Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chisato and Duanmu Huai investigate a collective suicide case at a closed factory.
• The factory was previously saved from bankruptcy by an unknown force, and later, its owner's daughter died mysteriously.
• The factory's employees later committed suicide together, believing they couldn't live without the factory.
• The police concluded it as suicide, but a magazine editor suggested it was a curse by the factory owner's daughter's spirit.

Character Developments

• Chisato: Initially confident, she becomes nervous and afraid as they enter the factory, revealing her fear of spectres.
• Duanmu Huai: Shows excitement at the prospect of encountering supernatural entities, confirming her interest in the case and her determination to investigate.

Significant Themes

• Fear of death and the unknown.
• The power of belief and suggestion in driving collective actions.
• The blurring of reality and the supernatural.

Character Interactions

• Duanmu Huai and Chisato: Duanmu Huai's calm and curiosity contrast with Chisato's fear and unease, highlighting their differing attitudes towards the investigation. Duanmu Huai's strength and determination reassure Chisato but also make her feel safer in Duanmu Huai's presence.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chisato and Duanmu Huai are transported to a Warp Space, a dimension filled with fabric and yarn houses and puppets.
• They encounter QB, a talking squirrel-like creature, who reveals they're trapped in a Witch's Barrier.
• The Witch manifests as a monster, and its yarn minions attack Chisato and Duanmu Huai.

Character Developments

• Chisato: Initially flustered, she quickly regains composure and adapts to the situation.
• Duanmu Huai: Calm and collected, he reveals his combat prowess and willingness to fight the Witch.

Significant Themes

• The danger and strangeness of Warp Spaces.
• The malicious nature of Witches, born from curses and causing disasters.
• The concept of Magical Girls, who fight Witches and are granted wishes in return.

Character Interactions

• Chisato and Duanmu Huai work together to evade the yarn puppets and discuss their situation.
• Duanmu Huai questions QB about the factory owner's daughter, revealing his investigative skills and concern for the victim.
• Chisato and Duanmu Huai hesitate to accept QB's offer to become Magical Girls, but Duanmu Huai ultimately decides to fight the Witch without accepting the offer.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chisato witnesses Duanmu Huai's battle against a giant monster (Witch) and its minions, showcasing Duanmu Huai's immense power.
• Duanmu Huai defeats the Witch, and they return to the abandoned factory. A strange black ornament drops from the Witch.
• Duanmu Huai reveals she is the reincarnation of Qin Shi Huang and asks Chisato to transfer her 500,000 yuan to retrieve her treasures.

Character Developments

• Duanmu Huai: Demonstrates her formidable strength and reveals her true identity as the reincarnation of Qin Shi Huang.
• Chisato: Realizes the truth about the Magical Girl system and QB's deception.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between Magical Girls and QB.
• The deception and manipulation by QB.
• The consequences of making deals with unknown entities.

Character Interactions

• Duanmu Huai and Chisato: Duanmu Huai reveals her true identity to Chisato, and they discuss the nature of QB and the Magical Girl system.
• Duanmu Huai and the Witch: Duanmu Huai demonstrates her overwhelming power against the Witch.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chisato struggles to accept the reality of Witches and can't sleep well.
• Duanmu Huai and Chisato visit the editor of a supernatural magazine to gather information.
• Duanmu Huai confronts the editor, Teng Chuan, revealing her identity as a Magical Girl and demanding information about Witches.
• Teng Chuan reveals that his niece was likely killed by a Witch.

Character Developments

• Chisato: Struggles to cope with the revelation of Witches, decides to inform her Commander.
• Duanmu Huai: Shows impatience and assertiveness when dealing with Teng Chuan, revealing her identity as a Magical Girl.
• Teng Chuan: Initially dismissive, becomes cooperative after Duanmu Huai's display of power and reveals personal connection to Witches.

Significant Themes

• The struggle to accept and cope with the existence of supernatural entities (Witches).
• The power dynamics between those who know about the supernatural and those who don't.
• The personal stakes involved in dealing with Witches, as seen through Teng Chuan's niece.

Character Interactions

• Duanmu Huai and Chisato: Duanmu Huai shows indifference to Chisato's plans to inform her Commander, while Chisato is eager to learn more about Witches from Duanmu Huai.
• Duanmu Huai and Teng Chuan: Duanmu Huai uses force to pressure Teng Chuan into revealing information, while Teng Chuan initially dismisses her but eventually cooperates due to Duanmu Huai's display of power and his personal connection to Witches.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Editor Teng Chuan reveals his niece Yuna's death and his belief that it's connected to Magical Girls and Witches.
• Duanmu Huai learns about Yuna's story, her friend's death, and Teng Chuan's investigation into a possible Witch's curse at a factory.
• Duanmu Huai decides to investigate the factory based on Teng Chuan's information.
• Chisato reports the Witch incident to Commander Nanmu and meets Yugiri Ayano from PMC Company AAA, who wants more details about the Witch and Inquisition.

Character Developments

• Duanmu Huai: Shows interest in the case and decides to investigate the factory.
• Chisato: Reports the Witch incident to her superior, demonstrating her responsibility and initiative.
• Yugiri Ayano: Introduced as a professional from PMC Company AAA, showing interest in the Witch and Inquisition information.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural elements: Magical Girls, Witches, Familiars, and Witch's Barrier are introduced as part of the story's supernatural theme.
• Investigation and truth-seeking: Both Duanmu Huai and Chisato are driven by a desire to uncover the truth behind the mysterious deaths.
• Responsibility and duty: Chisato feels responsible for reporting the Witch incident, while Duanmu Huai feels duty-bound to investigate it as a Grand Inquisitor.

Character Interactions

• Duanmu Huai and Teng Chuan: Duanmu Huai interrogates Teng Chuan, who shares his niece's story and his investigation into the Witch's curse.
• Chisato and Commander Nanmu: Chisato reports the Witch incident to Commander Nanmu, who listens and then brings in Yugiri Ayano for further information.
• Chisato and Yugiri Ayano: Yugiri Ayano meets Chisato and asks for more details about the Witch and Inquisition, showing professional interest in the matter.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chisato learns about PMCs (Private Military Companies) and their role in resolving 'D Disasters' (devil possessions).
• She meets Yugiri Ayano, a PMC commander, who seeks her help in understanding the Witch incident.
• Chisato recounts her encounter with QB and the Witch, providing valuable information to Yugiri.
• Duanmu Huai (Xiao Ai) separately investigates the Witch's location and encounters a mysterious Nun in a mountain cabin.

Character Developments

• Chisato: Realizes the existence of PMCs and their different responsibilities from Lycoris. Develops curiosity and interest in the Witch case.
• Yugiri Ayano: Shows professionalism and respect towards Chisato's knowledge. Reveals her eagerness to understand and combat Witches.
• Duanmu Huai (Xiao Ai): Demonstrates initiative in investigating the Witch's location. Encounters an unusual situation with a Nun in a mountain cabin.

Significant Themes

• The existence of different organizations (PMCs and Lycoris) with distinct responsibilities in maintaining order.
• The mysterious nature of Witches, their differences from ordinary Devil Possessed, and the challenges in understanding and combating them.
• The potential hostility between QB and Witches, suggesting a complex relationship among different devil races.

Character Interactions

• Chisato and Yugiri Ayano: Chisato provides crucial information about the Witch to Yugiri, fostering a cooperative relationship.
• Duanmu Huai (Xiao Ai) and the Nun (Sharon Holly Grayle): They encounter each other in an unexpected situation, leading to a polite introduction.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Duanmu Huai and Sharon, a nun from the Starry Sky Church, meet and decide to work together to find the sealed Witch.
• Duanmu Huai shares information about the Inquisition and its criteria for determining humanity (the skull).
• Sharon and Duanmu Huai find the location where the Witch is sealed after a day of searching.

Character Developments

• Duanmu Huai: He shows openness to working with Sharon despite their different backgrounds. He shares information about the Inquisition, revealing his trust in Sharon.
• Sharon: She shows understanding and acceptance of the Inquisition's perspective on humanity. She demonstrates her dedication to her mission by working tirelessly with Duanmu Huai to find the Witch.

Significant Themes

• Cooperation: The chapter emphasizes the importance of working together, with Duanmu Huai and Sharon combining their knowledge and skills to achieve their goal.
• Trust: Duanmu Huai's decision to share information about the Inquisition with Sharon shows his trust in her, despite their different backgrounds and missions.

Character Interactions

• Duanmu Huai and Sharon: They interact positively, sharing information and working together towards their common goal. They show mutual respect and understanding, leading to a productive partnership.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Duanmu Huai and Sharon reach a cave where a stone statue, supposedly a sealed Witch, is found.
• Duanmu Huai easily pulls out a sword from the statue, breaking the seal.
• The statue transforms into a petrified person who attacks Duanmu Huai.
• Sharon attacks Duanmu Huai, aiming to kill the Witch.
• Duanmu Huai reveals his Inquisitor powers, transforming the cave into a holy cathedral and summoning mythical creatures.
• Sharon retreats, threatening future consequences.
• Duanmu Huai decides to use a contract to interrogate the Witch.

Character Developments

• Duanmu Huai: Shows his Inquisitor powers and his willingness to use force against Sharon. He also demonstrates his strategic thinking by using a contract to interrogate the Witch.
• Sharon: Reveals her true intentions and attacks Duanmu Huai. She shows determination but ultimately retreats when faced with Duanmu Huai's power.
• The Witch: Initially appears as a stone statue, then transforms into a petrified person. She shows fear and wariness towards Duanmu Huai.

Significant Themes

• The struggle for power and control between the Inquisition and the Starry Sky Church.
• The deceptive nature of Devils and the danger of being influenced by them.
• The use of force and strategy in dealing with potential threats.

Character Interactions

• Duanmu Huai and Sharon: Their alliance breaks down as they clash over the fate of the Witch. Sharon attacks Duanmu Huai, but he uses his powers to drive her away.
• Duanmu Huai and the Witch: Duanmu Huai decides to use a contract to interrogate the Witch, showing his intention to gain information from her.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Duanmu Huai encounters a Witch, who he believes is the one he's been looking for, but she turns out to be a different entity.
• Duanmu Huai decides to sign a contract with the Witch to gain information, using his lifespan as payment.
• The contract process involves a kiss, during which the Witch attempts to drain Duanmu Huai's lifespan but only succeeds in taking a small amount.
• Duanmu Huai realizes the Witch is not the one he seeks and decides to bring her along as a subordinate.

Character Developments

• Duanmu Huai: Shows adaptability and resilience in the face of unexpected information. He remains calm and makes the best of the situation, deciding to bring the Witch along as a potential asset.
• Kigara (the Witch): Initially hostile and attempting to deceive Duanmu Huai, she becomes his subordinate after the contract. She reveals her backstory, explaining her origins and how she became a Witch.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between Humans and Devils, and the consequences of making deals with them.
• The theme of adaptability and making the best of unexpected situations.
• The exploration of different forms of magic and magical beings.

Character Interactions

• Duanmu Huai and Kigara: Their interaction starts with hostility and deception but evolves into a contractual agreement. Duanmu Huai remains calm and in control, while Kigara is initially surprised and later intrigued by Duanmu Huai's strength and resilience.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Duanmu Huai returns from the Deep Mountain and contacts Chisato, who informs her about AAA's interest in collaborating.
• Duanmu Huai meets with AAA representative Yugiri Ayano and Chisato for dinner to discuss cooperation against Witches.
• Duanmu Huai reveals her true face, causing a commotion with men proposing to her on the street.

Character Developments

• Duanmu Huai: Shows confidence in her position and authority, revealing her true face and causing a scene.
• Kigara: Shows curiosity and agreement with Chisato's admiration for Duanmu Huai's beauty.
• Chisato: Demonstrates her knowledge of good food places and enthusiasm for shopping with Duanmu Huai and Kigara.
• Yugiri Ayano: Initially wary of Kigara, she later accepts Duanmu Huai's decision to protect her.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and authority: Duanmu Huai's confidence in her position allows her to assert her decisions.
• Beauty and attraction: Duanmu Huai's revealed face causes a commotion, highlighting the power of physical attraction.

Character Interactions

• Duanmu Huai and Chisato: They maintain a friendly and casual relationship, with Chisato admiring Duanmu Huai's beauty and Duanmu Huai relying on Chisato for local knowledge.
• Duanmu Huai and Yugiri Ayano: They discuss cooperation against Witches, with Duanmu Huai asserting her authority over Kigara's protection.
• Duanmu Huai and the men on the street: Duanmu Huai's revealed face causes multiple men to propose to her, highlighting the power of her beauty and the chaos it can cause.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chisato takes Kigara shopping, buying furniture for Duanmu Huai's home and items for herself.
• Duanmu Huai and Yugiri Ayano investigate Magical Girl incidents at the DA Headquarters using big data.
• They discover a pattern of girls dying first, followed by suicides, accidents, and disappearances in the same area within two months.
• They decide to monitor two recent hotspot areas for any new incidents.
• Duanmu Huai watches Chisato and Kigara shopping through surveillance cameras.
• DA staff reports an anomaly in C-16 District: people disappearing in an alley.

Character Developments

• Duanmu Huai shows his investigative skills and strategic thinking.
• Chisato's enthusiasm for shopping is revealed.
• Yugiri Ayano demonstrates her analytical skills and dedication to her work.

Significant Themes

• The investigation into Magical Girls and Witches.
• The contrast between Duanmu Huai's practicality and Chisato's enthusiasm for shopping.
• The use of big data and surveillance in investigation and monitoring.

Character Interactions

• Duanmu Huai and Yugiri Ayano work together to analyze data and plan their next steps.
• Chisato and Kigara go shopping together, with Chisato leading the way.
• Duanmu Huai and Yugiri Ayano react to the anomaly in C-16 District, deciding to act immediately.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Duanmu Huai and Yugiri Ayano investigate a sealed-off alley where people vanished.
• They discover a hidden entrance to a Witch Barrier in a trash can.
• Inside the Witch Barrier, they encounter crayon-like Familiars and a giant, crayon-drawn Witch.
• Duanmu Huai defeats the Witch, and they return to the real world.
• Yugiri Ayano is given a powerful, futuristic-looking gun by Duanmu Huai.
• Duanmu Huai asks Yugiri Ayano for detailed information about a girl who died mysteriously in the area.

Character Developments

• Duanmu Huai: Shows his ability to see Witch Barriers and his combat skills against Witches. He also displays generosity by giving Yugiri Ayano a powerful gun.
• Yugiri Ayano: Fights alongside Duanmu Huai against the Witch and her Familiars. She shows bravery and adaptability in using the new gun. She also demonstrates professionalism in her duty as an AAA captain.

Significant Themes

• The Unknown: The Witch Barrier's strange, crayon-drawn appearance and the mysterious death of the girl highlight the unknown aspects of their world.
• Power and Weapons: The Plasma Gun given to Yugiri Ayano by Duanmu Huai showcases the power of advanced weapons and the potential for allies to gain an advantage.

Character Interactions

• Duanmu Huai and Yugiri Ayano: They work together to fight against the Witch and her Familiars, showing trust and cooperation. Duanmu Huai's willingness to give Yugiri Ayano the powerful gun also indicates a level of camaraderie.
• Yugiri Ayano and her Subordinates: Yugiri Ayano's subordinates show concern for her safety and follow her orders, demonstrating their loyalty and respect for her as their captain.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Witch is defeated, and the disappeared individuals reappear in the real world.
• Duanmu Huai returns home to find it redecorated by Chisato.
• Duanmu Huai finds a mysterious black sphere dropped by the Witch, which Kigara identifies as a container for a twisted, despairing soul.
• At AAA, an alarm goes off due to the dangerous nature of the plasma pistol, which is revealed to contain a miniature nuclear reactor.

Character Developments

• Duanmu Huai shows concern for others' safety, refusing to let Kigara consume the soul inside the black sphere.
• Yugiri Ayano realizes the danger of the plasma pistol and decides to ask Duanmu Huai to take it back.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of unknowingly handling powerful, dangerous weapons.
• The struggle between curiosity and caution when encountering the unknown.

Character Interactions

• Duanmu Huai and Kigara discuss the black sphere, with Duanmu Huai refusing to let Kigara consume the soul inside.
• Yugiri Ayano and her mother discuss the plasma pistol's danger and decide to have Duanmu Huai take it back.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Duanmu Huai is called by AAA to retrieve a mysterious gun, which they believe is too risky to study due to its potential nuclear capabilities.
• Duanmu Huai and Yugiri Ayano investigate the death of a girl named Honda Miyo, suspecting she might be connected to the recent Witch Barrier incidents.
• Duanmu Huai and Kigara discuss the possibility of girls turning into Witches after death due to intense emotions, with Kigara suggesting it's rare and usually involves external influence.

Character Developments

• Duanmu Huai demonstrates her authoritative stance and dominance, silencing Kigara when she criticizes Humans.
• Yugiri Ayano and Chisato gain a deeper understanding of the Inquisition's Human Supremacist ideology.

Significant Themes

• The Inquisition's Human Supremacism: Duanmu Huai's actions and words emphasize the Inquisition's unyielding support for Humans and opposition to non-Human entities.
• The power of intense emotions: Kigara suggests that intense emotions can twist a Soul, potentially leading to monstrous mutations.

Character Interactions

• Duanmu Huai and Kigara: Duanmu Huai asserts her dominance over Kigara, reminding her of the Inquisition's stance on non-Human interference in Human affairs.
• Yugiri Ayano and Chisato: The two discuss and gain a better understanding of the Inquisition's ideology through Duanmu Huai's actions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Witch Investigation Team, led by AAA, investigates potential Witch sightings and online information.
• They take on a mission to protect the Mayor from a suspected Devil Possessed student at a banquet.
• The student, revealed to be a Devil Possessed, attempts to assassinate the Mayor but is stopped by the team.
• The team discovers a lead on Witches and Magical Girls in Kamihama City.

Character Developments

• AAA and the team demonstrate their investigative and protective skills.
• Chisato shows bravery and caution in handling a powerful weapon (Plasma Pistol).
• Duanmu Huai reveals his strength and indifference towards crowded places.

Significant Themes

• The threat of Devil Possessed and their abilities.
• The team's dedication to protecting humans from supernatural threats.
• The importance of thorough investigation and preparation.

Character Interactions

• AAA, Chisato, and Kigara work together to protect the Mayor.
• Duanmu Huai provides support and reveals the mission's success.
• The team shares information and decides to follow a new lead in Kamihama City.

Key Plot Points and Events

• DA Headquarters uses a supercomputer to monitor communications, revealing a sudden increase in messages about Magical Girls and their salvation in Kamihama City.
• The team decides to catch a Magical Girl for interrogation, planning to monitor Witch-infested areas.
• Mami, a Magical Girl, prepares to eliminate a Witch, unaware of the DA's plan and the recent intrusion on her territory.

Character Developments

• Duanmu Huai: Decisive and strategic, he suggests catching a Magical Girl for interrogation and plans to monitor Witch-infested areas.
• Mami: Confident in her abilities, she feels annoyed by the intrusion on her territory but remains focused on her mission to eliminate Witches.

Significant Themes

• Privacy vs. Security: The use of a supercomputer to monitor communications raises questions about privacy and security.
• Magical Girls' Society: The mention of Magical Girls' rules and territories hints at their hidden society.
• Trust and Friendship: QB warns Mami that the intruders are not their friends, emphasizing the importance of trust and friendship among Magical Girls.

Character Interactions

• Duanmu Huai and his team discuss their plan to catch a Magical Girl, showing unity and agreement.
• Mami and QB interact, displaying a close relationship and mutual respect, with QB providing guidance and Mami seeking QB's opinion.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mami Tomoe enters a Witch's barrier, defeats the Witch, but is then attacked by Duanmu Huai, a Grand Inquisitor from the Inquisition.
• Duanmu Huai summons stone lion Familiars to attack Mami, who manages to defeat them but is then caught off guard by Duanmu Huai's surprise attack.
• Duanmu Huai captures Mami and gives her a choice: answer her questions or die.

Character Developments

• Mami Tomoe: Shows her combat experience and skills but is eventually overpowered and captured.
• Duanmu Huai: Reveals her identity as a Grand Inquisitor and demonstrates her powerful abilities and strategic thinking.

Significant Themes

• The harsh reality of Magical Girls' lives, where they must also fight each other for territory.
• The power dynamics between Magical Girls and the Inquisition.

Character Interactions

• Mami and Duanmu Huai: Their initial encounter is hostile, with Duanmu Huai capturing Mami after a fierce battle.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Duanmu Huai captures Mami Tomoe, a Magical Girl, and interrogates her.
• Mami Tomoe is forced to reveal information after Duanmu Huai threatens her and dispels her Magical Girl form.
• Duanmu Huai and the AAA team identify Mami Tomoe and plan to investigate her connections to find other Magical Girls.

Character Developments

• Mami Tomoe: Initially defiant and resolute, Mami Tomoe breaks under Duanmu Huai's interrogation, revealing her identity and information about Magical Girls. Her resolve weakens once her Magical Girl form is dispelled.
• Duanmu Huai: Demonstrates ruthless and manipulative interrogation tactics, using threats and psychological pressure to extract information from Mami Tomoe.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamic between captor and captive, and how it can be manipulated to extract information.
• The vulnerability of Magical Girls when their transformation is removed.

Character Interactions

• Duanmu Huai vs. Mami Tomoe: Duanmu Huai uses threats, manipulation, and psychological pressure to break Mami Tomoe's resolve and extract information.
• Duanmu Huai vs. AAA Staff: Duanmu Huai works with AAA staff to investigate and interrogate Mami Tomoe, demonstrating a cooperative relationship between the two organizations.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mami Tomoe reveals information about Magical Girls, QB, Soul Stones, and Grief Seeds under interrogation.
• Duanmu Huai and his team discuss the implications of Mami's revelations.
• Mami Tomoe suddenly collapses and appears dead, but later revives.

Character Developments

• Mami Tomoe: Initially defiant, she breaks down and reveals information under questioning. She appears to have no control over her own life and death.
• Duanmu Huai: He remains calm and analytical even in unexpected situations, showing his strategic thinking and adaptability.
• Chisato: She displays a mix of curiosity, panic, and naivety, reacting strongly to the sudden events.

Significant Themes

• Power and Control: QB's control over Magical Girls and their lives is emphasized.
• Death and Resurrection: Mami Tomoe's sudden death and revival highlight the mysterious and otherworldly aspects of the story.
• Information Gathering: The team's interrogation of Mami Tomoe reveals crucial information about the Magical Girl world.

Character Interactions

• Duanmu Huai and Chisato: They interact as a team, with Chisato often reacting emotionally to events, while Duanmu Huai remains calm and analytical.
• Duanmu Huai and Yugiri Ayano: They work together, with Yugiri Ayano following Duanmu Huai's lead in handling the situation with Mami Tomoe.
• Mami Tomoe and the team: Mami Tomoe is initially hostile but becomes cooperative under interrogation. Her sudden death and revival cause confusion and concern among the team.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mami Tomoe's sudden death and revival are medically inexplicable.
• Duanmu Huai deduces that Mami's Soul Stone is the cause, and tests confirm it.
• Duanmu Huai decides to sign a Contract and become a Magical Girl to gather more information.

Character Developments

• Mami Tomoe learns about her death and the Soul Stone's role, leading to her questioning QB's motives.
• Duanmu Huai shows determination to take risks for the sake of his mission.
• Kigara feels neglected and expresses her feelings in a side conversation.

Significant Themes

• The mysterious nature of Magical Girls and their Contracts.
• The importance of gathering information and understanding the truth.
• The risks and potential rewards of taking action.

Character Interactions

• Duanmu Huai, Mami Tomoe, Chisato, Yugiri Ayano, and Kigara discuss Mami's death and the Soul Stone's role.
• Duanmu Huai decides to become a Magical Girl, facing dissent from Chisato and Yugiri Ayano.
• Mami Tomoe reveals that Akemi Homura warned her about QB's deception, leading to Duanmu Huai's decision to find Homura.
• Kigara expresses her feelings of neglect in a side conversation, highlighting her unrequited love for Duanmu Huai.