The Sorcerer's Handbook

Chapter 165: Top-Priority Protected Prisoner

Since he couldn't avoid the four treacherous dragons, Ashe decided not to dodge them. Instead, he began plotting how to turn the situation to his advantage.

He wasn't wrong. The foreign land invasion operation was indeed the best chance he'd had to escape recently, but he wasn't anxious. After all, the Virtual World had already guaranteed his success. It was like a professor assuring a student before an exam that they would pass. Even if they skipped a few questions, they could still pass thanks to their overall score.

Ashe had expected his status to skyrocket, rising from a one-time taunt minion to a top-priority protected prisoner. For Iger and the others, sticking close to him now would guarantee a smooth escape from the Blood Moon. Logically, they should be so eager to protect him that the idea of using him as expendable would never again cross their minds. But reality proved him wrong.

Ronna said calmly, "You don't actually think whatever the Destiny Quiz predicts will definitely happen, do you? The only absolute in the Destiny Class is that destiny itself isn't absolute."

Ronald shrugged. "Besides, you can't even prove you experienced the Destiny Quiz. Even if you're willing to stake your integrity, a cult leader doesn't exactly have much integrity to gamble with, does he?"

Harvey added, "Even if the Destiny Quiz is real and you do escape the Blood Moon, that doesn't mean you have to survive. Even if you end up dead, I can still take you out of there."

Iger delivered the killer point. "Compared to taking you out alive, wouldn't it be far more efficient to kill you, divide you into four boxes, and use them as protective charms?"

Deflated, Ashe hung his head in frustration. Damn it! They all made perfect sense.

Meanwhile, the four exchanged glances, silently coming to a consensus without Ashe noticing.

Just then, the tent flap suddenly flew open, and a tall beastman sniper stepped inside. "Huh?"

The beastman didn't wear a mask. One of his eyes was mechanical, and his shoulders, arms, knees, and waist were all fitted with external rifle attachments. This was a full sorcerer's firearm setup, which completely abandoned conventional bullets and relied entirely on spirits to fire.

Iger and the others immediately recognized his specialty. He belonged to the Gun Class, specifically the Eight Snipers Style.

In this setup, the beastman and ogre harnessed their natural strength and fused it seamlessly with gun arts to form a heavily armed assault unit equipped with multiple heavy sniper rifles. Spirits were used to aim with precision and channel the recoil through his body, preventing it from throwing him off balance. In frontal combat, the configuration was terrifying, practically unstoppable by any sorcerer below the Three-Winged level.

Surprised by the crowded tent, the beastman sniper quickly scanned the occupants. The pair on the right bench was clearly not to be trifled with. With his Deadshot Tactical Eye Type-7, he picked up a gray, deathly aura radiating from the middle bench, which he also judged best not to engage. On the left bench, he noticed two more figures. One was tall and confident, while the other was small and slumped, looking miserable.

He instantly identified the easiest target and reached for Ashe. "You—"

Ah, which teahouse to visit... I really need to take a dump... Shrimp-flavored Lala Fat is amazing... When will I get rich—

The beastman snapped back to his senses.

He realized he had just been distracted for a full two seconds by a flood of chaotic thoughts, causing him to lose all awareness of both his purpose and the situation.

Then it hit him. A Mind Class attack!

He tried to move, but his legs felt numb, as if they no longer belonged to him. A rotting, deathly aura crept up from his feet to his waist.

A twisted Miracle of the Necromancy Class!

The beastman instinctively unleashed his full firepower, ready for indiscriminate attack, when two steel pellets suddenly shot in from the right, striking his eye and knee. Blinded and forced to his knees, he struggled to stay upright.

Gun Class or Marksman Class?

Forcing his eyes open just a slit, he caught sight of a whip-like leg, sharp as a blade, slicing through the air.

Smack!

Everything happened in an instant. By the time Ashe lifted his head, all he saw was a dark figure flying backward out of the tent, unable even to scream.

He tilted his head in confusion. "What just happened?"

"Nothing," Iger said, patting his shoulder casually. "By the way, I can't help feeling a little guilty. Don't worry, Ashe. You may be practically useless, but we've had our fair share of history. I won't use you as bait. Stick with me, and I'll lead you to victory."

Ashe's eyes brightened little by little, a playful smirk creeping across his lips. "So... that means I'm important, right?"

Iger's expression remained unchanged. "Ashe, I've got to say, it's amazing how confident someone ordinary like you can be."

"If I were truly useless, you'd flatter me, pump up my ego, and then toss me to my death. On the flip side, if I actually have value, you'd try to crush my confidence so I'd serve you willingly."

Ashe pointed at Harvey. "Don't forget, I witnessed the entire process of you recruiting him. He just didn't fall for it."

Harvey raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"Oh, Ashe, you're bold. So... do you like dancing provocatively, or standing on your head while... You know? Damn it! Are you courting death!?"

Ashe ripped off Iger's hood and playfully rubbed his head. "Come on, make a wish! I'll do my best to grant it. Anyone who doesn't make one is just a scared little puppy! Come on!"

"Hahaha! I knew it. Iger, you actually believed me. Instead of facing an uncertain future filled with danger, you'd rather stick with me and help me escape."

"You do realize that once you pass through the portal, you're useless, right? I could order you to wait there for forty-eight hours and then return to the Blood Moon."

Ashe froze, then obediently sat up straight like a good kid. "Sorry... I was too arrogant."

Iger adjusted his hood and hair. Annoyed, he shot a glance at the cult leader.

Ashe, meanwhile, was casually asking Ronna for a nail file, which only intensified Iger's urge to make Ashe hang himself with his own intestines.

Seriously! How could a fool with the social skills of an orphanage toddler see through my schemes so easily? Am I just not cunning enough, or is Ashe far too clever?

Iger counted quickly. How many times has Ashe bested me!? Four times!? Five times!?

He realized Ashe had become his true nemesis. He made a secret decision, one that defied every fraudster's code. This idiot must not survive. The moment we leave the Blood Moon, Ashe will meet his end.

Meanwhile, a few others tried to enter the fifth tent, but they were turned away. Soon, a goblin's voice rang out from outside. "Team formation is complete. Random teams, step forward."

The five of them stepped out and looked up at the platform, where three people waited.

The goblin nodded in satisfaction. "Good. All tents for the randomly assigned teams are filled. Next comes the blessing. On my left is Kerr, the Church's assistant. She leads the priest team and will grant the Blood Moon Blessing to everyone."

Kerr wore a gold-trimmed white robe. She was tall yet undeniably cute. Her round face and chubby cheeks inspired a strong urge to pinch them. She gave a slightly embarrassed nod to the adventurers, while the large gray wolf's tail swayed between her legs.

"On my right is the hunter everyone should know, Gerard Westminster, of the Heresy Court's Enforcement Squad—"

At once, all five of them stepped back into the tent in unison.