Chapter Summaries

Michael trained Aozaki Aoko in combat, overwhelming her with speed and precise Magic Bullets until she collapsed from exhaustion. Alice questioned whether he had used more than the techniques he promised, and Michael admitted he had, insisting Aoko would recover.

• Michael set rules for the training match and told Aozaki Aoko to attack him with everything she had.
• Aozaki Aoko fired a Magic Bullet, but Michael dodged it and struck her with a carefully controlled composite spell.
• Aozaki Aoko studied Michael's formula, created ten Magic Bullets, and rushed at him under cover of sand.
• Michael caught Aozaki Aoko by the ankle, but she fired all ten bullets at close range.
• Michael countered with ten matching Magic Bullets, knocking Aozaki Aoko unconscious.
• Alice checked Aozaki Aoko and confronted Michael, who admitted using other techniques and said Aoko would recover after resting.

Aozaki Aoko recovered from her collapse and faced Michael's teasing threat to double her training. When a delivery accident ruined Alice Kuonji's dinner, the deliveryman turned out to be their classmate Shizuki Soujuro, who discovered that Michael lived with Aoko.

• Aozaki Aoko woke at night, drank Michael's sweetened tea, and found her headache and exhaustion easing.
• Michael said Alice Kuonji had changed Aoko's clothes, then teased her by threatening to double her training workload.
• Alice Kuonji ordered kitsune udon for dinner, adding a third bowl.
• Shizuki Soujuro arrived in a teddy bear costume and apologized after slipping on ice and spilling the udon.
• Shizuki recognized Michael as Aoko's housemate, and Aoko warned him not to tell anyone before sending him away.
• Alice Kuonji silently demanded compensation, so Aoko agreed to pay for that night's and the next day's delivery.

Michael cooked omurice for Aozaki Aoko and Alice Kuonji after they failed to order food, while Tōko Aozaki was gravely wounded by a poisoned trap. The chapter left Tōko drinking an antidote and hoping it would work.

• Aozaki Aoko and Alice Kuonji found that no restaurants would deliver, so they ate chocolates while Michael searched the kitchen for ingredients.
• Michael used his swordsmanship to prepare bacon and cabbage fried rice, then made omurice with help from Aozaki Aoko and Alice Kuonji.
• Aozaki Aoko divided the omurice among the three, while Michael privately noted that someone had stepped into his trap.
• Tōko Aozaki survived an explosion in Misaki Central Park but suffered a mangled arm and spreading poison.
• Tōko Aozaki drank a pale purple potion from a sealed test tube, hoping it was an antidote.

Ingram, a displaced mage from the ruined Edgington Family, entered the city intending to claim its spiritual land and rebuild his family. After destroying Aozaki Aoko’s Crow Familiars, he confronted her in an alley, and she prepared to fight him.

• Ingram recalled how the Edelfelt Family had ruined the Edgington Family and stolen half of his Mage Crest.
• Ingram entered the city to claim a spiritual land owned by a declining magecraft family.
• Ingram sensed Aozaki Aoko’s Crow Familiars watching him and destroyed the flock with Gandr curses.
• Ingram examined the familiars’ remains and concluded that their inexperienced maker would be easy to overcome.
• Aozaki Aoko emerged from the shadows, and Ingram looked at her with possessive arrogance.
• Aozaki Aoko steadied herself and prepared her magecraft for battle.

Aozaki Aoko fought Ingram in her first real battle while Alice Kuonji and Michael watched from a nearby rooftop. Michael’s suggestion drove Ingram to keep attacking, and after he spent another coin to strengthen his Gandr, Aoko faced a barrage of tracking bullets as her magical energy dwindled.

• Alice Kuonji told Michael to stop interfering, but he said he had only made a small suggestion to Ingram.
• Aozaki Aoko battered Ingram with a Magic Bullet and close-range strikes, while his Gandr failed to harm her through her magical barrier.
• Ingram used a Sestertius and the Value Conversion formula to heal his injuries, then spent another coin to empower dozens of Yin Qi Bullets.
• Aozaki Aoko intercepted most of the enhanced bullets with her own Magic Bullets and blocked the rest with her barrier, consuming much of her magical energy.
• Alice Kuonji noted that Aozaki Aoko had wasted magical energy by using two layers of defense, while Michael studied Ingram’s Value Conversion formula.

Aozaki Aoko defeated Ingram with an anti-magic dagger Michael had lent her, ending the Edgington Family heir’s attempt to kill her. After burning Ingram’s body, she accepted Michael’s invitation to visit the aquarium with Alice Kuonji.

• Ingram used a death curse on Aozaki Aoko and reinforced his defenses while waiting for the curse to overwhelm her.
• Aozaki Aoko charged Ingram with the anti-magic dagger hidden in a strip of cardstock, and the blade cut through his defenses and fatally slashed his throat.
• As Ingram died, he recognized the dagger and reflected on Aozaki Aoko’s expressionless face and the end of his family line.
• Michael congratulated Aozaki Aoko and offered her the dagger as a graduation gift, which she accepted after returning it to him.
• Michael invited Aozaki Aoko and Alice Kuonji to the aquarium and barbecue, and both agreed to go.
• Aozaki Aoko burned Ingram’s corpse with an ignition spell.

Aozaki Aoko, Alice Kuonji, and Michael visited an aquarium in Arisaka City, where Alice was unexpectedly upset to find no giant tortoise. After entering the dark passage, they reached the glowing underwater exhibits and began exploring the aquarium.

• Aozaki Aoko, Alice Kuonji, and Michael traveled to Arisaka City and visited the aquarium on the top floor of a high-rise.
• Aozaki Aoko noticed that the Kuonji Zaibatsu was involved in planning a future music event and briefly worried about Alice Kuonji's reaction.
• Alice Kuonji read the aquarium notices and was disappointed that it had no giant tortoise, prompting Aozaki Aoko and Michael to wonder why she wanted one.
• Aozaki Aoko, Alice Kuonji, and Michael passed through a pitch-black corridor and entered the aquarium's glowing underwater world.

Aozaki Aoko, Alice Kuonji, and Michael joked as they explored the aquarium, where Michael used magic to lead clownfish around. Their talk of a future beach trip left Alice thinking about the coming life-and-death battle and whether they would survive to take it.

• Aozaki Aoko teased Alice Kuonji about not having a swimming pool and asked if she could swim.
• Michael enchanted clownfish to follow his finger, then explained why aquariums, movie theaters, and Ferris Wheels were popular places for dates.
• Aozaki Aoko mocked Michael for having no romantic experience, and he insisted that romance only hindered the pursuit of the Root.
• Aozaki Aoko proposed a beach trip with Alice Kuonji next summer, and Alice said they could go if they survived the coming battle.
• Michael offered to join them at the beach, prompting Alice Kuonji to reflect on how the three of them had become a trio of idiots.

At the aquarium, Alice asked Aoko whether Michael could be trusted, and Aoko admitted she trusted him by following her intuition. Alice decided to trust Michael because she trusted Aoko, and the three later waited together at a new subway station in Misaki City.

• Aoko found Alice watching an ocean sunfish and stayed beside her as they observed it.
• Alice asked whether Michael could be trusted, and Aoko said she did not know his past but trusted him by following her heart.
• Alice decided to trust Michael because she understood and trusted Aoko, then walked toward the aquarium exit with a rare smile.
• Michael, Aoko, and Alice returned to Misaki City in the evening and waited for another train at a nearly empty subway station.
• Aoko moved near the tracks to listen for the passing train, while Michael sat beside Alice and closed his eyes.

Aozaki Aoko, Alice Kuonji, and Michael were trapped in a subway station by Touko's barrier and confronted by an army of dolls. As Aoko destroyed the dolls, Alice unleashed her power and immobilized them, preparing to finish the fight.

• Aoko persuaded Alice to let her listen to music one last time while they waited for the train.
• Touko's barrier sealed off the subway station, where six strange figures appeared and an army of dolls crawled toward Aoko, Alice, and Michael.
• Michael identified the dolls as being designed to resist magic, and Aoko used his modified Magic Bullet Formula to destroy one.
• Aoko prepared to attack the remaining dolls, while Alice covered the station in white sand and immobilized the dolls with her power.
• Alice removed her gloves and invited the trapped dolls to play a game.

Tōko Aozaki attacked Misaki City's barrier and forced Aozaki Aoko, Alice Kuonji, and Michael to defend its remaining anchor points. Alice confronted Tōko at the Shamaki anchor point, where her former friend appeared in person.

• Alice Kuonji's Familiar devoured Tōko Aozaki's dolls, and Aozaki Aoko recognized the attack as a challenge over the inheritance.
• Aozaki Aoko discovered that two of Misaki City's five anchor points had been destroyed, and she, Alice, and Michael split up to guard the three remaining ones.
• Michael gave Aozaki Aoko and Alice Kuonji talismans that could save their lives if they faced danger.
• Alice waited at the Shamaki anchor point as the lights went out and stray dogs gathered around her.
• Tōko Aozaki emerged from the shadows and greeted Alice, her former friend.

Tōko Aozaki trapped Alice Kuonji by turning Shamaki Park into a sunlit field that destroyed Night’s Feast, then overwhelmed Alice with mass-produced Mystic Eyes. The chapter ended as Alice’s body turned into blue feathers and a giant Cat Bell summoned a colossal stone statue against Tōko.

• Alice Kuonji refused Tōko Aozaki’s offer to explain Michael and began her attack with Cat Bell.
• Tōko revealed that hidden Runic script covering Shamaki Park had transformed the night into daytime and destroyed Night’s Feast.
• Alice restrained Tōko with her Mystic Eyes, but Tōko broke free and defeated Alice’s gaze with countless Mystic Eyes of her own.
• Tōko attacked the restrained Alice with Wind Blades, but Alice’s body scattered into blue feathers and a giant Cat Bell flew toward Tōko.
• Mist rose as a colossal stone statue emerged from the ground and roared at Tōko.

Alice Kuonji’s battle with Tōko Aozaki escalated when Tōko summoned Beowulf, but Michael intervened before the Golden Wolf could kill Alice. Aoko Aozaki then arrived and attacked Tōko, leaving the sisters poised to fight.

• Alice Kuonji used a hidden stream to summon the Bridge Giant, but Tōko Aozaki surrendered rather than keep fighting it.
• Tōko Aozaki summoned Beowulf, who destroyed Alice’s Rose Hound and Bridge Giant before attacking Alice.
• Michael caught Beowulf’s claw, rescued Alice, and explained that he had anticipated she would need help.
• Aoko Aozaki arrived and launched a surprise kick at Tōko Aozaki.
• Tōko Aozaki dodged Aoko’s kick and began writing Rune Script as Aoko’s Magic Bullets attacked her.

Aozaki Aoko pierced Tōko Aozaki through her Rune Script barrier, and Michael fought Beowulf to keep him from reaching her. Michael shattered Beowulf’s magical core in hand-to-hand combat, leaving the Golden Wolf wounded and overwhelmed by fear.

• Aozaki Aoko broke Tōko Aozaki’s Rune Script barrier with a short blade and stabbed her.
• Beowulf decided to help Tōko Aozaki, but Michael blocked his way.
• Michael challenged Beowulf and used enhancement magecraft to strengthen his body.
• Beowulf transformed into a wolf-like beast and attacked Michael at close range.
• Michael tore through Beowulf’s defenses and shattered the bones protecting his heart and his magical core.
• Beowulf changed back into a human and fell silent, trembling in pain and fear.

Michael defeated Beowulf, while Tōko Aozaki’s puppet injured Aoko and incapacitated Alice’s Familiars. Tōko’s hidden ally shattered the mansion’s barrier, leaving the group without their magical-energy source as Michael suspected an ancient power had intervened.

• Michael used the special magical energy to cripple Beowulf’s right arm and defeat him.
• Aoko’s dagger revealed that her opponent was a puppet, which struck her with a circuit-disrupting attack.
• Alice’s dice froze under the puppet’s Mystic Eyes, while Tōko watched the battle from a distant hill.
• Tōko’s white-robed ally shattered the mansion’s barrier and replaced it with a new one.
• Michael returned to human form as the loss of the barrier cut off his magical-energy supply, while Alice stared in despair.
• Aoko described her injuries, and Michael spared Beowulf, who remained shaken despite recovering physically.

Michael treated Aoko's damaged Mage Circuits at the hospital while Alice Kuonji struggled with the loss of her Familiars and the mansion's barrier. Aoko left Michael to comfort Alice, and he sat quietly with her as they waited for her to recover.

• Michael used Sleep Magecraft to keep the hospital staff asleep while he treated Aoko's Mage Circuits.
• Aoko confirmed that she could use magecraft again, then cleaned her abrasions and changed into a new uniform.
• Aoko asked Michael why he had stopped her from seeking help at the church, but he gave only a vague warning about accidents.
• Aoko urged Michael to comfort Alice Kuonji, then left the treatment room with her own worries weighing on her.
• Michael brought Alice hot tea and sat beside her, sharing a quiet moment as she said it did not taste good.
• Aoko returned and found Michael sitting silently beside Alice.

After losing control of Misaki City's barrier, Aozaki Aoko and Alice Kuonji planned to reclaim it, with Michael choosing an abandoned amusement park as their battlefield. Once the two women left to prepare, Michael welcomed a young man in white vestments who called himself Mr. Fool.

• Aoko told Michael and Alice that Touko had taken the barrier's core and administrative control, leaving them at a disadvantage.
• Michael projected a map of Misaki City and chose Shaki's abandoned amusement park as the final battlefield, partly because Alice's Familiar could use it.
• Aoko refused Michael's suggestion that she leave to gain strength, insisting she would face Touko and reclaim what was hers.
• Aoko and Alice went to prepare the battlefield while Michael stayed behind to welcome a guest.
• A young man in white vestments emerged from the corridor, and Michael greeted him as Mr. Fool.

Merlin Solomon confronted Michael and demanded the secret potion that suppressed Dead Apostles’ bloodlust, forcing Michael to fight back. Michael broke Merlin’s Mage’s Garment and vanished with him, leaving Aozaki Aoko and Alice Kuonji worried outside the hospital.

• Merlin Solomon met Michael alone, offered him a place in the Burial Agency, and demanded the potion that suppressed bloodlust.
• Michael denied knowing about the potion, and Merlin used his mana and a ring to block Michael’s passage to the Sea of Imaginary Numbers.
• Merlin prepared to attack with the King of the Sky as Michael used the Tear of the Goddess to destroy Merlin’s ring.
• Michael gathered mana and disappeared with Merlin Solomon from the room.
• Aozaki Aoko sensed the mana eruption from afar, and Alice Kuonji tried to reassure her.

Merlin and Michael fought in the snowy forest outside Misaki City, with Merlin summoning the King of the Continent and a Machina Girl against Michael’s Cursed Holy Sword Balmung. Michael repeatedly survived the assault as Merlin confirmed his theory about the stars, then ordered the King of the Sky to end the battle.

• Michael challenged Merlin and revealed that his moving stars formed an Inherent Domain while Balmung was his weapon capable of killing Merlin.
• Merlin summoned the King of the Continent, a massive Phantasmal Species, and sent a Machina Girl to attack Michael.
• Michael used Balmung’s stored True Ether to slash the Machina Girl and wound the King of the Continent, but could not destroy either of them.
• Merlin restored the damaged Machina Girl, and she and the King of the Continent continued to besiege Michael as he narrowly evaded their attacks.
• Merlin watched the stars, confirmed his theory about Michael, and commanded the King of the Sky to attack.

Michael faced Merlin and the Four Great Beasts while waiting for his cheat to arrive. At the abandoned amusement park, Aozaki Aoko awakened her dormant magic and stopped running from fear.

• Michael used Balmung to defend himself against the King of the Continent, but its power was nearly spent.
• Merlin arrived with the Machina Girl and King of Rats, while Michael put away Balmung and awaited his cheat.
• Touko Aozaki defeated Alice Kuonji and Aozaki Aoko, then ordered Beowulf to eat them.
• A magical radiance healed Aozaki Aoko and restored her mana, allowing her to drive Beowulf back.
• Aozaki Aoko resolved to show Touko true magic and awakened the miracle within her Mage Crest, stopping time as she entered darkness.