Chapter Summaries

Joshua's hot pot dinner with Shael, Herolia, Messiah, Ciri, and Tylinn turned into a discussion of the Heretic Inquisitors' dangerous Magic Automata. Tylinn connected the automatons to ancient ruins and a figure from Joshua's experience in Consciousness Space.

• Shael, Herolia, and Messiah joined Joshua for hot pot, where Joshua stopped Shael and Ciri from using magic and mediated a chopstick duel between Shael and Messiah.
• Shael told Joshua that the Inquisitors had Magic Automata capable of corrupting human consciousness, though Ciri and the Prophet said modern humans could not create such machines.
• Herolia said the automatons came from ruins beneath Nolan and Frost Country, but Tylinn interrupted her to describe ancient ruins beneath her homeland.
• Tylinn said the ruins held sleeping humans called Heart Locks, which the elders said could absorb human emotions and souls.
• Ciri reminded Joshua that a strange girl in The Shining resembled the Inquisitors' companions in Consciousness Space.

Joshua heard that the Hall of Inquisition’s Heart Lock could brainwash people and that a factory beneath Frost Country might produce similar Magic Automatons. Shael then asked him to investigate the disappearance of Laweier and nearby patrol soldiers, whose last message suggested he was being held at a Judges gathering place.

• Tylinn, Shael, and Herolia told Joshua about Heart Lock and the suspected Magic Automaton factory beneath Frost Country.
• Herolia tried to provoke Joshua by pointing out that the Demon Realm’s citizens credited his brothers for saving them, but Joshua dismissed her attempt and criticized her desire for control.
• Joshua offered to contact his brother about sending troops and asked Shael what else he could do to help.
• Shael told Joshua that Laweier and several patrol soldiers had disappeared near Bastion Fortress, then showed him a message suggesting Laweier was at a Judges gathering place.

Joshua used the World Tree’s spiritual space to track Laweier’s Magic Web signal to the Edelweiss Mountains near the Frost Plains, giving Shael a location to investigate. Before Joshua could leave, Shael reported that Laweier had messaged him again asking for help.

• During the hotpot gathering, Joshua read Shael’s chat logs about Laweier, a soldier who had infiltrated the Tribunal of Judgment and connected to the Magic Web through the Hall of Inquisition’s WIFI.
• Joshua and Ciri entered the study, then used the World Tree’s spiritual space to locate Laweier’s Magic Web account.
• The white bird generated a map of Frost Country and found Laweier’s signal beneath the Edelweiss Mountains, near the Frost Plains.
• Joshua saw that seven World Tree’s Leaves were active beneath the mountain range and concluded Shael would need to search for Laweier in person.
• Shael messaged Joshua that Laweier had connected to the Magic Web again and was asking for help.

Joshua tracked Laweier to a ruin beneath the XueRong Mountain Range and secretly used the magic net to see and hear what was happening around him. After witnessing a woman brutally stab a Monk Servant, Joshua learned that Laweier was in a base guarded by high-level Judge Bishops, and Laweier began following the woman to act.

• Joshua created a group chat with Shael and Laweier, then tracked Laweier to a ruin beneath the XueRong Mountain Range.
• With White Bird's help, Joshua secretly captured Laweier's vision and hearing, discovering that Laweier was surrounded by enemies in a dim ruin.
• Joshua heard a woman complain about broken Monk Servants and a damaged Heart Lock before she stabbed a Monk Servant repeatedly.
• The woman paused her rampage to answer a Holy Spirit invitation, and Joshua messaged Laweier to ask if he was safe.
• Laweier warned Joshua that at least three high-level Judge Bishops were in the base, then began following the woman as his connection weakened.

Laweier discovered that the Hall of Inquisition had imprisoned the real patriarchs and other high-ranking members of the Eight Great Families, whose minds seemed suppressed by the gray mist. Joshua sent him an episode of Cat and Mouse to try to awaken them, while warning him to watch for the inquisitors.

• Laweier followed an inquisitor into a blood-soaked underground prison and lost his Magic Web connection.
• Laweier recognized the imprisoned Master S. Home as the real patriarch of the White Frost Deer Family and reported that many compatriots were captive.
• Laweier found the patriarch of the Silver Snow Pine Family and other prisoners, who briefly begged for help but then wandered like the walking dead.
• Ciri suspected the prisoners' condition was caused by the gray mist, and Joshua sent Laweier the first episode of Cat and Mouse to play for them.

Shael learned that the missing members of the Eight Great Families and people from several nations were imprisoned in a dungeon, including Frost Elves and possibly a surviving Dark Elf. When the Dark Elf attacked Laweier during his investigation, Joshua called on Thousand Faces to speak her language, and her words made the elf stop.

• Shael received Laweier’s reports that missing nobles, soldiers, citizens, and elves were being held in a dungeon.
• Tylinn and the Dark Elf reacted with alarm after learning that Frost Elves and a purple-skinned elf were among the prisoners.
• Laweier encountered a chained Dark Elf, who attacked him and accused him of being a judge.
• Joshua asked Thousand Faces to speak the Dark Elf language over a voice call.
• Thousand Faces spoke in an ancient language, and the Dark Elf stopped attacking Laweier.

Laweier learned that the gray mist was driving the dungeon’s prisoners toward despair, while the Dark Elf was nearing death. Joshua used Cat and Mouse to steady Laweier, and the Dark Elf asked whether more episodes would be made, leaving her survival uncertain.

• The Dark Elf told Laweier that earlier prisoners had failed to escape and that the gray mist was eroding their minds.
• Joshua spoke through Laweier’s Magic Web and asked the Dark Elf whether she wanted to leave and seek revenge on the Judge.
• The Dark Elf revealed that the gray mist had nearly destroyed her consciousness and said she had no reason to keep living.
• Joshua told Laweier to watch the first episode of Cat and Mouse when he could no longer control his emotions.
• Laweier watched Cat and Mouse and smiled, then the Dark Elf asked Joshua if there would be more episodes.

Joshua and his companions prepared for the coming conflict as Shael returned to Frost Country to hunt the Heretic Inquisitors. The chapter left Joshua planning to accelerate his projects and make another episode of Cat and Mouse while those connected to the captives weighed whether they could help.

• Shael prepared to investigate the Frost Wolf Clan warrior's location and asked Joshua to share hot pot with her the next time they met.
• Tylinn worried about her captured kin but chose to stay in Nolan and care for the World Tree while continuing Evening Radio.
• Thousand Faces said her kin had prepared to face death, and she struggled with whether to leave Black Pigeon to help her.
• Ciri offered to help release Cat and Mouse episodes more frequently, and Joshua considered assigning voice acting to Bone Duke.
• The Prophet agreed to oversee construction of the Sin Cola factory with Falosi.
• Joshua decided to stay up until dawn to make the second episode of Cat and Mouse.

Joshua visited Aserkelo after construction of the Beauty and the Demon area was completed, while the young Black Dragon Duke followed him in hopes of seeing the next episode of Cat and Mouse. At the castle, Elder Queitoan and Earl Cruz discussed the costly Amusement Park project and their doubts about what it might become.

• Joshua arrived in Aserkelo, where the Black Dragon Duke ate a World Tree avatar and then followed him toward the new castle.
• Joshua showed the Black Dragon Duke a Source Crystal Stone containing an unfinished Cat and Mouse episode, but refused to let him watch it yet.
• Elder Queitoan surveyed the construction below as Earl Cruz told him that 2,300 people had helped build the Amusement Park.
• Earl Cruz shared Sin Cola with Elder Queitoan and suggested that his doubts about the project resembled the Elder's.
• Earl Cruz explained that Joshua's investment could have bought a powerful Knight Order, then looked down at the construction site.

Joshua inspected the nearly completed Amusement Park construction and urged Earl Cruz to speed up the work. After coordinating updates with Shael about rescuing the captives, he returned to Nolan, where the falling snow gave him an ominous premonition.

• Earl Cruz showed Joshua the completed Beauty and the Demon area, and Joshua said its fountain was unnecessary but acceptable.
• Earl Cruz reported that the Leon: The Professional area was nearly complete and the Ferris Wheel had been erected, promising it would be finished before early spring.
• Joshua answered questions in Shael's Rescue Plan group about upcoming entertainment and declined her offer of reinforcements from the Demon Realm.
• Joshua told Earl Cruz and the Black Dragon Duke to accelerate construction, then returned through the Teleportation Portal to Nolan.
• Joshua emerged onto Squirrel Street, saw snow falling, and felt an ominous premonition.

Shael waited outside the ruins while his assassins rescued the prisoners, but the surrounding animals revealed themselves as monsters and attacked his legion. He drew his sword as the transformed herd charged the Knight Order.

• Shael waited with his legion outside the XueRong Mountain Range while the assassins entered the ruins to rescue prisoners.
• A general warned Shael that his father’s legion had vanished in the mountains after encountering demons, and Shael sensed danger when the soldiers’ horses grew uneasy.
• The assassins reported that they had killed the Judges and were withdrawing with the prisoners, but then realized the Judges were still alive and Shael ordered them to use the transfer scroll.
• A Frost Deer split open its head and bit off the general’s arm, while a Snow Squirrel monster bit Shael before he froze it.
• The herd of transformed animals charged the Knight Order, and Shael drew his longsword as countless monsters surrounded his soldiers.

Shael’s knights and Spellcasters were overwhelmed by mutated animals in a fear-filled forest until Nogs arrived and began turning the battle around. Nogs summoned Worth and demon soldiers to clear the monsters, then approached the injured Shael.

• Shael fought to protect his soldiers as Mutated Frost Deer, Snow Squirrels, and Frost Bears tore through the Knight Order’s formation.
• A young knight saved Shael from a Frost Bear’s attack but was mauled, while Shael’s leg was injured and more Frost Bears joined the slaughter.
• Nogs beheaded a Frost Bear attacking Shael and impaled another with a spear, silencing the battlefield.
• Nogs crushed an attacking Snow Squirrel and summoned Worth through a dark green rift.
• Worth and the demon soldiers burned the Snow Squirrels and began killing the remaining mutated animals as Nogs walked toward Shael.

Nogs and Agatha rescued Shael and the Frost Country survivors from the monsters, while the Teleportation Array brought back prisoners from the judges’ dungeon. After learning her father had been imprisoned and left gravely weakened, Agatha left to pursue revenge, and Shael led her surviving forces back toward the fortress.

• Nogs ordered the injured Shael to stand, and Agatha treated her ankle and helped her to the Teleportation Array.
• The array transported prisoners from the assassins’ dungeon into the forest, where Agatha reunited with her uncle Yuka and learned her father, Master S. Home, had been rescued from the judges’ dungeon in a frail state.
• Agatha refused to return home or accept a marriage to Laweier, choosing instead to seek revenge on the judges.
• Nogs stopped Yuka from forcing Agatha to stay, and Shael ordered her soldiers to let Agatha leave through the Sin Demon’s portal.
• Shael acknowledged that her forces had been defeated by the judges’ schemes and ordered the survivors to return to the fortress.
• Shael drafted an angry message to Joshua, deleted it, and instead asked when the Aserkelo Amusement Park would be finished.

Joshua met Galolie in the World Tree’s spiritual space, where she teased him before admitting she had come to ask about new game updates. He told her about the Amusement Park and Sin Cola, then invited her to visit Nolan the next day.

• Galolie entered the World Tree’s spiritual space with the Black Cat and struggled to keep her balance in its weightless surroundings.
• Galolie clung to Joshua and teased him about avoiding her messages before revealing she had only meant to ask him to update the Minecraft mods.
• Joshua gave the spiritual space a solid floor and told Galolie that Bone Duke had composed the music for Cat and Mouse.
• Galolie listed Joshua’s recent updates and asked what he had done the previous day, and Joshua told her about the Amusement Park and Sin Cola.
• Joshua invited Galolie to ask her mother for leave and visit Nolan the next day.

Galolie told Joshua she feared her father might be among the people imprisoned by the Judicators and wanted to travel to Frost Country to find out. Ciri offered to go with her, and Joshua agreed to arrange safe transport despite being unable to make the trip himself.

• Galolie confided to Joshua that she hoped Duke Blackwood was alive among the Judicators’ prisoners and wanted to search for him in Frost Country.
• Joshua summoned Ciri to counsel Galolie, and Ciri encouraged her to ask Madam Si for permission to travel.
• Ciri proposed that Galolie leave for Frost Country the next day and stay in her room, and Galolie agreed to pack after rehearsal.
• Joshua explained that work kept him from joining them and that the prisoners were in White Frost Deer City, far from the teleportation destination.
• Ciri offered to take Galolie herself after asking her mentor for extra leave, and Joshua agreed to send the ice dragon with them for protection and transport.

Shael visited the overcrowded isolation ward for the survivors rescued from the Underground Ruins and saw how Gray Mist continued to ravage their bodies and minds. After stopping the White Frost Deer patriarch Swholm from attacking him, Shael defused a confrontation between an attendant and a Dark Elf by threatening to take away the ward’s television.

• Shael reviewed the survivors’ condition report, which recorded forty-seven rescued prisoners and thirteen deaths, then saw healers carry out a deceased Frost Elf.
• Shael entered the isolation ward and froze Swholm when the White Frost Deer patriarch attacked him with a knife.
• A White Frost Deer attendant revealed that Swholm had taken an entire bottle of the Gray Mist treatment potion, and a Dark Elf explained that medicine could not heal the damage to his mind and soul.
• The Dark Elf threatened an attendant with a knife after he grabbed her, and Shael made her back down by threatening to remove the ward’s television.

Shael questioned the dark elf, Belika, about the Arbiter ruin and learned that Belika could reveal people’s emotions through colored lines. Belika showed Shael the emotions around the White Frost Deer Family and pointed her toward strange red and gray lines in the snowy sky.

• Shael tried to question the dark elf, who gave her name as Belika after bargaining to keep watching television.
• Belika said she had already answered questions about the Arbiter ruin and offered to show Shael how people affected by the gray mist might be understood.
• Shael took Belika’s hand and saw colored lines representing her emotions, including gray despair and purple bad intentions.
• Belika pointed out purple lines around several attendants by the unconscious Swholm, and Shael recognized Viscount Zuckerberg’s apparent threat to the old patriarch.
• Belika told Shael to look outside, where Shael saw faint red and gray lines among the snow clouds.

Shael learned that spreading resentful emotions threatened White Frost Deer City, but refused to evacuate its residents and messaged Joshua for help. In the Forgotten Land, Joshua saw the Steel Country’s engineers rapidly building a Roller Coaster and worried whether its daring track would hold.

• The Dark Elf placed a Magic Mark on Shael, whose altered vision revealed emotional marks spreading toward White Frost Deer City and Bastion Fortress.
• The Dark Elf warned Shael to flee the city, but Shael refused to abandon its hundreds of thousands of residents.
• Shael saw the Dark Elf overwhelmed by despair, checked that the Kindler of the Flame was offline, and sent Joshua a message.
• In Aserkelo, Elder Queitoan asked Joshua about the Steel Country engineers’ strange elevated track, and Joshua identified it as a Roller Coaster.
• Earl Cruz explained that the Roller Coaster grew from rejected rail-cart designs, while Joshua questioned whether its steep spiraling track could withstand use.

Joshua checked in with Ciri, Galolie, and Frost Owl before warning the Movie Council about the Gate spreading toward White Frost Deer City. As Joshua tested the nearly completed Amusement Park’s roller coaster, he admitted he did not know whether it could stop the Gate and said saving the world was not his responsibility; Blue Robe’s revelation stirred hidden forces in the council.

• Joshua read messages from Shael, Ciri, and Galolie, then told the Movie Council that a new Amusement Park attraction was nearly finished.
• Frost Owl warned that the Gate’s territory was almost at White Frost Deer City, and Joshua told Blue Robe to explain the Gate to the council.
• Blue Robe described the Gate as a natural disaster capable of swallowing the world, while Joshua took photographs of the roller coaster.
• Elder Queitoan asked whether the Amusement Park could withstand the Gate, and Joshua said its effectiveness was unknown and that he had built it because he wanted to.
• Joshua sent roller coaster photographs to the Movie Council as Blue Robe’s warning drew lurking Sea Monsters out of hiding.

Joshua explained the Amusement Park’s purpose to the Movie Council and announced a one-day preview in seven days, while the threat of the doors’ domain continued to loom. He learned Aserkelo would reach the Frost Plains in four days, but Ciri was unlikely to meet it along the way.

• Kelunduo III and Empress Yekana discussed the cults, the plague, and the possibility that doors could appear elsewhere, while Blue Robe said Joshua’s Amusement Park could counter their influence.
• Joshua shared Roller Coaster photos with the Movie Council and explained that the Amusement Park was for recreation, prompting alarm and skepticism from Sister Skotan and Messiah.
• Sister Dinesha volunteered to try the Roller Coaster, and Joshua announced that he would open the Amusement Park for one day in seven days to a small group of visitors.
• Elder Queitoan told Joshua that construction and defensive magic formations in the Forgotten Land remained unfinished, and Joshua said the preview would be a test before the park officially opened.
• Joshua asked the white bird about Aserkelo’s progress and learned it would reach the Frost Plains in four days, while Ciri could reach it in one day but was traveling along a different route.
• Joshua let the white bird fly away and found that his Text Message inbox had filled with 99+ messages.