Chapter Summaries

Sogo Doma tried to convince Umaru Doma and Utaha Kasumigaoka that he did not collect adult material, but their teasing and search through his laptop exposed how little they believed him. The argument ended when Sogo distracted Umaru by asking if she wanted a new game.

• Sogo Doma claimed he judged the adult book as art and said its only value was warning girls to protect themselves and call the police.
• Umaru Doma and Utaha Kasumigaoka questioned why Sogo had no collection of adult material, and he insisted he was simply disciplined.
• Sogo confronted Umaru and Utaha for searching his laptop, while Umaru argued that he had allowed them to look for his new document.
• Umaru explained that Sogo’s lessons about hidden dangers had made her search the laptop’s storage, and Sogo distracted her by mentioning next week’s game.

Sogo Doma confronted Umaru Doma about snooping through the laptop, but she talked her way out of trouble by arguing that games and files belonged to the devices they came with. Utaha Kasumigaoka learned that Sogo had built an AI and automated many household chores, and the chapter ended with Umaru sending Sogo out while she and Utaha got to work.

• Sogo Doma questioned Umaru Doma about why she had distrusted the document on his laptop, and Umaru argued that items on the laptop were different from gifts he handed her.
• Umaru brought up Shaqiang, Sogo’s artificial intelligence, and Sogo admitted he could not be certain it would never develop its own consciousness.
• Umaru told Utaha Kasumigaoka that Shaqiang controlled many household mechanisms, including automated dishwashing, cleaning, and laundry sorting.
• Sogo and Umaru argued about whether the household automation showed laziness, while Utaha looked enviously at the conveniences.
• Umaru told Sogo that she and Utaha needed to work, and Sogo realized he had been distracted from his original reason for confronting them.

Umaru and Utaha read Sogo’s romance writing and wonder whether its delicate love scenes are based on a girl he likes. They fail to identify the heroine’s inspiration, while Umaru resolves to put her future sister-in-law through a series of tests.

• Umaru complained that Sogo’s book was full of dog food, while Utaha admired how convincingly he wrote the leads’ growing attraction.
• Umaru wondered whether Sogo was imagining a romance with someone he liked, and Utaha considered whether the heroine might be based on a girl from their class.
• Utaha suspected Mashiro Shiina and then Yukino Yukinoshita, but decided neither seemed to match the heroine completely.
• Umaru admitted she had no idea who the heroine might be and said she had designed a Spartan assessment for Sogo’s future sister-in-law.

Umaru imagined her unused Spartan techniques for dealing with Sogo and testing his future sister-in-law, leaving Utaha uneasy about what she had planned. Meanwhile, Sogo called editor Sonoko Machida to discuss publishing, but their conversation turned into teasing about her career and unmarried status.

• Umaru recalled her Spartan Care and other reserved techniques, then described the Spartan Trial she had prepared for Sogo's future sister-in-law.
• Utaha asked how Umaru planned to test the person Sogo liked, and Umaru answered with a menacing sneer.
• Sogo played a fighting game downstairs, then decided to settle the publishing matter and called Sonoko Machida.
• Sogo teased Sonoko about being unmarried, and she erupted in anger before holding back from arguing with his sharp tongue.
• Sonoko lamented that sending Utaha's final volume for review had led to her current troubles, and Sogo compared her to Xianglin's Wife.

Sogo Doma argued that the backlash against Utaha Kasumigaoka’s final volume was being amplified by the serious literature world, which feared the influence of light novels. He urged Sonoko Machida to treat the controversy as an opportunity to raise the status of light novels, though he hesitated to intervene directly with Fujimi Bunko.

• Sonoko Machida complained that Utaha had left her to handle the readers’ anger and asked Sogo Doma whether he knew where Utaha was hiding.
• Sogo Doma told Sonoko that the final volume’s huge impact reflected Utaha’s ability, comparing its public response to reactions to serious literature.
• Sonoko objected that light novels and serious literature were fundamentally different, but Sogo argued that light novels could convey ideas just as well.
• Sogo told Sonoko that people in the serious literature world were fueling the controversy because Utaha’s light novel had achieved an influence they considered their own domain.
• Sogo suggested that Fujimi Bunko could use the controversy to promote light novels, but he was reluctant to issue instructions to a business owned by the Doma Family.

Sogo Doma offered Sonoko Machida a newly completed light novel and negotiated for an unusually generous contract, while Toshiro Hijikata called to report that Gan'an Shinomiya was trying to absorb the Kondo Group. Sogo dismissed Gan'an’s offer by listing powerful weapons, leaving Hijikata wondering whether Sogo actually possessed Gauss weapons.

• Sogo Doma told Sonoko Machida he had a light novel that could compete with Utaha’s final volume and asked her to sign it.
• Sogo demanded a 30% royalty, top promotional resources, and no signing events, and Sonoko agreed to review his manuscript while leaving the other terms undecided.
• Toshiro Hijikata called Sogo and clarified that his problem involved Gan'an Shinomiya, not Tomoya Aki.
• Hijikata said Gan'an wanted the Kondo Group to submit to the Shinomiya Family and promised to offer twice what the Doma Family could provide.
• Sogo challenged Hijikata to ask whether Gan'an could obtain weapons such as supersonic stealth fighters and Gauss weapons, prompting Hijikata to ask if Sogo had Gauss weapons.

Sogo Doma accidentally hinted that he could make a Gauss Weapon, alarming Toshiro Hijikata about the extent of his abilities. Hijikata said he would handle Gan'an Shinomiya’s approach himself, while Sogo objected to being left out of the trouble over Kaguya Shinomiya.

• Toshiro Hijikata grew alarmed when Sogo Doma’s remarks suggested he could create a Gauss Weapon and might possess even more dangerous weapons.
• Sogo Doma claimed he was only an ordinary high school student, and Hijikata told him to set a positive example for the Kondo Group’s members.
• Hijikata said he would handle Gan'an Shinomiya’s matter and explained that he would never betray Kondo Isao or the Doma Family, no matter who opposed them.
• Sogo Doma mocked Hijikata’s dramatic declaration, and Hijikata angrily insisted that an ordinary high school student should stay out of their affairs.

Sogo Doma teased Toshiro Hijikata about secretly being a manga fan before explaining that Gan'an Shinomiya’s public meeting with him was meant to sow discord between him and Lord Gui Long. Hijikata recognized the scheme but doubted it would work, while Sogo warned that it might.

• Sogo Doma compared a superhero’s hidden identity to a great detective, and Hijikata protested while accidentally revealing his familiarity with manga.
• Hijikata privately blamed his manga-obsessed subordinates for his own interest and considered adding spiritual-purity training to their sword practice.
• Sogo Doma asked whether Gan'an Shinomiya had coerced or merely tempted Hijikata, and Hijikata said the meeting had left him wondering what he had missed.
• Sogo Doma pointed out that Gan'an had met Hijikata publicly and promised to outbid the Doma Family, giving others reason to suspect Hijikata.
• Hijikata realized Lord Gui Long had likely heard about the offer but dismissed it as an obvious attempt to drive a wedge between them, and Sogo replied that it might still work.

Sogo Doma joked with Toshiro Hijikata and then tried to sell Kaguya Shinomiya an absurdly expensive advice service, only to hear why she had called. Kaguya said her father had summoned her to the main house next week to explain her relationship with the Kondo Group, and she suspected he wanted more than a simple clarification.

• Sogo Doma teased Toshiro Hijikata over the phone until Hijikata angrily ended the call.
• Kaguya Shinomiya called Sogo, and he claimed his advice service cost fifty million yen for a day.
• Kaguya briefly believed the service could help President Shirogane before realizing Sogo was mocking her and threatening to pay nothing.
• Sogo tried to end the call, but Kaguya stopped him and explained that her father had ordered her to return to the main house next week.
• Kaguya told Sogo that her father wanted her to explain her relationship with the Kondo Group, and she suspected there was more to his summons.

Kaguya Shinomiya worried that returning to the main house would expose her connection to the Kondo Group and damage her standing with the family. Sogo Doma agreed to ensure things stayed as they were, then asked when she would return.

• Kaguya Shinomiya reflected on her fear of Gan'an Shinomiya and explained that she had called Sogo Doma because she was anxious about returning to the main house.
• Sogo Doma pretended Gan'an had summoned Kaguya out of fatherly affection, but Kaguya rejected the idea and confronted him about the Kondo Group.
• Kaguya warned that her father's discovery of her connection to the Kondo Group could affect her family standing and resources.
• Sogo Doma agreed to make sure everything remained unchanged after Kaguya returned to the main house.
• Sogo Doma asked when Kaguya would return, and she told him it would be the weekend.

Gan'an Shinomiya reflected on age, his growing concerns, and the Kondo Group’s influence. He acknowledged Vice Commander Hijikata’s courage and worried that Kaguya Shinomiya had become involved with the Doma Family and the Kondo Group.

• Gan'an Shinomiya dismissed a middle-aged butler for speaking carelessly, and Butler Kurosaki took his place.
• Gan'an Shinomiya told Butler Kurosaki that age had made him more cautious and muttered about Keiryu Doma, the Doma Family, the Kondo Group, and Toshiro Hijikata.
• Gan'an Shinomiya praised Vice Commander Hijikata’s composure and clear, resolute eyes, recalling that he had considered recruiting him.
• Gan'an Shinomiya argued that Keiryu Doma’s cunning and the Kondo Group’s record showed the group was more than empty boasting.
• Gan'an Shinomiya said he was worried that Kaguya Shinomiya had become involved with the Doma Family and the Kondo Group.

Gan'an Shinomiya brooded over the Kondo Group’s ties to the Doma Family and planned covert moves to test its strength before Kaguya returned. Meanwhile, Sogo Doma panicked about what to do when Kaguya went back to the Shinomiya main house, then decided to deal with it when the time came.

• Gan'an Shinomiya regretted allowing the Doma Family to rise and resented that the Kondo Group operated under Kaguya Shinomiya’s name without his control.
• Gan'an Shinomiya praised Toshiro Hijikata, assured Butler Kurosaki that Kaguya was being watched, and said she would return the following week.
• Gan'an Shinomiya explained that he needed time to verify rumors about the Kondo Group and ordered Butler Kurosaki to clear his schedule and contact several criminal organizations.
• Sogo Doma panicked after his call with Kaguya Shinomiya about her return to the main house, then decided to wait and see what happened.

Sogo Doma worried about Gan'an Shinomiya, then prepared dinner while Umaru and Utaha researched torture. He became convinced Mashiro Shiina was helping set him up for Umaru’s planned hot-pot challenge, and the chapter ended with him refusing her Baumkuchen and urging her to eat rice.

• Sogo Doma considered how he might kill Gan'an Shinomiya without becoming a wanted criminal or causing trouble for Kaguya Shinomiya.
• Sogo Doma went to the kitchen when his body clock reminded him it was time to cook for Umaru.
• Mashiro Shiina arrived alone and told Sogo Doma that Umaru and Utaha were researching torture rather than his book.
• Mashiro Shiina described Umaru’s Spartan-style hot-pot idea, and Sogo Doma feared that Umaru wanted him to attempt a punishing restaurant challenge.
• Mashiro Shiina offered Sogo Doma some Baumkuchen, but he suspected a trap and refused, then encouraged her to eat rice instead.

Sogo Doma overheard Umaru Doma and Utaha Kasumigaoka discussing Umaru’s Spartan Trial plan, then entered to call them to dinner. Their conversation turned to the real-life model for the heroine in Sogo’s story, leaving Utaha anxious to learn who it was.

• Sogo Doma eavesdropped as Utaha Kasumigaoka tried to warn Umaru Doma that her plan might anger him.
• Umaru Doma dismissed Utaha’s concerns and said her Spartan Trial plan had nothing to worry about.
• Sogo Doma entered the workshop and found Umaru surrounded by empty chip bags, then told her dinner was ready.
• Umaru Doma teased Sogo Doma about being single, and Utaha Kasumigaoka tried to steer the conversation toward the heroine in his story.
• Sogo Doma admitted the heroine had a real-life model, and Umaru asked who it was as Utaha’s blackening level reached 50%.

Sogo Doma explained that the characters in his novel were based on real people and that the romance drew on the leads’ experiences. Umaru Doma and Utaha Kasumigaoka left the conversation with very different conclusions about Sogo’s love life, while he remained confused about Umaru’s Spartan Trial.

• Umaru Doma and Utaha Kasumigaoka pressed Sogo Doma about the heroine’s real-life model and teased him over discussing first experiences.
• Sogo Doma identified Kaguya Shinomiya as the heroine’s model, surprising Utaha and prompting Umaru to ask whether he had gotten involved with her.
• Sogo Doma said the male lead was modeled on the heroine’s school’s student council president and that the novel drew on the real leads’ experiences and other real people.
• Umaru Doma and Utaha Kasumigaoka realized the novel described someone else’s romance, and Umaru regretted researching the Spartan Trial.
• Umaru Doma declared that the Spartan Trial could only be sealed away again and went to eat, while Sogo Doma asked what the trial was and objected to her saying he would stay single.

Utaha Kasumigaoka and Sogo Doma flirted upstairs, but Utaha insisted they keep their relationship secret from Umaru Doma until Umaru accepted her. They joined Umaru for dinner, where she teased Sogo about his book and complained about eating too much dog food.

• Umaru Doma joked about looking forward to Onii-chan's destined partner and nearly revealed her plans for a Spartan Trial.
• Sogo Doma and Utaha Kasumigaoka flirted until Utaha warned him not to let Umaru discover their relationship.
• Utaha asked Sogo to keep their relationship secret until Umaru accepted her, then claimed downstairs that they had been discussing publishing.
• Umaru asked Utaha whether Sogo's book could be published and mocked the low publishing bar.
• Umaru blamed the dog food from Sogo and Utaha's flirting for making dinner less tasty, while Sogo pointed out that she had eaten too many chips.

Sogo Doma and Utaha Kasumigaoka discussed Utaha’s novel and agreed that Sayuka had met the right person. The next day, Misogami Joushi gathered underworld bosses in a Ginza club under false pretenses and had armed men surround them.

• Umaru Doma complained that Sogo Doma’s cooking was worse than usual, but Mashiro Shiina and Utaha Kasumigaoka praised it as they ate.
• Sogo Doma sent Utaha Kasumigaoka’s documents to Sonoko Machida and asked whether Utaha planned to keep avoiding her over the requested ending revision.
• Utaha Kasumigaoka defended Sayuka’s romantic choices, and she and Sogo Doma agreed that Sayuka had met the right person.
• Misogami Joushi told the assembled underworld bosses that he had invited them using Butler Kurosaki’s favor, not at the Shinomiya Family’s request.
• When Chairman Ueno protested, a man restrained him with a knife, and Misogami Joushi summoned armed men in black to intimidate the gathered bosses.

Gan'an Shinomiya backed Misogami Joushi’s bid to unite the yakuza against the Kondo Group, while the bosses refused to commit without seeing results. That night, Sogo Doma went out to buy manga for Umaru and pondered acquiring Shueisha so he would not have to do it again.

• Gan'an Shinomiya told Butler Kurosaki that he was willing to let Misogami Joushi lead against the Kondo Group, even if Misogami had ambitions of his own.
• Misogami Joushi surrounded the yakuza bosses with gunmen and shot one man in the thigh after he mocked him.
• Misogami Joushi challenged the bosses for allowing the Kondo Group to drive them from their former territories and asked them to join forces against it.
• Daigo Kurosawa said the bosses would be more enthusiastic if Misogami caused trouble on the Kondo Group’s turf, leaving Misogami frustrated by their refusal to commit.
• Sogo Doma grumbled about Umaru sending him out for manga, then imagined acquiring Shueisha so it could deliver manga to his home.

Sogo Doma interrupted a robbery on Kondo Group territory and disarmed the robber with two guns. The robber explained that he had switched from targeting younger children to high school girls because fewer children were out at night.

• Sogo Doma came across a middle-aged man threatening a high school girl with a knife and questioned whether they were filming a movie.
• Sogo Doma pulled out two guns, and the robber dropped his knife and surrendered.
• The robber said he only robbed high school girls because he feared being beaten by other targets.
• The robber revealed that he used to pick on elementary and middle school students on his own turf, and Sogo Doma said he should have kept doing that.

Sogo Doma stopped a middle-aged robber who revealed that men in black had forced him to rob someone in Kondo Group territory. Sogo Doma suspected the men were testing the Kondo Group’s limits and set out to find them, while the robber continued boasting about robbing high school girls.

• Sogo Doma questioned the middle-aged robber about his past and learned that men in black had forced him to change from robbing elementary schoolers to targeting a high school girl.
• The robber said the men in black were waiting outside Kondo Group territory, and Sogo Doma fired into the ground to make him admit he had lied about them scattering.
• Sogo Doma concluded that the men in black were using robbers to test the Kondo Group’s limits, then denied being a Kondo Group member or a police officer.
• Sogo Doma asked the robber to lead him to the men in black, and the robber insisted he had been confident he could rob the high school girl.