Sorcerer's Handbook-Chapter 608: You Are Not Allowed to Fall in Love

Is even the Virtual Realm helping him?

Sonya gazed at the empty laboratory, taking a deep breath to calm the ripples in her heart.

Before entering the Virtual Realm, she had already prepared for the worst.

Although logically, the Observer should choose her no matter what, Sonya had sensed the Observer’s psychological flaws as early as in the Sea of Knowledge.

“…Feeling as light as a balloon, yet tethered to the ground by a single thread.”

He never felt a sense of belonging to this world.

His reckless pursuit of adventure, his indifference to his own circumstances, and his yearning for affection all stemmed from his flaws.

Sonya was the luckiest because she appeared during Ashe’s loneliest time, becoming the person he needed most, the one who tethered his balloon; but she wasn’t lucky enough because she wasn’t by Ashe’s side.

Not only did she want to feel Ashe’s warmth, Ashe also yearned for her comfort.

The survival instinct Ashe exhibited when facing danger was largely driven by his attachment to the Sword Princess. Even the mere prospect of meeting in the Virtual Realm tonight was enough reason for Ashe to keep living.

But ultimately, she wasn’t the home Ashe could reach out and touch.

Sonya was confident that if she could meet the Observer in reality, she could definitely tame him completely, and if he dared to glance at another woman, it would mean Sonya had lost.

But the problem was, there was a distance between their Kingdoms.

Sonya’s life was indeed more than just love; she had her mother, her career, her aspirations, and even her country.

But Ashe had none of these things; he had nothing at all.

He hadn’t stayed in one place for more than a month; he didn’t even have a ‘home’ in the physical sense.

If Sonya couldn’t give him what he yearned for, even if he wouldn’t actively seek it, how could he possibly refuse someone else’s genuine affection?

Sonya knew he was trying to find a way to the Stars Kingdom, and she herself was looking for a way to Senlo. But the journey between Kingdoms was inherently difficult, and even if they became legends and found a way to meet, by then, Ashe might have already been consumed by the bad women in reality.

The village girl had always thought she could endure until the day she met Ashe, which was why she tentatively shared Ashe with the Witch.

Because she knew she had to maintain the team’s atmosphere, because she didn’t want to trouble Ashe.

Wasn’t it just sharing a paramour? Sonya initially wanted to marry into a wealthy family and had long been prepared for her partner to have dozens of lovers; could she not tolerate even one Witch?

She really couldn’t.

When you truly like someone, you wish their eyes were filled only with you.

And it wasn’t just the Witch; actually, the Observer had been acting a bit unusual these past few days. Even though he hadn’t said anything, Sonya could sense his remorse.

Sometimes she hated herself for being such a sensitive person.

But even these things she didn’t know, things that hadn’t happened before her eyes, could make her heart ache for a long time. It was at this time that Sonya began to revisit Delarose’s TV dramas seeking answers.

Because she knew she couldn’t continue like this.

Her dignity wouldn’t allow her to be dragged into the mire by emotional entanglements, wasting time and energy on something that would only bring her more pain.

When watching TV dramas, one of the character types she hated most was those who were hurt by the person they liked but still clung on, hoping the other would regret and return, viewing their own pain as a noble sacrifice, seeing their broken relationship as great love… The funniest part was that some TV dramas even glorified such relationships, as if they were truly some kind of passionate romance.

However, when Sonya watched, she only thought the people inside were foolish, the people inside were weak.

So when it was her turn, she absolutely wouldn’t be the female protagonist in a bitter romance.

For this reason, she deliberately watched many of Delarose’s TV dramas, using Delarose’s image to inspire herself. The independence and confidence of the female lead in “The Last Night of the Abyss,” the kindness and determination of the female lead in “Dragon Tiger Phoenix,” the resolute pride of the female lead in “Inverted World”… These were the female protagonists she aspired to be.

So…

Sonya gently stroked the sword hilt, murmuring, “You can cry under the covers, you can drink, you can even try smoking… But you mustn’t feel undue sympathy for him.”

She took a deep breath, and at that moment, the laboratory door was pushed open, and the ‘Witch’ walked in.

The ‘Witch’ immediately displayed her Colorful Collection, seeing Sonya’s lack of reaction, she smiled bitterly, “Whether I’m real or not, do you want to kill me?”

Sonya shook her head, “I just don’t think a curse affix would have such an obvious flaw; a fake would definitely replicate the collection.”

“And a fake would pretend to be real, saying things the real person wouldn’t say, even saying things the fake person would say. Sometimes, encountering a fake isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”

“You’re right,” the ‘Witch’ nodded, saying, “Whether you’re real or fake, I want to tell you… I’ve given up.”

Sonya: “Oh?”

“I just like him, I never thought of hurting him,” the ‘Witch’ slowly walked over, saying, “I originally thought you would tolerate me, thought he would enjoy the sweet trouble of being liked by two beautiful girls… I never thought he would be pained by it.”

“And I know, the most important person in his heart is you.”

“Since he can’t make a choice, let me do it.” The ‘Witch’ showed a relieved expression, “If you were to leave, he would continue to be pained because of you; if I were to leave… You would surely make him stop worrying about me.”

Sonya was slightly lost in thought.

If the Witch voluntarily left, could she continue to persist? Perhaps she could, after all, there weren’t any close females around Ashe in reality, and incidents like Annan and Silver Lantern wouldn’t happen often.

As long as the Virtual Realm remained their wonderland, as long as the Observer’s eyes were only for the Sword Princess…

She was silent for a moment, then asked, “Will you still fall in love in the future, Witch?”

“Probably?” The ‘Witch’ said with feigned lightness, “Surely I won’t be betrayed every time I give my heart?”

Clang!

Even though the ‘Witch’ immediately raised her Sanctuary to unleash an Explosive Miracle, her head still separated from her body. Sonya put away “The Invisible Hand’s Secret Blade,” leaving the laboratory expressionless.

“Although I don’t know why the Witch would like the Observer…” she said, “But whether it’s a wholehearted love, I can still tell.”

“How could the Witch possibly give up?”

After discerning a fake ‘Vesser’ through conversation, Sonya walked to a new laboratory, opened the door, and saw a contemplative ‘Ashe.’

Without hesitation, she drew her sword and approached him.

‘Ashe’ seemed to realize something, smiled bitterly, “I’m sorry.”

“You have to be as sad as I am for it to count as an apology.”

Sonya withdrew the Invisible Hand, stepping over the ‘Ashe’ who had been cut into Phantoms without even glancing at him.

“He knows I hate verbal apologies the most,” the Red-Haired Sword Princess said softly, “Apologies composed only of words are merely weapons to force forgiveness.”

Moments later, before Sonya could leave the laboratory, she saw ‘Ashe’ push the door open.

“Show the collection I equipped you with!” ‘Ashe’ immediately said.

Sonya thought for a moment, then displayed her “Ice Crystal Shoes,” though ‘Ashe’ didn’t seem entirely reassured, he still said, “Alright, now it’s your turn to verify me.”

“Even if you’re fake,” Sonya asked, “What would you say to deceive me?”

‘Ashe’ seemed a bit puzzled, a bit helpless, he sighed softly, “Alright, whether you’re real or fake, I want to tell you…”

“Let me go,” he said, “You’ll find someone better than me.”

Sonya shook her head, smiling as she swung “The Invisible Hand’s Secret Blade.”

“But I’ll never be this good to anyone again.”

She stepped over the phantom that had turned to foam, whispering softly, “How could he bear to let me go?”

The Stretch Paw Club President passed through several rooms, seeing three more ‘Ashes,’ but she killed them upon sight, not even bothering to ask.

Until she opened a door to enter a laboratory and saw another ‘Ashe’ walk in through another door.

She met his gaze, and without hesitation, he quickly walked over, without raising a Sanctuary, without any defense, directly reaching out to tightly embrace the Red-Haired Sword Princess.

“I thought the curse affix had separated us into different Phantoms, otherwise why couldn’t I find you all,” he released her, smiling sheepishly, “Though I knew with your strength there should be no problem, I still have to ask… You didn’t accidentally kill them, did you?”

Sonya looked at him calmly, her right hand summoning the Invisible Hand, but she ultimately withdrew it, “Hard to say.”

Ashe scratched his head, “So should we go find the Witch and Vesser now? Or…” His face darkened, but his voice remained light, “…continue the conversation we interrupted earlier?”

The Red-Haired Sword Princess looked at him, her hand resting on the sword hilt, asking, “When you rushed over just now, weren’t you afraid I’d accidentally kill you?”

Ashe blinked, “If I said I’d willingly die by your sword, would it sound particularly…?”

“It would,” Sonya nodded, “Even I wouldn’t be so pretentious.”

Ashe tilted his head, thought for a moment, and said, “I actually didn’t think much just now, just when I recognized you, my body moved instinctively, and by the time I realized it, I was already hugging you. If I had to say…”

“Just like I can recognize the true Sword Princess,” he said, “You can surely recognize the true Observer.”

Sonya stared at him blankly, then shook her head, her face showing a ‘you’re hopeless’ expression. Then she leaned back slightly, her body like a slingshot, suddenly crashing her entire red-haired head into his chest.

“You, oh you…” Sonya buried her head in his chest, her small hands began to gently pound his abdomen, but the Sword Princess’s attack speed grew faster and faster, until later her hands had become a blur, shaking Ashe’s very soul.

Ashe dared not raise a Sanctuary now, only smiling bitterly as he took the beating. He had to be grateful this was the Virtual Realm, where the soul felt no pain; if it were reality, his duodenum and twenty-four ribs would have shattered.

After Sonya finished venting, she lifted her head to hug Ashe’s neck, saying, “Promise me three things.”

“Mm, I’m listening.”

“Can’t you promise first?” The Stretch Paw Club President complained, “Normal people would be eager to promise here, right?”

Ashe blinked, “I have psychological issues, with proof from a mental sorcerer.”

Sonya sighed helplessly, saying, “First thing, before you come to the Stars Kingdom to see me, you mustn’t stop, mustn’t settle down, you must constantly seek a way to the Stars!”

Ashe nodded, “Alright, I was planning to do that anyway.”

Sonya raised an eyebrow, “So you were eyeing me early on, huh?”

Seeing Ashe blush and unable to answer such a question, Sonya finally felt she had regained the upper hand. That’s right, she was the legendary sorcerer of the love Sect!

“Second thing,” she said, “Before you come to the Stars to see me-“

“You are not allowed to fall in love.”