Recaps

Clinton and Pass worked together to defeat the Copy, though Clinton was badly wounded in the fight. After sending Pass to help Lucina and the others, Galan continued facing his own Copy.

• Clinton fought the Copy with concealed sword techniques but was gradually overwhelmed by its speed and attacks.
• Clinton pinned the Copy's weapon in place, creating an opening for Pass to strike its head with his axe and shatter it.
• Pass rushed to check Clinton's wounds, but Clinton insisted he was still alive and ordered Pass to help Lucina and the others.
• Galan stayed calm as he faced his Copy, waiting for it to attack so he could counter.

Galan fought and defeated a Copy that matched his strength but lacked his speed, using his short sword, footwork, and combat instincts. Afterward, he reflected that he had grown rusty while focusing on potions, Lia, and magic, and he still needed to help Lucina and the others.

• Galan worried about Lucina facing two Mages and about Clinton and the others fighting another Copy, then resolved to defeat his own opponent quickly.
• Galan used his speed to attack the Copy, but it blocked his blows through instinctive anticipation; he drew a short sword and wounded its thigh.
• Galan pressed the Copy with another attack, anticipated its evasive reflex, and kicked its head onto his blade, breaking its neck and defeating it.
• Galan dismissed the Mana Particles and admitted that he had regressed in his combat skills after rarely practicing them.

Lucina struggled to defend herself and Lia against two Fire Mages, while Lia used her own mana to strengthen their protection. As Lia neared collapse and Lucina prepared to stop her spellcasting, a familiar figure hurried toward them.

• Two expressionless Copies combined their Fire magic into a powerful attack that strained Lucina’s Defensive Magic.
• Lia added a Mana Barrier, easing the pressure on Lucina’s defense.
• Lucina realized Lia was rapidly exhausting her mana and warned her to stop before she harmed herself.
• Lia insisted Galan would return to save them, but she grew weaker and began to sway.
• Lucina prepared a spell to put Lia to sleep when a familiar figure appeared around a nearby corner.

Galan arrived to help Lucina and Lia, but the Copies’ powerful combined magic kept him from reaching them. He charged through their wall of flames to close the distance, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Galan arrived as the Copies redirected their Fire Phoenix attack toward him.
• Lucina tried to strike the Copies with a lightning beam, but an unseen barrier blocked it.
• Galan dodged the Fire Phoenix while the Copies used flames to block his escape routes and prevent him from approaching.
• Galan decided to charge through the flames, using his Alchemy Longsword to disperse some of the fire as he rushed toward the Copies.

Galan defeated the two Copies by exploiting the limits of their protective Magic Item and the rigid [Fire Phoenix] spell. He reunited with Lucina and Lia, learning that Lia had nearly run out of mana.

• Lucina warned Galan that the Copies carried a self-activating protective Magic Item.
• Galan attacked the Copies, but their shield blocked his longsword as the [Fire Phoenix] closed in.
• Galan maneuvered behind the Copies, using their shield to shelter himself from the flames.
• Galan escaped around a corner, then returned and struck until the shield collapsed.
• Galan cut down both Copies and joined Lucina and Lia, who said Lia had nearly passed out from mana depletion.

Galan and his companions escaped the Fallen King's Tomb after defeating its threats, and Lucina reported the Dungeon's true name to the Guild. Back in Äußerst, Galan tried to rest, but Serie contacted him to ask whether he had found what she wanted.

• Galan reunited with Clinton and Pass, who had defeated their Copy, and urged the group to leave before more Copies appeared.
• Galan led the group out by following the marks he had left, while other adventuring parties suffered heavy losses in the Dungeon.
• Lucina reported the Dungeon's true name, the Fallen King's Tomb, to the Guild, which classified it as an S-rank commission.
• Galan and Lia returned to Äußerst with Clinton's party, then parted ways; Lia fell asleep, and Galan went to bed exhausted.
• Serie contacted Galan through magic and asked whether he had found the thing she wanted, dismissing the danger of the Dungeon.

Galan told Serie he had found no relics in the Fallen King's Tomb, explaining that the fog, the Water Mirror Demon's Copy, and the wounded people with him had forced him to retreat. Serie said she had only sent him on a whim and then turned to her plans for the Dungeon and the Continental Magic Association.

• Serie asked Galan whether he had found relics from past eras in the Dungeon, and he said he had brought nothing back.
• Galan explained that the fog had prevented him from searching and that he had fled when the Water Mirror Demon's Copy pursued him while he was escorting wounded people.
• Serie told Galan she did not care whether he found relics and suggested that the Fallen King's Tomb might someday serve as a place for trials.
• Galan worried that the Empire and other opponents might resist Serie's plan to establish the Continental Magic Association.
• Serie rebuked Galan for doubting her and insisted that no one could stop her from doing what she wanted.

After waking, Galan took Lia out to eat at Lake’s restaurant, where they reunited with Lucina, Pass, and Clinton. On the way home, Galan briefly saw his left hand turn translucent and feared the world was rejecting him, while Lia, drunk and asleep, had to be carried back.

• Galan woke in the evening and invited Lia to eat at Lake’s restaurant.
• Galan bought grilled skewers for himself and Lia, and Lia accidentally stepped on Lucina, whom they recognized and greeted.
• Pass and Clinton joined them, and Galan invited the group to dinner at Lake’s restaurant.
• At dinner, Pass challenged Galan and Clinton to a drinking contest, while Lia drank and chatted with Lucina.
• After leaving the restaurant, Galan noticed his left hand briefly turn translucent and worried that the world was rejecting him.
• Lia became drunk on the way home, and Galan carried her after she fell asleep in his arms.

Galan recruited Fitz to research a special-effect blood-replenishing potion, then went west of Äußerst to practice Blood Manipulation Magic. He tested how long he could sustain the spell and how far its blood could reach, discovering that it could strike from nearly ten meters away but lacked penetrating power at that range.

• Galan felt uneasy about persuading Fitz to work for free, but reasoned that solving the blood supply problem could also help with the Rejuvenation Potion research.
• Galan remembered Lia was out with Frog and decided to practice Blood Manipulation Magic while he had time.
• Galan left Äußerst and chose a quiet clearing west of the city to train.
• Galan controlled his mana and used a specially made Magic Item containing his blood to form a floating ring around himself.
• Galan estimated that he could sustain the magic for a few dozen seconds and pierced a tree nearly ten meters away, though the strike penetrated less than five centimeters.

Galan tested shaping his blood into a claw but found that the increased mana cost made the technique unsustainable. He rushed to help a girl under attack by an Armored Beast, and moved in to strike as it charged her.

• Galan concluded he could use shaped blood for only a few seconds because it consumed too much mana.
• Galan considered mixing poison into his stored blood, then set out to test his abilities against a monster.
• Galan heard a woman calling for help and found a girl struggling against an Armored Beast whose scales protected its neck.
• Galan rushed to intervene, but the girl relaxed when she saw him, allowing the Armored Beast to knock her sword away.
• The Armored Beast charged at the retreating girl, and Galan appeared beside it, preparing to attack its head.

Galan fought an armored beast whose scales resisted his blade, then prepared to use blood magic to attack it from within. As the beast charged again, he began shaping the blood in a bottle, leaving the outcome of his risky plan unresolved.

• Galan blinded the armored beast in one eye, but his strike against its back failed to penetrate its scales.
• The girl warned Galan that the beast's scales were tough enough to damage weapons, and he considered retreating before deciding to test his blood magic on it.
• Galan put away his blade, took out a bottle of blood, and waited for the beast to charge so he could try invading its body.
• Galan summoned mana and began stirring the blood in the bottle, but the armored beast suddenly accelerated toward him.

Galan defeated the charging Armored Beast by controlling blood through its ruined eye and destroying its brain from within. After the beast dissolved into Mana Particles, the girl asked how he had attacked, and Galan left her puzzled by his explanation.

• The girl rushed to help Galan as the Armored Beast charged at him.
• Galan sent a stream of blood into the beast’s ruined eye and destroyed its brain before his control over the blood ran out.
• The Armored Beast lost consciousness, collapsed, and dissolved into Mana Particles.
• The girl asked Galan how he had defeated the beast, and he said he had destroyed its brain from the inside.
• The girl questioned how Galan could do that if he was a warrior.

After saving Amber from an Armored Beast, Galan refused her request to become his disciple and admitted that he had defeated the monster with magic. He escaped while she checked the remains and headed back into the city, wondering whether Lia and the others would be at the inn.

• Amber introduced herself as an adventurer and asked Galan to take her as his disciple so she could overcome a dead end in her sword training.
• Galan refused, explaining that he had no time to train a disciple and did not want to involve more people in his troubles.
• Amber insisted she could endure hardship, but Galan told her that he had used magic rather than a martial technique to defeat the Armored Beast.
• Amber found blood where the monster had disappeared, then turned back to find Galan gone.
• Galan concealed his presence and fled into the city, then checked his belongings and headed to the inn for dinner.

Galan went to a tavern in Äußerst and overheard a patron claim that the greater Demon Rivale had appeared nearby. The others doubted the report, but Galan took it seriously and wondered why Rivale had come.

• Galan returned to the inn and, finding Lia still gone, went out to visit a tavern.
• Galan sat alone, remembered drinking with Glenn, and wondered how his old friend was doing.
• A middle-aged man told the tavern patrons that his friend had seen a greater Demon near Äußerst.
• The patrons scoffed at the story, citing Serie's presence, while Galan listened closely.
• The middle-aged man recalled the Demon was the Bloodstained War God, Rivale, and Galan considered why Rivale might have come to Äußerst.

Galan learned that Rivale had been seen near Äußerst but had left without attacking a caravan, and he suspected Serie had driven the demon away. Later, Serie told Galan he would likely remain in this time period for about three years and warned him against dangerous actions that could cause a time paradox.

• A middle-aged man told a tavern that his companion had seen Rivale near Äußerst, but Rivale had left without attacking their caravan.
• Galan concluded that Serie was probably the only person who could have made Rivale retreat.
• After dinner, Galan explored Äußerst and spoke with Serie through Voice Transmission Magic.
• Serie urged Galan to practice magic and teased him about his lack of imagination as a mage.
• Serie estimated that Galan could remain in this time period for roughly three years and warned him not to do anything dangerous because of the risk of a Time Paradox.
• Galan thanked Serie for her help, and she said she had acted out of interest in Goddess Magic and her research.

Galan asked Serie about Rivale and learned that the demon warrior had once fought her and escaped with the Demon King's help. Serie told Galan she was already on her way to Eisberg to deal with opposition to the Continental Magic Association, while Frog took Lia to buy clothes and challenged the shopkeeper over the price.

• Galan asked Serie whether Rivale had been near Äußerst, and Serie said she had sensed him a few days earlier.
• Serie revealed that Rivale had failed to defeat her several hundred years ago before the Demon King rescued him, and warned Galan he might not survive a fight with him.
• Serie told Galan she was traveling to Eisberg to confront people opposing the Continental Magic Association, and their connection faded as she went out of range.
• Frog brought Lia to a clothing store, where Lia admired the colorful garments and Frog offered to buy several outfits for her.
• The shopkeeper quoted five Lacir Gold Coins for the clothes, and Frog accused him of trying to overcharge him.

Frog bargained with a shopkeeper over clothes for Lia, rejecting the inflated prices and asking a young customer for advice. The shopkeeper tried to keep them from leaving, but another customer entered before they reached an agreement.

• Frog objected to the shopkeeper's initial five-gold-coin price and demanded a reasonable offer for the clothes.
• Frog asked a young female customer what similar clothes cost, but she said she did not know and appeared embarrassed.
• The shopkeeper offered the clothes for two Lacir Gold Coins, and Frog rejected the price as insincere.
• Frog threatened to buy from another shop, and Lia nodded in agreement.
• The shopkeeper urged them to stay, and the entrance bell rang as another customer arrived.

Galan joined Frog and Lia at a clothing shop and haggled the shopkeeper down from two Lacir Gold Coins to three Shtrel Silver Coins for Lia's clothes. Lia worried she was causing trouble and suggested leaving, while a girl nearby continued staring at Galan.

• Galan arrived at the shop and offered to pay for Lia's clothes.
• Frog quoted the shopkeeper's price of two Lacir Gold Coins, and Galan protested that the clothes were worth no more than three Shtrel Silver Coins.
• Frog teased Galan about knowing the prices of women's clothes and noticed a girl staring at him.
• Galan pressured the shopkeeper to accept three Shtrel Silver Coins, and the shopkeeper reluctantly considered the offer.
• Lia tugged at Galan's sleeve and said they should leave because she did not need new clothes.

Galan negotiated down the price of clothes for Lia before Amber confronted him about avoiding her after he saved her. Amber left the shop feeling rejected, while Galan was urged to respond.

• Lia tried to leave so Galan and the others would not get into trouble over her clothes, but Galan reassured her.
• Galan refused the shop owner's inflated prices and negotiated the clothes down to three Shtrel Silver Coins, with Frog mocking the owner.
• Amber recognized Galan as the man who had saved her and asked why he had run off without answering her request to become his apprentice.
• Amber lowered her head and headed for the shop entrance, upset after seeing Galan favor Lia and feeling unsuccessful as an adventurer.
• Frog elbowed Galan to make him respond, while Lia watched curiously.

Galan agreed to take Amber as his apprentice after she confronted him, though he planned to find Lancelot to teach her instead. Amber learned where Galan was staying and left, while Galan and Lia returned to the inn after Frog teased him.

• Galan agreed to take Amber as his apprentice to calm her down, while privately considering asking Lancelot to teach her.
• Amber asked how she could contact Galan, and he told her to find him at his inn in Äußerst, where he expected to stay for about three years.
• Amber memorized the route to the inn, bowed to Galan, and left.
• Frog teased Galan about taking a beautiful apprentice, and Galan elbowed him before Frog departed.
• Galan took Lia upstairs at the inn.

Galan reassured Lia about taking Amber as his apprentice, but Lia remained confused by her unsettled feelings and wondered if they were love. The next morning, Amber visited Galan for training, and he proposed testing her with ordinary association commissions while he watched over her.

• Lia asked Galan whether he was happy about taking Amber as an apprentice, and he explained that it had been the best solution and suggested the girls might become friends.
• Lia returned to her room, puzzled by her jealousy and wondering whether her feelings for Galan were love.
• Amber arrived at the inn early to meet Galan, who struggled to decide how to train her.
• Galan suggested taking Amber on ordinary association commissions and letting her handle most of them while he stayed nearby to assess her and keep her safe.

Galan assured Amber that she could keep the full reward for their request, then searched the Adventurers Guild for a suitable task to use in his teaching. As Amber confronted an A-rank adventurer and his underling for harassing Galan, the underling reached to grab Galan’s shoulder.

• Galan told Amber that she would receive the entire reward for the request, easing her concern about balancing training and money.
• At the Adventurers Guild, Galan searched the request boards but rejected both an SS-rank Imperial Prison Dragon hunt and low-paying Magic-Eating Rat work as unsuitable.
• A burly A-rank adventurer mocked Galan and told him to take a Magic-Eating Rat request, while his underling ordered Galan to move aside.
• Amber stepped in to defend Galan, then froze when she noticed the man’s A-rank medal.
• The underling moved to grab Galan’s shoulder as the burly adventurer watched without intervening.

Galan stopped the short man from bullying Amber and pinned him to the floor, revealing a strength that surprised both the short man and Amber. The burly man acknowledged that the short man worked for him and asked Galan to let the matter go, but offered no apology.

• The short man grabbed Galan’s shoulder, and Galan swiftly threw him to the ground.
• Amber watched in surprise as Galan held the short man down and told him he had only defended himself.
• The short man struggled and called on the burly man to help him.
• Galan asked whether the short man belonged to the burly man, who recognized Galan as a formidable opponent.
• The burly man admitted the short man was one of his and urged Galan to release him and avoid trouble at the guild.

Galan stood up to the burly man and forced him to abandon his short subordinate, then gave the short man a chance to escape by apologizing to those he had harmed. The crowd of wronged adventurers surrounded the short man and demanded repayment.

• Galan refused to release the short man unless the burly man apologized, and the two exchanged threats as a crowd gathered.
• The burly man realized he had lost the advantage, threatened Galan, and left without rescuing his subordinate.
• The short man begged Galan for mercy and promised to change his ways.
• Galan tossed the short man into the crowd and told him to apologize to people he had harmed if he wanted to be released.
• Adventurers whom the short man had bullied demanded their money and stolen belongings back.

Galan chose a commission to hunt [Lion Dogs] and prepared to register it with Amber, who was shocked to learn it was a top-tier B-rank job. The chapter left them at the guild counter, with Amber facing a commission far beyond the rank of work she usually took.

• Galan left the crowd after confronting the short man and warned Amber that the man could not cause them much trouble without his powerful backer.
• Amber explained that the guild registered commissions and compensated the families of adventurers who died on insured jobs.
• Galan learned that Amber worked alone to support her grandmother and struggled to find parties willing to accept her despite her [B]-rank rating.
• Amber asked which commission Galan had chosen, and he told her they would hunt [Lion Dogs].
• Amber recognized [Lion Dogs] as a top-tier B-rank commission requiring a [B]-rank party and reacted in shock.