Chapter Summaries

Leon struggled with Merlin’s question about whether to kill Scathach. He wanted to honor his teacher’s wish but could not bring himself to kill her, and the chapter left his decision unresolved.

• Merlin asked Leon what he thought.
• Leon recalled how Scathach had taught him Rune Script and helped him wield the Holy Sword.
• Leon wanted to fulfill Scathach’s long-awaited wish and honor their promise.
• Leon admitted he could not bear to kill the teacher he respected.
• Leon considered Merlin’s warning about what would happen if he struck to kill.

Scathach explained why she had forced Leon to act against her, while Merlin questioned her decision. She left Merlin without giving him the full reason.

• Merlin asked Scathach why she had pushed Leon so far after he left.
• Merlin argued that Leon cared for Scathach and had been heartbroken to kill his teacher.
• Scathach acknowledged that Leon was not heartless and would likely never have acted against her unless she forced him.
• Scathach cut Merlin off and said there were no complicated reasons.

Scathach reunited with Mordred and Neltharion, then told them that she was going to die. The children questioned what her departure meant, and the chapter left them facing the truth.

• Scathach led Mordred and Neltharion aside while Merlin comforted the other children.
• Scathach waited for the children to calm down after their reunion.
• Scathach told Mordred and Neltharion that they would never meet again.
• Mordred asked whether Scathach would still be her teacher, and Neltharion asked whether she was leaving Britain.
• Scathach told them she was going to die.

Mordred sat atop the wall above the palace’s main gate and watched the crowded royal capital as the sun set. The chapter left him gazing over the bustling Augustus Avenue.

• The sun sank toward the horizon and bathed the evening clouds in orange light.
• Mordred sat on the highest rooftop above the palace’s main gate and watched the capital.
• Mordred drifted into a daze as he looked over the crowded Augustus Avenue.

Mordred hurried to Leon’s bedchamber after hearing he had returned to the palace, worried about Scathach. She reached the inner chamber and saw Leon seated on the bed.

• Mordred called for her father as she rushed through the lavish bedroom.
• She pushed past the attendants and threw several Imperial Guards aside.
• After hearing from Merlin that Leon had returned, Mordred rushed to his bedchamber to ask about Scathach.
• Mordred passed through the curtains and saw Leon seated on the bed.

Leon Ailzhuangsen officially opened Academy City and announced that people of any wealth or social standing could apply to teach if they passed the assessment. After his speech, a loud burst of static came from the loudspeaker.

• Leon Ailzhuangsen announced Academy City's opening at a packed stadium, with Jupiter and Luther seated beside him.
• Leon said that qualified applicants could apply to teach regardless of wealth or social standing.
• Leon finished his speech and set down his manuscript.
• The loudspeaker screeched with static.

Leon confirmed that Academy City and the Mage's Association were officially founded on the same day. The chapter left him preparing to take the sleeping Jupiter to the Mage's Association's founding ceremony.

• Luther asked Leon whether he was taking the sleeping Jupiter to the Mage's Association's ceremony.
• Leon confirmed that the Mage's Association was being founded that day.
• Leon explained that he had postponed Academy City's opening ceremony so the two could be established at the same time, following the Machine God's suggestion.

Leon reviewed Jupiter’s completed plans for dealing with the Church and asked whether Gregory should be killed or spared. He considered the measures for preventing the Church’s return and reassuring its remaining believers and the public.

• Jupiter arrived at Leon’s study with a folder after Leon finished compiling textbooks for compulsory education.
• Jupiter told Leon that the arrangements against the Church were complete and asked what to do with Gregory and the Church.
• Leon opened the folder and read Jupiter’s detailed plans, including the advantages, disadvantages, and effects of each approach on the British Empire.

Leon examined another failed fertilized egg in the Spirit Tomb’s laboratory, where he had restarted the Astartes creation project. The project remained unsuccessful, and Leon was left wondering why the attempts kept failing.

• Leon inspected the test results for a fertilized egg on the laboratory screen.
• Leon saw that the egg showed no signs of vitality and was no longer viable.
• Leon frowned and asked how many times the project had failed and why it kept happening.

Armed imperial guards occupied part of the lake shore and drove away curious citizens. The chapter leaves their identity unstated, though their elite bearing suggested they belonged to the army.

• The Thames River flowed through the lake, the capital, and Academy City before reaching the sea.
• A group of fully armed guards occupied a corner of the lakeshore.
• The guards drove away curious citizens who had gathered nearby.
• The guards concealed their insignia, banners, and ceremonial regalia.

The teaching hall held lessons for the crown prince and the children of selected ministers, with Merlin overseeing their education. A lesson ended with an assignment to review the equations they had learned.

• The teaching hall served as a place for the crown prince and selected ministers’ children to study together.
• Merlin divided the palace hall into areas for martial arts training, lessons, rest, and meals.
• Merlin ended the lesson and told the students to review the equations after class.

Merlin told Mordred that the King wanted to test his martial arts skills. The children watched Mordred with envy and amazement as he was summoned.

• Merlin found Mordred in the noisy side hall and told him the King wanted to see him.
• Mordred frowned and asked what his father wanted.
• Merlin said the King had heard about Mordred's martial arts ability and wanted to test him personally.
• The children in the hall looked at Mordred with envy and amazement.

Mordred passed Leon’s test, which had consisted of a single fight focused on martial skill. He left the training hall with his crimson greatsword and tested its feel, pleased that he had avoided an academic examination.

• Mordred emerged from the training hall carrying his crimson greatsword and wiped sweat from his forehead.
• Mordred reflected that Leon’s test had been a single martial-skill fight rather than an academic examination.
• Mordred drew the greatsword and swung it to test how it felt in his hands.

Leon reviewed Lancelot’s report on the campaign to conquer Europa and handed it to Jupiter. The Empire had occupied Northern and Eastern Europe, bringing all of Europa under its control.

• Leon reviewed the battle report from the front lines and gave it to Jupiter.
• Jupiter noted that the Empire had deployed eighty thousand troops for half a year and nearly exhausted Europa’s food reserves.
• Jupiter confirmed that the Empire had occupied Northern and Eastern Europe, leaving all of Europa as imperial territory.
• Leon had entrusted the campaign to Lancelot as commander-in-chief, with Clovis, Gawain, and other generals as deputies.

Leon invited Mordred for a ride in an early prototype car he had brought from Academy City. Mordred eagerly climbed into the sedan with him.

• Leon opened the driver's-side door and offered to take Mordred for a ride.
• Mordred hurried around to the other side, opened the door, and jumped into the car.
• Leon smiled at his daughter's impatience and sat down in the driver's seat.
• The car was a large early prototype from Academy City that Leon had arranged to bring there.

Leon showed Mordred around the warship and promised to give it to him when he grew up. The chapter ended with Mordred excited about the ship.

• Leon led Mordred aboard the warship and showed him its interior.
• Mordred explored the ship, from its gun turrets and command room to its engine and power rooms.
• Mordred asked Leon if the warship could fly and whether it was for him.
• Leon promised to give Mordred the warship when he grew up.

Leon saw that the new embryo had been successfully cultivated and was still alive. The experiment marked a major success at his underground base.

• A magician led Leon to inspect the new embryo on the third underground level of the Spirit Tomb.
• Leon saw the embryo's cells devouring nutrients in the culture dish while their vitality remained normal.
• Leon celebrated the successful experiment, which had gone more smoothly than his previous research.

Leon visited Morgan’s grave and told her he was going to the southern region of Bretonnia to lead a force against a giant spider from beyond this world. Morgan gave no response, leaving Leon uncertain how she felt about him.

• Leon sat beside Morgan’s grave by a lake near the capital.
• Leon wondered whether Morgan had resented him or felt guilty, but she did not respond.
• Leon told Morgan he was heading to southern Bretonnia to lead a force against a giant spider from beyond this world.

Leon prepared to leave aboard a warship to challenge an ultimate entity from beyond the world. Jupiter saw him off and urged him to protect his life, while worrying that the Empire and humanity still needed him.

• Jupiter escorted Leon and the others aboard the warship.
• Second Law and Merlin boarded before Leon.
• Jupiter held Leon back and warned him to protect his life when necessary.
• Jupiter worried that the Empire and humanity still depended on Leon's presence and deterrence.

Leon prepared to begin the operation against ORT beneath the South American rainforest, warning his allies that waking the giant spider could trigger an enormous battle. He assigned Merlin and the Jeweled One their roles as the group prepared to infiltrate underground.

• Leon addressed Merlin and the Jeweled One aboard a concealed warship over the rainforest.
• Leon said the operation against ORT was beginning and warned that waking the giant spider could lead to a major battle.
• Leon assigned himself to lead the attack, Merlin to support the battlefield, and the Jeweled One to harass and disrupt ORT.