Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• With Sharia calm and no immediate sign of Hitogami or Orsted, Hilde decides to search for the remaining pieces of the Fighting God Armor, using a locator Aisha devised to point toward a broad area near the Sword Sanctum or somewhere along the way.
• Before leaving, Hilde tells Nanahoshi she may be gone for an uncertain length of time. Nanahoshi is saddened and confesses she feels useless compared with Hilde, since she cannot fight or contribute much in this world.
• Hilde reassures Nanahoshi that she need not force herself into roles that do not suit her, and reminds her she can rely on Hilde.
• The next morning, Hilde visits Rudeus’s home to say goodbye. Eris offers to guide her, since she knows the Sword Sanctum well.
• Rudeus stops Eris from volunteering and reveals that she is pregnant, so she must remain in Sharia for at least six months.

Character developments and interactions

• Hilde balances her sense of responsibility—recovering the armor before it can cause trouble—with concern for Nanahoshi’s wellbeing. She tries to comfort Nanahoshi while preparing to leave.
• Nanahoshi reveals deep insecurity about her inability to help Hilde and her dependence on others. Her closeness with Hilde is intimate and familiar, despite Hilde’s refusal to define them as a couple.
• Eris is eager to return to the Sword Sanctum and help, reflecting her restlessness and familiarity with the region, but her pregnancy changes her plans.
• Rudeus shares the important news about Eris’s pregnancy, explaining why she cannot travel.

Significant themes

• Responsibility and prevention: Hilde acts now to keep the dangerous armor pieces from falling into the wrong hands.
• Belonging and insecurity: Nanahoshi’s struggles as an outsider contrast with her academic confidence in her former world.
• Care and dependence: Hilde’s reassurance and physical comfort show how their bond provides Nanahoshi with security.
• Life’s changing priorities: Eris’s pregnancy reshapes the group’s plans just as a new journey is about to begin.

Key plot points and events

• Rudeus tells Hilde that Eris is pregnant. Hilde congratulates them, and Eris asks whether she can still travel. Rudeus insists that pregnancy will eventually make travel difficult; Eris reluctantly agrees to stay behind.
• Hilde cancels her earlier request involving Eris and prepares to leave, explaining she’ll be away from Sharia for some time.
• Rudeus stops her to ask for help finding a long-term maid. With Eris pregnant and likely to take maternity leave, and a new baby on the way, the household’s childcare and chores will grow more demanding. Rudeus wants to ease Sylphy’s workload rather than rely on her to do everything.
• Rudeus would prefer to hire someone local, since a maid staying for roughly five years could become close to the family. He has also considered asking his father, Paul, to assign a maid, but thinks a local hire would be better.
• Rudeus explains that Perugius suggested another solution: summon a familiar. He gave Rudeus a huge, intricate summoning scroll. Perugius is curious what kind of being Rudeus’s immense mana will call forth.

Character developments and interactions

• Eris learns she is pregnant and initially hopes to continue traveling, but accepts Rudeus’s warning that her condition will make it impractical.
• Rudeus shows concern for both Eris’s health and Sylphy’s wellbeing. He recognizes that Sylphy’s competence and willingness to manage the home do not justify leaving her with all the work.
• Hilde responds warmly to the pregnancy news, then listens as Rudeus explains his household problem.
• Perugius supports Rudeus by providing the summoning scroll, motivated chiefly by curiosity about the result.

Significant themes

• Family care and shared responsibility: Rudeus wants to protect his wives from being overburdened as the family grows.
• Pregnancy and changing plans: Eris’s pregnancy reshapes her travel plans and the household’s needs.
• Curiosity and magic: Perugius’s gift turns a practical domestic problem into an experiment, raising the question of what Rudeus’s exceptional mana can summon.

Key plot points and events

• Rudeus tells Hilde that Perugius recommended summoning a powerful familiar to help care for his family. Hilde is surprised, but Rudeus explains that Perugius designed safeguards: the spell cannot summon humans, and it forms a binding familiar contract during the summoning.
• Rudeus still wants backup in case the summoned being is hostile or the contract proves insufficient. He asks Hilde to stand by, since he will have little mana left afterward and Eris is pregnant.
• Hilde agrees. They perform the summoning outside Rudeus’s yard, with Hilde ready to intervene using her summoned gates and Fighting God Style.
• Rudeus pours a huge amount of mana into Perugius’s elaborate circle. When the light fades, they find a girl curled up inside it—rather than the monster or spirit they expected. She has pink braided hair, a sundress, and ornate wings.

Character developments and interactions

• Rudeus acts cautiously and responsibly: despite trusting Perugius’s safeguards, he plans for the possibility of danger and seeks help to protect his family.
• Hilde initially questions Rudeus’s decision, then calmly agrees to assist and prepares to defend him if needed.
• Rudeus’s concern for Eris’s pregnancy shapes his choice of backup; he avoids putting her at risk.
• The chapter ends on the surprising appearance of the winged girl, leaving her identity and nature unresolved.

Significant themes

• Caution alongside trust: Rudeus trusts Perugius’s expertise but does not assume a magical guarantee makes the situation entirely safe.
• Family protection and responsibility: His main motivation is ensuring that a potential threat cannot reach his family.
• The limits of expectations: The familiar is not the frightening creature Rudeus and Hilde prepared for, setting up uncertainty about what the summoning has brought into their lives.

Key plot points and events

• Rudeus and Hilde discover a pink-haired, winged girl after Rudeus’s familiar-summoning spell—despite the spell being designed not to summon humans.
• They find a circular metallic recess in her neck. When Rudeus inserts his finger, it drains some of his mana and activates her.
• The girl identifies herself as an “Angel” model automaton, serial number TS001. She recognizes Rudeus and Hilde, but cannot access her local database or connect to “Skynet,” leaving her unable to explain what she is or where she came from.
• Hilde suspects the automaton may have come from the future, possibly through the summoning’s magical pathway. With no answers available, she offers the girl a three-day trial as a maid, threatening to send her to Aisha for dismantling if she fails.
• Asked for her name, the girl begins to answer, and Rudeus supplies it: “Ikaros.”

Character developments and interactions

• Rudeus is startled and confused by the unexpected summoning. His curiosity leads him to activate the girl, and he eventually recognizes or recalls the name Ikaros.
• Hilde takes a practical, questioning approach, investigating the girl and testing her usefulness rather than dwelling on the mystery. She is protective of Rudeus, briefly preparing to attack when he appears endangered.
• Ikaros appears calm and obedient, with humanlike intelligence but significant gaps in her knowledge. Her recognition of Rudeus and Hilde suggests a prior connection, though its nature remains unexplained.
• Rudeus and Hilde share their confusion throughout, balancing serious speculation with teasing and awkward humor.

Significant themes

• Uncertainty and hidden history: Ikaros’s arrival challenges what the summoning spell should be capable of, while her possible connection to the future raises questions about time and causality.
• Humanity and artificial intelligence: Ikaros looks and behaves like a person, yet describes herself as an automaton whose intelligence is tied to magic and inaccessible systems.
• Memory and identity: She recognizes the protagonists but cannot retrieve the information that would explain her origins; even her personal name requires prompting.
• Humor amid mystery: The serious questions about magic, technology, and time are undercut by playful misunderstandings and Hilde’s blunt “maid trial” proposal.

Plot points and events

• Rudeus and Hilde agree to let Ikaros try working as a maid. If she proves useful and safe, she can stay; otherwise, they will find another place for her.
• Rudeus brings Ikaros home, where Sylphy and Lucy mistake the situation for him bringing home another woman. Hilde leaves before the family discussion, though she remains curious about Ikaros and the “Skynet” she mentioned.
• Rudeus explains that Ikaros is an automaton summoned through magic, not a human, and offers to send her away if his family is uncomfortable.
• After questioning Ikaros about her safety and loyalty, the family agrees to give her a trial period as a maid.

Character developments and interactions

• Rudeus is nervous about gaining his family’s approval and is careful to reassure them that he has no romantic intentions toward Ikaros.
• Sylphy initially feels uneasy at the prospect of Rudeus bringing home another woman, then tests whether Ikaros’s obedience could create a threat to their marriage. Satisfied by Rudeus’s response, she accepts the arrangement.
• Roxy focuses on whether Ikaros might endanger the children or pregnant Eris. Ikaros reassures her that protecting Rudeus’s family is her highest priority, and Roxy supports the trial.
• Eris is bluntly unconcerned, assuming she can deal with Ikaros if anything goes wrong. She mainly wants Ikaros to help with chores and ease Sylphy’s workload.
• Hilde leaves the family matter to Rudeus but suspects Ikaros hides significant secrets. She is especially interested in Skynet and the possibility that it connects to Aisha’s research.
• Ikaros remains calm and formal, stating her protective purpose and accepting the family’s decision.

Significant themes

• Trust and acceptance: Ikaros’s unusual nature makes the family cautious, but her loyalty and usefulness persuade them to give her a chance.
• Family boundaries and jealousy: Sylphy’s questions reflect the need to establish that Ikaros is joining the household as a helper, not a romantic partner.
• Hidden technology and future consequences: Hilde’s interest in Skynet hints that Ikaros’s origins may have wider implications, potentially even drawing Hitogami’s attention.

Hilde arrived in Ars City during Ariel’s coronation celebrations and was attacked by Nina, whom she recognized and brought along to find Isolte. After meeting them, Isolte revealed that she had become the Water God, and Hilde said she needed to discuss a matter that might keep her away for a year or two.

• Hilde wandered through Ars City during the celebrations for Queen Ariel’s coronation and learned that the Silver Palace was hosting the main festivities.
• Nina attacked Hilde to test her reflexes, and Hilde recognized her as the Sword God’s daughter and agreed to help her find Isolte.
• Hilde told Nina that Eris was pregnant and offered to take her to visit Eris after they found Isolte.
• Hilde and Nina met Isolte while she patrolled the city, and Isolte dismissed her patrol so they could talk privately.
• Isolte revealed that she had become the Water God, and Hilde said she might be unable to visit for a year or two because of something she needed to do.

At the Kruel Family home, Nina compared her recent Sword King title with Isolte becoming the Water God and reflected on how far Eris and Hilde had surpassed her. After learning Eris was pregnant, Nina asked Hilde and Isolte about their love lives and felt relieved when both said they had no man in their lives.

• Nina congratulated Isolte on earning the Water God title, while privately feeling her own Sword King title was a lesser achievement.
• Nina recalled losing to Hilde and struggling to find a counter to Hilde's technique, then explained that Gal Farion had urged her to stop doubting her path and focus on training.
• Nina told Isolte and Hilde that Eris was pregnant with Rudeus's child, and Isolte sent Eris her congratulations.
• Nina questioned whether Eris seemed suited to motherhood, but Isolte defended Eris's resolve to wield a sword for the person she loved.
• Nina asked Hilde and Isolte whether they had men they liked, and both said they had no one and did not intend to marry.
• Nina felt relieved that Hilde and Isolte were also single.

Nina agreed to travel with Hilde to the Sword Sanctum, alarming Isolte, who hosted them for the night. After Nina woke and went into the corridor, she heard Isolte in Hilde’s room asking why Hilde had so many bite marks.

• Hilde told Isolte she was searching for something likely to be in the Sword Sanctum and would continue looking along the way.
• Nina offered to guide Hilde to the Sword Sanctum, and they agreed to travel together.
• Isolte objected to Nina and Hilde traveling alone, then invited them to stay at her house before the coronation ceremony.
• Nina went to bed wondering why Isolte had reacted so strangely to her traveling with Hilde.
• Nina woke during the night and heard Isolte ask Hilde why she had so many bite marks.

Isolte, Hilde, and Nina watched Ariel’s royal procession through Ars City during the coronation festivities. Isolte explained the Water God Style dojo’s uneasy position with the royal family, while Ariel’s public pregnancy announcement left Hilde questioning the claims made about the unborn heir.

• Nina overheard Isolte and Hilde’s intimate conversation, then spent the night worrying that they might silence her.
• Isolte, Hilde, and Nina explored Ars City, where Isolte explained that she had taken leave from the Knight Order and hoped to step back from her duties once the dojo’s position stabilized.
• Isolte told Hilde that the procession was one of the few chances for ordinary people to see Ariel, and Hilde offered to help if Isolte needed her influence with the queen.
• The women watched Ariel ride through the city in an open carriage as the crowd cheered for the queen and the kingdom.
• Isolte said Ariel had announced her pregnancy and declared that the child would inherit the throne, while keeping the father’s identity secret.
• Hilde dismissed Ariel’s claim that the child was destined to rule and wondered whether Dilik was the father.

After Ariel's coronation, Hilde prepared to travel with Nina to the Sword Sanctum, but Isolte joined them to fulfill the Water God Style's tradition of challenging the Sword God for control of the sanctum. Nina warned Isolte that her father would be difficult to defeat and, reflecting on her time in Ars City, considered bringing Gino there someday.

• Ariel became ruler of the Asura Kingdom, and Dilik took office as Chancellor and began sweeping reforms.
• Hilde prepared to leave for the Sword Sanctum with Nina, and Isolte announced that she would go with them.
• Nina explained that the newly appointed Water God traditionally visited the Sword Sanctum and challenged the Sword God for control of it.
• Nina warned Isolte that she was unlikely to defeat her father, though Isolte said she would try.
• Nina reflected on how much her visit to Ars City had broadened her horizons and thought about asking Gino to visit too.

Hilde brought Nina and Isolte to Ranoa Magic University to visit Eris, where they found her teaching swordsmanship despite her pregnancy. Hilde warned Eris to stop working so strenuously, and Eris reluctantly acknowledged her concern.

• Hilde led Nina and Isolte through Sharia toward Ranoa Magic University, while Isolte observed how the university made education accessible to commoners.
• The three heard Eris reprimanding students at the university's swordsmanship training grounds and went inside.
• Eris greeted Nina and Isolte, joked with Nina, and congratulated Isolte after learning she had found someone.
• Hilde warned Eris that strenuous teaching could risk her pregnancy and urged her to take maternity leave.
• Eris defended continuing to teach for another two or three months but muttered that she understood Hilde's warning.

Hilde learned about Gino, a Sword Saint whose progress had stalled, then left Sharia with Isolte and Nina to recover her missing Fighting God Armor components. The Locator pointed toward the Sword Sanctum, and Hilde disguised it as an ordinary mage’s staff.

• Eris wanted to spar with Nina, but Hilde reminded her that she was pregnant and asked Sylphy and Leo to watch over her.
• Nina told Hilde that her cousin Gino had become the youngest Sword Saint at twelve but had remained at that rank; Hilde reserved judgment about why his progress had stopped.
• Hilde visited Rudeus’s house and made Sylphy and Leo promise to keep an eye on Eris.
• Hilde, Isolte, and Nina rented horses and rode out of Sharia toward the Sword Sanctum, following the Locator to find Hilde’s missing armor components.
• Hilde bought a mage’s coat so the conspicuous Locator could pass as an ordinary staff.

Hilde, Nina, and Isolte traveled north through the snowy Northern Continent toward the Sword Sanctum, fighting off a pack of Rasta Bears and camping overnight in an Earth Fortress. The journey continued after Hilde handed the watch to Isolte, while Nina and Isolte whispered about a first time, marriage, and confession.

• Hilde, Nina, and Isolte encountered more than fifty Rasta Bears and defeated them in a brief battle, with Hilde killing the most using Rock Lances.
• Hilde burned the bears' bodies, and the three resumed their journey after deciding not to collect the valuable pelts.
• As evening fell, Hilde built an Earth Fortress for the group to use as shelter while Nina prepared dinner and Isolte gathered firewood.
• Hilde assigned the night watches, then gave her place to Isolte after two and a half hours and went to sleep.
• Isolte and Nina whispered to each other during the later watch, and Hilde faintly heard them mention a first time, marriage, and confession.

Hilde, Nina, and Isolte continued their journey toward the Sword Sanctum and stopped for the night in a small town after crossing out of the Ranoa Kingdom. At an inn, Hilde suspected the men downstairs might be bandits, so she urged her companions to stay alert.

• Nina announced that she planned to ask Gino to marry her when they returned to the Sword Sanctum, while Hilde and Isolte questioned whether he felt the same way.
• Hilde, Nina, and Isolte rode through a forest, fought off a pack of snow wolves, and continued toward a distant town.
• Hilde checked the map and realized they had left the Ranoa Kingdom, then decided the group would spend the night in town.
• At the inn, Isolte paid with gold coins, and the three rented a room and ordered food.
• Hilde noticed suspicious men downstairs and warned that they might be bandits who had seen Isolte's money, so she proposed taking turns keeping watch.

Hilde, Isolte, and Nina were ambushed by bandits on the road north, and Hilde killed their hidden leader after revealing she knew Rudeus. The three pursued the fleeing attackers and set about wiping out the bandits.

• Hilde, Isolte, and Nina bathed at the inn and spent the night without an attack.
• The three left town and rode into a desolate woodland, where a trip rope brought Hilde's horse down and bandits surrounded them.
• Isolte and Nina attacked the robbers, while one bandit grabbed Hilde and threatened her with a dagger.
• Hilde invoked her connection to Rudeus to identify the bandits' true leader, then killed her captor and crushed the leader's skull as he tried to flee.
• Hilde turned to hunt down the remaining bandits as they fled.

Hilde and her companions reached a town near the Sword Sanctum, where she unexpectedly reunited with Sarah, Rudeus's former girlfriend. They shared news about their lives and parted on friendly terms, while Sarah admitted she still loved Rudeus but had no intention of getting back together with him.

• Hilde, Nina, and Isolte burned the bandits' bodies and continued their journey, reaching a town near the Sword Sanctum after about twenty-five days.
• Nina led Hilde and Isolte to an inn, where Hilde recognized Sarah among a group of adventurers.
• Sarah introduced Hilde to her party as Rudeus's younger sister, and the women sat together to catch up.
• Sarah explained that she planned to keep adventuring for another year or two, then retire and perhaps open a tavern.
• Sarah admitted she had not completely gotten over Rudeus, but said she would not reunite with him because she could not share a husband.