Chapter Summaries

Lanchi endured the Upside-Down Path to Rebirth’s illusions on Helrom Prison’s Negative Sixth Floor and earned the Upside-Down Mark. Antanas and Sinora waited to open the way to Truth-Seeking Planai’s cell as Lanchi considered what gaining a sixth mark might do to him.

• Lanchi, controlling the black-haired Poet of Great Love, walked through illusions of blades, fire, and poisonous snow without stopping his inspection of the prison.
• The illusions subsided, and the ancient barrier formed the Upside-Down Mark between Lanchi’s brows, increasing his Spirit attribute.
• Sinora asked whether Lanchi had succeeded, and Antanas confirmed that he had passed the Mental Trials.
• Antanas and Sinora waited for access to the Negative Sixth Floor to open so they could locate Truth-Seeking Planai’s cell.
• Lanchi considered whether gaining a sixth Great Demon Race Mark would transform him into a Great Demon Race.

Antanas and Sinora crossed the Negative Sixth Floor’s illusion-filled corridors to reach Truth-Seeking Planai’s cell, hoping to rescue her and leave Helrom Prison. Planai attacked as soon as they entered, and Antanas raised a barrier to defend them.

• Antanas and Sinora left Hughberlian behind and hurried through the Frost Corridor toward Planai’s cell.
• Antanas shielded them from the increasingly powerful illusions while Sinora weakened their attacks with interference spells.
• Antanas and Sinora reached the cell and entered, expecting the New King to arrive later.
• Antanas and Sinora found Planai bound inside a sealed chamber, and her magic made the Magic-Sealing Steel tremble.
• Planai caused black flames to erupt beneath Antanas and Sinora, and Antanas unfolded a defensive barrier while telling Planai not to attack them.

Sinora and Antanas freed Planai from Helrom Prison and tried to convince him to join the New King. Planai refused to leave, warning that the Protos Empire would soon fall and that the Bishop Election in three days would be the turning point.

• Sinora dispelled Planai's attack, and she and Antanas revealed their identities and explained that they had come to rescue him for the New King.
• Sinora removed Planai's chains and restraining mask, but he remained wary and said he would not leave yet.
• Planai explained that the demons could not survive on the surface in their current state, despite Sinora's assurances about the New King's strength.
• Planai predicted the Protos Empire would perish within a few years and said the Bishop Election in three days would mark a turning point.
• Planai revealed that an unknown battle in the north had featured enemies whose power suggested the empire's downfall, and he realized the New King knew nothing about these developments.

Poet of Great Love arrived at Helrom Prison to meet Truth-Seeking Planai, who refused to leave the Negative Sixth Floor despite Sinora and Antanas’s efforts. The New King thanked Sinora and prepared to speak with Planai himself.

• Planai warned Sinora and Antanas that escaping to the Southern Continent could leave them destitute, while staying in his prison cell might keep them safe.
• Planai urged Sinora and Antanas to leave before Helrom Prison discovered them, but they stayed to await the New King.
• Poet of Great Love entered Planai’s cell, and Sinora and Antanas greeted her as their New King.
• Planai insisted that his refusal to leave Helrom Prison was his own decision, hoping to protect Sinora from blame.
• Poet of Great Love thanked Sinora for trying to persuade Planai and told her he would handle the rest.

The Poet of Great Love questioned Planai about potential allies for changing the Protos Empire, while Planai judged each candidate too unreliable. Planai singled out Luo Qi McCarthy as the Empire’s faintest hope, but said his mortal body lacked the power to turn things around.

• The Poet of Great Love patiently reassured Planai that he still had hope for the Protos Empire.
• Planai argued that Great Sage Isis Melorne, Duke Morodian Berenhard, and the Rebirth Church cardinals were unsuitable partners.
• Antanas asked Planai what he thought of Luo Qi McCarthy.
• Planai called Luo Qi McCarthy a mortal unable to turn back the heavens, suggesting the Empire might have a chance if he had more power.

Poet of Great Love asked Planai to assess the demons’ chances in the struggle for the Protos Empire, and Planai explained that they lacked enough powerful fighters and reliable intelligence. The discussion left Lanchi believing their position was more promising than Planai thought because Askesang and the Black Robed Man were weakened, and freeing Sigrid could shift the balance.

• Planai warned Poet of Great Love that the Protos Empire could not be saved unless Luo Qi McCarthy joined them, but said victory would remain unlikely.
• Poet of Great Love asked whether he could defeat Great Sage Isis, and he admitted that he could not.
• Planai said they needed at least two General-level combatants and described the hidden factions and uncertain strength competing for control of the Protos Empire.
• Poet of Great Love realized the three Great Demon Race members could provide at most one General-level combatant, while Planai might also be overestimating his own strength.
• Lanchi judged that Askesang and the Black Robed Man were weakened, and that defeating Askesang could free and strengthen Sigrid, giving their side a major advantage.

Planai warned the Poet of Great Love that Luo Qi McCarthy would be targeted if he gained enough military support to disrupt the enemies’ plans in the Protos Empire. The Poet of Great Love urged Planai to come with him and let him offer protection, while Antanas watched, expecting another attempt at emotional persuasion.

• Planai explained that Luo Qi McCarthy lacked sufficient military support and would be killed if he became a major threat to the enemies undermining the Protos Empire.
• The Poet of Great Love regretted that the Demon Realm’s former king had not listened to Planai a hundred years earlier.
• Planai replied that the Demon Realm’s fate might have been different if the Poet of Great Love had been its king.
• The Poet of Great Love asked Planai to come with him so he could protect him.
• Planai struggled with the urge to follow the New King, while Antanas shared biscuits with Sinora and watched the conversation.

In Helrom Prison, Poet of Great Love urged Planai to stop seeking absolute safety and reconsider what peace of mind meant to him. Planai agreed that he had not found peace, but Poet of Great Love’s words helped him recognize the value of his own strengths.

• Planai asked Poet of Great Love why they could not flee to the Southern Continent, but Poet of Great Love refused to promise that escape and explained that no one could calculate their way past change.
• Poet of Great Love asked Planai to consider whether the simple life and emotional restraint he had pursued in Helrom Prison had brought him peace.
• Planai admitted he had been in pain every day for a hundred years and that this had been the happiest day of his life.
• Poet of Great Love offered to protect Planai if he came along, promised to let him avoid unnecessary fighting, and said he would die before allowing an enemy to threaten Planai’s peace of mind.
• Planai asked why Poet of Great Love chose him, and Poet of Great Love urged him to recognize his strengths instead of fixating on his shortcomings.

The Poet of Great Love freed Planai and challenged his belief that two General-level combatants were needed to enter the imperial conflict. He revealed a gigantic wolf as an ally, leaving Planai awestruck and the group preparing to escape Helrom Prison.

• The Poet of Great Love comforted Planai, who chose to follow him, but the Poet refused his loyalty and returned his freedom.
• The Poet asked why Planai thought two General-level combatants were the admission ticket to the imperial conflict, and Antanas explained what Planai had seen at the northern border.
• The Poet showed Planai a stack of Magic Cards and explained that getting too close could make the truth harder to see.
• The Poet revealed the Nuclear Fusion Wolf, which Planai recognized as the creature he had seen on the Northern Snowy Plains.
• The Poet said he would explain more after they left prison, and Antanas concluded that Planai had completely fallen for him.

Planai freed himself from his restraints and gave the Poet of Great Love the Truth Mark, awakening the sixth imprint and revealing his potential as a Demon King. After the Poet of Great Love left to fetch a companion, Antanas began explaining Planai’s new life in the Protos Empire and sharing rumors about the King and the Second Princess.

• With Sinora's help, Planai removed his restraints and agreed to leave the cell with the Poet of Great Love.
• Planai performed the Demon Race inheritance ritual and gave the Poet of Great Love the Truth Mark, which granted resistance to divination magic.
• The Poet of Great Love’s sixth imprint awakened, revealing his Demon King potential before Disguise Magic concealed his aura again.
• The Poet of Great Love left to bring a companion and asked Antanas and Sinora to explain Planai’s arrangements in the Protos Empire.
• Antanas began describing life around the King and speculated that the King and the Second Princess had crossed a line, astonishing Planai and Sinora.

The Poet of Great Love confirmed that he had allied with Sigrid of the Ba Tian Sect, reassuring Planai that their bond was built on shared life-and-death struggles. After arranging Planai’s escape, he prepared to remain behind briefly while Antanas and Sinora escorted him to the teleportation point.

• The Poet of Great Love returned to Planai’s cell with a Ba Tian Priest who would impersonate Planai.
• The Poet of Great Love admitted that Sigrid of the Ba Tian Sect was his companion, shocking Planai, Antanas, and Sinora.
• The Poet of Great Love said that he and Sigrid had faced life and death together twice and would soon do so a third time, easing Planai’s fears of betrayal.
• Planai apologized to the Ba Tian Priest and took hope from the alliance between the Ba Tian Branch and the Demon Realm.
• The Poet of Great Love ordered Antanas and Sinora to protect Planai and escort him to the teleportation point while he stayed behind.

Hughberlian reunited with Antanas, Sinora, and the rescued Planai at the Negative Sixth Floor Teleportation Hall. Watching from afar, the Ice Witch grew convinced that Loren was secretly orchestrating the demons’ plans, while Loren could only hope the ordeal would soon end.

• Hughberlian waited at the teleportation hall, passing the time with sunflower seeds and Snowy Plains Liquor.
• Antanas, Sinora, and the wounded Planai arrived, and Planai said he feared disappointing the New King more than death.
• Antanas introduced Hughberlian as the Second Princess and the New King's closest friend, and Planai bowed to her.
• The Ice Witch connected Loren to several demon leaders and suspected he was the mastermind behind their plans.
• The Ice Witch resolved to investigate Loren if someone suspected to be him appeared at the Protos Empire's archbishop election to help the Rebirth Church.
• Loren, overwhelmed by the confusion inside Helrom Prison, hoped his ordeal was nearly over.

Lanqi led Antanas, Sinora, Planai, and Hughberlian through the final stretch of Helrom Prison and back to the imperial capital. They left the prison without encountering Warden Bakas, and Lanqi guided the three demons toward Protos Royal Magic Academy with plans for them to meet him later.

• The Poet of Great Love arrived unharmed at the Negative Sixth Floor, where Antanas, Sinora, Planai, and Hughberlian waited by the Void Gate.
• Lanqi told the group that Warden Bakas was on official leave, so they could leave Helrom Prison without facing his inspection.
• Lanqi instructed Antanas, Sinora, and Planai to rest at home before meeting him at the Redmond Building around three in the afternoon.
• The group crossed the Void Gate, completed the Basic Level's security checks and registration, and left Helrom Prison.
• Lanqi led the three demons toward Protos Royal Magic Academy and told them he had prepared formal outfits for them at the estate.

Lanqi planned a packed day of school work, meetings, and welcoming the three rescued Great Demon Race members, while Hughberlian offered to help him with the academy’s administration. The group learned about Lanqi’s rare Demon Realm Moon Shadow Fox, and Antanas, Sinora, and Planai became eager to see it.

• Sinora worried that resting after returning to Helrom would make the New King think she was lazy, so the Poet of Great Love arranged to meet her between three and three-thirty.
• Lanqi planned to finish his contract with Warden Bakas, handle schoolwork and hiring procedures, tell Sigrid about the rescue, welcome the three Great Demon Race members, and meet Duke Berenhard.
• Hughberlian offered to assist Lanqi with the academy’s administrative work, and Lanqi agreed to meet her at the Redmond Building that afternoon.
• Lanqi told Hughberlian that his Demon Realm Moon Shadow Fox was staying with Zestira and suggested that she visit it.
• Antanas and Sinora were astonished to learn that a Moon Shadow Fox had survived in the Protos Empire, and Antanas explained that the fox was beloved for its looks and cuteness.

Lanchi visited Gloria’s residence to see Sigrid after rescuing the Great Demon Race and explained that his black-haired disguise was the only appearance he could currently use. He left Cat Boss with Sigrid and promised to find staff for Cat Boss Restaurant, revealing that the new hires were Tata’s childhood friends.

• Lanchi returned to Gloria’s residence in disguise and reunited with Sigrid, who understood that he had successfully rescued the Great Demon Race.
• Sigrid asked why Lanchi kept using the black-haired, green-eyed disguise, and he explained that he had no other transformation cards available.
• Lanchi and Sigrid joked about their ages, while Gloria listened nervously to their casual conversation.
• Lanchi summoned Cat Boss and asked it to spend the afternoon with Sigrid for her safety.
• Lanchi promised Cat Boss new restaurant staff and reassured it that they were all Tata’s childhood friends.

Lanchi spent a quiet midday visit with Sigrid, explaining that Cat Boss’s “Tata” was a character from Holy War Romance. He stayed beside her while she napped, then left at 2:40 to return to work.

• Sigrid asked who Tata was, and Lanchi explained that the name came from a food-loving character in Holy War Romance.
• Sigrid said she had only asked because she worried Lanchi might have been deceived by a bad woman.
• Lanchi told Sigrid he had to return to the Redmond Building before three to meet visitors and later meet with a duke.
• Lanchi said he would keep making cards for the next three days and visit Sigrid at Gloria's House.
• Sigrid fell asleep on the sofa, and Lanchi waited beside her until 2:40 before saying goodbye to Gloria and Cat Boss and leaving.

Antanas, Sinora, and Planai went to the Redmond Administration Building to meet the New King, discussing their expectations and concerns on the way. Xia Ya greeted them and explained his background and why he was serving as an assistant there.

• Antanas reassured Sinora that the New King was kind and approachable, easing her worries about making a good impression.
• Planai cautioned Antanas and Sinora to stop discussing the New King as they neared the Redmond Administration Building.
• The three Great Demons entered the building, where Xia Ya, a first-year student, came to escort them upstairs.
• Planai asked Xia Ya about his origins, and Xia Ya said he was a fallen noble who planned to marry into a family in Snowfield Province.
• Xia Ya explained that his teacher's guidance had helped him rebuild his life and that he was working at the Redmond Administration Building for academic credits.

Lanchi waited in the Redmond Building office while three Great Demon Race members arrived, believing they were meeting the New King. He introduced himself as Luo Qi McCarthy, leaving them stunned and unsure what the New King intended.

• Antanas agreed with Xia Ya that the three visitors and Xia Ya were fellow countrymen because they revered the New King.
• Xia Ya escorted Planai, Antanas, and Sinora to the office, then left after his teacher told him to accompany Lilith and call it a day.
• Planai and Antanas suspected the man in the office might be another guest, so Antanas sealed the room with a barrier before Planai asked his identity.
• Lanchi explained that people there called him Luo Qi McCarthy, and the three Great Demon Race members were shocked to find him waiting for them.
• Planai considered the New King's intentions, while Sinora nervously resolved not to open her eyes in front of Luo Qi.

Lanchi revealed that he was the New King and that Luo Qi McCarthy was his true form, leaving Planai and Antanas stunned. Sinora saw his face and fainted, and Antanas rushed to treat her.

• Planai cautiously asked whether Luo Qi McCarthy knew the three Great Demon Race members were coming.
• Lanchi turned around and revealed his black-haired, green-eyed appearance, leaving Planai and Antanas struggling to understand who he was.
• Lanchi used the Transformation Art: Demon to reveal his Six-Imprint Great Demon Race aura, and Planai, Antanas, and Sinora recognized him as their New King.
• Antanas warned Sinora not to open her eyes, but Sinora looked at Lanchi and fainted.
• Antanas rushed to save Sinora while Lanchi stood confused about why his appearance had frightened her.

Lanchi stabilized the situation after Sinora fainted from seeing him, then reassured her as she recovered. He appointed Sinora, Antanas, and Planai as his aides in the Redmond Building, while Antanas became excited by the imagined romantic complications around him.

• Antanas treated Sinora after she fainted, and Lanchi waited for her to recover.
• Sinora woke, realized Lanchi had seen her collapse, and became overwhelmed with embarrassment until Lanchi reassured her.
• Antanas asked whether Lanchi was related to Talia, and Lanchi explained that she was his teacher.
• Antanas imagined a rivalry among the Second Princess, the bishop, and Talia over Lanchi.
• Lanchi appointed Sinora, Antanas, and Planai as his left and right hands and said he would take them with him wherever he went.