Chapter Summaries

Christina persuaded Inoan to accompany her to the Platinum Tier Card Maker Exam, where Astros confronted her about Luo Qi and Nigel warned that Luo Qi might be in danger. The examiners’ weak deputy examiner let candidates rack up points by questioning him, but Talia chose to speak with him gently; after the first round, Bruton raised the passing line while struggling to improve Lanchi’s score.

• Lanchi convinced Inoan that Christina wanted her company and that Pariel was secure, and Inoan agreed to go to the arena with Christina.
• At the Holy Silver Vine Arena, Astros sought Luo Qi, Nigel intervened, and Astros delivered Nigel an invitation from Lord Perlman while hinting that Palroni’s Grudge Record might be with the Senate.
• Christina watched Karen exploit the deputy examiner’s lack of expertise to earn points, then watched Talia discuss Mental Magic with him without bullying him.
• Talia left the exam and confronted Karen after Karen bragged about tormenting the deputy examiner, while Cat Boss met Talia in the rest area.
• Bruton found that the deputy examiner had scored only 31 points and raised the passing line to 41, despite being unable to give Lanchi more points.

Lanchi and Talia watched Talia pass the second round of the Platinum Tier Card Maker Exam, then helped Nigel identify the curse spreader as a likely demon from beyond Bosen. They agreed to accompany Nigel to a banquet on Sunday, where a confrontation might erupt, and ended the evening denying they were going on a date.

• At the Holy Silver Vine Arena, Christina learned that Cat Boss could speak, while Inoan recalled possible childhood memories of Aquitan Territory and Christina promised to take her there when it was safe.
• Lokins overruled Countess Rosalinda during the deck test, changing the battle conditions; the steel demon ultimately defeated the crimson warrior.
• Lanchi met Talia after her exam and estimated that she would need a strong third-round score to surpass Karen, then Nigel invited them to discuss the curse spreader.
• Talia examined the curse residue and concluded that its magic resembled a creature from the Calamity Service Land, suggesting the culprit was an unfamiliar demon rather than one of Bosen's old demons.
• Nigel explained that he feared a cursed demon would erupt at his teacher's Sunday banquet, and Lanchi and Talia agreed to go with him and help contain the danger.
• After Nigel mentioned Pariel's Fireworks Festival as a good night for a date, Lanchi and Talia both insisted they would not go together.

Lanchi scored the Platinum Tier Card Maker Exam’s final paintings, then challenged Lokins after the examiner tried to disqualify him. Lanchi’s Epic portrait of Tata silenced the arena and restored his position, while Tata made Karen agree to fulfill their wager.

• Christina watched the final examination with Inoan and Cat Boss as Escar and Karen submitted their self-portraits and Lanchi awarded them high scores.
• Lanchi gave Rosalinda’s painting 97 points, and Lokins objected, prompting Lanchi to lower the score only as a formality while keeping the passing line at 87.
• Tata submitted her portrait, and Lanchi also gave it 97 points, but Lokins challenged his judgment and forced him to paint a candidate to prove his ability.
• Lanchi painted an Epic portrait of Tata, impressing the audience and silencing Lokins, who cut off the live connection as Rosalinda returned Lanchi to the chief examiner’s seat.
• Tata confronted Karen over her wager and secret report, and Karen agreed to fulfill her promise at the Fireworks Festival while wearing a mask.

Lanchi and Talia met Aitio at Countess Rosalinda’s office and learned that Ifatia may have gone to the Krui Di Empire to find a medicine that would let her grow old alongside Migaiya. As Aitio recounted Ifatia’s idealized descriptions of Talia, Lanchi nearly gave away Talia’s identity, so Talia dragged him away before the conversation could continue.

• Lanchi and Talia visited Countess Rosalinda to discuss their paintings and met Aitio, the former Holy Silver Vine Arena champion and lord of District 9.
• Aitio said she wanted to care for Hughberlian like a mother, but explained that she and Hughberlian had never become very close.
• Aitio revealed that Ifatia had considered searching the Krui Di Empire for an Ancient Potential Secret Medicine so she could grow old with Migaiya.
• Rosalinda proposed displaying Lanchi and Talia’s paintings temporarily at Platinum Forest Palace, and Lanchi agreed.
• Aitio praised Ifatia and repeated her glowing descriptions of Talia, including that Talia was powerful, disciplined, and queenly.
• Lanchi described Talia using Zestira’s dramatic account of her, and Talia pulled him away before he could reveal her identity.

Lanchi and Nigel headed toward the Bosen Demon Realm to prepare for a possible confrontation with the Curse Spreader, while Chief Zefa revealed the demon lords’ strength and growing unrest over the Senate’s searches. The chapter ended as they reached the checkpoint, with Lanchi teasing the sleeping Talia about her optimism.

• Talia returned to Lanchi’s Soul Space, and Lanchi met Nigel outside the Holy Silver Vine Arena, where Nigel entrusted him with a crystal-key pendant.
• As Lanchi and Nigel traveled toward the Bosen Demon Realm, Nigel described the Curse Spreader’s deadly curses and disguises and compared his strength to that of his teacher, Perlman Quelston.
• Lanchi contacted Chief Zefa, who gave the demon lords’ strength levels and warned that rumors blaming the Senate for Palroni’s curse had fueled protests and violence near District 6.
• Lanchi and Talia considered the curse’s effects and compared the strength of demon leaders, prompting Talia to insist that her sister Ifatia was not stronger than her.
• Nigel explained that Perlman had opposed the war and worked for peaceful coexistence between humans and demons, and Lanchi and Nigel entered the checkpoint leading into the Bosen Demon Realm.

At Perlman’s birthday banquet, he exposed the Senate’s secret research on Palroni’s Grudge Record and rallied the demons around a figure disguised as Ifatia, while Aitio and Nigel opposed him. As the curse unleashed berserk demons across Flower Capital Pariel, Nigel and Aitio fought Perlman, and the district lords hesitated as the city’s defenses neared collapse.

• Lanchi encouraged Nigel to approach Ciara, but Perlman’s arrival and speech stopped Nigel as he began to face her.
• Perlman showed footage of the Senate’s hidden research institute, where the disguised Curse Spreader stole Palroni’s Grudge Record, then presented her as Ifatia and called for revenge against humans.
• Aitio challenged Perlman and denied that the figure on the screen was Ifatia, but Perlman restrained her and tried to persuade Nigel to join him.
• The Curse Spreader activated the Grudge Record, unleashing berserk demons across the South Bank of Flower Capital Pariel and heading for the Senate’s Secret Keys.
• Nigel attacked Perlman and joined Aitio in a fierce battle, while Astros and Eureka watched from afar and weighed whether to intervene.

Lanchi disguised himself as Loren to protect Aitio and draw Perlman away, but Perlman saw through the ruse and pursued him. As the people of Pariel lost hope and Perlman confronted the figure hiding behind a wall, the chapter ended before Lanchi’s identity was revealed.

• Aitio and Nigel fought Perlman in District 10 while Perlman declared that he would lead Pariel and the Bosen Kingdom into a new age.
• Inoan subdued the berserk maids at the Earl Baptiste Estate, while the Baptiste family sheltered as violence spread across Pariel.
• Beelzebub searched Duke Tiffany’s estate for her Secret Key, then inferred that Nigel had taken it with him.
• Perlman transformed Nigel into a berserk Cursed Demon, and Aitio struggled to hold off both him and Perlman.
• Lanchi used the Wind Slab’s power and a Loren disguise to shield Aitio, then taunted Perlman into revealing his transformed strength before fleeing.
• Perlman pursued Lanchi through District 10 and confronted the figure hiding behind a wall, but the chapter ended before the figure’s identity was revealed.

Lanchi and Talia fought Perlman across the storm-lashed North Bank, using layered feints and sealing magic to draw him into a decisive clash. The battle ended with Perlman gravely wounded, while Talia realized Lanchi had wielded the genuine Primordial Slab-Seal.

• Citizens watching the battle mistook the Gray Robed Man for Askesang, while Bruton suspected someone was secretly directing events to correct the course of the rebellion.
• Beelzebub abandoned his plan to collect the last defense-hub key and headed to District 4 to ensure Luo Qi McCarthy could be eliminated.
• Lanchi traded attacks with Perlman, disguising the Seal Slab as a fake and using Talia’s defenses and sealing cards to wear him down.
• Lanchi told Talia to go all out, and she appeared in her full Demon King form, trapping Perlman with vines and spatial rifts.
• Perlman unleashed a final psychic assault, but Lanchi and Talia’s sealing magic overwhelmed him and left him gravely wounded.
• Talia realized the Seal Slab was genuine, and Lanchi stood over the defeated Perlman among the ruins.

Lanchi and Talia faced Beelzebub, who controlled Perlman and threatened Christina and the Flower Capital to force them to surrender the Secret Key. As Talia chose to keep fighting, Inoan recovered her sealed memories and revealed herself as Ivanos, the Destruction Bishop, turning the tables on Beelzebub.

• Duke Tiffany watched the battle footage and wondered how Askesang had returned from the dead.
• Lanchi and Talia defeated Perlman, but a fragment of Palroni's Grudge Record let Beelzebub take control of his body.
• Beelzebub showed Lanchi that he had invaded Earl Baptiste's residence, seized Christina, and threatened to kill her and destroy the Flower Capital unless Lanchi handed over the Secret Key.
• Lanchi urged Talia to kill Perlman and save as many people as she could, taking responsibility for the guilt; Talia resolved to fight on.
• As Beelzebub tortured Christina and attacked Inoan, Inoan's memories returned and she revealed that she was Ivanos.
• Ivanos appeared with the Primordial Slab - Fire, rescued Christina, and severed Beelzebub's hand, leaving Lanchi and Talia stunned.

Inoan saved Christina and the Baptiste family, killed Beelzebub, then left to face Lanchi, who killed her when she stopped resisting. As Flower Capital recovered, Lanchi grieved over Inoan’s death and admitted that he could not save everyone, while Talia comforted him.

• Inoan used her Fire and Regeneration spell to revive Christina, protected the Baptiste family, and pursued Beelzebub.
• Inoan caught Beelzebub in South Bank Pariel, killed him, and returned his corpse to the Baptiste mansion before ending her employment contract and leaving Christina behind.
• Inoan met Lanchi in the Bosen Demon Realm and chose to fight him as the Destruction Bishop; she extinguished her flames and let Lanchi’s attack pierce her heart.
• Talia took the Primordial Slab - Fire and led the exhausted Lanchi away as Flower Capital’s demons returned to normal and the city began recovering.
• Lanchi told Talia that Inoan had lacked happy memories to sustain her, admitted he had failed to save her, and accepted Talia’s comfort as dawn broke.

Lanchi woke after nearly two days unconscious and shared an awkward breakfast with Talia, who had cared for him while he recovered. As they parted, he realized he missed their mental connection, while Cat Boss teased him about how safe he had felt in Talia’s arms.

• Lanchi woke in his hotel suite, ate breakfast prepared by Talia, and learned it was Wednesday and he had missed work on Monday.
• The Poet of Great Love returned, then left to sightsee after Talia explained that she and the Poet had separated and that the Poet could now go out on her own.
• Lanchi and Talia awkwardly ate together, and Lanchi realized he could no longer hear her thoughts or communicate with her mentally.
• Talia left to meet Countess Rosalinda, and Cat Boss told Lanchi that Inoan’s remains had been cremated and buried in the Bosen Demon Realm.
• Cat Boss teased Lanchi about feeling safe in Talia’s embrace, but Lanchi denied that he cared about her and left for work.

After giving Christina Inoan’s repaired hair ornament, Lanchi reflected on whether protecting someone through deception was better than letting them face the truth. On his day off, he received a summons from Talia, who challenged him to go on a date.

• Nigel reviewed the Baptiste family investigation with Earl Baptiste while Lanchi served them tea.
• Christina admitted she had misjudged Lanchi, then cried when he gave her Inoan’s repaired hair ornament and said it was best if she never met Inoan again.
• On the terrace, Lanchi discussed authenticity and the choice to deceive Christina with Cat Boss.
• Kyle reminded Lanchi that the Fireworks Ascension Festival was a holiday and told him to rest; Lanchi left the mansion for a walk.
• Talia summoned Lanchi to North Bank and, dressed elegantly, challenged him to go on a date.

Talia followed Aitio and Rosalinda’s advice to invite Lanchi on a date and act gentle so he would stop provoking her. When Lanchi praised her outfit and leaned close, she struggled to contain her anger, leaving Cat Boss afraid he had pushed himself into a deep hole.

• Aitio urged Talia to take Lanchi on a date and treat him gently, while Rosalinda encouraged her and then mourned her lost love.
• Talia invited Lanchi out beneath the iron tower, and he accepted while teasing her about her eight hundred years of charm.
• Lanchi admired Talia’s court attire, and she resolved not to hit him despite his mocking chuckle.
• Talia asked whether her outfit suited her, and Lanchi praised her beauty and stepped close to her.
• Lanchi whispered praise near Talia’s ear, and Cat Boss fled as the air grew cold and Talia restrained herself from erupting.

Lanchi and Talia continued their tense date through Pariel, while Talia forced Karen to wear a humiliating disguise and publicly apologize outside the Card Maker Association. The chapter left Lanchi and Talia walking on together, each determined not to be the first to give in.

• Lanchi and Talia strolled through Pariel as Rosalinda, Aitio, and Cat Boss secretly followed them.
• Lanchi pulled Talia out of the path of a speeding Magic-Powered Vehicle, and the two challenged each other to keep holding hands.
• Talia brought Lanchi to the Card Maker Association, where Karen hurried to meet her after waiting for her arrival.
• Talia gave Karen men's swimming trunks, a mask, and an apology board, then pressured her into changing and obeying.
• Karen stood outside the Association until five in the afternoon while Talia watched her from a window.
• Talia and Lanchi left the Association and continued their date, while Karen saw them together and trembled with humiliation.

Lanchi and Talia toured Platinum Forest Palace, where they discussed art, Talia’s ambitions, and plans to bring Sleeping Beauty back. At an exhibition of Lanchi’s portrait of Talia, a reporter’s questions led Lanchi to reveal his romantic feelings indirectly, leaving Talia flustered as they continued their date.

• Lanchi and Talia admired the museum’s famous paintings and agreed that The Demon Lord's Judgment was their favorite.
• Talia said she would claim the Demon King’s authority if faced with Hughberlian’s situation, and she offered Lanchi her full power for the journey to the Krui Di Empire.
• Talia lingered before Sleeping Beauty, and Lanchi told her he would help bring her back soon.
• Lanchi and Talia encountered an exhibition of Mysterious Beauty, and visitors speculated that the artist had a crush on Talia.
• Lanchi claimed he could not paint, then described the painting as a romantic story and gave Talia his raffle ticket.
• When Talia asked how he knew what her dove looked like, Lanchi said he had painted what he felt and firmly told her she was beautiful, leaving her flustered.

Lanchi and Talia went on a date in Flower Capital Pariel, stubbornly holding hands as they competed to avoid being the first to let go. Their lunch was interrupted by Hughberlian’s call, and the waiter’s mistaken reference to their couple’s set meal left both of them scrambling to explain.

• Lanchi took Talia’s bare hand after she challenged him to hold it, and they walked to the Cologne Zhi Ri Bridge Inn Restaurant without letting go.
• Lanchi and Talia sat together, rejected the restaurant’s couple discount, but accepted its Fireworks Festival raffle tickets and commemorative accessory.
• Talia and Lanchi kept holding hands during lunch, teasing each other about who was refusing to let go while Rosalinda, Aitio, and Cat Boss watched from outside.
• Talia answered Hughberlian’s call and passed the Communication Magic Card to Lanchi while they continued holding hands.
• The waiter called their order a couple’s set meal while offering a replacement dish, leaving Lanchi and Talia silent as Hughberlian listened.

Cui Teacher drew a picture of Sigrid because she felt she had treated her unfairly by not drawing her during the New Year.

• Cui Teacher drew a picture of Sigrid.
• The narrator asked Cui Teacher why she had drawn Sigrid.
• Cui Teacher said she had felt she treated Sigrid unfairly by not drawing her during the New Year.

Lanchi and Talia tried to reassure Hughberlian that they were not on a date, but their hand-holding and Cat Boss’s absence made the call increasingly suspicious. Talia imitated Cat Boss to calm Hughberlian, then endured Lanchi teasing her after the call ended.

• Lanchi explained that Talia had ordered the themed meal and that they were not celebrating the Bosen Kingdom’s festival as a couple.
• When Hughberlian asked whether Cat Boss was there, Lanchi and Talia realized she was missing and feared Hughberlian would misunderstand.
• Talia imitated Cat Boss’s voice over the Communication Magic Card, reassuring Hughberlian and answering Antanas’s questions.
• Antanas told Lanchi, Talia, and Cat Boss that the exploration team had discovered a huge space beneath the Duke’s Family residence.
• After the call ended, Lanchi teased Talia by repeating her catlike phrases, while Talia struggled to keep her temper.

Lanchi and Talia’s competitive lunch turned into an increasingly embarrassing public scene after Talia read his thoughts and challenged him to feed her. They ended up finishing their meal together, both mortified and determined to keep the day’s events secret.

• Lanchi ordered nearly every dish on the menu while Talia resolved to eat enough to make him regret it.
• As they ate, Lanchi suggested letting go of Talia’s hand so she could eat more easily, and Talia accidentally spoke aloud his thought about feeding her.
• Lanchi asked to feed Talia, but when she refused, he released her hand and left her feeling that she had lost their contest.
• Talia sat on Lanchi’s lap and dared him to hold her, leaving him stunned as Rosalinda and Aitio watched from a boat outside.
• After recovering, Lanchi fed Talia a tart in front of the restaurant, and a little girl’s question left them both deeply embarrassed as they hurried to finish lunch.

Lanchi and Talia finished their unusually intimate lunch, then watched the sunset from Montmartre Heights and discussed working together on card making. They left to visit the Temple of the God of Love before trying to create a card again, while the author noted they might take time off for hospital visits.

• Lanchi fed Talia through an afternoon-long meal, teasing her about her weight until she pinched his waist.
• Lanchi and Talia walked to Montmartre Heights, where they rested, joked, and discussed their teamwork during the battle in the Bosen Demon Realm.
• Lanchi suggested they try making cards again that night and explained that Kali Yella was a gentle but formidable Great Demon Race member.
• Talia took Lanchi by the wrist and declared that he had to listen to her as his teacher while they created the card.
• Lanchi and Talia left for the Temple of the God of Love to make a wish before trying card making again.