Chapter Summaries

Ang built a profitable Healing Potion business during the journey to Akreli, improving his skills and securing ongoing cooperation with merchants. He returned to the city with nearly a hundred potions and agreements for monthly potion-making and weapon enchantment, while the merchants chose to trust him without a Magic Contract.

• Ernit commissioned Ang to make Healing Potions, and Ang produced two hundred high-quality bottles with Ernit's nephew assisting.
• Ang took twelve potions for himself and sold the rest of his payment back to Ernit, strengthening their trust.
• As more merchants sought his work, Ang's senior brothers and sisters declined to join his team, while Nicholas neither approved nor opposed Ang's business.
• Ang spent the rest of the journey fulfilling commissions and accumulated nearly a hundred Healing Potions of his own.
• After the airship reached Akreli, Ang agreed with merchants to make potions and enchant weapons monthly, and they chose to cooperate without a Magic Contract.
• Ernit reassured his dissatisfied nephew that supporting Ang was an investment in the future, prompting the nephew to resolve to train harder.

After returning to the academy, Ang reunited with his friends, wrote to his family and Ilsa, and worked to catch up on his studies. He focused increasingly on researching two mysterious runes and learned to use them in specific circumstances.

• Ang returned to the academy, where Nicholas reported the study tour and Ang later told Gao An, Angeli, and their friends about his travels and the Lord-level Magical Beasts.
• Ang wrote letters to his family and Ilsa, sharing his experiences and expressing his feelings for Ilsa.
• Ang devoted himself to catching up on Magic Theory and practical training until he had covered the missed coursework.
• Ang met with the senior students from the study tour, and Herax urged him to study the two runes further.
• Ang researched the runes in the library and through repeated experiments, gradually learning to use them in specific circumstances.

Ang deciphered the first rune as Mass Contraction but could not activate the second, so he investigated whether both were connected to Ancient Elf runes. After learning about their possible origins, he asked Herax to investigate their source, but Fernando was away from the academy.

• Ang discovered that the first rune, Mass Contraction, reduced an object's weight far more effectively than the conventional Weight Reduction Rune without diminishing its strength.
• Ang's rune instructor explained that the runes differed from modern forms and might derive from an Ancient Elf rune system, while the second could require special conditions or other runes to activate.
• Ang researched Ancient Elves in the academy library and learned about their descendants, Elven Incantations, and possible bloodlines among magical creatures.
• Ang asked Herax whether Fernando had obtained the runes from an Ancient Elf ruin, but Herax said Fernando was away from Akreli.
• Herax agreed to ask around the academy for information about the Ancient Elves and the runes.

Ang sought help researching two Ancient Elf runes and teamed up with Eileen to investigate why the second rune would not activate. Their experiments yielded no reaction, so they continued searching for clues in Ancient Elf history and rune lore.

• Ang failed to obtain library access through Nicholas and, after hearing nothing from Herax, asked Milton for leads on Ancient Elf research.
• Milton directed Ang to Eileen, an upper-year student who specialized in ancient Magic Runes and had written about Ancient Elf runes.
• Ang showed Eileen his Rune Tablet, and she suggested the second rune might depend on its environment or another trigger condition.
• Ang and Eileen tested the rune in environments rich in elemental energy, but it did not react.
• Eileen proposed that activation might require spiritual resonance, and Ang tried engraving the rune with focused intent, but it still showed no response.
• Ang and Eileen continued experimenting while Ang searched library documents for more information about Ancient Elf runes.

Ang set aside his stalled research into the second rune and completed a large order of Healing Potions and enchanted weapons for Ernit. He persuaded Ernit’s caravan to search for ancient rune relics, leaving him hopeful that they might provide new clues.

• Eileen abandoned the rune research, and Ang stopped his experiments after making no progress; Herax also had no new leads.
• Ang received materials from Ernit and planned a week of work to brew Healing Potions and enchant weapons.
• Ang completed the potions and weapon enchantments, and Ernit collected the goods with his nephew.
• Ang asked Ernit to look for ancient rune tablets and artifacts, and Ernit agreed to alert the caravan merchants.
• Ernit told the other merchants about Ang’s request, and they agreed to watch for ancient rune relics.

Ang’s research into the Ancient Elf rune remained stalled, so he shifted his attention to designing enchanted armor, a Rune Casing for his Thick-Scaled Dragon Spike, and automated potion-making equipment. He planned to seek a precision magical-equipment craftsman through Ernit while continuing to look for clues about Fernando’s rune collection.

• Herax pressed Ang for progress on the two runes, but Ang said the research had stalled and asked for more information and clues.
• Ang resolved to seek clues in Fernando’s collection of Ancient Elf runes rather than rely on Herax or Eileen.
• Ang inspected the black iron, Red Copper, and Bright Steel from Ernit and designed enchanted armor with mithril polish and runes to resist Dark Element.
• Ang designed a Rune Casing for his Thick-Scaled Dragon Spike that could store and release magic using his power or Magic Crystals.
• Ang planned an automated, crystal-based potion production line and decided to ask Ernit to introduce him to a precision magical-equipment craftsman in the Imperial City.

Ang visited Master McGovern to commission custom potion-brewing equipment, then hired Thea to guide him through local academy libraries as he searched for ancient elf runes. He gave Thea a Magic Waist Pouch and arranged to visit Arc Magic Academy with her two days later.

• Ang met Gao An, Angeli, and their friends while buying a snack, then continued toward the magical craftsman's shop.
• At McGowan's Magic World, Ang told Thea he wanted to see Master McGovern and waited while the master finished an experiment.
• Ang spoke with Thea about her studies at Arc Magic Academy and decided to search other academies' libraries for information about ancient elf runes.
• Master McGovern reviewed Ang's blueprints, agreed to make the equipment, and explained its cost and production process.
• Ang offered Thea a Magic Waist Pouch to guide him through several academy libraries and gave her one he already owned.
• Ang and Thea arranged for him to visit Arc Magic Academy and the other libraries two days later.

Ang researched Ancient Elf runes in several academy libraries, finding evidence that they might be connected to primitive planes and discovering inscribed stones from Falkner Province. He then worked with Master McGowan to build and test a Magic Potion production line, successfully producing 120 Healing Potions in under six hours.

• Ang paid Thea, Hardy, Sandy, and Darcie to help him search their academies' libraries and treated them to a meal featuring Rainforest Wolf ribs.
• Ang found accounts of ancient ruins on the Guanda Plane at Arc Magic Academy and Newman Magic Academy, and decided to investigate Guanda during the next Winter Tour holiday.
• At Sid Magic Academy, Ang copied Ancient Elf runes from stones Sandy said came from the border of Falkner Province, and considered investigating their origin.
• Ang worked with Master McGowan for three days to craft the anti-magic crystal components for his Magic Potion production line.
• Ang used the completed production line to make 120 Healing Potions in less than six hours, impressing Master McGowan, Thea, and Ernit's nephew.

Ang completed a profitable Healing Potion production run, then rented and equipped a private courtyard to expand his work. After producing about 1,300 potions from a larger batch of herbs, he arranged with Ernit and the other merchants to supply reusable bottles for future production.

• Ang packed more than 600 Healing Potions for Ben, offered Ernit's group a discounted payment arrangement, and recovered four extra bottles while cleaning the production line.
• McGowan promised not to copy or sell Ang's production-line design without his permission, while Ernit planned to buy more herbs and assigned Ben to deliver them and learn from Ang.
• After dreaming about oversupply and falling potion prices, Ang decided to expand cautiously and rented a walled house near the academy for private potion production.
• Ang refined the production line and installed a magic shield array in his courtyard before Ernit, Ben, and their merchant partners brought twice as many herbs as before.
• Over four days, Ang turned the herbs into about 1,300 Healing Potions packed in thirteen Demon Sealing Boxes, and told the merchants to supply reusable anti-magic crystal bottles for future batches.

Ang profited from a Healing Potion production deal and learned that merchants sold most potions to nobles preparing for Plane Wars. After receiving ancient-rune materials from Ernit and his companions, Ang found four valuable runes in an incomplete Magic Book and headed to the academy to study them.

• Ang asked Ernit and the merchants about Healing Potion sales, learning that noble lords bought most of their stock for Plane Wars.
• The merchants reported finding rune clues across several planes and promised to deliver the materials to Ang within a month.
• Ernit presented Ang with an incomplete Ancient Elf Magic Book and three old scrolls, which Ang accepted for his research.
• After the merchants left, Ang cleaned his production equipment and collected 13 extra bottles of Healing Potion.
• Ang identified four genuine ancient runes in the Magic Book and decided to use the academy's resources to inscribe and analyze them.

Ang tested the four ancient runes, identified them as elemental amplifiers, and devised a way to use one in his production line. He returned Herax’s rune tablets and scrolls without a breakthrough, then focused on preparing to advance to Rank 1 Mage.

• Ang tested the four genuine runes and found that they corresponded to earth, fire, wind, and water and amplified matching elemental runes.
• Ang redesigned his reaction vessel to incorporate the Fire Rune and stored the ancient scrolls with Magic Crystal in Demon Sealing Boxes.
• Ang returned Herax’s Rune Tablets and scrolls, telling him he had found nothing more, and left before Herax could question him.
• Herax abandoned his planned gathering and returned to his dormitory disappointed by the unsolved runes.
• Ang continued researching from memory and assessed his mana and spiritual power as he prepared to approach the Rank 1 Mage breakthrough.

After Ang refused to continue researching runes, Herax’s noble friends secretly hired a ranger to surveil him and began planning to exploit what they learned. Ang sensed he was being watched but remained unaware that the nobles were preparing to investigate him through the Adventurer’s Guild.

• Herax’s friends blamed Ang for disappointing Herax and secretly decided to teach him a lesson by tracking his movements.
• Ang installed the Fire Rune on the reactor casing and grew uneasy when he repeatedly sensed someone following him.
• A ranger hired by Herax’s noble friends discreetly monitored Ang’s trips between the academy, his courtyard, and Master McGovern’s workshop.
• After more than half a month, the ranger submitted a report, and the nobles discussed using Ang’s unusual activities to uncover secrets or gain leverage.
• The nobles decided to post probing missions through the Adventurer’s Guild to investigate Ang without exposing themselves.

Ang discovered that someone had damaged the Warding Rune at his courtyard and was spying on him. He set a trap, captured the intruder, and prepared to question him about who had sent him.

• Ang found that the Warding Rune at his courtyard gate had been damaged and suspected someone was watching him.
• Ang returned at night wearing his Shadow Robe and hid where he could watch the courtyard.
• A cloaked intruder picked the courtyard lock, searched the yard and building, and went upstairs looking for information.
• Ang activated a Silence Array and waited by the stairs for the intruder to come down.
• Ang subdued the intruder, covered his eyes, applied a Paralysis Potion, and tied him to a pillar.
• Ang considered how to question the captive about who had sent him without letting the matter grow too large.

Ang interrogated and psychologically broke the intruder, who revealed that a black-market merchant had hired him to investigate Ang through an intermediary. The intruder also described jobs that Ang suspected were linked to the Black Magic Society, and Ang left him with the guard unit at dawn.

• Ang restrained the intruder and tried questioning him, but the man refused to answer.
• Ang blindfolded the intruder and used a knife, healing magic, and dripping water to make him believe he was bleeding to death.
• The intruder confessed that a black-market merchant had hired him to investigate Ang's movements, research, and abilities.
• Ang healed the intruder, then made him repeat his account and describe his past jobs, including searches for Negative Energy Gathering Sites and dark materials.
• Ang suspected the jobs were connected to the Black Magic Society, then called the guard unit at dawn and handed over the exhausted intruder.

Ang was framed as a member of the Black Magic Society and arrested, while his allies sought help from the Magic Guild. Left alone in prison for several days, he suspected the silence was part of a plot to destroy him.

• Ang continued brewing Healing Potions, but told Ernit he could not yet make the advanced Berserk Lion Potion because he was not a Rank 1 Mage.
• Herax's noble friends decided to use Ben's cousin in the guard to report Ang as a suspected Black Mage and ruin his reputation.
• Guards arrested Ang outside the academy, and he went with them without resisting.
• Hepburn sought Nicholas's help, and Nicholas promised to ask the Magic Guild about the investigation.
• Ang was placed in a solitary cell and, after several days without questioning, suspected his enemies were using the silence to pressure him into a fatal mistake.

The Magic Guild investigated allegations that Ang belonged to the Black Magic Society, while Ang explained his actions to the guards and remained in custody. The Guild cleared him and he returned to the academy, but the forces behind the accusation continued plotting.

• A Black Magic Society planner warned a subordinate that the Magic Guild might be setting a trap and ordered the group to stay covert.
• The Magic Guild questioned Ang’s associates, whose testimony and evidence supported his innocence, while its captain continued checking every clue.
• Ang told Ensi and Matt that he had subdued the adventurer in self-defense and used ordinary methods, not Black Magic, but the guards kept him in custody pending verification.
• After several days, the Magic Guild declared Ang innocent, and the guards released him to Nicholas, Helen, Gao An, Ernit, and his other supporters.
• Ang returned to the academy as his reputation improved, while Herax’s noble friends plotted further action.

After deciding to build more connections, Ang began preparing to craft Enchanted Armaments with Ernit and received an invitation to join the Free Magic Association. He chose to consider cooperation rather than membership, while the association planned to earn his trust gradually.

• Ang agreed with Ernit on a fairer Enchanted Armament partnership, with Ang making the armaments and Ernit handling sales and sourcing materials.
• Ang arranged to commission a smelting furnace from Master McGovern and rent a larger workshop.
• Mark visited Ang on behalf of the Free Magic Association and invited him to join, but Ang said he would consider it after advancing to official mage status.
• Ang consulted Gao An and Qatar, learned about the association's influence and connections, and decided to seek cooperation rather than join outright.
• Mark reported Ang's talents and cautious attitude to the plump woman, who directed him to build trust through gradual rune and enchantment collaborations.

Ang sought a secluded warehouse for his smelting and rune experiments and arranged for custom furnaces through McGovern's shop. He rented a suitable warehouse from Ernit's merchant association, leaving him with a work site while preserving his independence from the association.

• Ang searched Akreli's rental agencies for an enclosed warehouse but found none that met his needs.
• Ang visited McGovern's Magical World and asked Thea to arrange custom smelting furnaces while Master McGovern was away.
• Thea explained that mages could belong to multiple magical organizations, prompting Ang to consider broadening his connections.
• Ang asked Ernit for help finding a warehouse, and Ernit took him to inspect one owned by the merchant association.
• Ang chose to rent Ernit's enclosed warehouse, and Ernit offered assistance with supplies and equipment transport.

After securing a warehouse for his furnace, Ang met with Gao An and the others to discuss expanding Plane Wars in the north and their plans to join powerful magic organizations. They expected to become Rank 1 Mages soon and planned to use Spirit Potions if needed, while Ang remained uneasy about the dangers of the wars.

• Ang rented a hidden warehouse through Ernit's merchant association and planned to add ventilation before installing his furnace.
• Ang joined Gao An, Bonage, Angeli, and Lulugood at their gathering and learned that northern lords were recruiting mages for expanding Plane Wars.
• Bonage said Duke Bart was recruiting mages with promises of fertile territories and had formed an alliance with organizations including Star of Flames.
• Gao An and the others explained that they hoped to join top magic organizations through Duke Bart's alliance, despite the risks of war.
• Gao An and Angeli said they expected to become Rank 1 Mages within months and would use Spirit Potions if they did not break through naturally.

Ang prepared his workshop and completed his first set of Enchanted Armament, then tested it with a worker and discovered that its weight and energy demands limited who could use it. He began considering ways to make future designs adaptable to users of different strength levels.

• Gao An, Angeli, and the others decided to travel north rather than return to the dangerous Plane War in Tanaster Province, and they said goodbye to Ang.
• Ang reached Level 1 Peak Warrior and received news from Thea that Master McGovern had returned with his custom furnace.
• Ang inspected and adjusted the furnace, then had Ernit arrange its transport to the warehouse, which he converted into a smelting workshop.
• Ang and his workers produced metal plates and inscribed runes; a flaw ruined one set, but he successfully enchanted the other.
• Ang activated the armament on a former Senior Squire worker, whose strength had fallen to Junior Squire, and found the full set too heavy for him.
• Ang tested individual pieces and found the worker could wear three, reaching Senior Squire strength, so Ang considered adding strength-based adjustments to future designs.