Sorcerer’s Handbook

A man dressed in a dark red trench coat sat on a luxurious red leather armchair. He crossed one leg over the other, leaning his left hand against his cheek. With a mask on his face, his unkempt bangs fell lazily around him as he gazed out the window at the underground city, his eyes slightly squinted as if he were smiling.

Annan’s brush moved swiftly, and before long, the painting was already taking shape. However, she frowned slightly. “Don’t move.”

“I can’t hold the same pose for too long,” Ashe complained. “I’ve never worked as a model before.”

“But I can’t draw if you keep moving,” Annan said. “I have a good idea-Ashe, don’t move!”

Ashe’s body instantly froze. Annan, satisfied, continued painting and laughed, “It’s a pity the world outside isn’t burning; it would perfectly match the future first place on the Art Ranking.”

“You’re not as mature as you are in the Art Ranking,” Ashe said. “But I’m pretty much the same across the different rankings.”

“No way. You’re more wickedly charming in the Art Ranking, more arrogant and boisterous in the Family Ranking, and more like yourself in the Ranking of Schemes. Overall, the ‘you’ in the first three rankings gets closer to the real you, but starting with the Happiness Ranking, things get weird. In the Evil Arts Ranking, you even seem righteous.”

“Now that you mention it, it’s weird. I appear in all these rankings, but I don’t get any place.”

“Aren’t you ranked with me? Though as part of my work… Come to think of it, we weren’t very familiar with each other back then. Why did the Gospel weave a future where I’d be painting you?”

“It means the Gospel knew you were already captivated by my good looks…”

“Are you sure you want to say that to someone on the Azura Beauty Ranking? I’m suddenly tempted to paint a nude portrait to confirm your looks.”

“Sorry, I was being too cocky. Please forgive me.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Ashe couldn’t resist asking, “I’m really curious, when did you start liking me? Never mind, don’t answer that. If you can’t recall, it’ll be pretty embarrassing for me…”

Annan said nonchalantly, “From the beginning, back in the Underground Hall.”

Ashe was shocked. “Σ(っ°Д°;)っ What? Was it really love at first sight?”

“Of course not, I was just curious about you and started paying attention to you,” Annan laughed. “When I saw Igor and Harvey waiting for your decision, when I saw you were willing to accept Lise, when I heard you say in the locker room that you would wait until the 101 days were over before deciding whether to take revenge on me—”

“You actually installed a listening device in the locker room!”

“My home doesn’t count as eavesdropping,” Annan snorted. “And when I saw you taking the pain yourself rather than following my orders to target someone else, when I saw you comforting Lise even while on the run, when I saw you standing up for me in front of Qenna, when I saw you injure your own hand to save Lise, when I saw you hoping Igor would find happiness…”

“And when I saw you slow down near water puddles while riding a motorcycle, when I saw you think about Banjeet’s safety. All these things accumulated bit by bit, forming my good impression of you.”

“You have a great memory! I’ve forgotten half of that stuff,” Ashe said. “But I feel like you might have idealized me in your memory—”

“Of course I have,” Annan laughed. “Now, I think even your eyebrows are cute. How could I not idealize you? Alright, the painting is done.”

Annan turned the drawing board toward Ashe. Unlike the first place on the Art Ranking, it was a simple sketch. The background was left blank, and the painting technique was far less refined and grand than what the Art Ranking portrayed. The character didn’t appear as wickedly charming.

But the person in the drawing had vivid eyebrows and eyes, with soft features full of flowing love. It didn’t look like a mere painting; it looked like a confession of love.

Ashe sighed softly. “Annan, I—”

“You know, unless it’s work-related, I never ask about the Gospel,” Annan said, sitting on his lap and summoning her Gospel Book. “But tonight, I’ll make an exception.”

“Gospel, who is the most suitable lover for me?”

Annan showed Ashe the opened Gospel Book. The name “Ashe Heath” glowed faintly in lavender light on the white page. “See?”

Annan’s words felt like a necromantic miracle, draining all the vitality out of Ashe. The carefully chosen words in his mind now felt unbearably heavy. The more she acted this way, the more uncomfortable Ashe felt. He struggled to speak, “Annan, can you give me some time to think—”

“No.”

Suddenly, Annan wrapped her arms around his neck, pulled off his mask, and kissed him, pressing her lips against his. The warm sensation spread from his lips to his mind, and his vision was filled with her intensely possessive eyes.

Huh?

Huhhh??

Huhhhhh???

Ashe wanted to move, but the problem was he’d been instructed by Annan earlier not to move, and he couldn’t defy the pact’s restrictions! The only parts he could move were his teeth and tongue. Was he supposed to bite back—

Tch.

Ashe felt the delicate, fragrant little tongue awkwardly trying to pry open his teeth, like a piece of jelly trying to jump in on its own. Seeing the stubborn determination in Annan’s eyes, something inside him softened. His solid barrier cracked just a bit, and the enemy forces poured in, leaving the defenders helpless. The two forces intertwined, sweat mingling, and then the enemy even managed to pull the defending forces out of their barrier and devour them entirely within their territory.

Earlier, Ashe had thought Annan was nothing like Qenna, but now he was utterly convinced they were absolutely mother and daughter!

Both were just as forceful and domineering!

After a long while, their lips parted, breaths low and warm, as if they were exchanging heartfelt secrets. Just as his pounding heart began to calm down, Ashe heard Annan whisper softly in his ear, “Meet my desires.”

“Hold me.”

“Play with me.”

Suddenly, their Gospel Books popped out, and Ashe realized he had somehow rolled onto the bed. Annan glanced at the glowing Gospel Book and said, “The Gospel’s weaving speed has increased… but the Gospel Ranking can be checked anytime. Right now, you should only look at me.”

“Weave me.”

A boss at work, a slave master in the pact, making such unreasonable demands—Ashe felt like he was reaching his limit!

Bam! Bam! Bam!

“Dad! Dad! I know you’re in there, come out!”

Annan and Ashe exchanged glances. The Purple Moth pushed him off, sat up, and straightened her robe. Then she grabbed the baffled cult leader and led him to the door, pushing him out to Lise. She hooked her arm around his neck and whispered in his ear:

“We’re done for tonight. We’ll continue this after the Weaving Festival.” Annan’s warm breath caressed Ashe’s earlobe. “This is the future I’m weaving.”

“But—”

“No buts. Remember, your pact ends on August 15th. At the current pace, we need to act by the 20th at the latest. So, after the Weaving Festival, I’ll still have at least 55 days to deal with you. By then, we might even have a child.”

“I’m a relentless head of the firm. You don’t think I was asking for your permission earlier, do you? Silly boy.”

Annan placed a quick peck on Ashe’s cheek and then waved him off. “Good night.”

Once the door was shut, Annan dove onto the bed. After a moment of stillness, she began to roll around, her hands holding her face, which felt as if it were on fire. Her heart pounded, and her breaths came in uneven spurts.

“The future is the greatest hope…”

She turned to look at the newly painted portrait, tilting her head and studying it for a while. A small smile played on her lips, and the anxiety knitting her brows gradually eased. Her fear of death finally abated a little.

“The first half of my life might be ending,” she whispered, “but now I look forward to the second half starting soon.”

Outside, Ashe and Lise stood staring at each other, wide-eyed.

After a moment of contemplation, Lise turned and began walking away. Ashe called out, “Where are you going?”

“To find Aunt Bukin.”

“Why?”

“To discuss Annan becoming my stepmom.”

“Why would you discuss that with him?”

Ashe pulled Lise back, crouching down sheepishly. “How did you know I was here?”

“Because Aunt Annan sent me a message just now,” Lise replied with a blank expression.

Ashe was momentarily stunned before realizing Annan’s cunning plan!

Damn, she used a honey trap on him, leveraging the future after the Weaving Festival to spur him to work even harder on the mission! But it was an open conspiracy. Even though Ashe understood the setup, he couldn’t help but be a little swayed—actually more than a little, but he only allowed himself to admit to being a little swayed.

Poor Ashe, played like a pawn in the hands of a crafty woman.