The Sorcerer's Handbook
Chapter 306: Spider Towers 6th Unit, Seeker of Secrets
"Wait!"
Sonya frowned, her gaze flickering between the canvases. "Are you sure these are meant to be four different individuals? What if we're just looking at four versions of the same person?"
Phantom Sonya replied, her voice cool and level, "We are the ones asking the questions here. We will not, cannot, and have no intention of answering anything regarding the prompt."
Ashe spoke up, "Then what does becoming reality mean? If they answer correctly, is the reward the fulfillment of their wish, letting them die alongside the person they choose?"
Phantom Dia stuck out her tongue playfully. "It might not even require a correct answer—"
Phantom Sonya snapped. "Witch!"
Phantom Dia giggled, her eyes dancing with anticipation. "Anyway, just wait and see. Watch closely."
Dia remained transfixed by the four portraits. As if whispering to a ghost, she murmured, "Is it you? No? But aside from you, there shouldn't be anyone who looks so much like me... that one resembles you a little..."
Watching her with growing concern, Ashe moved his hand closer to her lips. He urged softly, "Don't just stare. Take a bite."
Dia gave his hand a light, restrained nip, tasting the skin for a moment before pulling back.
Surprisingly, the sudden appearance of four identical portraits hadn't shaken her. On the contrary, she seemed fascinated. It felt like looking at an old photo of her "sisters." She and her internal "siblings" began the lively task of distinguishing themselves from one another, comparing the minute details of clothing, expression, and features. The tension in the room evaporated, replaced by a sense of warmth and harmony.
Much of this newfound boldness stemmed from Ashe's presence. He was her anchor, a convenient outlet for the rising tide of her stress. Previously, when her sisters argued, Dia would have shrunk into a corner, covering her ears and enduring the mental cacophony until it broke her. Now, knowing she could bite Ashe at any moment to vent the pressure, she found the courage to engage.
The hardest part of any journey was the first step. Once Dia attempted to accept the voices, she realized they weren't as terrifying as she had feared. With the four paintings serving as common ground, she even dared to argue back. When the mental noise became too loud, she would sink her teeth into Ashe's hand. It wasn't an act of malice, but a silent signal for them to stop shouting.
If she spoke her dislike directly, the sister in the black butler outfit would respond with cutting sarcasm, while another sister in white would argue back. Before long, the clash would overwhelm her. But with Ashe's hand as a subtle signal, those unspoken pleas became easier to convey. Whenever Dia bit or licked his hand, the noise in her mind would quickly quiet down. Her sisters would regroup their thoughts, softening the intensity of their arguments.
Sonya complained, "How are we supposed to tell them apart... they all look exactly the same. So, for this question, do we just choose you, Knight?"
"Why don't you think it through again?" Ashe said, his voice tight. "The question is about who you want to die with. I think—"
Sonya shot back. "Isn't that perfectly reasonable? According to your theory, we're lovers who have been together for years. Our relationship has gone stale, so you found someone new, but I still love you. In that case, if I'm going to die, why would I let you live on happily?"
Ashe's eyes widened. "Isn't there an option where you hope I find happiness after you're gone?!"
Sonya considered it seriously. "No. Absolutely not. To be safe, I'd make sure you die in front of me first. Only then could I leave in peace."
If Ashe had only doubted his conclusion before, now he felt certain he was wrong. She definitely was not his lover. At the very least, he prayed she wasn't.
At that moment, Ashe noticed Denzel staring intently at one of the paintings. Following her gaze, he saw she was transfixed by the girl with the spiderweb blindfold. He asked, "Mistress, do you have any idea which one is the answer?"
Denzel glanced at him. She hadn't intended to speak, but when she considered the possibility that he might be her lover, she decided to be honest. "I think I know why I entered this cabin."
The declaration drew everyone's attention. Ashe pressed. "How do you know?"
Denzel pointed at the spiderweb blindfold. "Because of her. When I saw it, I remembered that I possess an ability that allows me to perceive through illusions and weave reality. Even if I lose my memory, I can rely on this power to obtain the correct answer directly."
She looked at the canvases with quiet confidence. "I came here because I knew I could definitely pass this trial."
Before Ashe or the others could ask anything more, Denzel stepped back. A deep indigo magic circle, shaped like a sprawling spider, manifested beneath her feet. Strands of white silk erupted from the sigil, winding upward along her legs as they began to weave themselves together.
In a matter of seconds, a completely transformed Denzel stood before them.
Her loose, heavy robe had vanished, replaced by a delicate ensemble woven entirely from white silk. Fine bindings wrapped her legs, leaving only her toes exposed, while a short skirt of webbing accentuated the smooth lines of her thighs. The silk across her chest clung to her form, tracing every curve. Flowing ribbons coiled around her arms, and her long hair was tied casually into a high ponytail.
Exactly like the figure in the painting, she now wore a spiderweb blindfold, adding an untouchable air of mystery to her composed, almost sacred presence.
She walked over and sat beside Ashe, the soft cushion dipping slightly under her weight.
Watching her, Ashe became even more certain of his conclusion. My guess was right. She is definitely my mistress. Definitely!
He was already beginning to look forward to the life they would lead once they left the cabin and regained their memories. He leaned in, asking quickly, "What ability is this?"
Facing her lover's question, Denzel held nothing back. "The sixth unit of the Spider Tower—Seeker of Secrets."
[Spider Tower · Seeker of Secrets]
Effect
All attacks deal +40% soul damage.
Stats: 4 layers of armor; humanoid unit.
Traits: Equipped with the special abilities Peering, Weaving, and Concealment.
Cost: Each unit consumes 15 soul energy.
Abilities
1. Peering: No secret remains hidden from the Seeker of Secrets. She can extract comprehensive data regarding a target's capabilities, including but not limited to command skills, soul power, miracles, and deployable units.
2. Weaving: The Seeker of Secrets manipulates the threads of fate. When cast on allies, it grants powerful enhancements such as increased luck, protection from stray attacks, a higher critical hit rate, and guaranteed minimum damage received; enemies may even instinctively act as human shields for the target.
When cast on enemies, it inflicts the inverse: withered luck, increased vulnerability, heightened lethality from incoming hits, and guaranteed minimum damage output. Enemies may even stumble on perfectly flat ground. Casting time ranges from 1 to 60 seconds, with effects intensifying the longer the thread is spun.
3. Concealment: So long as other Spider Tower units are on the field, the Seeker of Secrets can never be designated as a primary target. Enemies are compelled to eliminate all other Spider Tower units before they can even perceive her presence.
"Then can you turn us into Seekers of Secrets as well?" Sonya asked.
Denzel shook her head. It was not that she lacked the power, but rather the motivation.
"I have no reason to turn you into Seekers of Secrets."
The room went cold.
"If the Knight's deduction is correct, then I am his mistress while you are his sister and his lover, and we clearly do not get along. In that case, my optimal course of action would be..."
Denzel slid her arms under Ashe's and pulled him into a sudden, firm embrace. Her strength was unexpectedly great as she hoisted him up and stepped several paces back.
With her voice calm and clear, she finished her thought. "To leave you here forever, while the Knight and I depart on our own."