NOVEL NEXT Chapter 219: The Woman
Do we know each other?
Sonya blinked and leaned in for a closer look, but quickly pulled back, “You introduce it, I’m too pure to understand.”
The recording mode of the Sorcerer Handbook is a mission log, which shows that its owner must be an organized sorcerer who likes to set small goals and is very good at striving. Every major event in their life is recorded as a mission, complete with summaries and reflections—an exemplary worker indeed.
Let’s call them the ‘Mission Sorcerer’.
“Mission Name: ‘Seed of Cataclysm Campaign’, Importance: ★★★★★”
“Mission Objective: To become the Seed of Cataclysm”
“Mission Restriction: Only temple sorcerers who become Two Wings within three years are eligible.”
“Mission Reward: Becoming the Seed of Cataclysm and earning the chance to enter the Spiral of Silence. Note, without exception, every Seed of Cataclysm emerging from the Spiral of Silence has become a Tri-wings and ascended to the upper echelons of the Temple.”
“Mission Failure: Loss of the opportunity to become the Seed of Cataclysm. Barring any accidents, the highest future position can only be that of Assistant Priest at the Temple.”
“There are two other candidates with the same qualifications as me: that woman and Frank. Frank is older and more experienced, beloved by the followers, making him the strongest contender; the woman is too young, but she exposed her boyfriend for hoarding spoils of war, proving her loyalty to the cause of cataclysm, and she ascended to a Two Wings within a year—an opponent not to be underestimated.”
“Frank, the leader of the Silver Flame Knights, increased the raid frequency to garner more votes and successfully captured the dragon-wind Castle, bringing more followers and funds to the Temple. He enjoys immense prestige among the people and the clerics, like the dazzling and intense midday sun in the desert.”
“As for me, the vice-leader of the Discipline Priest Squad, I decided to increase patrol frequency and harshly punish the outlaws in the area to gain recognition from the followers and the high priests.”
Compared to the prominent positions we held, that woman was merely an ordinary nun in the missionary group, powerless and without influence, with nothing but her beauty to speak of. She should have been the first to be eliminated, barring any unexpected developments.
That was until she came to me.
She said someone had reported to her that Frank had engaged in intimate conduct with his team members.
My first reaction was disbelief: All of us Sorcerers in the Temple are trained from a young age to resist the corruption of the Cataclysm. Our spirits are honed to the point of being free from desire, with physical cravings almost nonexistent. Moreover, many of us practice the ways of the Physical Faction, finding basic sustenance in sand and rest in the desert sands, leaving no room for additional desires.
Furthermore, one of the most important Discipline rules in the Temple is that Clerics are forbidden from engaging in any acts that release desires. Once physical desires are ignited, they can burn fiercely, and a fiery heart is the kindling the Cataclysm finds easiest to consume.
Even the love between Clerics must remain contactless and cherished. In contrast, relationships that require intimacy are seen as tainted, disgusting, and corrupt. Therefore, the love between Clerics is the purest, transcending gender, Race, age, and all barriers.
Beasts that follow their bodily desires have no place as guardians against the Cataclysm.
I refuted her with these points, and she did not continue, instead conceding her mistake and apologizing for her suspicions. But after she left, I couldn’t help but wonder, what if there was truth to Frank’s intimate behavior with his team members?
If it was true, then he definitely could not become a Seed of Cataclysm. A Sorcerer whose body cannot uphold the restrictions would not survive in the Spiral of Silence.
With this expectation, I inquired with many about Frank and found an increasing number of doubts. My suspicions, too, began to spread with my inquiries, and soon the whole Temple was abuzz with talk about Frank.
When the Silver Flame Knights returned the next time, Frank confronted me, nearly beating me to death. However, upon investigation, it was confirmed that Frank had indeed engaged in intimate acts with Alancos, a member of his team, and was stripped of his Cleric duties by the Bishop.
“I was confident, almost certain of victory, but on the day of voting, that woman won by a landslide. Aside from a few friends, almost no one voted for me.”
“It was then that I realized the disdain my actions had garnered. My behind-the-scenes slandering of Frank, combined with the public beating I received from him without being able to retaliate, made my reputation plummet.”
“I was like the desert at night, cold to the bone and dark with fear. No Follower was willing to vote for me.”
“In contrast, that woman had been silently working, staying out of arguments and discussions, faithfully fulfilling her duties, and her beauty gradually earned her the admiration of many.”
“The sun is too scorching to tolerate any flaws; the night too dark to invite approach. Only the water of Crescent Spring is sweet and liked by all.”
“I seemed to understand something, but it was already too late.”
“Mission outcome: Failure.”
“Reflection and summary: Don’t trust women, especially beautiful ones.”
Sonya reacted halfway through: “The ‘that woman’ mentioned here, could it be the ‘her’ referred to in ‘that Sorcerer Handbook’ we came across earlier?”
Although Sonya’s comment was abrupt, Ashe understood.
He gave Deya a brief explanation of the background—the reason Ashe and his companion remembered this character was because the Whirlpool Secret Poison came from “that Sorcerer Handbook,” which had left a deep impression on them. After all, the Whirlpool Secret Poison was a turning point in their Exploration in Virtual Realm, much like a new energy fund climbing steadily.
In that handbook, the owner had finally made an eternal Contract with ‘her,’ entrusting her with the maze toy that contained information on the Whirlpool Secret Poison.
But as soon as ‘she’ used the Whirlpool Secret Poison for her Promotion to the rank of Two Wings, ‘she’ immediately betrayed the owner of the handbook to the Temple in exchange for wealth and honor.
And the owner of the handbook never betrayed ‘her’ until the end, a deep affection wasted like water flowing away.
“It’s very likely. Becoming a Two Wings Sorcerer within a year, reporting a boyfriend for hoarding spoils of war, and the Temple of Cataclysmic Fire… all the details match.”
Ashe crossed his arms and furrowed his brows: “The other Handbook is understandable since the entire text refers to either ‘I’ or ‘her’, with no real need to record names specifically. But why does the Mission Sorcerer in this Handbook not record her name and instead use ‘that woman’ to refer to her? After all, Frank is mentioned by name directly.”