Chapter Summaries

Caroso left Drandos and went to register for the Knight Tournament, where he met the Pander Empire's runaway princess, Ailin Yixite. Ailin mistook him for someone selling cards, but Caroso introduced himself as a contestant and challenged her to take him seriously.

• Caroso said goodbye to Drandos, who continued relying on Bai to make cards while he pursued Nimel's formula.
• Caroso arrived at the Knight Tournament venue in Laria and joined the registration line.
• The bullet comments identified Ailin Yixite, a twenty-year-old princess and knight who was running away from home.
• Caroso approached Ailin and asked to get to know her, but she assumed he was trying to sell her cards and classes.
• Caroso revealed he was fifteen and a tournament contestant, then warned Ailin he would knock her off the arena if she underestimated him.

Caroso entered a Knight competition with Ailin, but the registration test revealed that he had reached the sixth tier at just fifteen. The crowd suspected his growth had been accelerated with secret medicines, leaving his future uncertain.

• Ailin teased Caroso, pulled him into the registration line, and asked whether his family knew he was competing.
• A middle-aged man watching Ailin ordered Fourth and Sixth to investigate Caroso and drive him away if he seemed suspicious.
• Caroso told the staff that he was a fifteen-year-old Knight from the Night Wish Knights and had not yet received a class insignia.
• Caroso tested as an early sixth-tier magic user with a bone age of fifteen, shocking Ailin and the people at registration.
• Several onlookers suspected that secret medicines had raised Caroso past the fourth tier at the cost of stunting his future growth.

Caroso registered for the Knight Tournament as a card maker, while others wrongly believed his sixth-tier mana had ruined his foundation. He left the registration area with Ailin, who followed him to a tavern hoping to learn about his supposed sacrifice.

• Ailin and the registration official pitied Caroso for supposedly ruining his future by reaching the sixth tier, but Caroso said he was fine.
• Caroso registered as a card maker, and the official realized the requirements allowed card makers with knight's badges to enter the tournament.
• Ailin was surprised that Caroso planned to fight knights as a card maker, but Caroso completed his registration.
• Ailin followed Caroso after registration, wanting to understand his unusual circumstances and help him.
• Caroso invited Ailin to Moonlit Beauty tavern, where she asked him to explain how he had been ruined.

Caroso discussed his past breakthroughs with Ailin, who defended the Pander Empire’s knightly ideals and promised to oppose injustice. He spotted a blue-haired elf connected to an impending dark-elf plot, while spies reported his identity to their superiors; the next morning, he arrived at the Knight Tournament with his butler Krumen.

• Caroso told Ailin that an unknown dream had helped him reach the fifth tier and that he broke through to the sixth after surviving a death match.
• Ailin recounted the Pander Empire’s history and insisted its knights upheld their ideals, promising to fight injustice even if it involved the empire or church.
• Caroso noticed a blue-haired elf and planned to expose the underground auction, potentially bringing Ailin into the dark-elf plot.
• Eldest Son and his brothers reviewed Caroso’s record and decided to report his connection to Princess Ailin.
• Caroso arrived at the crowded Knight Tournament with Krumen, whom he introduced to Ailin as his butler.

At the Knight Tournament, Ailin learned that its opening test would send competitors into the Laria Merchant Guild’s Hell Gate to fight simulated opponents. Outside the arena, Krumen encountered a hooded elf who looked just like her.

• Ailin questioned the tournament host’s claim that only the strongest deserved to be called knights, and Caroso explained how the competition had changed.
• The host announced a test in which each knight would enter Hell Gate and defeat an opponent slightly stronger than themselves, using no more than two cards.
• Hell Gate opened, and the host invited the first hundred knights to enter.
• Krumen sold snacks outside the arena and froze when she saw a hooded female elf who resembled her.

Krumen met Messiah, who looked exactly like her, and received a card for Caroso. Inside Hell Gate, Caroso trained against his Mirror Image until it transformed and spoke to him.

• Krumen remarked on how closely Messiah resembled her, and Messiah said she did not know why they looked alike.
• Messiah slipped a card into Krumen's clothes for her to give to Caroso, then left for the arena.
• Krumen sold her snacks and wondered why she had sold one fewer portion than she remembered.
• Caroso entered Hell Gate and fought his Mirror Image, testing how it copied his attributes and practicing knight combat.
• After an hour of fighting, the Mirror Image grew larger, gained light in its eyes, and told Caroso, "The real me, it's been a long time."

Caroso met Dream Caroso, who warned him that Laria concealed a ritual tied to a conspiracy by the Pander Empire and urged him to investigate the Goddess of Dawn Church’s deeds. After nearly two hours in Hell Gate, Caroso emerged from the Knight Tournament looking mostly unharmed, shocking the crowd that had learned he was a card maker.

• Dream Caroso told Caroso that his dream world had continued into a World War, then revealed that a mysterious being had sent him to warn Caroso about Laria and the tavern.
• Dream Caroso said Laria was a natural ritual formation and exposed a Pander Empire conspiracy, while warning Caroso not to underestimate the Goddess of Dawn Church.
• Ailin worried as Caroso remained inside Hell Gate far longer than the other contestants, while the host announced that the contestant was a card maker eligible to compete with a knight deck.
• The crowd speculated about Caroso’s endurance as the host imagined him emerging badly wounded and praised his supposed knightly spirit.
• Caroso emerged from Hell Gate with only slightly dirty clothes, leaving the host stunned.

Caroso emerged from Hell Gate as a sixth-tier card maker and became the tournament’s celebrated attraction, while Saya, Rayne, and others wondered what had changed him. As the next contestants entered, Hell Gate began to collapse, and seven mages deployed Arcane Barrier cards to contain its explosion.

• Caroso told the host he was fifteen, a first-year student in Mal Academy’s Alchemical Department, a card maker, and sixth tier, drawing cheers from the crowd.
• Rayne’s mentor warned him not to underestimate Caroso, while Saya remained convinced Caroso had not ruined his potential.
• Caroso explained to Ailin that the tournament valued his novelty and appeal more than the other knights’ skill, and Ailin decided to file a complaint.
• After the next group left Hell Gate, cracks spread through the portal, and mages tried to retrieve and stabilize it.
• Messiah withdrew the power she had been using to hold Hell Gate together, and its explosion shattered the defensive formations.
• Seven mages threw out Arcane Barrier cards as the blast surged across the field.

After Hell Gate broke during Caroso’s test, he prepared for the tournament’s next stages and sought out his wary brother Saya. Saya tried to guard against Caroso’s plans and called Osiris, leaving the brothers set to go together to the Moonlit Beauty Tavern.

• The explosion shattered Hell Gate, and the host announced that Knight's spirit had broken its restraints.
• Caroso returned to his residence and told Alita that Bai was making Emperor Gufu for the Nature Mage Association.
• Caroso decided he needed help with the complicated tasks ahead and went to Saya’s inn.
• Saya cautiously agreed to meet Caroso at the Moonlit Beauty Tavern after Caroso offered Dragon Knight.
• Saya contacted Osiris and reported that Caroso had arrived safely and that he would look after him.

Caroso asked Saya to solve a complicated strategy problem involving a conspiracy tied to a gambling competition and the Goddess of Night Church. After three hours of focused thought, Saya devised an approach, though he and Caroso still disagreed over one part.

• Caroso and Saya met at the Moonlit Beauty Tavern after saying farewell to Osiris, and Caroso presented his strategy problem as a test.
• Saya identified the plan's goal as destroying two outer layers and neutral factions, then exposing the Goddess of Night Church's dark side without provoking it to retaliate.
• Saya suspected Caroso was using the challenge to compete for authority, but agreed to take it seriously.
• Saya used the Arcane Wisdom spell and spent three hours working through the strategy.
• Saya proposed using a staged coincidence to make a woman discover the conspiracy herself, then estimated a sixty percent chance of success.
• Caroso challenged Saya's suggestion to involve an eighth-rank outsider, arguing that it would draw attention onto her.

Caroso and Saya revised a political strategy together, adding a neutral sixth-rank mage to improve their odds and protect their allies. Ailin then learned the Knight Tournament included several sensational side events and was appalled by what she saw as an insult to knighthood.

• Caroso proposed adding a neutral sixth-rank mage to the plan, and Saya agreed to help work out how to use him.
• Caroso and Saya spent an hour refining their strategy, with Saya concluding that the mage could distract their enemies and improve the chances of dealing with an eighth-rank opponent.
• Saya ended the meeting and left with the unopened bottles, while Caroso bowed toward him after he had gone.
• Ailin returned to the inn and struggled to sleep after being deeply affected by the Knight Tournament and the spirit of knighthood.
• Ailin read the tournament rules and discovered events focused on courage, popularity, talent, and romantic performances.
• Ailin condemned the side events as an insult to knights, then reassured herself that true knights would not enter them.

Caroso declined to debut as an idol and continued studying cardmaking before competing in the Knight Tournament. After drawing a female sixth-rank knight, he summoned a legendary greatsword and a Mysterious Guardian, and a Secret activated just as she launched an attack.

• Caroso rejected the tournament’s idol debut event and told Alita he would compete only in proper competitions.
• Caroso discussed the decline of the Knight’s spirit with Alita, then resumed studying fourth-rank cardmaking courses.
• At the tournament, the host announced the qualifying matches and a revival bracket decided by audience votes.
• Caroso drew a female sixth-rank knight, whose supporters in the crowd booed her as their match began.
• Caroso summoned the legendary greatsword Illuminating Gall and a Mysterious Guardian, but the knight knocked the Guardian from its horse and attacked him.
• Caroso’s Noble Sacrifice Secret shattered as the female knight’s strike descended on him.

Caroso used Auto Defense Matrix’s taunt to force the female knight to attack its Holy Shield, then defeated her and advanced. Afterward, he spoke with Ailin, who was about to compete, and they watched a male knight deliberately humiliate his wounded female opponent.

• Caroso’s Auto Defense Matrix taunted the female knight and drew her attack, giving him an opening to strike her with his sword.
• The female knight’s Holy Light Hammer shattered Caroso’s Knight’s Shield, but she landed outside the competition’s rules and was eliminated.
• Caroso told the defeated knight to accept her loss and left the arena to meet Ailin.
• Ailin asked Caroso how he had won and whether he had entered the popularity contest; he dismissed the contest and criticized knights who sought to entertain the public.
• Ailin watched another match in which a male knight toyed with a wounded female opponent, and she condemned his behavior.

Caroso watched Ailin adapt quickly to the Knight Tournament and recognized her as a formidable contender, while the losses around them left many knights humiliated. As the tournament narrowed its field, Caroso began a new match against a male knight, who charged after playing a spell, but Caroso's Mysteries did not activate.

• Caroso dismissed the Netizens' comments, while Ailin vowed to kill the knight who had treated his female opponent cruelly.
• Ailin won her match with cautious, steadily improving technique, and Caroso realized she might overpower him unless he used his God's Chosen mark.
• Ailin returned to Caroso, acknowledged him as her opponent, and promised they would meet in the finals.
• The tournament advanced to a round that would cut the remaining contestants from two hundred and forty to one hundred and twenty.
• Caroso faced a steady male knight, who played Valiant Charge and rushed him, but Caroso's five Mysteries did not trigger.

Caroso used his God's Chosen power and his Mysteries to gain the upper hand against the knight, though the knight adapted and discovered that Caroso's taunting retainer would return whenever it was killed. The knight tried to counter with a retainer of his own, but Caroso's Repent spell reduced it to minimum health, leaving it vulnerable to a single kick.

• Caroso activated his God's Chosen power and fought the charging knight while the Mysterious Guardian failed to block the knight's attack.
• Caroso's taunting retainer redirected the knight's strike, letting Caroso wound him and press the attack with help from the Mysterious Guardian.
• The knight figured out how to interrupt his attacks and later killed the taunting retainer, but Caroso summoned it again.
• The knight killed the retainer once more, then summoned a Golden Retainer as Caroso's Repent spell triggered.
• Caroso kicked the weakened Golden Retainer to death in one hit, surprising the host and leaving the knight bewildered.

Caroso used his Secrets to disrupt his opponent, defeated the knight, and advanced to the top 128. Afterward, he studied the other matches and spoke with Ailin as the day’s bouts ended.

• Spectators and officials debated how Caroso’s Secrets had weakened the knight’s retainer and drawn it into attacking the wrong target.
• The host defended Caroso’s unconventional tactics, while his enthusiastic female fans cheered him and many men resented his popularity.
• Caroso exploited the knight’s disrupted rhythm, shattered his magic shield, and knocked him out of the arena.
• The knight accepted his defeat and saluted Caroso, who returned the salute before advancing to the top 128.
• Caroso watched the remaining matches, and Ailin returned after winning her bout and asked about his fighting style.
• The host announced the day’s matches were over and declared that the main event was about to begin.

The tournament organizers turned the eliminated knights’ return into a public vote, while Caroso and Ailin discussed the contestants’ circumstances. Barov refused to sell information about Caroso, and the next day the voting event began with a knight named Bill telling his story.

• The host announced that spectators could vote to revive eight of the 360 eliminated knights, and Caroso explained to Ailin why struggling knights might want another chance to compete.
• Krumen recognized an opportunity to profit from the tournament booklets, while Barov refused a partner’s offer of 100,000 Bronze Coins for details about Caroso’s battle and attendant.
• Caroso found Krumen selling booklets at the arena entrance for 3,000 Bronze Coins each and let her continue after seeing the sign advertising her part-time work for him.
• The host apologized for the booklet shortage, then invited eliminated knights to share their stories before voting.
• Bill introduced himself as a professional knight from a small village and began telling the audience that his mother had said poor children grew up early.

After several eliminated knights appealed to the audience for revival, a young knight and a humiliated female knight drew sympathy with emotional speeches. Caroso explained to Ailin how the tournament’s events gave participants a chance to attract attention, and Barov’s brief appeal unexpectedly gained support from Caroso’s fans.

• A young knight described his hardships and dream of becoming a knight, prompting the audience to support his revival.
• A female knight accused her opponent of harassing her in the arena and pleaded for a chance to defeat him herself.
• Ailin asked whether the appeals would continue, and Caroso explained that many participants were adventurers seeking money and exposure.
• The host called Barov to speak, and Barov said only that he wanted to keep fighting rather than reveal his comrades’ circumstances.
• Caroso’s female fans supported reviving Barov because he was Caroso’s defeated opponent and his return could make Caroso look more impressive and magnanimous.

Vito Corleone reviewed the Knight Tournament betting operation and ordered the underground auction to proceed as planned, while Caroso learned how much the Corleone Family knew about him. Ailin refused to buy the contestants’ information booklet, insisting that Caroso would refuse it too.

• Vito Corleone reviewed a report on the tournament contestants, dismissed its compiler for providing little information about Caroso, and ordered his staff to keep the underground auction on schedule.
• The audience chose eight contestants for the revival pool, and the official tournament matches were set to begin the next morning.
• A man in black offered Caroso a contestant information booklet, and Caroso bought it for ten Magic Crystal Coins.
• Caroso read detailed profiles of the contestants and found that the booklet included extensive information about his public battles, while Ailin’s and his own profiles were comparatively vague in different ways.
• A man in black offered Ailin the booklet, but Ailin called it cheating and refused to buy it, claiming that Caroso would refuse as well.

Caroso faced a knight who prepared a spell attack to exploit the Mysterious Guardian’s weakness, but Caroso revealed the Ancient Gods Above and transformed the attack into a beneficial spell. As Caroso charged at his confused opponent, the crowd accused the tournament of rigging the match.

• The Corleone Family’s detailed contestant book became a bestseller, and fans cheered when Caroso entered the arena.
• Caroso equipped a five-piece epic armor set and summoned Illuminating Gall and the Mysterious Guardian for the group battle.
• Caroso’s opponent cast Holy Light Hammer, expecting to hurt him because the Mysterious Guardian could not stop spells.
• Ancient Gods Above transformed Holy Light Hammer into King’s Blessing, which greatly increased Caroso’s attributes.
• Caroso charged at the bewildered knight while bettors shouted that the match was rigged, and the host tried to reassure the crowd.