Chapter Summaries

Galan called Serie for help when Pass objected to him joining the Dungeon team, and Serie appeared in person to settle the dispute. She left after Pass apologized and accepted Galan and Lia, while noticing Lia’s hidden mana but choosing not to question her.

• Galan contacted Serie and told her Pass was resisting his place on the team.
• Serie arrived at the hall, and the onlookers recognized the legendary Mage of Äußerst.
• Galan pointed out Pass, and Serie’s pressure left him unable to move freely as she challenged his objections.
• Pass apologized to Galan and agreed to let him and Lia join the team.
• Serie noticed Lia’s powerful, concealed mana but left without asking her about it, reminding Galan not to forget what she wanted.

Galan and Lia rested with the adventurers before the operation, while Galan explained that Serie had forced him to join the commission. Clinton apologized for Pass’s earlier insults, then became convinced that Galan was Serie’s lover despite Galan insisting they were only friends. Lia quietly wondered whether Galan and Serie really were friends.

• Clinton apologized to Galan for Pass’s rude behavior, and Galan dismissed the matter.
• Galan learned that the other adventurers resented his and Lia’s unexpected inclusion because they feared it would hurt their teamwork and chances at the commission rewards.
• Lia asked who Serie was, and Clinton questioned Galan about his relationship with her.
• Clinton decided that Galan must be Serie’s lover and promised to keep it secret, while Galan repeatedly denied it and grew frustrated.
• Lia lowered her head and wondered whether Galan and Serie were really friends.

Galan tried to clear up Lia’s misunderstanding about his relationship with Serie as Clinton’s gossip sparked further speculation among the expedition members. The group reached the Ghost Mist Dungeon, where Clinton warned Galan that even elite adventurers had died or vanished inside.

• Clinton mistook Galan and Serie for lovers and warned Pass that their relationship was dangerous to discuss.
• Clinton led Pass and the purple-hatted girl after the expedition group, privately regretting that he had revealed too much.
• After walking for about two hours, the group reached the imposing ruins of the Ghost Mist Dungeon.
• Galan reassured Lia that he and Serie were only friends and business partners, though Lia wondered why he cared so much about convincing her.
• Clinton explained that the dungeon’s previous scouting party had suffered heavy losses, despite being made up of elite adventurers.

Galan and Lia prepared to enter the Dungeon with Clinton’s party, while Galan reassured Clinton that he could protect himself. The party agreed on a cautious plan, placing Galan and Lia behind the experienced adventurers as they began their expedition.

• Galan told Clinton to focus on protecting Lia, and Lia insisted that she could protect herself too.
• Clinton warned Galan and Lia to stay close and keep ready as the twelve parties organized themselves before entering the Dungeon.
• Clinton assigned Pass to take the front line with him, Lucina to provide magical support and clear traps, and Wallace to heal anyone injured.
• Clinton arranged for Galan and Lia to stay behind the party and leave by a safe route if trouble arose, and Galan accepted the plan.
• Pass regretted his earlier behavior toward Galan after suspecting that Galan was Lady Serie's partner.

Galan and Clinton’s party entered the Ghost Mist Dungeon, where thick fog and a restriction on Mana Detection isolated them from the other adventurers. After they walked through the Dungeon without encountering danger, Galan discovered that Lia and Lucina had disappeared.

• Clinton led the party into the Ghost Mist Dungeon after they waited until most other adventurers had gone ahead.
• Galan and Lucina found that the Dungeon’s Mana Barrier prevented them from using Mana Detection, and Lucina’s fog-dispelling magic failed.
• The party realized they could neither see nor hear the other groups and suspected the Dungeon had separated them.
• Pass asked Galan about his strength, and Galan said he had helped defeat several Demons, including greater Demons.
• After the party walked through the fog without encountering any traps, Galan turned around and found Lia and Lucina missing.

Clinton, Pass, Wallace, and Galan searched for the missing Lucina and Lia in a Dungeon that disrupted their magic perception, then encountered a Clay Person identical to Pass. The group faced the strange copy as Clinton tried to understand what it was.

• Clinton realized Lucina and Lia had disappeared, while Wallace explained that the Dungeon blocked their magic perception.
• Galan worried about Lia and retraced their steps, but Pass called him back to keep the group together.
• Wallace cast [Lionheart] on the group, and Pass reassured Galan that Lucina would protect Lia.
• Clinton warned the others as a dark figure suddenly attacked him with an axe, and he narrowly dodged the blow.
• Pass moved to help Clinton, but froze when they saw the attacker was a Clay Person identical to him.
• Clinton noted that the Clay Person matched Pass's build and movements, while Galan reached an answer about its nature.

Lucina and Lia became separated from Galan and the others in the Ghost Mist Dungeon, and Lucina suspected its fog warped their sense of direction. While they searched for a way out, Lucina discovered Lia had been suppressing her immense mana and learned that Galan had told her she would be his girlfriend.

• Lucina and Lia called for Galan and the others but realized the fog had cut them off and left them lost.
• Lucina suspected the Ghost Mist Dungeon worked like a maze that distorted their perception and kept them on the wrong path.
• Lucina noticed Lia's mana trembling and learned Lia had been suppressing it because Galan told her to.
• Lucina asked Lia about her connection to Galan and Serie, and Lia said she had only met Serie that day.
• Lia told Lucina that Galan had said she would be his girlfriend, leaving Lucina bewildered by their complicated relationships.

Lucina and Lia encountered a Water Mirror Demon that copied Lucina’s magic, while Galan explained the creature’s ability to imitate its targets. The group learned that the copies could attack without warning when Galan’s copy nearly killed Clinton, leaving Clinton shaken by Galan’s intervention.

• Lucina sensed an approaching presence and shielded Lia as a shadow resembling her attacked with Lightning-Piercing Magic.
• Lucina identified the attacker as a Water Mirror Demon, and Galan explained that it could copy people’s magic, abilities, and fighting styles.
• Clinton grew confident that he could defeat Pass’s copy, but Galan yanked him aside just before Galan’s copy nearly cut off his head.
• Clinton realized Galan had saved him and stared at Galan in disbelief.

Galan faced his powerful copy while Clinton, Pass, and Wallace fought Pass's copy in the mist. Galan recognized that Blood Manipulation Magic might give him an advantage, but he continued searching for an opening as the others struggled to corner their opponent.

• Galan's revealed strength shook Clinton and Pass, who realized they could not easily defeat his copy.
• Galan warned the group that two copies had yet to appear and decided to face his own opponent.
• Galan suspected his copy lacked blood to fuel Blood Manipulation Magic, but the copy charged before he could test the idea.
• Galan dodged the copy's sword attacks while studying its moves and waiting for an opening.
• Pass's copy attacked, and Pass, Clinton, and Wallace coordinated to surround it.
• Pass's copy evaded their attacks, while Clinton and Pass traded jokes and continued fighting.

Clinton and Pass defeated Pass’s copy, but another Clay Person ambushed them and killed Wallace. Pass charged the copy of Clinton in a rage, while Clinton tried to stop him as the enemy’s sword threatened Pass’s heart.

• Clinton and Pass cornered and destroyed the copy of Pass after Clinton disarmed it and Pass struck off its head.
• Pass joked with Clinton and Wallace, but turned around when Wallace did not answer and saw a Clay Person holding a longsword behind Wallace’s headless body.
• Pass charged Clinton’s copy in a rage over Wallace’s death, despite knowing he was outmatched.
• Clinton called for Pass to retreat as the copy aimed a fatal thrust at him.
• Pass’s axe suddenly sped up, deflected the longsword, and wounded the copy of Clinton’s face.

Pass wounded Clinton’s copy with his new Late Tyrant Slash, but the copy counterattacked and knocked him back. Clinton and Pass regrouped and fought together, trying to overwhelm the copy before new dangers appeared.

• Pass used his Late Tyrant Slash to wound Clinton’s copy, proving that the move could hurt a near-identical opponent.
• Clinton’s copy immediately counterattacked and sent Pass flying, while Clinton warned him not to act recklessly.
• Pass admitted his attack had been impulsive, stood beside Clinton, and prepared to fight with him.
• Clinton and Pass waited for the copy to move first, then attacked it from opposite directions in coordinated strikes.

Clinton and Pass defeated Clinton’s copy after Pass sacrificed an ear to create an opening, but they soon discovered that the Water Mirror Demon could produce another copy. The new Pass copy emerged from the fog as they set out to find Galan.

• Pass charged Clinton’s copy and let it cut off his ear so the copy would focus entirely on him.
• Pass forced the copy to block his axe, giving Clinton a chance to attack from behind and sever its head and limbs.
• Clinton worried about Pass’s reckless move but held back his reproach after remembering Wallace’s body.
• Clinton and Pass headed toward the fog to help Galan, who had lured his own copy away.
• Another copy of Pass emerged from the fog, revealing that the Water Mirror Demon could make multiple copies.

Galan discovered that the Water Mirror Demon’s copy could not use Blood Manipulation Magic against him, so he stopped evading and began fighting back. He summoned blood from two bottles to attack the copy, confident he could defeat it quickly and then find Lia.

• Galan dodged his copy’s attacks while testing its abilities and concluded that it could not use Blood Manipulation Magic to control his blood.
• Galan clashed swords with the copy for the first time, pushed it back, and declared that copying his skills was not enough to defeat him.
• Galan worried that Lia was in danger and resolved to finish the fight quickly so he could find her.
• Galan uncorked two bottles of preserved blood and used Blood Manipulation Magic to summon the blood around himself.

Galan used Blood Manipulation Magic to weaken and trap his replica, then pressed the attack while conserving mana for dangers deeper in the Dungeon. As the replica charged him in a desperate fight, Galan prepared to use its inability to wield the same magic to secure his victory.

• Galan reflected on his limited mana and decided his Blood Manipulation Magic was still enough to defeat the replica.
• Galan used blood columns to herd the replica into range, then struck its shoulder and severed its left hand.
• Galan pinned the replica's right leg with a blood spike but chose not to spend more mana reshaping the blood.
• The replica cut through the spike and charged Galan, who planned to avoid a direct contest and exploit its inability to use Blood Manipulation Magic.

Galan defeated his copy in the fog and realized he would need to find the hidden Water Mirror Demon to end the threat. Meanwhile, Clinton and Pass struggled against their own copies, with Clinton badly injured and both facing likely death.

• Galan used blood spikes to pin his copy to the ground, then cut off its head and split its body in two.
• Galan watched the copy dissolve into black mana particles and decided to search for the Water Mirror Demon.
• Galan realized the thick fog could mislead anyone trying to retrace their steps and set out by relying on his sense of direction.
• Pass warned Clinton that they would be worn down and killed as they fought their copies.
• Clinton suffered internal injuries from a powerful blow and despaired that no team could stop the Water Mirror Demon.

Clinton and Pass struggled against their copies, with Clinton forcing Pass to drink a potion so he could keep fighting. Just as they were nearing defeat, Galan arrived and restrained Clinton’s copy with a powerful blood attack, leaving Clinton stunned by Galan’s magic.

• Clinton urged the exhausted Pass to drink a potion, but Pass initially refused to save it for him.
• Clinton forced a [Healing Potion] into Pass’s hands, and its effects restored enough strength for Pass to slash his copy with a powerful axe attack.
• Pass admitted the attack had used all his strength, leaving Clinton worried that they could not hold out.
• A pillar of blood burst through the fog and struck Clinton’s copy, preventing it from attacking him.
• Galan emerged from the fog, and Clinton was shocked to see the warrior wielding powerful magic.

Galan used an enhanced Blood Manipulation Magic to defeat his copy, then helped Clinton and Pass defeat Pass’s copy. Worried that Lucina and Lia were in danger, he explained how they could navigate the fog and find them.

• Clinton watched Galan overpower his copy with blood magic, then ran to help Pass fight Pass’s copy.
• Galan’s corrosive blood streams consumed his copy, which dissolved into mana particles.
• Clinton and Pass defeated Pass’s copy and thanked Galan for arriving in time.
• Galan warned that Lucina might struggle against her copy and that Lia could be in danger if the Water Mirror Demon found them.
• Galan told Pass that following their instincts would let them resist the fog’s attempts to lead them astray.

Galan led Pass and Clinton back through the fog by retracing their path while they worried about finding Lucina and Lia. Along the way, Clinton asked how a warrior like Galan could use such powerful magic, and Galan explained that Serie had given him a fully developed spell and the experience to wield it as a Privilege.

• Galan guided Pass and Clinton through the fog, relying on his memory of their route and warning them to stay close.
• Pass and Clinton worried that Lucina and Lia might have moved or could be in danger, while Galan reasoned that Lucina would likely stay put and protect Lia.
• Clinton asked Galan whether he was really a warrior and how he could use such powerful magic.
• Galan said his circumstances were unusual and explained that Serie had taught him a thoroughly developed spell and the experience to use it as a Privilege.
• Galan considered that publicizing this Privilege could help Serie establish the Continental Magic Association.

Galan explained that Serie’s magic had made him skilled, while Lucina struggled against her Water Mirror Demon duplicate and enlisted Lia’s help with defense. The duplicate gathered all her mana to unleash Lightning of Destruction Release Magic, leaving Lucina relying on Lia to protect her.

• Galan explained how he had become skilled at wielding magic, and the two men assumed Serie had taught him because he was her partner.
• Galan revealed that he had found the men by tracking disturbances in the fog caused by their battle.
• Lucina asked Lia for offensive magic, but Lia said she could only release gathered mana and knew a little Defensive Magic.
• Lucina encouraged Lia to defend her while she fought their duplicate, and Lia agreed to trust her powerful mana.
• The duplicate gathered her mana for Lightning of Destruction Release Magic, and Lucina told Lia to cast Defensive Magic when she saw the attack begin.

Lucina and Lia defeated Lucina’s Copy when Lia used her vast mana to hold back its destructive spell and Lucina struck during the opening. They rested afterward as Lucina judged that the Water Mirror Demon and dense fog made clearing the Dungeon nearly impossible without Lady Serie.

• Lucina charged her Copy while Lia prepared to cast a defensive spell at her instruction.
• Lia cast Holy Wind Wall and repeatedly reinforced it with her mana to block the Copy’s Lightning of Destruction.
• Lucina used Lightning-Piercing Magic to destroy the Copy’s head, causing its body and uncontrolled spell to dissolve and disperse.
• Lia weakened from spending so much mana, and Lucina helped her rest while keeping watch.
• Lucina concluded that the Water Mirror Demon and dense fog made the Dungeon nearly impossible to clear, and hoped Clinton and the others would find their way back.