Chapter Summaries

Master Nibod and Anti noticed a mysterious youth overseeing refugee relief in Kaludi and became curious about his origins. While Nibod went to meet him, Ofilit ordered Jack to investigate the youth and secretly fixated on the beautiful girl distributing food.

• Ofilit, Master Nibod, and Anti saw refugees receiving food and learned the relief included monster meat.
• Anti admired the beautiful girl distributing food, while Ofilit and the others noticed the youth watching nearby.
• Vite told Ofilit that the youth was unfamiliar and probably not from the surrounding area.
• Master Nibod identified the youth’s pendant and ring as extraordinary Magic Items and found that he could not sense the youth’s magic.
• Master Nibod and Anti left the carriage to meet the youth, while Ofilit ordered Jack to investigate him and continued watching the girl.

While helping refugees at Kaludi, Riezel encountered Nibod Jalan and his granddaughter Anti, whose carriage had drawn his attention because of its unusual passengers. After learning Riezel came from the Royal Capital and recognizing the Franzer emblem, Nibod realized he was the famed Lightning Sword Saint, leaving Anti and Ofilit stunned.

• Riezel used the Clear World to inspect a carriage at Kaludi's gate and noticed a heartless Swordsman and a Mage with immense magic power inside.
• Vite's guards cleared the road, and Riezel moved the carriage aside after Liz startled a guard with her tearful expression.
• Nibod discussed the long war between the Ginas Kingdom and the Rebru Kingdom, while Riezel said he had no interest in the rulers' affairs.
• Nibod introduced himself and Anti Jalan as people from Letaise Territory, and Riezel recognized the territory from Yuri's stories.
• After Riezel said he had come from Yeluf, Nibod recognized the Franzer emblem and identified him as Riezel Brihaut, the Lightning Sword Saint.

Riezel’s identity as the Lightning Sword Saint was revealed in Kaludi, changing how Master Nibod and Ofilit treated him. After Riezel urged Ofilit to direct a grand reception’s funds toward feeding the refugees, the group left to talk, while Ofilit realized he had lost his chance with Liz.

• Master Nibod recognized Riezel from his name and the Franzer Family crest, and Riezel confirmed that he was the Lightning Sword Saint.
• Ofilit introduced himself as the eldest son of the Hatite Count Family and nervously offered to arrange a grand welcome for Riezel.
• Riezel declined the reception and told Ofilit to use the money to provide relief for the refugees.
• Master Nibod invited Riezel and the others to sit and talk, and Ofilit followed behind, watching Liz with regret.

Riezel, Master Nibod, and Anti talked at a stone pavilion while Ofilit learned how dangerous it was to antagonize the Lightning Sword Saint. Despite his fear, Ofilit grew jealous and asked Jack to abduct a girl, offering three hundred people in exchange.

• Master Nibod shaped the lawn into a stone pavilion, and Riezel joined him and Anti while Ofilit left to contact his father.
• Count Hatite scolded Ofilit and ordered him to treat Riezel properly, warning that the Hatite Family could not afford to offend him or Master Nibod.
• Ofilit brooded over his lack of talent and resented Riezel, then admitted to Jack that he wanted to abduct a girl without Riezel noticing.
• Jack said no one could See Through them and agreed to try, after Ofilit offered him three hundred people.

Riezel introduced Liz, Fanny, and Gale to Master Nibod, whose reputation as a mage able to rival a Sword Saint surprised them. Riezel said he was traveling to Sinyele, while Master Nibod revealed that he had come to investigate a mysterious incident in Maypros Territory.

• Riezel introduced Liz, Fanny, and Gale to Master Nibod and Anti.
• Fanny and Gale recognized Master Nibod as a renowned mage whose Combat Class Magic had earned him a reputation for matching a Sword Saint.
• Gale explained that Master Nibod had fought the Fire Sword Saint of the Rebru Kingdom to a draw six years earlier.
• Master Nibod asked Riezel why he had come to Maypros Territory, and Riezel said he planned to travel to Sinyele.
• Riezel asked Master Nibod why he had come, and Master Nibod said he was investigating a mysterious incident in Maypros Territory.

Master Nibod explained that people had been vanishing across Maypros Territory, including recruits in the Maypros Family’s army, and that he was traveling to Besare to investigate. After learning that her missing brother Finn might be involved, Fanny asked to join him, and Riezel agreed to bring her along; he also revealed that Besare was one of his group’s destinations.

• Anti told Riezel’s group that people trained by the Maypros Family were mysteriously disappearing, and Master Nibod had been invited to investigate.
• Master Nibod described how disappearances had spread from workers and merchant caravans to Knight Orders and the Maypros Family’s army, despite investigations by the royal court and local nobles.
• Liz revealed that Fanny’s younger brother Finn had been training with the Maypros Family and had been out of contact for three months.
• Fanny asked to accompany Master Nibod to Besare, but Gale objected because her father had told her to wait in Kaludi.
• Riezel supported bringing Fanny along, reasoning that she might notice clues and would likely leave on her own otherwise.
• Riezel told Master Nibod that his group would travel with them because Besare was one of their destinations.

Riezel learned that entering the Neutral Zone required permission from the Maypros Family, but planned to reach its border defense anyway while traveling toward Besare with Master Nibod, Fanny, and the others. After leaving Kaludi with Ofilit's party, the group made a peaceful journey south and stopped to camp as night fell.

• Riezel explained his plan to travel to Besare and enter the Neutral Zone, and Master Nibod agreed to let Fanny accompany him only while he investigated her younger brother's case.
• Ofilit offered Liz a place in his family's carriage, but Liz asked who he was, leaving him humiliated as Riezel's group departed.
• Gale and Fanny discussed her visit to the Maypros Family, and Gale eventually followed her to Riezel's carriage.
• Riezel's group and Ofilit's party left Kaludi together, while Ofilit's men took the captured bandits, their horses, and their equipment into the city.
• The escorted carriages traveled south without encountering bandits, refugees, or monsters, then stopped after six or seven hours to set up camp.

Ghostlike attackers seized Liz while she practiced Love Breathing, but Riezel intervened and fought them off as they tried to abduct her. His explosive magic awakened the camp, and the battle was still underway.

• Liz practiced Love Breathing while the camp settled for the night.
• Several silent, ghostlike attackers identified Liz and seized her, leaving her paralyzed as they carried her away.
• Riezel pursued the attackers with Thunder Breathing and caught Liz, then recognized that she had been paralyzed.
• The attackers returned and tried to capture Liz again, while Riezel used Clear World, Teleportation Magic, and Radiant Golden Crimson Body to counter them.
• Riezel blasted two attackers with an enhanced Fireball, waking the camp and drawing the knights toward the fight.

Riezel saved Liz from three strange attackers, killed them with delayed Reality Slash and Internal Detonation, and returned to the camp with her. He suspected Ofilit knew who the attackers were, leaving the young master of the Hatite Family under everyone’s scrutiny.

• Three attackers abandoned their attempt to seize Liz and fled after Riezel’s Fireball and sword strikes failed to stop them.
• Riezel froze time, pursued the attackers, and killed them with delayed Reality Slash followed by Internal Detonation.
• Riezel reappeared at the camp carrying Liz, where Moslo’s Sword restored her strength and Master Nibod asked what had happened.
• Riezel said the attackers had targeted Liz and suggested Ofilit knew their origins, drawing everyone’s attention to him.

Riezel revealed that the attackers and Jack, Ofilit’s missing attendant, had no hearts, linking them to the attack and raising suspicion about Ofilit. When Ofilit tried to summon help, Riezel restrained the knights and used mental magic to bring Ofilit under his control.

• Master Nibod questioned Ofilit about the attackers, but Ofilit denied any involvement and threatened to appeal to his uncle by marriage.
• Riezel asked about the fourth person who had ridden in Master Nibod’s carriage and revealed that Jack, Ofilit’s attendant, had no heart like the attackers.
• Ofilit tried to use a Communication Magic Crystal, but Riezel teleported to him and immobilized the knights with Group All Species Bind.
• Ofilit fled, but Riezel cast Charm of the Human Race and then Mental Domination, leaving Ofilit under his control.

Riezel used Mental Domination to question Ofilit and uncovered his role in supplying refugees to a mysterious group in exchange for their help with crimes. After Ofilit insulted Liz, Riezel killed him and demanded that Count Hatite explain himself, leaving Master Nibod expecting chaos in Maypros Territory.

• Riezel dominated Ofilit and learned that unknown people had supplied him with Jack and carried out his requests without Ofilit knowing their identities.
• Ofilit admitted that he paid the group with refugees, whom he considered disposable, and denied involvement in the missing soldiers from the Maypros Family's army.
• Ofilit revealed that he had sent attackers after Liz because he wanted her, and Riezel beheaded him before he could finish speaking.
• Master Nibod warned Riezel that killing Count Hatite's son and Marquis Maypros's nephew could bring serious trouble, but Riezel stood by his actions.
• Riezel released the Hatite Family knights and ordered them to demand an explanation from Count Hatite, threatening to go to Kaludi himself if none came.
• Riezel left with Liz, while Master Nibod looked at Ofilit's corpse and predicted great chaos in Maypros Territory.

After learning that Riezel had killed his son Ofilit, Riton Hatite vowed revenge and appealed to Raven Maypros, who decided to confront Riezel in Besare. Jack then offered Riton another way to deal with the Lightning Sword Saint, and Riton agreed to cooperate.

• A messenger reported that Ofilit had been killed by Riezel, and Riton killed the messenger after hearing Riezel’s demand for an explanation.
• Riton contacted Raven Maypros, who listened to his account and said he would go meet Riezel in Besare.
• Jack appeared before Riton and explained that Riezel had learned about their plans and destroyed their specimens.
• Jack asked Riton to cooperate in eliminating Riezel, and Riton agreed.

Riezel reached Besare with Liz, Fanny, Gale, Master Nibod, and Anti, and decided to enter the Maypros stronghold despite Master Nibod’s warnings. As they approached the city, Master Nibod described the strength of the kingdom’s Sword Saints, leaving Riezel curious about whether Raven Maypros could match him.

• Riezel and the others arrived near Besare, a city organized around military production and the Maypros Family’s forces.
• Master Nibod warned Riezel that entering Besare could lead to a dangerous conflict with Raven Maypros after Riezel killed Ofilit.
• Riezel said he intended to confront the Hatite Family and meet Raven, while Liz listened from the driver’s bench.
• Riezel asked Master Nibod how Raven compared with the kingdom’s other Sword Saints.
• Master Nibod explained that Sword Saints’ experience and years of service suggested Raven was among the stronger ones, and that more people would bet on him than on Riezel.

Riezel’s group entered Besare and settled at the inn Peaceful Town, where a Maypros Family butler delivered invitations to Riezel and Master Nibod. Riezel accepted the invitation to the family banquet despite suspecting it was a trap, setting up an imminent confrontation with Raven Maypros.

• Riezel’s group passed through Besare’s guarded gate, and Riezel noticed one guard slip into a nearby waiting room.
• Master Nibod brought the group to Peaceful Town, where Riezel offered to cover Fanny and Gale’s expenses.
• Nobon, the Maypros Family’s formidable butler, delivered invitations to Riezel and Master Nibod for a family banquet that night.
• Master Nibod warned that Raven Maypros likely intended to hold Riezel accountable and urged him to leave or let Nibod intervene.
• Riezel said he would attend and bring the head of the young master from the Hatite Family as a gift, making a confrontation with Raven seem inevitable.

Riezel reassured Liz that he would attend the Maypros Family’s dinner despite her fears that he would be hurt or worsen tensions in the Ginas Kingdom. At the Maypros stronghold, Lord Brihaut ordered his carriage to force its way inside, and High-Tier Teleportation let it bypass the walls and gates before smashing through the inner entrance.

• Liz told Riezel she blamed herself for the conflict and pleaded with him not to attend the Maypros Family’s dinner.
• Riezel explained that the attackers who nearly abducted Liz had enraged him, and he insisted he would stand up for her.
• Riezel reassured Liz that his strength had changed, and she looked at him with growing admiration.
• Lord Brihaut’s carriage approached the Maypros Family main residence, and its guards ordered it to stop.
• At Lord Brihaut’s command, the driver charged forward as High-Tier Teleportation carried the carriage through the walls and past the guards’ arrows.
• The carriage reappeared inside the stronghold and smashed through its gates.

Riezel Brihaut arrived at the Maypros Family manor with Master Nibod and a young woman after their carriage smashed through its defenses. Riezel’s aura challenged the newly arrived Raven Maples, and the chapter ended with the two Sword Saints facing off.

• Axel Maypros and Diego Maypros learned that an ordinary carriage had broken into the manor and joined their brother Kaz Maypros in confronting it.
• Kaz recognized the carriage’s crest and greeted the Lightning Sword Saint and Master Nibod on behalf of the family.
• Riezel Brihaut, Master Nibod, and a young woman stepped out of the carriage after its protective spells vanished.
• Riezel released a powerful aura that forced the knights and the Maypros brothers down, while Kaz struggled to remain standing.
• Raven Maples arrived and matched Riezel’s aura, then acknowledged the young Sword Saint’s strength.

Riezel confronted Raven Maypros at the Maypros Family estate and declared war over an unresolved grievance. They moved to the nearby protected training ground, where the duel was about to begin.

• Riezel arrived at the Maypros Family estate and challenged Raven, while Nibod refused to take either side.
• Riezel drew his Nichirin Blade, Fool, and threatened to turn the manor into ruins unless Raven fought him.
• Raven accepted the challenge, and the two left the estate to avoid its defenses and limit the damage.
• Riezel and Raven took their positions on the protected training ground, their auras and killing intent intensifying as the sky darkened.

Riezel faced Raven in a duel at the training ground, while the gathered knights learned that Raven had equipped two powerful Ancient Secret Treasures. The chapter left the two Sword Saints poised to fight, with Riezel refusing Raven’s offer to use magic to strengthen himself.

• Members of the Maypros Family, knights, and troops gathered to watch Riezel and Raven face off, while Axel, Diego, and Kaz discussed their father’s decision to fight.
• Master Nibod explained to Liz that Raven had equipped the Rebel's Sword and Monis Armor, Ancient Secret Treasures known for their overwhelming offense and defense.
• The spectators and Master Nibod worried that Riezel would be outmatched by Raven’s experience and equipment.
• Raven offered Riezel time to use magic to strengthen himself, but Riezel replied that he had no need to use it against him.

Riezel Brihaut and Raven began a fierce duel in the arena, matching lightning and dark radiance with their sword techniques. The fight remained even as Riezel's speed overcame Raven's power while Raven's Monis Armor deflected his attacks.

• Riezel and Raven charged at each other and clashed, unleashing red lightning slashes and black slashes across the training ground.
• Riezel used Thunder Breathing forms to attack Raven, but Raven blocked the strikes with his greatsword and dark radiance.
• Riezel's rapid slashes struck Raven repeatedly, but the Monis Armor absorbed them without injury.
• Raven pressed Riezel with powerful attacks, but Riezel parried and evaded every blow while searching for an opening.
• Liz, Master Nibod, Kaz, Diego, Axel, and the other spectators watched as the duel stayed even, and Kaz realized Raven might be weaker than Riezel.

Riezel overwhelmed Raven with his Thunder Breathing and cracked the Monis Armor, declaring Raven defeated. Raven refused to accept the loss and unleashed a blinding black light that plunged the training ground into darkness.

• Riezel explained that he had also defeated the Shadow Sword Saint and that Raven’s armor had kept him standing against Riezel’s superior strength.
• Riezel used Thunder Breathing: First Form, Thunderclap and Flash: Godspeed, sending Raven crashing into the training-ground wall and cracking his armor.
• Raven emerged bleeding and dropped to one knee as Kaz, Axel, Diego, Nibod, and Liz reacted to the strike.
• Riezel declared that Raven had lost and turned away, but Raven roared that he had not lost and released black light that swallowed the training ground.