Chapter Summaries

Sylphy and Lokkishi met in Paul's courtyard, prompting Allen to avert a brewing misunderstanding by introducing Sylphy as Lokkishi's potential student. Just as the tension eased, Mrs. Somal arrived and eyed Lokkishi with disdain, leaving Allen facing another awkward situation.

• Sylphy arrived while Rudy, Allen, and Lokkishi were discussing the previous day's battle, and Sylphy and Lokkishi stared at each other.
• Allen's system reported that Sylphy and Lokkishi's favorability toward him had risen, and both girls asked Allen who the other was.
• Rudy accidentally shouted that Lokkishi was his, then tried to explain that he meant she was his respected teacher.
• Allen introduced Sylphy to Lokkishi and asked her to assess Sylphy's magic, while Sylphy said she had learned magic for only two months.
• Mrs. Somal arrived to confront Paul about Allen and Somal, then looked over Lokkishi with disdain.

Allen asked Paul what he would regret and want to say if he faced death, and Paul admitted he wanted more time with his family. When Allen asked what Paul would do if only he or Rudy could survive, Paul said he would choose to die instead.

• Allen watched Sylphy test her magic, accidentally soaking Rudy while her attention kept drifting toward Lokkishi.
• Allen noticed Paul standing apart in the shade while Zenith, Rudy, Lilia, Sylphy, and Lokkishi enjoyed the sunlight.
• Allen asked Paul what he would think and want to say if he were dying and could see his family one last time.
• Paul said he would want to see Zenith and Rudy, and admitted he still had too much he wanted to do to welcome death calmly.
• Allen asked what Paul would do if he and Rudy were in danger and only one could survive, and Paul answered that he would die instead.

Allen rejected Paul’s defense of Philip and asked him for Water God Style instruction to help spark a combat epiphany. As Allen prepared to spar with Paul, Rudy explained to Lokkishi how Allen had defeated him twice and learned Soundless Katana in a single swing.

• Paul argued that Philip would have made the same choice and that Allen might understand him better if he had grown up beside him.
• Allen reflected on the Boreas family’s drive for power and asked Paul to teach him about the Water God Style.
• Paul drew his sword and challenged Allen to demonstrate his Self-created Arcanum.
• Rudy told Lokkishi that Allen had beaten him twice with unexpected sword techniques during their match.
• Rudy explained that Allen had learned Soundless Katana from one experimental swing after Paul gave him guidance.

Allen sparred with Paul and used his Flow Arcana to deflect every attack, including a sequence of feints and a strike from behind. Paul was disarmed and praised Allen’s defense, while Allen said he wanted to learn to deflect a sword and cut off an opponent’s head at the same time.

• Rudy reassured Lokkishi that Allen had no talent for magic, and Lokkishi watched Allen and Paul spar with relief.
• Allen used Flow Arcana to sense and deflect Paul’s Soundless Katana without turning around.
• Paul feinted with his sword and attacked with a whip kick, but Allen diverted the kick and stopped Paul’s follow-up slash from behind.
• Allen knocked Paul’s sword into a nearby tree, leaving Paul and the spectators stunned.
• Paul called Allen’s Flow Arcana an airtight defense, and Allen replied that he wanted to deflect Paul’s sword and cut off his head.

Allen sought a way to counterattack while maintaining his Flow Arcana, and Lokkishi’s suggestion helped him find a new approach using Twenty Slashes. He became absorbed in training while Lokkishi learned about Sylphy’s magic and discovered Allen’s bizarre condition for entering his territory.

• Allen explained to Paul that the Flow Arcana prevented him from counterattacking, and Paul struggled to think of a solution.
• Lokkishi asked whether Allen could use Twenty Slashes while maintaining the Flow Arcana, prompting Allen to realize he could build on the technique’s physical, reflexive movements.
• Allen excitedly lifted and spun Lokkishi before setting her down and practicing Twenty Slashes from different starting postures.
• Lokkishi told Rudy that Sylphy’s magic level was between beginner and intermediate, and she healed Allen after he arrived with a bloody nose.
• Allen returned to sword practice, leaving Sylphy and Lokkishi to watch him, until Lokkishi noticed the tree’s inscription requiring visitors to kowtow to Sylphy three times.

Allen practiced swordsmanship while Rudy healed him repeatedly, and Rudy teased Lokkishi about romance. Lokkishi revealed her ideal partner, then realized Allen fit the description, leaving Rudy and Sylphy staring at him as he wondered what was wrong.

• Allen demonstrated a slow sword swing that secretly struck several falling leaves, then repeatedly exhausted himself practicing while Rudy healed him.
• Rudy asked Lokkishi about her past romance, and she said the man she liked had paired up with another woman.
• Rudy praised Lokkishi's appearance, but Allen advised him to compliment her beautiful eyes instead, making her blush.
• Lokkishi said she planned to adventure near the Dragon King Mountain Range and dreamed of meeting a tall, masculine young man who would rescue her in a dungeon.
• Lokkishi, Rudy, and Sylphy noticed Allen matched her ideal partner, and Allen stopped practicing to ask why they were staring at him.

On the night before Lokkishi’s departure, Sylphy cried over the end of her lessons, and Allen explained that he accepted sadness because it made future reunions more meaningful. The group prepared to celebrate with a magical display, while Rudy privately resented how much better Lokkishi seemed to regard Allen.

• Lokkishi finished Sylphy’s lessons, and Sylphy burst into tears at the thought of her leaving the next day.
• Rudy criticized Allen for acting indifferent, but Allen said people should fully experience both happiness and sadness.
• Allen told Rudy he stayed calm because he was certain he would meet Lokkishi again.
• Allen suggested that Rudy make a magical firework display for Lokkishi and Sylphy.
• Rudy opened the window and agreed to the celebration, while privately feeling jealous of Allen’s closeness with Lokkishi.

Rudy set off fireworks for Allen, Lokkishi, and Sylphy before leaving the next day. As the fireworks faded, Allen learned his new system reward could locate characters he had earned points from, while Lokkishi turned to look at him.

• Rudy called Allen, Lokkishi, and Sylphy to the window and launched a series of fireballs that burst into fireworks overhead.
• Allen praised Rudy's magic, while Lokkishi watched Allen instead of the fireworks and Allen watched Lokkishi.
• The system announced that Allen had earned more favor and raised his cumulative participation rating to 70 points.
• The system revealed Allen's bonus reward was a weekly location search for each character from whom he had earned points, accurate to within one hundred meters.
• Allen realized the reward could help him follow major events after the Great Transfer and considered how Butterfly Effects might earn him more points.
• As the fireworks went out, Lokkishi turned toward the darkened sky, and Allen glanced at her.

After saying goodbye to Lokkishi, Allen caught up with her carriage and asked to ride along. His family later found a letter saying he had left to clear out the Maned Wolves and would be gone for one or two months.

• Lokkishi told Rudy and Sylphy how an enraged Red Dragon burned a pack of Maned Wolves to nothing, then asked Allen if he truly believed he would see them again.
• Allen assured Lokkishi that they would meet again, but panicked when she discovered her shrine contained her worn panties and hurried out of Rudy’s room.
• Allen swapped the panties for Rudy’s underwear, hid the shrine, and woke Rudy so he would not notice Lokkishi’s departure.
• The next morning, Lokkishi said goodbye to the Greyrat family and left Buena Village in a carriage.
• Allen stopped Lokkishi’s carriage on the road and asked to hitch a ride; she agreed.
• The Greyrat family found Allen’s letter explaining that he had gone to clear out the Maned Wolves and would return in one or two months.

Allen accompanied Lokkishi toward Rigette City, claiming he needed to protect her from the bandits while secretly planning to deal with them alone. After they joked about Batil Flower seed powder, the chapter ended with Rudy staring at his striped briefs in the Buena Village shrine.

• Lokkishi complained that Allen was only seeing her off, and Allen explained he would escort her to Rigette City because bandits threatened the road.
• Allen decided to preserve the original storyline and secretly clear out the bandit gang himself to protect Lokkishi and prevent the bandits from tracing him to Buena Village.
• Allen promised Lokkishi they could become adventurers together in three or four years, and she reminded him that he was only nine.
• Allen offered Lokkishi Batil Flower seed powder, and she admitted she liked it but would use Detoxification Magic whenever she ate it.
• That night, Rudy stared blankly at his striped briefs inside the shrine.

Allen parted from Lokkishi in Rigette City and hurried back to the forest where they had fought monsters. He uncovered the bodies of three Maned Wolf gang members and sought the location of their hideout, but they were dead.

• Allen declined Lokkishi's offer to rest in Rigette City and said he was returning to his uncle that night.
• Allen and Lokkishi exchanged a playful goodbye, and he left her in the city.
• Allen ran back to the roadside campsite where he and Lokkishi had fought monsters.
• Allen entered the forest and found three men buried beneath fallen leaves.
• Allen asked the dead men where the Maned Wolf gang was hiding.

Allen infiltrated the bandits’ hideout and killed two men who had been gossiping about their leader, Spotted Leopard. He left the forest after declaring that they were the fifth victims.

• Scarface and Roundface complained that Black Wolf, Gray Rat, and Earth Scorpion had not returned and discussed Spotted Leopard’s failure to find the boy with the thousand-coin bounty.
• Allen appeared and claimed someone had sent him to summon them, then said his name was Allen.
• Scarface tried to kill Allen but was unable to move or speak as Allen decapitated him.
• Roundface recognized Allen as a Water God Style swordsman and tried to turn around, but Allen killed him with Soundless Katana.
• Allen walked away, murmuring, “The fifth.”

Spotted Leopard revealed that Darius had pressured Night Lion to search for Allen Boreas Greyrat near the Red Dragon Mountain Range. Allen arrived at the bandit camp and identified himself as the man they were looking for.

• Spotted Leopard crushed a bandit's skull for questioning Night Lion's orders and warned the others to endure the search.
• Spotted Leopard told Grey Hawk that Darius, not James, had pressured Night Lion to pursue Allen.
• Grey Hawk questioned why the bandits had been told to wait at their camp instead of searching the forest.
• Allen arrived at the camp wearing bloodstained clothes and glasses, then told the bandits he was the person they were looking for.

Allen confronted the bandits who had laid a trap for him and cut down their attackers with the North God Style and his self-created arcanum. Spotted Leopard and Grey Hawk realized their intelligence about Allen’s abilities was wrong, while Allen dismissed the fallen swordsman’s technique.

• Grey Hawk identified Allen as the target and urged the bandits to attack for the thousand-gold reward.
• Allen killed an Intermediate Sword God Style swordsman with the North God Style’s Round Heaven Slash, then taunted the bandits when they hesitated.
• Allen used a counterattack with his self-created arcanum to tear apart a bearded bandit who charged with Soundless Katana.
• Spotted Leopard recognized the technique’s unexpected offensive use and exchanged a grim look with Grey Hawk as they questioned their intelligence.
• Allen criticized the dead bandit’s Soundless Katana and told him he had not died unjustly.

Allen forced the thieves to choose between surrendering and fighting, then repelled Spotted Leopard’s attack and let the crowd believe they could overwhelm him. As the thieves prepared to charge, Allen revealed in his thoughts that his advanced Self-created Arcanum had changed the odds.

• Allen killed a fleeing thief with a thrown saber and warned the gathered thieves that none of them would leave alive unless they killed him.
• Spotted Leopard attacked Allen from the air, but Allen deflected his saber and shattered a dagger aimed at his ribs.
• Spotted Leopard claimed Allen’s counters were too slow and urged the thieves to attack him together for the thousand-gold-coin reward.
• Spotted Leopard quietly moved behind the crowd and exchanged a glance with Grey Hawk while Allen watched him with amusement.
• Allen reflected that his improved swordsmanship, Healing Spell Rune, and advanced Self-created Arcanum made fighting the thieves directly possible.

Allen used his self-created Immovable Rock Strikes Water to defeat the bandits, kill Grey Hawk and Spotted Leopard, and reach Water Saint. After assessing the aftermath and his improved North God Style, he discovered Lokkishi had arrived at the blood-soaked camp.

• Allen activated the Healing Spell Rune and used Immovable Rock Strikes Water to cut through the bandits surrounding him.
• Allen split Grey Hawk's Inferno Fireball and killed Grey Hawk before pursuing and beheading Spotted Leopard.
• Allen's North God Style advanced and his Water God Style reached Saint-class, making him a Water Saint.
• Allen considered how James might learn of the battle, tested the Quadrupedal Form, and questioned the system about the numbers of advanced swordsmen.
• Allen searched the craters for his sword hilt, then noticed Lokkishi emerging from the woods.

Rieda and Isolte watched Allen destroy the bandit hideout and discussed the danger he faced from Darius. Rieda refused to bring Allen back by force, so Isolte vowed to train until she could persuade him herself.

• Rieda and Isolte emerged after watching Allen and his companion burn the bandit camp and dispose of the evidence.
• Rieda told Isolte that Allen had become a Water Saint and revealed that Darius was behind the assassination attempts against him.
• Rieda explained that Allen would be unsafe in the royal capital and that she would train him secretly if he returned to the dojo.
• Isolte asked to pursue Allen, but Rieda told her to return to the dojo and reach Water Saint before trying to bring him back.
• Isolte searched the burned remains, recovered a damaged sword hilt, and vowed to bring Allen back to the dojo.

After discovering Allen had gone alone to wipe out a bandit hideout, Lokkishi helped him clean up and treated his wounds before they parted at dawn. Allen returned toward the Greyrat Family, left confused by the warmth he still felt in his palm.

• Lokkishi confronted Allen for secretly attacking the bandits alone, then used fire magic to destroy the evidence and led him away.
• Lokkishi washed Allen's hair and helped rinse the blood from his clothes while urging him to ask for help and write to her next time.
• Allen and Lokkishi accidentally held hands, and Lokkishi healed him after learning he had used a demanding technique.
• Lokkishi told Allen to bathe, then helped him dry his clothes while keeping her face covered and her back turned.
• Allen and Lokkishi said goodbye at the roadside, and Allen watched her leave before setting off toward the Greyrat Family.

Allen returned to Buena Village after dealing with the Maned Wolf and learned that Paul and the others considered him family and had been hurt by his leaving without saying goodbye. He struggled to understand their concern, resumed life with the Greyrat family, and winter arrived with Zenith pregnant.

• Allen asked the system why Lokkishi's affection points had not increased, and the system explained that advancing a relationship required crossing clear boundaries between levels of intimacy.
• Allen returned to the village in mid-July, where Sylphy greeted him warmly and Rudy resented him over the missing Holy Relic and underwear in the shrine.
• Paul dragged Allen home, where Zenith, Paul, Lilia, Rudy, and Sylphy confronted him about leaving without consulting them.
• Zenith told Allen that the Greyrats saw him as family and had felt uncomfortable when he left as though they were strangers; Paul urged him to rely on them for support.
• Allen remained unsettled after the family returned to its usual routine, and winter arrived with Zenith pregnant.

Zenith announced that she was pregnant, and Allen joined Paul, Rudy, Sylphy, and the village men in preparing for the winter monster extermination. As the campaign began, a hibernating Mutated Forest Snake attacked Rolls, leaving his fate uncertain.

• Zenith told Paul and Rudy that she was pregnant, and Rudy reflected on Allen's difficulty recognizing how fond the family was of him.
• Lilia declined Zenith's suggestion that she find a partner, while Allen noticed the awkward tension between Lilia and Paul.
• Rolls brought Sylphy to visit, then told Paul that the snow had stopped and it was time to prepare for the monster extermination.
• Paul explained that the village used thorn nets and forest shelters to protect against monsters and winter blizzards, while Allen realized his past journey on foot had helped him meet Lokkishi.
• Rolls and the other men set the nets deeper into the forest because Allen could help handle monsters, but Rolls accidentally stepped over a Mutated Forest Snake's hiding place.
• The awakened D-rank snake lunged at Rolls, who could not react in time.