Sorcerer’s Handbook

“Please… don’t…”

“I’ll do anything you want, just don’t…”

“No!!”

With a heart-wrenching wail, the Sanctuary spellcaster Rein Mercury was thrown into the mire. This was no ordinary mire but a replica of the “Soul-Cleansing Mire” from a special region of the Time Continent. The original Soul-Cleansing Mire dissolves spiritual impurities, enhancing a spellcaster’s learning ability, focus, and mental state for a week’s time, making it a highly desirable adventure mechanism.

However, Belldate’s counterfeit mire didn’t have such beneficial effects. Instead of dissolving spiritual impurities, it dissolved physical impurities—such as clothes and hair.

No one knew why Belldate had constructed such a seemingly meaningless feature. Perhaps it was a mere attempt to replicate an adventure from the Time Continent, or maybe it was a frivolous expenditure of excess wealth to stimulate domestic demand. Regardless, it undoubtedly provided Ashe and his companions with significant help—like having a filthy mop conveniently nearby during a brawl.

After some preliminary pummeling and soaking to render these pursuers temporarily incapacitated, the main course of action ensued: keeping them confined at the Belldate manor, ensuring they had no ability to pursue the Funeral.

The most extreme method would be to inflict severe injuries or even disfigure them drastically, or to kill all the other Sanctuary spellcasters. This would guarantee they couldn’t pursue, even after recovery. However, their pent-up hatred would inevitably be directed at Belldate, and the ensuing internal conflict would drain the resources of these consortium families.

But Ashe and his team ultimately discarded this idea.

Firstly, negative reputations have different levels; “dislike” and “mortal enemy” are fundamentally different concepts. If these consortium families had previously been devoting 20% of their resources to counter the Funeral, after such brutal treatment from Ashe and his team, it might escalate to 70%, creating an even more perilous situation for them.

Secondly, there was still Lise to consider.

Among the adults present, there’s no need to mention Annan and Banjeet from the Firm—the term “unscrupulous” doesn’t even begin to capture their modus operandi; Harvey also isn’t worth mentioning, as this backward world doesn’t have moral laws capable of binding him; Ashe, having been through so much and practically becoming shoulder pain buddies with the Reaper, had long mentally prepared himself and wouldn’t hesitate when dirty work was required.

But as long as Lise was around, Ashe could never just stand by and watch the narrative turn dark and grim.

However…

Ashe looked at the utter despair on the faces of those in the mire. Their hair and clothes had been dissolved, leaving them bald and soaking in the dung-colored muck. This scene of abject filth was enough to challenge anyone’s sanity, Lise’s included. Even Ashe felt the need for a sanity check just looking at it.

The results, though, were remarkable. Rein and Zuvendas, along with the other Sanctuary spellcasters, would be too embarrassed to show themselves without spending hours bathing and regrowing their hair.

“Stop looking, Lise. Let’s go see that beautiful lady.”

“Huh?” Lise seemed a bit reluctant. “I think this is quite interesting too…”

“Harvey!” Ashe called out to Alice, “Have you been a bad influence on Lise?!”

“Do you know that there’s a whole intestine between the stomach and the feces? Don’t blame everything on me,” Alice retorted. “Children are naturally fascinated by filth; it’s adults who have a pretentious obsession with cleanliness.”

“Who would understand that!”

After taking care of the male spellcasters, the next task was the female spellcasters—who were spared the ordeal of soaking in the mire and losing their hair and clothes.

It wasn’t because Ashe and his team were showing favoritism; they just needed a reason to spare the Family of Six Heraldry. Conveniently, most of the individuals Qenna had brought were female spellcasters, making it less suspicious to let them go.

Although Qenna had ultimately come to capture them, she had shown willingness to fight other forces to protect them when pressured by Rein and the other Sanctuary spellcasters. Even if her actions were partially selfish, Ashe and Annan still felt obliged to acknowledge her effort.

The only person qualified to object was Harvey, but just as he didn’t care that Qenna hadn’t stood up for him earlier, he didn’t mind Ashe and the others sticking up for Qenna now.

However, they couldn’t let Qenna and her group off too easily. Fortunately, besides the mire, there was also a pool of liquor nearby. Though it was called a liquor pool, it was filled with sweet alcoholic beverages. Ashe had occasionally helped himself to a cup while passing by.

Dunking the female spellcasters into the liquor pool would not only soak their clothes but also cover them in sticky, sugary alcohol. These pampered Gospel spellcasters would be desperate to take a bath after regaining their mobility.

Lise and Little Banjeet efficiently coordinated to carry a female spellcaster and deposit her into the liquor pool. Ashe followed suit, directing his Substitute to toss the spellcasters into the pool.

Soon, Ashe encountered a particularly challenging individual—Qenna. Tossing your own mother into the pool would require the daughter to step up, but Annan was currently deep in a conversation with Nona by the poolside, clearly avoiding Qenna.

Humans are indeed peculiar. Annan was bold enough to confront Qenna when she was strong and domineering, but now that Qenna appeared vulnerable, Annan chose to keep her distance. Perhaps the only way Annan could interact with Qenna was through ‘rebellion’ and ‘suppression.’ When Qenna was no longer able to suppress her, the Young Lady didn’t know how to handle the relationship with her mother.

Since Annan was unwilling to deal with it, someone else had to step in. Scratching his head, Ashe instructed the Substitute to move Qenna. Given that this act would directly offend a Sanctuary spellcaster, it was better for the Substitute to handle it.

However, as soon as the Substitute reached out, Qenna bit down hard on its hand, forcing it to withdraw quickly.

The Substitute looked back at Ashe. In situations where the male spellcasters offered heavy resistance, it typically grabbed their legs, spun them around, and hurled them into the mire. But that method wouldn’t do here; embarrassing Qenna like that was out of the question since they were intending to let her go.

Reluctantly, Ashe stepped forward, reaching out to lift Qenna. “Come on, be good. Don’t struggle, I’ll just—umm!”

She was heavy.

Qenna was not only taller than Ashe but also well-built from frequent exercise. Given that she wasn’t supporting her own weight at all, her body was incredibly difficult to carry. Anyone who has ever tried to lift an inebriated person knows there’s a stark difference in weight between someone actively cooperating and someone completely limp.

“You need to use the physical Spirit to build up some strength,” Qenna seemed to mock. “If you struggle this much to carry me in the future, it’ll really kill the mood.”

What kind of situation would require me to carry you in the future?… Ashe pondered.

“You’re holding me in a really uncomfortable way. Tighten your grip and let me move my arms,” Qenna commanded unceremoniously. Ashe had no choice but to follow her instructions. The Elf patriarch subtly shifted her graceful body, redistributing her weight onto Ashe’s torso, which instantly eased the burden on his arms.

However, this left Qenna’s head almost resting on Ashe’s shoulder, making it look like the two were whispering secrets to each other.

And as a matter of fact, they were.

“Come back to Vamora with me,” she whispered softly. “You have no escape route left.”

“You’ll need to discuss this with your daughter.”

“The more I say, the less Annan does,” Qenna chuckled. “But you can persuade her, can’t you? After all, you are my daughter’s… fiancé.”

Because they were so close, Qenna’s breath tickled Ashe’s earlobe, making him feel a bit itchy. “Sorry to disappoint, but I lied to you. Annan and I actually have no such relationship.”

“Uh-huh,” Qenna didn’t seem to mind. “But she values your opinion, I can tell. Do you really want to keep wandering aimlessly with her? Don’t you want a stable life?”

“Six Heraldry can no longer protect us—”

“They can,” Qenna asserted with a demonstrative grind of her teeth. “If I say they can, then they can.”

“But I don’t want to go to Vamora,” Ashe turned his head to look at her. They were so close that their noses almost touched, their eyes reflecting each other’s expressions. “I hate Vamora.”

This seemed to catch Qenna off guard. “Why?”

“I dislike Vamora’s white mist, its Beauty Houttuynia Farm, and its indulgent lifestyle,” Ashe replied.

“What do you like then? The monetary domination of Belldate? Or other city models?” Qenna seemed amused. “The Vamora model already considers everyone, allowing all clansmen to lead a happy life. Even Mephila can’t achieve that… is there any city better than Vamora?”

“Maybe there isn’t a city better than Vamora,” Ashe said. “And maybe there’s no city I like within the Gospel Kingdom.”

“Then why—”

“But that doesn’t mean I have to choose the least disliked option.” Ashe crouched down and slowly lowered Qenna into the liquor pool. “Qenna, you know, I’m someone who tends to settle for things. If I stayed in Vamora, I’d probably become one of your clansmen. So, I can’t help you persuade Annan, because I need Annan to dash ahead with me until we find a place we can retire… or until we attain the Divine Sovereign’s Wish.”

“But I will convey your care to Annan,” Ashe smiled. “When I visit Vamora next time, I hope you can still welcome me.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll definitely capture you all first. Then we’ll meet every day and night.”

“Then I’ll look forward to it without much anticipation.”

By this time, Qenna’s waist was already submerged in the liquor pool. She said, “Oh, I have one more thing to tell you. Come closer…”

Unsuspecting, Ashe leaned in. Suddenly, the Elf patriarch twisted her entire body with such momentum that she dragged Ashe into the liquor pool, causing both of them to bob in the alcoholic liquid.

“Ugh!” Ashe supported Qenna by her shoulders, half laughing, half exasperated. “Are you really getting back at me? Can’t you see that we intentionally let Six Heraldry go?”

With her wet hair plastered to her shoulders, Qenna gazed at him with a hazy look, and laughed, “You’re drenched in liquor.”

“It’s all your fault…”

Before Ashe could finish his sentence, Qenna leaned in. With a smooth swipe of her tongue, she licked off the liquor on his face. The warm breath seemed to ignite the alcohol, making Ashe feel like he was burning.

“Annan is a very stubborn child,” she said seriously into Ashe’s ear. “When necessary, you need to hold her back.”

What else could Ashe do? He nodded hurriedly, making affirmative sounds as he quickly tried to disengage. Before leaving, he adjusted Qenna’s position to a reclining posture to prevent her nose and mouth from being blocked by the liquid.

But by doing so, a mesmerizing elven beauty now floated atop the liquor pool. Wet clothes, undulating curves, flushed cheeks… Ashe dared not look too much, lest he accidentally end up returning to Vamora with Qenna.