Chapter Summaries

Key plot points

• Chard, a Demon and magic researcher, is cornered by Xiu Er. Rather than accept death before completing his work, he uses himself as the final ingredient in his Fusion Magic, combining with the corpses around him to create a new form.
• Elsewhere, Takuson completes a test by defeating a giant Monster. He notices it seemed unusually clumsy, as if unfamiliar with its own body, but dismisses the concern.
• Xiu Er’s Doppelganger confirms Takuson passed and warns him to move away from a dangerous energy source. Xiu Er then bursts out of an underground cavern in a powerful attack, carrying Chard’s fused body.
• Xiu Er destroys Chard, but first gathers extensive data on his body, abilities, and personality, and records his Fusion Magic for future use.

Character developments and interactions

• Chard shows his commitment to his magical masterpiece by turning himself into material, even when defeat is certain. His transformation briefly makes him a more formidable opponent, but Xiu Er overwhelms him.
• Takuson has grown more experienced and confident as a fighter, though he remains awed by Xiu Er’s strength. He distinguishes her Doppelganger from the original by intuition and is disappointed when the Doppelganger delivers his passing news mechanically.
• Xiu Er remains emotionally reserved and treats combat as a chance to collect useful data. Her understated response to Takuson’s success contrasts with his excitement; he is accustomed to her blunt manner. He also notices that she has changed clothes, prompting a final question.

Significant themes

• Power and survival: Chard’s resolve cannot overcome the gap in strength between him and Xiu Er.
• Knowledge through combat: Xiu Er turns even a dangerous encounter into research, preserving an opponent’s abilities and behavioral data.
• Human connection and emotional restraint: Takuson seeks recognition and warmth from his teacher, while Xiu Er responds practically, highlighting their contrasting personalities.
• Unfamiliar bodies and control: The giant Monster’s awkward movements echo Chard’s transformation and suggest that physical power alone does not ensure mastery.

• Key events: Xiu Er uses a replicated version of Origami Tobiichi’s Spirit Crystallization, taking on an angelic appearance and unleashing Metatron to defeat the Demon Chard. Takuson is awestruck and becomes even more convinced that his teacher is a literal angel; Xiu Er neither confirms nor corrects him. Afterward, Takuson completes his task and passes her test, and the pair continue south. Elsewhere, a long-lived elf senses something unusual in the north and becomes intrigued.
• Time skip and new test: Seven years later, Takuson is fifteen and has grown into a tall, muscular warrior. He returns from a village where he defeated a Monster that had frightened the locals. Though he declines their invitation to dinner, he accepts food for the road. He rejoins Xiu Er in the forest and learns that he has passed another test.
• Character development and interactions: Takuson has changed from a gloomy child driven by revenge into a capable fighter with extensive combat experience. He is kind to ordinary people but ruthless in battle, while remaining cheerful and affectionate around Xiu Er. Their mentor-student bond remains strong: he eagerly seeks her approval, and she observes his growth with her usual matter-of-fact calm.
• Significant themes: The chapter contrasts faith and reality through Takuson’s angelic interpretation of Xiu Er, while showing Xiu Er’s extraordinary ability to copy spiritual powers. It also emphasizes perseverance, coming of age, and the lasting closeness between teacher and student. The elf’s reaction hints at a new development ahead.

Key plot points and events

• Takuson enthusiastically suggests continuing his training. He has previously beaten the Virtual Combat Arena’s “Easy Mode” after 364 attempts, unaware at first that harder difficulties remain.
• Xiu Er decides there is no urgent need to train and takes him to a cave a few days later.
• At the cave entrance, she tells him the legend of the Goddess’s Holy Sword: only the Hero can draw it, and that Hero is destined to save the world from catastrophe.
• Xiu Er confirms that an unusual reaction she detected came from the Holy Sword, which is inside the cave. Takuson is thrilled and eagerly leads the way in.
• As they walk, Xiu Er asks whether he wants to obtain the sword. Takuson says becoming a Hero and saving the world sounds exciting.

Character developments

• Takuson’s enthusiasm reveals how much he has changed. Once consumed by revenge and the drive to grow stronger, he is now able to dream, reflect, and enjoy being young.
• He explains that Xiu Er taught him patience: rushing toward strength and revenge would only make things worse. He still remembers his family’s deaths and remains determined to kill every Demon, but those goals no longer define his entire life.
• Takuson credits Xiu Er with saving him and helping him become who he is. Xiu Er realizes that her guidance and presence helped bring about his unexpectedly rapid emotional growth.
• Xiu Er remains outwardly composed and struggles to understand the emotional conversation, even as she recognizes its significance.

Significant themes

• Growth beyond revenge: Takuson’s hatred persists, but it has been tempered by patience, gratitude, and new hopes.
• The influence of care and mentorship: Xiu Er’s training—and the fact that she stayed with him—has reshaped Takuson’s outlook.
• Heroism and destiny: The Holy Sword legend introduces the possibility that Takuson may be connected to a larger role in the world.
• Humor and emotional contrast: Takuson’s earnest reflections clash with Xiu Er’s deadpan manner and private confusion.

Character interactions

• Takuson trusts Xiu Er enough to follow her without asking where they are going, then eagerly pulls her toward the cave.
• Xiu Er questions his changed outlook; Takuson responds with an explanation of how her teaching helped him mature.
• Their exchange highlights their close teacher–student bond: Takuson openly expresses gratitude, while Xiu Er accepts it quietly, still struggling to respond in a conventionally emotional way.

Plot points and events

• Takuson asks why Xiu Er wants the Holy Sword. He expects a grand purpose, but she says she simply thinks it is cool. Takuson, in turn, says becoming a Hero does not matter to him; he only wants to kill Demons.
• The pair reach the Holy Sword, which looks like a heavily rusted, ordinary iron sword. It withstands Takuson’s Battle Axe without a scratch, confirming its extraordinary nature.
• Xiu Er explains that the sword may be sealed and tells Takuson to try pulling it out. Despite his great strength, he cannot move it. His attempt ends in humiliation when the cave floor gives way, he slips in a puddle, and his pants rip.
• Two days later, Takuson is still embarrassed. Xiu Er matter-of-factly points out the torn pants in a restaurant, drawing unwanted attention from other diners.
• After lunch, Xiu Er gives Takuson money to explore the city while she records its coordinates. A persistent seven-year-old girl with an orange braid approaches her. Xiu Er initially ignores her, then decides to engage rather than risk the child getting lost and asks her name.

Character development and interactions

• Takuson shows a lighter, more childlike side. He is interested in the Holy Sword because it is “cool,” but remains sincere about wanting to fight Demons. His failed attempt and torn clothes leave him deeply self-conscious.
• Xiu Er remains analytical and blunt, treating both the sword and Takuson’s embarrassment as matters of fact. Despite her usual habit of ignoring strangers, she makes an exception for the young girl out of concern for her safety.
• The banter between teacher and disciple highlights their contrasting temperaments: Takuson is emotional and easily embarrassed, while Xiu Er is composed and literal. Their exchanges in public amplify Takuson’s discomfort.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus reality: The sword looks worthless but proves exceptionally powerful.
• Heroism and purpose: Takuson values fighting Demons over gaining the title of Hero.
• Childlike spirit and embarrassment: Takuson’s earnestness is framed as a welcome contrast to his former grimness, even as it makes him vulnerable to comic mishaps.
• Connection and responsibility: Xiu Er’s encounter with the girl shows that, despite her detached habits, she will respond when someone may need help.

Key plot points and events

• Xiu Er meets a little girl named Volumen. The name shocks her because she suspects the child may be the future humanity’s greatest mage, encountered before Sariel found her and before the Demon invasion of her homeland.
• While Xiu Er stays in the city, Takuson is given money and free time to explore on his own. Hungry, he heads to Food Street.
• A pickpocket deliberately crashes into Takuson and tries to steal his money. Takuson detects the theft, forces the man to return the pouch, and breaks his arm as a warning. Bystanders seem pleased, suggesting the thief is known locally.
• Takuson buys a large amount of food, including snacks he hopes Xiu Er will enjoy. At their usual meeting place, the central plaza, he finds Xiu Er talking with Volumen and asks who the girl is.

Character development

• Xiu Er remains composed, but Volumen’s name leaves her inwardly unsettled; she recognizes the possibility that she has met a pivotal figure as a child.
• Takuson shows how his training has made him physically formidable and unusually perceptive. He is protective of his money, though his response to the thief is harsh. He is also considerate and eager to share food with his teacher.
• Volumen is introduced as a polite, apparently ordinary child, unaware that her name carries great significance to Xiu Er.

Character interactions

• Xiu Er and Volumen exchange names, with Xiu Er concealing her alarm.
• Takuson confronts the thief after the attempted pickpocketing, then releases him after recovering the money and delivering a threat.
• Takuson and Xiu Er share a familiar teacher-disciple rapport: he is warmly enthusiastic, while she responds with reserved but genuine appreciation.
• Takuson’s arrival interrupts Xiu Er and Volumen’s conversation, setting up his introduction to the girl.

Significant themes

• Fate and the past: Xiu Er’s encounter with young Volumen hints that events in the past may affect the future.
• Training and self-reliance: Takuson’s strength and specialized perception reflect the habits and skills his rigorous upbringing has instilled.
• Affection expressed through action: Takuson’s food purchases show his care for Xiu Er despite their contrasting personalities.

Plot points and events

• Volumen watches Xiu Er and Takuson, then accepts a cookie from Takuson and introduces herself. Takuson wonders what has made Xiu Er take an interest in her.
• Xiu Er recognizes that Volumen’s city is soon to be invaded and massacred by Demons. In the future, Volumen will survive and become the disciple of Sariel, a powerful Magic User.
• Xiu Er decides that she and Takuson will stay in the city for an indefinite period. Volumen asks to visit them and says she wants to learn Magic, though her deeper motive is to spend time with Xiu Er and hear her stories.
• Xiu Er agrees and gives Volumen a contact device so she can summon them. Takuson is surprised that Xiu Er has such a device and has never given him one.
• The next morning, Takuson visits Xiu Er’s room before training. The chapter ends as she asks what he wants.

Character developments

• Xiu Er acts on what she knows of Volumen’s future, choosing to remain in the city—an unusual decision that suggests concern for the child and a willingness to intervene.
• Volumen is curious about Xiu Er, drawn to her as a friend, and openly expresses her interest in learning Magic.
• Takuson is protective and devoted to his teacher, but also curious about her choices and why she has taken an interest in Volumen.

Themes

• Foreknowledge and intervention: Xiu Er’s knowledge of the coming disaster forces her to decide whether and how to act.
• Friendship and trust: Volumen quickly feels comfortable with Xiu Er and Takuson, while Takuson’s kindness helps build that trust.
• Fate and possibility: Volumen’s known future may change now that Xiu Er has chosen to stay.

Character interactions

• Takuson shares a cookie with Volumen, and they chat while he quietly tries to understand why Xiu Er cares about her.
• Volumen asks to visit Xiu Er; Takuson responds warmly, while Xiu Er agrees in her matter-of-fact style.
• Takuson privately asks whether Xiu Er plans to take Volumen as a student, but she leaves the question unresolved.
• Xiu Er gives Volumen a way to contact them, and the two visitors part on friendly terms.

Key plot points and events

• Xiu Er tells Takuson that a Demon invasion will likely destroy the city, with more Demons than attacked his hometown. She stays to protect it.
• Xiu Er doubts the City Lord or garrison would believe warnings from strangers, so plans to stop the Demons outside the walls where the defenders can see. Takuson still wants to warn the City Lord and goes to the mansion with Xiu Er’s permission.
• Xiu Er and Takuson use a teleportation gate to meet Volumen near the city. Volumen is delighted by the magic and takes Xiu Er to a pond, where she makes a flower crown.
• Xiu Er asks Volumen whether she likes magic. Later, Volumen successfully casts a fireball, and Xiu Er confirms her exceptional talent.
• Xiu Er has been giving Volumen magic books to study independently. Volumen’s parents approve of her learning from others, and Xiu Er’s lessons fit around her preparations to defend the city.
• The chapter ends with Takuson watching Xiu Er monitor the city and remarking that Volumen is diligent, suggesting he has something on his mind.

Character developments

• Xiu Er remains practical and emotionally reserved, but her choice to protect strangers—and her willingness to teach Volumen—shows her quiet compassion.
• Takuson trusts Xiu Er completely and is eager to fight Demons, yet his concern for the city leads him to act on his own judgment and warn its leaders.
• Volumen shows a sincere affection for Xiu Er and a strong love of magic. Her rapid progress reveals that she is a natural prodigy.

Significant themes

• Compassion expressed through action: Xiu Er helps people even while maintaining emotional distance.
• Trust and independent judgment: Takuson believes his teacher but still follows his conscience by warning the City Lord.
• Talent, effort, and mentorship: Volumen’s passion and ability flourish through self-directed study and Xiu Er’s guidance.
• Preparation amid uncertainty: Xiu Er monitors the city because the timing of the attack is unknown.

Character interactions

• Xiu Er explains her plan to Takuson and allows him to warn the City Lord despite believing it will be futile.
• Volumen eagerly approaches Xiu Er, shares a quiet outing with her, and seeks her praise for learning magic.
• Takuson gives Volumen space to interact with Xiu Er and trains nearby; his later comment hints at concern or unease about their relationship or her progress.

Key plot points and events

• During dinner, Takuson hears Xiu Er praise Volumen’s remarkable talent and rapid progress in learning magic. Although he denies wanting to challenge the Virtual Combat Arena, his disappointment gives away that something is bothering him.
• Xiu Er initially assumes Takuson is jealous of Volumen’s abilities. Her attempt to reassure him by emphasizing his strength as a warrior and monk only makes him more upset.
• Xiu Er then realizes Takuson is lonely and afraid she will replace or neglect him now that she is teaching Volumen. She explains her perspective directly, and Takuson’s anxiety is resolved.
• Four days later, Xiu Er reports that a group of twenty-three demons—fifteen magic users and eight warriors—has appeared near the city. She intends to confront them alone, arguing that Takuson’s chances against a larger group are poor. He asks whether she truly does not need his help.

Character developments

• Takuson reveals that beneath his capable, nearly grown exterior, he remains emotionally vulnerable and depends on Xiu Er as a trusted source of security. His fear of losing her attention drives him to train harder, even though he recognizes that his worry is not entirely rational.
• Xiu Er shows that she cares for Takuson but struggles to interpret and comfort his emotions. She first misreads his distress as professional jealousy, then identifies his real fear and addresses it plainly. Her decision to face the demon group alone also reflects her confidence—and her tendency to judge Takuson’s usefulness in practical terms.
• Volumen’s exceptional talent is central to Takuson’s insecurity, though she does not appear directly in the scene.

Significant themes

• Emotional security and attachment: Takuson’s need for reassurance persists despite Xiu Er’s past promise not to abandon him.
• Communication and misunderstanding: Xiu Er’s logical, literal approach initially misses the emotional meaning behind Takuson’s hints, but direct honesty eventually helps.
• Different kinds of strength: Xiu Er contrasts Volumen’s magical aptitude with Takuson’s physical abilities, underscoring that individuals excel in different ways.
• Protection versus independence: Xiu Er’s intention to fight alone raises the question of whether protecting Takuson means excluding him or allowing him to help.

Character interactions

• The dinner conversation shifts from magic training to Takuson’s concealed distress. Xiu Er probes his mood, misidentifies the cause, then recognizes his loneliness and fear of being displaced.
• Xiu Er’s straightforward counseling restores Takuson’s confidence in their relationship.
• When the demons appear, Takuson’s eagerness to join Xiu Er’s mission contrasts with her assessment that he would be a liability against a large group, setting up potential tension between his wish to contribute and her protective judgment.

Plot points and events

• Before leaving to confront the Demons, Xiu Er gives Takuson a device that can detect Demons skilled at hiding. She encourages him to do his best, leaving him to defend the city while she departs through a Space Gate.
• As a crimson magical barrier and tremors signal the attack outside the city, Takuson prepares to search for infiltrators. The guards, now alerted to the danger, mobilize for battle.
• Volumen remains at home, confused by the emergency. She tries to contact Xiu Er but cannot get through, and can only hope that Xiu Er and Takuson are safe.
• Xiu Er fights the Demons inside her barrier, which drains their Magic Power. She kills them swiftly, including their powerful Magic User, Tarda, who realizes too late that he cannot match her.
• After defeating the group, Xiu Er spots Takuson fighting an armored Demon on the city walls. The guards are badly outmatched, but Takuson arrives in time to confront it; Xiu Er watches and records the battle.
• Xiu Er then encounters Sariel, the ancient golden-haired Elf known as the founder of human Magic Users. Sariel is intrigued by Xiu Er and asks whether she can speak. Xiu Er answers through her unit, confirming that she can.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiu Er shows overwhelming combat ability and tactical control, while also entrusting Takuson with responsibility rather than keeping him at her side. Her long-anticipated meeting with Sariel begins unexpectedly.
• Takuson shifts from relying on Xiu Er’s protection to taking an active role in defending the city. The powerful Demon recalls his earlier struggle against Zera and prompts him to draw on that experience.
• Volumen is frightened and uncertain, but her concern for Xiu Er and Takuson is clear; she recognizes they must be busy and responds by wishing them well.
• Sariel appears as a curious, unsettling figure who values Magic and war above all else. Her direct encounter with Xiu Er sets up a potentially volatile exchange.

Significant themes

• Responsibility and trust: Xiu Er equips Takuson to act independently, and he accepts the task.
• Power and fear: Xiu Er’s near-effortless victory makes even the Demons afraid, while Takuson faces an opponent far stronger than himself.
• Uncertainty and concern: Volumen’s limited understanding contrasts with the larger battle and highlights the danger reaching ordinary people.
• The pursuit of knowledge through conflict: Sariel’s desire for war as a means of advancing Magic introduces a morally troubling view of progress.

Plot points and events

• In the city, Takuson finishes healing wounded guards after helping repel a powerful Demon. The Guard Captain who earlier dismissed his warning apologizes and invites him to the City Lord’s Mansion for a reward.
• Takuson declines at first because he needs to find Xiu Er. When he learns the City Lord also wants to thank her, he agrees to pass along the invitation.
• A sudden eruption of platinum-white energy shakes the city. Takuson recognizes it as Xiu Er’s power and fears something has happened to her.
• The scene reveals that Xiu Er is fighting Sariel, the Old Residence’s formidable founder of Magic Users. Sariel detects that Xiu Er is not truly alive, while Xiu Er quietly assesses Sariel and hopes to learn from her rather than fight.
• Xiu Er attacks with her greatsword, deliberately avoiding a contest of spellcasting. Sariel counters with layered shields, fire, and a Golem, but Xiu Er breaks through her defenses and destroys the Golem with sword waves.
• Sariel is thrilled by the challenge and deliberately holds back her oldest, strangest Magic. The duel escalates as she drops a mountain-sized mass of burning lava on Xiu Er; Xiu Er calmly opens a Golden Passage and swallows it.
• Meanwhile, Takuson checks on Volumen. They see the distant sky flashing with the battle’s effects, but trust that Xiu Er is strong. Xiu Er and Sariel keep their fight away from the city.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiu Er is cautious about causing collateral damage and prefers learning Magic from Sariel, but readily meets her challenge. Her close-range strength and unusual abilities exceed Sariel’s initial expectations.
• Sariel is curious about Xiu Er’s strange nature and increasingly excited by her power. Rather than ending the fight quickly, she treats it as an entertaining test.
• Takuson shows compassion by healing the guards and graciously accepts the captain’s apology. His admiration for Xiu Er is evident, and he trusts her even when her battle frightens the city.
• The Guard Captain acknowledges his earlier mistake and seeks to honor both Takuson and Xiu Er. Volumen shares Takuson’s faith in Xiu Er.
• The battle highlights a contrast between Sariel’s inventive Magic and Xiu Er’s overwhelming physical power and unconventional techniques.

Significant themes

• Power and adaptability: Magic has no simple hierarchy; success depends on speed, counters, and choosing the right approach.
• Curiosity and challenge: Sariel’s fascination turns combat into a test of discovery, while Xiu Er sees the encounter as a chance to learn.
• Trust and recognition: Takuson and Volumen rely on Xiu Er’s strength, and the guards come to recognize Takuson’s value after his actions.
• Restraint amid power: Despite the duel’s scale, both fighters protect the city by directing their attacks away from it.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Xiu Er and Sariel continue their aerial duel, each countering the other’s attacks. Sariel compresses a redirected lava attack into a tiny sphere and uses its explosion to create distance; both fighters withstand the blast.
• Xiu Er has been copying Sariel’s spells throughout the prolonged battle. Once Sariel recognizes this, she stops using unfamiliar or powerful magic, limiting Xiu Er’s opportunity to gather more information.
• Deciding the fight has served its purpose, Xiu Er transforms using a recreated version of Origami Tobiichi’s Spirit Crystallization. He appears as a white Angel, accompanied by floating cannons.
• The transformation is seen across the nearby city. Residents mistake Xiu Er for a divine being; Takuson recognizes him as his teacher, while Volumen feels the figure is familiar.
• Xiu Er warns Sariel to leave. Having already concluded that continuing would lead to her defeat, Sariel dismisses her defenses and concedes. Xiu Er remains armed and cautious as he approaches her.

Character developments

• Xiu Er reveals a more powerful form and demonstrates that he has been deliberately matching Sariel’s strength to make her use more magic—and thereby copy it. He is confident he could end the fight decisively, but chooses restraint.
• Sariel realizes she is being studied and adjusts her tactics. The encounter awakens unfamiliar excitement, nervousness, and perhaps fear in her. She accepts defeat pragmatically, marking the first time she has ever conceded.

Significant themes

• Knowledge and adaptation: Xiu Er’s ability to analyze and copy magic shifts the duel from a contest of raw power into a struggle over what each fighter reveals.
• Restraint and strategic conflict: Though both could escalate, neither ultimately seeks a lethal outcome; the battle serves exploration and assessment more than victory.
• The unknown: Sariel’s curiosity draws her toward Xiu Er, an entity whose abilities and nature defy her experience.
• Perception and belief: Xiu Er’s Angel-like form inspires awe and religious interpretation among city residents, even though they do not understand the battle.

Character interactions

• Xiu Er and Sariel probe one another’s abilities, then reach an unspoken understanding that further fighting is unnecessary.
• Takuson protects an elderly man who mistakes Xiu Er for an Angel, while privately wondering what his teacher is fighting.
• Volumen watches Xiu Er’s transformed appearance and senses a connection she cannot explain.

Key plot points and events

• Xiu Er ends her confrontation with Sariel after warning her not to attack again. Sariel says the fight let her release years of frustration and promises not to repeat it. Xiu Er asks for more “Magic,” and Sariel’s barely concealed smile suggests she is pleased by the encounter.
• That night, Takuson waits anxiously for Xiu Er to return from the battle. When he hears movement in her room, he rushes over, but the chapter moves on before revealing what happens.
• Sariel returns to her fortified city of Magic scholars in unusually high spirits. She reflects on Xiu Er, whom she calls an “Angel,” and looks forward to seeing her again.
• The next day, Xiu Er and Takuson prepare to leave Volumen. Xiu Er declines the City Lord’s invitation and leaves Volumen behind rather than taking her away from her safe home and parents. Takuson has already completed his farewell tasks.
• As they depart, Xiu Er detects Sariel using long-distance Magic. Takuson instinctively takes a defensive stance, then relaxes when Xiu Er explains that she was simply checking on her former opponent.
• Xiu Er has left Volumen a large collection of Magic Guidebooks and a personal bracelet. That night, Volumen studies the books and wonders whether she will see Xiu Er again.

Character developments

• Xiu Er remains emotionally reserved and practical, treating the battle, farewell, and gift-giving in matter-of-fact terms. Still, her personal gift to Volumen and decision not to uproot the child show care expressed through actions rather than words.
• Sariel shifts from confrontation to admiration and anticipation. The battle has lifted her accumulated frustration, and she is eager to meet Xiu Er again.
• Takuson shows loyalty and protectiveness: he waits for his teacher, moves to shield her when he senses danger, and worries that her quiet departure may hurt Volumen.
• Volumen has grown in confidence and trust. After witnessing Xiu Er and Takuson save the city, she understands why Takuson told her to trust his teacher.

Significant themes

• Emotion expressed through actions: Xiu Er struggles with farewells and emotional conversation, but her books and bracelet communicate affection.
• Trust and protection: Takuson’s faith in Xiu Er and Volumen’s eventual trust in both of them are strengthened by their defense of the city.
• The cost of appearances and rumor: Xiu Er is mistaken for an Angel, and the public turns the battle into a religious legend, while Takuson keeps her identity private.
• Parting and future connection: Though Xiu Er leaves, Sariel and Volumen both look toward meeting her again.

Character interactions

• Xiu Er and Sariel part without hostility; Sariel’s teasingly warm response contrasts with Xiu Er’s formal, emotionless manner.
• Takuson acts as a bridge between Xiu Er and Volumen, valuing their friendship and wishing Xiu Er had said goodbye in person.
• Volumen’s memories of Xiu Er and Takuson’s rescue reinforce her admiration, while Xiu Er’s gifts leave her with a tangible reminder of their bond.

Plot points and events

• Volumen falls asleep while remembering Xiu Er and the promise she made before leaving.
• In a forest, a young girl named Alice flees from Monsters, injures her ankle, and is cornered by a minotaur. Takuson arrives and kills it with one axe strike.
• Takuson reports the completed commission to Xiu Er. Detecting another life signal with him, she opens a Space Gate and finds him carrying Alice.
• Takuson explains that Alice’s family was attacked while traveling. Her parents arranged for an adventurer to help her escape, but he was delayed, leaving Alice to flee alone. Xiu Er verifies that the account is truthful.
• Master and disciple deliver the Monster’s materials to the village chief, collect their reward, and settle in for the night. Alice sleeps in their room; Takuson gives up his place to her, while Xiu Er spends the night watching the moon from the roof.
• The chapter ends the next morning, as Alice wakes reluctantly in the sunlight.

Character developments and interactions

• Takuson is now nineteen and physically imposing, but his instinct to help Alice shows his compassion. He is also careful to explain himself when he realizes Xiu Er may misunderstand why he is carrying a girl.
• Xiu Er remains reserved and practical: she checks Takuson’s account, prioritizes collecting the reward, and makes room for Alice without needing sleep herself.
• Alice is introduced as frightened, injured, and separated from her family. Her survival depends on Takuson’s intervention.
• Volumen’s brief appearance reinforces her affection for Xiu Er and her admiration of the “Angel” she believes Xiu Er to be.

Significant themes

• Compassion and responsibility: Takuson risks helping a stranger, and Xiu Er accepts Alice’s immediate need for shelter.
• Trust and verification: Xiu Er listens to Takuson’s explanation but confirms the facts before proceeding.
• Family and separation: Alice’s parents’ sacrifice to protect her drives her predicament.
• Found-family bonds: Takuson and Xiu Er’s established teacher–disciple relationship expands to include responsibility for Alice.

Key plot points and events

• Alice wakes in an unfamiliar room and is greeted by Takuson and his teacher, Xiu Er. They invite her to breakfast with the villagers.
• Takuson asks what Alice intends to do, warning that her parents may be dead. Alice, though devastated, asks to hire the adventurers, apparently to help her continue her journey to relatives.
• Xiu Er investigates the attack site on a forest road. She finds fourteen dead travelers, evidence of both Monster attacks and sharp-weapon wounds, and confirms that two victims are related to Alice.
• Alice identifies the headless bodies as her parents and breaks down in grief. Xiu Er has Takuson gather the bodies, then uses a Codex technique to cremate them.
• Takuson prays for the dead, following a practice taught by the Old Monk. Meanwhile, Alice searches the wreckage for something she expected to find—but it is missing.

Character developments and interactions

• Alice moves from disoriented shock to grief and then tries to regain her composure. Determined to honor her parents’ wish that she survive, she plans to continue traveling and pay for an escort.
• Takuson shows compassion, recognizing Alice’s loss through his own experience of losing family and friends. He struggles to comfort her, but stays beside her and offers a quiet prayer.
• Xiu Er remains restrained and analytical, confirming Alice’s account and handling the dead with practical efficiency. She expects Takuson to take responsibility for the girl he brought along, while he looks to her for guidance.
• Alice’s plea to hire the pair shifts the encounter from rescue to a possible escort commission. At the attack site, Takuson waits respectfully while she mourns, then follows Xiu Er’s instructions.

Significant themes

• Grief and perseverance: Alice must face her parents’ deaths while deciding to keep moving.
• Compassion expressed through action: Takuson’s empathy appears in his presence, prayer, and willingness to help; Xiu Er’s care is more practical.
• Uncertainty amid violence: The sharp-weapon wounds and Alice’s missing item suggest the attack may involve more than ordinary Monsters.

Key plot points and events

• After the caravan wreckage is searched, Alice discovers that all the valuables are missing. She is distressed less by the theft than by the fact that she can no longer pay Xiu Er and Takuson as promised.
• Takuson reassures her that they will still escort her to her relatives, and that her uncle can repay the fee later. Alice calms down, trusting that Uncle Joseph will help.
• Xiu Er’s examination of the scene reveals more than thirty distinct sets of footprints. Their pattern suggests the Monsters stayed at the site until later arrivals collected the money—not a random looting after an ordinary attack.
• Xiu Er concludes that the attack was deliberately arranged, most likely by eighteen bandits, including a Magic User. Takuson grows grim, while they keep the truth from Alice for now.
• The chapter cuts to the bandits’ hidden cave, where the group celebrates the money their leader brought back after carrying out what he calls a clever plan.

Character developments and interactions

• Alice shows how seriously she takes honesty and obligation: she fears becoming a promise-breaker and assumes people help only when they expect payment. Takuson’s reassurance begins to ease both fears.
• Takuson responds with patience and compassion, comforting Alice and offering a practical way to settle the fee. He also becomes serious once Xiu Er explains that the attack was intentional.
• Xiu Er demonstrates sharp forensic reasoning, reconstructing the attack from the footprints and identifying a likely connection to a Magic User. Her analytical, emotionally distant manner intimidates Alice, despite Takuson’s insistence that she is gentle.
• Xiu Er and Takuson discuss whether to tell Alice the truth; Xiu Er leaves the choice to him, and he goes to speak with Alice.
• The bandit leader is introduced celebrating with his men, proud of the scheme that produced their loot.

Significant themes

• Trust and obligation: Alice’s distress comes from failing to honor her word, while Takuson’s kindness challenges her belief that help always requires immediate payment.
• Appearances versus character: Xiu Er seems frightening and cold to Alice, even though Takuson considers her gentle.
• Greed and deliberate cruelty: The clues transform the caravan’s destruction from a tragic accident into a planned crime, foreshadowing a confrontation with the bandits.

Plot and key events

• A newcomer named Quake persuades a bandit leader that he can control Monsters. The leader uses this ability to attack a merchant caravan, robbing it without casualties among his men or leaving evidence that points to them. Impressed, he promotes Quake to second-in-command and celebrates with the stronghold.
• Xiu Er arrives at the hideout with her apprentice, Takuson, and Alice. After Xiu Er kills three guards, her scan identifies 142 people inside and confirms the location as the bandits’ gathering place.
• Takuson volunteers to clear the stronghold himself, enraged that the bandits used Monsters to attack humans. Xiu Er sends him in, while secretly relying on a device equipped with a one-use rescue mechanism that will return him to her if he takes fatal damage.
• Xiu Er and Alice wait outside. Inside, Takuson fights through the bandits, who quickly go from celebrating to screaming and pleading for mercy. He begins killing them with ruthless resolve.

Character developments and interactions

• Takuson shifts from his usual gentleness to cold vengeance. He sees the bandits as beyond redemption, while interpreting Xiu Er’s swift killings as evidence of her kindness.
• Xiu Er remains calm and practical, monitoring Takuson and maintaining a contingency plan rather than openly expressing concern. She also closely observes Alice but mistakes the girl’s changing expressions for possible psychological distress.
• Alice initially worries that Xiu Er has sent Takuson into an overwhelming fight, then remembers him defeating a powerful Monster and becomes reassured by his strength.
• The bandit leader admires Quake’s supposed usefulness and rewards him, unaware that the celebration is about to be interrupted.

Significant themes

• Justice and revenge: Takuson’s anger at the bandits’ cruelty drives him to punish them personally.
• Trust and protection: Xiu Er gives Takuson freedom to act while ensuring she can rescue him if necessary.
• Misunderstanding and limited perspective: Alice misreads Xiu Er’s confidence, while Xiu Er misreads Alice’s expressions; both lack access to the other’s thoughts.

Plot points and events

• Takuson fights his way through the bandit stronghold, using Goddess Magic to pierce enemies and his self-created Magic to Reflect Ranged Attacks to redirect arrows, traps, and other projectiles back at their attackers.
• Drawing on extensive experience from Xiu Er’s Virtual Combat Arena, he defeats the bandits with little difficulty. His device records 314 enemies by the time he reaches the Chief’s chamber.
• Elsewhere in the cave, Xiu Er guides Alice toward the bandits’ warehouse. Alice hopes to recover her family’s money; Xiu Er also wants to search for Magic Guidebooks and other loot.
• Xiu Er smashes open the warehouse gate. The chapter then returns to Takuson, who bursts into the Chief’s room. He reflects the Chief’s fireballs into the gathered bandits, setting several alight.
• The Chief challenges Takuson’s attack, but Takuson ignores his question and immediately uses Goddess Magic. A hidden Magic User disrupts the spell with earthen spikes, allowing the Chief to attack. Takuson blocks the Chief’s saber with his Battle Axe, demonstrating his superior strength.

Character developments and interactions

• Takuson shows himself to be a powerful, disciplined fighter who combines Goddess Magic, combat experience, and a defensive spell he developed himself. His calm, direct approach contrasts with the Chief’s attempts to intimidate and question him.
• Xiu Er remains practical and composed, using her map to navigate the cave and keeping Alice close for safety. Her interest in the warehouse reveals a playful, opportunistic streak.
• Alice is anxious and reluctant to stay near Xiu Er, but follows her through the dangerous cave. She focuses on recovering her family’s property and awkwardly tries to hide behind someone smaller than herself.
• The Chief recognizes that Takuson is no ordinary opponent after his attack is blocked. The hidden Magic User’s intervention shows that the Chief’s group still has a threat to offer.

Significant themes

• Skill built through practice: Takuson’s custom spell reflects his initiative and the value of adapting knowledge to one’s strengths.
• Power and preparation: His arena experience and Xiu Er’s map give the protagonists a major advantage over the bandits.
• Self-interest and justice: The bandits’ defeat creates an opening for Alice to reclaim her family’s money—and for Xiu Er to treat their abandoned possessions as potential treasure.

Plot points and events

• Takuson confronts the bandits and overwhelms them. He breaks the Bandit Chief’s sword and severs his arm, then uses Goddess’s Three Spears to pin the chief and a hidden Magic User in place.
• When one bandit tries to flee, Takuson strikes him down with a golden spear, frightening the remaining men into submission.
• The captured Magic User mutters a spell, causing a huge Monster to burst through the wall and attack Takuson.
• Meanwhile, Xiu Er searches the cave’s treasure for a particular Magic Guidebook while Alice waits anxiously. Xiu Er insists there is no danger to Takuson, though Alice is unsettled by her apparent indifference.
• After increasingly violent tremors, a golden Space Gate opens. Takuson returns unconscious, badly mutilated, and apparently missing his heart.
• Alice panics and pleads with Xiu Er to save him. Xiu Er calmly repeats that Takuson faces no life-threatening danger.
• Takuson’s heart, flesh, and skin rapidly regenerate, restoring him completely. Alice is stunned by the apparent resurrection.
• Takuson wakes in Alice’s arms and briefly notices her appearance before realizing what has happened.

Character developments and interactions

• Takuson demonstrates overwhelming strength and a merciless resolve toward bandits who prey on people. His return in a seemingly fatal state reveals an extraordinary ability to recover from catastrophic injury.
• Xiu Er remains focused on finding and reading the Guidebook, responding to danger with unnerving calm. Her confidence in Takuson’s safety is vindicated, though her manner makes her seem uncaring to Alice.
• Alice grows increasingly worried as the cave shakes and Takuson fails to return. Seeing him apparently dead, she acts instinctively to help him; witnessing his regeneration leaves her shocked and forces her to reconsider Xiu Er’s certainty.
• Alice directly questions Xiu Er’s concern for Takuson, but Xiu Er answers in detached, almost mechanical terms. Alice’s tender care for the injured Takuson contrasts sharply with Xiu Er’s composure.

Significant themes

• Mercy and justice: Takuson treats the bandits harshly, viewing their exploitation of others as especially despicable.
• Appearance versus reality: Takuson seems dead, yet Xiu Er’s claim that he is safe proves accurate.
• Power and vulnerability: Takuson dominates the bandits but is himself returned nearly destroyed after facing the Monster.
• Different expressions of care: Alice shows visible compassion, while Xiu Er’s calm, technical reassurance masks—or at least accompanies—a confidence in Takuson’s survival.

Key plot points and events

• Xiu Er uses newly learned Storage Space magic to collect everything in the warehouse, impressing Alice and pleasing Takuson.
• Xiu Er questions Takuson about his defeat. A flashback reveals that, once Takuson escaped through a Space Gate, Xiu Er’s Doppelganger took his place, killed the bandits and their Monster, burned the cave, and captured the Demon Taming Magic user.
• Xiu Er explains that she kept the captive alive because his magic was an unrecorded type. Takuson objects because it was used against Alice’s family, but Xiu Er argues that magic itself is neither good nor evil.
• Xiu Er reveals she already knows what happened to Takuson: his device records his experiences when he is alone, allowing her to monitor and protect him. She then approaches the captive, preparing to examine his magic.
• The following day, the group tries to locate Alice’s uncle’s home so they can continue her journey. Alice can identify only that it is somewhere south of them, since fear has made her forget the address her parents gave her.
• While the others discuss the route, Xiu Er checks the Codex of the Whispers’ world-analysis progress, which is only 53.46%. The system tells her that its slow, irregular pace is normal and may later accelerate.

Character developments

• Takuson feels ashamed that carelessness let the Monster ambush him. He tries to change the subject and is uneasy about Xiu Er collecting a magic associated with Alice’s family’s suffering.
• Xiu Er is shown as fiercely protective of Takuson, intensely curious about unfamiliar magic, and confident in her belief that magic’s morality depends on its user. Her monitoring of Takuson also reveals how thoroughly she oversees her disciple.
• Alice remains shaken by her ordeal; the trauma has disrupted her memory of the travel details she once knew.

Significant themes

• Power and responsibility: Xiu Er’s intervention demonstrates the gap between Takuson’s potential strength and the danger of carelessness.
• Magic and morality: Takuson associates Demon Taming magic with its cruel user, while Xiu Er separates a power’s nature from how it is used.
• Protection and privacy: Xiu Er’s surveillance safeguards Takuson but also means he has little privacy.
• Trauma and recovery: Alice’s fear affects both her memory and the group’s plans.

Character interactions

• Xiu Er questions Takuson directly about his failure, then recognizes his discomfort and redirects the conversation to the captive’s unusual magic.
• Takuson challenges Xiu Er’s interest in the Demon Taming magic; she counters by asking whether his objection comes from what happened to Alice’s family.
• Takuson and Alice consult the map, but their limited information leaves the group with only a rough southern direction. Xiu Er notices that Alice’s forgotten address may be a memory lost through shock.

Key plot points

• Alice has forgotten her uncle’s address. Xiu Er uses a time-based power, Yud, to restore the memory, startling Alice but causing no harm.
• Alice provides the coordinates, and Xiu Er opens a Space Gate. She and Takuson escort Alice to her uncle Joseph Charles in Spirit Village.
• Joseph accepts Alice as his adopted daughter. Xiu Er gives Alice half the money taken from the bandits, suspecting the money may have influenced Joseph’s decision.
• After completing the commission, Xiu Er and Takuson leave for Spirit Village, described as a settlement of Elves.
• Takuson eagerly asks what Elves look like. Xiu Er explains they are much like humans, differing mainly in lifespan, ears, and appearance—and that they are generally considered beautiful. Takuson seems disappointed that they are not more unusual.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiu Er demonstrates another powerful ability, but remains detached from Alice’s fate once the commission ends. She believes adoption is better than leaving Alice homeless and tells Takuson not to interfere.
• Takuson trusts Xiu Er completely, reassures Alice about the Space Gate, and worries that Joseph may not truly want to adopt her. His childhood curiosity about Elves resurfaces.
• Alice is frightened by Xiu Er’s strange weapon but soon trusts the pair enough to travel with them and accept Joseph’s offer.
• Xiu Er and Takuson continue their teacher-disciple dynamic: Takuson asks questions and follows her lead, while Xiu Er gives blunt, data-oriented answers.

Significant themes

• Power and trust: Xiu Er’s frightening magic is ultimately used to help Alice, and Takuson’s faith in his teacher never wavers.
• Pragmatism versus compassion: Xiu Er treats Alice’s situation as a completed commission, yet still provides practical help and judges adoption preferable to homelessness.
• Expectations versus reality: Takuson’s idealized curiosity about Elves clashes with Xiu Er’s ordinary, matter-of-fact description.