Chapter 289 Knight Ailin
The old duke's voice was sonorous and powerful.

Under the gaze of everyone, the demon hunter glanced around and said in a deep voice:
"Wild Hunt!"

"On the night of May Day, Skeleton Knights flew through the sky, and the disaster that destroyed Elland was released from their scepters, just as everything happened in Flotsam..."

The witcher's words had just fallen.

"Wow~"

There was a sudden commotion on the city gate tower, like boiling water being boiled by a raging fire.

"What happened in Floating Harbor?"

"What is this witcher talking about? Isn't the Wild Hunt just an old story for children?"

"It turned out to be the Wild Hunt. When the 'shooting star' appeared that day, I also vaguely saw something moving..."

"Whatever it is, Lord Mason is right. The people of Temeria cannot die tragically for no reason. We want revenge! Revenge!"

……

Amid the noise, the old duke raised his hand, and the city gate tower suddenly returned to peace.

"Are you sure?" the old duke asked in a deep voice.

"I saw it with my own eyes!" Ailin said firmly.

The bloodshot old eyes stared blankly into a pair of azure cat pupils, and the witcher's gaze did not evade.

a long time.

"Boom!"

The cane slammed the ground again.

The old duke glanced back and met the eyes of every noble.

You Qi stayed on the young noble's face for several seconds before saying, "Did you hear clearly?"

Everyone looked at each other.

Although there were a few nobles with many medals on their chests, and some with tear marks on their faces and hatred in their eyes, they all looked at the old duke with firm gazes.

But most people think this statement is a bit ridiculous.

According to legend, how could a monster that had not appeared for hundreds of years suddenly appear in Elland?

In contrast.

If it weren't for the discord between witchers and wizards in recent decades, it would be known to the world.

There seemed to be no reason for a witcher to lie and fabricate a legendary monster.

They preferred to believe that the disaster on May Day was a secret revenge by the wizards of Ban Ade.

Swing your lance at the legendary Wild Hunt that gallops across the boundless sky and brings endless disasters...

This is really crazy!

"Listen carefully, father!" the young nobleman shouted.

next second.

Regardless of whether they truly agreed or believed it, the other nobles nodded in agreement with this statement.

"This is a war, and we were ambushed by monsters without any honor!" The old duke's hoarse voice sounded like the roar of an old lion.

"So from now on, the Wild Hunt is our mortal enemy!"

"Whether they are ghosts, omens, or the plague itself, I will make them die as dishonorably as Bloody Foca did."

The voice just fell.

The male nobles around him knelt on one knee with a "swish".

Their invincible lord has issued an order, and no matter how bizarre the order sounds, they, as vassals, must accept it.

"Da da da~"

At this time.

Footsteps were heard coming from the city wall not far away.

The old duke glanced at them sideways and waved his hand for everyone to stand up.

High Priest Ianna and Nenneke came over.

"The High Priest..."

"The High Priest..."

……

Everyone bowed in greeting.

Just as they were wondering why the high priest and the priests of Meliteli had not left after the funeral...

The old duke turned around and faced the witcher.

"Witcher Ailin, where are you from?" he asked in a deep voice.

Aelin was stunned for a moment, then instinctively replied, "I'm from Kaer Morhen."

"Has anyone ever knighted you?"

"Hmm?" Ailin shook his head blankly as he was stared at by people with different emotions. "No, no one has ever granted me the title of knight..."

"Qiang!"

The sound of the sword clears the sky.

The old duke drew the sword from his waist and said in a deep voice:

"Your Majesty!"

Ailin seemed to understand something when he was confused.

"Just kneel on one knee." Ianna walked to the side of the old duke and looked at him with a kind smile.

"what!!!"

"how come?"

"He is not from Elland..."

……

The noise among the nobles rose again, blowing the raindrops back into the gloomy sky.

"quiet!"

A solemn voice suddenly came from not far behind the old duke.

It was a guard knight wearing a helmet.

Ailin could tell that it was Arthur's voice.

Before Arthur finished speaking, all the knights on guard stepped forward at the same time and surrounded the crowd.

"Clang~clang~clang~"

Long swords were pulled out of their scabbards, and the guards held the hilts with both hands and thrust them shallowly into the ground.

The continuous drizzle washes the sword, and a cold light shines everywhere.

The nobles fell silent at this moment and dared not say anything more.

The knights were supporting a demon hunter with their actions, looking forward to accepting Arryn as one of them.

This was a scene they had only seen in history books.

In the world of Demon Hunters, although the knights are loyal to their lords, they also have their own wills.

Moreover, after the rebellion of the great nobles, the status of the middle and lower nobles, especially the knights, improved a lot.

Therefore, the guards who were only loyal to the old duke did not care about the opinions of other nobles at all.

"Go ahead..."

Vesemir's voice came from behind, bringing Arryn back to his senses.

He didn’t quite understand…

Why were they suddenly granting him a title when they were just mobilizing for war?

but……

Although he had not yet figured out the pros and cons of accepting the title, with the approval of Ianna and Vesemir, Arryn still did it.

"In recognition of your outstanding performance in a just war," the old duke said in a loud and emphatic tone, "in recognition of your virtue, honor and ..."

He paused:
"...and loyalty to humanity, I, Mason, the Duke of Ellande recognized by the gods, by my power and privilege, hereby knight you. Serve us faithfully. Accept this sword, and you will never suffer pain again."

Ailin felt the sword's blade touch his shoulders lightly.

In the rain.

He looked at the old duke, and saw recognition and gratitude in his dark brown eyes, which was rare.

Duke Mason nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, and said:

"Kaer Morhen is not my fiefdom, and another knight is already there."

"so……"

"Brave demon hunter, you defended Elland with your courage, wisdom, and strength."

"I will bestow upon you a title for your merits - Arryn of Elland." He then said.

Arthur took a step forward and said respectfully:
"Bow, Your Excellency the Knight."

then.

The newly knighted Arryn of Elland stood up and bowed deeply to his theoretical "lord", Duke Mason.

At this time.

Except for the guards, many people looked at him with approval.

Most of the nobles on the city gate tower cast suspicious and even jealous glances at him.

They knew that the demon hunter had blocked the attack of the demon spirit for Elland, but to be honest, this was something that Duke Mason had paid for a long time ago.

So this is what a demon hunter is supposed to do.

Even if the task was completed excellently, it would be better to give more money rather than reward with a title.

Considering what the "Wild Hunt" had just said, many people quietly cast their suspicious eyes towards Duke Mason.

The old duke is old after all.

They suspected that he had been bewitched by the demon hunter, not only to challenge a legendary monster, but even to grant the precious title of nobility to a child of only thirteen or fourteen years old.

Although the title of knight does not represent the territory and status owned by the nobles like the title of great nobles, it cannot be inherited.

But at least ordinary knights cannot be called "Sir".

Also.

A knight with a title also represents a great possibility of getting one step closer to the title of nobility.

It can even be said that...

In Temeria, which has the largest number of knights, as long as Arryn performs some remarkable military exploits for Elland or Temeria, even if Duke Mason himself is unwilling, he must promote Arryn to a higher rank.

Otherwise, the many knightly orders in Temeria might express their "dissatisfaction" in various ways.

Therefore, being a knight with a title and being a knight without a title are two completely different concepts.

The old duke seemed to notice the strangeness of the crowd, and said to the nobles calmly:
"Ser Arryn deserves the honor."

Everyone was silent.

Obviously they were not convinced, but they remained silent and did not question because of the old duke's prestige.

The old duke glanced at Ianna beside him, and after seeing her nod slightly, he said:

"It was not High Priest Ianna who warned of the May Day crisis, but our Ellander Knight, Master Demon Hunter Aelin of the Wolf School."

As soon as the words fell, there was less than two seconds of unbelievable silence.

"What?!!"

A noisy lady exclaimed loudly.

The city gate tower became noisy again like a vegetable market.

Everyone turned their eyes to Ailin and Ianna, talking and wondering.

Only the elderly nobles looked at the old duke in confusion.

"This is what Eanna told me after May Day. According to her, Ser Arryn was able to predict this disaster because of the oracle of the goddess Meliteli."

The old duke said calmly.

Now not only the noisy ladies, but even the old and calm nobles in the crowd were unable to maintain their elegance.

Prophecy, oracle, high priest, knight...

In particular, the goddess Meliteli has not issued an oracle for hundreds of years.

The volume of discussion suddenly reached a new level.

With a "crack".

Something fell to the ground.

"Hah... Sir Javier, help me pick up my dentures..."

In the chaos, the old duke raised his hand and the crowd instantly quieted down.

Then everyone subconsciously looked at Ianna at the same time.

The high priest of the goddess Meliteli nodded:
"Yes, this warning was given to me by Ser Arryn after the goddess appeared in his dream."

At this time.

A middle-aged lady asked:
"But before May Day, you clearly told us that you received inspiration from the goddess..."

Ianna smiled when she heard that.

But before she could explain.

The man next to the middle-aged lady immediately pulled her arm and cursed vulgarly:
"Shut your mouth, you ignorant, stupid woman."

"If someone told you before May Day that an unknown male demon hunter received a revelation from the goddess Meliteli, would you believe it?"

When the middle-aged lady heard this, her face turned red, she shrank back and stopped talking.

"I didn't lie..." Ianna explained with a smile, "I did get the revelation from the lady, but Ser Arryn just relayed it to me."

"He was in the iconostasis room nearest to the lady..."

Sleep... the witcher added two words in his mind.

After hearing Ianna's words, everyone immediately understood.

Put it this way.

It was really thanks to him that they were now standing here safely instead of being buried underneath.

Moreover, there is nothing wrong with awarding a title of knighthood for such a merit in saving a city.

then.

The nobles looked at Ailin with a much softer gaze.

There were also many people with deep thoughts. They looked at the young witcher, then at the old duke and Ianna, as if they were thinking about something.

Needless to say, the old duke's attitude towards this new knight was extraordinary.

However, the high priest of the Temple of Meliteli actually trusted a demon hunter so much.

The iconostasis room, where the original statue of Goddess Meliteli is stored, is not accessible to ordinary people.

It is said that even the old duke has never entered the most sacred place in all of Elland.

not to mention.

The high priest even damaged his own prestige to "pave the way" for this demon hunter...

What is the relationship between this witcher named Ailin and the high priest and the old duke?
"Okay, the rain is getting heavy, let's all go back." The old duke waved his hand, interrupting the secret speculations of those who were busy with their own business.

The nobles bowed to the old duke and left one after another.

Ailin was about to leave, but Arthur stopped him and pulled him to a corner:
"After the enthronement ceremony, there should have been a grand banquet to celebrate, inviting the nobles and knights of Elland to gather together to celebrate the birth of the new knight."

"However," Arthur sighed, "because of the recent death of Elland, this party cannot be held."

"It doesn't matter." The demon hunter shook his head, "I don't care about this."

In fact, this is better.

It made him feel uncomfortable to have to pretend to be nice to those nobles at that celebration banquet.

not to mention.

Even from the words of enthronement, it can be seen that the old duke temporarily changed "in order to reward your virtue, honor and loyalty to the royal family" to "loyalty to humanity".

In essence, the knight Ailin was not a vassal of the old duke or the Temeria royal family.

Just don't know.

This was past experience, but the old duke made some flexible adjustments.

Arthur twitched the corner of his mouth and smiled when he heard this:

"In that case, let's get to the point..."

At this moment.

For some reason, Duke Mason, who had not yet left, leaned on his cane, looked down at the drizzling rain outside the city of Elland, and said to the attendant who came up with an umbrella:

"Find someone to hold an umbrella for her."

"Enough people have died in Elland recently..."

A servant hurried away after hearing the order.

The witcher listened to Arthur's talk about the "family crest", "flag", "chivalric code" and other matters after the enthronement ceremony, and glanced sideways at the city.

"Clap clap~"

The rain is getting heavier.

Between heaven and earth, layers of fine white bead curtains were woven.

A lonely, thin figure, with his back to Elland, kneeling in front of the freshly turned soil.

It was as if the whole world she longed for was within that muddy and filthy place.

(End of this chapter)