Mage Manual-Chapter 1392 - 1021: Night Conversations in the Bathhouse
A mage in the wilderness might have to rough it, but a group of mages in the wilderness is like a leisurely tour.
The Kingdom of Stars has always emphasized environmental protection because the quality of the atmosphere directly affects the strength of the starry sky. If the pollution becomes so severe that even starlight can’t penetrate, the Supreme Star will show them the meaning of cruelty. Not only do industrial cities have strict emission mechanisms, but developing uninhabited areas and cutting down forests require rigorous approval. Thus, on the outskirts of the city lies a vast ancient forest, so tranquil and serene it’s reminiscent of a prehistoric era, except for the occasional train rumbling by, startling a flock of birds.
An Earth Mage digs a pit, a Water Mage guides underground water, and even while fleeing, the mages of the Four Pillars God Sect effortlessly create a hot spring bath. First, they touch the hot water with their toes, then their calves skim the surface, and finally, they languidly lie down until the warm water reaches their collarbones. As their weary bodies soak in the swirling hot springs, the day’s toil seems rewarded.
The upper echelons would naturally not bathe with their subordinates; the Four Pillars God Sect has never been a grand organization of equality and freedom. Originally, Dedarose prepared only one pool for Ash and the others, but after some hesitation, Sonia and her companions decided to split it into two, with Ash using one side and Sonia and the others using the other, separated by bamboo.
To be honest, such a barrier might not even deter a One-winged Mage, let alone an apprentice Demigod. But then again, who would dare to peek at the sultry scene of three apprentice Demigods plus a Divine Being bathing?
So this wasn’t a challenge set for Ash, but rather a test, a question.
"...When I woke up, only the Observatory was left in the hall. By then, his soul should have entered Ruby Mountain and been locked in the Allstars Cage."
Felix, with her bound blonde hair cascading like a waterfall over her shoulders, sat soaking in the farthest corner of the pool from the bamboo barrier. Having hidden her gender for over a decade, she had never openly faced other women naked, let alone bathed, feeling a subconscious shyness about her body.
When it was her turn to speak, everyone’s eyes naturally focused on her, inevitably making her feel embarrassed. Instinctively, she crossed her arms over her chest, trying to cover her seemingly overflowing abundance. But Felix obviously worried too much; there were others here not inferior to her.
"What happened afterward, the Sword Seat, you know—since you came over that night."
"Yes." Sonia tied her red hair up, with just a few strands remaining, sticking wetly to her neck. "I always remember that scene—you hiding Ash under the bed and then sleeping on him in lace pajamas."
"It was my idea." Dedarose was helping Diya wash her hair. Diya had reverted to her childlike form, sitting obediently on a small stool with her eyes tightly closed. "Only by uncovering Felix’s secret could we prevent them from finding the Observatory."
"I know, and I’ve never blamed Felix." Sonia turned her head, watching the rippling water. "I was just a little angry, that’s all."
"So, Felix, you’ve never seen ’Igula’ and ’Harvey’?" Weiser sat at the edge of the pool with only her legs in the water, shaking a wine glass in her left hand. "He said he passed out at your home with Igula and Harvey, entering Ruby Mountain together."
"I haven’t." Felix shook her head. "I met Ash on the train, and he was alone at the time. From the beginning, only the Observatory stayed at my home, no one else."
"So they weren’t people you met after the Kingdom of Stars...?" Weiser downed her champagne, pondering aloud. "But I also never saw those two in Senluo Wasteland. At first, he pursued me with Black Crow, and after the Dead City incident, Qikara and Gwen joined his team, totaling at most four people. There’s never been a Spirit Mage or Necromancer."
Fwoosh!
Dedarose picked up a wooden tray filled with water and poured it over Diya, the cascading hot water washing away the foam from the witch’s hair, then wiped the droplets from her face with a towel. Diya immediately wanted to dive into the pool but was held back by Dedarose. She used a hairband to tie Diya’s freshly washed hair up, preventing it from getting heavy with water. Once released, Diya quickly jumped in, splashing everyone with water.
"I haven’t seen those two either in Gospel." Diya cheerfully declared, "The Funeral Service Office consists only of Hanna, Banjee, me, and Ash, yet Ash claims Liss is familiar with those two and even calls them ’Aunt Bojin’ and ’Uncle Harvey’... which is odd, because according to Ash, both are men. Then why would Liss call Bojin an aunt?"
"Not only that, but he also said those two men accompanied him on all his adventures."
Vishi lifted her leg out of the water, her calf shapely, her ankle full, with warm water dripping along the perfect arch of her foot, creating gentle ripples on the surface. "When he first became a mage, they already started planning a prison break with him at Shattered Lake Prison."
"I knew him before his escape, and he would often tell me about prison matters." Sonia said, "But he never mentioned those two. He planned the escape alone, seeking only a couple of helpers... However, those helpers didn’t escape the Kingdom of Blood Moon in the end; only he successfully fled through the Void Realm."
"What about you, Vishi?" Weiser asked, "Out of all of us, you should’ve interacted with those two the longest, having been trapped in the Allstars Cage for nearly half a year."
"Just like you all, after Ash bound me with chains, Rose and I served him together. The whole house had only him as the man." Vishi lazily said, "Later, with the addition of Filly and Nia, it just became one man with four beautiful ladies."
The bathing pool fell silent, with only the sound of water splashing, steam rising and drifting into the night sky.
"In short," Felix concluded, "the Observatory unexpectedly conjured up the existence of two significant men in his life, accompanying him through all his adventures. This seems rather..."
"I don’t mind how odd he becomes," Weiser stated, "But the main issue now is—why did he turn out like this? We were undergoing the Demigod Promotion Trial together; why did only he suddenly begin hallucinating?"
"If these are just mere delusions, time can heal and correct them. What worries me now is whether this is just the beginning. Will there be more severe repercussions later on?"
"During the promotion, we were in soul form, and since his memory was affected," Sonia speculated, "perhaps his soul was tainted?"
"Isn’t there something strange you all noticed?" Vishi remarked, "Why are his fantasies about men? From his experiences, it’s clear he’s mostly surrounded by women. Whether in the Void Realm or reality, women have truly been his constant adventure companions. Yet why fantasize about the most intimate companions as men?"
"Is he..." Vishi glanced around, quietly said, "afraid of women?"
Instinctively, Sonia and the others rejected this idea. After all, Ash recruited only female operators, enough to show his basic nature as a philanderer. More importantly, what reason would he have to fear women? He’s never been hurt by a woman—
"Could it be..." Diya murmured.
"Do you have any idea, witch?" Weiser asked.
The witch’s small face turned pale, and after a moment of silence, she cautiously spoke, "Could it be that during the Promotion Ceremony’s dream, Ash’s spirit got broken inside, making him deeply disappointed, which led him to start fearing women?"
"Impossible!" Sonia replied, resolute.
"I think so too; it can’t be," Weiser shook her head.
However, Vishi didn’t refute immediately, and Diya kept her head down as if contemplating. Exchanging glances, Sonia and Weiser sensed that the dreams among them might not share the same style, at least with Vishi and Diya leaning towards chaotic evil, while they leaned orderly and good.
