Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Benjamin orders an investigation into the Hori Kingdom's merchants, confirming their dissatisfaction with The Church.
• Benjamin decides to provoke The Church by distributing a declaration encouraging merchants to seek refuge abroad.
• The Magic Academy receives Elemental Crystals from the Fool Family, which Benjamin uses as rewards for final examinations.
• Benjamin discovers a stable source of Elemental Crystals through a rune that absorbs souls, which he keeps secret.
• Merchants from the Hori Kingdom start visiting the Magic Academy, forming an "Academy Merchant League."

Character Developments

• Benjamin demonstrates strategic thinking and patience in his plan to provoke The Church.
• He shows concern for the Magic Academy's development and the well-being of its students by providing Elemental Crystals as rewards.
• Benjamin's actions inadvertently lead to the formation of the "Academy Merchant League," showing his influence and impact on the surrounding countries.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: Benjamin's actions challenge The Church's authority and influence, demonstrating the Magic Academy's growing power.
• Economic Influence: The formation of the "Academy Merchant League" highlights the Magic Academy's economic impact on surrounding countries.
• Secrecy and Trust: Benjamin keeps the source of Elemental Crystals secret, showing his understanding of the value of trust and the potential dangers of revealing certain information.

Character Interactions

• Benjamin interacts with his subordinates, such as the mage from the Dark Division and the Rune Research Group, demonstrating his leadership and trust in them.
• He also interacts with merchants from the Hori Kingdom, showing his willingness to help and support them, which contributes to the formation of the "Academy Merchant League."

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Academy produces and stores a large quantity of magical potions and items, with some sold to external merchants.
• Benjamin suggests building a sales network spanning three countries.
• He proposes creating an "Academy Merchant League" by recruiting small merchants to sell Academy products under its brand, with the Academy taking a licensing fee and deposit as collateral.

Character Developments

• Benjamin: Shows entrepreneurial spirit and strategic thinking, aiming to expand the Academy's influence and revenue.
• Wallis: Initially skeptical, he eventually agrees to Benjamin's plan and takes on the task of spreading the news.

Significant Themes

• Branding and reputation: The Academy's name becomes a brand, and Benjamin aims to protect and leverage it.
• Business strategy: Benjamin explores new business models, such as franchising, to increase the Academy's income and influence.
• Risk management: The Academy seeks to mitigate risks by requiring merchants to provide a security deposit and terminating agreements if they harm the Academy's reputation.

Character Interactions

• Benjamin and Wallis: Benjamin shares his idea with Wallis, who initially expresses doubts but ultimately agrees to help implement the plan.
• The Academy and external merchants: Benjamin aims to establish a network of merchants selling Academy products, thereby expanding the Academy's influence and revenue.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Benjamin initiates the formation of the Academy Merchant League.
• The Church imposes border restrictions in the Hori Kingdom, but wealthy merchants continue to visit the Academy.
• Benjamin considers provoking Grant into irrational actions with the Fool Family's help.
• The Fool Family sends a confidential letter hinting at their final 'trump card' to remove Grant.
• Benjamin receives a reply from the Fool Family revealing their trump card: a young man's brother, who resembles him and is also loyal to the Fool Family.

Character Developments

• Benjamin shows curiosity and concern about the Fool Family's plans and Grant's fate.
• Benjamin remains focused on the Academy's work, including the Academy Merchant League's formation.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and political intrigue within The Church and the Hori Kingdom.
• The potential consequences of the Fool Family's actions on Grant and the kingdom.
• Benjamin's strategic thinking and long-term planning.

Character Interactions

• Benjamin communicates with the Dark Division about the Hori Kingdom's situation.
• He exchanges confidential letters with the Fool Family regarding their plans against Grant.
• Benjamin works with Wallis on the Academy Merchant League's formation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Benjamin flies to the Hori Kingdom, concerned about the Fool Family's plan to assassinate Grant.
• The Fool Family sends Benjamin a letter, requesting his assistance and revealing their plan's progress and complications.
• Benjamin decides to help, hoping to gain contact information for local mage groups and potentially save the Fool Family.
• Upon arrival, Benjamin meets Dick at an inn, who seems nervous and takes him to a strange location.
• Benjamin senses a group of priests and Purifiers approaching, realizing something is amiss.

Character Developments

• Benjamin: Shows concern for the Fool Family's well-being and is willing to help despite reservations. He remains cautious and suspicious when sensing danger.
• Dick: Appears nervous and guilty, hinting at a betrayal or knowledge of a betrayal. He struggles to explain the situation.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal and trust: The chapter hints at a betrayal within the Fool Family, challenging the theme of trust among allies.
• Risk and consequence: The Fool Family's reckless plan and Benjamin's decision to help highlight the risks and consequences of their actions.
• Power dynamics: The presence of priests and Purifiers showcases the power dynamics between the Fool Family, Benjamin, and the Church.

Character Interactions

• Benjamin and Dick: Their interaction reveals Dick's nervousness and Benjamin's growing suspicion, leading to a tense confrontation.
• Benjamin and the approaching group: Benjamin's sensing of the approaching priests and Purifiers hints at a potential confrontation or escape scenario.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Benjamin arrives to find Dick and his pursuers, revealing that the initial plan was a ruse.
• Benjamin single-handedly defeats the Church pursuers, including priests and Purifiers.
• Dick reveals that the Fool Family was betrayed, and he was tricked into contacting Benjamin for help.
• Benjamin decides to help Dick escape the Hori Kingdom.

Character Developments

• Benjamin: Shows his immense power and becomes more involved in the political intrigue surrounding the Fool Family.
• Dick: Reveals his cowardice and lack of knowledge about his family's plans, but survives due to Benjamin's intervention.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal and Trust: The Fool Family's betrayal by the Church and Dick's deception of Benjamin highlight the theme of broken trust.
• Power and Responsibility: Benjamin's immense power is shown, but he also feels responsible for Dick's safety due to their past connection.

Character Interactions

• Benjamin and Dick: Their interaction reveals Dick's cowardice and Benjamin's reluctant responsibility towards him. Benjamin shows anger and frustration at Dick's deception but ultimately decides to help him.
• Benjamin and the Church: Benjamin's battle against the Church pursuers showcases his power and determination to protect Dick.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Benjamin and Dick flee from the Hori Kingdom, pursued by The Church's priests.
• Benjamin discovers that Dick has a key to a secret door in St. Peter's Cathedral, which leads to The Church's greatest secret and the realm of the gods.
• The key is revealed to be a fresh, ancient ginkgo leaf with magical energy fluctuations, implying it can open a door to another dimension.
• Benjamin decides to keep Dick safe and escape to a secure location.

Character Developments

• Benjamin shows concern for Dick's safety, despite his initial disregard for the young man.
• Dick reveals he knows about the secret door and its key, indicating he has more knowledge than initially thought.

Significant Themes

• The pursuit of power and secrets, as represented by the mysterious door and key.
• The consequences of deception and hidden agendas, shown through Ax's actions and The Church's relentless pursuit.

Character Interactions

• Benjamin and Dick's relationship evolves from hostile to cooperative, with Benjamin protecting Dick from The Church.
• Benjamin's interrogation of Dick reveals the truth about the key and the secret door.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Benjamin and Dick journey towards the Hori Kingdom's border mountains, pursued by The Church who seeks the stolen "key."
• Benjamin suspects The Church has a tracking method for the key and uses a magic-banishing water bubble to hide it, reducing the pursuit.
• Upon reaching the border mountains, Benjamin finds them eerily silent and devoid of Magic Beasts, suggesting an ambush by The Church.
• Benjamin decides to avoid the border mountains and instead head towards the Skyver Mountains in the north.

Character Developments

• Benjamin demonstrates strategic thinking and caution in evading The Church's pursuit.
• Dick shows concern for their safety and unease about their journey through the Skyver Mountains.

Significant Themes

• The relentless pursuit of power and control by The Church.
• The dangers of underestimating one's enemies.
• The importance of adaptability and caution in the face of uncertainty.

Character Interactions

• Benjamin and Dick's relationship remains one of mentor and mentee, with Benjamin making decisions and Dick following, albeit with some trepidation.
• Benjamin's interaction with The Church is one of evasion and counter-strategy, showing his intelligence and resourcefulness.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Benjamin and Dick fly high into the mountains, facing extreme cold that defies natural laws.
• Benjamin realizes the mountain range is endless, stretching towards the sky indefinitely.
• After flying over 500 kilometers, they should have reached the atmosphere, but the environment remains in the troposphere.
• Benjamin discovers the mountain wall is fake after attempting to destroy it with an elemental torrent.
• The system reveals that the cold and mountain range are illusions.

Character Developments

• Benjamin demonstrates resilience and determination in facing the seemingly insurmountable mountain range.
• Dick shows signs of fear and discomfort in the cold, contrasting Benjamin's resolve.

Significant Themes

• The power of illusion and its ability to deceive the senses.
• The importance of perseverance and critical thinking in overcoming obstacles.

Character Interactions

• Benjamin and Dick's dynamic shows Benjamin's leadership and Dick's reliance on him.
• Benjamin's internal dialogue with the system highlights his strategic thinking and the system's analytical capabilities.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Benjamin discovers they're in a sunken fissure, not flying high, using Void State.
• He sees a real, dark, and eerie world with strange plants and black shadows.
• The System analyzes that they're roughly 200 meters underground, circling endlessly due to an illusion.
• Benjamin decides to understand the illusion before leaving, as Void State's cooldown is near.

Character Developments

• Benjamin shows determination to understand and overcome the illusion, despite the challenge.

Significant Themes

• Illusion vs. reality: The struggle between perceived and actual environments.
• Overcoming challenges: Benjamin's resolve to face and solve the problem at hand.

Character Interactions

• Benjamin interacts with the System, seeking its help in understanding the illusion and finding a solution.

Notable Details

• The System reveals that a similar sound from an old illusion in Frieden (Abyss Valley) might be connected to the current one.
• Benjamin tries to block the sound with a water bubble, but the illusion persists.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Benjamin attempts to block a hallucination-inducing sound using his magic.
• They are suddenly enclosed in a perfectly round ice sphere.
• Benjamin reveals that they were not climbing mountains but going in circles due to an illusion.
• An unknown force begins pulling them downward into the abyss.

Character Developments

• Benjamin's control over magic has improved significantly, allowing him to create an ice sphere for soundproofing and compression.
• Dick's resilience and trust in Benjamin are tested. He initially feels resentment but later accepts Benjamin's decisions.

Significant Themes

• Perception vs Reality: The hallucinations challenge their perception of reality, and they must discern what's real.
• Courage and Curiosity: Benjamin's curiosity drives him to explore the abyss despite the risks, while Dick is more cautious.

Character Interactions

• Benjamin and Dick's dynamic shifts as Dick becomes more dependent on Benjamin's decisions.
• Benjamin shows disregard for Dick's concerns, prioritizing his own curiosity and desire to explore.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Benjamin and Dick descend into a dark abyss, with Benjamin using his water-element senses to navigate.
• They encounter spatial rifts (cracks in mid-air) that can slice through objects and potentially lead to another world or place.
• They reach the bottom of the abyss, finding a barren, red-black ground with human and beast skeletons, and unidentified floating objects.
• The floating objects are revealed to be ghosts or spirits, with the system detecting spiritual power fluctuations from them.
• Benjamin sees a human figure emerging from one of the spatial rifts.

Character Developments

• Benjamin displays caution and wariness when facing the unknown and potentially dangerous spatial rifts, prioritizing safety over curiosity.
• Dick is terrified by the ghosts, showing his fear and vulnerability.

Significant Themes

• Exploration and discovery of the unknown, with potential risks and dangers.
• The existence of undead creatures and their habits.
• The stability and instability of spatial structures.

Character Interactions

• Benjamin and the system discuss the nature and safety of the spatial rifts, with Benjamin being more cautious than the system.
• Benjamin and Dick share a moment of shock and fear upon seeing the ghosts.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Benjamin and Dick encounter a comatose mercenary from Frieden, who was spat out of a spatial rift.
• Ghosts surround the mercenary, devouring his youth and life force, causing him to age rapidly.
• Benjamin realizes that ghosts use illusions to lure prey and feed on their life force.
• He attempts to rescue the mercenary but fails, as ghosts lack physical bodies.
• Benjamin kills the mercenary, causing the feeding ghosts to react violently.
• He reinforces the ice sphere to block out sounds and hides from the ghosts.

Character Developments

• Benjamin demonstrates strategic thinking and bravery in facing the ghostly threat.
• Dick shows fear but trusts Benjamin's judgment.

Significant Themes

• The danger of illusions and the importance of mental clarity.
• The connection between Abyss Valley and the Skyver Mountains, and the potential shortcut it offers.

Character Interactions

• Benjamin and Dick work together, with Benjamin providing explanations and reassurance to Dick.
• Benjamin interacts with the system, seeking information and advice.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Benjamin and Dick explore the abyss beneath the Hori Kingdom, discovering a vast ghost settlement.
• Benjamin decides to catch a ghost for research, as the mage world lacks knowledge about undead creatures.
• He returns to the Hori Kingdom to capture birds as bait to lure a ghost.

Character Developments

• Benjamin: Shows determination in exploring the unknown and conducting research on undead creatures. He also displays a pragmatic approach to problem-solving, using birds as bait to catch a ghost.
• Dick: Gradually adapts to the ghostly environment but remains fearful of the creatures.

Significant Themes

• Exploration and discovery: Benjamin's curiosity drives him to explore the unknown, leading to potential new knowledge and systems in magic.
• Research and innovation: Benjamin seeks to advance the understanding of undead creatures, which could lead to new magical techniques and systems.
• Pragmatism vs. ethics: Benjamin's methods, such as using birds as bait, raise questions about the ethics of his actions, contrasting with his pragmatic approach to achieving his goals.

Character Interactions

• Benjamin and Dick: Benjamin reassures Dick during their journey, showing a level of concern for his well-being. Dick, in turn, questions Benjamin's methods but ultimately follows his lead.
• Benjamin and the System: The system mocks Benjamin's methods, but he remains unfazed and confident in his approach. Their interactions highlight Benjamin's determination and the system's role as a commentary on his actions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Benjamin realizes that the ghosts in the abyss are former humans or animals, shaped by the environment post-death.
• He guides a group of ghosts out of the abyss using an ice sphere and a bird as bait.
• A single ghost emerges with the group, struggling in the light but feeding on the bird.
• Upon exiting the abyss, the ghost enters the bird's body, slowing its consumption but not stopping it.
• Benjamin uses Elemental Command: Healing to keep the bird alive, deciding to study the ghost further.

Character Developments

• Benjamin demonstrates his understanding of the ghosts' nature and their interaction with elements.
• He shows compassion towards the ghost, deciding to keep it alive despite the risks.
• The System expresses concern about Benjamin's actions but acknowledges his logic.

Significant Themes

• Exploration and Discovery: Benjamin's willingness to explore the unknown, even at great risk, is a central theme.
• The Nature of Life and Death: The ghosts' existence challenges traditional notions of life and death, and Benjamin's actions blur the line further.
• Responsibility and Consequences: Benjamin is aware of the potential dangers of his actions but chooses to proceed, raising questions about responsibility and the consequences of his choices.

Character Interactions

• Benjamin and the System engage in a dialogue that reveals Benjamin's philosophical views and the System's concern for his safety.
• Benjamin interacts with the ghosts, demonstrating both understanding and control over their behavior.
• The ghost and the bird have a symbiotic relationship, with the ghost feeding on the bird's life force and the bird's body providing a temporary haven for the ghost.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Benjamin, Dick, and the ghost-possessed bird cross the abyss.
• Benjamin releases the remaining captured birds and keeps the ghost-possessed bird in Dick's bag.
• They encounter Eyeless Birds and unknown undead creatures (mummified corpses) on the other side.
• Benjamin kills the mummified corpses and discovers they are not Magic Beasts but undead creatures.
• He encounters more undead creatures, confirming that the other side is a paradise for the undead.

Character Developments

• Benjamin shows his magical healing abilities and his strategic thinking in handling the ghost.
• Dick displays nervousness and fear but follows Benjamin's orders.
• Benjamin demonstrates his combat skills by easily defeating the Eyeless Birds and mummified corpses.

Significant Themes

• The other side of the abyss is revealed to be an entirely different world, filled with undead creatures.
• Benjamin's curiosity and determination to explore and understand this new world are emphasized.
• The theme of the undead and their origins is introduced, raising questions about the environment's impact on life and death.

Character Interactions

• Benjamin and Dick's relationship is one of master and servant, with Dick showing deference and fear towards Benjamin.
• Benjamin's interaction with the system is casual and conversational, showing his familiarity and comfort with its presence.
• There is no interaction with other characters in this chapter, as Benjamin and Dick are the only humans present.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Benjamin's exploration is cut short due to lack of space in his backpack.
• They fly north, killing and collecting undead creatures from a wasteland, then enter an endless swamp.
• Benjamin returns to the Consciousness Space to silence the System's complaints.
• Dick begs to return, and Benjamin agrees due to mental energy overload and potential dangers ahead.
• On the way back, Benjamin considers the possibility of the secret being hidden underground.

Character Developments

• Benjamin shows regret for turning back but prioritizes safety and mental energy conservation.
• Dick shows fear and relief at returning, and later agrees to stay at the academy as a guest to avoid The Church.

Significant Themes

• Exploration and discovery: Benjamin's curiosity and desire to unravel the world of the undead.
• Safety and risk: Benjamin's decision to turn back due to potential dangers and mental energy conservation.
• Secrecy: Benjamin's intention to keep the world of the undead a secret from The Church.

Character Interactions

• Benjamin and the System: Benjamin silences the System's complaints by returning to the Consciousness Space.
• Benjamin and Dick: Dick begs to return, and Benjamin agrees; later, Benjamin convinces Dick to stay at the academy as a guest.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Benjamin returns to the academy with undead remains from the other side of the abyss.
• He reveals his journey's discoveries to trusted researchers, causing shock and disbelief.
• The researchers begin studying the undead remains, with Maurice focusing on the ghost inside the bird.

Character Developments

• Benjamin: Shows maturity and responsibility in handling the undead remains and the ghost.
• Maurice: Demonstrates his expertise in potions and spiritual energy manipulation, offering solutions for containing the ghost.

Significant Themes

• Discovery and Exploration: Benjamin's journey reveals the undead world, challenging the academy's understanding of the world.
• Responsibility: Benjamin feels responsible for the undead remains and the ghost, seeking to contain and study them safely.
• Trust: Benjamin trusts Maurice and other researchers with his discoveries, fostering collaboration.

Character Interactions

• Benjamin and Maurice: They work together, with Maurice offering solutions for containing the ghost, while Benjamin shares his discoveries and seeks Maurice's knowledge about the key.
• Benjamin and the Researchers: Benjamin shares his journey's details with the researchers, fostering a collaborative environment for studying the undead remains.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Benjamin discovers that the ginkgo leaf is a key to a door in the Elemental Plane, granting immense power to The Church.
• He warns other nations about The Church's potential invasion.
• Benjamin decides to keep the key, both as a bargaining tool and out of curiosity about the power source.
• Researchers struggle to study undead remains due to lack of 'living' specimens.
• An old potions master finds a peculiar residue in the undead remains, which Benjamin takes for further analysis.

Character Developments

• Benjamin shows strategic thinking by keeping the key as a bargaining tool and for curiosity's sake.
• The old potions master demonstrates his expertise by quickly discovering the residue.

Significant Themes

• Power and its sources (The Church's secret, the Elemental Plane).
• The struggle between knowledge and ignorance (researchers' difficulty in studying undead).

Character Interactions

• Benjamin interacts with Maurice, seeking information about the key.
• Benjamin discusses undead research with a mage and the old potions master, leading to the discovery of the residue.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Benjamin discovers a liquid extracted from undead remains that can instill fear in a creature from the Elemental Plane.
• He attempts to use it on a pig carcass to see if it can reanimate the dead, but it only causes corrosion.
• Benjamin decides to explore the Undead World again to gather more undead specimens for research.
• Maurice prepares equipment for raising ghosts in captivity, and they attempt to extract a ghost from a parasitized bird using this equipment.

Character Developments

• Benjamin shows curiosity and determination in understanding the Undead World's secrets.
• The old researcher demonstrates expertise and skepticism regarding Benjamin's methods.
• Maurice displays initiative and resourcefulness in preparing equipment for undead research.

Significant Themes

• The fearsome power of the Undead World and its potential dangers.
• The importance of thorough research and preparation before exploring the Undead World.
• The need for cooperation and collaboration among mages to achieve common goals.

Character Interactions

• Benjamin interacts with the old researcher, seeking his opinion on the liquid's properties and his guidance on research methods.
• Benjamin and Maurice work together to extract a ghost from a parasitized bird, demonstrating their trust and collaboration.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Benjamin and other mages prepare to release a ghost from a dying bird.
• The ghost possesses the bird's corpse, reviving it as an undead creature.
• The undead bird attacks the glass dome, then breaks free and flies towards Benjamin.

Character Developments

• Benjamin demonstrates caution and quick thinking, activating the Void State to ensure they're not in an illusion.
• The old man shows interest in studying the newly created undead specimen.

Significant Themes

• The power and unpredictability of ghosts and undead creatures.
• The consequences of meddling with dark elements and the undead.
• The importance of caution and preparedness in magical research.

Character Interactions

• Benjamin interacts with other mages, sharing knowledge and decisions about the ghost and undead.
• The old man and Benjamin discuss the implications of the undead bird's creation.