Chapter Summaries

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.

Lanchi and Talia toured Flower Capital Pariel, bought Reincarnation Jade bracelets, and shared sincere wishes for each other. After Lanchi fell asleep by the Serena River, he dreamed of a lonely gray-haired woman on the Demon King's throne speaking to a ghost, then woke beside Talia with no clear memory of the vision.

• Lanchi and Talia visited Pariel Notre Dame Church, where Talia explained Primordial Slabs, Tier 7 class engraving, and class passives while they examined Cat Boss's weak Space-type specialization.
• Lanchi teased Talia about fusing with Hughberlian, then learned that Talia's Absolute Controller Specialization was Orange Epic and that she wanted him to prioritize his Mental Attribute.
• At Saint Pariel Church, Lanchi and Talia bought two Reincarnation Jade stones and had them set into their matching bracelets.
• Talia ate the pastries while they waited, then Lanchi and Talia prayed for each other's happiness before leaving the church.
• Lanchi napped beside Talia in Luxembourg Park and dreamed of a gray-haired, golden-eyed woman on the Demon King's throne speaking to a black-mist ghost.
• Lanchi woke at sunset leaning against Talia's shoulder and dismissed the dream, while Talia wondered about the phrase "my adorable little cat."

After Christina and Lanchi visited the Bosen Demon Realm, they helped Nigel subdue a berserk cursed demon and rescued the red-haired girl, Inoan Hornrenso. Inoan woke with amnesia and accepted Christina’s offer to work temporarily at the Baptiste household, while a shadowy figure began plotting against Lanchi.

• Christina asked Lanchi about his strength and persuaded him to take her on a brief visit to the Bosen Demon Realm.
• On Illusion Avenue, Lanchi and Christina witnessed Nigel fighting a berserk cursed demon and Demon Lord Astros, so Lanchi joined Nigel and helped subdue both enemies.
• Lanchi removed the curse from the demon, then took the injured red-haired girl to Saltpeter General Hospital with Nigel’s help.
• A hidden figure identified Lanchi as the one who had removed Nigel’s curse and decided to wait for another chance to act.
• Inoan woke in the hospital with severe memory loss, and Christina offered her temporary work as a maid at the Baptiste household.
• Inoan accepted Christina’s offer and left the hospital with Christina and Lanchi, despite not remembering her past.

At the Baptiste estate, Lanchi counseled Inoan about her lost memories and emotions while Christina grew closer to her. Later, Lanchi and Talia disagreed over whether Inoan could be trusted and made a bet about whether Lanchi could save her.

• Christina showed Lanchi that Inoan had begun wearing her maid’s headpiece and explained that Viscount Hammond had insulted Inoan and Christina.
• Inoan asked Lanchi how she could recover her memories, and he explained that intense mental stimulation or familiar things might help while counseling her to accept every emotion, including fear.
• Christina worried that Inoan might forget her again if her memories returned, and Lanchi reassured her that Inoan would retain their time together.
• On their way to dinner, Talia warned Lanchi that trusting Inoan based on what he had personally seen could be dangerous, while Lanchi argued that Inoan deserved a chance.
• Lanchi and Talia bet on whether he could save Inoan, with the loser agreeing to change their approach and accommodate the winner.

Lanchi and Talia went to the Pariel Card Maker Association, where Karen challenged Talia to a card-making contest over who would teach Lanchi. Talia accepted the bet, leaving Lanchi worried about the upcoming Platinum Tier Card Maker Exam.

• Lanchi and Talia traveled to the Pariel Card Maker Association to meet Countess Rosalinda before the Platinum Tier Card Maker Exam.
• Talia questioned whether Lanchi still wanted to learn card making, and they argued about his mistakes during their recent practice.
• Karen met Lanchi and Talia at the association and offered to comfort Lanchi and become his teacher instead.
• Talia confronted Karen, then announced she would take the Platinum Tier Card Maker Exam to prove she was Lanchi's teacher.
• Karen and Talia agreed that the loser would give up teaching Lanchi, and Talia dragged the distressed Lanchi away to get cake.

Lanchi and Talia met with Countess Rosalinda to review the Platinum Tier Card Maker Exam arrangements, and Talia announced that she would take the exam instead of assisting Lanchi. After hearing about a portrait of her younger sister Ifatia, Talia became melancholy, but Lanchi’s attempt to cheer her up ended with her pinning him to the sofa.

• Talia teased Lanchi about his past promise to name her his most beautiful and powerful teacher as they arrived at the Pariel Card Maker Association.
• Lanchi showed Talia the eight paintings in the private Reception Room and explained their history before Countess Rosalinda joined them.
• Talia told Rosalinda that she would take the Platinum Tier Card Maker Exam, and Rosalinda agreed to arrange her registration with Lanchi as her recommender.
• Rosalinda explained the exam rounds, Lanchi’s examiner duties, and the rules against cheating before Talia left to wait outside.
• Rosalinda told Talia that Mi Gaiya had painted a portrait of Ifatia, leaving Talia melancholy as she imagined her younger sister.
• Lanchi offered to paint an “Eating Beauty” for Talia, and Talia pinned him onto the sofa.