Chapter Summaries

Caroso used his rule-altering Secret to defeat another knight, prompting the Mage Association to confirm that the match was fair. After he and Ailin advanced to the top sixty-four and complained about the tournament’s spectacle events, a stranger invited Caroso to an auction.

• Caroso turned his opponent’s offensive spell into a blessing, then used his minion to distract the knight and knocked him out of the arena.
• The Mage Association executive quieted the crowd and explained that Caroso’s Secret had changed the spell, not rigged the match.
• Caroso and Ailin celebrated their advancement at Moonlit Beauty, where Ailin complained about the tournament’s showy contests and threatened to file a complaint.
• Ailin caught Caroso looking at a scantily dressed girl and scolded him before a black-clad stranger approached.
• The stranger invited Caroso to an auction that would take place later that night.

Caroso and Ailin attended the Corleone Family auction, where Rio Corleone welcomed them and spoke with Caroso about their families and political tensions. After seating them, Rio greeted Saya as she arrived for the auction.

• Caroso accepted an invitation to the Corleone Family auction and brought Ailin as his attendant.
• Ailin explained the auction’s traditions and its connection to an exclusive auction, while Caroso discussed why clergy members and people above the seventh rank were excluded.
• Caroso and Ailin arrived at the hidden Corleone Manor, where Rio Corleone welcomed them and Caroso inferred that the estate was likely in the sky.
• Caroso and Rio exchanged guarded remarks about the Kolia family, Azure Wolf Province, and Ailin’s identity before Rio escorted them to seats near the stage.
• Rio greeted Saya, who arrived with a female companion, and offered her a seat with a better view.

Caroso’s Emperor Gufu card sold for 1.5 million Magic Crystal Coins at the Corleon Auction House, but the next lot—a captured knight offered as a slave—provoked Ailin. When she revealed she was the Pander Empire’s princess, Caroso warned that her country had already rotted and that she could not stop the system behind the auction.

• Caroso put his first seventh-tier Emperor Gufu card up for auction, and the auctioneer promoted its rarity and historic number to drive up interest.
• Bidders pushed the card’s price to 1.5 million Magic Crystal Coins, and a wealthy woman won it.
• The auction house presented a captured knight from the previous tournament as its second lot, prompting Ailin to try to intervene.
• Caroso held Ailin back and told her that the venue’s powerful guests and the Pander Empire’s own nobles were part of the system selling the knight.
• Ailin revealed that she was the Pander Empire’s princess, but Caroso insisted her title could not stop the auction and declared that the empire had rotted away.

At the auction, Ailin tried to stop a knight from being sold, but Caroso beat her unconscious before she could act. As the auction continued, a cage containing a Dark Elf and a High Elf was revealed.

• Ailin saw nobles bidding on a captured knight and decided to intervene as a fellow knight.
• Caroso surprised Ailin with a flurry of punches, then beat her unconscious while Rio watched and chose not to interfere.
• Caroso told an attendant that he had beaten Ailin because she was a disobedient guard, drawing attention from other auction guests and embarrassing Saya.
• The auction continued, and the audience erupted when a cage holding a Dark Elf and a High Elf was unveiled.

Caroso earned a fortune at the auction and left with the unconscious Ailin, while Merlin bought two elves and learned that the next auction would feature two ancient elves she had been searching for. Rio invited Caroso to the next auction in three days, but Caroso declined.

• The auctioneer sold a Dark Elf and a High Elf together, and Merlin bought them for fifty thousand Magic Crystal Coins.
• The auctioneer announced that the next auction would feature a sixth-rank Dark Elf rogue and a sixth-rank elf mage discovered on an uninhabited island; Merlin realized they were the elves she sought.
• Caroso left with the unconscious Ailin after earning one million four hundred and twenty-five thousand Magic Crystal Coins from the auction.
• Rio warned Caroso that selling the card could draw dangerous attention and invited him to the next auction, but Caroso said he would not attend.

Caroso returned to the Goddess of Dawn Church with the unconscious Ailin, where Celica treated the situation casually and discussed Caroso’s unusual potential. The chapter ended with Alita and Bai arriving and reprimanding Caroso for bringing a girl home and neglecting his studies.

• Caroso carried Ailin to the Goddess of Dawn Church, prompting her guards to alert Cardinal Riccardo, who sent Celica to check on them.
• Celica found Ailin fully clothed and told Caroso to treat her, then discussed how his marks and abilities could let him pursue magic as well as martial arts.
• Celica revealed that Merlin had a hidden warrior profession and had once advised her on swordsmanship.
• Alita and Bai arrived together, and Celica was surprised by Bai’s dramatically refreshed appearance.
• Alita scolded Caroso for returning drunk and bringing a woman home, while Bai rebuked him for breaking his promise to focus on card-making studies.

Caroso explained why he had stopped Ailin from attacking an auction where a captured knight was being sold, while Ailin argued that a knight must act against injustice even at personal risk. The chapter ended with Ailin reaffirming that she wanted to uphold knightly spirit, even if that meant opposing her country's nobles.

• Bai tested Caroso and confirmed he had kept up with his studies despite the Knight Tournament, and Caroso revealed that he had knocked Ailin unconscious rather than found her drunk.
• Ailin woke at the Goddess of Dawn Church, learned that Caroso had stopped her from intervening at the auction, and confronted him with her sword.
• Ailin explained that she had seen a tournament knight imprisoned and sold, while Caroso argued that attacking the auction would not have saved him and could have made matters worse.
• Caroso told Ailin that the rules governing prisoners of war and the auction itself were the source of the injustice, leaving Ailin feeling powerless.
• Caroso asked whether Ailin wanted to save the knight or awaken others, and Ailin said she wanted to uphold knightly spirit even if it made her enemies of her country's nobles.

Ailin and Caroso discussed how to rescue knights being sold at auction, with Caroso promising to help after admitting he had wrongly stopped her. As they struggled to find a lawful solution, Celica asked where the auctioneers had obtained a Dark Elf.

• Caroso apologized to Ailin for stopping her and proposed they plan how to help the knight.
• Caroso showed Ailin the next auction's list, which included three knights, and said he would try to buy back the knight she had failed to save.
• Caroso explained that the wealthy woman who bought the knight had agreed to transfer him in exchange for money and a favor to Grand Duke Osiris.
• Ailin and Caroso debated whether to pay for the auctioned people, rescue them by force, or find another solution, while Celica explained the Church and legal obstacles.
• Celica interrupted their discussion and asked where the auction had gotten a Dark Elf.

Caroso warned Ailin and Celica that the auctioned knight might have been deliberately captured and sold through a political scheme, possibly involving corrupt Church officials. Celica decided to investigate the auction house herself, despite the danger of probing the Church’s influence in the Pander Empire.

• Celica grew alarmed when Caroso confirmed that Dark Elves had appeared at an auction, since their private trade was forbidden by the Church.
• Caroso suggested that the knight Ailin had seen auctioned might have been deliberately sacrificed and captured so others could profit from him.
• Caroso argued that corrupt Church officials might have sold the knight, and Celica rejected the idea before beginning to doubt the Church’s integrity.
• Caroso warned Celica that an open investigation could be obstructed by the Pander Empire’s knights and priests, including the Blade of Dawn.
• Celica told Caroso to stay out of the matter and said she would go to the auction house to catch the people involved.

Caroso and Ailin discussed her resolve to uphold her Knight's Way and the danger of challenging the nobles who benefit from human trafficking. Caroso proposed rescuing the captives by paying their ransom, while Ailin began to imagine fighting alongside him against the aristocratic system.

• Celica left after seeing that Caroso and Ailin were no longer about to clash, and Bai arranged a room for Ailin before reminding Caroso about tomorrow's match.
• Ailin told Caroso she had left to prove herself, and he warned that opposing human trafficking could make her an enemy of nobles across the world.
• Ailin declared that she would still draw her sword to uphold her Knight's Way, and Caroso agreed that the King of Knights would have done the same.
• Caroso suggested rescuing the captives by paying the normal ransom if Celica's search for evidence caused a fight, and Ailin accepted the idea.
• Caroso told Ailin she would eventually have to face all nobles and promised to stand by her side, moving Ailin as she imagined knights joining their cause.

Caroso met Minette in secret and offered her intelligence about the auction in exchange for a favor, warning that the planned Dark Elf rescue would likely be a deadly trap. Meanwhile, the infiltrators prepared their own assault on the next auction, but an unexpected voice interrupted their meeting.

• Caroso told Minette that Dark Elves and High Elves had been offered at the auction and warned that the church also held Dark Elves.
• Caroso proposed cooperation, using his knowledge of a near-certain-death rescue plan to persuade Minette to owe him a favor.
• Minette agreed to cooperate, and Caroso offered to share everything he knew while leaving her free to decide what to do.
• Single-ponytail Caroso outlined a plan to cut the power, seize firearms, and free the auction captives during the next auction.
• An unseen person spoke from the underground tavern’s corner, startling Single-ponytail and the others.

Caroso faced a commoner knight in the tournament’s round of sixteen and fought without relying on Mysterious Guardian. He unveiled strange cards that let him strike through enemy minions and exchange spells, leaving the officials wondering why a wealthy contestant was using a card that could help poorer mages.

• Caroso entered the match wearing fourth-rank equipment and told his opponent that he would have been nearly unbeatable at the peak of the sixth rank.
• Caroso charged immediately after the opening salute, and he and the young knight began trading orthodox sword-and-shield blows.
• Caroso summoned Fair Mermen, then used Blind Merman to pass through the opponent’s minions and strike the young knight directly before the merman was killed.
• Caroso summoned Ancient Elf Sage, whose ability caused the two fighters to exchange spell cards whenever either cast one, leading them to repeatedly play Silver Holy Swords.
• The Mage and Knight Association executives realized Ancient Elf Sage could help poorly equipped mages obtain powerful spells, and the knight executive questioned why Caroso was using it against an opponent with weaker cards.

Paul nearly defeated Caroso in their Knight Tournament duel, but Caroso used a Legendary Card to break Paul's momentum. As a blood moon covered the sun, Paul revealed that he was God's Chosen, and the Knight Association's steward identified him as a Death Knight.

• Paul believed his remaining magic power would let him defeat Caroso, while reflecting on his impoverished life, sacrifices, and determination to reclaim his knight's honor.
• Caroso summoned Leeroy, whose attack shattered Paul's armor set and left him badly injured.
• Caroso gained the advantage in their sword clash, and Paul accused him of relying on Legendary Cards and demanded a fair fight.
• A crimson eclipse darkened the sky as Paul condemned the unfair advantages wealthy nobles had and Caroso challenged him to overcome them through strength.
• Paul revealed that he was also God's Chosen as blood-red light enveloped him and his power surged.
• The Knight Association's steward recognized the black marks on Paul as the God's Chosen mark of a Death Knight.

A Death Knight appeared in Paul’s duel with Caroso, and a mysterious divine force sealed the arena while the tournament grounds descended into chaos. Caroso prepared to change his deck for a fair match as Celica arrived and began attacking the barrier.

• A Death Knight’s appearance prompted the Knight Association and Mage Association attendants to evacuate the spectators, but an invisible force sealed the arena and resisted even eighth-tier magic.
• Paul roared as his magic and cards were restored, and a voice declared fairness, replenishing Caroso’s magic and stamina as well.
• Master Norma appeared and recognized the voice as a ninth-tier Death Knight acting for a god and the barrier as divine power; Caroso asked her to protect Nimel while he faced the opponent.
• The voice permitted Caroso to change his deck, and Ailin urged him to use a light-focused Paladin deck that countered Death Knights.
• Celica arrived with another cardinal, struck the barrier with her golden sword, and began gathering Holy Power to break it while warning Caroso not to touch the black mist.

Caroso fought Paul, a Death Knight empowered by the Scourge Legion and a frozen battlefield, while Celica worked to break the black-mist barrier. Caroso was wounded but used his cards to build up his reserve deck and ended the chapter by shooting Paul in the face.

• Celica struggled to break the black-mist barrier and told Caroso to hold out while she drew on the Church's Holy Power.
• Paul summoned the Scourge Legion, surrounding Caroso with undead and the shadow of the Lich King.
• Caroso used Copy to add Fair Mermen to his reserve deck, but Paul's Source of Eternal Frost weakened them and slowed Caroso.
• Caroso played This is a Conspiracy and drew more cards as Paul cut down or froze his summoned mermen.
• Caroso blocked Paul's sword with his shield, then shot him in the face.

Caroso fought Paul while Celica challenged the Death Knight, and the group defeated both opponents. The blood moon vanished, and Celica scolded Riccardo for failing to help her against the ninth-rank foe.

• Caroso used a concealed gun, shields, and summoned mermen to hold Paul back as they exchanged spells and attacks.
• Paul sent Caroso's mermen and undead away with spells, then froze Caroso and pressed his attack.
• Celica broke through the black mist and clashed with the Death Knight's Frostmourne's Phantom, then summoned the power of the Eternal Blazing Sun.
• Caroso summoned a swarm of mermen whose effect drained Paul's strength, leaving him alive but incapacitated.
• The Death Knight accepted defeat and disappeared as Celica's flames destroyed the blood moon and sunlight returned.
• Celica struck Riccardo for failing to help her, and he admitted he thought she disliked fighting alongside others.

Caroso defeated Paul, a Death Knight and God's Chosen, in the tournament, but Riccardo killed Paul before anyone could question him. Caroso warned Celica that Paul's acquaintance might be silenced too, and Ailin urged Celica to investigate.

• Caroso defeated Paul with his Explosive Card Rogue deck and advanced to the quarterfinals.
• A beam of holy light struck Paul, and Riccardo let it burn him to charcoal despite Celica's attempt to intervene.
• Riccardo addressed the crowd, declaring that the Goddess of Dawn Church would eliminate Death Knights and protect the public.
• Caroso warned Celica that the girl who knew Paul might be silenced, prompting Celica to suspect a conspiracy.
• Caroso advised Ailin not to get involved, but Ailin urged Celica to investigate Paul's appearance and offered her support.

After a Death Knight incident halted the tournament, Celica, Caroso, and Ailin questioned the dead knight Paul’s grieving girlfriend about what had happened to him. She agreed to help investigate, while Caroso revealed he had secretly obtained records on the contestants.

• Celica ordered Riccardo to evacuate the scene and handle the aftermath as she removed the remaining undead power; the tournament and knights’ selection competition were suspended.
• Celica brought Caroso and Ailin to a private residence, where they found Paul’s girlfriend grieving and insisting that he had been a real knight, not a Death Knight.
• Caroso explained that they were investigating the cardinal who had acted against Paul, while Ailin swore in the name of the King of Knights to uncover the truth.
• The young woman accused the tournament and Knight’s Country of treating Paul unjustly, but Caroso warned that refusing to cooperate would leave his case classified and the real culprit free.
• The young woman agreed to answer questions, and Caroso asked about Paul’s cultivation and how he had entered school.
• Ailin questioned how Caroso had looked up Paul’s records, and Caroso produced a book containing information on the top 128 contestants.

Caroso’s questions about Paul’s past led Celica to realize that Paul may have worshipped an evil god while praying outside a Goddess of Dawn Church. After Caroso recalled evil god statues beneath a church near his home, Celica suspected a conspiracy and decided to investigate while arranging support for the church inquiry and the auction.

• Caroso questioned Paul’s girlfriend about how Paul learned knightly techniques, and she explained that he secretly watched the knights practice and prayed outside the church at night.
• Celica realized Paul had prayed after sunset to the Goddess of Dawn and concluded that he might have worshipped the wrong god.
• After the group left the house, Caroso recalled that a dungeon beneath a church near his home contained statues of evil gods, including the Lord of Eternal Life.
• Celica suspected someone had built the statues to siphon the Goddess’s faith and believed Archbishop Riccardo might be covering up what happened.
• Celica chose to investigate the church despite the competing auction, while Ailin offered to mobilize people and Caroso offered to ask Teacher Alita for help.

Caroso persuaded Saya to take him to the auction while concealing his identity, and Ailin attended Corleone Manor dressed as a princess with the knight Caroso had secretly redeemed. Ailin endured gossip and Marquis Brey’s welcome as she continued with her plan to uproot the auction’s corruption.

• Caroso asked Saya to take him to the auction as an attendant, and Saya agreed after deciding to accompany him himself.
• Caroso and Saya set off for the auction after Saya said he would inform their father.
• Ailin arrived at Corleone Manor in a princess’s gown with the knight Caroso had redeemed, who believed Ailin had bought him.
• Guests whispered about Ailin and the knight, and Ailin urged him to reclaim his honor through his actions.
• Marquis Brey welcomed Ailin and suggested she meet young men at the ball, while Ailin remembered his behavior at the previous auction.