Recaps

Angus explained to Velin that his cordial relationship with Commander Sirid rested on political interests, and that Sirid had helped Velin gain easy military merit. The next morning, Velin and Kyle explored the war-scarred but bustling Royal Capital of the Duchy of Bohan and entered an opera house.

• Angus used a Magic Instrument to shield his conversation with Velin and explained that his family had traded a Golden Apple to stop Sirid from investigating North Yi City.
• Angus revealed that he had shared information that helped Sirid become commander of the Expeditionary Army, and Sirid had arranged safe missions for Velin to earn Battle Merit.
• Angus urged Velin to cultivate his own people, keep his wealth under his control, and build connections among noble families in the Royal Capital of the Duchy of Bohan.
• Velin and Kyle left their residence in ordinary clothes and explored the prosperous Commercial District, where Kyle remarked that commoners had suffered most from the war.
• Velin and Kyle accepted an invitation from an opera house manager and followed a maid inside to watch a performance.

Velin and Kyle visited an opera house, where Sigrid Rodenert tried to win Velin’s support for her bid for a title, but he declined. Velin then sent Kyle alone into a mysterious alley, where a gaunt old man led him to a holy pool and transformed into a winged young man.

• Velin and Kyle watched a performance at the opera house and met Sigrid Rodenert, who asked Velin to compare the dances of the kingdom and the Duchy of Bohan.
• Velin recognized Sigrid’s attempt to gain his support and declined to commit, then stayed to watch the rest of the performance with Kyle.
• Velin took Kyle to the Third Alley of the Seventh District, sensed something strange, and told Kyle to continue alone while he waited outside.
• Kyle reached a dilapidated wooden house, where a gaunt old man greeted him as someone he had been waiting for and asked if he desired power.
• The old man led Kyle to a holy pool, where Kyle entered without resistance as the old man regained his youthful appearance and revealed three pairs of white wings.

Kyle received the Angel's Heart from a young man he believed was his grandfather from a previous life, gaining immense strength before concealing most of it. Three days later, Velin attended the victory banquet, where Simon reported the titles and fiefs granted to his family for their service to Allen.

• The young man gave Kyle his Angel's Heart, raising him to High-Gold Knight before turning into light and disappearing.
• Kyle received an Angel's Heart secret technique, mastered it quickly, and suppressed his aura to appear as a Low-Gold Knight.
• Kyle joined Velin for a drink, and Velin sensed Kyle's strength without asking about what had happened.
• At the victory banquet, Angus introduced Velin to Simon, who described the titles and fiefs granted to his children and granddaughter.
• Angus discussed Simon's new fief and the family's share of its future port profits before leading Velin toward Commander Silide.

At the banquet, Velin spoke with Simon’s grandchildren about Windsor Castle and then met Adink Budbol, who discussed the kingdom’s war and politics with him. The gathering continued after Adink ended their conversation.

• Simon decided to send Sean to Windsor Castle to study, and Sean agreed.
• Commander Sirid honored the fallen Gold-grade Professionals, summarized the expedition, and opened the banquet.
• Amanda and Sean asked Velin about Windsor Castle, and he shared advice about the family’s elders and library.
• Adink Budbol approached Velin, asked about the war against the Gray Mang Wasteland, and discussed politics with him.
• Adink ended his conversation with Velin.

After the civil war in the Duchy of Bohan ended, Velin returned command of the Third Camp to Angus and prepared to leave for Qixing Territory. He bid farewell to his soldiers and Draide, then departed with Kyle under escort.

• Kyle’s Angel’s Heart transformation continued as he joined Velin for a farewell drink before they returned to the Provincial Capital of Chris Province.
• Allen Bohan became the second Grand Duke of the Duchy of Bohan, and the Akes Legion later returned home after the civil war ended.
• Velin handed command of the Third Camp back to Angus, requested books, knight equipment, and Gold Coins, and accepted rewards including a Spatial Ring, Knight Breathing Methods, and Red Phosphorus Horses.
• Angus warned Velin to prepare for the coming war with the Ironforge Mountain Dwarf Kingdom and to manage his rewards carefully.
• Velin hosted a barbecue feast for the Third Camp and entrusted Draide with seventy million Gold Coins to distribute among the living and fallen soldiers.
• Six days later, Velin and Kyle left for home on Red Phosphorus Horses, escorted by the 3,763 surviving members of the Third Camp.

Velin returned to Cadro Province, praised Raimondo’s work, and learned that the people he had sent to Qixing Territory had settled in. After returning to Star Prayer City, he reunited with Eunice and found his Mutated Griffon waiting at his study window.

• Velin and Kyle toured the West City District before Raimondo welcomed them to Qixing Manor and received Velin’s praise for improving the district.
• Raimondo told Velin that 937 households, totaling 4,326 people, had settled in Qixing Territory and that the three women Velin had chosen for Belder had become his capable subordinates.
• Velin encouraged Raimondo to pursue a woman he liked and asked Kyle to discreetly sound out the knights about marriage.
• Velin and Kyle returned to Star Prayer City three days later, and Velin arranged a meeting for everyone at the castle.
• Eunice told Velin that she had learned Transcendent knowledge while supervising the New Castle, and Velin asked her to guide him during an inspection.
• Velin opened his study window for his Mutated Griffon, which got stuck halfway through, so he teased it about its weight and let it rest at the window.

Velin held a conference where his governors and commanders reported on the territory’s development and military expansion over the past two years. He rewarded several officials for their work and learned that all three camps had reached full strength.

• Belder reported Star Prayer City’s population, farming output, districts, and businesses, and Orlando and Andrew summarized their towns’ development.
• Velin awarded Belder, Orlando, and Andrew 5,000 Gold Coins each for outstanding service.
• Randolph reported on livestock farms, Green Vine Trees, Ice Blue Grass, and Glowing Wine production, and Velin rewarded him with ten bottles of Glowing Wine and 3,000 Gold Coins.
• Cassius reported that Star Prayer Camp, the Second Camp, and the Third Camp each had 2,750 men, with Isius and Iden leading the latter two camps.
• Velin heard that Iden had become a Silver Warrior and was formally appointed commander of the Third Camp, and he approved of the camps’ improved strength.

Velin reviewed reports on the Knight, Mage, and Priest Academies, commerce, and Qixing Territory’s recent expansion, rewarding several of his subordinates for their work. After hearing that the territory had expanded by eleven thousand square kilometers, he began naming its eight new regions.

• Greg reported that six Knight Academy students had reached Mid-Bronze Tier Knight, while Kyle’s Gold Knight status inspired the Guardian Knights to resolve to train harder.
• Velin reviewed the six students’ records, heard Greg’s updates on the Mage and Priest Academies, and rewarded Cassius, Isius, Greg, and Imogen with three thousand Gold Coins each.
• Raimondo reported the earnings from the provincial capital, the Adventure Zone, and commerce in Cadro Province, and Velin rewarded him with six thousand Gold Coins.
• Alfer reported that Mike, Alfer, Adolf, and Orion had expanded Qixing Territory by eleven thousand square kilometers across eight regions, and Velin rewarded each of them an Intermediate Magic Crystal and eight thousand Gold Coins.
• Velin walked to the map and began naming the eight newly expanded regions.

Velin appointed governors for Qixing Territory’s newly reorganized counties and assigned Orlando to develop West Wind County. He then ordered the unmarried Belder to marry within three months, leaving Belder at a loss for an answer.

• Velin appointed Andrew governor of Blue Gauze County and named Mike, Alfer, Adolf, and Orion governors of its subordinate counties.
• Velin made Belder governor of Qixing County and appointed Hebrew governor of Orlando County, warning Hebrew to govern properly.
• Velin appointed Orlando governor of West Wind County, and Orlando secured the transfer of his existing administrative staff and Belder’s subordinates Duke and Cyril.
• Velin told Belder to marry within three months and challenged him to explain why he remained unmarried at thirty-three.

Velin finished assigning marriage responsibilities to his knights, then inspected his newly built castle with Eunice. He began organizing its defenses and staffing, and followed O'dor toward the main castle for a private conversation.

• Velin ordered Belder and the other knights to court the women he had selected for them, while forbidding Hebrew from pursuing marriage on his own.
• Three days later, Velin visited the new castle with Eunice and learned about its size, layout, and facilities.
• Eunice warned Velin that the castle needed far more guards and servants than it currently had.
• Velin ordered Kyle to recruit two hundred Bronze Warriors and two thousand militia members for the castle's defensive force, and to select servants with clean backgrounds.
• Velin greeted O'dor, who commented that Velin had gained a lot during his return, then led Velin and Kyle toward the main castle after the others left.

Velin toured the New Castle’s underground treasury, where O'dor showed him its defenses and bound four Elemental Knights to him. After Velin and Kyle left, eight royal Review Officers arrived in Cadro Province to assess Velin’s promotion to Viscount, with Captain Lester recognizing the assignment from seven years earlier.

• O'dor showed Velin and Kyle the Space Gate device, and Velin and Kyle registered their energy signatures to access the treasury.
• O'dor led them into the sealed vault and explained its extensive defenses and seven nested Magic Arrays.
• O'dor activated four Elemental Knights, which accepted Velin as their master, and Velin ordered them to recognize Kyle and let him pass freely.
• Velin asked O'dor about developing the Underground World in three months, and O'dor agreed it was feasible.
• Velin and Kyle left the New Castle to prepare for Kyle’s Castle Guard Army and Velin’s promotion review.
• Eight Review Officers arrived in Cadro Province, and Ente Silvis explained that Captain Lester had reviewed Velin seven years earlier.

Lester arrived in Qixing Territory with a team of review officers to assess Velin’s promotion to Viscount, and he and Velin reunited as old friends. After touring Star Prayer City and praising its future, they celebrated together and ended the night drunk.

• Lester led his review team into Qixing Territory, where Velin had already learned of their arrival and was unconcerned about meeting the promotion standards.
• Velin recognized Lester as the review officer and welcomed him warmly at the City Lord’s Mansion.
• Velin showed Lester around Star Prayer City while Ente advised Leya to be careful with her words and actions.
• Lester predicted that Star Prayer City could become Kadelo Province’s center and a jewel of the kingdom’s northwest.
• Velin, Lester, Belder, Kyle, and the review team drank six bottles of Shining Wine, and guards helped the drunken guests to their lodgings.

Lester completed Qixing Territory’s review and was impressed by its vast land area. At a banquet with Velin, he hinted that the kingdom planned to relocate people west after the war, leaving Velin considering the territory’s future opportunities.

• Lester told his team to respect the officials’ boundaries, assigned the review tasks, and recorded Velin’s strength as meeting the standards.
• After three days of gathering information, Lester’s team found that Qixing Territory covered 14,500 square kilometers, and Lester declared the review complete.
• Velin invited Lester to the castle, where Lester accepted four Intermediate Magic Crystals as a gift.
• Lester told Velin that the king might relocate Poor Folk from the eastern regions to the west after the war and estimated that the famine had killed at least five million people.
• Velin questioned Lester about the deaths and population plans, then said he understood and quietly committed the information to memory.

Velin prepared for a possible move while his newly formed Castle Guard Army trained, then received the king’s formal investiture as Viscount of Qixing Territory. The ceremony ended with Star Prayer City celebrating his elevation.

• Lester left Velin’s estate after sharing information about population opportunities, and Velin praised his resourcefulness to Kyle.
• Kyle reported that the Castle Guard Army had been formed and was training under Cassius, and Velin told him to prepare for a move.
• On November 18, 9728, a thirteen-knight squad from the Yilan Knight Order arrived in Star Prayer City to conduct Velin’s investiture.
• The king’s projection bestowed the title of Viscount of Qixing Territory on Velin in recognition of his battle merits.
• The Yilan knights presented Velin with the Star Prayer sword and Qixing Territory’s banner, and the city’s residents cheered as he raised them.

Velin celebrated Qixing Territory’s new Glory Day, received his war dividends and supplies, and moved into the New Castle as preparations for his banquet continued. As guests arrived, O'dor sensed that his teacher was nearby and went to investigate.

• Velin declared November 18th through 20th Glory Day, marking his promotion to Viscount, and Belder arranged a banquet for January 1st, 9729.
• Migos delivered Velin’s deposited wealth, his Expeditionary War dividends, and supplies from his father, including a thousand Red Phosphorus Horses and three breeding specialists.
• Velin sent the horses to Orlando, who established a ranch in West Wind County, and Velin moved into the New Castle with his companions and Guardian Knights.
• Velin gave land in the New Castle to his aides and Guardian Knights, and a rumor spread that its landowners were his trusted confidants.
• Distinguished guests began arriving for Velin’s banquet, while O'dor sensed his teacher nearby and went to look for him.

O'dor secretly watched Flora and prepared to pursue a romance with her, while Isla struggled with her own feelings for her teacher. Velin reunited with Angus and Elisa in Qixing Territory, and Elisa spoke privately with Kyle about his loyalty and influence on her son.

• O'dor followed Flora and Layla through the Inner City District, convinced that Flora was his teacher and that she belonged with him.
• Isla realized that her feelings for her teacher were love, but told herself to support his long-awaited pursuit of his own love.
• O'dor stayed home the next day to prepare for the banquet three days later.
• On the last day of Radiant Calendar 9728, Velin greeted Angus and Elisa outside Star Prayer City and embraced his mother before welcoming his father.
• Velin showed Angus around Qixing Territory, impressing both of his parents with its orderly streets and content residents.
• Elisa spoke privately with Kyle, thanked him for remaining by Velin's side, and acknowledged how much he had helped her son.

Elisa revealed her Soul Skill to Kyle and used her magic to help Velin feel at ease in his castle, which she and Angus named Star Moon Castle. Angus sensed powerful, benevolent presences in Qixing Territory and a silver dragon in Star Prayer City; two days later, the Banquet began.

• Elisa told Kyle that her inborn Soul Skill let her see what he concealed, and Kyle shared his lord's history while withholding confidential details.
• Elisa healed Velin, then suggested naming his castle Star Moon Castle, and Velin agreed.
• Elisa used magic to inscribe the name above the East Main Gate and cast a spell that let the castle's guests sleep soundly.
• Angus sensed two powerful individuals near and inside Star Moon Castle and detected a silver dragon's aura in Star Prayer City, especially at the Adventurer Tavern.
• Two days later, several hundred nobles attended the Banquet in the Inner City District garden and Training Ground.

At his promotion banquet, Velin spent time with Brian, Krell, and Alva before discovering that his aunt Flora seemed to be growing close to Lord O'dor. The chapter ended with Velin teasing O'dor about becoming his uncle by marriage.

• Brian praised Velin's rise to Viscount, and Velin promised to help him earn a promotion.
• Krell and Alva reunited with Velin, traded jokes, and Alva gave him a handwritten copy of the Doctrine of Life.
• Velin spotted Flora chatting awkwardly with Lord O'dor and secretly watched them with Layla.
• After Flora and O'dor parted, Velin approached O'dor and asked whether he was trying to become his uncle by marriage.

After the banquet, Angus offered Velin a Transcendent Resource as compensation for his contributions, and Velin chose the Multi-Flame Flower to help Bronze Warriors advance to Silver. Angus also learned that Velin was close to Xuemiyya Silvis and said he would investigate her.

• O'dor told Velin that he had found a teacher in Flora, and Velin congratulated him on his progress.
• After the banquet ended, Angus offered Velin his choice of a Transcendent Resource as an additional reward for his contributions to the family.
• Angus warned Velin that resources that accelerated cultivation could cause hidden injuries, then described the Multi-Flame Flower and its side effect, Multi-Flame Inflammation.
• Velin chose the Multi-Flame Flower, and Angus agreed to send around three thousand flowers in three months.
• Angus asked Velin about his relationship with Xuemiyya Silvis, then said he would send someone to investigate her.

Velin prepared to develop the Underground World while O'dor completed its teleportation array and quickly conquered seven city-states. Velin entered the Underground World and saw its imprisoned inhabitants as O'dor's campaign continued toward a Dark Elf city-state.

• Guidance of Fate told Velin that a Silver Wolf Tribe would pass northwest of Qixing Territory in six months, and he planned to bring Aljettah along.
• Three days after Angus and Elisa left for Eagle Territory, Velin ordered Cassius to move Star Prayer Camp to Earth City and Orlando to work with the Mage Academy on a scorching region.
• Flora and O'dor exchanged gifts and parted at the West City Gate, while Madmonk reflected that Flora's Dark Knight Armor Set would make her exceptionally difficult to defeat.
• O'dor modified the Underground World Teleportation Array, built Theo Fortress, and took control of seven city-states.
• Velin traveled through the array with Cassius and Kyle, saw imprisoned Subterranean Creatures of many races, and learned that O'dor's forces were approaching a Dark Elf city-state.

O'dor conquered a Dark Elf city-state, killing its Matriarch and temple defenders while the troops surrendered, then ordered the city secured and its powerful inhabitants sent to Stone City. Back in Stone City, Velin and Kyle discussed expanding the army and forming an Auxiliary Army to govern the vast Underground World, while Velin trusted O'dor to have found a way to ensure its loyalty.

• O'dor and the Third Brigade reached the Dark Elf city-state, where he killed its guards and officers and caused the Dark Elf troops to surrender.
• O'dor killed the Dark Elf Matriarch, destroyed Spider Queen Lolth's statue, and Lolth took the souls of more than thirty priests.
• The Third Brigade took control of the city-state and reported that it held over five thousand Dark Elves and twenty-three thousand other underground creatures, most of them slaves.
• O'dor ordered creatures at Bronze rank and above sent to Stone City, sealed the city's inhabitants against using Transcendent methods, and returned to Stone City.
• Velin and Kyle discussed the Underground World's forty or more city-states, the need for an Auxiliary Army, and forming two additional battalions to monitor it.

O'dor returned with Mind Distortion, and Velin agreed to use it on the current generation of Underground World creatures while preserving their successors. As O'dor expanded his conquests, the remaining city-states united in Moray City and debated sacrificing slaves to summon a monster against the human Soul Intent grade powerhouse.

• O'dor showed Velin Mind Distortion and explained that it damaged souls, shortened lifespans, and permanently halted advancement.
• Velin agreed with O'dor to use Mind Distortion only on the current generation of underground creatures and to cultivate the next generation for Qixing Territory.
• Velin returned to Star Moon Castle, established the Fourth and Fifth Battalions, and transferred the Second Battalion to Theo Fortress.
• O'dor captured more than ten city-states in half a month and formed a five-thousand-strong Auxiliary Army to seize slaves from small tribes.
• Leaders from the remaining twenty-three city-states gathered in Moray City, where the Evil Eye Legion Commander broke Talia's spell over the Silver High-Tier leaders.
• Talia proposed sacrificing thirty thousand slaves to summon a Shadow Hunter Spider Demon, and Gray Dwarf Brik accused her of planning to turn it against them.

O'dor attacked Moray City before its alliance could form, killed Talia and the Shadow Hunter Spider Demon, and then cleared the western Underground World of powerful creatures. By May 15th, 9729, Qixing Territory's mines, ranch, and plantations were developing under his direction.

• The Evil Eye and the western city-state leaders agreed to assemble eighty thousand troops at Grok City and use Cavemen for a sacrifice to Spider Queen Lolth.
• O'dor learned of the planned alliance and chose to strike Moray City before its forces could unite.
• After Talia received Lolth's oracle to sacrifice Moray City, O'dor attacked, killed her as she tried to flee, and destroyed the Shadow Hunter Spider Demon.
• O'dor killed seven-tenths of Moray City's population, while the Evil Eye Legion escaped through a secret passage before their cave collapsed.
• Over three days, O'dor killed every Silver-grade existence and above in the western Underground World, leaving the region in chaos.
• By May 15th, 9729, Velin had spent five months at Star Moon Castle as Qixing Territory expanded its gold mine, horse ranch, and flower plantation.

Velin visited the Old Castle and praised Hilda and Sisina for training 130 Shadow Guards, then assigned them as Star Moon Castle’s Head Maids and divided command of the unit among them and Kyle. He left Kyle in charge of several forces and told him to recruit cadets for a future Wolf Cavalry unit before they went to meet the Adventurer’s Tavern’s master.

• Velin rode to the Old Castle and inspected the 130 Bronze-grade Shadow Guards trained by Hilda and Sisina.
• Velin appointed Hilda and Sisina as Head Maids, let each choose 15 Shadow Guards, and transferred command of the rest to Kyle.
• Kyle considered the three units under his command, but Velin insisted that he continue managing them and told him to prepare to recruit for a Wolf Cavalry unit.
• Velin and Kyle visited Star Prayer City, where Velin encouraged the Garrison Army and Kyle handed out Silver Coins as rewards.
• At the Adventurer’s Tavern, Velin recognized the young attendant as a former tavern worker who had gained Low-level Silver strength through dragon blood.

Velin asked Aljettah to help recruit the Silver Wolf Tribe, promising to pay him sixty thousand Gold Coins for the operation. He then reviewed O'dor's report on the Underground World and assigned numerical names to its caverns, leaving its future development to O'dor's research.

• Aljettah showed Velin his new drinks, including silver liquor that contained his blood and could turn some drinkers into his servants and dragonkin.
• Velin asked Aljettah to help recruit the Silver Wolf Tribe, and Aljettah agreed after Velin promised to treat them well and pay him sixty thousand Gold Coins.
• Velin and Aljettah agreed to leave in eight days, and Velin departed the Adventurer's Tavern after they chatted.
• Three days later, Velin received O'dor's report detailing the Underground World's revised layout, administrative plan, and population.
• Velin numbered the thirty-one large caverns and two hundred and thirty-three medium caverns on a new map, and noted that O'dor would decide what to plant after completing his research.