Chapter Summaries

Gale and the other Holy Kings sacrificed their souls to restore the Primal Fire, allowing Kir to fight Madness Flame while Gray Talia prepared his world-spanning magecraft. The chains broke and Madness Flame fully awakened, leaving Gray Talia to unleash Grand Order/Animusphere as the battle reached its climax.

• Gale and the other Holy Kings burned their souls to revive the Primal Fire, which merged into Gray Talia.
• Kir fought the first Holy King's body as Madness Flame grew stronger, while Gray Talia protected Olga Marie and the others.
• The chains shattered, and Madness Flame rose free as Olga Marie and the others struggled against its influence.
• Gray Talia used the Philosopher's Stone and his Mage Crest to connect his Mage Circuits to the world and cast Grand Order/Animusphere.
• Madness Flame tried to attack Gray Talia, but Kir intercepted her and struck a deep wound with Add.

Kischurche and the others trapped Madness Flame inside the collapsing small world, while Add and Kir prepared to strike at her exposed core. Madness Flame broke free of her humanoid form and unleashed her full power, leaving the fight poised for its final attack.

• Kischurche sealed the space and called down meteors on Madness Flame, while Olga Marie watched in awe at the power of Animusphere Grand Magecraft.
• Madness Flame recognized the chance to defeat the Primal Fire and unleashed Rhongomynid through Add, drawing on the Primal Fire’s strength.
• Kir stepped through a rip in space and joined Kischurche, who revealed that Gray’s plan had baited Madness Flame into abandoning her host and exposing her weakness.
• Madness Flame’s power accelerated the small world’s collapse, and she emerged from underground in a battered state before transforming into a blazing sun of maddened fire.
• Add began gathering magical energy into his cube as Madness Flame raised her cage, and Kir prepared to finish the fight with the Holy Spear.

Gray destroyed the Madfire Sun’s flame core, but the Madness Flame’s last strike left her mortally wounded. As the small world collapsed, she and Gurwig shared a final farewell, and the Crimson Poem fell dark.

• Gray’s Torrent of Light destroyed the Madfire Sun’s flame core, weakening the Madness Flame, which launched a final attack at her.
• Kischurche raised barriers to protect Gray, but the streak of fire pierced through them as Gray was too exhausted to react.
• Gray and Gurwig recalled their shared journey, and Deng Sheng’s lingering soul appeared to say goodbye before fading.
• Gurwig prepared to stab herself with a dagger, but Gale’s Crimson Poem blocked the strike.
• Gray’s vitality faded as the Madfire Sun collapsed, and the small world shattered; Gurwig bid her beloved good night.

Gray, Michael, Kir, and the others returned from the painting to find Ishruna dying as the Primal Fire faded and chaos consumed the world. They learned that their journey had been a dream arranged by King Arthur and Aoko, then used the Primal Fire to activate the teleportation array and leave Ishruna behind.

• Gray and the others returned from the painting to a ruined world, where the remaining Primal Fire was almost extinguished and a dead black sun hung overhead.
• At the Church, Knight Kevin spoke of the Holy Sword, while chaos began swallowing Ishruna and the group heard that the inhabitants had returned.
• Kir and the others woke in the garden before a pristine canvas, and King Arthur explained that he and Aoko had arranged their experience as a convincing dream.
• King Arthur revealed that he had made Kir a powerful sword suited to her, and Olga Marie invited the remaining people of Ishruna to find a home with the Animusphere Family.
• Monet thanked the group for helping Ishruna and activated the repaired teleportation array with the Primal Fire.
• Kir and the others entered the array as chaos reached the mountain, leaving Ishruna behind.

Lord El-Melloi VII and Sefen hiked toward a meeting after receiving an invitation, where they encountered the talkative Fliuga. As they rested, El-Melloi VII sensed another mage approaching, leaving the group awaiting a potentially troublesome arrival.

• Lord El-Melloi VII struggled up the mountain trail while Sefen walked ahead and teased him about his fitness.
• El-Melloi VII introduced himself and Sefen to Fliuga, who recognized El-Melloi VII from his reputation and praised Sefen's abilities.
• Fliuga discussed Sefen's magecraft and urged him not to suppress his nature too much.
• Sefen sensed someone approaching, and El-Melloi VII detected that the newcomer was a mage.

Lord El-Melloi II and his companions arrived at Stripped City Adra for the Winhaun family’s heir selection and met its new head, Ashburd Winhaun, along with the people gathered at the castle. The group waited in the oppressive hall for the other invitees, while Rosalind Instari hid from Heine, frightened by his aura.

• Lord El-Melloi II, Sefen, and Fliuga reached Stripped City Adra and crossed the drawbridge to the castle.
• Ashburd Winhaun welcomed Lord El-Melloi II and explained that the heir selection would determine who inherited the Winhaun family’s Mage Crest.
• Ashburd led Lord El-Melloi II and his companions into the hall, where several people were waiting and the castle’s oppressive atmosphere unsettled Heine.
• Rosalind Instari peeked out from behind the staircase, then hid behind Fan Xue after saying Heine frightened her.

Clock Tower magi gathered at Grivan Ashborn’s castle to pursue his Mage Crest and the Ashborn family fortune, especially its method for repairing Mage Crests. Orlock Cissmund and Luviagelita Olrorelte challenged Lord El-Melloi II, while a mysterious white-haired man arrived and drew the attention of Guranik.

• Lord El-Melloi II said he had come at someone else's request and intended to protect Grivan Ashborn’s work from those he called mongrels.
• Orlock Cissmund mocked Lord El-Melloi II and criticized his standing as both a Lord and a teacher.
• Luviagelita Olrorelte said she had come for the inheritance and suggested Edelfelt Abshorn could serve her company afterward.
• Guranik remarked that Sedwick Ashborn was Grivan’s illegitimate son and had also been invited to the castle.
• A white-haired young man arrived with his crimson-haired maid, asked whether he was the last to arrive, and returned to his second-floor room without speaking to the others.
• Guranik sensed the arrival and looked up toward the second floor.

Adashino Rei and Grivonri announced that they would oversee Wen Ashborn’s inheritance, revealing its angel-related conditions and setting a one-week search period. The meeting ended with the magi facing a race to find the inheritance, while Lord El-Melloi II was overwhelmed by memories of the Holy Grail War.

• The magi reacted with fear and awe when Lord Animusphere appeared, while Lord El-Melloi II recalled his helplessness during the Holy Grail War ten years earlier.
• Adashino Rei introduced Grivonri of the Department of Law and Politics and explained that they had come to administer and witness Wen Ashborn’s inheritance.
• Adashino Rei read Wen Ashborn’s three conditions: identify the Angel’s name, face the angels’ punishment for failing, and inherit the estate by holding his angel.
• Adashino Rei gave everyone one week to find the inheritance before they would draw lots, then declared the meeting adjourned.

Michael took Gray on a walk through Stripped City, where she felt oppressed by the many angel statues, and Grivan explained their connection to magecraft. They discussed Sheng Ronghuan’s inheritance, and Gray reasoned that Sedwick Ashborn was the most likely successor.

• Michael noticed Gray’s discomfort around Stripped City’s angel statues and asked whether she was feeling unwell.
• Grivan relieved Gray’s discomfort by patting her head, then asked her to consider who had the best chance of inheriting Sheng Ronghuan’s legacy.
• Gray recalled that Sedwick Ashborn was Michael’s secretly raised illegitimate son and reasoned that he had been trained as a successor because Glanid Ashborn could not inherit the family Mage Crest.
• Grivan praised Gray’s reasoning and explained that Michael had concealed Sedwick’s existence to spare his wife and Glanid further sadness and pressure.
• Grivan explained that angels were originally strange, eye-covered or winged beings and that modern Celestial Department magecraft did not rely on actual angels.

Michael talked with Gray and Add about the Root and the difficulty of deciding on a life goal. He explained that he had already obtained the Root and chose instead to live each day steadily and well, leaving Gray to keep searching for her own goal.

• Gray wondered what her own goal was, and Michael asked what she had been thinking about.
• Michael said his goal was to live each day steadily and well, while Add questioned why magicians pursued the Root despite the hardships and likely failure.
• Michael compared pursuing the Root to crossing dangerous mountains to reach the sea, explaining that ambition and desire drove people onward.
• Michael told Add that he had already obtained the Root and possessed the things he wanted, then said living each day well was harder than it seemed.
• Michael encouraged Gray to keep moving forward until she discovered her goal, which might change as she gained experience.

Michael showed Gray a maid created through magecraft, while Hishiri Adashino and Sefia visited his room late at night. Sefia declined Lord Bartholomew’s offer to join him, leaving the purpose of her visit to be discussed.

• Michael created a lifelike magecraft maid and explained that Aika had developed the spell.
• Gray noticed the room’s valuable collection of magecraft tomes and realized it had only one bed.
• Sefia arrived and greeted Lord Bartholomew, who praised her and asked her to work for him.
• Sefia declined Bartholomew’s invitation, saying she was a magus of the Department of Law and Politics and had to meet Lord Michael’s expectations.
• Hishiri Adashino welcomed Sefia and served her darjeeling tea as they began to talk.

Hishiri Adashino discussed Gewaiwen Winhaun’s estate and his chosen heir, Sedwick, with Lorelei and Ashbury. Lorelei questioned the Department of Law and Politics’ inheritance process and suggested its riddles would not be enough to secure Sedwick’s inheritance.

• Hishiri Adashino considered how to respond to Michael’s invitation before turning to the Winhaun inheritance matter.
• Hishiri Adashino explained that the Department of Law and Politics had verified Sedwick Winhaun’s background and judged him qualified to inherit Gewaiwen Winhaun’s Mage Crest.
• Hishiri Adashino said Gewaiwen had asked for Sedwick to inherit his estate and for Orlock Cissmund to participate in the process.
• Lorelei questioned Ashbury about the inheritance process and learned that Ashbury had designed it.
• Lorelei said the riddle game was merely a trick and that solving it would not ensure Sedwick inherited the estate.

Hishiri Adashino secured Michael's cooperation in arranging the Ashborn Family inheritance, then left shaken by his overwhelming presence. Sedwick reassured Mina that he wanted her as his partner, while Gray warned him that Adashino seemed to be hiding something.

• Hishiri Adashino told Michael that the Department of Law and Politics would step aside from the Ashborn Family inheritance, and Michael agreed to let him handle the matter.
• Gray felt unsettled by Hishiri Adashino and later told Sedwick that the woman seemed to be hiding something.
• Hishiri Adashino left Michael's room and, once outside, trembled with fear after enduring a trace of his aura.
• Sedwick told Mina he hated magi but wanted to marry her and build a future together.
• Mina said she was only an observer placed by his mother and believed someone better should be his wife, but Sedwick insisted that she was the person he wanted.

At breakfast, Gray reacted intensely to the presence of Sefen, whose face reminded El-Melloi VII of the Saber from the Holy Grail War. El-Melloi VII wondered what Lord Animusphere intended, while Gray learned that her master did not need to sleep.

• Gray woke after six, apologized for rising late, and learned from Michael that she did not need sleep.
• Gray concealed Add in her sleeve, using a method Orlondo had modified to hide its presence.
• Orlondo and Gray entered the dining hall, where the assembled magi greeted Caovancamonk Cissimond and the others.
• Gray caught Sefen's scent and reacted with overwhelming joy, briefly revealing her beast form and nearly pouncing on him.
• El-Melloi VII recognized Sefen's resemblance to the Saber he had seen in the Holy Grail War and wondered what Lord Animusphere intended.

At breakfast in Stripped City Adra, Michael and El-Melloi II shielded Gray from Sefen, while the gathered magi discussed family succession and the strange clues in their rooms. Luvi’s revelation about Shemamphorae drew everyone’s attention to El-Melloi VII, and the gathering soon dispersed, leaving Moebeid, Orlondo, and Gray at the table.

• Michael protected Gray from Sefen and told El-Melloi II that whether the boy should be forgiven was his disciple’s decision.
• Lanidid seated Orlondo at the head of the breakfast table, but Orlondo barely ate the English meal because Aika’s cooking had changed his tastes.
• Guranik condemned his illegitimate younger brother, while Moebeid reflected that his lack of inheritance aptitude had already determined his future.
• Luvi said El-Melloi II had guided her to insight based on Shemamphorae, prompting the magi to look toward El-Melloi VII.
• Heine and Fliuga returned to their rooms, and most of the guests left until only Moebeid, Orlondo, and Gray remained.

Heine left the Holy Church and returned to the Istari Family to inherit its Mage Crest, but the Crest’s mutation left both him and Rosalind in danger. Hoping to secure Ashborn’s inheritance and save his sister, Heine tracked Sedwick into the forest, while keeping a dangerous bargain with Lord Animusphere as a fallback.

• The Istari Family’s rushed transplantation of its Mage Crests caused Rosalind to suffer a fatal rejection, and the Crest later began draining Heine’s life force as well.
• Heine recalled leaving the Holy Church to inherit the family Crest and resolved to obtain Ashborn’s inheritance to save Rosalind.
• Heine used a magecraft tracking device to follow Sedwick, whom he had chosen to monitor as a possible heir to Ashborn’s legacy.
• Heine reassured Rosalind, then entered the dark forest, determined to win the inheritance before considering a deal with Lord Animusphere.

Heine followed magical traces through the forest to an ancient underground passage, where a red-haired maid ambushed him with a powerful firearm. He survived the attack and continued into the depths, convinced that Sedwick was connected to Ashborn’s inheritance.

• Heine used an Istari alchemical dog and a stone compass to follow footprints and magical residue through the forest.
• Heine found an angel statue on a pedestal, interpreted the invitation’s riddle, and turned the pedestal to reveal a tunnel.
• Heine descended through the ancient passage in purple armor, carrying a lance and reflecting on the decline of magic.
• A red-haired maid fired a heavy firearm at Heine, cracking his armor and likely breaking several ribs.
• Heine withstood the ambush and continued onward, believing Sedwick was tied to Ashborn’s inheritance.

Cedric and Heine opened the hidden box beneath the angel statue to claim Ashborn's inheritance, while Mina fought Heine and was ambushed by a shadowy beast. Mina was poisoned and killed by Rosalind, and Cedric discovered the inheritance was already gone.

• Mina fired a 20mm rifle and submachine guns at Heine, but his Mage's Garment withstood the barrage.
• Heine closed in on Mina, and the shadowy beast emerged and slashed her back.
• Mina collapsed from her injuries and poison as Rosalind and the beast watched.
• Rosalind approached Mina and pierced her throat with a flash of silver, killing her.
• Cedric and Heine opened the space beneath the angel statue and found Ashborn's inheritance missing.

Gray and the other mages found Mina dead, pierced by the sword of the angel statue, while Hishiri Adashino examined the body and a bloodied invitation. Sedwick recognized the scene as connected to the missing legacy he had sought, then left to find the person who had taken it as his old headaches returned.

• Gray and the others were awakened before dawn and found Mina’s armored body pierced by the angel statue’s sword in the grand hall.
• Hishiri Adashino examined Mina, identified a fatal throat wound and signs of poisoning, and found a bloodied invitation.
• The gathered mages noted Mina’s missing leg, damaged armor, and claw marks, while Rosalind sobbed over his body.
• Sedwick recalled that he had killed Deng Xiang the previous night and that the legacy he sought had already vanished from its hiding place.
• Sedwick left to find the person who had taken the legacy after his recurring headache left him dizzy and disoriented.

After Sefen was murdered during the inheritance dispute, Hishiri Adashino warned that his death had broken an agreement and that another victim would follow. The group tightened their defenses as El-Melloi II recognized the name Ariel on an invitation as a sinister prophecy connected to Heine’s missing left leg.

• Michael explained that Ariel's blessing corresponded to the left leg, and Hishiri Adashino connected the invitation's name to Heine's injury.
• El-Melloi II said Sefen had been killed elsewhere and his body dragged to the scene, so Hishiri Adashino arranged for it to be sealed.
• Hishiri Adashino warned that Sefen's death had broken an agreement and predicted another victim, while El-Melloi VII feared the castle could become a battlefield.
• The magi strengthened the defenses around their rooms, and Sefen's body was moved to Michael's room.
• El-Melloi II recognized Ariel on the invitation and realized its words might foretell how they would be killed.