Recaps

Professor Bora Ao prepared Lanchi and Talia for a trip to the Bosen Kingdom, advising Lanchi to study its history and respect the tensions between humans and demons. He trusted Lanchi to handle the journey but warned him that powerful people could cause serious consequences through careless actions.

• Professor Bora Ao clarified that Lanchi and Talia were not going to the Bosen Kingdom; he had meant his friend and his card-making partner.
• Professor Bora Ao gave Lanchi and Talia books and periodicals about the Bosen Kingdom to read during the journey.
• Professor Bora Ao explained that people in the Bosen Kingdom judged others by their race and circumstances, and urged Lanchi to respect local differences.
• Lanchi studied the map and considered the Bosen Kingdom's strategic importance amid rising tensions in the Southern Continent.
• Professor Bora Ao said he trusted Lanchi's ability and would not restrict him, but warned him to learn when to observe because his actions could have serious consequences.

Professor Bora Ao warned Lanchi to consider the consequences of interfering in events, then told him and Talia about a forbidden Magic Device rumored to control demons as they prepared to work in his laboratory. Talia worried it could affect their soul contract, but Bora Ao said rewriting a Demon King's contract would be extremely difficult.

• Professor Bora Ao advised Lanchi to think carefully before intervening and assigned him and Talia several days of laboratory work.
• Professor Bora Ao showed Lanchi and Talia a confidential royal commission about a rumored Dominator's Book from the Bosen Kingdom.
• Professor Bora Ao explained that Great Wizard Palroni had allegedly created the demon-controlling Magic Device, which might be connected to recent demons losing control in Bosen.
• Talia asked whether the book could rewrite a Demon King's contract, and Professor Bora Ao said such a contract would be exceptionally difficult to alter.
• Lanchi struggled not to laugh at Bora Ao's claim that no Demon King would form a contract with a human, and Talia pinched his waist.

Lanchi advised Loren on how to handle Juliana and Almirs while serving as his love instructor. He encouraged Loren to discreetly tolerate Almirs searching his belongings, leaving their relationship poised to grow through his quiet understanding.

• After finishing work, Lanchi and Talia left the Magic Engineering Institute, and Talia stepped away to talk with a friend.
• Loren called Lanchi for advice before another dinner with Juliana and revealed he also planned to watch a horror movie with Florence that night.
• Lanchi moved to a lounge to continue the call privately and asked Loren whether Almirs or Florence had behaved unusually.
• Loren said Almirs had searched his belongings and described her as his White Moonlight for supporting him through a difficult time.
• Lanchi told Loren to pretend he did not notice Almirs searching his things and to help cover for her if caught, assuring him that his tolerance would turn her guilt into affection.

Lanchi advised Loren on how to date Juliana, Almirs, and Florence without disappointing anyone, proposing an increasingly absurd plan to divide his time among them. Afterward, Lanchi and Talia prepared to travel to the distant Bosen Kingdom, where they hoped their social lives would be less complicated.

• Loren told Lanchi that Florence had moved in with him and recalled how he had looked after Florence during their time on the battlefield.
• Loren asked how to handle Juliana, Almirs, and Florence all wanting to spend his next free day with him.
• Lanchi advised Loren to delay the dates, then proposed rapidly shuttling between three theaters so each woman would think Loren was spending the whole time with her.
• Loren accepted Lanchi's guidance, while Cat Boss grew wary of the brothers' romantic schemes.
• Lanchi met Talia after their calls, and the two decided to buy food before heading home and setting off for the Bosen Kingdom.

As Lanchi prepared to depart for the Bosen Kingdom, Cat Boss delivered a letter from Sigrid, who reported unknown demons in the Protos Empire and asked Lanchi to show her around Ikelite. Lanchi put the letter away and continued packing, hoping his work would soon let him retire.

• Lanchi packed for his evening departure to the Bosen Kingdom as rain fell over Ikelite.
• Cat Boss delivered a letter from Sigrid that had arrived at the Cat Boss Restaurant.
• Lanchi read Sigrid's report that Duchess Chloris had found signs of unfamiliar demons in the Protos Empire, which had since withdrawn, and that their origins and purpose remained unknown.
• Sigrid warned that the unknown demons might include beings stronger than Duke Morodian and asked Lanchi to show her around Royal Capital Ikelite when she reached the Hutton Kingdom.
• Lanchi returned Sigrid's letter to its envelope, put it away, and resumed packing while talking about retiring soon.

Lanchi and Talia prepared to travel to Bosen, where Lanchi would secretly serve as a Platinum Tier examiner. They left for the station as their new journey began, while Hughberlian stayed in Ikelite with Sinora and Almirs.

• Talia read that the Destruction Bishop had survived a battle after being ambushed and surrounded, then intercepted by the Dimensional Bishop.
• Lanchi told Talia that his Platinum Tier identity would remain confidential during the examination and that he would travel as a masked examiner.
• Talia worried about leaving Hughberlian, but Lanchi reassured her that Sinora and Almirs were looking after her.
• Lanchi and Talia set out for the station to begin their journey to Bosen.

Li Sang Qian met Lanchi aboard an airship bound for Flower Capital Pariel and learned that he was visiting the Bosen Kingdom for the first time. Their conversation turned to her plans to find work as a pastry chef, while Lanchi privately recalled his school’s magical chefs and angered Sister Tata.

• A massive magical airship carrying Li Sang Qian and Lanchi entered the skies above Flower Capital Pariel and announced its arrival at North Station.
• Li Sang Qian asked Lanchi whether he had visited the capital before, and he said it was his first time in the Bosen Kingdom.
• Li Sang Qian told Lanchi she had graduated from a small-city school and hoped to find work as a pastry chef while continuing her studies.
• Lanchi thought about magical chefs and Cat Boss, then apologized when Sister Tata clamped an invisible hand around his neck.

Lanchi traveled through the Greater Pariel region with Talia and chatted with Li Sang Qian about magic cooking and the upcoming Platinum Tier Card Maker Exam. Their conversation turned to Duke Migaiya’s disappearance and the rumors surrounding him, leaving Li Sang Qian speechless at Lanchi’s suggestion for an even wilder rumor.

• Talia used Mental Magic to reprimand Lanchi, and he resumed talking with Li Sang Qian during their journey into Flower Capital Pariel.
• Lanchi and Li Sang Qian discussed her Tier 4 Azure Mage abilities, her interest in becoming a magic chef, and the value of stat-boosting meals.
• Lanchi and Li Sang Qian introduced themselves and discovered that both were interested in the Platinum Tier Card Maker Exam.
• Li Sang Qian recalled seeing Mi Gaiya as a child and lamented that he would not attend this year's exam because he had gone missing.
• Li Sang Qian condemned media rumors claiming Mi Gaiya was the Bishop of the Night, and Lanchi proposed spreading a rumor that the Bishop was the High Priest's fiancée, leaving her speechless.

Lanchi and Li Sang Qian discussed Mi Gaiya’s remarkable rise to Magic Crystal Tier and the structure of the Platinum Tier Card Maker Exam. They explained how exam subjects and examiners shaped candidates’ chances, then looked ahead to the newcomers competing this year.

• Li Sang Qian praised Mi Gaiya for passing the Platinum Tier exam soon after his Gold Tier exam and recalled how he stunned skeptics by wielding thunder and lightning on the competition stage.
• Lanchi asked about the exam subjects Mi Gaiya had faced, and Li Sang Qian listed Magic Engineering Principles, Attribute Specialization, and Deck Testing.
• Li Sang Qian explained that each exam selected three subjects from six, and that versatile or specialized Card Makers could gain an advantage depending on the selection.
• Lanchi and Li Sang Qian hoped to see impressive newcomers at this year’s exam, while noting that experienced Card Makers were more likely to pass.
• Li Sang Qian described how examiners could affect the exam’s difficulty and assured Lanchi that the Association Headquarters supervised the process and investigated examiner misconduct.

Lanchi and Li Sang Qian traveled aboard the Floating Castle, where she befriended Cat Boss and discussed her magical pastries. When Lanchi asked about demons harming people in Bosen, Li Sang Qian grew uneasy as her curse mark flared.

• Lanchi and Li Sang Qian chatted about the Platinum Tier Card Maker exam as the Floating Castle flew over Flower Capital Pariel.
• Cat Boss protested being treated as a pet, and Li Sang Qian learned it could talk before asking to pet it.
• Cat Boss asked Li Sang Qian about magical pastries, and she described how one of her sour Strawberry Daifuku had knocked out a classmate.
• Lanchi asked Li Sang Qian about reports of demons injuring people, and she said registered demons were bound by civic contracts and faced death for harming humans.
• Li Sang Qian connected the rumors to Great Wizard Palroni's curse, and her curse mark turned crimson as she struggled to breathe.

As the Floating Castle neared Pariel, Lanchi tried to comfort Li Sang Qian, whose growing distress was worsened by the Senate's Execution Force inspecting the airship for demons. Li Sang Qian succumbed to a curse and went berserk, but her outstretched hand seemed to plead with Lanchi to save her.

• Lanchi noticed Li Sang Qian was unwell and offered to keep her company as the Floating Castle approached Pariel.
• Duke Tiffany's Execution Force boarded the airship and used a magical gemstone to reveal the demons among the passengers.
• The executioner identified Li Sang Qian as a demon and ordered her to submit to an inspection while Lanchi stayed beside her.
• Li Sang Qian's fear and mental pressure escalated until the curse of Great Wizard Palroni transformed her into a berserk creature.
• As panic spread through the hall, Li Sang Qian lost consciousness, though her outstretched hand appeared to ask Lanchi for help.

When Li Sang Qian went berserk aboard the airship, Lanchi restrained her and tried to stop executioner Nigel Sergeant from killing her. Talia chose a desperate escape instead, and Lanchi, Cat Boss, and Li Sang Qian plunged from the airship toward the City of Flowers.

• Li Sang Qian's curse drove her berserk, and Lanchi restrained her with Telekinetic Magic as passengers fled and the Execution Force evacuated the hall.
• Talia asked Lanchi to find who had cast the curse, and Lanchi tried to persuade Nigel Sergeant to spare Li Sang Qian until they landed.
• Nigel refused to delay, contacted Duke Tiffany, and received permission to use Unaccountable Law Enforcement Authority against Lanchi.
• As Li Sang Qian fought Cat Boss's restraint and Nigel revealed his power, Lanchi asked Talia to block one attack.
• Talia took control of Lanchi, broke open the airship's landing window, and threw Lanchi, Cat Boss, and Li Sang Qian into a free fall over the City of Flowers.

Lanchi, Cat Boss, and Li Sang Qian landed in Flower Capital Pariel, where Li Sang Qian’s curse drove her into a berserk state and brought the Executioner Nigel after them. Talia suppressed Li Sang Qian by forcibly placing her under the Demon King’s command, and Nigel paused to decide what to do next.

• Cat Boss used Telekinetic Magic to bring Lanchi and Li Sang Qian down from the Floating Castle, while Nigel leaped after them.
• Li Sang Qian erupted into a cursed berserk state, and Cat Boss’s Erroneous Slow Heal made her condition worse as the nearby crowd fled.
• Talia appeared, restrained Li Sang Qian, and confirmed that a curse had contaminated the contract binding her as a citizen of the Bosen Kingdom.
• Nigel charged at Lanchi but stopped when Li Sang Qian calmed and returned to her original appearance.
• Talia told Lanchi that she had overridden Li Sang Qian’s contract with the Demon King’s power, and Nigel reported the unexpected change to Duke Tiffany.
• Duke Tiffany told Nigel to use his own judgment, leaving him hesitating over how to handle Li Sang Qian.

After Nigel Sergeant let Lanchi and Talia leave, the pair continued through Pariel, where Talia knocked Lanchi down again and a local officer arrested them both over a misunderstanding. The chapter ended with Lanchi writing to Hughberlian that his troubles in the city had only just begun.

• Li Sang Qian collapsed after her frenzy stopped, and Nigel Sergeant decided to take her away while letting Lanchi and Talia go.
• Nigel gave Lanchi his business card and warned that the Senate might still judge the incident harshly.
• Lanchi explained his plan to use Talia's strength to encourage Nigel to negotiate, and Talia learned that he had called Sigrid a popular older woman.
• Talia pinned Lanchi to the ground again, and a passing Pariel police officer mistook their interaction for a public fight.
• The officer handcuffed Lanchi and Talia and took them in, while Lanchi wrote to Hughberlian about his arrest.

Lanqi and Talia waited in a Pariel police station cell after refusing to claim they were a couple, then Countess Rosalinda bailed them out. They left with Chief Zefa’s contact card, while Talia suggested visiting the station again and Lanqi nervously declined.

• Lanqi and Talia discussed being arrested after refusing to tell the police they were a couple.
• Talia shared half of her Coconut Cheese Biscuit with Lanqi while they waited in the cell.
• Chief Zefa freed Lanqi and Talia after Countess Rosalinda posted bail for them.
• Chief Zefa gave them his business card and offered police services and fortune-telling.
• Talia suggested making another appointment to visit the police station, and Lanqi said he was scared.

Lanchi and Talia met Countess Rosalinda Asturias at her mansion, where she discussed the upcoming Platinum Tier Card Maker Exam and her history with Hughberlian and Migaiya. Rosalinda revealed her unrequited feelings for Migaiya, leaving the visit on her frustrated confession about the woman he loved.

• Lanchi and Talia arrived at the Asturias Earl's Mansion, where Rosalinda welcomed them and explained that she had avoided picking them up to protect the examiners' identities.
• Rosalinda spoke with Lanchi about the Platinum Tier Card Maker Exam and asked why Hughberlian had not come with them.
• Lanchi said Hughberlian was staying behind because the Rebirth Church had taken an interest in her, and Rosalinda recalled that Hughberlian had disliked her when Rosalinda once hoped to become her stepmother.
• Talia reacted warily to Rosalinda's story, while Lanchi privately reflected that Hughberlian was selective about mother figures and received a pinch from Talia.
• Lanchi asked whether Rosalinda liked Migaiya, and she admitted that he had repeatedly rejected her and remained devoted to a mysterious demon woman from the Northern Continent.

Lanchi and Talia listened as Countess Rosalinda lamented Ifatia’s relationship with Mi Gaiya, then joined her for wine and conversation. Rosalinda discussed the recent danger in Flower Capital Pariel and expressed surprise that Lanchi and Tata had survived an encounter with Duke Tiffany’s executioners unharmed.

• Countess Rosalinda tearfully complained that Ifatia had won Mi Gaiya’s affection and described how Ifatia relied on him for even the smallest things.
• Lanchi and Talia silently acknowledged that Hughberlian did not know what Ifatia was like, and Lanchi reassured Rosalinda that she might simply lack a connection with Mi Gaiya.
• Rosalinda changed the subject, poured wine for herself and Talia, and asked Lanchi about his refusal to drink.
• Rosalinda said the Bosen Kingdom had raised Flower Capital Pariel’s security level after reports of Cursed Demon Race members going berserk increased.
• Rosalinda said she had heard that Lanchi and Tata encountered Duke Tiffany’s executioners and expressed relief and surprise that they escaped unharmed.

Lanchi and Talia learned more about the demon curse and Nigel’s uncertain report while Rosalinda warned them that rumors could draw the Senate’s attention. As Rosalinda prepared Lanchi for his examination duties, she also explained that the Flower Capital police were searching for the injured Destruction Bishop Ivanos, which Lanchi found amusing.

• Rosalinda explained Nigel’s history and said the demon curse had recently become more frequent after remaining rare for decades.
• Lanchi and Talia reasoned that Nigel may have concealed their ability to dispel the curse because he distrusted people in Bosen, and Rosalinda warned them that witnesses’ conflicting accounts could attract attention.
• Rosalinda gave Lanchi his examiner materials and said he would serve as chief examiner for one test and assistant examiner for another, beginning in a week.
• Rosalinda told Lanchi and Talia to stay out of trouble and explained that the police were intensifying inspections to find the seriously injured Destruction Bishop Ivanos.
• Lanchi laughed at the prospect of a Cardinal being arrested and becoming a comedian with a nickname containing “prison.”

Lanchi and Talia spent the morning wandering Pariel, trying Professor Bora Ao’s advice for improving their teamwork while their casual outing felt increasingly like a date. After arranging to investigate the Petras Auction House, they discussed Lanchi’s connections there and Talia’s curiosity about the Northern Continent, leaving their sightseeing plans set around their investigation.

• Lanchi and Talia strolled through Pariel and discussed whether spending time together would improve their teamwork, while Cat Boss teased them about starting a date.
• Talia learned that her heavy use of Lanchi’s Mana had been making him tired and promised to be more careful with it.
• Lanchi told Talia that Executioner Nigel Sergeant was busy and suggested investigating the Petras Auction House, where a Cursed Demon Race member had recently gone berserk.
• Lanchi explained that his connection to the Petras Merchant Guild could get them into the auction house, and Cat Boss recalled their past encounter with its Young Master.
• Talia said she was curious about how the Northern Continent had changed, and Lanchi offered to go there with her if she wanted.

Lanchi and Talia walked through Flower Capital Pariel on their first planned outing, finding common ground as Lanchi explained Bosen cuisine and the Holy Grail Familiar Tournament. They continued toward the auction house, where Cat Boss hoped to recruit a Demon Race chef, while Talia suspected the tournament and recent events might connect to the curses in Bosen Kingdom.

• Lanchi and Talia struggled to make conversation until Talia asked about his favorite food, prompting Lanchi to explain Bosen cuisine at length.
• Lanchi reassured Cat Boss that it could hire Demon Race employees, and Cat Boss decided it wanted to recruit a Demon Race chef for the restaurant.
• Lanchi explained that Bosen's national festival, the Platinum Tier Card Maker Exam, and the Holy Grail Familiar Tournament had helped drive business at the Petras Auction House.
• Talia connected the tournament and recent curses from Great Wizard Palroni to a possible plot against relations between humans and demons, and Lanchi agreed to buy tickets for them and Cat Boss.
• Lanchi recounted how Duke Migaiya had helped the demonfolk Aitio become a champion and regain her freedom, then praised Kali Yella's charm as Talia listened.

Lanchi and Talia walked through Pariel, discussed the Goddess of Fate and whether to visit her temple, and revealed how their relationship began. Talia recalled losing her Dark Dove familiar, leaving Lanchi visibly nervous about what might have happened to it.

• Lanchi described Crystal Orchid Avenue to Talia as they crossed Pariel, then teased her about watching the sunset with him and Cat Boss.
• Talia asked why Lanchi had not provoked her when they first met, and he suggested that a dream from the Goddess of Fate had helped him approach her.
• Talia proposed visiting a Goddess of Fate temple to seek a talisman for their card-making process, and Lanchi agreed to look at one later.
• Talia remembered losing her Dark Dove familiar on the day she met Lanchi and said she would punish whoever had killed it.
• Lanchi sweated and trembled at Talia's threat, then distracted her by suggesting they buy ice cream.

Lanchi brought Talia and Cat Boss to a Petras Auction House sale, where a wealthy nobleman outbid them and provoked Talia. To raise enough money to challenge him, Lanchi arranged to auction himself as a supposedly rare contracted creature, leaving Talia stunned as he appeared onstage.

• Lanchi explained the value of the Memory of Starlight necklace while he, Talia, and Cat Boss watched the auction.
• A Tier 6 demon named Celestia sold for fifty-five thousand pounds to a blond nobleman in the VIP gallery.
• Lanchi bid on Erwin for Cat Boss, but the same nobleman outbid him and later ordered the auction house to buy out everything he wanted.
• Talia grew angry at the nobleman's insults, but Lanchi stopped her from acting violently and said they could not break the law.
• Lanchi took Cat Boss away to have an unusual contracted creature added to the auction, then appeared onstage as a member of the supposedly rare Lanqi Clan with a starting bid of ten thousand pounds.

Christina returned to the Baptiste estate and found her family behaving strangely around their new butler, Luo Qi McCarthy. After failing to uncover evidence of magic or poisoning, she confronted him, but he challenged her reasons for leaving home and revealed that firing him would cost fifty thousand pounds; Christina then used the contract to demand that he compete with her at the Familiar Arena.

• Christina arrived home from the Yarolan Kingdom and was unsettled when her family treated the new butler, Luo Qi McCarthy, with unusual deference.
• Christina watched her uncle kneel to Luo Qi after spilling water and saw her brother Kyle and younger relatives eagerly seek the butler's attention.
• Christina questioned Luo Qi, suspected him of controlling the household, and searched the kitchen for evidence, but he stopped a falling storage box before it struck her.
• Luo Qi told Christina that he had been teaching Kyle and challenged her assumptions about why she had studied abroad, leaving her shaken but unconvinced.
• Christina learned that Kyle's five-year contract with Luo Qi imposed a fifty-thousand-pound penalty for dismissal, then invoked a contract clause to demand that Luo Qi compete with her.

Lanqi won ten arena matches in one night, including a commercial-dispute bout against the fearsome Inoan, and Christina earned enough money to consider paying his severance fee. The defeated Inoan was revealed to be Destruction Bishop Ivanos, who left the arena vowing to kill Luo Qi McCarthy.

• Lanqi, aided by Talia, defeated Borgognia Perley instantly and helped Christina multiply her savings through arena bets.
• Edward Winston hired Luo Qi McCarthy to represent Winston Clock Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in a commercial-dispute match against Hammond Financial Group's champion, Inoan Hornrenso.
• Christina nearly withdrew from the match after Inoan's terrifying presence frightened her, but Lanqi promised to win and entered the arena.
• Lanqi and Inoan matched each other's mental magic briefly before Talia overwhelmed Inoan with black flames, securing Lanqi's tenth consecutive victory.
• Viscount Hammond berated Inoan after the defeat, while Christina worried about his misfortune and Lanqi said he hoped Inoan would learn from the loss.
• Inoan, whose real identity was Destruction Bishop Ivanos, killed two half-demons in a lawless alley and swore revenge on Luo Qi McCarthy.

Lanchi and Talia visited Nigel, who explained how Li Sang Qian’s recovery had advanced the investigation into the Curse Spreader and warned that their involvement could put them in danger. The chapter left them aware that the investigation was accelerating and that the enemy might soon discover who had interfered.

• Lanchi and Talia toured Valentine Gallery and visited Nigel at the Executioners’ office near Pariel Notre Dame Church.
• Nigel told Lanchi and Talia that Li Sang Qian might still face execution, though he was trying to secure her freedom and had concealed their role in curing her curse.
• Nigel explained that Li Sang Qian’s testimony about a mysterious man at a station had given the Executioners a lead on the Curse Spreader, who was likely in the Bosen Demon Realm.
• Nigel warned Lanchi and Talia that the investigation’s rapid progress could expose them to the Curse Spreader and other dangers, especially if they entered the Demon Realm.
• Lanchi joked that Talia should protect him, and Talia reminded him that his habit of provoking enemies could put both of them at risk.