The Sorcerer's Handbook

Freya hiccupped as she gripped the handrail and swayed her way up the stairs. As a veela, she had high resistance to all kinds of toxins, which made it rare for her to get drunk. However, her body had a peculiar way of bending to her emotions. When she was unhappy, she could drink like water. When she was happy, even the faintest whiff of alcohol could intoxicate her.

”Sigh... I’ve already tried every mud worker[1] at Frostfall Mud Cafe. Maybe it’s time to try somewhere new. Adela mentioned a new butler-themed cafe near the west gate of the university. I’ll check it out once the scholarship money comes in... Still, Mudfish Drake’s[2] abs were something else. I wouldn’t get tired of ordering him again.”

Her thoughts drifted. ”Rock Dragon had incredible skills... It’s such a pity he was lost in the 422 Incident...”

By the time she reached the third floor, the corridor lights were flickering. Freya did not think much of it and fumbled for her keys. The building was an old, seventy-year-old apartment block. It had no elevators, no underfloor heating, no air conditioning, and was prone to wiring issues. Cheap rent was its only virtue. If the landlord were gone, it would have been demolished and rebuilt long ago.

That day wasn’t far off. The landlord, a beastman in his sixties, would likely sell the property in a few years and book an anti-aging procedure at a research institute. Far cheaper than full life-extension treatments, it was popular among lower-rank sorcerers and ordinary folk alike. Once the institute acquired the building, it would naturally cooperate with developers to replace it with a taller, prettier complex, just like the two new buildings near the west gate. But none of that concerned Freya. By then, she’d have graduated and moved on.

When she opened the door, the lights inside were already on. Odd. Did I forget to turn them off before class?

She kicked off her knee-high boots at the entryway, slipped into her slippers, and froze. At her desk sat a hooded man, drinking the Strong Beastman sweet milk she kept in the fridge, typing away on her Cherry Milo keyboard, and using her Mistsea Knowledge Screen.

Her folded-ear cat, Little String, sprawled across the desk. It lifted its rear in a stretch and rubbed its head against the man’s hand.

The apartment was small but functional. It had a bedroom, desk, balcony, bathroom, and a compact kitchen, all visible from the entryway.

The man heard the commotion and looked up. ”Welcome back.”

He went on browsing the light screen.

Freya scratched her head, opened the fridge, took out a bottle of cold water, and drank it in one gulp. Suddenly, her stomach churned. She rushed into the bathroom and vomited into the toilet in a rainbow spray.

As she retched, she felt someone gently patting her back, soothing the nausea. Three stacked tissues were held to her mouth. Freya took them instinctively. ”Thanks.”

After that, her head gradually cleared. She came out, dumped all her clothes onto the chair that everyone inevitably had for dirty laundry, then turned back into the bathroom to shower.

As warm water washed over her body, her rational mind slowly returned. She leaned against the wall, resting her chin on her hands. Something felt deeply off, but she couldn’t quite pinpoint what.

Then her eyes sharpened. She clapped her hands together. ”I only went twice tonight. Normally, I go three times. I really lost out.”

She clicked her tongue. ”Even if tonight’s mud worker wasn’t great, I paid for it. I should have enjoyed it fully... even through the tears.”

After her shower, she carefully dried herself, paying extra attention to her armpits, under her breasts, and inner thighs. Wiping away the moisture made her feel wonderfully refreshed. She examined her forearms and calves, covered in white fur, and decided it was time for a trim. This was the constant challenge of being a veela. If left unchecked, her fur would trap sweat, making her uncomfortable.

She stepped out naked. The balcony curtains were drawn, and no one ever dropped by unannounced. Additionally, the weather had grown warmer. Veela were prone to sweating. Their sweat carried an alluring scent, but still clung stickily to the skin. For all these reasons, she felt most comfortable completely nude.

She jumped onto the bed and rolled twice, then called for Little String, who leapt from the desk into her arms. Leaning against her Meteor Dragon pillow, she stroked the cat and opened the light screen to check the school forum.

Everyone was discussing the Blood Moon Tribunal. Threads were dominated by topics centering on Fernandez, the socialized upbringing system, and the future of civil service exams. Since Freya had been at the mud cafe when the tribunal began, she felt a little lost.

The Mind Class studies group was aflame with the same debate. The Blood Moon faction and the Fernandez faction clashed over hundreds of messages. With over 999 unread posts, she couldn’t scroll to the top and could only make out that the argument revolved around whether the Blood Moon races should continue to exist.

The supporters argued that the two Blood Moon races were the cornerstone of social development. Their long lifespans provided the foundation for social stability, and it was thanks to them that many kinds of sorcerer technology were developed.

The opposition claimed that the Blood Moon races restricted multiracial cooperation. By absorbing all the top talent, they prevented other races from producing great scholars and sorcerers. Their glory was built on exploiting and draining those same races.

Seriously, is this something students could even resolve by arguing? If they concluded that the two Blood Moon races should not exist, wouldn’t all of them be dead by tomorrow morning? Everyone seems unusually heated tonight. Is the Blood Moon Tribunal really this intense?

After browsing for a while, Freya still felt unsatisfied. She rubbed her legs unconsciously. Two times really weren’t enough. It has to be three.[3]

She usually used videos as casting material, and she kept them all on her Knowledge Screen. The screen was thirty-two inches wide, with higher resolution and far more storage capacity.

Her chip was a Miracle 11 model with a pitiful ten-zone capacity. After storing essential files, there was hardly any space left. The Knowledge Screen, on the other hand, had a capacity of eight hundred zones. Even after stuffing it full of games and entertainment, it was still nowhere near full.

Unfortunately, the man was using it right now. Freya walked over and glanced at the desk. He was watching a replay of tonight’s Blood Moon Tribunal.

She patted his shoulder. ”I need to use it.”

”Oh. Go ahead.”

The hooded man obediently stood and gave her the chair. Freya sat down with satisfaction and smoothly opened New Folder.

Inside were four folders labeled Not Used Yet, Used Once, Used a Few Times, and Used So Many Times I Lost Count.

She thought for a moment. Things are urgent right now. There is no time to explore.

She chose the fourth folder instead and opened a video titled Mischievous Male Apprentice Punished. A Seductive Female Professor Skilled in Mental Hypnosis. Dragging the progress bar straight to the most intense part, she was instantly intoxicated again by the soft, pleasant sounds of sobbing.

Just as she was about to lose control, a sharp sense of wrongness washed over her.

Why... why is the chair warm?It is as if someone had just been sitting here.

Freya snapped her head around and locked eyes with Ashe, seated on the edge of the bed. He held a book up to hide his face but peeked over it. Ashe quickly looked away, but it didn’t stop Freya from coming fully back to her senses.

She became clear-headed. With a thoughtful expression, she raised a finger and pointed at Ashe. ”Ah... are you Fish-Slaying Dragon?”

”No.”

”Then... Jade Flame Dragon?”

”No.”

Freya drew a blank. ”Then which mud cafe do you work for? I don’t remember calling for a house service tonight.”

In truth, house calls were expensive. She had spent a lot recently and simply could not afford one.

”I’m not a mud worker.”

”If you’re not a mud worker, then why are you in my house... wait, I saw you as soon as I got back. Even if you were providing a service, you shouldn’t have had my key!”

Freya recoiled toward the balcony door in shock. ”Are you a thief?”

”No. I am the incarnation of the Blood Moon Lord. I was plotted against by my enemies and forced to remain in this world in this form. Let me stay here for a few nights, and once I recover my status, I will promote you to a Four-Winged Legendary Sorcerer. How does that sound?”

Freya rushed forward and grabbed Ashe’s left hand, her eyes brimming with hope. ”Really? A real Four-Winged sorcerer?”

Dazzled by her enthusiasm, Ashe turned his gaze aside. ”Of course not.”

”Huh?”

”Ever heard of equivalent exchange? Staying a few nights in return for becoming a Four-Winged Legendary Sorcerer? That kind of deal doesn’t exist.”

Seeing Freya’s displeased expression and complete lack of willingness to assist, Ashe quickly added, ”But I can give you a spirit as payment. How does that sound?”

”What class?”

”What sorcery class do you want?”

”The Mind Class!”

”That works.”

Ashe spread his palm, revealing a curled-up caterpillar spirit. It looked like a caterpillar, but was far from disgusting and even inspired genuine affection.

To prepare suitable rewards, Ashe had not immediately converted the spirits he obtained during his last Virtual World exploration into recharge points. He had stored them in his soul, and now they proved useful.

Freya recognized it immediately. ”A Sympathy spirit!”

It was a common Mind Class spirit, but she had not summoned one yet. ”Deal! I’ll take it!”

She reached out, but Ashe pulled back. ”I’ll give it to you when I leave.”

”How do I know you won’t back out?”

Ashe was prepared. He pulled a faintly glowing white sheet of paper from his chest. ”We can sign a contract. This is Miracle-grade contract paper made by an insurance specialist.”

He had asked Iger to make it. As an insurance specialist, Iger naturally had the ability to create contract paper of this grade. He had hesitated at first, given his and Ashe’s complicated relationship, but Ashe justified it with the excuse that he might need to sign temporary contracts during a prison break. Perhaps Iger couldn’t refuse a request that could aid an escape, or he simply grew tired of Ashe’s persistence. Either way, he relented and let Ashe freeload several times.

Freya blinked. ”Okay... then...”

Without delay, Ashe drafted the contract. The terms were simple. He could stay in Freya’s home for the next few days and use household tools, while she could not reveal his existence in any way. In return, he had to hand over the Sympathy spirit before leaving.

She pressed her arms inward, forming a pronounced cleavage with her ample chest. Caught off guard, Ashe nearly wrote his name as Big White Soft instead.

”How did you know my name is Freya Hoyle?”

”Your notebook has your name on it.”

”So the Blood Moon Lord is called Ashe Heath?”

”Do you have a problem with that?”

”No, no.”

Once the contract was complete, Ashe signed first and handed the pen to Freya. She paused for a moment, seemingly thinking it over. Cold sweat broke out on Ashe’s back, but she soon signed her name.

The contract activated. An invisible shackle connected Ashe and Freya. Ashe quietly exhaled in relief. He now had a temporary place to stay and could use Freya’s Knowledge Screen to browse the Curtain and gather information, giving him time to plan his side tasks.

Fortunately, he had found a college student who was not particularly sharp. He had prepared to leave immediately if he couldn’t freeload using Watcher’s Countenance. At worst, he would have slept under bridges for a few days. It would have just been far less convenient for investigating Professor Syrin.

Did this world really not have scam messages?Has this college girl really not seen anything like, ”I am the Blood Moon Lord. Send me money?”

Just then, Freya asked, ”You’re actually the leader of the Four Pillars Cult, Ashe Heath, aren’t you?”

She hugged Little String and tilted her head. ”I voted for you once during the Blood Moon Tribunal.”

1. In the context of this novel, ”mud worker” essentially refers to male escorts. ☜

2. Yes, dude literally named himself after a fish-dragon in the Virtual World. ☜

3. I assume you all understand what she means. Sorry, kids. ☜