Chapter 92: Farewell

“It seems this is a place of great danger and great temptation, and my necessary sacrifice is indeed required.”

The mirror image Ace’s expression remained unchanged. They shared the same soul and the same covenant. They were a collective life. As long as the host body existed, the death of other individuals would not affect the collective entity itself.

Subsequently, the mirror image Ace and the host body Ace exchanged crucial information that had occurred over the past few months, including the movements of the dark worshipers, the inheritor of the Thought-Flow training method, and the overall dynamics of the contractors.

Among the current contractors, some excellent seeds were already showing promise, but it remained unknown whether they would grow into towering trees.

Ace planned to select suitable individuals from the contractors in the near future to establish a Wizard Academy, truly building a strictly managed, academic, and armed Wizard organization.

But now was not the time for harvest. On the one hand, he was not yet powerful enough to become a Formal Wizard. On the other hand, the apprentices still required training forged in blood and tears. Hothouse flowers are unfit to form the steel core of a powerful organization.

“Then, Host, give me a few days to settle the affairs here at the fortress. I will then immediately head to the Larr Mountains to meet with you.”

With the mirror image Ace’s bow, the image gradually dissipated.

The host body Ace watched the image disappear and continued his research on the live-point map and the stomach of the unknown Monster.

“Even death is merely the return of the individual to the host. After separation, the individuals will merge once more. As the collective Ace, we will be stronger.”

The mirror image Ace in the underground magic laboratory watched the image slowly dissipate, staring resolutely at the glass sphere covered with runes.

Figures appeared on the sphere, acting out the joys and sorrows of the contractors.

“I manipulate the lives of others from beneath the stage, but as the collective Ace, we were also cast into this world by an unknown entity. Who can truly transcend?”

The mirror image Ace let out a chant-like sigh. He rode the mechanical magic lift up, and with a creaking sound, left the underground magic laboratory.

“Sir Ace, I feel so bad that I always have you paying for the drinks.” Solon rubbed his hands, smiling gleefully through his teeth.

Joanna, curled up in Solon’s arms, was silent. Since her emotional outburst, Joanna had become more withdrawn, rarely interacting with others.

“Don’t be formal. Come, drink!”

The mirror image Ace didn’t feel like observing Joanna today. He just wanted a drink but found no one else to accompany him, so he sought out Solon.

As Solon got drunk, his words became increasingly slurred. Inadvertently, he revealed Joanna’s past.

“When I first… hic… first met Joanna… hic… it was at the foot of an unnamed hill in the Larr Mountains. Hic… It was like destiny. The frail, pitiable Joanna and the old widower Solon met… hic… and since then, we’ve depended on each other…”

How did she survive on the dangerous edges of the Larr Mountains long enough to meet Solon? Did Solon save Joanna, or did Joanna make Solon save her?

The mirror image Ace narrowed his eyes. He could not decipher Joanna. What secret was hidden within this pure soul?

He decided against further action. Joanna’s mystery kept him sufficiently vigilant. He had to suppress the desire to research her. It’s a pity I have to leave soon. Otherwise, I could plan a good way to probe Joanna.

After Solon became drunk, he said in a low voice:

“By the way, I recently heard that the legion discovered a desecrator operating in the Monster Wilderness and is preparing to eliminate them. You must be careful when traveling outside.”

The mirror image Ace did not pay attention to the last thing Solon said. After drinking with Solon, the mirror image Ace went to Kent Rona’s residence, spending a week painting a massive scroll depicting the scenery of the Northern March Fortress, which he presented to Kent.

“Although I do not fear returning to the host, I must leave some trace to prove I was here.”

The mirror image Ace muttered to himself. Although he might not disappear, this exploration involved unknown dangers. He was the most crucial and reliable tool, carrying the solemn responsibility of being expendable at a critical moment.

The mirror image was subordinate to the host from the beginning. Even without a formal covenant, he would not be hostile or attempt to replace the host, unlike the blood crow projection.

Such action would not align with the choice of a rational being. The mirror image cannot replace the host; the mirror image is merely the extension of the host concept.

After all, without the host, the mirror image ceases to exist.

“One last thing before I leave.”

The mirror image Ace opened his Grimoire, peering into Daina’s current situation. She had just finished hunting a Monster and was in a secluded camp outside the Northern March.

The mirror image Ace clicked on the Fellow Traveler function and left a message for Daina.

“How about we meet at the hospital courtyard tomorrow?”

As time passed, the contractors gradually discovered each other. After competition, arguments, and collaboration, they eventually forged pacts through the Grimoire, organizing secluded camps that became gathering points for the contractors in the Monster Wilderness.

Daina, currently in a camp, hadn’t hunted low-level Monsters with Ace for some time.

Ace always had so much going on—performing surgery, researching incantations—he was often nowhere to be found.

Thinking this, Daina felt a little down. She genuinely missed the time they traveled to the Northern Marches together, and the moments when they encountered terrifying Monsters or bizarre rituals, and their eyes met.

That feeling of her heart racing uncontrollably was something she truly missed.

The other contractors hunting with Daina exchanged glances. The boss lady is lost in thought again!

As a Wizard Apprentice with exceptionally strong Enchanted Martial Arts, the other contractors viewed Daina as a true powerhouse. Following her to hunt Monsters was a rare stroke of luck.

Unfortunately, the boss lady was always preoccupied and rarely discussed matters outside of combat.

The Grimoire became hot. Daina quickly transformed the nail tip back into the Grimoire.

Daina looked at the text that appeared on the last page of the Grimoire. Her heart began to pound uncontrollably again.

The more she was denied, the more she yearned. She had only one Fellow Traveler: Teacher Ace!

The other contractors watched Daina’s expression suddenly turn shy. She immediately gathered her belongings.

“I have an urgent matter. Feel free to deal with these Monsters.”

With that, Daina left like a gust of wind.

Before sunset, Daina, panting heavily, returned to the fortress. Fearing exposure, she ran straight to the hospital courtyard.

She saw Ace leaning against the wall, looking inexplicably lonely.

“Huff! Huff!”

“You asked me to do…”

Before Daina could finish her sentence, the mirror image Ace’s lips moved slightly. His voice carried a strange cadence, and a surge of Mana pulsed. He suddenly drifted toward her like a gust of wind.

He embraced Daina without a word.

Daina’s face was completely flushed, and steam almost emanated from her head.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” she asked nervously.

“Nothing. I missed you greatly. How about we spend tomorrow wandering the fortress together?” The mirror image Ace released Daina and stared at her.

“Alright. But what is wrong? Are you worried about something?” Daina asked, concerned.

“Nothing. Get some rest. See you tomorrow!”

The next day, Daina and the mirror image Ace walked through the streets and alleys of the fortress, filled with laughter, until the curfew. They reluctantly returned to their residences.

In the early morning, Daina, excited and flushed, knocked on Ace’s door, only to find the door slightly ajar.

She pushed the door open. The room was empty. Only a piece of parchment lay quietly on the bed.

Daina opened the parchment. Beautiful Bird Script wrote:

“Daina! Due to certain reasons, I must leave the fortress for a period. Please do not go to the Monster Wilderness during this time. The city-state is investigating the desecrators.”