Mage Manual-Chapter 1412 - 1034: Unreasonable and Double Standards (Part 2)

"You’d rather trust a woman you’ve known for less than half a year than believe we trust you." The Sword Saint stomped hard on his toe, pouting, "We just have doubts; it’s not like we don’t believe you..."

Diya thought to herself that Sonia seemed to have known Ash for less than a year too, and that was only within the Void Realm. If you subtract the half-year he spent locked up in the Kingdom of Allstars with Vishi, it’s hard to say whether Sonia’s time with Vishi is more significant. But she definitely wouldn’t point this out, especially since her playtime was even shorter than the Sword Maiden’s.

"I actually doubt my own memory too, which is why I asked Vishi to check it. I didn’t want you to know because I didn’t want you to worry—"

"Then you do trust Vishi more!"

"I don’t care if Vishi worries about me or not!" Ash said, somewhat helplessly, "What if you’re right and I’m wrong? Do I have to drag you down with me?"

"Why not?!"

Sonia slammed her fists on the wooden table, biting her lower lip, staring hard at Ash, "If we’re wrong, then we’re wrong together. Am I the correct partner or not? And besides, what if you’re right and I’m wrong? What then? Do you want me to admit I’m wrong?"

"I never thought that—"

"But that’s how you’ve acted! As long as we’re on opposing sides, there has to be a right and wrong!" Sonia kicked Ash hard, "I can admit I’m wrong to the professor, to my mother, to everyone, but don’t expect me to admit it to you! Not even once! I refuse to be beneath you!"

Ash grimaced, "Why..."

"Because everyone else," Sonia lowered her head, drawing circles on the wooden table with her fingers, "won’t be with me for the rest of my life."

Ash was taken aback, feeling the spot on his calf where he was kicked, now being gently rubbed by a lambskin boot.

"When there’s a disagreement, I can doubt you, but you cannot not believe in me." Sonia’s hair seemed unkempt, with her bangs falling over her eyes, splitting her arrogant gaze into fragmented, awkward glances. "Whether you have to beg, plead, or fight, you must try everything to make sure we’re on the same side." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Such an unreasonable and double-standard woman.

She couldn’t commit to absolute trust; seeing others trust me annoyed her, yet I had to find ways to win her recognition first. Whenever there’s a disagreement, everyone must be right together or wrong together. She absolutely would not allow a situation where I was maliciously right without her.

But somehow, Ash just couldn’t deal with her.

"Alright." Ash smiled, "Even if I have to fight or beg, I will always persuade you to stand by my side."

Spoiled, huh?

Sonia looked up, seeing the slight curve on Ash’s lips.

He knew what Sonia wanted to hear but just wouldn’t say it.

The Sword Maiden bit her lower lip, a little angry but amused, as she brushed her lambskin boot against Ash’s steel-bottomed boots in a playful yet discreet manner under the table.

"Actually, the master did the right thing," Vishi said gracefully, pressing a hand to her chest, "because I’ve never worried, I’ve always trusted the master’s decisions unconditionally—"

Weiser’s mouth twitched, "Who was it that logically analyzed Ash had issues in the bath?"

"Speaking of which, Vishi’s method of checking memory has some issues, doesn’t it?" Diya said thoughtfully, "Even if physical contact is needed, there’s no fundamental difference between holding hands and kissing, right?"

"Alright, back to the main point."

Ash clapped his hands lightly, his expression turning serious, "The person I saw was the Death Mad Sword Maiden from the future. But those who returned from the future to the present include more than just her."

"The Final Observer, Death Mad Sword Maiden, Black and White Witch, Lord of Mirrors, and Ghost Prophet. Assuming she didn’t lie, these future time travelers are our future selves in five people."

"It’s precisely because of their arrangements that the five of us are connected."

"To make us a better team, they even guided us personally to prevent reality from hindering the exploration of the Void Realm."

Ash glanced at his teammates, "You may have also met my future self."

Sonia and Diya were startled as sealed memories gradually surfaced.

"The Phantom who urged me to practice swordsmanship..."

"The person who spoke to me when I escaped the Tower..."

"Before I first entered the Void Realm, I had already seen the Sword Maiden’s Phantom in Shattered Lake Prison. It was she who taught me the most basic Mage knowledge," Ash said, "On my first night in Gospel, the Witch’s Phantom also visited me. They appeared to guide me in interacting with you better."

"But Weiser and Vishi’s Phantoms haven’t appeared. Vishi is understandable, joining the team in a different way than you," Ash looked at Weiser, "Have you seen my Phantom?"

Weiser pondered for a long time, shaking her head, "I haven’t seen your Phantom, but..."

"I might have seen the future me."

"The Illusion Mirror Dragon allows me to summon duplicates from different world lines, and I share Magic Realm knowledge with them through memory sharing and other means. My Magic Faction relies on these methods to learn from many sources. Before officially joining your team, I encountered a duplicate claiming to have a similar world line to mine. She warned me that I would be pulled into a Mage team led by Ash Heath."

"No wonder you integrated into the team so quickly," Diya realized, "But back then, weren’t you and Ash still enemies?"