Chapter Summaries

Arifa visited Allen in a revealing nightgown and asked him to wear a suit and punish her, but his Killing Intent only seemed to excite her, so she fled after thanking him. Allen then caught Sylphy peeking from her room and reassured her that he appreciated her repeated efforts, leaving her happier before he returned to his room.

• Arifa arrived at Allen's door in a daring nightgown and offered him a formal suit, asking him to punish her.
• Allen used Killing Intent to turn Arifa away, but realized she enjoyed the sensation and watched her flee, flustered and grateful.
• Allen waited for Sylphy to peek out from her room, and she froze when she saw him watching.
• Allen told Sylphy he had noticed and appreciated her efforts, reassuring her that she should not be discouraged.
• Sylphy quietly wished Allen good night, then ran into her bedroom, while Allen returned to his room with a lighter step.

Allen used his location-search ability to see Lokkishi reading his letter, then learned from her reply to Sylphy that she understood his feelings and planned to send an express letter. The next morning, Allen went to the tower where Sauros watched over the Great Transfer Mana Orb.

• Allen worried about Sylphy's expectations and used his location-search ability to look in on Lokkishi as she read his letter.
• Lokkishi blushed over Allen's words and read his request to meet in person when spring arrived.
• After reading Sylphy's letter about Hilda and Allen, Lokkishi wrote back to encourage Sylphy and promised to make her a necklace for Allen to give her.
• Lokkishi wrote Allen a brief reply and asked a palace maid to send it by express delivery.
• The next morning, Allen left his room and walked through the snow to the tower where Sauros viewed the Great Transfer Mana Orb.

Allen entered the tower and found Cat's Eye chained in a room with Sauros, confirming that Sauros had not spent the night in the Boreas residential quarters. He confronted Sauros at the top of the tower, where Sauros asked why Allen had stopped practicing swordsmanship and Allen replied that there was no need.

• Allen noticed that the tower door was unlocked and entered despite Arifa's attempt to stop him.
• Allen climbed the tower and found Cat's Eye in a state of pleasure; she dressed herself only by draping the clothes over her arm and left.
• Allen realized that Lil had become one of Sauros's informants and that her absence from Hilda's side showed Sauros had not stayed in the residential quarters.
• Sauros praised Allen's self-control and asked why he had stopped practicing swordsmanship on the roof.
• Allen stood beside Sauros at the window and replied that he had stopped because there was no need.

Sauros questioned Allen about his ambitions and learned that Allen had no interest in power or high status. As the two watched the Great Transfer’s Black Orb, Sauros declared he would live and die defending the Fittoa Region.

• Sauros praised Allen’s swordsmanship and challenged him to admit whether he sought power and status.
• Allen denied wanting the heights or the position of family head, and Sauros lost interest in the conversation.
• Allen pointed out the Black Orb and asked whether Sauros had mistaken the Great Transfer for a jewel.
• Allen asked what Sauros would do if the phenomenon destroyed the entire Fittoa Region.
• Sauros declared that he would not abandon his territory and would die there as its lord.

Allen challenged Sauros’s definition of Boreas’s Iron Heart and declared that he would kill James without needing permission or changes to family traditions. Sauros warned him about the dangers, then gave him three years to spend time with Hilda and Eris before returning to the royal capital, but Allen said he would return sooner.

• Sauros explained that he had hoped Allen would embody Boreas’s Iron Heart, but dismissed him when Allen offered no response to his speech.
• Sauros rejected Allen’s request to change Boreas traditions and urged him to learn the family’s Iron Heart before returning to the royal capital.
• Allen argued that a practical, direct spirit could also be Boreas’s Iron Heart and said he would kill James himself.
• Sauros warned that killing a minister in the royal capital would be reckless, but Allen claimed he could survive even if he slaughtered the North God Style practitioners at Boreas Mansion.
• Sauros told Allen to visit Hilda and Eris more often and return to the royal capital after three years; Allen replied that he would return sooner.

Allen emerged from the tower as Sauros laughed and accepted Allen Boreas Greyrat as the Boreas Family’s next head. He instructed Arifa to bring him any letters at once, then waited through the passing month for an answer as spring arrived.

• Sauros laughed beneath the Boreas Family crest, and Allen became the chosen candidate for the next family head.
• Allen emerged from the tower and found Lil and Arifa waiting for him in the snow.
• Allen told Arifa to deliver any letters addressed to him immediately.
• Allen waited for an answer while the snow melted, the branches changed with the seasons, and more than a month passed.
• Spring arrived as Allen continued asking whether any letters had come.

As Eris's tenth birthday banquet approached, Allen waited for a letter and struggled to understand his unease around Hilda and his stalled expectations. Sylphy brought him to Hilda's diary, whose pages revealed that Hilda regarded him as her own child in both body and soul.

• Arifa told Allen that no letter had arrived, while Sauros warned him not to cause trouble at Eris's birthday banquet.
• Eris rehearsed her dance successfully, and Allen saw the elaborate formalwear Hilda had made for him before Hilda fell asleep.
• Allen reviewed his plans to fulfill Hilda's, Sylphy's, and Ghislaine's expectations, but felt something was missing from his response to Hilda and from his Sword of Light.
• Sylphy took Allen to Hilda's room and opened a window so the spring breeze could turn the pages of Hilda's diary.
• Allen read the diary and realized that Hilda saw him as her own child, in both body and soul.

Hilda recorded how her familiarity with Allen grew into the realization that he was her son, secretly placed among the Boreas as a retainer for his protection. Unable to acknowledge him without putting him in danger, she chose to keep watching him from a distance and leave him with a smile.

• Hilda met Eris's new tutors and felt an inexplicable familiarity with Allen, then grew fond of watching him and Eris practice swordsmanship together.
• Over the following months, Hilda began imagining that her distant son might share Allen's serious, capable nature and enjoyed seeing Allen treat Eris like a sister.
• Hilda prepared to teach Allen and Eris Boreas etiquette, but Philip revealed that Allen was her son, hidden among the Boreas because James wanted him killed.
• Hilda fell ill with grief and avoided looking at Allen, though his affection for Eris and occasional smiles comforted her.
• As her health improved, Hilda decided she could not acknowledge Allen and resolved to watch over him from a distance while keeping a smile for him.

Allen awakened his desire to respond to Hilda and rejected the system’s warning that acting on her expectations would cost him points. He challenged the system to erase him as he chose to follow his heart.

• Allen shut the window, stopping Hilda’s diary from turning, but Sylphy saw his resolve ignite and realized she had awakened his desire.
• Allen asked Sylphy to bring Rudy to his room, then hurried back to plan how to respond to Hilda and Sylphy.
• Allen rejected the system’s warning that completing the tasks more than 24 hours apart would earn zero points, insisting he would respond to Hilda immediately.
• Allen argued that integrating into the world mattered more than points and told the system to erase him if it dared.

Allen received Lokkishi’s urgent letter and a magic stone necklace she had made for Sylphy, along with her promise to agree to whatever he asked. He accepted the gift as forgiveness and prepared to give it to Sylphy after the banquet.

• The system praised Allen for regaining his youthful spirit, and Arifa brought him an urgent letter from Lokkishi.
• Allen decided he would read Lokkishi’s letter that evening and explain everything to Sylphy after the banquet.
• Allen found a necklace with a gray-black magic stone inside the envelope and recognized it as a gift for Sylphy.
• Allen read Lokkishi’s brief letter, in which she promised to agree to anything he asked and told him to put the necklace on Sylphy himself.

Allen, Rudy, and Sylphy discussed how to help Allen reconnect with his family, and Rudy was pleased to take his turn supporting him. After Rudy left, Allen thanked Sylphy for what she had done, leaving her flustered by the growing intimacy between them.

• Allen, Sylphy, and Rudy discussed Allen's plan, and Rudy and Sylphy showed that they understood how much family affection mattered to Allen.
• Rudy briefly took Allen's hand, joked that he was giving him strength, and went inside determined to help him succeed at the banquet.
• Sylphy recognized that Rudy was happy to have helped Allen and understood why he had grabbed Allen's hand.
• Alone with Sylphy in the corridor, Allen crouched to meet her gaze and thanked her for all three times she had helped him.
• Sylphy quietly replied that it was okay.

Sylphy's diary chronicled her growing love for Allen, her jealousy of Teacher Lokkishi, and her efforts to support Allen and Madam Hilda through the family’s painful conflict. It ended with Sylphy encouraged by Allen after a failed plan, while accepting that she could not watch him forever.

• Sylphy realized she liked Allen and feared being left behind if he returned to Roa City or went adventuring with Teacher Lokkishi.
• After arriving at Boreas Manor, Sylphy recognized that Allen was troubled by Madam Hilda and resolved to become strong enough to protect him herself.
• Sylphy admitted she was jealous of Teacher Lokkishi, then chose to trust Allen as his mood worsened after meeting Madam Hilda.
• Sylphy befriended Madam Hilda and arranged chances for her to see Allen, hoping to comfort her and spend more time with him.
• After Sylphy’s October plan worsened the conflict between Madam Hilda and Lord Philip, Madam Hilda shut herself away and fell ill.
• Sylphy tried another plan involving a wardrobe, but Allen saw what happened and encouraged her; they danced together, and Sylphy hoped Teacher Lokkishi would come.

Sylphy read Lokkishi’s letter after sharing a tender moment with Allen, and learned that Lokkishi would not come to his side but trusted her to care for him. Lokkishi also said Allen should give Sylphy a necklace she had made, affirming that the three of them were an adventurer team; Sylphy cried as she read the letter.

• Allen told Sylphy he was lucky, leaving her flustered as she retreated to her room.
• Sylphy found a letter from Lokkishi on her desk and hesitated before opening it.
• Sylphy reassured herself that she had kept working hard and had already succeeded, even without Lokkishi’s encouragement.
• Lokkishi wrote that she would not be by Allen’s side and urged Sylphy to trust her judgment and take good care of him.
• Lokkishi revealed that she had made Sylphy a necklace and wanted Allen to put it on her, calling the three of them an adventurer team.
• Sylphy cried over Lokkishi’s letter and understood the meaning of their adventurer team.

As nobles gathered at Boreas Manor for Eris's tenth birthday banquet, Allen walked past the crowds and entered the grounds without being stopped. Outside the gate, he recognized the gathering as a mix of people selling others and predators waiting for victims.

• Sauros welcomed nobles at Boreas Manor, whose lavish banquet drew a large crowd despite the evening start time.
• Opportunists outside the manor discussed offering young captives to a man called Night Lion.
• The gathered nobles mocked Allen as he approached the gate in ordinary clothes with a basket.
• A guard respectfully let Allen enter Boreas Manor without searching or questioning him.
• Allen looked back at the crowd and recognized its sellers and predatory customers.

Allen helped prepare for Eris’s tenth birthday banquet and found Hilda determined to attend despite her poor health. The ball began with Allen and Eris ready to dance before Roa’s gathered nobles.

• Allen greeted Sauros, who bragged to nobles about having several Saint-ranked retainers.
• Allen brought Rudy supplies for his unfinished project, and Rudy told him Sylphy was hiding in Hilda’s dressing room.
• Allen found Hilda dressed for the banquet and understood that she wanted to watch him and Eris dance.
• Allen changed into formal wear, took his place with Eris, and began the ball by inviting her to dance.

The author explained that the Man-God had been manipulating Allen for twelve years and suggested that Allen’s peaceful tutoring period might be a deliberate deception before a devastating attack. The chapter left Allen—and readers—believing there was still plenty of time, while warning that the Man-God’s strike could come when Allen was happiest.

• The author compared Allen’s story with Rudy’s, noting that the Man-God had appeared early and that Rudy’s greatest dramatic turning point came after years of apparent happiness.
• The author pointed out that the Man-God had been lying in wait over Allen for twelve years, though Allen’s own turning point had not yet appeared.
• The author questioned whether the missions and Allen’s tutoring period were intended to mislead him into expecting a peaceful stretch of growth.
• The author argued that Allen’s story was not progressing slowly, since Allen had a different path from Rudy and the Man-God had targeted him in advance.
• The author reassured readers that the story would not inflict suffering merely for its own sake, while noting that Allen likely believed he still had time.

Allen helped Eris overcome her nerves and dance confidently for Hilda, while Sylphiette struggled with the meaning of her teacher’s permission and Allen’s necklace. Allen left the crowd and invited Sylphiette to dance.

• Allen guided Eris through the dance, helping her focus on Hilda and lead him in the Foxtrot.
• The crowd praised Eris’s dancing as Sauros loudly celebrated her.
• Sylphiette blushed as she wondered whether her teacher’s letter meant she should ask Allen to put on her necklace.
• Allen declined other women’s invitations and approached Sylphiette in a dim corner of the ballroom.
• Allen bowed and invited Sylphiette to dance.

Allen and Sylphy danced at the ball, where he showed her that he returned her feelings and invited her to join him and Lokkishi on an adventure. Sylphy accepted, while Allen’s system assigned him new tasks involving Ghislaine and Hilda.

• Allen led Sylphy from the edge of the banquet hall to the center of the dance floor and danced with her.
• While they danced, Allen asked Sylphy about Lokkishi’s letter and noticed that she was not wearing her necklace.
• After the dance, Allen kissed Sylphy’s hand, placed the necklace around her neck, and invited her to go adventuring with him and Lokkishi.
• Sylphy accepted and asked why Allen liked her, and he answered, “Does a song dove resemble a writing desk?”
• Allen’s system declared Task Two complete and listed tasks to respond to Ghislaine’s and Hilda’s expectations.

At the ball, Sylphy helped Hilda confront her longing to dance again, and Allen surprised his mother with a dance and a handmade figurine. Hilda embraced Allen as Philip and Ghislaine watched from the shadows, while Sauros admired Allen from the tower.

• Sylphy turned away noblewomen seeking Allen and escorted the exhausted Hilda from the banquet hall for a walk.
• Hilda told Sylphy she missed the dances of her youth, and Sylphy encouraged her by saying that Mom had once been a girl too.
• Sylphy led Hilda beneath the covered bridge, where Allen approached and invited her to dance.
• Allen danced with Hilda, then presented her with a hand-painted figurine of himself, Eris, and Hilda as silent fireworks lit the courtyard.
• Hilda cried and embraced Allen as he thanked her, while Philip and Ghislaine watched from the shadows.
• Sauros watched from the tower and called Allen an oddity among the Boreas family who was worthy of admiration.

After Hilda and Allen reconciled over a late-night meal, Allen prepared to face Ghislaine in a swordsmanship match the next morning. Eris’s desire to surpass him began to awaken, while Rudy left to meet two noble girls; the chapter ended as Allen asked Ghislaine to use her full King-level Sword of Light.

• Hilda, Allen, Sylphy, and Eris shared a late-night meal, and Hilda and Allen’s relationship settled into a warmer family bond.
• Eris watched Allen and sensed that his Sword Intent had grown stronger, stirring a new desire within her.
• Sylphy declined Allen’s invitation to chat in his room, while Rudy went off to meet two noble girls after swapping his morning Reading and Writing Class for Swordsmanship Class.
• Allen picked up his sword in his room and decided he did not need to swing it before facing Ghislaine.
• The next morning, Allen met Ghislaine in the courtyard at Boreas Manor and asked her to fight with her full King-level Sword of Light, cutting him at the neck rather than holding back.