The Sorcerer's Handbook

If it hurts enough, grip with both hands,

Cut it open, let yesterday’s curse expand.

Through endless night and day it flows,

Leaving behind only scars that show.

As the lively chime of the prison bell rang, Ashe got up to wash and brush his teeth. His mind was still tangled in thoughts about the Swordswoman’s strange behavior over the past few days.

For a change from her usual idle chatter, she had suddenly zeroed in on him with a barrage of pointed questions in the Virtual World. She asked him about his favorite color schemes, how he made friends, whether he preferred mysteries or horror, and even whether he liked large breasts or small ones. Ashe was completely baffled. Isn’t that a ridiculous question? Who wouldn’t like large breasts!?

To make matters even more confusing, her demeanor shifted through four completely different moods in a single night. At times, she was gentle and caring; at others, cold and arrogant. Then she became seductive, only to turn innocent and cute moments later. Ashe couldn’t help but think it would be perfect if her outfits changed with her moods, too.

He had asked if anything was wrong, but she insisted that everything was fine, leaving him anxious and uncertain. After some thought, Ashe concluded there was only one plausible explanation: the Swordswoman must be going through her monthly cycle. Considering her mood swings and peculiar chatter, it matched the traits typical of a woman at that time. Ashe muttered to himself, ”So even paper-thin girls have periods.”

With that settled, he pushed the thought aside.

He opened his light screen and found a message from the Aurora Sorcerer’s Handbook.

[The training of the Death Maniac Swordswoman has concluded. Please review the progress report and set the training strategy for this week as soon as possible.]

[Death Maniac Swordswoman Progress Report (4.19–4.25)]

Sword Class: Silver → Silver

Light Class: Silver → Silver

Water Class: Silver → Silver

Mind Class: 0 → Silver

Mana: Half Silver Wing → Full Silver Wing

Training Evaluation: A

[Because she earned an A rating, Death Maniac Swordswoman received a profession upgrade from the Sorcerer’s Handbook: Slayer Executioner Sorcerer → Soulbreaker Silver Sorcerer.]

[Soulbreaker Silver Sorcerer]

Profession Trait

- Deals an additional 1% soul damage with each successful attack.

Ashe’s eyes lit up at the new trait. Since all enemies in the Virtual World were spiritual beings, the Swordswoman would now deal extra damage to them. Combined with her already fast attack speed, the cumulative effect would be devastating.

Her growth in other sorcery classes was minor. Over the past few days, they had obtained only one Water Orb, which Ashe had naturally given to the Swordswoman. Even after absorbing it, her Water Class remained at Silver rank. If it weren’t for her Mind Class rising from zero to Silver and her mana expanding from half-wing to full-wing, she wouldn’t have earned an A. Ashe couldn’t help feeling a twinge of bitterness. Why haven’t I received a progress report for the Watcher? I want a profession upgrade too!

He was still stuck with the utterly useless Cult Leader profession, and the blessings of the Four Pillar Deities had yet to take effect.

Ashe checked his recharge points. In the past few days, they had hunted many Knowledge Creatures and gathered numerous spirits. Since the Swordswoman needed some to purchase her own, the loot had been split 60/40. Ashe took sixty percent, while she took forty. After converting the temporarily unusable spirits into recharge points, Ashe now had 124 points and was still short of the 198 required for a Bag of Source Crystals.

With a summoning ritual still inaccessible due to insufficient Source Crystals, Ashe went ahead and set the Swordswoman’s training plan for the next week. Initially, he had planned to max out her swordsmanship training as usual, but considering her special period, he hesitated. After a moment’s thought, he decided to give her one hour of rest, just for today. His heart ached. Watching an employee rest feels like losing money. So this is what it feels like to be a boss.

He quickly finalized the training strategy to avoid second-guessing himself, then went to the cafeteria for breakfast. The central hall was packed. Ashe thought, Could it be another volunteer recruitment drive?

Not quite. Prisoners were gathered around the hall’s light screen, watching the news, with even Iger staring intently.

Ashe leaned closer and asked, ”What’s happening? Did the citizens suddenly rise against the Blood Moon Tribunal?”

”More shocking than that,” Iger murmured, eyes fixed on the screen. ”Fernandez has fallen.”

”Who?”

”The mayor of Caimon City. He’s been overthrown.”

Ashe froze for a moment, then turned to watch the broadcast along with everyone else.

On the screen, a female news anchor with delicate features and a well-proportioned figure could be seen standing atop a high-rise. The anchor bore a faint resemblance to Iger. Her alluring eyes hinted at a charm-bloodline heritage, and her pale purple fur-trimmed cuffs lent her a touch of cuteness. Yet her expression was one of intense anger.

With her voice trembling with barely restrained fury, she reported.

「At present, the estimated number of casualties has already surpassed ten thousand. In the bustling districts of New Sky Street, countless lives have been lost. Fires have erupted across the Upper District, and the streets are littered with corpses. They could have been office workers, couples shopping, future legendary sorcerers, or ordinary diligent citizens, but at this very moment, they are all reduced to pale corpses due to an invasion that should never have happened

Everyone, please look behind me. This is the Upper District of Caimon, the most prosperous district in the city. But what do we see now? Ruins, flames, corpses, blood, exposed rebar, shattered dolls...」

Iger said, ”Caimon News is the mouthpiece of the church and the research institute. When the anchor speaks like this, it signals that the Blood Moon clans are trying to present scapegoats to appease public outrage.”

「Forty hours have passed since the first attack. Why hasn’t the Heresy Court captured the assailants? Why are attacks still ongoing? Why does the Upper District remain a high-risk zone, where even medical teams dare not enter to rescue the wounded? Where exactly is our tax money going, and who is squandering it? Why must ordinary citizens of Caimon, living peaceful lives, suffer such misfortune? How can organized attackers from other nations infiltrate Caimon? What is the City Administration hiding from us?

We need answers. The dead need answers! Someone must be held accountable for this disaster—」

Pffft!

The screen suddenly splattered with blood. Prisoners in the central hall gasped. They had witnessed deaths in the Blood Moon Tribunal before, but seeing a live news anchor decapitated on broadcast was unprecedented. The feed went black, then quickly switched to a new scene.

This time, the background had transitioned to a clean, spacious office. Behind the desk sat a black-clad ogre. Unlike typical ogres, this one had no fangs. His nails were neatly trimmed, his face lacked the expected ferocity, and he seemed oddly approachable. The sheer size of his blue-skinned frame, large enough to fill a chair designed for two Ashes, left no doubt that he was indeed an ogre.

The moment the ogre spoke, Ashe froze.

「I am Arandor Fernandez, Mayor of Caimon City. It is with deep sorrow that I report the number of innocent lives lost in the terrorist attacks has reached thirteen thousand. The Heresy Court is operating at full capacity, and the City Administration has mobilized adventurers from the nearby Lakeview Sector to assist in the pursuit. We hope to apprehend the fleeing attackers soon.

These attackers are butchers from other nations who arrived through Virtual Channels. I must admit some responsibility. The joint research on the portals was decided by the administrative department, parliament, and the Heresy Court. Had the administrative department planned more carefully and exercised better judgment, perhaps...」

Iger sneered. ”He hasn’t given up. He’s threatening his co-conspirators. If he dies, the others won’t fare well either. He may fail, but he refuses to leave quietly.”

「For this reason, I am willing to submit to the Heresy Court’s inspection and temporarily step down as mayor. The deputy mayor, Guro, will assume duties in the meantime.」

Fernandez then stood and bowed deeply.

「I sincerely apologize for my failures in office.」

”Wow!”

”Haha, Fernandez, you finally get what you deserve!”

Cheers erupted across the central hall. The Noise Ordinance forbade loud laughter, but the collective roar of excitement was still loud enough to fill the hall. Witnessing someone else’s failure seemed to bring the prisoners genuine joy. Even the usually composed Iger blushed with excitement and was barely able to suppress a smile.

Curious, Ashe asked, ”Iger, do you have a grudge against Fernandez? You seem unusually happy.”

Iger gripped Ashe’s shoulders. ”Don’t you get it? The mayor has been overthrown! He’s officially under the Heresy Court’s indictment!”

Ashe frowned. ”I heard that... so what?”

Iger seemed poised to insult Ashe’s intelligence, but the chip prevented him from being overtly rude. After a moment, he spoke in a low, excited voice, ”During his term, if a mayor faces serious charges and must be immediately suspended, he is placed in the nearest Blood Moon prison for isolation and investigation to ensure his safety and prevent suicide.”

Ashe slowly pieced things together. ”You mean...”

Iger’s gaze locked onto Ashe, eyes bright with anticipation.

”We don’t need to wait for next month’s transport anymore. When Fernandez is sent to Shattered Lake Prison, that will be our chance to break out!”

”So when will Fernandez be imprisoned at Shattered Lake?” Ashe asked.

”Usually, as soon as possible. But first, he’ll spend a night at the Heresy Court so they can adjust the chip’s restrictions. In other words...”

Ashe and Iger exchanged a glance. ”Tomorrow. The 27th, during the Blood Moon Tribunal.”