Sorcerer’s Handbook

“Igor, how’s this pressure?”

“Need more water? Let me help! Want some fries? Open your mouth, ah~”

In the canteen on the first floor of the inn, the Con Artist watched Ashe, who was being unusually attentive early in the morning. He turned away from the offered fries and let out a long sigh. “Spill it, what do you want this time to humiliate me again? Do you want me to hypnotize someone to find you a girlfriend? Or help you rebuild the Four Pillars Cult?”

“No way!” Ashe replied firmly. “I just realized I haven’t properly thanked you before, so I want to strengthen our relationship… purely academic, of course. How long does your hypnosis last, and how effective is it?”

“No ulterior motives?”

“None! But Igor, how old are you this year? What are your plans after the Weaving Festival? Have you thought about settling down…”

“Oh~~~,” Igor said meaningfully. “But why are you only concerned about me? Harvey isn’t any younger than me. You don’t ask him?”

“What’s there to ask? His answer is sure to be ‘dig up all the ancestors in Gospel’.”

Harvey swallowed the sandwich in his mouth and shook his head. “An outsider’s prejudice—it’s like flowers. Only at full bloom are they most strikingly beautiful; afterward, they’re just withered remains. I’m not interested in ancestral graves. In necromancy, the 48 hours after death are called ‘Ephemeral Time’. Livor mortis gradually forms, internal organs autolyze, and the corpse can produce super-reactions to external stimuli, making it the best period for appreciation. Over in Blood Moon, they never keep a corpse longer than 48 hours for similar reasons…”

Ashe suddenly felt something was off. Even though Harvey was talking about such disgusting stuff, it didn’t affect his breakfast appetite at all, nor did it for anyone else. Even Lise was eating with relish.

After the Weaving Festival, Ashe must keep his distance from Harvey. He definitely didn’t want his first reaction to seeing a corpse to be appreciation rather than fear!

“In conclusion,” Ashe said warmly, kneading Igor’s shoulders, “you want to settle down too, right? Aren’t you tired of this wandering life?”

“Well…” Igor relaxed his shoulders, enjoying the Cult Leader’s service. “Indeed, I’m not very interested in traveling. It’s time to live a more stable life.”

“Exactly, exactly,” Ashe nodded repeatedly. “And the best choice for you to settle down is, without a doubt—”

Igor covered Ashe’s mouth with his hand. “Yes, managing the Four Pillars Cult.”

Ashe: “?!”

“Just kidding,” Igor released his hand and laughed. “But Rust Crow’s Four Pillars Cult does align perfectly with my career plans. Even without the Four Pillars’ help, I intend to create a secret organization, gradually gaining fame, power, and money, to establish a business in Gospel—”

“But wouldn’t marrying into Belldate’s family also give you all of that? Plus, you’d have a super cute genius daughter, just as adorable as Lise!”

Lise, now slightly satisfied, turned her gaze away. Igor, annoyed, said, “That’s all nonsense from Gospel. Anfel and I would never get to that point. And why do you keep pushing me to marry into Belldate? What’s in it for you?”

“I’m really just thinking of you,” Ashe’s eyes wandered. “Of course, it would be great if you could remember an old cellmate after you hit the big time.”

Glancing at Ashe and Lise, Igor instantly understood his true intentions. Grumpily, he turned to Annan. “Did you find a job in the ground city?”

“Yes,” Annan replied. “One in city sanitation, one as a doll worker, and one as a canteen server. We’ll head out after breakfast.”

Ashe asked, “Hey? Young Lady, aren’t you coming with us?”

“I’m definitely going.”

“But there are only three jobs—”

“Only Igor, Harvey, and I are going. You and Banjeet will stay at the inn,” Annan glared at Ashe. “Your task is to accompany Banjeet throughout the day. Do not separate for too long, understood?”

Seeing the worry in Annan’s eyes, Ashe immediately realized something. “Is it because of the Assassination Ranking?”

“That’s right,” Annan said. “Banjeet is number two on the Assassination Ranking and was rendered ineffective by ‘you’, the Echoer. The Yisuo Royal Family might send someone to impersonate you to assassinate Banjeet, fulfilling the future woven by the Assassination Ranking, just like Helephes and Roger on the Evil Arts Ranking. Leaving Banjeet alone is too dangerous; he must be accompanied by a sorcerer.”

“Sorry,” the blue-haired butler lowered his head in shame. “I’ve been a burden…”

“The Yisuo Royal Family wouldn’t dare kill me to maintain Gospel’s credibility, so as long as I stay by Banjeet’s side, their assassins won’t show up!” Ashe fully understood. “You all go make money; I’ll handle things at home!”

Though his reasoning was sound, it carried an odd tone coming from Ashe’s mouth…

After breakfast, the group split into two teams. Before parting, Igor pulled Ashe aside and asked, “Haven’t you thought about your plans for after the Weaving Festival?”

“It’s not that I haven’t—”

“That means you haven’t.” The Con Artist paused for a moment. “If you’re interested, you can come help me.”

“Help you?” Ashe blinked. “I’m not skilled at nor do I enjoy deceiving people—”

“I’m not eager for you to ruin my business.” Igor glanced at the little white-haired girl. “You just need a place to settle down with Lise, right? Stay home and study spellcasting; you don’t need to do anything else.”

“Is it really that simple?” Ashe asked, suddenly suspicious. “You don’t have any ulterior motives, do you?”

“…I actually like Lise quite a bit myself,” Igor admitted, his eyes drifting upward. “I can’t just watch her continue wandering with you. While starting a business won’t make us rich quickly, it’s more than enough to support you two freeloaders.”

“That’s true; who wouldn’t like Lise? She’s so adorable,” Ashe nodded in agreement. “I never thought one day I’d rely on my daughter’s cuteness to make a living… but I’ll gratefully accept your offer!”

After bidding farewell to the work team, Ashe and the group returned to their room at the inn. The blue-haired, black-haired, and white-haired trio exchanged glances until Ashe made a hand-rolling gesture.

Banjeet caught on and pulled an ancient gaming console and a box full of game cartridges from his suitcase. They could project the games onto the wall for some fun.

“Lise, you need to finish your Gospel basic education study tasks before you can play games!”

“If you guys are playing right next to me, how am I supposed to study?”

“Good point,” Ashe thought for a moment. “I’ll study with you this afternoon, so no slacking off.”

“Deal!”

The three spent the entire morning enjoying classic old-time games, and even the usually melancholy Banjeet started to smile.

After losing nine consecutive matches to Banjeet in Sorcerer Duel 14, Ashe let out a dramatic wail and dropped the controller. “I’ve cracked the case. I definitely didn’t assassinate you because of some ridiculous reason like killing the Empress. It’s because you kept beating me so badly, and I just needed an excuse for revenge!”

“To be honest, I also find it hard to believe that you, Mr. Ashe, would kill me.” Banjeet chuckled. “It’s like imagining Harvey hating corpses or Lady Qenna being affectionate.”

Ashe blinked. “You’re not implying anything with that, right?”

“Of course not,” Banjeet replied, sipping his tea. “But if you end up with our lady in the future, please steer clear of Lady Qenna.”

“Gospel makes up all sorts of nonsense, Banjeet, you’re overthinking it.” Ashe shook his head with a smile. “Besides, you know your lady has secret aspirations she doesn’t reveal. Emotions are just a side dish to her, while her ideals are the main course… Men would only slow her down.”

Ashe stood up and said, “It’s almost lunchtime; I’ll go downstairs to the canteen and bring some food back.”

“Thanks a lot.”

Lise patted her behind and stood up, saying, “I’m going back to my room to use the restroom!”

Listening to the sound of the door closing, Banjeet gazed out at the underground city through the window. Even though it was noon, the absence of a day-night cycle made it remain a city of eternal night.

Banjeet knew that in the near future, not just Nabistin but all of Gospel would undergo dramatic changes due to Funeral’s actions, turning countless fates around 180 degrees. However, he had neither the power nor the desire to intervene.

He was Dolan’s butler, loyal to Funeral’s will.

For now, he just wanted to enjoy a few more days of peace, and then, like ice, silently melt away into the water.

Knowing it was almost time to eat, the blue-haired butler went to the restroom to wash his hands. Suddenly, the water stopped flowing, and the restroom lights flickered. At the same moment, the sound of the door hinges turning reached his ears.

But he heard no footsteps.

Banjeet raised his head and saw in the mirror a figure at the door: a man dressed in a dark red trench coat, wearing a mask.