Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Theresa, the Sarkaz Demon King, learns that Maria, their wartime commander, has ties to Laterano.
• Theresa decides to keep this information sealed to prevent potential consequences.
• Nitze, an Eater of the Dead, asks Theresa about their relationship with Laterano, mentioning Laterano's new weapon and the Sarkaz's military capabilities.
• Theresa decides to send a message to Laterano, requesting a visit from the Sarkaz Demon King.

Character Developments

• Theresa: Shows diplomatic caution and long-term strategic thinking, prioritizing the stability and development of the Sarkaz over immediate revenge.
• Nitze: Demonstrates concern for the Sarkaz's relationship with Laterano and their military capabilities, questioning Theresa's plans.
• Renia (Laterano): Shows a willingness to consider peace with the Sarkaz, seeing their message as an unprecedented opportunity.

Significant Themes

• The long-standing conflict and blood feud between the Sarkaz and Laterano.
• The potential consequences of revealing sensitive information.
• The tension between immediate military action and long-term development and peace.

Character Interactions

• Theresa and Nitze: Theresa shares her plans with Nitze, who questions her about their relationship with Laterano and their military strategy.
• Renia and Cardinal Vlad: Renia argues with Cardinal Vlad about the potential for peace with the Sarkaz, while Vlad remains skeptical due to the Sarkaz's nature and Laterano's historical conflict with them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A heated debate occurs between Cardinal Vlad, who wants to exterminate the Sarkaz, and Cardinal Renia, who advocates for reconciliation. They cannot find common ground.
• Pope Evangelista IX intervenes, appointing Vlad as acting commander of the Pontiff's Knights with restricted powers, and tasking Renia with receiving the Sarkaz Demon King. He believes this could be a turning point in history.
• At the Maria Welfare Home, children give Maria a flower wreath as a token of gratitude. Renia finds Maria with a freshly dug patch of earth behind her, hinting at a recent secret event.

Character Developments

• Cardinal Vlad: Stands firm in his belief that the Sarkaz must be eliminated, influencing many people. He is appointed as acting commander but has his powers restricted.
• Cardinal Renia: Advocates for peace and reconciliation between Laterano and the Sarkaz. She is tasked with receiving the Sarkaz Demon King and holds the key to unlocking Vlad's full command.
• Maria: Shows kindness and patience towards the children at the welfare home. She secretly deals with an intruder who attempted to poison the food.

Significant Themes

• War vs. Peace: The conflict between Vlad's desire for war and Renia's advocacy for peace is a central theme.
• Reconciliation: Renia believes that if Laterano and the Sarkaz can reconcile, it could change the world and resolve other conflicts.
• Trust and Betrayal: Maria's secret actions hint at a lack of trust in the people around her, leading her to take matters into her own hands.

Character Interactions

• Vlad and Renia: Their heated debate showcases their irreconcilable views on the Sarkaz issue.
• Maria and the Children: Maria's interactions with the children at the welfare home demonstrate her kindness and patience.
• Maria and Renia: Renia finds Maria with a freshly dug patch of earth, hinting at a secret event and leading to a tense interaction between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Maria's eyes flash with a crimson hue, indicating she's retaliated against unseen assailants.
• Renia and Maria discuss the recent attack on Renia's orphanage, likely orchestrated by someone opposing Renia's peace efforts with the Sarkaz.
• Maria warns Renia that more attacks are to come if she continues her peace mission.
• Renia asks Maria if she orchestrated the contact between Laterano and the Sarkaz; Maria denies involvement but admits to nudging the process along.

Character Developments

• Renia shows determination and resilience in the face of adversity, refusing to be deterred from her peace mission.
• Maria maintains her enigmatic and powerful demeanor, revealing little about her true capabilities and intentions.

Significant Themes

• The struggle for peace amidst longstanding hostility and mistrust between Laterano and the Sarkaz.
• The power dynamics and political intrigue within Laterano, with Renia facing opposition from those who want to maintain the status quo with the Sarkaz.
• The theme of luck and fortune in achieving one's goals, with Renia questioning whether her good fortune is due to Maria's influence.

Character Interactions

• Renia and Maria's relationship deepens as they discuss the challenges ahead, with Renia seeking Maria's guidance and support.
• Maria continues to mentor Renia, offering advice and encouragement while maintaining a degree of distance and mystery.
• The priest appears briefly, serving as a reminder of the potential candidates for the role of intermediary between Laterano and the Sarkaz.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Renia, the Pontiff, worries about meeting Theresa, the Sarkaz King, fearing it might provoke displeasure due to their status.
• Maria reassures Renia that Theresa is easy to get along with.
• Renia plans a four-step process for the meeting: welcoming Theresa, exchanging gifts, a joint conference, and finally, real negotiations.
• Maria and the priest secretly handle disruptions by Vlad's people.
• The Sarkaz procession arrives, challenging Laterano citizens' stereotypes with their elegance and confidence.
• Renia welcomes Theresa at the city gates, expressing nervousness but goodwill.

Character Developments

• Renia shows diplomatic skill and determination in planning the meeting.
• Theresa's arrival challenges Laterano citizens' perceptions of the Sarkaz.
• Maria and the priest demonstrate their loyalty and efficiency in handling secret matters.

Significant Themes

• The meeting between Laterano and the Sarkaz symbolizes the potential for change and understanding between long-standing enemies.
• The contrast between the Laterano citizens' expectations and the reality of the Sarkaz procession highlights the power of first impressions and stereotypes.

Character Interactions

• Renia and Maria discuss the meeting, with Maria reassuring Renia about Theresa.
• Renia and Theresa meet at the city gates, both expressing nervousness but goodwill.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Theresa, the Sarkaz Demon King, arrives in Laterano, defying stereotypes with her gentle demeanor.
• Renia, the Laterano representative, shows Theresa around the city and arranges a space for the Sarkaz.
• Theresa's arrival sparks curiosity and questions about the education and beliefs of Laterano's people.
• Maria warns Renia about potential threats to the peace conference.

Character Developments

• Theresa: Proves to be polite, gentle, and strategic in her approach to diplomacy.
• Renia: Realizes the power of stereotypes and begins to question her own biases.
• Maria: Demonstrates exceptional reflexes and physical prowess, hinting at her hidden capabilities.

Significant Themes

• Stereotypes and first impressions: Theresa defies the expectations of the Laterano people.
• Diplomacy and peace: Both Theresa and Renia show willingness to maintain peace and understanding.
• Hidden power dynamics: Maria's actions hint at underlying forces at play.

Character Interactions

• Theresa and Renia: Their initial meeting is polite and cordial, with Theresa deliberately easing the tension.
• Renia and Maria: They discuss the peace conference and potential threats, with Maria warning Renia about possible dangers.
• Maria's mysterious past: Her actions hint at a history with Theresa and exceptional skills, raising questions about her background.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Renia receives a gift box from Theresa, which contains a mechanical device that fires a bullet when opened.
• Maria, Renia's companion, catches the bullet barehanded, revealing she's not human.
• Renia and Maria deduce that the attack was not orchestrated by the Sarkaz, as it doesn't benefit them.
• Renia decides not to investigate the incident to avoid harming the peace talks and the Sarkaz's reputation.
• Renia announces that she and her people will temporarily reside in the Sarkaz camp to strengthen cooperation and bind her safety to the Sarkaz's.
• Vlad, leader of the hawkish faction in Laterano, is enraged by Renia's move, as it ties his hands and makes it difficult for him to act against the Sarkaz.

Character Developments

• Renia shows calm and strategic thinking even after facing a life-threatening crisis, demonstrating her political acumen.
• Maria reveals her supernatural abilities, suggesting she's not human, and shows calm and collected demeanor.
• Vlad shows his frustration and anger at Renia's unexpected move, indicating his aggressive stance against the Sarkaz.

Significant Themes

• Trust and cooperation between the Sarkaz and Laterano.
• The delicate balance of power between political factions.
• The consequences of hidden agendas and secret plots.

Character Interactions

• Renia and Maria work together to deduce the origin of the attack and decide on a course of action.
• Vlad's subordinates report to him about Renia's announcement, causing him to lash out in anger.
• Theresa, the Sarkaz Demon King, accepts Renia's announcement, showing respect for the peace talks and Laterano's goodwill.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Vlad, a Laterano knight, is enraged by the order to cooperate with the Sarkaz, a demonic race.
• He realizes that the Pontiff's authority rests with Renia, and he must find a way to maintain his power.
• He notices the sick worshippers outside the city and has an idea to cause chaos and fear.
• Renia's efforts to facilitate peace between Laterano and the Sarkaz are progressing positively, but there are also unusual situations.

Character Developments

• Vlad: He is shown to be power-hungry, furious at the prospect of cooperating with the Sarkaz, and willing to cause chaos to maintain his authority.
• Renia: She is portrayed as cautious, strategic, and open-minded, making efforts to ensure a peaceful alliance between Laterano and the Sarkaz.

Significant Themes

• Power Struggles: Vlad's desire to maintain his authority and influence clashes with Renia's efforts to establish peace.
• Prejudice and Misunderstanding: The initial hostility between Laterano and the Sarkaz is rooted in misunderstanding and fear, which begins to change as they interact more.
• Identity and Belonging: The conversation between the Sankta woman and the Sarkaz man explores themes of identity, belonging, and the complexities of their relationship due to their races' history.

Character Interactions

• Vlad and Renia: Their relationship is tense, with Vlad resentful of Renia's authority and Renia cautious of Vlad's intentions.
• Sankta Woman and Sarkaz Man: Their interaction reveals a shared history, a complex relationship due to their races' past, and a struggle to reconcile their identities and loyalties.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A Sarkaz man (later revealed to be a childhood friend of the main woman) and a Laterano woman (a former soldier) meet in Laterano, where they're both at risk due to their pasts.
• They encounter a man who seems to be stalking them, but he's knocked out by Maria.
• Maria reveals she's been hiding in Laterano, and the man recognizes her as the Demon King's daughter, Her Highness Maria, who was believed to have died.
• Maria hints at a secret plan involving the others who were with her during the Defense of Kazdel.
• Maria returns to Renia, revealing she found a piece of Originium among the food transported back.

Character Developments

• The Sarkaz man is shown to be loyal and protective, initially shielding the Laterano woman from potential danger.
• The Laterano woman is revealed to be a former soldier with a tough exterior, but she's also caring and concerned for others' safety.
• Maria demonstrates her cunning and strategic thinking, having faked her death and infiltrated Laterano to guide the Sarkaz toward peace.
• Renia is shown to be a responsible leader, balancing her duties and prioritizing the safety of her people.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of war and the difficulty of maintaining peace.
• The importance of trust and understanding between different groups of people.
• The power of deception and strategy in achieving long-term goals.

Character Interactions

• The Sarkaz man and the Laterano woman maintain an unusual friendship despite their peoples' historical enmity.
• Maria interacts with the two, revealing her secret to the Sarkaz man but not the Laterano woman.
• Renia and Maria work together, with Renia trusting Maria's judgment and Maria providing valuable information to Renia.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter focuses on easing tensions between Laterano and the Sarkaz after the war.
• Theresa and Renia, representing their respective nations, go on a private sightseeing tour in Terra.
• Theresa notices the city's decline due to their presence and learns about the prejudice against Sarkaz.
• They encounter homeless children selling fruits, and Theresa buys all of their produce, showing kindness and guilt for the city's state.

Character Developments

• Theresa: Shows empathy and understanding towards the city's state and the children, displaying her desire for change and growth for the Sarkaz. She also reveals her close friendship with a woman who shares similar traits to the orphanage owner.
• Renia: Shows concern for Theresa's feelings and understanding of the city's situation. She reveals that a sharp-tongued, soft-hearted woman runs the orphanage.

Significant Themes

• Prejudice and its consequences: The city's decline and the children's situation highlight the lasting effects of prejudice against the Sarkaz.
• Change and growth: Theresa's desire for the Sarkaz to change their image and grow is a central theme.
• Empathy and kindness: Theresa's actions towards the children demonstrate her empathy and kindness, despite her status as the Demon King.

Character Interactions

• Theresa and Renia: Their interaction shows mutual respect and understanding, with Theresa trying to reassure Renia and Renia revealing information about the city and the orphanage.
• Theresa and the children: Theresa's interaction with the children shows her kindness and guilt for the city's state, while also providing a moment of happiness for the children.
• Theresa and Theresis: Theresis, Theresa's assistant, is present but does not actively participate in the conversation, merely following Theresa's instructions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Theresa discovers an apple with Originium hidden inside, causing minor injuries to her mouth.
• Renia, the leader of the Laterano delegation, is suspected of involvement due to the Originium-tainted food.
• Theresa decides to leave Laterano, as peace seems unattainable due to ongoing hostility.

Character Developments

• Theresa maintains her calm and understanding demeanor, even after being targeted.
• Theresis becomes more determined to protect Theresa and the Sarkaz, showing a shift from his initial willingness to compromise for peace.
• Renia is revealed to be furious and regretful about the incident, suggesting she was not involved in the plot.

Significant Themes

• Hostility and Prejudice: The Laterano people's deep-seated hostility towards the Sarkaz is highlighted, making peace negotiations challenging.
• Trust and Betrayal: Theresa's trust in Renia is tested, while Theresis's trust in the peace process is shaken.
• Safety and Security: The incident raises concerns about the safety of the Sarkaz and the peace conference attendees.

Character Interactions

• Theresa and Theresis: Theresa's calm and understanding nature contrasts with Theresis's growing determination and protectiveness.
• Renia and Maria: Renia's fury and regret are evident, while Maria remains calm and collected, revealing she had taken steps to prevent a larger disaster.
• Theresa and Renia: Though not directly interacting in this chapter, Theresa's trust in Renia is challenged, setting up potential future interactions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Theresa, the Demon King, and her advisors discuss their strategy at the peace conference with Laterano.
• Theresa reveals her plan to support Renia, a contender for the next Pope, to improve relations between Laterano and the Sarkaz.
• Theresa and Renia release a joint statement, proposing that Sankta Defense Force and Sarkaz form joint teams to alleviate concerns about peace between their nations.
• A rumor spreads that the Demon King has been attacked, which could serve as a justification for war if pursued by the Sarkaz.

Character Developments

• Theresa demonstrates her political acumen and resolve, willing to take risks to achieve long-term peace and change the world's view of the Sarkaz.
• Renia is portrayed as a reasonable and strategic leader, willing to work with Theresa to improve relations between their nations.
• Vlad, a contender for the next Pope, is depicted as cunning and manipulative, using subordinates to carry out his plans without directly implicating himself.

Significant Themes

• The importance of diplomacy and strategic alliances in achieving long-term peace.
• The cyclical nature of conflict and the difficulty of breaking out of established patterns.
• The power dynamics between nations and the influence of leaders on international relations.

Character Interactions

• Theresa and her advisors discuss their strategy, with Theresa taking a leading role in decision-making.
• Theresa and Renia work together to release a joint statement, demonstrating their commitment to peace.
• Maria and Renia discuss the situation, with Maria offering her perspective on how to address the problem.
• Vlad's actions are mentioned, showing his manipulation and cunning in his bid for power.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Pontiff's Knights are stationed outside the city, with Vlad in charge, but he remains near the city while others guard the border.
• Pontiff's Knights discuss their orders and the possibility of peace with the Sarkaz.
• A mysterious woman approaches the Pontiff's Knights' camp at midnight, ignoring their warnings.
• Vlad, in his tent, plans to use infected food to cause chaos and blame the Sarkaz, believing this will justify his actions and secure Laterano's future.
• Pontiff's Knights report an unknown enemy attacking the camp, with Vlad initially thinking it might be Renia's people or the Sarkaz.

Character Developments

• Vlad's ambition and disregard for innocent lives are further emphasized as he plans to use infected food to create chaos and blame the Sarkaz.
• Pontiff's Knights show curiosity, concern, and confusion about the peace conference and their orders, demonstrating their loyalty to the Pontiff but also their individual thoughts and doubts.

Significant Themes

• Ambition and power struggle, as seen through Vlad's schemes and his belief in the necessity of his actions for Laterano's future.
• The possibility of peace and the challenges it faces, as discussed by the Pontiff's Knights.
• The consequences of secrecy and manipulation, as Vlad's plans could lead to innocent people being infected and potentially cause widespread chaos.

Character Interactions

• Pontiff's Knights discuss their orders and the peace conference, showing camaraderie and shared concerns.
• Vlad interacts with Pontiff's Knights who report the enemy attack, revealing his initial confusion and then concern about the situation.
• The mysterious woman's silent approach and disregard for the Pontiff's Knights' warnings create tension and mystery.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Pontiff's Knights, Laterano's most powerful force, suffer a surprising defeat.
• Vlad, initially unreliable, takes charge and faces the enemy, a tall woman in a white dress.
• The woman easily defeats a Pontiff's Knight and causes the others to bleed from their ears, demonstrating her immense power.
• Vlad summons a towering steel Great Beast, a new and improved Pontiff's Knight, to face the woman.

Character Developments

• Vlad shows unexpected leadership and seriousness in the face of danger.
• The Pontiff's Knights' invincibility is challenged, leading to a loss of confidence and shock.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics: The woman's strength challenges the Pontiff's Knights' perceived invincibility.
• Unpredictability: The sudden defeat of the Pontiff's Knights highlights the unexpected nature of the world.

Character Interactions

• Vlad and the woman: Vlad tries to identify the woman, but she remains silent and menacing.
• The Pontiff's Knights: They initially express confidence in their abilities but become overwhelmed and fearful upon seeing their comrade defeated.