Chapter Summaries

Ang and his companions studied Space Magic while secretly building an underground base beneath North Wind Territory’s Mage Tower for a small teleportation array. After Ang and Isi excavated and reinforced the chamber, the group prepared to begin laying the array’s foundation.

• Ang planned to build a concealed teleportation array underground and proposed constructing its base beneath a public Mage Tower.
• Ang taught Quintina, Puri, Aisha, and the others Space Magic theories and exercises, and their studies gradually improved their understanding and magical abilities.
• Construction advanced across North Wind Territory as kobolds mined ore, Georgie led apprentices engraving Fortification Runes, and Ang and Isi excavated beneath the Mage Tower.
• Ang and Isi dug the underground chamber to a depth of about sixty-five meters, exceeding their original estimate.
• Ang welded steel pillars and plates into a reinforced structure and added rune-engraved plates to stabilize the underground chamber.
• Ang declared the chamber ready for the next stage: laying the teleportation array’s foundation.

Ang concealed his Plane Teleportation Array materials after learning that mages had gone missing near North Wind Territory, then cooperated with the Imperial Mage Association’s investigation. He told Mozer Bradley that thirty-one Black Mages had attacked him during the war with the Northern Barbarians and presented evidence linking them to the Black Magic Society.

• Ang received Aden’s warning about missing mages and hid the Spatial Crystals, books, and scrolls related to the Plane Teleportation Array behind an Anti-Magic Field.
• Aden brought Mozer Bradley and the Enforcement Team to North Wind Territory to investigate the missing mages, and Ang welcomed them.
• Ang described how thirty-one mages, led by Ramu, had attacked him during the battle against the Northern Barbarians and said he had acted in self-defense.
• Aden confirmed that the Mage Association had warned Ang that Ramu had escaped, and Ang presented the attackers’ belongings as evidence.
• The Enforcement Team detected dark magical energy and Black Magic Society materials among the belongings, and Mozer said the investigation would continue.

Ang cooperated with Moze and the Enforcement Team as they investigated the missing mages and the Black Magic Society’s operations. After the investigation confirmed the missing mages were Society members, Aden brought Ang a medal recognizing him for killing them, but Ang gave it away.

• Ang led Moze’s group through Beast Mouth Fortress, where Moze recorded the battlefield and questioned the Northern Barbarians.
• Moze criticized Ang for killing the suspected Black Magic Society mages without authorization, and Ang argued that he had acted to protect himself and his territory.
• Moze and the Enforcement Team investigated North Wind Territory and the Northern Savage Lands, then told Ang the Society had operated a camp in the Ula Mountains that had since been destroyed.
• Moze told Ang that the Society’s interest in him might relate to something on the Tarim Plane, but Ang denied knowing anything about it.
• A week after Moze’s group left, Aden brought Ang the Mage Association’s medal for killing Black Magic Society members, and Ang gave it to Aden.

Ang turned down Aden’s reward, showed him Northern Savage Town, and saw him off as he set out for the Northern Savage Lands. Back at Beast Mouth Fortress, Ang encouraged the Northern Barbarians to adapt to their new lives while keeping the Charge Regiment prepared, then checked on Dusha’s work.

• Ang returned Aden’s 620 magic crystals as a donation to the Pat City Mage Association and told him he had defeated all thirty-one Black Mages alone.
• Ang and Aden toured Northern Savage Town, where they discussed North Wind Territory’s future alongside the Northern Barbarians.
• Ang supported Aden’s decision to explore the Northern Savage Lands and watched him depart from Beast Mouth Fortress.
• Ang visited the Charge Regiment, and Torei explained that the Northern Barbarian warriors missed the hunting and battles of their former lives.
• Ang suggested that Torei and Slock organize group competitions to keep the warriors engaged and build teamwork.
• Ang went to his office, where Dusha assured him that the day’s matter had been handled according to his instructions.

Ang completed and tested the teleportation array linking the Underground Space to the Enchanting Workshop, then celebrated as the Mage Tower was finished. The team moved into the tower, which Ang declared their new home.

• Ang finished engraving the runes and embedding the Spatial Crystal in the Underground Space portal.
• Ang calibrated a second teleportation array in the Enchanting Workshop and confirmed the connection by testing it with a longsword, animals, and himself.
• Ang, Quintina, Aisha, and other mages tested the portal, then discussed its high energy use and plans to optimize it and test it on other planes.
• After several days of celebration and study, Ang and his team saw the completed twelve-story Mage Tower in North Wind Territory.
• Quintina, Aisha, Puli, and the others chose rooms in the tower, and Ang welcomed them to their new home.

Ang learned that his younger brother Aida was in love with Mesa, Isi’s younger sister, and helped the couple seek their families’ approval for marriage. His mother was delighted by the news, and Ang began preparing to welcome Isi’s family.

• Aida told Ang he wanted to live in the Mage Tower, and Ang later visited their withdrawn mother.
• Their mother asked Ang when he would marry, prompting him to discuss the family’s plans with Aisha.
• Aisha told Ang that Aida had been seeing Isi’s younger sister, Mesa, and Aida confirmed that they were together.
• Ang gave Aida his blessing and invited Mesa to meet him, where she agreed that she wanted to marry Aida.
• Ang summoned Isi, who agreed that his family would support the marriage, and Ang arranged a meeting between both families.
• Ang told his mother about the engagement, and she rejoiced as they prepared to welcome Isi’s family.

Ang and his family welcomed Mesa and Meyers's relatives, then Aida agreed to marry both sisters after a tense discussion about the alliance between their families. Aida, Mesa, and Meyers married in North Wind Territory, while Ang reflected on marriage and Quintina asked when he would find a wife.

• Ang and his mother welcomed Isi's family, and Omili proposed that Meyers marry Aida alongside Mesa to strengthen the families' ties.
• Mesa questioned the proposal, but Aida spoke privately with Mesa and Meyers, and Mesa agreed to the marriage.
• Ang's family prepared for the wedding, and Ang gave Mesa and Meyers's father Flame Enchanted Armament and Hurricane Enchanted Armament as bridewealth.
• Ang witnessed Aida, Mesa, and Meyers's wedding in North Wind Territory and urged Aida to cherish both wives.
• Quintina teased Ang about his own marriage prospects as friends celebrated with him at the wedding banquet.

Ang considered the Northern United Council Military Department’s offer of seven thousand soldiers, consulted Quintina and his allies, and accepted after checking Duke Rodriguez’s background. A month later, the troops arrived under Betsy, and Ang was appointed commander of the Third Legion’s 47th Regiment.

• Ang introduced monthly matchmaking balls in North Wind Territory, and the first event brought several couples together.
• Dexter delivered a Military Department letter offering Ang two thousand experienced soldiers and five thousand recruits, and Ang questioned him about the Third Legion and its plans for the Archipelago Plane.
• Ang discussed the offer with Quintina, Puri, Aida, Aisha, and others, then consulted the Charge Regiment and sought intelligence on Duke Rodriguez through Aden.
• After confirming Rodriguez had no ties to Black Magic organizations, Ang sent his acceptance to the Military Department with Dexter.
• A month later, Betsy brought seven thousand soldiers to North Wind Territory and gave Ang his appointment as commander of the Third Legion’s 47th Regiment.

Ang transformed the newly formed 47th Regiment through more than five months of intensive training and prepared it for departure to Igelm. As the regiment became battle-ready, he and Quintina stood ready to face the coming war together.

• Ang was frustrated to learn that the two thousand supposed veterans had fought in only one plane war, but he revised the training plan and began shaping the seven thousand soldiers.
• Ang used sparring exercises against three hundred Northern Barbarians to toughen the recruits, while Quintina agreed to accompany him to the Archipelago Plane and fight by his side.
• Over five months, the 47th Regiment developed into a cohesive force, with all seven thousand soldiers reaching Junior Squire and more than four hundred advancing to Intermediate Squire.
• Ang established a medical team led by Georgie and offered soldiers relocation expenses and free land if they moved their families to North Wind Territory.
• After giving the soldiers several days of leave, Ang inspected their final training and declared that their only goal was victory before the regiment's departure for Igelm.

The day before departing to campaign on the Archipelago Plane, Ang visited his family, the Guard Camp, and Aisha at the Mage Tower. He left Aisha responsible for guarding the portal and the North Wind Territory while he prepared to depart with his companions.

• Ang visited his mother, Mesa, and Meyers, reassured them, and told his mother he was leaving to fight on the Archipelago Plane.
• Ang inspected Aida’s nearly thousand-strong Guard Camp and urged Aida to care for their mother and spend time with her.
• Ang confronted Aisha about her resentment over being left behind, and she agreed to stay and guard the portal.
• Ang told Aisha to keep the Anti-Magic Field active with Bruno’s help and promised she might visit the Archipelago Plane after he built a teleportation array.
• Ang named Quintina, Slock, Sanchez, and Torei as his companions and assured Aisha that Walder and another Northern Barbarian general would defend Beast Mouth.

Ang led his disciplined troops toward Igelm, where they would travel to the Archipelago Plane, while civilians from towns along the route began following them in search of a chance to escape their hardship. As the group neared Igelm, Ang agreed to let the more than six hundred followers join if they endured the march and proved themselves.

• Ang confronted civilians trailing his troops and warned them that a Plane War meant unpredictable danger, but they insisted on following him to the Archipelago Plane.
• Ang told Quintina he might accept the civilians as reserve forces if they persisted all the way to Igelm.
• Ang checked supplies in each town and told the five magic apprentices traveling with him to practice runes and fill one Rune Tablet each day.
• After nearly twenty days of marching, Quintina told Ang that more than six hundred civilians were following the troops.
• Ang saw that the followers were exhausted, gave them wheat cakes and water, and warned them about the fighting ahead.
• The civilians insisted they had no other path, and Ang promised they could join the troops if they endured the journey to Igelm and earned their place.

Ang brought the 47th Regiment to Igelm, collected its military funds, and pushed the civilian recruits through intense training while Betsy delayed reimbursing supply costs. With departure nearing, Ang attacked Betsy until he produced the full collection voucher, then left the stunned garrison.

• Ang arrived in Igelm with Quintina and the 47th Regiment, then went to Betsy to request reimbursement for supplies and collect the regiment’s military funds.
• Ang collected the military funds, while Betsy delayed the supply reimbursement pending an inspection.
• Ang supervised the regiment’s training, and fewer than ten percent of the civilian recruits left under the demanding regimen.
• After more than twenty days of delays, Ang confronted Betsy at the Third Legion’s garrison and beat back officers who tried to intervene.
• Betsy gave Ang a voucher for the full amount he had submitted, and Ang left the office.

After receiving reimbursement, Ang took Quintina, Georgie, and the others sightseeing in Igelm, where they explored the city and sampled its famous food. The group returned to camp in high spirits, and Ang promised to take Quintina to the Third Legion’s ball the next night.

• Ang exchanged his voucher for magic crystals and returned to camp in a cheerful mood.
• Quintina suggested exploring Igelm, and Ang invited Georgie and the other four to join them.
• Ang promised to take Quintina to the Third Legion’s ball after she said she missed attending events.
• The group rode into Igelm, where Ang explained the city’s importance as a trade hub and they sampled Love Sausage.
• Ang shared Igelm travel guides with the group, and they spent the day exploring before returning to camp.
• Quintina thanked Ang for the outing and returned to her barracks, leaving him pleased.

Ang brought Quintina to the Third Legion's ballroom, where Betsy confronted him over his lingering facial injuries. When Betsy's officer Mike attacked, Ang defeated him and the other officers, then struck Betsy and sent him retreating.

• Ang brought Quintina to the Third Legion's garrison, where soldiers admired her uniform and appearance.
• Betsy confronted Ang about his facial swelling, and Ang refused to help him recover sooner.
• Mike hurled a wineglass at Ang, but Quintina froze it before it could hit him.
• Mike attacked Ang, who threw him to the ground and then struck him hard enough to make him stagger and bleed.
• Betsy's other officers surrounded Ang, but he defeated them one by one.
• Ang slapped Betsy's swollen cheek, and Betsy retreated with his officers.

Ang met Hogan Yona, commander of the 51st Regiment, who warned him about the Third Legion’s power struggles and Betsy’s influence. Hogan also described the Empire’s difficult war in the Archipelago Plane, where more than 600,000 troops were preparing to attempt another landing on the continent.

• Quintina praised Ang for knocking down the people who had provoked him, then admired Hogan as he approached.
• Hogan introduced himself to Ang and warned that Betsy was Commander Brandon Morgan’s nephew and could make trouble for him in the Third Legion.
• Hogan explained that Marquis Brandon Morgan and Marquis Hubert Gonzalez jointly controlled the Third Legion, and admitted he supported Gonzalez.
• Hogan warned that Betsy managed supplies and logistics, giving him ways to hinder Ang through equipment and weapons.
• Hogan told Ang that the lizardmen had destroyed the Empire’s landing positions in the Archipelago Plane and forced its troops back.
• Hogan said the Empire had assembled over 600,000 troops for another attempt to land on the continent, and Ang expressed confidence that the Empire could win.

Ang spoke with Hogan about hope before Hogan danced with Quintina, then Joyce Davis approached Ang and flirted with him, seeming to mistake him for her late husband. After Ang danced with Joyce and accidentally hurt her foot, she cried out when he tried to heal it with holy light.

• Ang told Hogan he remained optimistic that the Empire would not abandon such a valuable opportunity, and Hogan seemed moved by his words.
• Hogan invited Quintina to dance, and she accepted before the two performed gracefully together.
• Joyce Davis approached Ang, and he recognized her from the airship to Akreli before she said he resembled her late husband, Davis.
• Ang tested Joyce by asking her to name him, and she identified him as the lord of North Wind Territory and commander of the 47th Regiment.
• Ang took Joyce to the dance floor, accidentally stepped on her high heel, and brought her back to the sofa to heal her foot.
• Joyce cried out and refused when Ang's holy light appeared.

Ang used holy light to drive dark energy from Joyce's injured foot, then confronted her about her Black Magic Society ties. After Joyce left, Ang and Quintina discussed the threat and ended the ball dancing together, with Quintina embracing him as the music ended.

• Ang cleansed Joyce's injured instep with holy light and healed the burns with the Water Therapy Technique.
• Ang accused Joyce of belonging to the Black Magic Society, but Joyce challenged him to prove it and warned that mistreating a war hero's widow could alienate the nobility.
• After Joyce left, officers teased Ang about a liquid she had left on her chair, and Quintina reacted with disgust when she sat there.
• Ang told Quintina that Joyce was the widow of Viscount Delu Davis and suspected she directed the Black Magic Society and its allies in the Third Legion.
• Quintina pulled Ang onto the dance floor, danced with him, and embraced him as the ball ended.

Ang and Quintina prepared the 47th Regiment for its deployment to the Archipelago Plane, stocking supplies and making ice Rune Tablets to preserve fresh vegetables. After arriving at a temporary camp, Ang surveyed the island and learned the regiment would sail for Rosso Island the next morning.

• Ang stayed beside the drunken Quintina overnight, and the two discussed setting out for the Archipelago Plane the next day.
• Ang and Quintina organized the regiment's supplies, bought durable food, and collected reimbursement from the quartermaster.
• Ang and his companions inscribed ice runes on Rune Tablets to keep the regiment's fresh vegetables cold.
• The 47th Regiment passed through the Plane Portal and reached a temporary camp in the Archipelago Plane.
• Ang surveyed the island from the air, then returned to camp and told Quintina what he had seen.
• Ang and Quintina prepared to rest before taking a ship to Rosso Island the next morning.

Ang led the 47th Regiment by ship to Rosso Island, where the soldiers endured a punishing voyage before discovering there was no harbor. After landing and surveying the island’s volcanic terrain, Ang began turning it into a camp, leaving the regiment to build its first shelter there.

• Ang inspected the rune-powered ships and learned from the captain that the journey to Rosso Island would take several days and that the lizardfolk and Evil Shark Tribe were tied to the conflict.
• Ang and Quintina patrolled the fleet as the voyage’s heat, cold, and sickness weakened the soldiers, then Ang had medicine added to their drinking water.
• The fleet reached Rosso Island on the fifth day, and Quintina froze a path through the shallows so the regiment could disembark; Ang caught her when she collapsed from exhaustion.
• Ang surveyed Rosso Island and saw a large, steep island with an active volcano, then told Quintina the nearest garrison was about three hundred kilometers away on Wally Island.
• Ang directed the soldiers to clear land and mark out a camp, then ordered construction to begin before nightfall.

Ang and Quintina oversaw the rapid construction of a camp on Rosso Island, then explored the island for threats and resources. They found Fire Lizards near the volcano, captured wild cattle, and began clearing fertile southern land to plant barley.

• Ang led the soldiers in building the mess hall, barracks, stables, and fences, completing the camp's basic framework after a week.
• Ang worried that the Military Department might have assigned only his regiment to a desolate island, while Quintina warned him to be cautious and reported signs of Fire Lizards near the volcano.
• Ang explored the island's north, captured more than thirty ordinary wild cattle, and gathered magical herbs, while Quintina found dangerous volcanic caves and spotted a Fire Lizard that escaped.
• Ang and Quintina searched the west and south but found no further notable resources or magical beasts, then identified fertile southern land suitable for crops.
• Ang directed the soldiers to clear the southern land and plant barley despite Quintina's doubts about the timing and growing conditions.