Chapter Summaries

Shien discovered that Magic Guidance made his beginner spells far more powerful than expected, then maxed out his magic-related skills and unleashed a devastating fire spell outside Lamigium. He fled the scene and decided to learn more magic from Merika and the Adventurer's Guild library.

• Shien read in Fundamentals of Magic that Magic Guidance could amplify spells, then chose to ignore the book's claim that humans could not learn the skill.
• Shien maxed out Magic: Fire, Magic: Ice, Magic: Lightning, Magic: Wind, Meditation, and Chanting.
• Shien cast Tinder and caused a huge explosion that scorched and blasted apart the sandy ground outside Lamigium.
• Shien hurried away from the scene and planned to ask Merika for intermediate Fire and Ice Magic and seek other spells in the Adventurer's Guild library.

Shien spent his time studying at the guild library, learning beginner elemental magic and filling gaps in his knowledge of the world. After reading about Mitra’s legendary abilities, he realized his own Holy Sword was far more powerful than the histories described, while the guild members continued to regard him differently.

• Shien studied magic at the guild library and learned several beginner elemental spells, but found that advanced and specialized magic was restricted.
• Shien learned that temples controlled access to holy, recovery, and support magic, while the state regulated rare systems such as spatial and gravity magic.
• Shien considered asking Merika about elven access to magic, since Elves could learn many magical systems with fewer restrictions.
• Shien read accounts of Mitra’s extraordinary Unique Skill and Holy Sword, then compared them with his own Holy Sword’s even greater abilities.
• Shien continued visiting the guild mostly alone while Vivian and the others stayed busy, and the guild members looked at him differently.

Shien used the Knights to deter adventurers who tried to cause trouble for him, earning a frightening reputation throughout the Lamigium Adventurer's Guild. After Vivian's squad summoned him to their private room, Vivian confronted him about the trouble he had stirred up.

• Shien recalled how he had brought Knights to the guild to accuse adventurers who blocked his way of threatening him and possibly working for the Old Demon Faction.
• Shien had the Knights question the adventurers, then warned them that they might be connected to an attempt to rescue Kilian, leaving them terrified of provoking him again.
• Rumors spread through the guild portraying Shien as dangerous, and the adventurers treated him with fear and caution.
• A receptionist told Shien that Vivian and her squad were waiting for him in a private room on the second floor.
• Vivian, Tier, Lumya, and Merika confronted Shien about the trouble he had caused.

Ryley visited Vivian’s team to explain their next commission: escorting Kilian to the royal capital alongside the Knights. The mission was set to begin in two days, and the team was the guild’s first choice.

• Vivian, Tier, Lumya, and Merika discussed how Shien’s recent actions had made him famous, and Vivian apologized for the trouble that had led to his clashes with guild adventurers.
• Ryley arrived and reassured Shien that the trouble was not his fault, though she warned him not to go too far and joke about having to resign and inherit her title.
• Ryley told Vivian she had an important matter to explain and announced that she had discussed Kilian’s situation with Mr. Beren.
• Ryley said the guild and the Knights would jointly escort Kilian to the royal capital in two days, and she named Vivian’s team as the guild’s first choice for the mission.

Ryley proposed secretly escorting Kilian from Lamigium to the royal capital to prevent the Old Demon Faction from attacking the town and to persuade Laisha to leave as well. Vivian’s Squad was assigned the mission, frustrating Shien because it could ruin his and Laisha’s plans.

• Ryley warned that the Old Demon Faction might attack Lamigium to rescue Kilian and proposed escorting him to the royal capital before they could act.
• Ryley said Beren Mulau would lead the Knights’ escort, while Vivian’s Squad would represent the guild.
• Vivian and Ryley pointed out that Laisha’s presence in Lamigium could also draw the Old Demon Faction’s attention, and Ryley hoped she would leave alongside Kilian.
• Shien worried that moving Kilian might make the Old Demon Faction attack Lamigium in anger, while Ryley gave him a teasing look that made him suspect she had guessed his plan with Laisha.

Ryley explained why she believed Shien and described the risks and precautions for a secret mission against the Old Demon Faction. She assigned Shien’s party and two other high-level parties to carry it out in two days.

• Ryley had guessed that Laisha intended to join forces with Shien against the Old Demon Faction, but she chose not to expose her guess because she stood with Vivian and Shien.
• Shien realized that Ryley believed him because Vivian vouched for him, while Vivian trusted him because she had guessed his identity.
• Ryley explained that the kingdom would not risk provoking Laisha and that the Old Demon Faction would likely avoid attacking Lamigium after Kilian’s defeat.
• Ryley asked Shien whether he had more powerful Magic Items to sell, and Shien nervously blamed Tier for the item that subdued Kilian.
• Ryley ordered the party to keep the commission secret and said two other high-level parties would join them for the mission in two days.

Ryley briefed Vivian's Squad on their secret mission to escort a level seventy-seven demon criminal to the royal capital, and Shien decided to join despite Vivian offering him the choice to stay behind. Two days later, Shien arrived at the official stronghold where the mission would begin, and found many people already gathered.

• Ryley explained the meeting place, route, and precautions for secretly escorting the demon criminal, while Shien decided against telling Laisha about the mission.
• After the briefing, Lumya worried about arranging care for her seven sisters, Merika planned to consult senior Elves, and Tier said she was ready to leave.
• Vivian asked Shien whether he truly wanted to join the commission, and Shien affirmed that he was a member of the squad.
• Vivian's Squad agreed to gather again in two days, and Shien returned to the inn to prepare.
• Two days later, Shien packed clothes and toiletries, wrapped the Holy Sword, and went to the official building in Lamigium, where many people had gathered.

Shien arrived as Vivian's squad gathered for an important escort mission and met Aris, captain of another adventurer squad. After Shien explained that he had come to broaden his horizons, an unidentified voice challenged Vivian's claim that he had great potential.

• Shien joined Vivian's squad and the Knights and adventurers assembled around the prisoner carriage.
• Vivian introduced Shien to Aris, captain of the other adventurer squad assigned to the escort mission.
• Shien said he had asked Vivian to bring him so he could broaden his horizons, taking responsibility for joining the dangerous commission.
• Aris suspected Shien was hiding impressive abilities, while Vivian defended him and urged Aris to help him.
• An unidentified person questioned whether a twenty-year-old Level 10 newcomer with no skills could have great potential.

Shien and the others encountered Lyon, Magray, and a seductive adventurer, the third party assigned to the secret mission. Magray’s arrival distressed Merika and provoked Tier, while Vivian and Aris reacted uneasily to Lyon’s offer of cooperation.

• Lyon, Magray, and their companion arrived, and Magray announced that their party had been selected for the secret mission.
• Magray tried to approach Vivian and then Merika, but Vivian distanced herself from him and Tier threatened to break his foot if he came closer.
• Merika froze in fear, so Vivian comforted her and led her to Tier and Lumya.
• Aris challenged Lyon to control Magray, and Lyon apologized while urging Magray to behave himself.
• Lyon proposed a pleasant cooperation with Vivian, but Vivian fell silent and Aris responded with a bitter smile.

Vivian’s squad learned that Lyon’s squad would join the secret mission despite the friction between them, after Beren overruled Vivian’s decision to wait for Ryley. The groups prepared to depart, while Shien suspected the journey would bring more trouble than expected.

• Lyon offered Vivian a handshake, but Eudice intercepted it and exchanged hostile remarks with Vivian.
• Vivian asked why Lyon’s squad had joined the mission, and Lyon explained that they replaced another squad after it ran into a problem.
• Magray revealed that his father had shared the mission details with him, prompting Aris to question how Lyon’s squad learned about the confidential mission.
• Vivian said she would wait for Ryley’s decision, but Beren announced that he had approved Lyon’s squad’s involvement and ordered everyone to prepare to depart.
• Vivian and Lyon agreed to cooperate for the mission, while Shien watched and anticipated a troublesome journey.

Shien learned why Vivian's Squad resented Magray and why they looked down on Lyon. Vivian explained that Magray had stalked and tried to assault Merika, while Lyon had helped him pass his assessment; she left Shien with the revelation that Lyon had risen to prominence by relying on women.

• Vivian checked on Merika, and Tier and Lumya showed their distress over Lyon's squad joining them.
• Vivian explained that Magray had once trained with her squad and became fixated on Merika.
• Vivian said Magray had followed Merika, entered her room, and tried to force himself on her before Tier stopped him.
• Tier explained that Magray remained in the guild because he was a noble, though he had been removed from Vivian's Squad and kept away from Merika.
• Vivian said Lyon had taken Magray into his squad and helped him pass his assessment.
• Vivian told Shien that Lyon was looked down on because he had risen to prominence by relying on women.

Shien learned how Lyon had risen from the slums by cultivating wealthy and influential women, and questioned whether Lyon’s team was fit for the mission. Vivian explained that Lyon had joined the escort to gain credit and connections with noblewomen in the royal capital, leaving Shien wanting to withdraw.

• Vivian explained that Lyon had used his looks, etiquette, and charm to gain money, equipment, and opportunities from women who supported him.
• Tier revealed that Eudice, the daughter of Lamigium’s largest Magic Item merchant company, had become an adventurer to stay beside Lyon.
• Shien realized that Lyon was also trying to build ties with Vivian, Tier, Lumya, and Merika.
• Vivian said Lyon’s team included dozens of members, but worried that he had forced his way into the mission to claim credit and approach noblewomen.
• Shien said he wanted to go back after learning that Lyon and Young Master Magray had joined the escort mission for personal advancement.

Shien learned that greed and hidden agendas had compromised the secret mission to escort Kilian, though Vivian believed the route was secure. After learning that someone in the capital might reveal things about his identity, Shien agreed to go and began devising a plan of his own.

• Shien concluded that Lyon, Magray's father, and possibly Mr. Beren had joined the mission for fame and rewards, creating a risk of infighting and failure.
• Vivian explained that the nobles believed the escort was low-risk because Lamigium had concealed Kilian's departure and prepared a secret route.
• Vivian told Shien that she and Ryley wanted him to meet someone in the capital who might help him learn about his identity.
• Shien realized Vivian and the others would carry on with the mission even if he left, and agreed to accompany them to protect them.
• Shien smiled as he thought of a way to prevent the mission from following the disastrous course he had imagined.

Vivian’s group prepared to escort Kilian while Shien disappeared, leading Vivian to assume he had withdrawn from the mission. Just as Beren was about to order the convoy to depart, a knight delivered alarming news that left Vivian fearing trouble from someone among their own.

• Beren supervised the escort preparations as Magray watched Merika but stayed away under Tier’s intimidating gaze.
• Vivian noticed Shien was missing and assumed he had decided not to join the mission, then returned to preparations.
• Beren ordered Kilian brought forward, and the heavily restrained prisoner’s presence frightened the assembled knights and adventurers.
• A knight urgently whispered news to Beren, whose shocked reaction made Vivian suspect someone in their group was about to cause trouble.

Shien revealed that he had tested a newly made Magic Item outside Lamigium, leaving the plain scorched and cratered. As Beren and the others gathered around him, Shien claimed he had many powerful Magic Items.

• Beren led the knights and adventurers out of Lamigium, where a blast wind struck them at the city gate.
• Beren, Vivian, Tier, and Aris protected or steadied their companions as the blast wind subsided.
• The group saw a scorched wasteland covered in craters and found Shien standing there with a bundle and an object in his hand.
• Shien explained that he had been testing a new Magic Item and said he had asked someone to make it after using a powerful item against Kilian.
• Magray asked whether Shien had another powerful Magic Item, and Shien proudly said he had lots of them.

Shien claimed that powerful Magic Items had been mass-produced and blamed Laisha for their creation, drawing the attention of Beren and the others. He revealed that Lamigium could use the items to strike the Old Demon Faction, leaving everyone excited by the prospect.

• Beren, Magray, Lyon, and Eudice grew interested when Shien said the powerful Magic Item had been mass-produced.
• Beren, Lyon, and Eudice doubted that Shien could make the items or obtain the required materials.
• Shien claimed that Laisha, a powerful mage in Lamigium, could recreate the Magic Item and had taken an interest in it.
• Beren asked whether Laisha had sent Shien to test the items, and Shien confirmed that she had.
• Shien explained that the Old Demon Faction had hunted Laisha for ten years and that Lamigium could use the Magic Items to attack the faction instead of waiting to reveal Kilian's departure.
• Beren and the others shuddered at Shien's plan, then grew excited by the chance to capture more of the Old Demon Faction.

Shien revealed that Bedo, the Old Demon Faction’s true leader, might come to rescue Kilian, and argued that the group could capture them with mass-produced Magic Items. When Beren and the others tried to join the plan and claim its rewards, Shien reminded them that he alone had subdued Kilian and intended to keep the merit for himself.

• Magray asked whether Shien was telling the truth, and Shien explained that Bedo had led the assassination incident and might come to rescue Kilian with the Old Demon Faction.
• Lyon, Magray, Eudice, and Beren imagined the rewards they could gain by capturing Bedo and the faction, while Aris and Vivian warned that confronting him could endanger Lamigium.
• Shien dismissed their concerns, saying they could use large numbers of Magic Items to defeat even a powerful demon.
• Beren began to offer his support, but Shien thanked the group for helping escort Kilian and said he expected a reward for capturing him.
• Beren and the others realized that Shien, not them, had subdued Kilian and would be recognized as the main contributor, leaving them with no merit to claim.

Shien let Beren and the others take his prototype Magic Items and proceed with their secret mission to escort Kilian, while they tried to claim credit by luring the Old Demon Faction after them. As the convoy left Lamigium, Shien recalled Ryley's warning not to go too far and admitted he could not guarantee that.

• Beren, Lyon, Magray, and Eudice opposed Shien and Laisha using the Magic Items to confront the Old Demon Faction in Lamigium.
• Beren proposed that Shien hand over the Magic Items so his secret mission team could lure the Old Demon Faction away and fight them together.
• Shien warned that the Magic Items were prototypes with strict conditions, but Beren and the others insisted they could use them and took them.
• Vivian and Tier suspected Shien was planning something that would make the others suffer, while Ryley reluctantly agreed to the plan.
• Shien and the others left Lamigium escorting Kilian, and Shien told himself he could not guarantee he would hold back.

Shien convinced Lamigium's escort team that battered scraps of parchment were powerful Magic Items and had Beren test one outside the city. Beren's loud chant triggered Shien's hidden Tinder spell, leaving the group convinced the parchment had devastating power.

• Lamigium's escort team traveled disguised as a merchant caravan, while Lyon, Magray, Eudice, Lumya, Merika, Vivian, Tier, Aris, and Beren examined Shien's suspicious parchment Magic Items.
• Shien claimed the items required a perfectly spoken incantation and persuaded Beren to test one.
• Beren shouted, "I'm a pig! A pig with dreams! If you've got the guts, come kill me! Come on!" twice, but the parchment seemed to do nothing at first.
• Shien secretly chanted "Ignite (Tinder)," causing an explosion and a burst of flames and smoke near the convoy.
• Beren and the others praised the parchment's apparent power, while Shien quietly held back his laughter.

Shien secretly made the parchments appear to be powerful Magic Items, and the group practiced using them on the road. The convoy camped for the night, where Kilian remained imprisoned and furious as he waited for someone to rescue him.

• Magray used the supposed Magic Item to produce a lightning bolt, and Eudice and Lyon eagerly tried their own parchments.
• Eudice and Lyon repeatedly shouted their incantations, making Shien laugh while Vivian and Tier decided not to imitate them.
• Shien secretly cast magic for the group until everyone believed their practice had worked and put away the parchments.
• The escort convoy stopped in the countryside and set up camp as night fell.
• Kilian remained bound inside a guarded tent and seethed over his humiliation while wondering why no one had come to rescue him.