Recaps

Vivian explained how Hero Mitra sacrificed himself to preserve his Holy Sword and why only a direct royal descendant with exceptional talent could wield it. She revealed that Roxie was the only person in a thousand years to meet both requirements, and Shien returned to her chambers to ask her questions.

• Vivian told Shien that Hero Mitra, gravely injured in his battle with the Demon King, sacrificed himself to his Holy Sword so it could remain to protect the kingdom.
• Vivian explained that only direct descendants of Mitra with talent and potential equal to his could wield the Holy Sword.
• Vivian indicated that Roxie was the only person in a thousand years to meet those conditions and was therefore known as the Hero of the present age.
• Shien told Vivian he was going back to Roxie's room to ask her some questions, and Vivian warned him not to be rude.
• After Vivian left, Shien headed back toward Roxie's room.

Shien sneaked into Princess Roxie’s bedroom and discovered her privately venting about her exhausting duties. After she caught him, they agreed he could not simply forget what he had seen, and Roxie stopped him from leaving.

• Shien used Stealth, enhanced by the Holy Sword, to slip into Roxie’s bedroom unnoticed.
• Shien found Roxie sprawled on her bed, complaining about her workload, marriage proposals, and palace food.
• Roxie noticed Shien, and they stared at each other in stunned silence before she resumed her composed Princess demeanor.
• Shien asked how to avoid being silenced after witnessing her outburst, and Roxie suggested he pretend it never happened and erase the memory.
• Shien agreed that they could not simply let the incident go, then turned to leave, but Roxie grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back.

Shien drank tea with Roxie and discovered that the princess’s polished public persona concealed a lazy, unrestrained side. He correctly guessed that Roxie had built her princess image to meet the expectations placed on her as the kingdom’s Modern Hero, and the two ended the conversation arguing over her tea.

• Roxie sighed repeatedly over Shien having seen her hidden appearance, while Shien urged her to stop pretending and return to her princess persona.
• Roxie threatened Shien not to reveal her true nature, and he teased her about her beauty and figure.
• Roxie asked why Shien was not curious about her change in behavior, and he explained that she had concealed her true nature under the weight of others’ expectations.
• Roxie confirmed that people’s idealized view of her had forced her to act like a perfect princess, and she and Shien argued while fighting over the honey tea.

Roxie told Shien how years of royal expectations had led her to hide her true personality behind a flawless public image, and complained about the burdens of maintaining it. Shien bluntly scolded her instead of comforting her, leaving Roxie reassured that she could trust him and be herself around him before she asked why he had returned.

• Roxie explained that her family, guards, and acquaintances had never seen her true nature because she had always acted like the perfect Princess.
• Roxie described the pressure to embody the kingdom's hopes and complained about public appearances, royal duties, marriage proposals, and planning a trip to the Divine Realm.
• Shien mocked Roxie's complaints and argued that she had helped create her own burden by making herself seem too perfect.
• Shien's harsh response made Roxie realize she could trust him and did not need to hide her true nature around him.
• Roxie asked Shien why he had come back.

Shien borrowed a Hero’s Sword Ring from Roxie to conceal his Holy Sword, but the ring only partially sealed it and left some of its power intact. Roxie and Shien were both surprised by the unexpected result.

• Shien asked Roxie to lend him a Sword Ring that could seal a Holy Sword, and she explained that Heroes used them to hide their weapons’ magic power.
• Roxie retrieved a box containing three Sword Rings and let Shien choose one.
• Shien placed the ring on his Holy Sword, causing it to transform and cover sections of the blade.
• The Holy Sword remained partly exposed, and its effects changed to a weaker but still powerful sealed form.

Shien and Roxie tested sealing rings on Shien’s Holy Sword, whose power remained extraordinary even after all three rings were applied. Roxie then dragged him away to spar.

• Roxie explained that Divine Steel sealing rings could fail to fully seal exceptionally powerful Holy Swords and gave Shien a second ring.
• Shien applied the second ring, but his Holy Sword still shone as brightly as Roxie’s unsealed sword.
• Roxie, impressed by the Holy Sword’s power, handed Shien the last sealing ring.
• Shien applied the third ring, reducing the sword’s power but failing to seal it completely.
• Roxie accused Shien of trying to muddle through the result, then dragged him outside to spar.

Roxie tried to maintain her perfect Princess image while openly dragging Shien through a crowd of female knights. Shien pulled away and insisted they keep their distance, leaving Roxie angry and baffled by his rejection of her closeness.

• Roxie emerged from her room dragging Shien and realized the female knights had witnessed her behavior.
• Roxie decided to keep holding Shien's hand so her actions would look natural and would not expose her true nature.
• Roxie reflected on why she had avoided marriage and prepared to remain alone rather than reveal her private self to a husband.
• Shien slapped the back of Roxie's hand, pulled free, and complained that she had ignored his request to wait.
• Shien addressed Roxie formally and tried to create distance, leaving her irritated that he had rejected her closeness.

Shien and Roxie met in the Royal Palace Arena for a sparring match, each eager to test the other’s strength. They began their duel with their sealed Holy Swords, leaving the outcome undecided.

• Roxie challenged Shien to show his true ability, while Shien warned her that he was only Level Twenty-Four.
• Roxie said she would not use her Unique Skill and invited Shien to fight with everything he had.
• Shien and Roxie recognized each other as formidable opponents and grew eager to battle.
• Shien and Roxie rushed to the center of the arena and clashed their Holy Swords together.

Shien and Roxie fought an intense duel in the royal palace arena, with Roxie demonstrating overwhelming strength and masterful swordsmanship. As neither had landed a decisive blow, Roxie prepared to use her Magic Sword, and Shien readied himself to meet her.

• Shien activated Limit Break, but Roxie’s powerful strike still forced him back more than ten meters.
• Roxie pressed her attack with rapid slashes and thrusts, but Shien parried or evaded them and kicked her away.
• Roxie praised Shien’s strength and skills, while Shien realized he had yet to land an effective attack on her.
• Roxie announced she would get serious and infused her Holy Sword with magic power.
• Shien challenged Roxie and began gathering his own magic power for the next exchange.

Shien and Roxie pushed their Holy Swords to their limits in a duel, unleashing magic power strong enough to shake the royal palace. As King Anxifolger, Aridia, Vivian, Tier, Lumya, Merika, and the Knights rushed toward the arena, Shien and Roxie struck at each other.

• Shien and Roxie poured more magic power into their Holy Swords after realizing they could match each other.
• The magic power shook the royal palace, alarming Vivian, Tier, Lumya, Merika, the nobles, and the knights.
• King Anxifolger and Aridia sensed Roxie's duel and hurried toward the Royal Palace Arena.
• Vivian, Tier, Lumya, Merika, and the Knights also rushed toward the arena as the magic power intensified.
• Shien and Roxie unleashed enormous Magic Swords and swung their Holy Swords at each other.

Shien and Roxie’s Magic Sword clash threatened to destroy the royal palace and the capital, but a burly knight intervened and the King dispersed the resulting magic. The clash ended, and the knight immediately attacked Shien, demanding to know who he was.

• Shien and Roxie’s Magic Swords collided, unleashing destructive shockwaves that shattered the arena and its barrier.
• Shien and Roxie realized their magic recovery could keep the clash going and prepared to release their Holy Swords’ seals to end it quickly.
• A burly knight leaped into the arena and severed their clashing Magic Swords with his own.
• The King used Magic Disperse to erase the surging magic power and calm the arena.
• The burly knight struck at Shien, demanded to know who he was, and Shien answered with an insult before his magic power erupted.

Shien’s sparring with Roxie’s teacher was interrupted when the King and knights mistook him for an attacker, and Roxie clarified what had happened. After the group reacted to the ruined arena, King Anxiferg Mitra asked Shien to speak with him, and Shien reluctantly agreed.

• The burly knight attacked Shien, who countered until Roxie called them both to a halt and identified the knight as her teacher.
• Roxie’s father, King Anxiferg Mitra, ordered the arriving knights to stand down as Vivian and the others reached the destroyed arena.
• Roxie explained that Shien was her friend and that they had been sparring, shocking everyone who saw the damage.
• Shien tried to leave, but Anxiferg introduced himself and asked to speak with him.
• Vivian urged Shien to be patient, and he reluctantly agreed to talk with Anxiferg.

After Roxie apologized for the arena incident, Anxi praised Shien’s ability and questioned how such a remarkable young man had gone unnoticed. Shien kept his identity to himself, leaving Anxi puzzled about who he was.

• Anxi confirmed that Roxie had challenged Shien to a spar after Vivian introduced them, and Roxie apologized to everyone and to Shien.
• Anxi said the Kingdom would gladly sacrifice many arenas to keep Roxie safe, and Roxie thanked him and the others.
• Shien realized that the Kingdom’s deep concern for Roxie forced her to restrain her true nature.
• Anxi asked whether Shien came from Lamigium, and Shien nodded while choosing to say as little as possible.
• Anxi marveled that a genius comparable to Roxie had appeared without drawing the God Race’s attention, while Shien silently resolved not to reveal anything.

Anxi tried to learn more about Shien’s mysterious origins but gained little, then discussed the coming report on the Old Demon Faction and the effort to keep Shien’s existence from the public. As Shien and the others prepared to leave, Aridia confronted Lumya and Merika, making them stop while Tier walked away.

• Anxi wondered why the God Race had never noticed Shien despite his extraordinary magic power, but Shien’s guarded replies gave him little information.
• Anxi told Vivian that the escort party from Lamigium would likely be summoned to give a formal report about the Old Demon Faction.
• Anxi promised to suppress news of the Royal Palace Arena fight, though Shien realized the capital’s nobles would still learn about him.
• Shien silently blamed Roxie for the fight’s consequences as he and Vivian’s group prepared to leave.
• Aridia asked Lumya and Merika whether they planned to go back, stopping them as Tier left without hesitation.

After Roxie warned Shien that Tier might face trouble in the royal capital, she gave him a royal crest pendant and urged him to look after Tier. Shien left the palace wearing the pendant and with permission to visit Roxie, though he denied being close to her.

• Shien left the reception room with his group, and Roxie warned him that nobles might target Tier now that she had returned to the capital.
• Roxie told Shien to ask Tier about her past and gave him a pendant bearing the Hero's Holy Sword, which marked him as connected to the royal family.
• Shien argued with Roxie about wearing the pendant, but she threatened to announce that she would marry him if he removed it, so he kept it on.
• Roxie told Shien the pendant let him enter the royal palace freely and invited him to visit, threatening to charge him for the Holy Sword sealing rings if he refused.
• Vivian, Lumya, and Merika teased Shien about his closeness with Roxie as they left the palace, and he denied it.

After Shien and his companions returned to House Razahad, nobles in the royal capital investigated him and began taking sides over his connection to Princess Rochelusty. At dinner, they met Ryley’s father, Migis Razahad, while plans and alliances concerning Shien quietly formed around the capital.

• Shien and his companions returned to House Razahad after hearing that the royal capital had blamed the day’s destruction on a magical research accident.
• Nobles learned that Roxie had sparred with Shien and investigated his background, including his Unique Skill and his role in defeating Bedo.
• Some nobles grew jealous of Shien’s apparent closeness to Roxie and began discussing ways to teach him a lesson, while others viewed him favorably.
• Shien and his companions met Migis Razahad at dinner, and Migis warmly thanked Shien for looking after Ryley and offered to help him.
• That night, nobles began making plans concerning Shien, while others chose to support him.

After leveling up from his sparring match with Roxie, Shien noticed Tier leaving House Razahad and secretly followed her through the royal capital. He watched her stop at a grave and begin to cry, leaving him to wonder about her grief.

• Shien realized he had reached Level 25 after his fight with Roxie and reflected on how combat and training helped him grow.
• Shien spotted Tier heading out late at night and used Stealth to follow her.
• Tier walked through the royal capital, ignored drunken adventurers who called out to her, and entered an alley.
• Tier stopped before a grave, and Shien saw tears fall from beneath her hood.

Shien watched Tier mourn at a grave before a hostile young noble and his guards confronted her. After Tier drove them off with her newly learned Magic Sword, she discovered Shien had been watching and left the grave with him.

• Tier stood grieving at a grave, gripping her blade as sorrow and hatred stirred within her.
• A young noble surrounded Tier with his guards, accused her of bearing the Blood of the Sinner, and ordered them to attack.
• Tier used her Magic Sword to shatter the guards’ weapons and forced the young noble and his men to retreat.
• Tier sensed Shien nearby and learned he had revealed himself when he tried to help her.
• Tier whispered at the grave and left, while Shien followed and struggled to think of how to comfort her.

Shien returned to House Razahad with Tier, who told him to bathe first and promised to find him later. Tier joined him in the bath completely nude except for her mask, leaving Shien overwhelmed by the sight.

• Shien and Tier returned to House Razahad in silence.
• Tier asked Shien whether he had finished bathing, told him to go ahead, and said she would find him later.
• Shien realized Tier might come to the bathhouse and nervously imagined what could happen.
• Tier appeared at the bathhouse and asked Shien what he meant by not holding back.
• Tier entered the pool wearing only her mask, and Shien marveled at her long purple hair and beauty.

Shien confronted Tier in the bathhouse and learned why she resisted others’ help. Tier revealed that she was Tier Elbain, a descendant of the Hero bloodline inherited by House Elbein.

• Tier asked Shien who had told him about her, and he admitted that someone had.
• Tier explained that she wanted to become strong enough to protect herself and avoid owing favors to Vivian, Ryley, and the Princess.
• Shien connected Aridia to House Elbein and identified him as Roxie’s teacher and the family’s head.
• Tier explained that House Elbein descended from a Hero’s companion and inherited a Hero bloodline.
• Tier revealed her full name as Tier Elbain and disclosed that she was also a descendant of a Hero.

Tier revealed that she was a Hero Descendant of House Elbain and explained that she wanted Shien, a Hero, to help her become stronger than her father, Aridia. She promised to swear loyalty to Shien if he fulfilled her wish, and said that showing him her true face would mark the day everything she had belonged to him.

• Shien learned that Tier was descended from a Hero and that Aridia was her father, though Tier refused to acknowledge him as such.
• Shien asked Tier about the Blood of the Sinner, and Tier explained that it came from her mother’s unforgivable sin.
• Tier told Shien that House Elbain had served and protected the royal family for generations, following the example of its Hero-descended ancestor.
• Tier revealed that she hoped Shien could help her awaken her Hero blood and become stronger than Aridia.
• Tier promised to protect Shien and swear loyalty to him if he fulfilled her wish, then said she would show him her true face when she made that vow.

Shien secretly protected Tier as she trained by provoking fights with increasingly powerful nobles, while Tier and Merika both grew less guarded around him. After four days, Shien received a letter threatening to charge him if he did not visit soon.

• Tier began wandering the royal capital and defeated nobles who came looking for trouble, using the fights to train herself.
• When Tier faced a dangerous opponent above level seventy, Shien decided to secretly protect her by attacking enemies she could not handle.
• Tier discovered Shien's help and accepted it quietly, then began joining him in the bath while discussing combat rather than romance.
• Merika's magical power grew, and she began secretly watching and following Shien, though she fled whenever he approached her.
• After four days, Shien received a letter telling him to visit soon or the sender would start charging him.

On his way to the royal palace, Shien met a remarkably cute little girl who asked him to buy her a dessert. Her mysterious mana and extraordinary strength caught his attention, and he recognized the shop as one Roxie had mentioned.

• Shien reluctantly headed toward the royal palace, expecting trouble from the nobles around Roxie.
• Shien noticed a little girl staring at a patisserie display and sensed that something was strange about her mana.
• The little girl approached Shien and asked him to buy her a dessert, saying she had never tried one like it.
• Shien learned that strangers often gave the girl expensive things, but she was tired of eating them.
• The little girl tugged Shien into Lilith's Patisserie with surprising strength, and he recognized its name from Roxie's mention.

Shien bought expensive pastries for Aiyi after using Roxie's pendant to prove he could shop at Lilith's Patisserie. When Shien tried to leave, Aiyi asked to accompany him because she wanted to meet the Witch he feared.

• Aiyi ordered several pastries, but the shop owner said only nobles or those with a noble's token could buy them.
• Shien showed Roxie's pendant, and the owner accepted his order and packed the desserts.
• Shien spent fifty gold coins on the pastries and learned that the girl's name was Aiyi.
• Shien tried to send Aiyi home, warning her that a Witch might eat her in one bite, but Aiyi asked to go with him so she could see who could eat her.
• As Aiyi stepped forward, a pair of hands wrapped around her and lifted her up.

Shien carried Aiyi and learned that someone had held her long ago, though that person was no longer with her. After teasing and bargaining, Aiyi allowed him to carry her again in the future, then agreed to wait while he went to deal with a troublesome person.

• Shien carried Aiyi, and she said it had been a very long time since anyone had held her because the one person who used to do so was gone.
• Shien suspected Aiyi was no ordinary child, and Aiyi challenged him when she sensed he was thinking something rude.
• Aiyi told Shien not to treat her like a child, while Shien shamelessly asked if he could keep carrying her.
• Aiyi made an exception and allowed Shien to carry her, saying he was only the second person ever permitted to do so.
• Shien gave Aiyi more pastries and asked her to wait while he dealt with a troublesome person, and she watched him leave with a faint smile.