Chapter Summaries

After an actor’s sudden departure disrupted Jiang Han’s production, the crew interviewed replacement performers while Jiang Han spoke with conductor Sun Xuelian about love and her possible acting work. The chapter left Jiang Han learning how much work went into staging a production.

• An English supporting actor enlisted in the British Army, forcing Jiang Han’s crew to revise its posters and seek approval to hire a replacement.
• The Commission Approval Bureau sent a witch to interview applicants, and Jiang Han and Sun Xuelian rejected a catgirl witch before meeting a Krakenfolk witch.
• Sun Xuelian praised the Krakenfolk applicant’s beauty, then said that loving her wife did not stop her from loving other women.
• Jiang Han told Sun Xuelian that she believed she would find someone to love faithfully, and Sun Xuelian said she seemed more like a land-dweller than a witch.
• Sun Xuelian offered to recommend Jiang Han for land-girl roles and explained that conductors also handled music, scripts, and production coordination.

Jiang Han learned from the sea monster witch Ktus that Kraken was despised by many European sea witches for betraying them and stealing their technology and bloodline. Hoping to help Kraken reconnect with the sea monster witches, Jiang Han planned to trick Ktus into meeting her and left Kraken expecting a surprise the next day.

• Jiang Han introduced herself to Ktus, who explained that sea monster witches disliked being called Krakens.
• Ktus told Jiang Han that Kraken had betrayed Europe, stolen technology, and been rejected by the sea witches’ social network.
• Jiang Han suggested that Ktus meet Kraken, but Ktus refused and left after discussing her resentment.
• Jiang Han decided to trick Ktus into meeting Kraken the following day.
• At a bone broth shop, Jiang Han messaged Kraken that she had a surprise for her but would reveal it tomorrow.

Jiang Han tried to befriend Kesuhutusi by presenting herself as a cute, youthful witch and making herself seem hard to get. Kesuhutusi invited Jiang Han to dinner, and Jiang Han left her eager to meet again.

• Jiang Han borrowed Jiang Zhenling's stockings and dressed warmly before heading out.
• Jiang Han reviewed Kesuhutusi's interests and waited near the Squirrel Society, hoping to attract her attention.
• Kesuhutusi noticed Jiang Han, flirted with her, and suggested they have dinner together after the performance.
• Jiang Han declined by saying she had promised to go home, then cheerfully went inside and left Kesuhutusi wanting another chance to see her.

Jiang Han disguised herself to avoid Ketus, then joined her backstage during a musical at Haisen Theatre. After Ketus returned drenched and shivering from her performance, Jiang Han warmed her hands.

• Jiang Han pretended to be a performer from a neighboring production to evade Ketus, then watched Ketus disappear behind a wall.
• At Haisen Theatre, Jiang Han learned from Ketus that Mei Ying's fame drew large audiences and chatted with her backstage.
• Jiang Han performed a brief Sea Siren song before returning backstage to talk with Ketus.
• Ketus performed her solo in a real downpour, and the crew made her dry off by hand without using magic.
• Jiang Han clasped Ketus's cold hands in hers and asked if she felt warmer.

Jiang Han befriended Kesuhutusi after they performed together in a musical, while secretly planning to introduce her to Kraken. After they parted, Jiang Han headed home through the growing cold and saw the city setting up fuel stone charging rooms.

• Jiang Han learned that Kesuhutusi held a Water Dragon Certificate and privately messaged Kraken that she planned to bring the sea monster witch to her.
• Jiang Han and Kesuhutusi bonded over Ghost Seals while watching the musical, then joined the cast for photographs and collected their pay.
• Jiang Han and Kesuhutusi exchanged phone numbers and agreed to go out together in the next few days.
• Jiang Han waved goodbye to Kesuhutusi outside the Squirrel Committee and decided to head home because the weather had grown cold.
• Jiang Han passed city hall witches setting up fuel stone charging rooms and posting instructions outside them.

Kraken and Jiang Han manipulated Ketus into feeling sympathy for Kraken, then persuaded her to bring influential sea monster witches to the Sea Shepherds' camp. After Jiang Han gave Ketus a day of attentive after-sales service, Bai Enqiu promised Jiang Han a special reward and teased her about her upcoming A2 exam and admiration for Xuelun Curie.

• Kraken invented a tragic childhood story, and Jiang Han helped her make Ketus cry with sympathy.
• Kraken described missing her old underwater pastimes, and Ketus agreed to bring sea monster sisters to the Sea Shepherds' camp.
• Jiang Han spent a day accompanying Ketus, who recovered from her impulsive purchase and invited Jiang Han to meet her at the Squirrel Committee.
• Bai Enqiu told Jiang Han to bring up to three trusted witches and take a week off for a special reward, while warning her not to tell Anjie.
• Bai Enqiu encouraged Jiang Han about her A2 exam and sent photos of Xuelun Curie and Kraken with the Sindra Prize, teasing Jiang Han for admiring someone who had never won an award.

Jiang Han chose three trusted companions to meet Kraken and secured leave from Witch House so they could spend a week with the Great Witch. She invited Chen Ligu and her younger sister Jiang Zhenling, then planned to ask Jiang Miao to join them.

• Jiang Han decided to bring Jiang Zhenling, Jiang Miao, and Chen Ligu to meet Kraken, valuing family ties and Chen Ligu's discretion.
• Jiang Han asked Qin Shunying for leave, and the manager approved two weeks off.
• Jiang Han called Chen Ligu and invited her to spend a week with Kraken starting the day after tomorrow; Chen Ligu eagerly agreed.
• Jiang Han invited Jiang Zhenling, who immediately accepted and promised to pack, while Jiang Han planned to ask Jiang Miao too.

Jiang Han returned to the family home, where Jiang Miao and Zhen Ling had transformed it into a cozy winter retreat. She then postponed ten Witch House appointments by eight to nine days so she could accompany other witches, leaving her to manage the apologies and prepare for the rescheduled work.

• Jiang Han arrived home and found Ice Bear dancing in the garden, then explored the winter preparations her family had made throughout the house.
• Jiang Miao relaxed in the living-room hot spring, joked with Jiang Han, and exchanged a playful attack with her before Jiang Han went upstairs.
• Zhen Ling came downstairs holding a dress and asked what had happened, while Jiang Han silently indicated the pool.
• Jiang Han soundproofed her room and called the witches whose appointments had been postponed, offering sincere apologies and compensation.
• Jiang Han explained that her Witch House work included companionship, outings, study sessions, and spell support, and that her thirty-client limit meant only ten clients were affected.

Jiang Han brought Jiang Zhenling, Chen Ligu, and Jiang Miao to meet Kraken and learn about the trip’s payment. Kraken revealed that they would spend a week exploring Gaia, where the stalled expedition had uncovered a strange world of Sky Islands and teleporting waterways.

• Jiang Han arranged to bring her younger sister Jiang Zhenling, Chen Ligu, and her cousin Jiang Miao to meet Kraken.
• Kraken welcomed the group with tea and desserts, then explained spell specialties to the younger witches.
• Kraken told them their destination was Gaia, a Z-type space entered through South City, where they would spend a week exploring.
• Kraken explained that the expedition had stalled after discovering oxygen at about six thousand meters and a network of Sky Islands linked by teleportation.
• Kraken described how expedition members became engrossed in exploring the islands and their sky rivers, delaying Gaia’s development.

Kraken briefed Jiang Han on research from Z-rated folded spaces and served her a meal featuring Gray Gold Dragon. She then showed Jiang Han and the others equipment prepared for their expedition to Gaia the next day.

• Kraken warned Jiang Han that the research dossier on new species, materials, and minerals had to remain secret.
• Jiang Han read the Sea Shepherds’ chaotic notes about Deep Sea Fairies and their unusual organs.
• Kraken served Jiang Han, Jiang Miao, Zhen Ling, and Chen Ligu a dinner featuring Gray Gold Dragon steak and other dishes.
• Jiang Han followed Kraken to the equipment room, where Kraken showed them a protective item called the Shame Mark.
• Kraken demonstrated a waterproof lantern and soap sprites among the other tools prepared for the trip to Gaia.

Jiang Han and her companions prepared to leave Kraken's reception room and used his pet Adele to sneak past the guarded entrance to Gaia. After a frightening encounter with a mysterious Witch on the passage, Jiang Han emerged safely into Gaia and reunited with the others.

• Jiang Han and the others woke, washed, dressed for winter travel, and packed their belongings before leaving with Kraken.
• Kraken introduced his ghost octopus Adele, who opened a green-flame passage that let the group bypass Gaia's normal entrance procedures.
• Jiang Han followed the azure path through the passage and encountered a powerful, silent Witch surrounded by wraiths, who vanished without attacking her.
• Jiang Han ran through a green-flame vortex and emerged into Gaia, where she spotted Kraken and the others waiting nearby.

Jiang Han and her companions met Old God Gaia at Kraken’s island refuge and learned that the ominous magic Jiang Han had encountered belonged to the powerful Apex Witch Dinesha, who was seeking wood from Gaia’s World Tree. Gaia departed to protect the tree, while Kraken reassured the group that their stay was safe and promised rewards from the island’s riches.

• Kraken introduced Gaia as an old god who had become a witch, and Gaia explained that she had sensed a terrifying magical force entering the world.
• Jiang Han described the mysterious witch she had encountered, and Kraken identified her as Dinesha, an Apex Witch known for her firearms and staves.
• Kraken explained that Dinesha likely wanted wood from Gaia’s World Tree to make an enchanted weapon.
• Gaia thanked Jiang Han and Kraken for the information, then left to watch over her tree.
• Kraken told the group that Gaia’s feud would not affect them at the lodging site and promised them valuable plants and ores as rewards.

The witches explored Silver Island, where Kraken introduced them to a rare plant that could purify alcohol without removing its intoxicating effects. Kraken offered to share its use with Jiang Han and her companions, while explaining her grudge against Angelite.

• Kraken described Silver Island’s warm climate and the near-constant rainfall across Gaia, then led the witches to the shore for fishing and a barbecue.
• Kraken showed Jiang Han and the others a rare plant and invited them to share the knowledge about it as people Jiang Han trusted.
• Jiang Han explained that the plant’s low match rate meant it was exceptionally rare among witches’ research materials.
• Kraken revealed that the plant’s juice filtered and restored substances, was harmless to witches, and could kill land-dwellers in a single drop.
• Kraken complained that Angelite had beaten Gaia into surrender and controlled the rights to Dinesha’s music, forcing her to pay royalties to perform her own songs.
• Kraken explained that the plant could purify alcohol’s harmful effects while leaving its intoxicating effect intact, allowing witches to make harmless vodka.

Jiang Han and her companions examined Kraken’s newly discovered bamboo, and Kraken rewarded her with stalks while warning that Gaia’s plants would soon be added to botany exams. After a relaxing evening with Kraken, they played a living tabletop roleplaying game and discussed Angelite’s many credited creations.

• Jiang Han asked Kraken for the plant’s scientific name, and Kraken proposed an elaborate provisional name for the bamboo.
• Kraken explained the bamboo’s roots and research history, gave Jiang Han about two hundred sealed stalks, and warned that Gaia’s plants would be included in next year’s A2 botany exams.
• Jiang Han realized her cousin Jiang Miao would have to face the expanded exam syllabus, while Kraken spent the day treating the group to food, swimming, and a sea-monster transformation.
• Jiang Han and the others played a living tabletop roleplaying game, where characters could resist their players and die permanently.
• Jiang Han wondered whether Angelite was a transmigrator, and Kraken explained that Angelite’s studios accounted for her many credited works.
• Chen Ligu said the Ultimate Witch had introduced permanent character deaths to increase sales of replacement pieces.

Jiang Han encountered Dinesha while checking on the newly planted Kraken bamboo at night and struck up a conversation with the mysterious gunstaff Witch. After getting Dinesha’s contact information, Jiang Han realized she had been chatting her up out of professional habit.

• The witches prepared for sleep, and Jiang Han and Jiang Miao discussed the value of their hair as Chen Ligu and Kraken explained its uses as magical material.
• Jiang Han woke around three in the morning, left the tent, and walked down the mountain to check on the Kraken bamboo.
• At the bamboo, Jiang Han and Dinesha startled each other and briefly took defensive positions before recognizing one another.
• Dinesha told Jiang Han she was Kraken’s arch-enemy and had come to rob Gaia, while Jiang Han asked about her gunstaff and praised her.
• Jiang Han chatted with Dinesha and got her contact information, then wondered why she had tried to turn the Witch into a client.

Jiang Han relaxed in a healing spring and met Dinesha, a ghost Witch who explained her unusual nature before slipping away to avoid Kraken. Kraken arrived and told Jiang Han that Dinesha had wounded Gaia and stolen three branches of the World Tree, then said she and others would confront Dinesha.

• Jiang Han soaked her feet in the spring and asked Dinesha whether she could teleport anywhere.
• Dinesha described herself as a ghost Witch and offered Jiang Han protection services for one hundred and fifty thousand per job.
• Dinesha sensed Kraken approaching, explained that they had a conflict, and escaped through a crack in space.
• Kraken arrived after sensing abnormal magical fluctuations, and Jiang Han pretended not to know what had happened.
• Kraken told Jiang Han that Dinesha had wounded Gaia and stolen three branches of the World Tree, and said she, Anjie, and Agatha would warn Dinesha.
• Jiang Han asked Kraken for extra-strong coffee before heading back to sleep.

Kraken rewarded Jiang Han and her companions with a ten-hour stay in a Crystal Cavern that could increase magical reserves or strengthen other abilities. As the witches entered, Jiang Han sensed the cavern’s magic asking what she wanted to enhance, and Kraken explained that only witches with overflowing magic power could choose.

• Jiang Han and the others ate a lavish meal prepared by Kraken’s Chef Hamster before heading to the Crystal Cavern.
• Kraken revealed that the cavern could grant each of five witches roughly two thousand points of magical reserve and improve their growth potential.
• Kraken recommended that Jiang Han strengthen her Eternal Ice Eye, while the other witches hurried to fetch their tabletop role-playing game for the long stay.
• Kraken led the group into the cavern, where Jiang Han felt its magic ask what she wanted to strengthen.

Jiang Han and Kraken absorbed magic in the Crystal Cavern while Kraken explained how witches could find opportunities to grow and revealed that Eileen, a former Great Witch, would soon be reborn from the sun. Eileen could eventually seek revenge on Angelite, but she would first need to regain a legal identity and complete her witch qualifications.

• Jiang Han and Kraken slowed their magic absorption after realizing they might drain the Crystal Cavern before the other girls could benefit.
• Kraken told Jiang Han that witches could find chances to grow throughout the universe, including on the sun, where the former Great Witch Eileen had hidden after losing to Angelite.
• Kraken explained that Eileen would likely return to Earth in a body of about ten years old within the next few months.
• Kraken told Jiang Han that Eileen would need legal identification and A1, A2, and A3 qualifications before she could apply for a revenge battle against Angelite.
• Jiang Han learned that Eileen's remaining grounds for a legal battle came from the grievance of the fallen Fifth Empire, while Lin Zhaojun's claim against Lilith had expired because Lin had not passed A3.

Jiang Han awakened the rare seventh-circle spell-like ability Rain of Omniscience and learned how its rain forms could sense enemies, strengthen allies, and overwhelm foes. She told Kraken and her family about the ability, and Kraken explained its rarity and revealed that she had chosen spell-like abilities over luck because they were more fun.

• Jiang Han discovered that the Eternal Ice Eye had granted her Rain of Omniscience, which could summon different kinds of rain, detect enemies, and duplicate spells through puddles.
• Jiang Han left the Crystal Cavern, jumped into the cold pool, and told Jiang Miao, Jiang Zhenling, and Kraken that she could summon rainwater.
• Kraken identified Rain of Omniscience as a powerful rare seventh-circle spell and said that Agatha and Lilith were famous users of it.
• Kraken explained that Jiang Han’s instant-cast spell-like ability made Rain of Omniscience especially formidable in duels and competitions.
• Jiang Han learned that Kraken had chosen spell-like abilities instead of luck because she valued their enjoyment more.

Jiang Han woke at the Night Watchers’ camp, bathed with help from pixies, and shared cocoa with Jiang Miao. Their conversation revealed that the group was taking the day off before visiting the coral mountains, while Angelite’s branded products hinted at plans to expand her business in South City.

• Jiang Han woke around eleven and bathed while pixies washed and dried her hair and body.
• Jiang Han examined the automatic notebook bearing Angelite’s family crest and trademark.
• Jiang Miao told Jiang Han that the group had played until eight in the morning and had the day off before visiting the coral mountains beneath the sky sea.
• Jiang Miao prepared gray chocolate cocoa for herself and Jiang Han, and Jiang Han noticed Angelite’s crest on both the mug and the packaging.
• Jiang Han suspected that Angelite had moved the camp to South City to expand her market as well as repair the servers.