Recaps

Velin gave Krell a Frozen Tear Crystal so he could enter Italia’s Mind World and try to wake her, in exchange for Krell serving him for a hundred years after she awoke. Krell entered her mind and found Italia as a bullied silver-haired child, recognizing the birthmark on her back.

• Velin gave Krell the Frozen Tear Crystal, and Krell vowed to serve him for a hundred years after Italia woke.
• Krell used his heart’s blood to send the crystal into Italia’s soul and entered her Mind World.
• Xuemiyya told Velin she would stand in front of him to protect him, while Lyanna renewed her resolve to train under Kyle.
• Krell awoke in a village within Italia’s Mind World and saw children tormenting a young silver-haired girl.
• Krell recognized the girl as Italia when he saw the red birthmark on her back, but he could not touch her.

Krell repeatedly killed the idealized version of himself in Italia’s Mind Barrier to break her beautiful fantasies, using up all but one of his restoration chances. When the silver-haired girl caught him and removed his mask, she saw Krell’s face and froze.

• Krell witnessed an idealized life in which he grew old with the silver-haired girl, then learned that breaking the Mind Barrier required slaughtering the outer self and redeeming the true self.
• Krell entered the Illusionary Realm wearing a silver-patterned mask and repeatedly killed the fantasy Krell, turning each destroyed illusion into hatred within the silver-haired girl.
• As the Mind Barrier’s hostility increased, Krell used several restoration chances to escape its defenders and continued his assassinations.
• Krell stabbed the blond young man during the silver-haired girl’s wedding, provoking her Black Miasma and revealing that he had only one restoration chance left.
• The silver-haired girl trapped Krell as he tried to escape, pulled off his mask, and froze when she saw his face.

Krell reached Italia in the Sea of Consciousness and helped her recover the frightened girl buried in her memories before returning to reality. At Ring-Sea Flower Manor, Velin and the others prepared a welcome feast and waited as the Illusory Domain began to change.

• Krell revealed his identity to Italia, embraced her, and recalled their first meeting until her black aura faded.
• Italia asked Krell to find the crying girl in the darkness, and he found and comforted her in a black house.
• Krell and Italia shared a farewell kiss, and he promised to meet her in the real world before leaving her Sea of Consciousness through the Frozen Tear Crystal.
• Velin used the manor lord's authority to provide ingredients and provisions while Kyle prepared a feast and planned Krell's schedule.
• As night fell, the group waited for Krell, and Velin put away his reclining chair when the Illusory Domain began to change.

Krell successfully awakened Italia, and the couple reunited before celebrating with Velin and their friends. After Velin departed, Italia held back her questions about Krell’s promise to join the Floating Fleet, and the couple returned to the Manor’s main residence.

• The Illusory Domain dissipated, and Italia awakened as the Frozen Tear Crystal became an ordinary crystal.
• Krell welcomed Italia back, and she promised to share her feelings with him when they were alone.
• Velin hosted a feast to celebrate Krell and Italia’s reunion, and everyone shared food and conversation through the night.
• Velin prepared to leave, and Krell promised to settle his affairs within a month before joining him in Qixing Territory as commander of the Floating Fleet.
• Velin and his companions departed on the Star Moon Floating Airship, and Krell and Italia returned to the Manor’s main residence.

Velin returned to West River Province and reunited with his brother Ilisis at Windsor Castle. As they walked toward the castle, Velin revisited childhood memories and asked Ilisis whether he had considered changing the buildings around it.

• Velin and Xuemiyya arrived above Eagle Territory aboard the Star Moon Floating Airship, and a knight alerted Ilisis to the Qixing Count’s banner.
• Ilisis left his study, where he had been with Alyssia, and flew to meet Velin aboard the airship.
• Velin introduced Lyanna to Ilisis, who said their mother had asked about her in a letter.
• Velin stored the airship in his Demiplane, then walked with Ilisis and the others toward Windsor Castle, sharing fruit from the orchards.
• Velin recalled his childhood and asked Ilisis if he had ever thought about changing the buildings around the castle.

Velin returned to Windsor Castle with Ilisis and learned that his eldest brother had a son and another child on the way. He met his young nephew, who eagerly accepted Velin’s offer of a test of bravery for a month off.

• As Ilisis recalled their childhood at Windsor Castle, Velin reflected on how his siblings had grown up and gone their separate ways.
• At the East City Gate, Velin asked Ilisis whether the siblings would ever reunite, and Ilisis told him his nephew was waiting to meet him.
• Velin was surprised to learn that Ilisis had a son and that his second child was already on the way; Xuemiyya touched her stomach as she watched them.
• Aisilia waited with her son, who guessed that the arriving young man was Uncle Velin and won half-day breaks for the next half month.
• Velin teased his nephew about being timid, then offered him a month off if he proved brave, and the boy accepted after Ilisis nodded.

Velin, Ilisis, Kyle, and Ignis planned a courage trial for Kavell, which would begin after he fell asleep that night. Velin then prepared the trial in Cecilia's Demiplane by gathering the Snow Wind Clan griffins and teasing Xing about their plumpness.

• Velin learned that Ilisis and Lyanna's son was named Kavell Ex and encouraged him to surpass his father's place in the family's history.
• Velin asked Ilisis, Kyle, and Ignis to help devise a trial to test Kavell's courage, and Ilisis activated a Magical Device to shield their discussion.
• Velin and Kyle entered Cecilia's Demiplane to prepare the trial, while Ilisis invited Ignis to tour Windsor Castle and speak with him.
• Velin had Xing gather the Snow Wind Clan griffins and noticed that many of the 359 griffins were plump.
• Xing tried to slip away, but Velin threatened to hang him from the Tree of Life sapling, so Xing lay flat on the ground.

Velin arranged a trial for Kavell using the Snow Wind Clan griffons and secured a descendant of Xing as a future companion for his nephew. Back at Windsor Castle, Aisilia tried to coax Isis into revealing the trial’s details, but he kept them secret.

• Velin told the Snow Wind Clan griffons to prepare to scare Kavell and offered them Glowing Wine as a reward.
• Xing agreed to give one of her descendants to Kavell in exchange for thirty bottles of Glowing Wine.
• Velin explained to Kyle that Kavell’s trial would test his courage and potential to lead.
• Isis warned Kavell not to panic, then Aisilia sent the maids away and tried to coax the trial’s details out of him.
• Isis told Aisilia that he did not know anything about the trial.

Velin and Xuemiyya discussed having a child and letting Kyle raise and teach them. Meanwhile, Kavell woke in a snowy wilderness and believed he had been kidnapped by the Haggs Family, while Velin and the others watched his trial unfold.

• Xuemiyya stopped questioning Velin about the trial and told him they should start trying for a child when they returned.
• Velin and Xuemiyya agreed that Kyle should raise their child, partly because he would keep the child from becoming spoiled and make Velin work less.
• Kavell woke in a snowy wilderness, spotted a white griffin, and cautiously surveyed his surroundings while pretending to remain asleep.
• Velin, Xuemiyya, Isis, Aisilia, and Lyanna watched Kavell through a magical projection as Velin anticipated the next part of the trial.
• Xing mistakenly said the masked Kyle had stolen Kavell to trade him for wine, and Kyle explained that the real goal was revenge against the Ex Family.
• Kavell believed the Haggs Family had truly kidnapped him, and Kyle left the Snow Wind Clan camp after telling Xing to prepare a pot and avenge him if he did not return by noon.

Kavell escaped Xing’s camp by recognizing that she served Velin Ex and offering a bargain, thereby passing Velin’s trial. After Xing released him, Kavell comforted her and promised to ask Velin for more Glowing Wine.

• Xing’s griffins carried the fleeing Kavell to a boiling pot, and Xing threatened to make the water hotter.
• Kavell offered Xing a thousand barrels of wine for his release, then confirmed that her master was Velin Ex.
• Xing realized she had revealed Velin’s identity and despaired, while Velin and Ilisis agreed that Kavell had passed the trial.
• Xing’s offspring released Kavell, and he comforted Xing by promising to ask Velin for more Glowing Wine.

Velin gave Xing a choice between two reward-and-punishment options, and Kavell decided to share her punishment after promising to help her. The chapter ended with Kavell asking Velin to tie him securely to the tree when they were hung up.

• Ilisis arrived at the Snow Wind Clan camp and cleaned Kavell’s face while reminding him not to wipe it on his trousers.
• Velin offered Xing two reward-and-punishment options, both of which included being hung up, and warned her that she had to choose.
• Kavell asked Velin to spare Xing, and Velin said that someone would have to share her punishment.
• After weighing his promise and the consequences, Kavell chose to accept the punishment alongside Xing.
• Kavell asked Velin to tie him tightly to the tree so he would not fall.

Velin punished Xing by suspending him beneath the Tree of Life Sapling and sent Kavell to spend five days atop Wind Listening Tower. Before leaving, Velin gave Kavell a griffin egg from the Snow Wind Clan, which was due to hatch in two days.

• Velin bound Xing upside down beneath the Tree of Life Sapling for half a month and gave him Glowing Wine to drink through a hollow reed.
• Velin gave Glowing Wine to the Snow Wind Clan's griffins before leaving Cecilia's Demiplane with Xuemiyya and the others.
• Velin placed Kavell on Wind Listening Tower with food and told him that he would be alone there for five days while his parents and Velin left Windsor Castle.
• Velin warned Kavell not to make promises lightly, then gave him a griffin egg as a gift and said it would hatch in two days.
• Kavell promised to care for the griffin and settled in to listen to the life pulsing inside its shell as Velin left the tower.

Kavell stayed behind at Wind Listening Tower with the griffin egg while Ilisis’s party traveled to Moon Shadow County. Ilisis warned Velin that Governor Vituss might face the Administrator Slave System, then confronted Vituss as county officials watched.

• Kavell watched the procession leave and promised the griffin egg they would keep each other company for five days.
• The party traveled overnight, and Ilisis, Ignis, Kyle, Velin, Xuemiyya, Aisilia, and Lyanna occupied themselves in the carriage.
• At Moon Shadow County, a Low-Gold Knight stopped Vituss from approaching without Ilisis’s order.
• Ilisis told Velin that Vituss would be allowed to retire if his offense was minor, but could be transferred under the Administrator Slave System if the consequences were severe.
• Ilisis explained that he had used the system twice and intended for Kavell to abolish it after he stepped down.
• After Velin departed for Moonwater Manor, Ilisis approached Vituss, who knelt and called himself a sinner as county officials looked on.

Velin inspected Moonwater Manor and learned how its Glowing Grapes were cultivated and turned into wine. He tasked Kyle with testing whether the vines could grow in the Silver Dragon Burke Kingdom, while Tikas guided the group around the manor.

• Vituss followed Ilisis into Moon Shadow County, and observers realized he was likely about to lose his position as governor.
• Velin arrived at Moonwater Manor, where steward Tikas welcomed him and explained his military service and appointment.
• Tikas told Velin that the manor held 436 Glowing Grape vines and produced about 19,539 bottles of Glowing Wine each year.
• Velin asked Kyle whether Glowing Grapes could grow in the Silver Dragon Burke Kingdom, and Kyle stored several vines in the Messier Demiplane for testing.
• Tikas guided Velin through the manor, where Velin saw that only a little over 100 mu remained planted with Moonwater Grapes.

Velin returned from Moonwater Manor to find Ilisis dealing with cult connections in Moon Shadow County. Ilisis ordered a sweeping purge and investigation, accepting the deaths of thousands as the cost of protecting the family.

• Velin praised Tikas for managing Moonwater Manor fairly and promised to promote him before departing for Moon Shadow County City.
• Velin found Ilisis reviewing documents and learned that two of the county administrator’s subordinates had ties to a cult.
• Ilisis ordered Lorian to send a battalion to destroy three towns and eight villages, directed the Church of Life to conduct Alignment Checks, and ordered officers connected to those settlements reassigned.
• Ilisis warned the county officials to prevent unrest, then summoned a Shadow Stalker and ordered an investigation of every settlement in Moon Shadow County.
• Ilisis resolved to destroy everyone and everything connected to the cult, regardless of the death toll, while his knight recognized his ruthless nature.

Velin and his companions left Moon Shadow City while he worried that Ilisis would purge the county’s evil cult connections. Ilisis summoned the imprisoned Vins to discuss his embezzlement, and Vins was escorted from the prison to meet him.

• Velin told Xuemiyya that Ilisis might carry out a major purge in Moon Shadow County, and she promised to support him.
• Ilisis watched Velin, Xuemiyya, Aisilia, Kyle, Leanna, and Ignis depart for Starlight City, then ordered Vins brought from prison.
• Vins reflected on how his embezzlement had grown over ten years until he could no longer turn back.
• A Low-Gold Knight escorted Vins from his cell to meet Ilisis, while Vins endured the Battle Qi tormenting the sword wound Ilisis had inflicted.

At Winter Moon Lake, Velin and his companions rested while the Famine Cult prepared an attack on Aisilia, the Eagle Marquis’s wife. Chief Priest Sotus ordered the cultists to gather Famine Crystal and wait for his messenger before acting.

• Velin and his companions arrived at Winter Moon Lake, where Xuemiyya, Aisilia, and Lyanna went to Starfall Village while the others stayed near the manor.
• Famine Cult members learned that their hidden operative had been removed and debated how to respond to Ilisis’s purge of their followers.
• Sotus revealed his plan to sacrifice Aisilia to My God, believing she was vulnerable while traveling away from the Eagle Marquis.
• Hazmar and the other Soul Intent rank cultists agreed to join the attack, and Sotus ordered all ten cultists to take portions of the Famine Crystal.
• Sotus told the cultists to wait for his messenger, then a mass of shadow rose from above and merged into his shadow.

Solos led the Black Robes toward Xuemiyya, but Kyle detected the Famine Cult and intercepted him before he could capture her. Kyle subdued Solos while his clone fought the cultists, leaving their fate unresolved.

• Solos stored the last Famine Crystal and led the Black Robes south toward Xuemiyya.
• Kyle sensed a repulsive presence near Winter Moon Lake and sent a Soul Intent Low-Tier clone to investigate.
• Solos attacked Xuemiyya's party, and Kyle's clone countered with a barrage of Light Spears.
• Solos unleashed ten Famine Cultists, who transformed into Famine Beasts, then tried to flee as the clone overwhelmed them.
• Kyle caught and restrained Solos, brought him back to the surface, and gave his clone one more minute to finish fighting the Famine Beasts.

After Kyle captured and searched a Famine Cult high priest, Velin learned that the cult planned to sacrifice his sister-in-law and all of Moon Shadow County. Furious, Velin ordered Kyle and Ignis to exterminate every Famine Cultist in West River Province.

• Kyle's Soul Intent clone killed the ten Famine Cultists, restored the battlefield, and returned to the lakeside Manor with the captured priest.
• Velin ordered Kyle to search the priest's soul, and Kyle extracted useful memories before destroying the priest's soul and purifying his body.
• Velin learned that Solos Hax was a remnant of the Hax Family's main branch and that the cult planned to sacrifice his sister-in-law and Moon Shadow County.
• Velin suppressed his fury and declared that every Famine Cultist in West River Province, including ordinary recruits, must die.
• Velin ordered Kyle and Ignis to begin their purge in Moon Shadow County once Xuemiyya and the others returned, and said he would accept responsibility for the consequences.

Velin sent Xuemiyya, Aisilia, Lyanna, and the others to the Cecilia Demiplane before leading Kyle and Ignis in a purge of the Famine Cult across Xihe Province. After they destroyed the cultists in Wheat Ear Town, Ilisis learned that the attack on Xuemiyya and Aisilia had prompted Velin’s actions and ordered Gelund to bring the Eagle Legion.

• Velin arranged for Xuemiyya, Aisilia, Lyanna, and the others to shelter in the Cecilia Demiplane while he went after the Famine Cult with Kyle and Ignis.
• Velin ordered Sandora to charge its attack magic arrays and flew the Floating Battleship toward Moon Shadow County.
• Kyle killed two suspected Famine Cultists at Wheat Ear Town’s constabulary station, searched their souls for leads, and ordered the remaining constables to maintain order.
• Velin, Kyle, and Ignis hunted down all 537 Famine Cultists in Wheat Ear Town, crushed their bodies, and burned their souls with Kyle’s Holy Flame.
• Ilisis received a report of the purge, realized Velin had acted because Xuemiyya and Aisilia had been attacked, and ordered Gelund to bring the Eagle Legion.

Velin razed a Famine Cult stronghold in Youquan Count's Territory and confronted its ruler, Kayle de Mont Sefiros. Kayle greeted Velin respectfully and readily framed his actions as punishment for sinners, leaving Velin surprised by his cooperation.

• Velin steered the Sandora Floating Battleship toward Youquan Count's Territory after clearing Moon Shadow County's towns.
• Kayle de Mont Sefiros saw the approaching battleship and, after doubting his attendants' guesses, rode his dragon Harmos toward it.
• Velin stopped Kyle from attacking Kayle as the count approached the battleship.
• Kyle brought the town's surviving prisoners aboard, and Kayle introduced himself to Velin as Count of Youquan Count's Territory.
• Velin asked Kayle if he understood what was happening, and Kayle said Velin was punishing sinners who had offended his dignity.

Velin helped Count Kaledmon uncover and eliminate Famine Cult strongholds across Youquan Territory, then prepared to continue to other noble lands. Meanwhile, King Belgrave Silvis summoned Valient after reviewing intelligence.

• Count Kaledmon questioned a surviving subordinate and learned that the Famine Cult had infiltrated Town of Tovek and plotted against him.
• Count Kaledmon realized the cult’s presence suggested traitors within his territory and thanked Velin for saving Youquan Territory.
• Velin and Count Kaledmon spent eight hours purging Famine Cult strongholds throughout the territory, destroying the final one before nightfall.
• Count Kaledmon stayed behind to secure Youquan Territory and offered his eldest son, Lakes, to accompany Velin to the next territory.
• King Belgrave Silvis read an intelligence report and ordered a guard to summon Valient.

Valient met with his grandfather, King Belgrave, who considered him a potential heir to the throne and tested his response to the Famine Cult crisis in West River Province. Valient outlined a plan to enlist Marquis Isis, the God-Bestowed Count, nobles, the Church of Life, and the kingdom legions, and Belgrave challenged why Valient would give someone else the honor.

• Valient finished his sword training and went to meet Belgrave after Captain Moen told him the summons concerned West River Province.
• Belgrave reflected on the prophecy that his successor would come from among Valient, Vireya, and Serandus, and decided to choose an heir within ten years.
• Belgrave asked Valient about his mother and father, and Valient said he felt indifferent toward his father and would help him only three times.
• Belgrave gave Valient a secret letter about the Famine Cult in West River Province, intending the task to build Valient's reputation or leave him to bear the consequences.
• Valient proposed traveling to West River Province, gathering information through Marquis Isis and the God-Bestowed Count, and mobilizing the kingdom's forces to purge the cult.
• Belgrave asked Valient why he would place someone else in the position of honor instead of himself.

Valient persuaded Belgrave to support Velin Ex in establishing a kingdom overseas, arguing that the Ilia Kingdom could gain his protection for generations. Belgrave entrusted Valient with handling the Famine Cult incident in West River Province, where Velin had already cleared five counts' territories.

• Valient told Belgrave he would help Velin Ex become king by finding territory for him on the sea.
• Valient proposed sending Royal Scions to serve Velin and argued that their ties could secure the Ilia Kingdom's protection.
• Belgrave gave Valient full authority to handle the Famine Cult incident in West River Province and began drafting a royal decree.
• The following morning, Valient left the royal capital for West River Province with knights from the royal guard.
• Velin had cleared Famine Cultists from five counts' territories and led their heirs toward the next Count's Territory.

Velin considered the Violetta Family’s history and its hidden connection to the Famine Cult as the Sandora Floating Battleship approached its territory. Count Violetta learned that his father had three days to live and chose to sacrifice himself to make amends as the old man flew toward the approaching ship.

• Velin reflected on the Violetta Territory’s history, its glow fruit industry, and the family’s mysterious ties to the Famine Cult.
• The white-haired old man told Drossermir Violetta that his great-grandfather had made a contract with a Famine Cult chief priest, and that Drossermir’s eldest son had married the priest’s descendant.
• The old man revealed that the chief priest’s death had triggered their Life and Death Contract, leaving him only three days to live.
• The old man said the Blond Knight beside the God-Bestowed Count had killed the priest and might have uncovered the family’s secret by searching his soul.
• Drossermir collapsed and accepted his father’s decision to make amends, while the old man said he had already purged the family’s other Famine Cult connections.
• The old man left the castle and flew toward the approaching Sandora Floating Battleship.