Chapter Summaries

Mevajena killed targets for Sordil in exchange for food, water, and her brother’s life, while the deaths at the military camp escalated into a crisis for the Kingdom of Tsuyioru Xiu. Belmod ordered his troops to withdraw after learning that Donagunov’s dragons were heading toward the Cuyis Tree Sea.

• Sordil promised to spare Fordisg if Mevajena killed two people, and Mevajena secretly killed Commander Tedd at the military camp.
• Sordil rewarded Mevajena with food and water but returned her to the dark prison, where Fordisg and the others misread how she had obtained them.
• Sordil repeatedly sent Mevajena to kill people at the camp, and the daily deaths continued even after the officers moved the camp away from Fostadu.
• Belmod learned that the deaths were likely a warning from the Cuyis Tree Sea and that a Black Great Dragon was leading Donagunov’s dragons toward it.
• Belmod ordered the Bell Dragon Rider Regiment to return to its original station and asked the Cuyis Tree Sea to explain its actions and Donagunov’s purpose.

Mevajena and the other prisoners worried when Sordil failed to appear, while Sordil hosted Xizalanza and secured Fostadu’s next steps through a secret letter from Irene. After the crisis settled, Sordil continued working on a new kind of magic, which Seraf identified as Transformation Magic.

• Mevajena argued with Holop and the other prisoners, who feared Sordil had changed his mind about releasing them.
• At a welcoming banquet, Hadessta and Sordil told Xizalanza that Fostadu had defeated the Western Continent’s dragons, and Sordil described the battle.
• Hadessta sent Xizalanza a reply after Fostadu’s dragons debated Irene’s secret letter, and Xizalanza returned to Donagunov.
• Diphiya and Murellia asked Lindel and Seraf where Sordil had been, and Seraf said Sordil was studying Transformation Magic.

Sordil freed Mevajena and the others from prison, then set out with a new bodyguard team for the Kingdom of Tsuyioru Xiu. Meanwhile, Irene offered Fostadu covert help, and Belmod ordered General Langu to watch Donagunov and report any Fostadu dragons entering its territory.

• Sordil revealed his human form to Mevajena and the other imprisoned dragons, apologized for forgetting them, and freed them from their cages.
• Sordil led Mevajena from the prison, but she kicked him flying after he insulted her hygiene; Fordisg mistakenly took her anger as embarrassment over her feelings for Sordil.
• Sordil arranged rooms for the four dragons and began preparing his plan; three days later, he and his new bodyguard team secretly left Fostadu for the Kingdom of Tsuyioru Xiu.
• After hearing Xizalanza's report, Irene recognized Sordil as Fostadu's true ruler and said she would help him this time, but not for free again.
• Belmod angrily read a letter and ordered the Chancellor to have General Langu watch Donagunov and report any Fostadu dragons entering its territory.

Sordil's party discovered Diphiya had misread the map and led them deep into the Dil'dixiu Mountain Range, forcing them to camp for the night. To pass the time, Sordil introduced Truth or Dare, and the group eagerly began their first round.

• Sordil and the others realized they had traveled away from the road, and Seraf identified their location as the Dil'dixiu Mountain Range.
• Sordil discovered Diphiya had been following the map without understanding its directions, so she handed it to Seraf.
• Seraf said the party could not leave the mountain range before nightfall, and Sordil decided they would camp and retrace their route in the morning.
• The group gathered food, firewood, and water, then sat around the campfire for dinner.
• Sordil proposed a modified Truth or Dare game, explained its rules, and began the first round with the others.

Sordil exploited the rules of the King game, sending Anna into the dark forest on a dare. When a cry brought the others rushing after her, they found a giant red dragon named Igneel apologizing to the crying girl.

• Diphiya became King and ordered Mevajena to answer questions, including whether she had eaten human flesh, how old she was, and whether she liked anyone.
• Sordil became King and ordered Mevajena to answer a question, Diphiya and Murellia to stare at each other, Anna to enter the dark forest, and Lindel and Seraf to feed him.
• Anna entered the forest and cried out, so Sordil and the others hurried to find her.
• Sordil cast Radiance and revealed a giant red dragon with a scar over its left eye and red scales.
• Igneel apologized to Anna for tripping her and pleaded with her to stop crying.

Sordil and his companions met Igneel in the Dil'dixiu Mountain Range, shared a meal and drinking game with him, and accepted his invitation to rest at his home. Elsewhere, Belmod ordered a subordinate to infiltrate tight defenses, while Belserion and Acunologiya met and parted amid old resentment.

• Anna apologized to Igneel for stepping on his tail and explained that she had been playing a game rather than abandoned in the forest.
• Sordil invited Igneel to eat with the group and told him they knew he was Igneel, leaving him astonished.
• Belmod demanded progress on an operation within three months and resolved to face the threats to his throne.
• Belserion tried to reconcile with Acunologiya, but Acunologiya left angrily over Belserion having once missed their farewell meeting.
• Igneel woke with a hangover after Sordil had made him drink alcohol, then invited Sordil and his companions to rest at his home before traveling to Tsuyioru Xiu.

Sordil and his companions visited Igneel and the other dragons on the summit of the Dil'dixiu Mountain Range, where Sordil secretly revealed his true identity to Grandine. Five days after leaving the dragons, Sordil was suffering from severe motion sickness while traveling by carriage toward the royal capital.

• Igneel brought Sordil and his companions to the mountain summit, where Grandine and three other dragons welcomed them and teased Igneel.
• Grandine asked Sordil about his journey, and he revealed that he was a dragon before asking her to keep it secret from Igneel and the others.
• Igneel and the other dragons gathered ingredients, then hosted a feast where they tried unsuccessfully to get Sordil drunk.
• After resting for a day, Sordil and his companions left the dragons, joined a merchant caravan, and reached Medea.
• Sordil rented a carriage for the trip and became violently motion sick, while Diphiya and the others remained unaffected.

Sordil arrived in Philiers with Diphiya and the others, planning to buy a concealed house and gather intelligence on General Langu. As he arranged a rushed purchase through the Wunderst Intelligence Guild, its members secretly recorded him and ordered the Dark Division to watch him and Seraf.

• Sordil entered Philiers with his companions and arranged to meet Diphiya and the others at the city gate at dusk while he and Seraf sought information.
• At the Silver Moon Bar, the boss learned that a client wanted a beautiful woman that night, and Skinny Monkey offered to lead the gang to women he had spotted near the city gate.
• Sordil met a contact at the Wunderst Intelligence Guild and paid extra for a concealed house before tonight, while also requesting intelligence on General Langu.
• The black-robed guild member recorded Sordil's meeting and ordered a gray-robed subordinate to deliver the recording to the Grand Pavilion Leader and have the Dark Division watch Sordil and Seraf.
• Sordil and Seraf left for the city gate, unaware that the guild was monitoring them.

Sordil captured two spies who confirmed they served the king’s informant in the Wendester Guild, then learned that Slaik had targeted a group of beautiful women near the city gates. He hurried with Seraf to find out whether Diphiya and the others were among them.

• Sordil shrank a ruined building, captured two hidden spies with Space Magic, and restored the damaged area before taking them to a concealed magic space.
• Sordil deduced that the spies worked for the black-robed Wendester Guild official and that the official served the king, and the captives confirmed his guess.
• Sordil told Seraf to pack up the captives so they could continue without attracting more pursuers.
• Near the city gates, Sordil heard that Slaik had tried to seize several women from outside the city and had been beaten by them.
• After a passerby described Slaik’s crimes, Sordil rushed with Seraf toward the scene to see whether the women were Diphiya and the others.

After Diphiya’s brawl exposed their presence, Sordil’s group interrogated the gang and tracked Slaik to the Silver Moon Bar. Slaik revealed that Duke Gould Lanlos had hired him, but Sordil had him killed immediately afterward.

• Diphiya beat the men who had tried to capture her, and Sordil ordered her to lead them out of the city.
• Sordil reunited with Diphiya and the others in the eastern woods, then ordered them to question the captives about Slaik and their hideout.
• The captives said Slaik had gone to meet an employer and identified the Silver Moon Bar as their hideout.
• Sordil’s group confronted Slaik at the bar, and Slaik revealed that Duke Gould Lanlos had hired him.
• Sordil ordered Mevajena to kill Slaik, and she decapitated him.

Sordil went to Vitus Restaurant with Seraf to collect intelligence and property, then forced Phile to hand them over along with his savings. He left with the spoils while Phile silently vowed revenge.

• Sordil had Lindel investigate Duke Gould Lanlos and had Mevajena and the others memorize the features of a decrepit building before heading out with Seraf.
• Phile noticed Sordil approaching Vitus Restaurant on the tracking device, closed the building, armed his people, and sent an urgent request for help.
• Sordil entered the restaurant by removing its door and put the attackers to sleep as he and Seraf made their way upstairs.
• Sordil confronted Phile, collected the prepared intelligence and property, and revealed the two subordinates Phile had sent to follow him.
• Sordil pressured Phile into handing over his hidden savings and left the restaurant with Seraf.

After trading for the Wundest Guild’s intelligence, Sordil returned to the Silver Moon Bar with gold and then left with Lindel to confront Duke Gould Lanlos over his attempted abduction of a young woman. The chapter ended as they approached the duke’s residence to begin Sordil’s plan.

• Sordil explained to Seraf why he had extorted compensation during the intelligence deal and regretted that their target had not sent anyone to follow them again.
• At the Silver Moon Bar, Diphiya, Mevajena, and Murellia waited anxiously for Sordil while Anna teased Lindel about their concern.
• Sordil and Seraf returned, and Sordil told Seraf to hide the gold before taking Lindel out again.
• Sordil and Lindel reached Duke Gould Lanlos’s manor, where Lindel explained that the duke was waiting in his study for a woman he had demanded.
• Sordil announced that they would confront the duke over his attempted abduction and begin his plan.

Sordil confronted Duke Gould Lanlos over Slaik’s attempt to kidnap his sister and forced Gould to help him become a general. The chapter left Gould bound by a Soul Contract and preparing to meet his Imperial Brother, while Sordil and Lindel headed back.

• Sordil and Lindel cornered Gould in his study and accused him of ordering Slaik to kidnap Sordil’s sister.
• Gould denied involvement, then offered to introduce Sordil to the king so he could seek a general’s position.
• Sordil made Gould sign a Soul Contract that bound him to obey its terms and caused him intense pain when tested.
• Gould agreed to seek an audience with his Imperial Brother and planned to meet Sordil at the Silver Moon Bar.
• Sordil explained to Lindel how he had created the Soul Contract, and they hurried back.

Sordil enjoyed a quiet morning before arranging for Anna to face extra Spirit Magic training. Meanwhile, Gould persuaded King Belmod to test the magical talent he had met, and Sordil prepared to enter the palace under a false identity.

• Sordil ate the breakfast Diphiya had prepared, then assigned Anna a twenty-thousand-word report on her Spirit Magic failures and put Diphiya in charge of supervising her.
• King Belmod heard the prime minister's assessment that the Cuyis Tree Sea beings had not allied with Dragunov's dragons.
• Gould asked Belmod to meet a magical genius, and Belmod agreed to test him at the palace training grounds at three that afternoon.
• Gould met Sordil at the Silver Moon Bar and said the king would evaluate him, though he could not promise him a general's post.
• Sordil introduced himself to Gould as Oddek and presented Diphiya and Lindel under their false identities before Gould led them toward the palace.

Sordil, posing as Oddek, demonstrated his powerful sand magic before King Belmod and requested a duel with General Langu. Belmod appointed him Commander of the Bell Dragon Rider Regiment and a major general and staff officer, leaving Sordil with a powerful new position in the Kingdom of Tsuyioru Xiu.

• The Chancellor prepared the training grounds while Gould brought Sordil and the others to await King Belmod.
• Belmod questioned Gould about his recommendation, and Sordil introduced himself as Oddek, Diphiya's elder brother from Mildian.
• Sordil used Sand Shape: Rock Fist to destroy all the humanoid targets with sand and earth fists.
• Sordil requested a duel with General Langu, but Belmod said the general was absent and promised to arrange one another time.
• Belmod appointed Oddek Commander of the Bell Dragon Rider Regiment and concurrently a major general and staff officer in the Ministry of National Defense.

Belmod investigated Sordil and considered him a promising recruit, while Sordil kept Duke Gould bound to their contract and returned to the Silver Moon Bar. The next morning, Sordil received his royal appointment as commander of the Bell Dragon Rider Regiment and major general staff officer.

• Belmod learned that Sordil had taken control of the Silver Moon Bar and met the king, then ordered a thorough investigation into his background.
• Sordil deceived Gould by asking him to tolerate their contract longer, then hurried back to the Silver Moon Bar with Diphiya and another companion.
• Diphiya struck Sordil after he credited her beauty for the plan's success, and Anna ended the ensuing blame game by apologizing for the blow.
• Knights summoned Sordil from the Silver Moon Bar and escorted him to the palace, where Belmod formally appointed him commander of the Bell Dragon Rider Regiment and major general staff officer of the Defense Department.

Sordil traveled for five days to take command of the Bell Dragon Rider Regiment, while Diphiya told the elders in Fostadu about a successful royal infiltration and Sordil’s plan to monitor and mislead the enemy. The chapter ended with Sordil discovering that his new regiment was undisciplined and its camp dilapidated, despite being named commander.

• Anna reassured Zhuo Bo that Sordil’s motion sickness was normal as the escort continued toward the Bell Dragon Rider Regiment.
• Diphiya and the other girls returned to Fostadu and warned Hadessta and the four other elders that the king had placed an infiltrator there.
• Diphiya relayed Sordil’s instructions to quietly identify the infiltrator, keep him under watch, and use him to learn the enemy’s movements and mislead them.
• Radel claimed Sordil as his son, sparking an argument with Hadessta and the other elders over who could call Sordil their son.
• After five days of travel, Sordil arrived at the Bell Dragon Rider Regiment, where Zhuo Bo announced his appointment and Sordil saw the regiment’s poor discipline and dilapidated camp.

Sordil learned that his own past orders had gutted the Bell Dragon Rider Regiment, leaving him a depleted force of veteran layabouts. He imposed discipline through executions and reorganized the survivors, beginning his effort to turn the regiment into a force he could use against Langu.

• Sordil asked the officers about the regiment and learned that his order to Mevajena to assassinate senior officers had driven away the nobles and their trusted subordinates.
• Sordil ordered everyone to assemble at seven the next morning and threatened death for anyone who disobeyed.
• When only 270 of the regiment's 300 soldiers reported, Sordil led the adjutant and four soldiers to find the absentees, using wind blades to subdue them.
• Sordil ordered the absentees executed on the parade ground, forcing the remaining soldiers to stand in formation.
• Sordil divided the regiment into four companies, appointed the adjutant and four company commanders, and announced that training would begin the next morning.

Sordil responded to the Bell Dragon Rider Regiment’s denied supplies by rallying his soldiers to survive on their own and target nearby bandits. Meanwhile, General learned that the new regiment commander had vowed to accept his reward only after defeating him, and found the challenge amusing.

• Sordil learned that the king’s officials had refused to provide the regiment with food and equipment, and he assigned Anna to the First Company to gain combat experience.
• Sordil told the assembled soldiers that their food would last only four or five days and proposed eliminating nearby bandits to seize their supplies and funds.
• Sordil ordered the companies to train in night combat and mountain warfare and select scouts to locate the bandits.
• Keith reported to General that the king had appointed a new commander of the Bell Dragon Rider Regiment and that the commander had vowed to defeat General before accepting his reward.
• General laughed at the challenge, while Keith decided not to press his warning.

Sordil’s troops captured two bandits and learned the location and defenses of their mountain stronghold. They reached the camp before nightfall and prepared to attack after dark, when the bandits gathered for a meal.

• Sordil ordered his soldiers to ambush the bandits, and Anna used Spirit Magic to help capture Lorenz and his companion.
• Sordil’s adjutant interrogated the prisoners and learned that more than seventy bandits occupied a nearby stronghold with a lightly guarded palisade.
• Lorenz offered to guide Sordil’s troops but fled when Sordil demanded he sign a Soul Contract, and Sordil killed him with magic.
• Sordil ordered his troops to clean up Lorenz’s body and advance on the stronghold.
• After reaching the stronghold, Sordil decided to wait until the bandits gathered for their evening meal before attacking.