Chapter Summaries

Merlot killed an Abyss-corrupted knight before he could attack Riezel, and the ship’s leaders ordered a purification and security sweep. Riezel chose not to revive the innocent knight; the Floating Magic Battleship later left Caledohart and landed in another country.

• Naisha ordered a purification ritual, while Merlot commanded the knights to burn the corpse and remain on alert.
• Riezel and Naisha explained how Abyss Aura secretly corrupted people, and Merlot said the knight had likely been infected for a long time.
• Riezel decided not to use Resurrection Magic on the knight, then told Jelinae and Silune to return to his room.
• Naisha and Merlot insisted on accompanying Riezel to protect him, and the group left the deck.
• The priests purified the ship and its passengers underwent strict inspections before the Floating Magic Battleship left Caledohart and landed in a border city of another country.

Riezel’s party arrived in Orus, where the Principality of Libian welcomed them with a grand ceremony. As they traveled to their lodging, Riezel spotted black mist among the cheering citizens and suspected the night would bring trouble.

• The Sphinx landed in Orus, where crowds cheered Riezel and his party.
• Merlot identified Arad Kexite as Libian’s military commander and the person most likely to become a Saint.
• Arad welcomed Riezel, Merlot, Naisha, and the others, explaining that the king was too seriously ill to attend.
• Riezel’s party accepted Libian’s lodging and rode through Orus in a guarded procession.
• Riezel saw black mist around some cheering citizens and feared that Orus would soon face a disaster.

Merlot explained that the Empire wanted to secure Riezel's loyalty and preserve hope against the Abyss, while Naisha questioned the Empire's motives. Their conversation revealed Merlot's personal desire to become Riezel's companion and bear his children, and the chapter ended when Riezel overheard them.

• Merlot and Naisha discussed the Empire and Church's security arrangements for Riezel and the Nymph Maidens serving him.
• Merlot explained that Caledohart hoped to win Riezel's favor and prepare for the possibility that he might leave the Great Source World.
• Merlot clarified that Nymph descendants could not inherit a Sacred Sword, so only a human connected to Caledohart could carry Riezel's bloodline.
• Naisha realized Merlot intended to become Riezel's companion and have his children.
• Riezel emerged from the bathroom and told Merlot and Naisha he had heard their conversation.

Riezel faced Merlot’s bold pursuit and Naisha’s jealousy before a sudden attack on the estate forced them to respond. He stayed inside as Malfa’s Sword swept the grounds with holy light, and the infected attackers began to suffer.

• Merlot openly declared that she intended to pursue Riezel, while Naisha demanded that he send his admirers away.
• A commotion broke out at the estate’s Great Gate, and Merlot and Naisha urged Riezel to remain inside while their forces defended the grounds.
• Riezel used Clairvoyance to see infected civilians, nobles, and soldiers attacking the estate from every side as Merlot identified them as puppets testing the defenses.
• Riezel sent Malfa’s Sword outside, where it spread holy light across the estate and made the infected and the Abyss Aura shriek in pain.
• Riezel’s expression changed as he noticed something while Malfa’s Sword’s holy light struck the attackers.

Abyss's Touch emerged from a rift and began dragging Malfa's Sword into the Abyss, while the Dark Relief Society's leader, Darkness, and his allies blocked Naisha, Merlot, and the others. The defenders began fighting the attackers as Riezel watched with a cold smile.

• Black tentacles erupted from a rift and bound Malfa's Sword, pulling it toward the Abyss.
• Naisha and Merlot rushed to rescue the Holy Sword, but attackers intercepted them and the others.
• Darkness identified himself as the Director of the Dark Relief Society and explained that the group intended to remove Malfa's Sword from the Source World.
• Naisha charged Darkness while Merlot fought the woman wielding a Black Scythe, and Luan, Andre, and the Knight Captains battled the Society's members.
• Riezel watched the battle begin and smiled coldly.

Riezel discovered that the assassin Kermo Enosen had entered the isolated room to kill him while Abyss’s Touch threatened Malfa’s Sword outside. He immobilized Jelinae and Silune, then challenged Kermo to try killing him as he stood still.

• Jelinae and Silune feared that Abyss’s Touch would drag Malfa’s Sword into the Abyss while the battle raged outside.
• Riezel detected Kermo Enosen hiding in the room, and Kermo isolated it from the mansion and revealed himself.
• Jelinae identified Kermo as a notorious assassin hired by the Dark Relief Society to kill Riezel after they lured away his guards.
• Jelinae and Silune tried to help Riezel escape, but he ordered them to stand still and used an unexplained power to immobilize them.
• Riezel invited Kermo to kill him while he remained motionless, and Kermo charged at him in anger.

The Dark Relief Society drew the Holy Sword Church’s strongest fighters away from Riezel while Darkness gained the upper hand against Naisha and Abyss’s Touch pulled Malfa’s Sword toward the Abyss. Just as the enemy celebrated, a thunderous blast interrupted them.

• Naisha attacked Darkness with Sacred Rite: Aurora, but his Demon Book’s Black Fire countered her and left her struggling.
• Darkness taunted Naisha and revealed that his allies had attacked Riezel while the church’s fighters were distracted by the Holy Sword.
• Merlot tried to return to the manor, but the scythe-wielding woman blocked her and explained how the enemy had exploited their instinct to protect Malfa’s Sword.
• Merlot resolved to protect Riezel, but Malfa’s Sword was dragged toward the Abyss despite the fighters’ desperate cries.
• A thunderous blast suddenly rang out as the Dark Relief Society celebrated.

Riezel revealed himself after Kermo Enosen was thrown through the mansion wall, then effortlessly resisted Darkness’s Abyss Demonic Fire and Kermo’s attacks. He struck Kermo with a powerful repulsive force, sending the assassin flying away, apparently to his death.

• Kermo Enosen crashed through the mansion wall, and Naisha and Merlot realized the figure beneath the rubble was not Riezel.
• Riezel emerged with two Nymph Maidens and calmly asked whether the fighting was over.
• Darkness attacked Riezel with Abyss Demonic Fire, but the flames parted around him without harming him.
• Kermo charged Riezel and repeatedly tried to stab him, but an invisible infinite distance stopped every strike.
• Riezel explained that Kermo could never bridge the distance, then unleashed a red repulsive blast that hurled Kermo beyond the estate, seemingly killing him.

Riezel rescued Malfa's Sword from Abyss's Touch and drove off the Demon Lord reaching through the passage to the Abyss. After the battle, Naisha, Merlot, and the others begged him to punish them for leaving his side, but Riezel insisted he did not blame them.

• Riezel urged Malfa's Sword to awaken, and it shattered the tentacles of Abyss's Touch as a Demon Lord roared from beyond the passage.
• The Demon Lord reached a giant hand into the world and attacked Riezel, but Infinity blocked its strike.
• Riezel used Hollow: Purple to tear apart the Demon Lord's hand and send the attack through the closing passage, forcing the creature to wail in pain as the passage sealed.
• The Empire's Knight Order and the Church's priest corps treated the injured and worked to contain the fire left across the ruined manor.
• Naisha, Merlot, Luan, Andre, and the Knight Captains apologized for leaving Riezel unguarded and asked him to punish them, but he said he did not blame them.

Riezel learned that the Dark Relief Society had escaped after he cut off an Abyss Demon Lord’s hand, and he heard about the casualties and infected victims left behind. Arad Xavier arrived at the ruins too late, and Merlot confronted him over his delay.

• Naisha and Merlot reluctantly accepted Riezel’s promise to discuss their punishment later, then reported that the Dark Relief Society had escaped without leaving a trace.
• Naisha and Merlot praised Riezel for cutting off an Abyss Demon Lord’s hand, while Riezel explained that the Demon Lord’s power had been weakened as it reached through the planes.
• Merlot and Naisha told Riezel that knights, clergy, and infected people had died, and that the surviving infected would likely be confined or imprisoned.
• Riezel considered using Malfa’s Sword to remove the Abyss Aura from the infected people and restore their former lives.
• Arad Xavier arrived at the ruins with armed knights and apologized for being late, but Merlot accused him of arriving far too late.

After the attack on the guesthouse, Merlot and Naisha held Arad responsible for the Principality of Libian’s failure to protect Riezel and the Holy Sword. Left among the ruins, Arad revealed that he had helped Darkness’s operation and demanded the promised means to become a Saint.

• Merlot rebuked Arad for the army’s late arrival and warned that the Empire would send a delegation to investigate.
• Naisha announced that the Holy Sword Church would also send an inquiry delegation, and Arad accepted responsibility.
• Riezel led his group back to Sphinx, leaving Arad among the burning ruins.
• Arad contacted Darkness and complained that their plan had failed despite his assistance.
• Darkness said Riezel had shown Saint-level strength, intensifying Arad’s jealousy and despair over his own stalled potential.
• Arad admitted he had aided the Dark Relief Society by sharing the guesthouse’s defenses and demanded that Darkness help him become a Saint.

Dark and the Scythe Woman plotted to use the northern Demon Domain to capture Riezel, while the Scythe Woman set her sights on a princess. The next morning, Riezel woke aboard the Sphinx and wondered whether to give in to his growing desire for Jelinae and Silune.

• Dark told the Scythe Woman that he would help Arad advance to sainthood later, and considered blood sacrifice as a possible shortcut.
• Dark said the Demon Lord had not answered his attempts to contact him and that the Dark Relief Society’s elders were reluctant to face a Holy Sword wielder.
• Dark planned to pursue Riezel in the Demon Domain after the Sphinx departed, while the Scythe Woman claimed the princess as her prey.
• The Scythe Woman fantasized about conquering Riezel, though she knew his saint-level strength made him difficult to approach.
• Riezel woke aboard the Sphinx beside Jelinae and Silune, noticed his magic power growing, and considered giving in to his desire for them.

After the attack, Riezel prepared to continue his journey to Narnirga while Naisha and Merlot resolved to protect him more carefully. Outside the battleship, Arad failed to meet Riezel, delivered an apology gift for inspection, and accepted a mysterious offer that could help him become a Saint.

• Riezel told Merlot to take the battleship directly to Narnirga, and she agreed as Naisha and Merlot arranged for reinforcements to meet them there.
• Riezel ate breakfast with Naisha, Merlot, Jelinae, and Silune while answering questions about his Infinity ability.
• Arad asked Bishop Luan to let him apologize to Riezel, Naisha, and Merlot, but Luan refused to arrange a meeting.
• Arad gave Luan an apology gift for Riezel, and Luan ordered a priest to inspect it and consult Merlot before delivering it.
• Arad contacted an unknown person, who promised to give him what he wanted and challenged him to dare use it; Arad said he would accept any price to become a Saint.

Riezel explained his Limitless Cursed Technique to Naisha and Merlot, who agreed to keep it secret. Merlot brought him a Mana Pearl from Arad Xavier, and Riezel’s appraisal revealed that it had been imbued with a power that could attract dangerous hostile creatures.

• Naisha and Merlot marveled at Riezel’s spatial formula and agreed with Jelinae and Silune to keep his abilities secret.
• Merlot told Riezel that Arad Xavier had come to apologize in person but had left a Mana Pearl as compensation.
• Merlot suspected Arad because the Dark Relief Society had infiltrated the manor too easily and Arad had arranged their lodging.
• Naisha explained that the Mana Pearl was an extraordinarily rare and valuable magical material, likely from the Principality of Libian’s treasury.
• Riezel appraised the pearl and discovered it carried a mysterious power that could attract highly dangerous hostile creatures.

Arad accepted an Abyss Blood Sacrifice Ritual and tried to use Libian’s people to become a Saint, but Riezel, Princess Merlot, and Pope Naisha stopped him. With Arad disarmed and cornered, Riezel began deciding whether he would live or die.

• Arad received a Scroll containing an Abyss Blood Sacrifice Ritual and, despite recognizing its taboo, chose to sacrifice Libian to reach Sainthood.
• As Arad reached for the Scroll, an unseen attack severed his arm, and Merlot and Naisha destroyed the four Alchemy Dolls.
• Riezel appeared and warned Arad that attempting to flee would get him killed; Arad barely avoided a slash that shattered the floor.
• Arad accused Riezel of knowing nothing about the darkness ahead of him, and Riezel calmly said they would discuss whether Arad would live or die.

Riezel and his companions confronted Arad over the Blood Sacrifice Ritual, and Arad tried to escape and then destroy them. Riezel overpowered him, stopped his self-destruction, and left him alive but under his control.

• Merlot and Naisha warned Arad that Riezel and the Holy Sword Church could expose his crimes, but Arad denied the accusations and threw a Gold Coin to distract them as he fled.
• Riezel used Blue to pull Arad back and hurl him around the room, while Merlot and Naisha wounded him with a sword strike and light magic.
• Arad triggered his self-destruction ability and charged Riezel, but Riezel controlled his blood flow and stopped the process.
• Riezel used Blood Manipulation and Idle Transfiguration to take control of Arad's body, then used Memory Manipulation to make him lose consciousness.

Riezel explained that Arad had aided the Dark Relief Society and planned to keep him alive as bait so they could track the group. To covertly control Arad, he released Araya and ordered her to turn him into a monster under her influence.

• Riezel revealed that Arad had cooperated with the Dark Relief Society and arranged the delayed arrival of the Principality of Libian's army.
• Riezel warned Merlot and Naisha that killing Arad could alert the Dark Relief Society, so they agreed to keep him alive and use him to draw out its members.
• Riezel rejected Mental Domination as too likely to expose Arad and decided to make him a monster under Araya's control instead.
• Riezel released Araya from the Demon Taming Bracelet, and she complained about being imprisoned there.
• Riezel ordered Araya to transform Arad into a monster, and she agreed after he warned that her freedom depended on her performance.

Riezel revived Arad and had Araya transform him into a creature that could grow stronger by consuming magical substances, binding his life to her. He ordered Arad to remain in contact with the Dark Relief Society and secretly report what he learned as the group continued toward Narnirga.

• Arad awoke to find his body restored, then discovered that Araya had implanted a heart-like Magic Stone that made him feel compelled to serve her.
• Riezel explained that Arad could gain strength by devouring magical substances and ordered him to keep acting as the Dark Relief Society's inside man.
• Riezel rejected Merlot and Naisha's idea of using Arad to lure out the Society, reasoning that its leader was too cautious to take the bait.
• Riezel ordered Arad to report each day's intelligence silently through the connection to Araya, and Arad realized he had no real choice but to comply.
• Arad asked whether Riezel would restore him and free him after the Abyss Believers were defeated, but Riezel condemned him and left through a Gate of Darkness with Merlot and Naisha.
• Before leaving, Araya told Arad to collect Mana Metal for her to consume, then followed the others through the Gate.

Riezel and his group returned to their room aboard Sphinx, where Araya mistook Jelinae and Silune for Ais and tried to consume them. Riezel stopped her and warned that he would destroy her magic stone if she lost control again, while deciding to keep her under watch for now.

• Riezel and his group returned to their room through the Gate of Darkness, where Jelinae and Silune greeted them.
• Araya mistook Jelinae and Silune for Ais and grabbed them, saying she wanted them to become one with her.
• Riezel struck Araya and freed the frightened Nymph Maidens, then threatened to destroy her magic stone if she misbehaved again.
• Riezel ordered Malfa's Sword to watch Araya, and the Holy Sword chased her around the room.
• Naisha and Merlot questioned why Riezel kept the dangerous Araya nearby, and Riezel said he would control her and observe her because her power was useful.

The Sphinx departed for Narnirga while Riezel secretly used Arad as a spy to expose the Dark Relief Society. During the journey, Abyss Believers attacked the warship, and Riezel learned that Abyss Aura could corrupt monsters into Abyss lifeforms.

• Riezel refused to give Araya the Mana Pearl, fearing its power could let her escape the Demon Taming Bracelet.
• The Sphinx left the Principality of Libian, while Arad remained concealed and the Dark Relief Society headed north after leaving watchers behind.
• Merlot told Riezel that the Sphinx would reach Narnirga after another day and night of uninterrupted travel.
• Abyss Believers riding Flying Monsters shrouded in black mist launched a reckless attack on the Sphinx.
• Naisha explained that Abyss Aura could deeply corrupt monsters and turn them into Abyss lifeforms, strengthening Riezel's suspicion.