Watcher Daddy

After parting ways with Ingrid, Sonia headed to the Meditation Building alone and asked in her heart, "You said earlier that I could use the Torrent Spell Spirit myself?"

"That's right." The Watcher walked alongside her. "Don't you have some foundation in the Water Art Faction? I remember that one Swordsmanship Miracle had Ripple Sword and Torrent as its core Spell Spirits."

"You know the specific trick behind that Miracle!?"

Sonia immediately grew excited. If she could master a Swordsmanship Miracle, not only would she earn Professor Tello Zan's appreciation, she might even qualify for Gala City's High School League and use her own strength to force open the doors of high society—

"I don't."

"..."

"But since you have these two Spell Spirits, you can invent this Miracle yourself." The Watcher spoke casually. "Isn't the wondrous thing about Spellcasters that they can combine any number of Spell Spirits into incredible, dazzling Miracles?"

"I asked Professor Tello Zan too, but even he would need several months to create a water sword Miracle based on Ripple Sword and Torrent..."

"How could he compare to you? You're the Sword Maiden I found."

Sonia curled her lips. She was no three-year-old child; she would not believe such effortless flattery—if you thought so highly of me, just tell me the Miracle Spell outright!

I'll remember your great kindness. Once I rise to fame and fortune, wouldn't I repay you?

And if you die before I rise to fame and fortune, I'll definitely prepare a grand funeral for you!

Her eyes shifted as she suppressed the ripples in her heart as much as possible, then continued, "So, Watcher, did you take the Substitute Spell Spirit because you wanted to give the Torrent Spell Spirit to me? You're so good to me~"

The Watcher immediately shuddered and shifted a step away. He seemed somewhat wary as his shadowy face stared at Sonia.

Sonia maintained her sweet smile, doing everything she could to control her thoughts and keep the Watcher from hearing what she truly felt.

"...Enough testing me. I took the Substitute Spell Spirit because I needed it."

"Someone at your level needs a One-Winged Art Spirit?"

"First, there are no weak Spell Spirits, only weak Spellcasters. That should be a principle taught in every Spellcaster textbook."

The Watcher said, "Secondly, I'm just a weakling right now, weaker than you, and I'm also in danger. My true body is imprisoned in a Prison. Not only am I weak, but I also lost many memories while waking up, so I need to learn basic Spellcaster knowledge through you."

Weak right now... which means he used to be strong?

Lost memories... could he have been hit by a Miracle that eroded memories?

No wonder he asked so many idiotic questions. He really is an idiot.

But even Sonia, who did not read much fantasy fiction, instantly imagined all sorts of plots—"the return of the strong," "the fall of a Legendary Arcanist," "the awakening of a great existence"—and could not help feeling her heartbeat quicken—

Isn't this exactly the promising prospect I've always wanted to find!?

Though his current circumstances were not great, as long as he was given time to grow, he would surely become an unparalleled powerhouse, a towering tree, the master of his own faction, and enjoy all the riches and glory!

Ordinary promising prospects still involved probability, but the Watcher was simply returning to his peak. Given enough time, his success was practically guaranteed!

Sonia had never been interested in Felix because she had hoped to find a promising prospect herself. Nobles were not so easy to take advantage of. Even if a noble young master like Felix was an idiot, his parents were not. If she wanted to rely on a great noble's power, she would surely have to sacrifice a huge piece of herself—literally. Unless she bore him a child, she should not expect to get away.

If she could find a promising prospect to marry, Sonia could not only enjoy wealth and glory, but also retain her independence instead of having no say at all in the household.

Although the Watcher was her superior, finding a marriage partner followed the same logic as finding a superior.

Rather than join some large organization later and become a cog, she might as well become a founding elder who started a venture with a promising superior!

"Watcher, what danger are you in? Do you need my help? Just say the word! Protecting you is our unshirkable duty!"

"...When we conduct Void Realm Exploration later, if we encounter the Spell Spirits required for the Slay Self Miracle, give them to me."

"The Slay Self Miracle?"

"Oh, right, I haven't told you yet. I'm currently locked in some Prison, and I need the Slay Self Miracle to escape."

Once the Watcher explained the Slay Self Miracle in detail, Sonia was dumbfounded—if she remembered correctly, this was a Miracle that had not yet been registered in the Star Miracles Catalog!

A Miracle that had never appeared in Star Country!

And it was an extremely practical Swordsmanship Miracle that a Silver Arcanist could use to heal themselves!

Sonia could not sell this Miracle—she could not explain where it came from, nor did she have the means to create it herself. She could not even gather all the required Spell Spirits. If she tried to sell it, the Spellcaster Association would only deem it stolen from another person's patent—but if she could license and sell the secret of this Miracle, the money she earned would be enough to turn Sonia directly into a little rich woman in Gala City!

So Sonia was still just a small-minded commoner. Being discovered by the Watcher for her Sword Art talent and being led through adventures in the Void Realm by him had only made her feel grateful.

Yet when the Watcher gave her the secret to a Miracle—a Miracle Spell she could not currently use or sell—Sonia was so delighted that she could barely control herself, simply because the latter held greater value in Star Country.

That was what it meant for a future pie in the sky to lose to present wages; spiritual satisfaction could not replace material satisfaction.

"Th-this Swordsmanship Miracle... did you invent it?"

"No."

The Watcher glanced at Sonia.

"I stole this Swordsmanship Miracle from an enemy."

Sonia blinked. "Will I get into trouble for using this Miracle?"

"You can rest assured. That enemy of mine will absolutely never appear before you."

He paused. "Absolutely never."

So the Patent Inventor is already dead?

Sonia's heart stirred. Once she fully spread her Silver Wing and gathered the several Spell Spirits for the Slay Self Miracle, could she not claim this Miracle as her own and license it for sale? A big shot like the Watcher surely would not care about such a minor benefit, right?

"All right, I'll definitely do my best during Void Realm Exploration and help you gather the Spell Spirits for the Slay Self Miracle. Oh, right, there's actually something else I wanted to discuss with you..."

"Let's talk after we enter the Void Realm." The Watcher stepped into the Meditation Building. "There's plenty of time in the Void Realm. You can discuss whatever you want. Oh, aren't you bothered by my ability to hear your thoughts? I've decided to accommodate your wishes."

Joy lit up Sonia's face. "You're going to stop monitoring my mind?"

"No. I've decided not to seek you out in daily life anymore." The Watcher shrugged. "From now on, you won't need to call 'Watcher' in your heart before using the bathroom or taking a bath. I'm not toilet paper or a towel."

"How did you know I call your name in my heart before using the bathroom and taking a bath?"

"That isn't important!"

The Watcher waved a hand. "If you have anything to say in the future, just save it for the Void Realm. I won't appear in your normal life anymore."

"If... if you don't listen to my thoughts, I'd still welcome you. Even if you insist on listening to them, I think I'm almost used to it..."

Sonia's response was somewhat hesitant. She undoubtedly hated the Watcher violating her privacy, but it was precisely because of that that she could reveal her true nature before him, without needing—or being able—to wear any Mask.

That was also why Sonia had seemed so happy when she previously suspected that the Watcher was a manifestation of her split personality.

Wasn't an intelligent being that knew everything about her, yet could not affect her social relationships, the ideal confidant?

"You make it sound as though your daily life is so fascinating that I'm dying to watch it." The Watcher crossed his arms. "I have things to do too. I don't have time to watch you change clothes every day."

"So you did peek at me changing clothes?"

"Anyway, the few hours in the Void Realm will be our time to communicate. At all other times, I won't disturb you. Even if you call me, I won't appear."

"What if I have something extremely urgent to ask you?"

"Calling me would be useless anyway." The Watcher spread his hands. "The me that descends beside you is only a phantom. I can't even pick up a strand of hair. I can't provide you with any tangible help. If you call me over, I won't be able to do anything except mock you."

"Mocking me is fine." Sonia remained stubborn. "Then will you appear when I call for you?"

"That really is a difficult request to refuse. But I'm curious—do you need me so badly because I fill the fatherly love missing from your childhood?"

"Then do you want me to call you Watcher Daddy?"

"No, thanks. Just call me Watcher." The Watcher recoiled as if avoiding disaster. "Otherwise, I'll have nightmares."

As they spoke, the two had arrived at an individual Meditation Room. Sonia sat down cross-legged, glanced at the Watcher beside her, took out the Ripple Sword Spell Spirit, searched for the Gate of Truth, and entered the Void Realm.

Watching Sonia close her eyes as her consciousness connected with the distant Void Realm, the Watcher suddenly sighed.

Terrifying...

In only two days, she found a way to conceal her thoughts. She can even deceive me in her heart...

She truly deserves to be called the Witch who bears the name Death Frenzy...

This talent, this brilliance—was it good or bad to let her discover her potential so early...?

But that was no longer something I needed to worry about.

The Watcher shrugged, and his figure vanished from the Meditation Room.