grudge."

"Perhaps it is unimportant to you, but to those who were saved, they ought to remember it forever. And for reclaiming Tottheim, on behalf of the Dimun clan, I thank you."

Waving a hand, the young man turned to board the ship, but the other party politely signaled for him to wait a moment, then handed over a full bag of jewels with both hands.

"A hero may not care, but those who have received grace cannot afford not to. Please accept this gift as a token of our respect. Furthermore, regarding the lady Lisse whom you brought back at the end, do you have any special instructions?"

Without declining, Viktor took the jewels and casually shoved them into his herbal pouch, patting Hjalmar's arm. "If possible, let her give birth to the child safely, and handle the rest according to your customs. I do not wish to know the details."

The young man nodded. "I understand your meaning, I will handle it properly." After a slight pause, he continued: "And regarding the matter of Hammond, I am sorry the Dimun clan could not be of help. My uncle left a message: Horg Blackhand personally owes you a favor, and I, Hjalmar, do as well."

A favor!?... A trinket sometimes worth more than gold, and sometimes entirely meaningless.

Shaking his head with a smile, he filed it away in his ledger. The young man boarded the ship and hoisted the sails.