Chapter Summaries

Romain expanded farming and prepared to produce Black Powder, but his plans were interrupted when Damon arrived from the Black Iron King to demand taxes and military service. Damon declared Romain a Conqueror Lord and presented a long list of obligations and payments, leaving Romain facing a serious threat to his peaceful development.

• Romain received about twenty tons of saltpeter and sulfur from the Church and planned to refine them for early Black Powder production.
• Romain inspected the marshland farms, where workers were finishing ponds and irrigation channels and crops including Sugarcane were growing well.
• Damon, the Black Iron King's Minister of Finance, arrived in Origin City with a large retinue to discuss Romain's obligations.
• Damon declared Romain a Conqueror Lord, a title requiring him to send troops to fight threats to the kingdoms' order.
• When Romain said he lacked the required forces, Damon demanded a five-thousand-Gold-Coin shield tax along with numerous other taxes, a share of his war ransom, and a personal sealing fee.

Romain agreed to pay the Black Iron King 1,000 jin of gold in exchange for recognition and titles, while keeping peace with the Black Iron Land. He planned to use Black Powder to expand mining in Origin City as his power and resources grew.

• Romain offered to pay 110,000 Gold Coins, revealing that his family had a Gold Mine.
• Damon said the royal family was owed one-fifth of all mine gold, and Romain agreed to deliver 1,000 jin of gold that winter.
• Romain considered the official recognition and titles granted by the Black Iron King, including Conqueror Lord and Hand of War.
• Romain judged that refusing the payment would risk war and cut off outside supplies, so he chose to maintain peace while building his strength.
• Romain planned to use Black Powder to blast Lode Gold veins and increase Origin City's mining capacity.

Shasta and the remaining witches fled through the woods while bounty hunters and mercenaries pursued them. After learning that Margaret had gone alone to find food, Shasta rushed off to look for her.

• Monica let the exhausted witches rest, and Margaret went to find food while Gwen teased Lusha.
• The witches discussed their escape from Triangle Island of Liexia and blamed Jola and their former allies for their losses.
• Shalulu awoke, and Shasta returned with news that bounty hunters and mercenary groups were approaching.
• Shasta said she had sent Valia north with the sword and shield, and the witches set off again.
• Shasta realized Margaret was missing and hurried away to find her.

Margaret led the Witches through a desperate flight, growing increasingly convinced that the Netherworld was her only home. After they escaped a mercenary attack, Morey found them with an offer of shelter from the King of the River Valley, though the Witches suspected a trap.

• Margaret told Shasta that villagers had attacked her before she could explain herself, and said the Netherworld was calling to her because the world would not accept her.
• The Witches shared the black bread Margaret had obtained and fought their way through mercenaries and bounty hunters, losing more than twenty enemies and gaining another wounded companion.
• The Witches broke through a fifty-man mercenary band at night and fled ten kilometers before stopping to rest.
• The Wolf-head Witch used a nightingale to discover that Morey was nearby, and the Witches went to meet him.
• Morey told Shasta that the King of the River Valley was willing to shelter the Witches in exchange for compensation, while Edith suspected the offer was a trap connected to Gale.
• Morey explained that the King of the River Valley had recently fought a war with Lord Gale.

Romain expanded gold mining and began preparing to recruit five hundred apostles to staff the growing operation. In Origin City, Scarhead arrived with a proposal on behalf of Pirate King Alex, seeking cooperation with Romain.

• Romain oversaw gold mining and processing, then planned to build a town near the mine and bring in more workers from Origin City.
• Romain prepared for his seventh recruitment and intended to recruit five hundred apostles at once using Magic Stones.
• Seth informed Romain that Scarhead had come to Origin City seeking an audience, and Romain traveled there to meet him.
• Romain demanded that Scarhead kneel before him, then asked what he wanted after Scarhead offered a large number of slaves.
• Scarhead revealed that he had come on behalf of Pirate King Alex to propose cooperation, arguing that they shared Gale as an enemy.

With the pirates struggling to break the deadlock in the North Sea, Pirate King Alex sought weapons from Romain in exchange for slaves. Romain completed a trade but refused the pirates’ request for custom Plate Armor, leaving the war’s balance unchanged.

• Pirate King Alex concluded that poor, uneven equipment was holding the pirates back and sent Scarhead to negotiate a weapons-for-slaves deal with the King of the River Valley.
• The King of the River Valley set exchange rates for weapons and armor, then doubled his prices after Scarhead offered skilled slaves and noblewomen.
• Scarhead returned to the Pirate King for approval, then sailed upstream with more than three thousand carefully selected slaves.
• Seth and Jimmy inspected the slaves, and Romain traded them for surplus used weapons that satisfied the pirates.
• Scarhead asked Romain to custom-make Plate Armor for five hundred slaves, but Romain refused, calling the request a potential rebellion.

Romain absorbed roughly three thousand newly arrived laborers and administrators into Origin City's growing agricultural and administrative system. As Morey brought exiled witches and a shipload of sulfur to the city, Shasta saw how dramatically the surrounding lands and livestock operations had expanded.

• Romain gave Seth the roster of the newly arrived slaves and ordered him to settle them in, while the literate newcomers were assigned temporary clerical work and evaluated for future roles.
• Romain judged that improved productivity, agricultural reforms, military reforms, and a new administrative system could strengthen Origin City, but he also planned to use pirates and witches as sources of assistance.
• Morey returned to Origin City after nearly half a year, bringing the exiled witches and a shipload of sulfur for Black Powder.
• Seth welcomed the witches, and Shasta was struck by the farmland, roads, settlements, and training ranges that had transformed the area since her last visit.
• Seth explained that the huge buildings Shasta saw were farming grounds and livestock sheds, where Origin City now kept more than three thousand plow oxen and draft horses.

Shasta told Romain the truth about Witch Forest’s history, its failed effort to save Alster, and the losses that left the Witches scattered. Romain negotiated for the Seer’s help and Witch Forest’s inherited knowledge in exchange for sheltering their wounded.

• Shasta met Romain at the manor, and he asked her to explain Alster’s ties to Witch Forest and the truth behind the Witches’ alleged assassination of Grand Duke Armor-Splitting.
• Shasta explained that Witch Forest had once agreed to help Alster become a second The Conqueror, but the Seer judged the time unready for war and could not foresee Alster’s murder.
• Shasta revealed that Witch Forest had attacked the Holy City because its strength made others uneasy, and fewer than one in ten Witches survived the battle.
• Shasta described the Seer’s abilities, the Magic Mirror, and how Cangyue interfered with divination, then said Witch Forest’s former strongholds had been destroyed.
• Romain secured Shasta’s agreement to let the Seer awaken a young Witch’s potential and review Witch Forest’s inherited knowledge in return for housing the Witches’ wounded.
• Shasta said the other Witches would keep wandering and drawing the Church’s attention rather than gather at Romain’s stronghold.

Romain offered Shasta protection and a home for Witch Forest in exchange for the witches’ loyalty, and she agreed to discuss the offer with her sisters. He brought seventeen witches to Origin Manor for an interview, where he began recording the abilities and identities of those who were able to attend.

• Romain asked Shasta when witches would stop wandering, then offered to protect them if they pledged their loyalty to him.
• Shasta said she needed to discuss Romain’s offer with her sisters.
• Shasta led seventeen witches to Origin Manor, and Romain sent the seriously wounded witches to the hospital for treatment.
• Romain silenced the remaining witches and began interviewing them, while Margaret’s question made the group fall into line.
• Gwen described her defensive magic, Edith revealed she could read vague thoughts, and Margaret identified herself as a Blood Magic user before Romain continued recording the witches’ details.

Romain provisionally accepted twelve witches and arranged for them to bathe and settle in while they served a probationary period. As the witches debated whether to trust him, Shasta defended him and they considered the chance to live among people who treated witches as people.

• Romain provisionally accepted the twelve witches after assessing their abilities and arranged lodgings for them.
• Monica and the other witches bathed in the manor and joked with one another as they washed.
• The witches worried that Romain might change his mind or expect something from them, and Shasta warned them not to provoke him.
• The witches teased Shasta about Romain, and she insisted they should trust her judgment.
• An older witch told Shasta that they should consider giving Romain a chance because few nobles treated witches like people.

Romain welcomed Shasta and the other witches as personal attendants, then gathered them for a meal where they met Gevra and Sana. He planned to assess the newcomers’ abilities with a military exercise the next day.

• The witches bathed, changed into fine linen, and hurried to the hall for the meal Romain had prepared.
• Romain stopped the witches from eating until they called him Master, then let them begin when Monica addressed him that way.
• Shasta recognized Gevra, and Romain introduced the witches to her as they crowded around her with questions.
• The witches also seized Sana and overwhelmed her and Gevra with attention, turning the meal into a noisy gathering.
• Romain told Shasta he would test the witches’ abilities in a military exercise the next day, and Shasta said she was confident they would impress him.

Romain considered how the witches could support his forces, realizing that Mabel’s powerful flames were too exhausting for sustained industrial work or combat. He brought twelve witches to the military camp for a slow-motion battle exercise, leaving Margaret out at Shasta’s request.

• Romain concluded that witches were people who needed rest, so Mabel could not serve as a continuous industrial heat source or an endlessly firing weapon.
• Romain decided witches could still provide valuable support, with their roles depending on their individual abilities.
• The next morning, Romain brought twelve witches to a camp where five hundred armored warriors and their officers were assembled.
• Gwen warned that the witches could not defeat the soldiers, while Shasta said they could not use their full strength in a trial without risking lethal injuries.
• Romain explained a slow-motion simulated battle intended to prepare his army for extraordinary opponents, and Shasta asked that Margaret watch from the side.
• Romain agreed to Shasta’s request and excluded Margaret from the exercise.

Romain evaluated a simulated battle in which eleven Witches charged a formation of heavy infantry and were ultimately wiped out, then considered how their lack of armor and auxiliary forces made them vulnerable in prolonged fights. He concluded that the Witches needed to rely on mobile warfare, though their ability to use guerrilla tactics remained untested.

• The Witches attacked five hundred armored infantry head-on, killing about one hundred soldiers before most of them died in the battle.
• Shasta escaped the encirclement but later died from her severe wounds in the wilderness.
• Romain judged that the Witches could inflict greater losses through guerrilla warfare but lacked the ability to fight armies head-on.
• Romain reasoned that numbers, equipment, and resources could overcome even high-tier fighters, and that soldiers were more replaceable than powerful individuals.
• Romain concluded that armor would undermine the Witches' mobility and identified their lack of an auxiliary army as a key disadvantage.

Romain learned about Margaret’s dangerous Blood Magic and heard her account of the Netherworld, which Gwen warned him not to investigate. The witches returned to the manor after an exhausting spell exercise and enjoyed a lavish lunch.

• Shasta explained that Margaret’s Blood Magic could drain enemies through their blood, and Romain decided not to test her.
• Margaret told Romain that blood carried spirituality and described the Netherworld as a dark destination for souls.
• Gwen interrupted Margaret and urged Romain to treat the Netherworld stories as rumors, but he left determined to learn the truth himself.
• Gwen scolded Margaret for answering Romain’s questions, and the witches returned to the manor with the exhausted soldiers.
• Romain and the witches ate a lavish lunch, which reminded the witches how difficult food had been while they were fleeing.

Romain settled the witches into Origin City and sent a letter to Witch Forest while preparing to build ties with its surviving knowledge and magic. A record Winter Wheat harvest brought hope of grain reserves, as Romain celebrated with the city and continued exploiting prisoners of war, planning to offer registration to those who submitted.

• Romain assigned the witches to teach Gevra and Sana, assist with military training, and help around Origin Manor, then had Shasta write to Witch Forest.
• Origin City's May Summer Harvest yielded more than six million jin of Winter Wheat, giving Romain hope of building grain reserves.
• Romain held an open banquet to celebrate the harvest, and residents and prisoners of war joined in.
• Romain maintained harsher labor quotas and punishments for prisoners of war than for residents, intending to offer household registration to those who accepted his rule.
• Romain planned to recruit mercenaries who received Origin City's registration documents into the army, while continuing to exploit prisoners who remained faithful to the gods.

Romain received a letter and Lyanna’s Magic Potion from the Prophetess Witch, then arranged for Gevra to take it under the veteran witches’ supervision. After leaving Gevra to endure the potion’s painful side effects, he turned to Origin City’s shortage of land for growing Forage Grass.

• The Prophetess Witch thanked Romain for sheltering the wandering witches, explained Witch Forest could not act rashly, and sent a Magic Potion as a gift for Gevra.
• Monica, Gwen, and Shasta identified the potion as Lyanna’s Magic Potion and explained its power, risks, and severe side effects.
• Shasta asked Romain to provide rare gemstones to help Gevra withstand the potion, and he agreed.
• Gevra drank the potion while Romain and the veteran witches watched over her, and Shasta pinned her down as its painful effects began.
• After Shasta assured him Gevra was safe, Romain left the estate and considered Origin City’s shortage of farmland for its expanding livestock operations.

Romain established plans for a vast grazing ranch and brought a young wild donkey to the recovering Gevra. In Origin City, he inspected the hospital and pushed to build a public medical system that would protect the population and strengthen his control over their lives.

• Romain chose a fertile, water-rich meadow on the prairie for a large livestock town and arranged for its development.
• Romain caught a young wild donkey and gave it to Gevra, who asked how long she would need to raise it before eating it.
• Romain returned to Origin City to inspect the soybean planting and the hospital staffed by nuns.
• Romain planned to train and organize medical staff, standardize their duties and conduct, and provide basic care to the public through the city’s hospital system.
• Romain resolved to protect the people as his property and take complete control of their fate.

Romain inspected the hospital, where he met retired soldier Tucker, whose wife Laura had given birth, and refused Tucker’s offer to return to military service. With Gevra recovered and the army prepared, Romain moved toward launching his seventh recruitment.

• Romain checked hospital procedures and insisted that staff enforce hygiene standards.
• Tucker told Romain that Laura had given birth and explained that his work as a constable let him support his family.
• Tucker said he was ready to fight for Romain again, but Romain told him to focus on his current job.
• Romain considered the army’s strength and the preparations needed for the seventh recruitment.
• At the end of May, Gevra recovered from the Magic Potion’s side effects, with her attributes improved, and the Witches taught her to control her magic.

Romain used Gevra’s blessing to influence a recruitment draw and pulled an exceptionally strong batch of apostles, including three witches. He celebrated the results and planned to keep recruiting for the administrative and military talents he needed.

• Romain brought Gevra to his room and asked her to make fate favor his recruitment.
• Gevra cast her spell, and Romain stirred the Recruitment Pool to draw apostles.
• The pool produced high-quality recruits, including the five-star witches Margaret and Shasta and the four-star witch Lusha.
• Romain reviewed the recruits’ talents and skills, then rejoiced at the unusually strong results.
• Romain decided to continue drawing apostles to find people suited to administration and military matters.

Niriel reviewed the school's final exam results and decided to share the good news with His Highness, while Dias hoped her work would earn his recognition. On the way to Origin Manor, Niriel was drawn into the Witches' conversation about salaries and agreed to ask His Highness how much they could earn.

• Dias brought Niriel the final exam results, showing that more than four hundred students had passed.
• Dias said Niriel should inform His Highness, and Niriel agreed before setting out for Origin Manor with the score sheets.
• Niriel worried whether the results would satisfy His Highness and whether he would reward her.
• Edith and Monica asked Niriel about her salary, and she explained that she earned seven Silver Coins a month.
• Monica asked how much the Witches might earn, and Niriel agreed to ask His Highness for them.