The Sorcerer's Handbook

Chapter 148: Professor Syrin and the Expiration Date

"If I offered you ten times your current mana, but the price was being hunted forever by an immortal snail, would you accept? Raise your hand if you would."

The strange question instantly turned the classroom into a sea of laughter.

An elf student in the front row laughed so hard he could not hold it back and raised his hand. "Professor, shouldn't you be asking who wouldn't accept?"

At the lectern stood an exceptionally elegant elf professor. Long black hair fell to his shoulders, framing a lean face and a pair of emerald-blue eyes that gleamed like sapphires. His lips were thin and glossy, his figure tall and pale. A dark gray trench coat draped neatly over his frame, and white gloves covered both hands.

He smiled faintly at the student's response. "Then what if it were eight times the mana, and the pursuer became a red wolf? Mm. It seems most of you are not particularly afraid of the most common predator in the natural forests."

He continued without pause. "And what if it were five times the mana, with the pursuer replaced by a Baby Fish-Slaying Dragon?"

This time, hesitation spread through the hall.

A Baby Fish-Slaying Dragon was infamous as a Silver Rank killer. Sorcerers had a saying about it that went, "Sorcerers lose their innocence at the Sea of Knowledge the first time, out of inexperience, and their second comes from getting thoroughly acquainted with the fast and fierce Baby Fish-Slaying Dragon."

Because the joke carried implications offensive to both men and women, it was rarely mentioned in public. The only place such an innuendo still circulated was somewhere hidden in the Curtain.

Even so, most students still raised their hands.

The elf professor nodded. "Then what if it were three times the mana, and the pursuer were a standard Bloodrage Hunter?"

This time, half the hands dropped.

Bloodrage Hunters were divided into apprentices, full hunters, and captains, corresponding to one wing, two wings, and three wings. A standard Bloodrage Hunter was almost always a Two-Winged combat-type sorcerer. Becoming one required brutal trials and relentless training. An ordinary Two-Winged production-type sorcerer stood little chance against them.

The professor's voice remained calm. "Finally, what if the reward were only a single additional doubling of mana, but you would be hunted forever by a Titan Executioner-class Virtual World creature?"

Every hand fell.

An irritated student blurted out, "Professor, if I said yes, would you actually give it to me?"

"Of course not," the elf professor replied with a smile. "I'm not that generous. But the Virtual World is."

He continued, his tone steady. "The reward is a doubling of mana, while the price is eternal pursuit by an immortal and powerful Virtual World creature. To the Virtual World, boons like this are extremely common. As long as you are willing to pray, it truly will grant your wish.

"I assume all of you have signed academic loan contracts. Both parties pray to the Virtual World as a notary, allowing it to supervise enforcement. Whoever violates the agreement suffers punishment from the Virtual World. This, in fact, is the most common form of a boon."

A student raised a hand. "But almost anyone can sign contracts for almost anything. Is the Virtual World really that accommodating?"

The elf professor chuckled. "Of course it is. You are the ones bound by the contract. You are the ones who pay the price if it is breached. Throughout the process, you gain nothing extra and must continue giving. The Virtual World has always been generous toward boons that harm others without benefiting oneself. This also has much to do with the long development of the insurance industry. I hear contracts were far more difficult to sign in the distant past.

"But if you dare ask the Virtual World for a boon that benefits you, it reveals a face more ferocious than a bank, with fangs greedier than loan sharks. Toward any sorcerer seeking shortcuts, the Virtual World delivers its harshest trials."

He continued, his tone steady. "The reward is a doubling of mana, but the price is eternal pursuit by an immortal and powerful Virtual World creature. To the Virtual World, boons like this are extremely common. As long as you are willing to pray, it will truly grant your wish."

"To pray for boons, and to adjust boons. That is the power of the Ritual Class."

His gaze swept across the hall. "Turning a onefold reward into tenfold, and reducing the pursuer from a Titan Executioner to a snail, is not the delusion of fools. Such miracles truly exist.

"Of course, praying for boons is not as simple as shouting a few words into the Virtual World and expecting an immediate response. Even operators at the Heresy Court cannot promise that. In reality, boon rituals are extremely complex. They require spirits as catalysts and test a sorcerer's mastery across multiple sorcery classes. It is a path with many prerequisites."

In the back row, Adela rested her chin in her hands, eyes fixed on the elf at the lectern. "Professor Syrin is really handsome..."

Freya looked at her in surprise. "Huh? I thought you'd say something like, 'Is there a boon that improves gambling luck, with the trial being loss of fertility at most?'"

Adela puffed up angrily. "How could I? I listen seriously every time Professor Syrin teaches. Though... I wouldn't mind that kind of boon either!"

The lecture hall was packed. The aisles were full, and even the windows were crowded with people clinging outside. Everyone had come specifically for Professor Syrin's lecture. He was one of the most popular professors at Caimon General University. His scholarly works, appearance, and teaching ability were all top-tier. Unfortunately, his duties as a councilor and other obligations had forced him to stop serving as a resident professor years ago. He now returned only for occasional guest lectures.

There was another reason for his popularity. His lectures were free. No tuition fee was required, and anyone could attend. A free lecture from a Two-Winged sorcerer was something only a fool would miss.

If Adela had not helped Freya reserve a seat, she would be listening from a window as well.

Syrin continued, "Sorcerers capable of significantly prying open the power of the Virtual World are exceedingly rare. For example, the one-to-tenfold adjustment I mentioned earlier would likely require even a Four-Winged Legendary sorcerer to exert their full strength. As a result, most ritualists prefer pairing boons through conflict rather than adjustment.

"Suppose I possess two boons. The first costs me the ability to taste food forever, while the second causes me to taste the flavor of everything within my line of sight. What do you think would happen?"

Students exchanged glances. Adela stood. "Both costs would activate. But when eating, the sorcerer could taste the food by looking at it. In other words, the second cost partially suppresses the first."

Syrin nodded approvingly. "Correct. That is the essence of conflict. By exploiting contradictions between costs, one can reduce their negative impact. Of course, not all boons can achieve such elegant synergy. More commonly, ritualists stack multiple costs that affect the same target.

"For instance, if one boon blinds me, and another turns the world within my sight into a sea of flesh and gore, then after praying for both, I still lose my vision. However, I no longer suffer the second cost. In effect, I gain an advantage over the Virtual World."

A student asked, "If I had ten boons, all with costs related to my eyes, would I only need to sacrifice my eyes once to gain ten benefits?"

Syrin smiled. "Exactly. Through careful combinations, ritualists can extract the greatest benefit from the Virtual World at the smallest possible cost."

Another student frowned. "If the Ritual Class is so powerful, why has it declined?"

Syrin replied, "There are two reasons for that. Firstly, the entry threshold is too high. One must master multiple classes up to the Silver Rank to perform rituals. In other words, the minimum requirement is a Two-Winged Gold sorcerer.

"Classes with such thresholds are difficult to pass down. Once a lineage breaks, it disappears into history until a sorcerer rediscovers the knowledge within the Virtual World and refines it, allowing these remnants of the past to shine again."

He paused before continuing. "The second reason is that the Ritual Class is far too dangerous."

A student laughed. "Which class isn't dangerous? Even water sorcery, known for healing, can kill someone without leaving a trace."

Syrin shook his head. "As I said, the Virtual World is stingy when granting benefits, but extremely permissive toward acts that harm oneself without personal gain. In certain forbidden rituals, a Two-Winged Gold sorcerer can sacrifice themselves to pray for a destructive storm comparable to a Four-Winged sorcerer's full-power strike.

"We sorcerers may be greedy, reckless, or unscrupulous, but no matter what, we must live. We must cherish life. The Ritual Class runs counter to this principle. Many boons cause lasting physical or mental damage, pushing sorcerers toward extremism, violence, and disregard for life. Unsurprisingly, it fails to spread.

"Knowledge of ritualism within the Virtual World cannot be stopped. But in reality, any sensible sorcerer will ban its circulation. This is not only for social stability, but because the Ritual Class so easily creates mad sorcerers. Outside of chaotic and evil organizations, it benefits no stable group."

He concluded, "The purpose of this lecture is to warn you of the dangers of the Ritual Class. If you encounter such inheritances in the Virtual World in the future, do not let greed cloud your judgment. Use this knowledge with extreme caution."

At that moment, a masked student raised a hand. "Then, is it possible that members of the Four Pillars Cult possessed Ritualist knowledge? Could they have been responsible for the disasters of the past?"

Syrin's expression turned cold. "The Heresy Court has completely eradicated the Four Pillars Cult. Every member, including its leaders, has been captured. Your premise is flawed. You should read the news more often."

He added, "And why are you wearing a mask in class? Remove it."

All eyes turned. The student wore a crow mask identical to those used by medical practitioners, as if he were role-playing. Freya noticed it too and suddenly remembered that Ashe had once worn a similar mask.

Could it be...

The student removed the mask, revealing an apologetic face. "Sorry, Professor. I just really like this mask."

Syrin stared at him. He raised his gloved right hand and covered one eye. After a moment, he lowered it. "Do not wear masks in class. It distracts me."

Laughter filled the hall.

Freya, however, noticed something else. She saw someone with a backpack, a hood, and a face covering quietly making his way out. He slipped through the crowd without drawing attention. No one except Freya seemed to notice him. She could not see his face clearly, but from his build and clothing, she was certain that it was Ashe.

Why is he here?

***

After class, Freya returned to the apartment. The moment she opened the door, a wave of fragrance greeted her.

"Welcome back. Dinner's just ready."

"I'm home."

Once Ashe finished setting the dishes on the table, Freya could no longer hold back. "Did you go to Professor Syrin's class this afternoon?"

"Yeah. You noticed?"

"Why did you suddenly go to a lecture?"

"Well, there were two reasons."

Ashe lifted Little String, who was busy eating its cat food. "The first reason was to take Little String to the university medical wing for treatment."

Freya froze. "Is Little String sick?"

"Mmhmm. Congenital cartilage disease. I saw it sitting on the floor this afternoon, looking listless, and figured it must be uncomfortable. I took it to see a medical practitioner. They said that to keep it from suffering, it would need treatment roughly once a month."

Freya gathered the folded-ear cat into her arms, her voice soft with guilt. "I'm sorry, Little String. I didn't know... Thank you."

"That's a relief," Ashe said. "I was worried you might blame me."

"Why would I blame you?"

"If it had never been treated, Little String wouldn't know that pain can be relieved, or that being healthy feels so good. From now on, it might have a harder time enduring discomfort, and you'll need to bring it in every month."

Ashe scrolled through a video while eating. "I was afraid you'd think I was creating trouble for you."

"What trouble?"

"Taking Little String to the doctor every month. Isn't that troublesome?"

Freya shook her head. "Of course not! How could I find that troublesome? It never should have had to endure that pain in the first place. You're the one who rescued it. I should be thanking you."

Ashe glanced at her. "That's good, then. Honestly, I was a little surprised. You don't accept any intimate relationships, yet you're willing to give yourself completely and selflessly to a cat."

Freya muttered, "That's different. People aren't as cute as cats. And Little String won't leave me. It's a friend without an expiration date."

Ashe raised an eyebrow. "You think about a friend's expiration date when you meet them?"

"Of course," Freya replied matter-of-factly. "If the expiration date is only a few hours, like with a mud worker, I just need to be polite and act like a sweet veela for a little while. If it's a week to a few months, we can meet during holidays and chat about hobbies every now and then. If it's several years, we will need to talk about political views early and quickly judge whether the person is worth a deeper connection. If there's a fundamental clash in values, we draw a clear line immediately and interact only for work."

"Then what conditions would someone need to meet for you to consider their expiration date a lifetime?"

Freya paused. She lowered her head and thought for a long moment. Then, hesitantly, she lifted Little String's paw and squeezed its soft pads. "At the very least, they'd have to be as cute as Little String."

Held too tightly, Little String struggled for air and pushed her away with obvious disgust. Freya set it down and asked, "Taking Little String to the doctor was the first reason. What was the second?"

"I happened to pass by the campus, so I took a look at how you attend class," Ashe said casually. "Oh? Guess It's My Fault for Saying I Like Married Women has its first episode out already. Let's watch that."

"I kind of wanted to keep watching tea cafe reviews," Freya said, poking at the Redflame Lala Fat Fish Roe with her fork. "What's so interesting about class?"

"Nothing," Ashe replied, twirling noodles around his fork. "That's why I left after one look."

"So weird," Freya muttered.

She kept her eyes on the Knowledge Curtain while eating large bites of rice. Yet her attention wasn't on the food or the video. That strange feeling in her chest kept growing stronger, and, for some reason, it even felt a little... pleasant. Come to think of it, the expiration date of that cult leader is...

She forced herself to stop thinking about it.