Mage Manual-Chapter 120 - 110: Let’s Break Up Now
Chapter 120: Chapter 110: Let’s Break Up Now
“I remember now,” Sonia murmured, “this is Fate Q&A.”
“Fate Q&A?”
She nodded gently, “This is a very rare mechanism in the Void Realm, and it comes in various forms. The one we encountered is the simplest ‘paper Q&A’. If we answer correctly, we can ask the Void Realm any question, and it must respond.”
“Can we ask anything?” Ash asked in surprise, “Can I ask how to achieve eternal life and become invincible in the world, and it will answer?”
“Yes!” Sonia nodded affirmatively, “But the quality of the Void Realm’s response depends on the number of your correct answers—the more you get right, the more detailed the Void Realm’s responses.”
“Actually, compared to the ‘asking the Void Realm’ reward, many mages are more interested in the Fate Q&A itself—because the questions asked are about the mages’ futures.”
...
“Questions about the future?”
“Yes, the questions here are about things that mages have yet to experience. They can’t possibly know the correct answers and can only infer the future based on the past,” Sonia said, looking at the paper, speaking softly, “It is said that the futures mentioned in the Fate Q&A will inevitably become reality.”
Ash uttered an “oh”, “Then what’s your question?”
Sonia’s pupils shrank, and she said nonchalantly, “I don’t want to tell you.”
“Why? Wouldn’t it be easier to find the right answer if we discuss it together?”
“Ah, stop prying into a girl’s privacy, it’s so gross,” Sonia said, feigning disgust.
“What privacy does a mage have…”
Ash muttered, watching Sonia intentionally cover the paper, thinking she was genuinely shy, but suddenly felt something was off.
When it came to matters of power and future, the Sword Maiden had never been ambiguous. Although occasionally temperamental, it’s undeniable that the Sword Maiden was a good team member who never held back during Void Realm Exploration and never hesitated when needed.
Fate Q&A was undoubtedly an extremely rare encounter. In such a situation, would the Sword Maiden, out of ‘shyness’, refuse to cooperate and prefer to answer wrongly rather than discuss with Ash?
Others maybe, but the Sword Maiden was the kind of person who could shout in his face, “You may not have a dream, but you can protect my dream.” Her greed even received recognition from the game, “Bond Resonance: Insatiable Greed” was the best proof of her ambition.
Moreover, Ash and she were like people from two different worlds, akin to strangers met online. Even if Ash knew many of her secrets, it wouldn’t affect her reality in the slightest. There’s no use in her pretending to be innocent in front of Ash.
It was as if a laser had shot through his brain, and Ash suddenly realized, “Is your question about me?”
Sonia stiffened.
She knew this was the best moment to deny it, to retort with humor, disdain, and surprise, ending by throwing out a “Don’t probe into a girl’s privacy again!” to dispel all the Observer’s suspicions.
Just lie, just conceal, only consider one’s own benefits, and nip any facts detrimental to oneself in the bud.
But for some reason, the usually sharp and clever Sonia suddenly hesitated for a moment. That pause cost her the possibility of concealment.
Perhaps it was the influence of the “Sincerity” Technique Spirit…
With a silent sigh, Sonia nodded, “Yes.”
“I thought so,” Ash muttered, pondering, “It’s about me and you, yet you don’t want to tell me. Could it be written —”
Sonia suddenly became tense.
“— that you have fallen in love with me?”
“Have you not slept for too long, now dreaming while your eyes are open?” Sonia retorted irritably, “How could that be!”
“You deny it so vehemently, it really makes one suspicious… Hey, hey, hey, I’m answering Fate right now, what are you doing with that sword, put it down, you’re disturbing my thinking!” Ash sternly chided Sonia, then looked down at his own question, “If you don’t want to talk, then don’t. You make it sound like I’m so curious.”
“Are you not curious?”
“Of course I’m curious, I’d love to trick you into turning your head so I could snatch your question and see for myself,” Ash said somberly, “But you don’t want to, and I can’t offend the current you because of some so-called ‘Fate.'”
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“Don’t you want to know what might happen between us in the future when it’s written as ‘Fate’ that could come true?”
“This question shouldn’t be asked of me,” Ash said, “you should ask yourself. Are you willing to share your future with me?”
Sonia was taken aback slightly, covering her mouth with a piece of paper, shaking her head, “Not really willing yet.”
“Alright then.” Ash shrugged his shoulders and looked down at the question.
After a moment, he asked again, “Really not willing? If you’re not, I can ask again later.”
Sonia nearly burst into laughter, giving Ash an irritated look, the corners of her lips curling up slightly, her eyelashes adorably trembling, her eyes curving into crescents and her brows filled with allure, making Ash believe she might have used some beauty Technique Spirit.
“You’re so annoying,” she muttered. “Okay, okay. Since I can’t guess the answer anyway, let’s discuss it.”
“So, you really wanted to talk to me about—”
“Listen to the question! Multiple-choice question: What is the fundamental reason for the Sword Maiden and Observer’s split? ① The Sword Maiden detests the Observer’s indifference, ② The Observer deems the Sword Maiden uncontrollable, ③ Unequal sharing of spoils, ④ All of the above.”
“Will I split with you in the future?” Ash was also intrigued. “A split—I’ve only ever heard this term in real life scenarios, sounding like something straight out of a stage play.”
The harshest severance Ash had heard was ‘I’m not playing with you anymore.’ Terms like ‘split’ were generally reserved between two major powers, right? For ordinary people, ‘divorce’ would be more like it.
“Hurry up, are you trying to control me, and if you find you can’t, you’ll start holding resentments?”
“How could that be? You might want to rethink your impression of me. I hardly seem like some hot-blooded youth. As a mature member of society, isn’t indifference a rather excellent traditional attribute? Why would you hate my indifference?”
“So I don’t think it’s option ① either. I’m more inclined to think it’s ③, unequal sharing of spoils.”
“Are you suggesting there’s an issue with the current spoil distribution system?”
“No problem now, but once you break out of the jail, who knows? Your appetite might grow larger then, making it hard to say…”
“Pfft, looks to me like you’re insatiable, pushing your boundaries. I have to endure for the sake of the greater good, but eventually I can’t stand it anymore and have to go our separate ways with you who does less but takes more!”
“Talk about conscience! From the beginning up to now, when was I not the one doing the most in every battle? Which time did I not have the highest output? Tsk tsk, Observer, showing your true colors, you’re definitely planning to cut my spoil shares in the future!”
“Even if the share adjustment is needed, I have my reasons. I’m always fair and just, never engaging in petty actions…”
“Who just now said that being chosen into the Blood Moon Judgement would incite a major prison riot? Wh~o was it~?”
They were discussing a serious future topic, but the two of them were arguing like they were distributing blames and faults after a game ended, speaking in a relaxed and playful tone, which gradually relaxed Sonia’s mood.
She had been worried about bringing up this Fate question, wondering if it might arouse suspicions or discomfort in the Observer, but his attitude dispelled her concerns.
So many things are like this: when you don’t think of it as a problem, it’s not a problem.
“Option ① is not it, option ② is not it, option ③ is not it either.” Sonia said irritatedly, “Then which option do you think is correct?”
“I actually think there is no correct answer. If I were to split with you, there must be another reason.”
“What reason?”
“Like, you’re not strong enough.”
Sonia was stunned, “What do you mean?”
“I mean, you might not be able to keep up with the pace of my progress,” Ash explained, “and then I’ll encounter a higher-strength teammate, so naturally, you’d become unnecessary.”
That’s what Ash thought was the most reasonable reason—although right now there is only the Sword Maiden as an operator, that doesn’t mean she’d be the only one in the future. In a mobile game, it’s common for initial characters to not keep up with the pace of later stages. In the future, they’d surely pull stronger operators, naturally causing Ash to not include the Sword Maiden in the team.
Sonia felt so angry she became physically cold, her shoulders quivering, “Because I’m not strong enough, you want to abandon me?”
“Not abandoning per se, just that at that time, you might not match up to me, and might even hinder my progress. For our futures, we’d need to part ways temporarily—it’d be best for both of us—”
“No need for the future, let’s just split up now!”
“Uh?” Ash was taken aback.
This Fate Q&A is so prescient, becoming reality just like that!?
