Recaps

Laibo, a struggling Elemental School apprentice, commissioned Fran to make a Fireball Spell Ring after Keliqi recommended her. After several attempts, Fran successfully turned a yellow spell crystal red, leaving Laibo with a completed ring.

• Laibo visited Keliqi at the Best Weapon Shop and asked whether the artisan who made Spell Focus Rings had recovered.
• Keliqi directed Laibo to Fran's listing, which offered commissions for Spell Rings at unusually low prices.
• Laibo went to Fran's workshop and asked her to make a Fireball ring, despite having no materials.
• Fran had Laibo cast Fireball while she manipulated spell gems, and the first two attempts failed.
• Fran completed the ring on the third attempt, turning the yellow spell crystal red.

Laibo tested Fran’s enhanced Spell Ring and ordered six more Fireball rings, then challenged Jielin to another duel. The rings let Laibo overwhelm Jielin with rapid, powerful Fireballs, and Jielin surrendered.

• Laibo confirmed that Fran’s Spell Ring improved his casting and asked her to add reduced cooldown time and coordinated casting.
• Laibo ordered six more Fireball rings, and Fran began making them.
• Laibo returned to the Elemental School’s headquarters and provoked Jielin into a rematch.
• Jielin cast Flame Shield, but Laibo’s enhanced Fireballs struck faster and harder than before.
• Laibo sent two Fireballs at Jielin from opposite sides, and Jielin surrendered to save himself.

Fran discovered that Star Gazing Art could help her recall knowledge from her past life, then witnessed a future battle in which she fought a group of armed opponents. She left the vision unconscious after killing a white-armored attacker, with a second-order Professional still facing her.

• Fran realized Elan could not understand her steam-engine textbook because the Magic World did not teach physics, so she began writing down basic physics knowledge.
• Fran used Star Gazing Art to call up a familiar high school physics textbook in her mind and found she could turn its pages.
• Fran entered a vision of a future confrontation in a rocky valley, where she wore a Forge School mage robe and faced seven or eight armed opponents.
• Fran used Earth Uplift to disrupt the opposing group, then blocked a first-order Professional's greatsword strike with Sword Dance.
• Fran killed the white-armored attacker with her longsword, after which the black-armored leader held back the others and Fran lost consciousness.

A Formal Mage and Alliance Investigator named Ka'erfu questioned Fran about her Spell Ring craft and dagger orders while investigating Belori’s disappearance. Fran traced her skills and orders to her mentor, Harbos, and Ka'erfu left without further questions, though Fran worried that more investigators would come.

• Keliqi directed Ka'erfu, an Alliance Investigator, to Fran after Ka'erfu asked where to find the Spell Ring maker.
• Fran persuaded Bela to let her make a Spell Ring to help Bela cast Sword Dance faster.
• Ka'erfu questioned Fran about her Spell Ring technique, her many dagger orders, and their possible connection to Belori’s disappearance.
• Fran said she had ordered the daggers to practice enchanting and had learned Spell Ring-making from her mentor, Harbos, head of the Forge School.
• Ka'erfu recognized Harbos as a Fourth Order Mage, apologized, and left; Fran told Bela she was safe but considered shifting suspicion elsewhere.

Fran practiced newly acquired spells and realized she had reached the first stage of advancement toward becoming a Formal Mage. She planned to create a system of mechanical spells before advancing, hoping it would grant her a specialty and help with future promotions.

• Fran reviewed the spells she had learned through commissions and practiced Soul Creation on a corpse, gaining a little proficiency.
• Fran used the Sword Dance and Poison Mist Spell rings, raising both spells to three proficiency points.
• After finishing her manuscript, Fran realized she had reached the first step of advancement and sensed she was close to the second.
• Fran's Constitution reached 3.0 after Elven Swordsmanship reached Mastery, and her mental power rose to 3.3 through learning spells.
• Fran concluded that 3.5 mental power would let her advance to Formal Mage and decided to create multiple mechanical spells first to form a system and earn a specialty.

Taen sought confirmation of Belori's promise to give him Transmutation Surgery instruction, and Lucy intervened to make Luosiqi acknowledge it. After Taen left, Lucy turned to Luosiqi and said Belori's disappearance was the real reason she had come.

• Taen decided to ask Luosiqi to confirm Belori's promise after learning that Belori had disappeared.
• Luosiqi denied that Belori had promised Taen a place on the Transmutation Surgery instructional list and ordered him out.
• Lucy arrived, and Taen explained what Belori had promised him.
• Lucy asked Luosiqi about the promise, and he admitted there had been such an arrangement.
• Lucy sent Taen away and told Luosiqi that Belori's disappearance was the real reason for her visit.

Fran presented Elan with a completed textbook that impressed him, then assigned him to teach its course while she focused on advancing to a formal mage. She also revealed that she had created a spell, Steam Jet, and demonstrated its powerful, scorching blast.

• Elan reviewed Fran’s textbook and realized it explained principles so well that it clarified parts of her earlier manuscript.
• Elan proposed making Fran’s course mandatory, but Fran told him that he would teach it because her work for the Forge School was more important.
• Elan accepted the teaching assignment and asked Fran how her spell-creation work was going.
• Fran revealed that she had created a spell and demonstrated Steam Jet, which struck the wall with force and left a scorching dent.

Fran explained that her newly created spell, Steam Jet, was designed to work with a second spell that would convert expelled steam into kinetic energy. Elan realized Fran could become a formal mage at an extraordinarily young age and told her to prepare for the assessment.

• Elan doubted Steam Jet was useful offensively, but Fran explained that it could be powerful in enclosed spaces and was intended to complement another spell.
• Fran told Elan she was nearly done designing a spell that would turn Steam Jet’s expelled steam into kinetic energy, like her Steam Engine.
• Elan realized Fran’s spellmaking talent, swordsmanship, and known spells could secure a high assessment ranking and make her a formal mage by year’s end.
• Elan recalled Fran’s short path from learning spells to advancement and reflected on how his own progress had stalled after the Law School was driven out of the City of Apprentices.
• Elan told Fran to prepare for the assessment and said she no longer needed to be involved in his work.

Fran struggled to dispose of Belori's unusually durable corpse and devised a plan to hide it among bodies collected by the Transmutation and Necromancy Schools. She decided to wait until she became a formal Mage before carrying out the risky plan.

• Fran found that her magical furnace had burned only parts of Belori's corpse, leaving much of the body and its unusual spine intact.
• Fran rejected burying the corpse because the Transmutation and Construct Schools were searching underground for bodies.
• Fran planned to disguise herself as an apprentice and mix Belori's corpse with bodies awaiting transport outside the city, hoping the evidence would redirect suspicion toward the Transmutation School.
• Fran decided to wait until she advanced to a formal Mage so she would have a better chance of escaping if discovered.

Fran completed her Energy Conversion spell and advanced to Formal Mage, discovering that she qualified for multiple schools and gained two Specialties. She realized she could also meet the Transmutation School’s advancement requirements and decided to test for its Specialty on a body in a nearby bag.

• Fran tested the Steam Engine and named her new spell Energy Conversion.
• Fran confirmed that her attributes met the requirements for advancement and pushed through the membrane separating her from the next rank.
• Fran advanced to Formal Mage and saw her Spirit rise to 9.1 on the Panel.
• Fran found that she had gained the Steam Engine Spell and Sword Song Mage Specialties, and that the Panel had recognized both the Forge and Sword Song Schools.
• Fran realized she could qualify for the Transmutation School by practicing its spells and decided to remove a section of spine from the body in the bag to check for a Specialty.

Ka'erfu arranged a surprise inspection of the corpse-delivery point to pursue Hyde, a mercenary who sold corpses to the Transmutation School. Fran arrived with a corpse and tried to keep her identity hidden, but the enforcers raided the site, leaving her face-to-face with Ka'erfu as he searched for Hyde.

• Ka'erfu explained that Hyde sold corpse materials to the Transmutation School and planned to inspect the delivery point when the mercenaries brought bodies that evening.
• Fran concealed her face and carried a corpse to the delivery point, where she learned the mercenaries rarely inspected the bodies.
• The enforcers cordoned off the delivery point, and several mercenaries fled while others gave chase and captured one.
• Fran chose not to flee, deciding she would find the official Mage Investigator and attack him if necessary.
• Ka'erfu arrived with captured mercenaries and asked the gathered group which one was Hyde.

Fran tried to pass as a Transmutation School apprentice while the enforcers questioned the crowd, but she attacked Ka'erfu when a body bag threatened to expose her. She subdued him and his evil spirit, leaving her escape underway.

• Ka'erfu learned that Hyde had been caught and left the scene while the enforcers began checking the crowd.
• Fran used a voice-changing potion and a scarred magical mask to pose as a male Transmutation School member, but the enforcers kept her because she lacked an insignia.
• An enforcer emerged carrying a body bag and called Ka'erfu over, prompting Fran to prepare an attack.
• Fran struck Ka'erfu from behind, broke through his shield, and restrained him with [Disorderly Touch].
• Fran's transparent hand pinned Ka'erfu's evil spirit to the ground before it could attack.

Ka'erfu accused the Transmutation School of attacking him, but Lucy denied responsibility and used the enforcer's records to undermine his claim. Ka'erfu then turned his attention to the corpse he had been about to inspect, whose chest glowed faintly when the body bag was opened.

• Ka'erfu woke among the corpses and told Lucy that a Transmutation School mage had defeated him with [Disorderly Touch] and powerful mental strength.
• Lucy denied that the attacker belonged to her school and pointed out that the enforcer's record only showed that a scarred man named Rod had claimed to be a member without producing an emblem.
• Ka'erfu realized he could not hold the Transmutation School responsible based on the available evidence.
• Ka'erfu asked about the body bag and questioned why the attacker had struck just as he was about to inspect the corpse.
• An enforcer opened the body bag, revealing an unwounded male corpse with a faint white light shining from its chest.

Ka'erfu investigated a corpse bearing a Steel Heart and suspected the Transmutation School had illegally ordered the organ, while Lucy concealed the corpse’s true identity. Lucy realized that someone within the school had murdered Belori, and she began to suspect Luosiqi.

• Ka'erfu identified the corpse’s supernatural organ as a Steel Heart, and Lucy explained how the Transmutation School now made stronger Type III versions.
• Lucy invited Ka'erfu to return to the Transmutation School, but he refused and demanded an explanation for the illegal order.
• Ka'erfu took the law enforcers back to the station with the corpse and questioned the officer who had found it.
• After Ka'erfu left, Lucy had two apprentices reveal that the corpse she had hidden was Belori’s.
• Lucy recalled concealing Belori’s body after the attacker fled and concluded that a Transmutation School member had murdered him.
• Lucy considered the school’s Formal Mages and suspected Luosiqi was the attacker.

Kahn attended his first compulsory class in the City of Apprentices, where Elan taught a difficult course supported by the Forge School. The lesson left Kahn struggling to understand the textbook, while Ocien found some of its material familiar from carpentry.

• Kahn arrived late to a crowded classroom and joined Ocien, who explained that the apprentices had come early because they were eager to learn spells.
• Kahn recalled a beggar spellcaster who had warned him that learning only one spell was not enough to become a respected Mage, and resolved to work hard.
• Elan entered with textbooks and told the apprentices that passing his compulsory course was necessary for graduation.
• Elan announced that exceptional students could enter the Forge School, exciting the apprentices, and Kahn explained to Ocien what a school was.
• Elan raced through the course material, leaving Kahn confused, while Ocien said some of it resembled the carpentry work he had done with his father.

Fran exchanged Contribution Points for books to gain the Elemental School knowledge needed for advancement, but found the books mostly unhelpful. She bought Milank’s remaining points after learning he had abandoned his goal of becoming a Formal Mage and planned to take a clerical job.

• Fran complained that Fire and Creatures contained little useful magical knowledge and continued searching books for the Elemental Magic specialty.
• Fran waited at the Exchange Hall to buy Contribution Points because her courses had not yet earned her any.
• Milank arrived to sell four leftover Contribution Points and told Fran he planned to return to his father’s place for a clerical job under the lord.
• Milank explained that he had given up on becoming a Formal Mage after struggling to cast during the assessment.
• Fran asked Milank to get her four books from the catalog and paid him a gold coin at the current rate of twenty-four silver coins per point.

Lucy appointed Luosiqi as the Transmutation School’s chief representative and warned him to keep quiet about past trouble. Celine then sought the Transmutation School’s support for the Law School’s return to Loderis, and Lucy agreed to sign the documents.

• Lucy told Luosiqi to take over as the Transmutation School’s chief representative in the City of Apprentices.
• Lucy said she would suppress the earlier incident and urged Luosiqi to avoid further trouble, linking his continued position to the attacker’s disappearance.
• Celine, a First Order Mage from the Law School, presented documents seeking approval for the Law School’s return to Loderis.
• Lucy agreed to sign after considering the presence of a Fourth Order Mage who had made contact with the Law School.

Fran asked Ichi whether a Formal Mage could still obtain a Spirit Realm Talent through trials, and he explained the risks, difficulties, and uncertain role of Spirit Realm recognition. The chapter ended with Ichi suggesting Fran try after becoming a Formal Mage, perhaps aided by her trial performance, strength, or unusual items.

• After class, Fran asked Ichi to speak privately and told him she had obtained a Spirit Realm key.
• Ichi saw Fran's school badge and urged her to abandon the key, but she clarified that she wanted to know whether a Formal Mage could gain Spirit Realm power.
• Ichi explained that Formal Mages could enter trials and use some higher-rank spells, but excessive use would get them expelled from the Spirit Realm.
• Ichi said Formal Mages faced unusually difficult trials and had to personally contribute more than the other Travelers to pass.
• Ichi told Fran that passing did not guarantee a Talent, because gaining one depended on the Spirit Realm's recognition, whose requirements remained unknown.
• Ichi suggested recognition might depend on trial performance, strength, or unusual items, and encouraged Fran to try after becoming a Formal Mage.

Fran raised Wind Blade Art to Extraordinary and learned the First Order spell Howling Gale, then prepared to enter the Spirit Realm trial at Brilliant Dream. She left her home secured and began the process of entering the trial.

• Fran’s Wind Blade Art reached Extraordinary, granting her the First Order spell Howling Gale, an enhanced version of the spell.
• Fran checked her Panel and confirmed she had advanced in the Elemental School, gaining a specialty and more Spirit.
• Fran considered her limited First Order spells and decided to delay telling Harbos about her increased Divine Power.
• Fran chose to attempt the Spirit Realm trial, hoping that passing it might let her Panel form a Spirit Realm Mage Profession.
• Fran set Spell traps around her home, warned her acquaintances she would be unavailable, and recited the incantation to enter the trial at Brilliant Dream.

Fran entered a Spirit Realm trial whose objective was to save the isolated city of Monsa from an approaching catastrophe. She reunited with Velint and agreed to team up, while another traveler warned that the difficult trial would require cooperation.

• Fran saw a message on her battered book telling her to spread its name, then read the trial's objective to save Monsa before the calamity on the eighth day.
• Fran noticed the other travelers watching her and reunited with Velint, who explained that her yellow robes resembled those worn by a notorious equipment thief.
• Fran agreed to team up with Velint, and they waited with the other travelers for the trial to begin.
• A young man carrying a short spear told the travelers that the trial was extremely difficult and urged them to join forces.

Ailante tried to recruit Spirit Realm Travelers by explaining why the trial to save a city was unusually difficult and by hinting at experience inherited from his father, the Gray Dragon. Fran refused to join his team because she wanted to achieve results beyond simply passing the Formal Rank trial, while Ailante remained focused on earning a special talent.

• Ailante introduced himself as the son of the Gray Dragon and offered to lead the group through the trial.
• Velint explained that Ailante was likely drawing on his father's trial experience, which he would need to demonstrate to keep people following him.
• Ailante argued that the objective to merely attempt to save the city and the trial's location in the Brilliant Dream signaled hidden information and a mission beyond their strength; several Travelers joined him.
• Fran declined to join Ailante's team because she wanted to achieve exceptional results in her Formal Rank trial, and Velint stayed with her.
• As the trial neared its start, Ailante invited others to join him later and privately resolved to pursue a special talent rather than settle for simply passing.

Fran arrived alone in a strange city and was immediately confronted by its guards. After they refused to talk and attacked her, she fought them off and left to look for Velint.

• Fran regained her senses on a city street, separated from Velint and the other Spirit Realm Travelers.
• The guards demanded that Fran put down her Purple Shortsword, but she refused, and their leader charged at her with an axe.
• Fran blocked the axe, discovered that the guard was unusually strong and tough, and struck him back without using a lethal blow.
• When the guards continued attacking instead of talking, Fran boosted her abilities and decided to find Velint.
• A guard who arrived afterward found three of his colleagues groaning on the ground and Fran gone.

Fran rescued Velint from Luka, a guard captain empowered by Divine Water, and the two escaped to discuss their next move. After resting in an alley, Velint told Fran that Lai had joined the trial specifically to participate in it.

• Luka overwhelmed Velint and two other Spirit Realm Travelers, while his Divine Water-enhanced body resisted Velint's Lightning Impact.
• Fran attacked Luka with a fireball, slipped past him, and landed beside Velint.
• Velint declined to bring the two fallen travelers along, and Fran covered their escape with another fireball.
• Fran and Velint fled into an empty alley, where Velint rested after exhausting herself.
• Velint told Fran that she knew why the Gray Dragon's son, Lai, had joined the trial.

Fran and Velint concluded that the Monsa residents had taken a Dragon-Transformation Potion and decided to seek its formula and ingredients to gain strength for the Spirit Realm trial. After struggling to gather information while disguised in the slums, Fran broke into a house and confronted its frightened resident, Una.

• Velint theorized that the residents had been transformed by a potion and that Ailante sought a dragon-related talent, while Fran identified it as the Dragon-Transformation Potion.
• Velint proposed finding the potion's formula and ingredients, and she and Fran agreed to disguise themselves and investigate the city.
• Fran and Velint entered Monsa City's slums wearing local clothes over their original equipment, but the residents reacted suspiciously when questioned.
• Fran chose to force her way into a house rather than approach the guards, and she broke down its door despite Velint's hesitation.
• Una came out to confront the intruders, and Fran seized her wrist while claiming they only wanted to ask questions.

Fran and Velint interrogated Una about the Divine Water and the priests, then set out to inspect the Divine Revelation Hall. Meanwhile, Priest Tors challenged Luka’s authority at the Monsa City prison and removed the guard unit from its post at the hall.

• Fran and Velint learned from Una that priests distributed the Divine Water to people granted quotas and kept it in the Divine Revelation Hall.
• Una explained that the original priest had become the High Priest and that Angmar and Rune had also been made High Priests.
• Fran decided to visit the Divine Revelation Hall immediately, and Una revealed that she and her family had been banished for offending the gods.
• At the Monsa City prison, Luka told Priest Tors that the guard unit had captured only some of the Spirit Realm Travelers.
• Tors mocked Luka over the missing High Priest and Rune, then declared that the guard unit was no longer needed at the Divine Revelation Hall.
• Luka protested that the hall could be invaded, but Tors claimed he could handle the outsiders alone.