Alright.
We’ll talk about it later.
I don’t want to travel; can I just stay in the hotel?
Really? That’s great. I’ve long wanted to ditch those two idiots.
For Ash, there are plenty of perfunctory answers, given that Sonia’s invitation is so subtle, subtle enough for him to pretend it’s really just a trip. After all, this isn’t the right ti for a detailed conversation; any mont now the Angel Hunt could end, or she might be sent back. Just going through the motions allows him to continue avoiding the issue.
The rope always breaks at the weakest point, and the innocent party is always the first to get hurt.
But Ash can’t do that.
He can’t pretend not to see the plea and sorrow in the girl’s eyes. She’s like a garbage bag fluttering on the street, doubting if it’s filled with unwanted air.
She’s not soone who’s straightforward; she’s articulate and perceptive, mischievous with a hint of cynicism. Yet when it cos to feelings, she’s much braver than him, brave and diligent without reservation. When she likes sothing, even her eyebrows smile; when she dislikes sothing, her small mouth pouts like a kettle handle; she gets angry enough to cry and fiercely holds onto what she wants.
For instance, right now, her arms are wrapped around Ash, and Ash feels that unless he cuts himself in half, he can’t escape her grip. It’s as if anyone who dares to hurt Ash will be slashed by her, and if Ash tries to run, she’ll break his legs.
Such a bold girl, daring enough to nibble even the Divine Lord, is now carefully testing Ash’s true feelings with subtle questions.
More endearing than the question itself is the way the girl looks at him.
Choose only ,
Can you?
"No, I can’t."
Ash shook his head lightly. "I can’t abandon the Witch."
"I’m not asking you to abandon her," Sonia said hurriedly, as if trying to take back Ash’s words: "We can still et at Ruby Mountain, go back to Gospel for rest when we tire of other countries. We can almost et in the Void Realm every night, et in reality every month..."
"Just as I understand what you an, I’m sure you understand what I an." Ash gently pressed the back of his hand to her cheek, touching the cross-shaped scar of Death Mad.
He said earnestly, "I also like the Black and White Witch Lissdia."
That sentence was like the most vicious curse, instantly draining Sonia’s spine. But she didn’t lean against Ash; instead, she pushed him away by the chest. This ti, Ash held onto her shoulders, preventing her escape.
She lowered her head, her red hair, filled with the stench of flesh, hung down to hide her face, like a ferocious ghost.
At that mont, Ash suddenly couldn’t distinguish whether she was Sonia or Nia.
When she raised her head, what kind of gaze would she use to face him? Hatred? Resentnt?
"Just now you used that mouth to say you like ."
"Yes."
"No matter how great I am, no matter my achievents, there will always be people saying I’m a village girl from the countryside, unmannered and vain," she suddenly laughed, "Is it because I’m not perfect, that I can’t get the perfect? Not the best, so I don’t get the best?"
"Of course not. It’s just that there’s no perfect person, nor the best person in this world," Ash said gently. "But in my heart, you are perfect and the best, even when you curse, it’s adorable."
"Is the Witch, too?"
"Of course."
"You," Sonia clenched her fist and punched Ash’s chest. Each pause followed by a punch, "Can’t you lie to , flatter !"
This wasn’t a playful tantrum of little fists; she was truly using her strength. Even though she’s using a Mortal Body now, Ash is already heavily battered, and after several punches, he was coughing up blood. Yet his mood lifted significantly, even prompting laughter, as if the filthy blood in his lungs was being expelled.
"Still laughing, still laughing, laugh like a trumpet!" Sonia scolded but didn’t hit him again, tenderly wiping the blood from Ash’s lips with her sleeve: "I hate people like you the most, the second most is hating myself for being soft on you."
"See, you really are cute."
"You trumpet," Sonia lowered her head, her forehead lightly rested against his chest, "You say you like , yet make so sad."
"Because I’m indeed not perfect and the best."
"No, you are." She shook her head, rubbing against Ash like a cat, "To , you are perfect and the best."
"When I was young, I didn’t believe in love. Other girls liked watching those romantic dramas, but I preferred the ones like Dedarose’s with strong female leads. I thought I definitely wouldn’t have anyone I liked in the future, at most marry for interest. I’d climb to the top step by step, and love, that fragile thing, would only beco my weakness. In fact, I haven’t liked anyone; either people covet or just want to use ."
"Initially, I was only thinking of using you," Ash said.
"I was the sa," Sonia’s voice carried a hint of amusent, "Being forced by you to train as a Sword Master, having adventures with you in the Void Realm, I was ecstatic. I was scheming when I’d succeed and then kick you aside to enjoy life, maybe just repay you a bit, certainly not binding my life to yours. My biggest hope then was for you to fall for , so I could use you to the fullest."
"When did you change your mind?"
"Then when did you stop just wanting to use ?"
Sonia raised her head, tears welling in her eyes, "The funny thing is, when you really fell for , I was willing to give you everything."
"You are the sweetest blessing in my life, yet also the cruelest curse."
Ash held her face, wiped away her tears with his thumb, and then embraced her silently.
He should end the topic. Vishi and other demons are still fighting over the angel’s remains; the danger hasn’t been lifted. He just needs to say ’let’s go hunt angels,’ shifting everyone’s focus to the main Task.
But he should also only like one person.
It’s precisely because there are desires that shouldn’t exist, there’s the existence of Mages in this world, and why there are so many regret-laden Mage’s Handbook.
Sonia suddenly sobbed and asked, "Really can’t give up the Witch and only like ?"
"No, I can’t."
"Can you give up , then, and only like the Witch?"
Ash thought seriously, "I can’t bear it, and I don’t think you can either. Even if you don’t want , I’d cling to you for a lifeti."
Sonia suddenly got angry, "Then what the heck do you want!"
"What do you want? Just say!"
"Speak!"
"Speak..."
Her voice lowered further, as if wanting to kill Ash and herself. She feared nothing, not stars or Magic Masters, daring enough to accept the Gods of Four Pillars’ commissions. Even if her rival was the Gospel Empress, she never lost a shred of dignity. Yet now, she showed utter weakness before a man.
Even though she hated her mother’s weakness the most.
"I am looking for answers too. Maybe next ti we et, I can answer," Ash said. "Or maybe, I won’t find it for a lifeti."
"So am I destined to waste my life on you?" Sonia said.
"You can’t bla for this; it’s clearly your fault." Ash shook his head, "You should’ve killed in the Void Realm back then, so we wouldn’t have been involved."
"See now, clearly you should’ve killed then to live your Legendary life, but you didn’t. So, whose fault it is, is crystal clear."
Sonia laughed through tears, wiping them with her wrist, "Yes, yes, if there is a chance to do it over, I’d definitely kill you, trumpet."
"Next ti, let’s be enemies who fight to the end."
Ash smiled, "Or maybe, if we try again, we’ll end up like this."
Watching Sonia’s face blossom into a dazzling smile, Ash suddenly felt a pang in his heart, tightly gripped by a peculiar intuition, just like when he always sensed Igula was lying.
"When you leave, if anyone asks, you should say you confessed first," Sonia said, "I already say so outside, you can’t let lose face."
"Huh? I did? But I rember—"
"Whether you did or not, from now on it’s you!"
"Alright." Ash shrugged helplessly, "Everything you say."
Sonia said, "And then, I still think I’m smarter than you, and after thinking for a long ti, I realized all along we’ve only had one answer. So whatever you look for, you’ll only find that answer."
"That answer that wrongs and the Witch, maybe even others." She gazed at Ash saying, "But I won’t wrong the Witch, nor will I wrong myself."
"So..."
"Let’s break up, okay?"
After a mont of silence, Ash answered:
"Everything you say."
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