Chapter Summaries

Caroso offered Rayne a partnership to mass-produce and sell a priest card that copied an opponent’s card, explaining its restrictions and the formula’s broader value. Rayne left to consult his family, while Caroso resolved to compensate the people whose card-making knowledge he had used without permission.

• Caroso showed Rayne and Elena his card, which copied an opponent’s card for ten minutes, and explained how its limits shaped his fight with Karei.
• Rayne and Elena realized the card’s importance lay in its formula, which could inspire new developments in priest cards.
• Caroso proposed that Rayne provide card makers, an alchemy workshop, and sales while Caroso supplied the formula for seventy percent of the profits.
• Rayne said he needed to discuss the deal with his family, and Elena apologized to Caroso after trying to negotiate a lower share.
• After Rayne and Elena left, Caroso told the barrage he had given the formula to his father and would compensate the people whose card-making knowledge he had used.

Caroso used a staged cafeteria encounter to spread word of his priest card and his partnership with Rayne, turning the card into a hot topic across the academy. Rayne’s uncle cautioned him about the risks of pursuing the card’s research, while buyers began contacting Rayne before the card had even gone on sale.

• Caroso followed the advice to promote the card by letting cafeteria workers and a student discover it and pass the secret along.
• The card’s effects and Caroso’s partnership with Rayne spread throughout the academy overnight, upsetting Karei when he learned why Caroso had defeated him.
• Rayne told his uncle that acquiring the card could support further research, but his uncle warned that Azure Wolf Province might already be developing follow-up technology.
• Rayne’s uncle took over the negotiations, and Rayne’s magic stone quickly filled with requests from people wanting to buy the card.

Rayne agreed to Caroso’s proposal to produce and sell the card, and they began preparing a contract that protected Caroso’s formula. As Caroso reviewed Rayne’s materials list, the voices in his mind discussed powerful items and card-making tools that left him bewildered.

• Rayne arrived with Elena and asked Caroso to sign a contract and provide the formula.
• Caroso reviewed Rayne’s contract and required it to guarantee that the formula would not leak for at least three months.
• Rayne left to prepare a revised contract, while Caroso summoned a lawyer through his communication magic stone.
• Caroso examined Rayne’s materials list as the voices in his mind discussed rare items and powerful card-making equipment.
• Caroso was startled by the extraordinary items the voices mentioned and wondered what they used to make cards.

Rayne and Caroso signed a contract exchanging a card formula, and Rayne arranged for Krumen Hill to help Caroso obtain materials and set up a laboratory. Caroso hired Krumen despite the viewers warning that she was a notorious profiteer, and she saw the job as a chance to earn a higher salary and bring in business.

• Rayne returned with a revised contract, and a lawyer checked it before Rayne and Caroso signed.
• Caroso gave Rayne the card-making formula, which Rayne praised for its unconventional material order.
• Rayne offered Caroso an assistant and left with Elena while Caroso waited to meet her.
• Krumen Hill presented her résumé, revealing that she was a Tier 4 mechanic and butler seeking an annual salary of 120 Magic Crystal Coins.
• Despite the viewers' warnings about Krumen's prices, Caroso hired her, and Krumen welcomed the prospect of earning more and gaining business from Caroso.

Caroso hired Krumen and cardmaker assistants, then spent the day buying materials while Netizens sent Krumen on exhausting errands. The next morning, Caroso began making several cards with Nimel and two assistants, and one card he created was Hand of Greed.

• Caroso hired Krumen to find cardmaker assistants and a studio, and they exchanged contact information.
• Netizens urged Caroso to send Krumen on repeated errands for materials, leaving her exhausted by nightfall.
• Krumen accepted the workload as part of her job, and Caroso told her to remain available the next day.
• Caroso and Nimel went to the laboratory with two cardmaker assistants and began preparing materials for several cards.
• Caroso drew the cards and created a three-star Blue Rare spell called Hand of Greed, which randomly drew two cards from the reserve deck.

Caroso made three cards, including two copies of Hand of Greed, and discovered that it could draw cards from a reserve deck, a feat unknown in this world. After comforting the exhausted Nimel, he learned from the Netizens that they did not know how the card worked and considered whether to report his discovery to his father.

• Caroso realized that Hand of Greed could draw cards from a reserve deck, expanding his tactical options and deck limit.
• Nimel grew exhausted from helping Caroso, and he praised her, patted her head, and reminded her that she was his little sister rather than a servant.
• Caroso questioned the Netizens about why Hand of Greed could draw cards, while they treated its effect as ordinary and explained that the world had no such cards.
• Caroso traced the card's unusual effect to its materials interacting with the domain of the soul and considered reporting it to his father.
• The Netizens warned Caroso not to reveal the card's creation and urged him to check whether its original researcher was close to developing it.

Caroso decided to keep his new card-drawing card secret and focused on his growing success at the academy. On his first day of class, card-making instructor Bai recognized his exceptional potential, leaving his rank uncertain.

• Caroso chose to use the new card only himself and postponed making other cards until after practical combat class.
• Over the next two days, Caroso became famous at the academy, sold priest cards through a Royal Family partnership, and used his earnings to hire staff and rent a laboratory.
• Caroso entered first-year Class S and greeted Rayne and Elena before class began.
• Bai introduced herself as the class’s card-making instructor and asked the students about card-maker ranks.
• Elena recited the ranks, and Caroso explained that EX-class referred to the Card Gods.
• Bai told Caroso his talent could reach S++ class and asked whether he was still a D-class card maker.

Bai introduced the S-class card makers and the academy’s accelerated study options before bringing her students to a simulated dungeon for combat assessments. Caroso noticed Krumen Hill working in the dungeon facility, and the chapter ended as Bai called him in to fight while the Vice Principal summoned Nimel.

• Bai explained that the academy had two S-class card makers and offered students the chance to graduate early or skip grades by maintaining high scores.
• Bai announced that the first lesson would be a simulated-dungeon assessment, where students would fight her using third-tier decks and thirty points.
• The class entered the dungeon facility, where Caroso spotted Krumen Hill repairing machinery.
• Bai began assessing the Alchemy Academy students, while the Magic Academy students fought in a separate dungeon battle.
• Bai called Caroso into the simulated dungeon, and the Vice Principal called Nimel in at the same time.

Caroso faced Bai in a simulated duel, where Bai countered his follower cards by switching to a deck suited to the matchup. Caroso revealed a legendary flaming sword and charged, but Bai summoned twelve Naga followers to overwhelm him.

• Caroso and Bai entered the simulated dungeon and chose to begin their duel without selecting special terrain.
• Caroso drew four follower cards, but none could be summoned because Bai’s deck countered their required captains.
• Bai explained how backup decks worked and said she had switched to counter Caroso, while Caroso refused to surrender.
• Caroso summoned Bintink’s Flaming Sword and equipped rare armor before charging at Bai.
• Bai summoned four epic Naga followers and then eight Blue Rare Naga followers, spending twenty-eight points to overwhelm Caroso with numbers.

Caroso fought Bai and used Frenzy to turn two of her Naga against her, but Bai sacrificed her Naga to summon a powerful Aged Naga Elder. After Caroso was driven back, he told Bai that she did not understand the spell he had used, leaving the outcome of their battle uncertain.

• Caroso used Frenzy to control two of Bai's Epic Naga, making them attack the fork-wielding Naga.
• Caroso and his summoned Naga broke through Bai's waterweed defenses and charged toward her.
• Bai played the golden Aged Naga Elder card and sacrificed her other Naga to empower the Elder.
• The Naga Elder's attack sent Caroso flying, and his summoned Naga vanished after exhausting their magic.
• Caroso used mental control to make two of Bai's Epic Naga shield him from the Elder's water bullets.
• Caroso laughed and told Bai that she did not know what spell he had used.

Caroso defeated Bai after using his cards and combat instincts to overcome the Naga Elder, though Bai noted he had fought at a disadvantage against her water deck. Their exchange was interrupted when Nimel was thrown near Caroso and the Vice Principal approached, accusing Bai of getting distracted during their fight.

• Caroso charged Bai after his armor ignited and the Epic Nagas regained control.
• Caroso silenced the Naga Elder with a spell, then defeated her with a fiery sword attack.
• Bai admitted defeat and recognized Caroso's skill, while Caroso said her Naga Deck had countered his fire abilities.
• Bai teased Caroso, prompting the Netizens to joke about the two dating.
• Nimel fell near Caroso, and the Vice Principal approached Bai with five lightning spheres, accusing her of losing focus while fighting him.

Caroso urged Nimel to continue fighting instead of relying on him, and his encouragement reignited her determination. The Vice Principal then revealed that he was retaliating against Caroso for defeating the principal and restrained him with a shocking chain.

• Caroso refused to intervene in Nimel's battle, saying she needed to learn to stand on her own.
• Caroso told Nimel that her fight was not over and urged her to win, making her resolve to keep fighting.
• The Vice Principal noticed Nimel's renewed magic and offered to face her and Caroso together with increased power.
• The Vice Principal switched to his backup deck and accused Caroso of bearing responsibility for Nimel's weakness.
• The Vice Principal bound Caroso with a silver chain and shocked him, prompting Nimel to accuse him of retaliating for Caroso's victory over the principal.
• The Vice Principal admitted that he was retaliating.

Nimel and Caroso fought the Vice Principal in a simulated battle, and both revealed extraordinary strength as God's Chosen. Caroso defeated the Vice Principal before collapsing, and the instructors discussed the pair's potential.

• Nimel tried to free Caroso, but the Vice Principal struck her card and wounded Caroso.
• Nimel awakened as a God's Chosen and attacked the Vice Principal with lightning, water, and Arcane Missiles.
• Caroso broke free of his magical chains, and the Vice Principal realized that Caroso was also a God's Chosen.
• Nimel helped Caroso attack, and Caroso broke through the Vice Principal's defenses and stopped his sword at the Vice Principal's forehead.
• Caroso and Nimel both fainted, and the Vice Principal and Bai discussed their abilities and the limits they had reached.

Caroso and Nimel recovered in the school infirmary after exhausting their magic in a battle with their teacher. Caroso criticized Nimel’s fighting before praising her teamwork, and Krumen arrived with food and a bill for the care he had arranged.

• Caroso woke in the infirmary and checked his injuries while Nimel slept beside him.
• Nimel woke, and Caroso scolded her for getting distracted by worry before acknowledging that she had fought well alongside him.
• Caroso and Nimel decided to ask what had happened after their battle, but Krumen arrived with food first.
• Krumen explained that he had arranged their treatment and beds, collected Caroso’s compensation potions, and presented him with a bill.

Caroso learned about the academy’s card-making assignments and decided to enter a newly appeared third-tier dungeon, despite Rayne and Elena warning him about the danger. He called Nimel to join him and went to his laboratory to prepare for the challenge.

• Caroso and Nimel discussed her assessment and agreed to keep working hard together.
• Rayne told Caroso that he had earned an S++ rating and explained the academy’s lessons and custom placement tests.
• Elena explained that students had to create an original card, while Caroso was assigned to work alone.
• An announcement called third-tier students to gather for a newly appeared dungeon, and Caroso decided to enter it.
• After the comments suggested making Communication Cards and forming a strategy guide, Caroso called Nimel and took her to his laboratory.

Caroso gave Nimel six unusual Zero-Star cards that could strengthen her magic and help her counter priests, then prepared to make more cards overnight. The next morning, he demanded to join a randomly appearing dungeon conquest, and stunned Bai by revealing his extensive dungeon experience.

• Caroso gave Nimel six Zero-Star cards, and she realized they could improve her magic while requiring no mana or deck space.
• Caroso told Nimel to keep the cards secret, then hired card-making assistants to work overtime as he prepared for the dungeon.
• Caroso arrived at class without doing his homework and told Bai he wanted to sign up for the dungeon conquest.
• Bai warned Caroso that freshmen were not allowed to enter dungeons in theory and that the random dungeon could be deadly.
• Caroso insisted that Kolia did not fear challenges and revealed that he had conquered dungeons across three tiers, beginning at age eight.

Caroso signed up to raid a third-tier dungeon, drawing the attention of people who wanted him dead or feared his future power. The Prince began arranging opposition to Caroso while encouraging Karei to help undermine him.

• Caroso told Bai that he had raided dungeons since age eight and accepted the dangers of entering the third-tier dungeon.
• After learning Caroso had signed up, Karei hired someone to cripple him inside the dungeon.
• The Prince recalled that Caroso had been chosen by the War God and saw him as a threat because he might inherit Azure Wolf Province and its army.
• The Prince told Karei that the Royal Family was considering Caroso for Elena, then hinted that Caroso need not remain so outstanding; Karei resolved to make him pay.
• The Prince contacted Harvey Colin and other people hostile to the Kolia family, setting more threats against Caroso in motion.

Caroso and Nimel entered the random third-rank dungeon, Fallen Laboratory, and learned that they had to stop the dean from completing a ritual for a god. Caroso contacted Nimel from his locked room, but a black-robed man burst in and ordered him to follow.

• The Vice Principal warned the challengers about the dungeon’s dangers, collected traces of their magic in soul stones, and sent them inside.
• The principal panicked when he learned Caroso had volunteered, while the prince and Bai said they had been unable to stop him.
• The dungeon’s introduction revealed that the dean had uncovered a ritual beneath the laboratory and that the challengers had to stop him from pledging loyalty to a god.
• Caroso woke in a locked room and used a Communication Snail card to contact Nimel, who said she was in a separate room.
• A black-robed man forced Caroso’s door open and ordered him to come along.

Caroso entered a laboratory dungeon shared by four regions, where the principal feared its deadly rules and worried about the students inside. Guided by the netizens, Caroso used Guessing Cards on a black-robed man, won a rare card, and learned that the game could reveal a hidden route.

• The principal discovered that 120 people had entered a dungeon shared by four regions, and he and the Vice Principal discussed its high mortality rate and Osiris's orders concerning Caroso.
• Caroso encountered a black-robed man in a laboratory and, following the netizens' advice, challenged him to Guessing Cards.
• Caroso played two rounds with three Zero-Star cards and received the man's three-star Evil Spirit Summon card as his prize.
• The netizens explained the game's limits and how skipping the first encounter could reveal a hidden route, while Caroso wondered what to do if Guessing Cards failed.

Caroso disguised himself as a cultist and descended through a mind-affecting dungeon where cultists and outsiders were being dragged toward the lower floors. When an outsider’s attack revealed that dead cultists strengthened the dungeon’s evil spirits, the outsiders launched a broad assault to push onward.

• Caroso killed a black-robed man, swapped clothes with him, and slipped out of the room carrying the body.
• Caroso learned that the dungeon was a War Dungeon where killing other participants could yield greater rewards than defeating the dungeon lord, then followed cultists toward the lower floors.
• As the faces on the walls gave Caroso a headache, an outsider attacked a cultist and was seized by evil spirit arms that emerged from the walls.
• A paladin burned the spirits with holy light and beheaded the cultist, but Caroso realized the cultist’s death strengthened the dungeon’s field spell and its spirits.
• Other outsiders joined the fight, summoning totems, beasts, and vegetation as they battled the cultists and pushed through the corridor.