The Sorcerer's Handbook

Chapter 245: The Sunk Cost of Trying to Become the Watcher

The battle against the Legion of Heroes had thoroughly drained Ashe and the others.

Ashe had led the fight from start to finish, while Sonya and Dia had spent most of the time acting as little more than cheerleaders. Yet the exhaustion hit all three of them just the same.

Huddled inside the car, they had endured constant threats of sudden death while resisting dizziness and the violent jostling of reckless driving. Their minds never had a moment to rest. Like overwound springs, residual tremors lingered even after the release. The adrenaline and shock of that heart-pounding battle still clung to them.

They had faced dangerous fights before, but in those fights, there had been room to maneuver and strategies to fall back on. This time was different. There was no margin for error. One wrong move, and the car could explode, leaving them utterly defenseless against the Legion of Heroes.

From setting traps in the terrain, poisoning and slaughtering the Thousand-Feathered Birds, to wearing down the Serpent-Scorpion Star Swordsman and battling the Hero to the very end. Compared to this, beheading a Fish Dragon had seemed almost like child's play.

After a while, Ashe and Sonya had mostly recovered. Nevertheless, they remained seated and continued to lean against the car with no intention of standing, like office workers lingering in the restroom for a fifteen-minute break.

They weren't being lazy. Exploring the Virtual World was like working for themselves. As self-employed adventurers, the more effort they put in, the more they gained, so motivation was never the problem. They stayed seated simply to wait for the Witch to rest.

Usually the most talkative of the three, Sonya now remained silent. Her legs, clad in black stockings, crossed lazily, and a soft hum escaped her nose, as if she were lying on a bed. Yet her gaze never left Dia, studying the clownish, multicolored outfit from the corner of her eye, with a faint note of concern hidden in her expression.

Lacking Sonya's subtlety, Ashe sat stiffly, trying to observe Dia's chaotic, paint-splashed hair from the corner of his eye. His left hand stayed gently on her wrist, ready to steady her if she lost balance.

After the Hero's defeat, Ashe and Sonya exchanged a glance and reached the same conclusion that the Witch was not well. They had seen it clearly. As the battle intensified, her hair grew more chaotic, and her voice shifted, carrying a strange four-part harmony, as if four voices spoke at once. No matter how they looked at it, these were unmistakable signs of serious strain.

Resting wasn't just post-battle relief. It was necessary to stabilize her. Both Ashe and Sonya suspected her condition had something to do with her "sisters," yet the complexities of her mind lay far beyond their abilities. None of their spirits or Miracles could intervene.

Fortunately, both of them possessed Silver Rank proficiency in the Mind Class. Even without a deep psychological study, they instinctively knew not to disturb her and let her calm naturally.

If it had been Sonya in the past, she would have tried probing indirectly, asking how the Witch felt. Ashe might have gone further, probably suggesting, "Have you considered shaving your head?" Fortunately, their mastery of the Mind Class stopped such impulses before they could make the situation worse.

As the saying went, "The ignorant know no fear; knowledge teaches reverence."

Perhaps the calm they created worked. Slowly, the Witch leaned back against the car and closed her eyes. Her clothes returned to black, and her gradient hair lost its garish mix of colors, settling into the pure tone of the Secret Princess. She fell asleep.

It was the first time Ashe and Sonya had seen anyone sleep in the Virtual World. They quietly moved to either side of her, studying her face from her brows and eyelashes to her nose, lips, and glasses. Even awake, she had been beautiful, but asleep, she appeared gentler, like a timid little deer, evoking the instinct to pinch her cheeks.

As Ashe's gaze drifted lower, tracing the curve of her neck, Sonya grabbed his chin, twisting his head toward her. She whispered, "You, wake her up."

"Why me? You do it."

"I just met her. You're more suitable."

"You're a woman. You're more suitable."

"That's exactly why I'm not suitable."

"Why?"

"Who's the woman here? You or me? As a woman, do you really think I wouldn't understand her?"

"Damn... that actually makes sense."

Defeated in the silent argument, Ashe was left with the universally despised role of the alarm clock. Since he had to do it anyway, he decided not to hold back.

Pinch.

Ashe pinched the Witch's soft cheek. The sensation was unexpectedly pleasant. Bodies in the Virtual World mirrored real ones, and the softness felt entirely genuine. At the very least, it eased some of the exhaustion he experienced from the battle.

So girls' cheeks really are this soft...

Sonya swatted his hand away. "Hey! That's harassment!"

"I'm waking her up! Studies show attacking the face works best. A slap definitely works."

"Then go ahead and slap her!"

Even the most reckless, thick-headed roommate back in university hadn't been this ruthless. Only my brother would do something like this.

"Huh?"

Dia woke up, rubbing her eyes in confusion. "Eh? You... here... was I dreaming?"

Sonya immediately squished her face flat. "You fell asleep! Wake up! We're still in the Virtual World!"

Dia nodded vigorously. "Oh, oh, oh! Right, I remember now. We beat the Legion of Heroes... we actually won! Yay, yay!"

She immediately lit up with excitement and threw her arms around Sonya in celebration. Seeing this, Ashe felt a surge of warmth as well. He opened his arms, trying to join their embrace, but Sonya stopped him with a hand.

Dia noticed Ashe's gesture. She let go at once and ran over to hug him instead. "Watcher, you're so incredible! Your driving skills were amazing, even better than the villains in fairy tales! Swordswoman, you were amazing too for finishing the final blow. And of course, I was amazing as well. I held that Hero in place!"

Ashe gently rubbed Dia's head with his right hand, pressing down her proud ahoge. "Yes, yes, Witch, you did great this time. You worked hard."

At the same time, he raised his left hand high, making it clear that all his actions complied with the children's channel broadcast standards.

Sonya snorted, stood up, and said, "Then it's time to collect the spoils we deserve. Hopefully, they won't think no one wants them and run away."

By now, the poisonous mist in the cave had dispersed. They looked around, only to find that there was barely any loot. Perhaps it was how they were killed, or that those Knowledge Creatures belonged to the Legion of Heroes, none of them dropped Experience Orbs or even spirits.

There were only three items on the battlefield, all of which were from the Hero.

The first was a handbook. The moment Ashe picked it up, he realized it was not the Sorcerer's Handbook they had expected.

[Demilo's Commander's Handbook]

Note: After reading, you may choose one of the four rewards.

- Sword Command · Beginner: Gain coordination ability for sword-type units and a large amount of Sword Class experience.

- Archery Command · Intermediate: Excel at ranged tactics and gain a massive amount of Archery Class experience.

- Offense · Beginner: Become more threatening when directing attacks and gain a small amount of experience across all sorcery classes.

- Logistics · Intermediate: Increase troop movement speed and gain a moderate amount of experience across all sorcery classes.

Sonya's reaction alone revealed just how astonishing the Commander's Handbook was to sorcerers. The moment she saw the reward options, she let out her infamous "Little Trumpet" exclamation, too stunned to keep her composure.

If Sorcerer's Handbooks were like vegetables, nutritious but difficult to swallow, then the Commander's Handbook was a zero-calorie, zero-sugar, zero-protein ice cream cake that defied all logic. Firstly, its rewards were selectable rather than random. Secondly, it granted both command skills and sorcery class experience. Essentially, it was a handbook that came with bonus Experience Orbs.

Most importantly, it set no standard for who could read it. Simply put, not every vegetable suited a sorcerer's appetite, but no one could resist an ice cream cake like this. They did not even need to read its contents. The rewards could be claimed directly upon use. Even Sonya, strict as she was with her own standards, could accept it without hesitation.

Of course, the handbook itself was not extraordinarily valuable. In the end, it was still just "a command skill they likely would not use" plus "some Experience Orbs." The rewards were not much different from what they had gained from killing a Fish-Slaying Dragon.

Its significance lay elsewhere. It broadened their understanding, showing them that Sorcerer's Handbooks were not limited to bitter vegetables and that other varieties, perhaps more appealing or even more rewarding, might exist in the Virtual World."

If they encountered another unusual sorcerer projection like a Hero in the future, Sonya would no longer stop Ashe from taking risks. This had been a step into the unknown, and the Commander's Handbook served as positive reinforcement. From now on, when faced with danger, their instinct would not be to retreat, but to probe and gather information.

A sorcerer who had tasted sweetness would willingly reach for any unknown secret, even if it might taste bitter or contain poison.

Without realizing it, their success began to shape their thinking. Just as the River of Flowing Gold had nurtured their ambition, hunting Heroes deepened their greed.

Naturally, the Commander's Handbook went to Sonya. None of them needed the Archery Class, and for now, Ashe's priority remained to raise her Sword Class to Gold Rank.

During the battle, Sonya had clearly recognized her own weakness. She might have landed the final blow, yet she couldn't deny that Ashe and his nearly burnt-out car had done most of the work.

The true MVP, deserving praise and hugs, was the car. As an extension of Ashe's strength, it put him far ahead of her. As for the Witch, she had already achieved Gold Rank in one of her sorcery classes[1]. Her Aqua Line granted her both offensive power and control, and she could read nearly any Sorcerer's Handbook.

When Sonya thought about it calmly, she realized she had nearly become the one dragging the team down.

Ashe had made it clear. If she could not keep up, she would lose priority in resources and any special favor. If the team ever optimized its structure, the weakest link would be the first to go.

So this time, Sonya did not hesitate. She reached out and took the Commander's Handbook.

As if I were the type to surrender quietly. If I can't keep up, I'll make you, Watcher, keep investing in me. I'll drain your resources until letting me go would cost you too much to bear. As long as I owe you enough, the one who'll panic won't be me, but you. What's that called again... right, sunk cost.

Ashe had once explained it while complaining about work. Sonya quite liked the term.

The more one invested, the harder it became to let go. Time, energy, emotions, and experiences all formed part of the chains that shaped future decisions. With that in mind, she quietly set a goal for herself to become a sunk cost the Watcher could never abandon.

Before using the handbook, Sonya skimmed through its contents. As expected, it was dull, filled entirely with battle command experience and case studies. There was not a single detail about Demilo as a person.

It was no wonder anyone could use it. It contained no personal worldview, no opinions, and nothing subjective. It was simply a reference book, which naturally meant it had no reading barrier.

Sorcerer's Handbooks are supposed to be the culmination of a sorcerer's life. Why is there not even a trace of Demilo himself?

The thought flickered through her mind, then faded just as quickly. Perhaps it's simply a mechanism of the Virtual World. If there's nothing to see, then so be it.

When she flipped to the last page, she came across a familiar image.

It was a star-filled map. The deep night sky glittered with countless stars, three of which were connected by lines. The lowest star was labeled Demilo, while the other two remained unnamed.

She showed it to the others.

Ashe glanced at it and offered a straightforward remark. "It looks like the kind of clue a victim leaves behind right before dying to identify the killer."

1. Refer to C178. ☜