Free Web NovelChapter 301: The House of Reflected Mind
Neither Financial Management nor Offense Command could offer any help in their current situation, so they quickly set the matter aside for now. Sonya would surely bring it up in the future to mock Ashe for "managing finances with nothing."
"Then we go with the third option," Ashe said, steering sharply to dodge another long-range attack. "Find a special Virtual World structure that the Legion of Heroes can't enter, get inside, and immediately disconnect. No losses at all. The problem is, those structures are incredibly hard to find."
Dia asked, "Is there no other way to turn the tables? For example, using your invincible little car to run them over?"
Sonya glanced at Dia and noticed a new strand of red in her hair. Clearly, Red Death Apostle had joined the discussion.
Ashe explained, "Most of this car's upgrades are designed to deal with Knowledge Creatures. Take the Refractive Barrier, for example. Swarm creatures couldn't break it even if they attacked for ages, but against a Legion of Heroes, one volley is all it takes to shatter it. If the Legion is a regular army, then we're just street thugs, bullying the weak at best."
"We may not be agents of justice, but you don't have to make us sound that despicable," Sonya replied.
Aside from the barrier, Ashe had been saving resources to build the Alchemical Throne, which would greatly increase their absorption speed of Gold Mana. Since he still lacked a key resource, he had held off on all other upgrades.
Boom!
Another attack from beyond their sight slammed into the Refractive Barrier, sending violent ripples across its surface. During their escape, the enemy's ranged assaults had been relentless. Ashe had no choice but to upgrade the barrier to level 11. Otherwise, the car would have been blown apart long ago.
[Refractive Barrier · Level 11]
Description
- A barrier with 4,000 HP envelops the autonomous car. All damage to the barrier is reduced by 42%.
Level 6 Special Effect
- Ranged attacks receive an additional 30% damage reduction, bringing total damage reduction to 62%.
Level 11 Special Effect
- Before damage reduction is applied, 22% of the original damage is reflected onto nearby non-operator creatures.
Materials Needed for Next Level
- 1175 Ore Essence, 1175 Wood Essence, 630 Mercury Essence
With the Refractive Barrier active, the car only took (100% − 22%) × (100% − 42% − 30%) = 21.84% of incoming ranged damage. That massive damage reduction was the only reason they had held on this long, but this was as far as they could go.
Ashe glanced at the barrier's durability. "It's about to break. The third option is failing."
Upgrading it further wouldn't help. The barrier was only a struggle against the Legions of Hero. Against ordinary Knowledge Creatures, its defense was absurd. They could wipe out entire swarms with the reflected damage alone.
"Swordswoman, do it," Ashe said.
"What do you mean?"
Ashe smiled. "You're not seriously going to die with me, are you? That would be such a waste. Just make it quick and kill me. The pursuers will give up once I'm gone. You can keep the Conjuring Spirit. I'll just lose a bit of soul."
Boom!
The barrier trembled violently, flickering like a dying candle in a gale, ready to snuff out at any moment.
Ashe urged, "Hurry up, you're not the indecisive type."
Sonya grabbed Dia and shoved her forward. "Why me? Witch, let Red Death Apostle do it!"
Dia shook her head frantically. "I can't, I can't! I'm actually afraid of blood—"
Sonya shoved her again. "Afraid of blood? Your normal attacks are almost as bloody as my Blood Blossom Watermoon! Stop making excuses! Hurry up and use your invincible death-line to slice the Watcher in half!"
Dia, a master of Fist-and-Claw Class, instantly reversed the hold and restrained Sonya instead. "No! You're closer to the Watcher. You should do it!"
"That's backward! The closer you are, the harder it is to pull the trigger!"
"Either way, I'm not doing it. White Queen told me not to, and Red Death Apostle doesn't want to, either!"
Suddenly, the village girl had an epiphany. "Wait! Why don't you just kill yourself? Why make us do it? Are you trying to make us feel guilty so you can manipulate us?"
Ashe looked offended. "Swordswoman, how could you think that of me? Do I look like someone who would plot that deeply!?"
"It's hard to say. After knowing me this long, you've definitely picked up some of my 'finer' qualities. We really are birds of a feather."
Ashe thought. Damn, that argument is far too convincing.
"Anyway, I'm not killing you," Sonya said, breaking free from Dia's grip. "Don't make me do it."
Dia shook her head in agreement. "Me neither. What if you hold a grudge? Even if death in the Virtual World isn't real, killing a companion feels like crossing an invisible line."
Ashe fell silent for a moment, then let out a heavy sigh. He drew his sword and pointed it at his own abdomen. "Then I'll have to—... Huh!? A special area just appeared!"
Sonya's eyes narrowed. "What a coincidence..."
"White Queen thinks so, too," Dia added.
"You weren't testing whether we'd actually do it just now, were you? Trying to use our guilt as leverage?"
"Watcher, you really are despicable."
Ashe decided not to waste his breath arguing with these two black-hearted operators. Instead, he steered the car toward the golden-marked waypoint. Experience had taught him that a golden prompt usually signaled an extremely rare zone, like the Destiny Quiz, Serendipity Island, the Whirlpool, or perhaps the Legendary Library. However...
This golden glow feels... off.
The prompt read.
[It seems suitable for you... and yet not quite.]
Despite a growing sense of unease, Ashe drove straight into the anomaly.
The area revealed itself as a modest wooden house nestled within a small garden. At a glance, it appeared to be nothing more than a humble farmhouse. Before stepping out, Ashe offered a sharp warning, "The moment we enter, disconnect from the Virtual World immediately. Do not let yourself be tempted by rewards. If this place can't hold off the Legion of Heroes outside, we're in serious trouble."
The Swordswoman and the Witch nodded solemnly, and together, they crossed the threshold.
Inside, the atmosphere was deceptively mundane. The waxwood floors creaked pleasantly underfoot, and a simple, patterned carpet lent a touch of warmth to the plain rectangular dining table. Near the window, a stove sat surrounded by cooking utensils, while handmade racks displayed various trinkets.
There was no obvious light source, but on the Continent of Time, illumination was the least of their worries. Even the Ascending Golden Rain acted like independent vendors. With their constant "delivery service," they provided a radiance that rivaled the sun itself.
The house was cluttered with seating. It held soft armchairs, a swing, a child's rocking horse, hammocks, and recliners. There were far more places to sit than expected, providing options suitable for everyone from a toddler to a centenarian. It felt as if the original owner had headed a household of five generations.
"Chairs... so many chairs..." Sonya muttered, her brow furrowing. "I feel like I've seen this somewhere before..."
Her eyes widened. "Right! I remember now. This is the House of Reflected Mind. Its main feature is that any sorcerer who enters will... lose their memory."
The moment the village girl finished her sentence, her gaze landed on a man in a dark red coat and a girl with strangely disheveled hair standing nearby, neither of whom she recognized.
"Who are you?!" Sonya barked, recoiling as she leveled her blade. "Don't come any closer!"
"I should be asking you that," Ashe countered, drawing his own sword. "Why am I even here?"
Nearby, Dia staggered against the wall and slid to the floor. Her expression twisted in pain as she covered her face, muttering, "Who are you... Why are you inside my head... get out... get out!"
At that moment, a message appeared in their minds.
[You have lost all memories of non-knowledge-related abilities.][1]
[Three precious treasures have been lost along with your memories.]
[To retrieve them, answer three questions asked by "you".]
[Wrong answer: lose the treasure. Correct answer: gain an additional reward of equal value.]
[Refusing to answer counts as failure. Memories will be restored once you leave the house.]
["You" have been waiting for you.]
The three then turned around. There, on the bench, the armchair, and the swing, they saw... themselves.
"Right now, we are the originals," Phantom Ashe said with a smile. "I have your memories, while you don't even remember your own name."
Phantom Sonya sat cross-legged on the armchair, her sharp gaze fixed on her counterpart. "Shouldn't there only be one of us?"
"What does it matter?" Phantom Dia laughed, swaying on the swing. Her hair was a vivid mix of colors, yet every strand was neatly separated. "Isn't it more fun with everyone together?"
Ashe, Sonya, and Dia stood frozen, their minds struggling to process the impossible sight.
Suddenly, the door creaked open. Denzel, clad in a spiderweb-patterned robe, stepped inside. Their intruders' instincts flared instantly. "Who are you?"
Denzel looked at the three strangers. "Same as you. Someone who has lost their memory."
As soon as she spoke, a phantom version of Denzel appeared on the recliner. Unlike the real Denzel, whose body was concealed beneath an eerie robe, the phantom version wore it open. She had wheat-toned skin and a striking, confident figure, reclining lazily with a bold and unrestrained presence.
Only then did the three realize that Denzel was a woman.
Phantom Denzel blinked sleepily, sat up, and rubbed her eyes. She looked at her hands as if she had discovered something precious. After a brief moment of organizing her thoughts, a relieved smile touched her lips. "Not bad..."
Phantom Ashe said lightly, "There are quite a lot of people here, but that won't ruin the game. Still, there are too many of us. To make things easier, we should use codenames to distinguish ourselves from you nameless ones. Hmm... call me the Watcher."
Phantom Sonya added, "Swordswoman."
Phantom Dia chirped, "Should I call myself Princess, or Apostle... Queen sounds good too... Never mind, I'll go with Witch!"
Phantom Denzel thought for a moment. "Empress."
"Good," Phantom Ashe clapped his hands, his eyes gleaming. "So, who wants to be the first to answer their own question?"
1. Non-knowledge-related means they still retain their memories to cast their spirits and Miracles. ☜
