Chapter Summaries

Joshua presented plans for Magic Web Shopping and express delivery, then discussed the Demon Realm’s food supply and commissioned Freyt to build a factory for civilian cameras. The chapter left Freyt preparing to choose a factory site while the Magic Web continued to expand.

• Joshua showed the Savings Bank manager and merchants a shopping webpage with product listings and buyer reviews.
• Joshua proposed a dedicated express delivery service, and Gray Robe said Nolan’s letter-delivery system could handle it with owls and people.
• The Prophet told Joshua that Cecily’s new farmland in the Water Elementals Lord’s territory was progressing and could yield its first harvest in two months.
• Joshua asked Freyt to build an Alchemy Factory across from Gear River to produce civilian image-recording devices.
• Freyt agreed to choose a site on Gear Street the next day.

Tylinn visited Catalina at the World Tree and tried to draw the wary ice dragon into Nolan’s entertainment and Magic Net culture. After watching Hachi: A Dog’s Tale, Catalina became eager to contact Tylinn and began learning to use the Magic Net.

• Tylinn brought food to Catalina and invited her to try working as a radio host, but Catalina refused because she wanted to guard the World Tree.
• Tylinn showed Catalina radio and television broadcasts, where Catalina recognized the dragon Gomez hosting an interview with Galolie.
• Tylinn left Catalina a movie and a Magic Net client before returning to her work in Nolan.
• Enlu Xi prompted Catalina to watch Hachi: A Dog’s Tale, and the story moved Catalina by reminding her of her own loyalty.
• Enlu Xi taught Catalina to register on the Magic Net, where Catalina sent Tylinn a contact request that Tylinn accepted.
• Catalina received Tylinn’s first message and struggled to understand the virtual keyboard after Enlu Xi disappeared.

Tylinn played a block-building game with Catalina and chatted with Galolie about Tylinn’s growing fame and Joshua’s new Magic Web projects. She worried about Joshua’s exhaustion as a meeting with the Nolan National Savings Bank approached.

• Tylinn watched Catalina repeatedly get killed by monsters while learning to play the game, then explained to Galolie that Catalina was the guardian of the Frost Elf Sacred Tree and could not type.
• Galolie greeted Catalina respectfully, privately remarked on how skilled Tylinn was at the game, and told Tylinn that Foya was recording a speedrun video.
• Galolie admitted she felt jealous of Tylinn’s successful concert and growing fame, but said she was not a qualified singer.
• Tylinn told Galolie that Joshua was developing a music-listening program with user-uploaded songs and rankings, while worrying that he had not slept for four days.
• Catalina offered to knock Joshua unconscious to make him rest, and Tylinn said she hoped his afternoon meeting with the Nolan National Savings Bank would give him a chance to sleep.

Helan searched for work at the Nolan Mercenary Guild and considered a well-paid Nolan National Savings Bank programming position, but went to meet Joshua after he offered her a job. Joshua struggled to teach the bank officials how to use his Magic Web Savings Bank software, and Helan arrived as he prepared to introduce a suitable candidate.

• Helan visited the Nolan Mercenary Guild with Sansa and searched the Recruitment Letters because her alchemical research required more money.
• Sansa spotted Nolan National Savings Bank’s programming job, which offered two hundred gold coins a month, and asked Helan whether she could learn programming.
• Helan received a message from Instructor Joshua inviting her to the Hearthstone tavern and chose to go there instead of pursuing the bank listing.
• Joshua asked two senior bank officials and Gu Lan Ke whether they understood his instructions for managing the Magic Web Savings Bank, but Gu Lan Ke asked him to explain again.
• Joshua told the officials he had found a suitable candidate, then saw Helan’s message saying she had arrived.

Joshua introduced Helan to representatives of the Nolan National Savings Bank and demonstrated her skill with a Magic Web data program. Impressed by how quickly she searched their records, the bank representatives asked her to become their technical consultant.

• Helan arrived at Joshua’s study and met three representatives from the Nolan National Savings Bank.
• Joshua introduced Helan as one of his outstanding Inscription Programming students and sent her the bank’s Administrator Client.
• Helan entered the data from a customer ledger into the program in over half an hour.
• Helan found the Landy Merchant Guild’s deposit records in under two seconds, impressing the bank representatives.
• A human merchant sincerely asked Helan to serve as a consultant for the Nolan National Savings Bank.

Helan learned that Ciri’s relationship with Joshua had advanced to a serious stage, while Ciri continued her training as the Purple-robed One’s disciple. In the Demon Realm, Cecily managed the royal city’s growing trade and development as she worried about her absent father and assigned the Prophet to monitor visiting humans in Sin Abyss.

• Helan reviewed her invitation to work with Nolan National Savings Bank through the Joshua Guild and reflected on her progress as a spellcaster.
• Ciri showed Helan an illusion of a black dragon that she had made for her mentor’s homework.
• Helan asked Ciri whether she and Joshua had completed a ritual, and Ciri nodded, prompting Helan to encourage her despite her mistaken belief about marriage restrictions.
• The Prophet told Cecily that Joshua was planning to influence Nolan’s economy and remained close to the Purple-robed One’s disciple.
• Cecily described the influx of human merchants and the royal city’s new factories, then tasked the Prophet with monitoring the humans visiting Sin Abyss.

Heidi returned to the Sin Abyss with a merchant hoping to trade fresh fish for Sin Demon scales and green stones, but the Demon prophet refused their offer. As Heidi left, a young Sin Demon gave her a gift, and she suspected the Sin Demons had their own plans.

• Heidi traveled to the Sin Abyss with Tanni and a vehicle full of fresh fish to arrange a trade for scales and green stones.
• Heidi told the gathered Sin Demons that they wanted to trade, but the Demon prophet offered to buy the fish for fifty gold coins and refused to sell the scales.
• Tanni tried to bargain by offering three Falan per scale, but the prophet told the merchants to leave, and Heidi ended the negotiation.
• As Heidi prepared to depart, a young Sin Demon brought her a green stone and several scales, which she accepted before leaving the Sin Abyss.
• Tanni complained about doing business with the Sin Demons, and Heidi said they probably had plans of their own.

The Prophet discovered that the young Sin Demons were drawn to human food and brought Sin Demon's Scales and a Flame Crystal to Cecily as potential trade goods. She introduced Magic Web Shopping as a way for the Demon Realm to sell its specialties directly, and Cecily entrusted her with managing the store.

• The Prophet found the young Sin Demons watching a live sturgeon and ordered the elders to divide the sea fish among them.
• The Prophet obtained a Sin Demon's Scale and a Flame Crystal, then went to the royal city and met Cecily at the embassy.
• The Prophet explained that humans could use the scales and crystals as alchemical materials and warned against relying on merchant associations to sell them.
• The Prophet showed Cecily Joshua's Magic Web Shopping site and explained how the Demon Realm could list its goods there.
• Cecily entrusted the Prophet with coordinating and managing the Magic Web store.

Joshua visited Nolan’s Owl’s Nest with Gray Robe and discovered that a package from the Demon Realm Alchemy Workshop had reached a Red Robe apprentice. He secured Gray Robe’s support for a supervised Teleportation Portal beneath Nolan and considered how to help his sister’s online shop attract more buyers.

• Gray Robe showed Joshua around Owl’s Nest and explained how rune marks on the owls would warn casters if they were attacked.
• A Red Robe apprentice demanded his delayed package because he needed an alchemy material for an Inscription Stone test, and Gray Robe arranged for it to be found.
• Joshua recognized the package as a shipment from Demon Realm Alchemy Workshop and let the apprentice collect it after his ownership was verified.
• Joshua asked Gray Robe about building a Teleportation Portal beneath Nolan, and Gray Robe offered to propose approval if the portal was public and supervised by the Council of Sages.
• Joshua checked the shop’s weak sales and formulaic product listing, then considered sending the Prophet pictures of Zennas to improve its appeal.

Red Robe reluctantly reconsidered his rejection of the magic web after Ge Lu used a Sin Demon's Scale bought online to make a rune. After the apprentices’ evaluation, Red Robe asked how to access Magic Web Shopping, then disappeared into his Mage Tower.

• Red Robe harshly failed several apprentices’ runes while reviewing their work.
• Ge Lu arrived late and presented a rune made with a Sin Demon's Scale, whose flame and stability impressed Red Robe.
• Ge Lu explained that he had bought the scale through Magic Web Shopping, prompting Red Robe to learn about its shop and payment requirements.
• Red Robe asked his apprentices whether they all used the magic web, then accepted that it was a trend and continued the evaluations.
• Nearly half the apprentices failed, while Ge Lu passed; afterward, Red Robe disappeared into the Mage Tower.

Joshua lay awake worrying about the Magic Web, but Ciri came to him distressed over the Purple-robed One’s declining health. As they comforted each other, Ciri revealed her feelings and initiated Frost Country’s first-kiss ritual with Joshua, leaving them alone together for the night.

• Joshua checked Magic Web Shopping and saw four new transactions for Sin Demon's Scale.
• Ciri told Joshua that the Purple-robed One’s condition was worsening after she passed the assessment.
• Joshua comforted Ciri as she spoke about witnessing her mother’s death and fearing another loss.
• Ciri told Joshua about Frost Country’s ritual of giving one’s first kiss to the person one loves.
• Ciri climbed on top of Joshua and offered herself to him, and Joshua agreed to take things slowly when she admitted she feared pain.

Joshua discovered that his younger sister Foya had become a popular gamer on Magic Web Vision, earning money through her videos. The Dark Elf worried that the confined princess’s fame was unsuitable, but Joshua argued that Foya could choose whether to continue without leaving the Demon Realm.

• Joshua woke beside Ciri, carefully freed himself from her embrace, and went to his study.
• Thousand Faces told Joshua that Princess Foya wanted to open an account with the Magic Web Savings Bank using money she had earned herself.
• Joshua checked Magic Web Vision and found Foya’s video of her fast Super Mario run at the top of the sitewide rankings.
• Joshua saw that Foya had earned tips and gained a following as a gaming expert known as Mentor.
• Thousand Faces worried that Foya’s popularity was unsuitable because she could not leave the Demon Realm, but Joshua said she could keep uploading videos if she wanted to.

Arl returned to Sky City Aserkelo and proposed using human faith to address the High Elves’ energy crisis, but the elders confined her to the Hall of Contemplation. She decided to attract human admiration through Magic Web games, while Joshua discovered her rising popularity and considered using the High Elves to expand Magic Web.

• Elder Sindonal brought Arl and Zhi Ye through a Teleportation Portal to Sky City Aserkelo, where he reported that the Frost Elf descendant had chosen to stay in Nolan.
• Arl told the High Elf elders that humans’ admiration had helped the sacred tree grow, and Enya ordered Zhi Ye to take her to the Hall of Contemplation as punishment for leaving Aserkelo.
• Arl proposed using Magic Web to gain human admiration, then chose to make Super Mario videos after Zhi Ye dismissed her singing and acting prospects.
• Joshua and Tylinn located the High Elves in Deep Green Basin, and Joshua considered visiting them to gain access to their World Tree.
• Joshua checked Zhi Ye’s and Arl’s Magic Web accounts, saw that Arl’s Super Mario video had reached fifth place, and watched her awkwardly recorded introduction.

Joshua watched Arl’s disastrous Super Mario video gain popularity and promoted it on Magic Web Vision, hoping it would help the High Elves discover the Magic Web. Two days later, Zhi Ye was summoned to meet Arl and feared the priest might reveal their forbidden connection to the outside world.

• Joshua and Tylinn watched Arl repeatedly lose lives while playing Super Mario, and viewers enjoyed her wails and clumsy gameplay.
• Joshua featured Arl’s video on Magic Web Vision and gave her permission to open her own Spellcaster Camp.
• Joshua promised Tylinn that he would tell a story from One Thousand and One Nights that afternoon and finish The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes later.
• Zhi Ye read the newest Sherlock Holmes chapter, then returned to her own little-read novel and the encouraging comment from Kindler of the Flame.
• A High Elf told Zhi Ye that Priest Arl wanted to see her, and Zhi Ye went to the Hall of Contemplation fearing Arl might expose their use of the Magic Web.

Arl discovered that human attention on the Magic Web had given her a faint trace of the World Tree’s faith light, and Zhi Ye realized this might help sustain Aserkelo. After the city shook and descended again, Zhi Ye decided to help Arl reach more humans before telling the elders.

• Arl told Zhi Ye that her confinement had been extended by two months, then showed her the faint faith light surrounding her.
• Arl explained that she had posted a photo in her Spellcaster Camp, “Genius Arl,” after a Dark Elf sent it to her.
• Zhi Ye found the photo and saw that Arl’s game walkthrough had topped the Magic Web Vision rankings with more than ten thousand views.
• Aserkelo shook and descended again, prompting Arl to urge Zhi Ye to tell the elders that the Magic Web might nourish the Sacred Tree.
• Zhi Ye decided to keep the discovery from the elders for now and help Arl become better known among humans.

Joshua took Ciri to inspect the new Music Guild built by White Thorn Flower Jazz, where a battle-hardened group bearing a two-headed viper emblem suddenly barged in. The chapter ended with Joshua and Ciri readying themselves as a huge man emerged from the intruders.

• Joshua received snacks and a Magic Web Vision walkthrough from Foya, then praised her work and added five gold coins to its bounty pool.
• Joshua invited Ciri to leave Nolan with him after her tutoring session and drove her to check on the Music Guild.
• White Thorn Flower Jazz showed Joshua and Ciri the guild and described the Falosi musicians he had hired.
• A heavily armed group bearing a scarlet two-headed viper emblem forced its way into the guild, prompting Ciri to raise her staff and Joshua to gather gray magic.
• A huge man strode out from the group and bent to enter the guild.

Joshua met Reyek, a powerful mercenary and former Chanter of the World contestant, when Reyek and his armed group arrived at the newly opened Music Guild. Reyek came to record two folk songs, and Joshua suggested he pursue music further as White Thorn Flower Jazz went to speak with the guild’s performers.

• White Thorn Flower Jazz panicked when the feared mercenary group known as the Yevirk Serpent entered the Music Guild and warned Joshua to flee.
• Joshua challenged the archer Ke Ya, but the group’s leader stopped him and greeted Joshua as Judge Joshua.
• White Thorn Flower Jazz recognized the leader as Mr. Reyek, a former Chanter of the World contestant who had come to the guild in his mercenary gear.
• Joshua explained that the Music Guild served outstanding singers, and Reyek said he and his group had hoped to meet Tylinn and get her autograph.
• Reyek gave Joshua two ancient folk songs to record, and Joshua asked whether he had considered developing a music career further.

Joshua confronted Falosi musicians who looked down on the Yevirk Serpent mercenaries and reminded them that they were hired to accompany any outstanding singer. Most left, leaving three musicians behind, while Joshua considered summoning Tylinn's personal orchestra.

• Joshua and Ciri waited outside the Hall of Silence with Reyek and the Yevirk Serpent mercenaries while White Thorn Flower Jazz argued with the musicians inside.
• The musicians insulted the mercenaries, enraging them, but Reyek stopped Ke Ya and prepared to leave with his group.
• Joshua entered the hall and told the musicians they could leave with their travel expenses covered or stay and behave as hired musicians.
• Most musicians departed, leaving two members of the White Thorn Flower Troupe and an elderly man, whom Joshua led out to rest.
• Joshua looked at the mark in his palm as an aura of death spread through the Hall of Silence, wondering whether he would need to summon Tylinn's personal orchestra.

Joshua summoned the Bone Duke’s Ghost Orchestra to accompany Yevirk Serpent captain Reyek on two songs, then offered to record and publish them. Reyek left with a recording and new sheet music after Joshua invited him to join the Music Guild.

• Joshua summoned the Bone Duke’s butler and sixteen ghosts, and the Yevirk Serpent mercenaries prepared for a fight until Joshua asked the ghosts to accompany Reyek.
• The butler recognized Reyek’s pirate song and led the Ghost Orchestra in performing both songs flawlessly.
• Joshua recorded the performance on a Source Crystal Stone and offered to sell the recording and upload the songs to the magic net for royalties.
• Reyek agreed to consider joining the Music Guild, paid the remaining deposit, and accepted Joshua’s gift of two songs before leaving.

Reyek and Yevirk Serpent debated whether to accept a private contract to kill Joshua Anoroth, whose strength and ties to Nolan’s Seven Sages made the mission dangerous. Reyek reminded them that completing it would destroy the Magic Net and could cost them the chance to hear Miss Tylinn’s songs again, leaving the group silent.

• Reyek returned to Yevirk Serpent’s base and examined the private Employment Contract to kill a shop owner.
• Morris warned the others that Joshua Anoroth was a powerful Chaos Demon, and the man with Gold-rimmed Glasses noted that Gray Robe secretly watched over him.
• The archer argued that the group should accept the lucrative commission because the employer’s alchemical medicines could treat the gray mist’s effects.
• Reyek recalled how an elf’s song had eased the hallucinations tormenting Yevirk Serpent’s surviving members after their expedition in Frost Country.
• Reyek warned that killing Joshua would make the Magic Net disappear and might prevent them from hearing Miss Tylinn’s new songs, silencing the arguing members.