Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Augusta’s Interrogation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Leo determines that the Permanent Defensive Force Field is a special type of Combination Spell. To create the ideal version, he must personally develop two defensive spells and combine them.
• After Beckum’s failed breakthrough, Leo spends two weeks researching defensive spells at the Esmond Gathering. Although he successfully creates and combines two spells, the result is not the desired Prototype Permanent Defensive Force Field.
• Leo suspects the problem may be that both of his spells possess a “second stage,” possibly making them incompatible with the force field’s structure. Unable to solve the issue alone, he decides to consult Stofen, who specializes in Bloodline Modification and related spell research.
• Before Leo can leave for Expedition Isle, Augusta summons him to the Central Region’s tower.
• Augusta questions Leo about how much he has interfered with Stofen’s research into the Dragon Blood Purification Potion. Leo truthfully reports that he has slowed the research by roughly ten percent.
• Augusta verifies Leo’s honesty through the Prophecy Studies marks placed on him. Satisfied, he orders Leo not to interfere further, warning that Stofen might discover the sabotage and kill him.
• Leo explains that he is seeking Stofen’s advice about Combination Spells. When Augusta offers to help, Leo politely declines, arguing that the question concerns Bloodline Modification and is better answered by a specialist.
• Augusta accepts Leo’s reasoning and acknowledges that no one can excel in every field.

Character Developments

• Leo: Becomes increasingly confident that he is close to becoming a First-Circle Wizard, but encounters a technical obstacle in developing his Permanent Defensive Force Field. He shows caution and political awareness when speaking with Augusta, carefully balancing honesty with self-protection.
• Augusta: Demonstrates his authority and distrust by interrogating Leo and checking his words through prophecy-based marks. However, he also displays reasonableness by accepting Leo’s decision to consult Stofen instead of taking offense.
• Stofen: Though absent, his importance grows. His expertise is essential to Leo’s research, while his dangerous temperament makes Leo’s covert interference risky.
• Beckum: His failed breakthrough is mentioned, and his unexpected attempts to contact Leo create additional mystery.

Significant Themes

• Specialization and expertise: Leo recognizes that even powerful Wizards have limits and that research should be entrusted to those with the appropriate specialty.
• Manipulation and control: Augusta treats Leo as a controlled “chess piece,” using Prophecy Studies to enforce obedience and monitor his actions.
• Trust and deception: Leo must remain truthful enough to satisfy Augusta while concealing his broader motives and avoiding suspicion from Stofen.
• Progress through obstacles: Leo’s path toward becoming a First-Circle Wizard appears close, but technical problems and political dangers continue to complicate his advancement.
• Power and vulnerability: Despite Leo’s growing abilities, Augusta’s surveillance and prophetic control remind him that he remains vulnerable to stronger forces.

Character Interactions

• Leo and Barbara: Barbara informs Leo that several Wizards, including Beckum, Stofen, Anthony, Ilis, and Meys, have been seeking him. Leo instructs her to say he is unavailable.
• Leo and Augusta: Their meeting is formally respectful but tense. Augusta questions Leo’s loyalty and verifies his answer, while Leo carefully justifies his decision to consult Stofen. The exchange reveals both Augusta’s control over Leo and Leo’s growing confidence in asserting his own judgment.

Chapter Summary: “Who Was Lying”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Augusta questions Leo about the origin of the Ink Gold he possesses. Leo claims he found it in the Crimson Sea and insists that both his share and Wizard Bess’s are genuine.
• Augusta accepts an alternative explanation: the Ink Gold may possess an unknown mechanism that causes it to rebound or multiply when it is about to disappear.
• Leo compares Augusta’s explanation with Stofen’s earlier claim that Augusta deliberately restricts the supply of Ink Gold to control advancement to Formal Wizard. Leo concludes that Stofen may not have been lying, but may instead be excessively paranoid.
• After leaving Augusta, Leo meets Stofen and discovers that Stofen looks exhausted. Stofen explains that Augusta attacked or interfered with him after noticing that Stofen had blocked Augusta’s ability to observe their conversations.
• Stofen teaches Leo a secret method for avoiding Augusta’s surveillance, though he warns that using it could make Augusta suspicious and potentially provoke a lethal Prophecy Spell.
• Leo demonstrates the two stages of his Combination Spell. The first creates a female soul-like defensive form, while the second transforms it into skeletal arms that provide much stronger physical protection.
• Stofen analyzes the spell and explains why Leo cannot yet convert it into a Prototype Permanent Defensive Force Field: its power exceeds that of ordinary Combination Spells and requires the spiritual energy of a Formal Wizard.

Character Developments

• Leo becomes increasingly cautious and perceptive. He evaluates the conflicting claims of Augusta and Stofen rather than immediately trusting either one.
• He also recognizes the psychological effect of constant surveillance on Stofen, becoming more sympathetic to Stofen’s suspicious behavior.
• Stofen is revealed as both secretive and highly distrustful, but his paranoia is given a plausible cause: Augusta continually monitors and interferes with him.
• Stofen demonstrates concern for Leo by teaching him how to hide from Augusta, while also warning him about the danger of using the technique.
• Augusta appears outwardly rational and scholarly when discussing the Ink Gold, but Stofen portrays him as manipulative, petty, and willing to hinder other Wizards.

Significant Themes

• Truth, deception, and unreliable perspectives: The chapter deliberately leaves open whether Augusta or Stofen is correct about the Ink Gold. Leo must judge whether Stofen is a liar, paranoid, or both.
• Obsession with research: Wizardly dedication to personal research is shown to rival or surpass loyalty, influencing how Augusta and the other Wizards behave.
• Surveillance and paranoia: Constant observation creates distrust and defensive behavior, blurring the line between justified suspicion and irrational fear.
• Power and limitations: Leo’s spell is extraordinarily powerful, but his current rank prevents him from using it as a permanent automatic defense. Greater power also creates greater spiritual-energy requirements.

Character Interactions

• Augusta questions Leo in a controlled, seemingly reasonable manner, while Leo carefully conceals his uncertainty and maintains his prepared explanation.
• Leo and Stofen discuss Augusta’s surveillance and interference, with Leo gradually understanding why Stofen distrusts Augusta.
• Stofen mentors Leo by giving him a concealment device and warning him of the consequences of using it.
• Leo demonstrates his defensive spell to Stofen, who provides a technical assessment and explains the fundamental obstacle preventing its conversion into a Prototype Permanent Defensive Force Field.

Chapter Summary: “Lies and Truth Coexist”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Leo asks Mentor Stofen whether he can use First-Circle Wizard-level mental energy to transform his combination spell into a permanent defensive stance. Stofen admits it is theoretically possible, though Leo should not possess enough mental energy at his current rank.
• Leo pretends disappointment and claims he must create another defensive combination spell as a prototype for his Permanent Defensive Force Field.
• Stofen warns Leo that they may not meet again soon because Augusta’s Second Prophecy is approaching. He intends to prepare carefully, despite the apparent threat being only a knight.
• Leo reveals that Augusta recently summoned him for questioning. Stofen reacts with unusual severity, emphasizing that every detail concerning Augusta could be vital to their survival.
• Leo recounts the meeting, including his decision to consult Stofen rather than Augusta about Bloodline Modification. Stofen questions whether Leo genuinely believed Stofen was the more suitable expert or merely wanted to avoid Augusta.
• Stofen explains that most Wizards assume greater strength implies greater knowledge, especially because Augusta is exceptionally powerful and therefore widely regarded as an authority.
• Stofen rejects this assumption, arguing that strength does not guarantee truth or wisdom. He warns Leo not to blindly trust Augusta—or any powerful Wizard—and encourages him to maintain an independent, critical mindset.
• Leo leaves Expedition Isle and returns aboard a Wizard ship. Before departing, he notices worry on Stofen’s face, suggesting Stofen expects Augusta to act against him when the prophecy unfolds.
• On the ship, Leo activates his Spell Casket and successfully manifests the female soul body associated with his powerful combination spell. He confirms that the spell requires First-Circle-level mental energy to activate instantly as a prototype Permanent Defensive Force Field.
• Leo reflects that the Ink Gold Codex and his second Spell Casket have greatly strengthened his preparations for advancing to First-Circle Wizard.
• His remaining concern is interference from the existing Formal Wizards. Although Stofen and Augusta may be considered allies—or at least tacit supporters—they could still be unable to prevent other Wizards from obstructing his advancement.
• Leo reveals that Anthony is his hidden trump card. However, attempting advancement will expose his second Spell Casket, remaining Ink Gold, and prototype defensive force field to the other First-Circle Wizards.

Character Developments

• Leo demonstrates increasing strategic caution and deception. He conceals the true extent of his abilities from Stofen while also preparing for possible opposition during his advancement.
• He maintains an unusually independent approach to knowledge, refusing to assume that a stronger Wizard is automatically more knowledgeable or trustworthy.
• Stofen becomes more visibly anxious and suspicious as the Second Prophecy approaches. He reveals his distrust of Augusta and urges Leo to think critically rather than follow authority blindly.
• Stofen’s hidden expertise in Bloodline Modification and his willingness to conceal it show that he is also operating cautiously within the Tower’s power structure.
• Augusta remains an unseen but threatening presence. His prophecy, authority, and possible plans to strengthen the knights create uncertainty, while his questioning of Leo raises suspicion.
• Anthony is established as Leo’s secret backup and potential safeguard against interference during his advancement.

Significant Themes

• Truth versus authority: The chapter questions whether power, reputation, or prophecy should determine what is accepted as truth.
• Independent thought: Stofen encourages Leo to distinguish right from wrong through personal judgment rather than blindly accepting the claims of powerful Wizards.
• Deception and concealment: Both Leo and Stofen hide information and capabilities to protect themselves from rivals.
• Preparation and suspicion: The approaching prophecy creates an atmosphere of impending conflict, forcing the characters to prepare for threats they do not fully understand.
• Power does not equal wisdom: Stofen explicitly challenges the Tower’s assumption that stronger Wizards necessarily possess deeper knowledge.

Important Character Interactions

• Leo and Stofen: Their conversation strengthens their mutual trust while also revealing the necessity of secrecy. Stofen mentors Leo intellectually, encouraging skepticism and careful analysis.
• Leo and Augusta: Although their interaction is only reported indirectly, Augusta’s interrogation makes Stofen extremely wary and suggests that Leo may be caught between competing First-Circle Wizards.
• Stofen and Augusta: Stofen openly distrusts Augusta and appears to believe Augusta may target him when the Second Prophecy comes true.
• Leo and the Formal Wizards: Leo anticipates conflict with them during his advancement and prepares hidden resources to prevent them from obstructing him.

Chapter Summary: “The Straightforward Are More Suspect”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Leo realizes that his abundant resources may attract suspicion from the Golden Eagle Faction’s First-Circle Wizards and hinder his advancement to a Formal Wizard.
• To divert attention away from himself, he decides to help one or two other First-Rank Wizard Apprentices advance as well. He considers Wizard Anthony and another possible candidate.
• At Bess’s Laboratory, Wizard Bess pressures Anthony to help prevent Leo from becoming a First-Circle Wizard.
• Bess reminds Anthony that he previously leaked Leo’s research materials to Lord Augusta and offers him advancement resources and protection in exchange for betraying Leo again.
• Anthony refuses, saying that repeating his betrayal would cause him to lose his identity and integrity as a Wizard. Bess threatens him with Magical Pressure but ultimately dismisses him.
• At Esmond Gathering, Leo asks Barbara to contact the Wizards who have previously worked with him.
• During a communication about the Ink Gold, Anthony unexpectedly confesses that he once leaked incomplete research on Leo’s Exoskeletal Spell-Absorption Device to a Formal Wizard.
• Leo demands two million Magic Stones as compensation. Anthony immediately agrees, relieved that the matter has been addressed.
• Although Leo had not considered the leak especially damaging, Anthony’s voluntary confession makes him suspicious. Leo wonders whether Anthony is testing his loyalty, pursuing another scheme, or acting from guilt.
• Leo ultimately decides that, regardless of Anthony’s motives, Anthony remains useful for distracting other Formal Wizards from Leo’s own advancement.

Character Developments

• Leo becomes increasingly strategic and cautious. He recognizes the danger of appearing too wealthy and plans to distribute opportunities for advancement to conceal his own progress.
• Anthony demonstrates a conflicted moral character. Though he previously betrayed Leo, he refuses Bess’s new request and insists that another betrayal would destroy his remaining principles. His confession to Leo suggests guilt or a desire to resolve his past wrongdoing.
• Bess is revealed as domineering, manipulative, and politically aggressive. He attempts to control Anthony through both threats and tempting rewards, showing his determination to obstruct Leo.
• Barbara remains obedient to Leo after being branded with a control mark, serving him despite having lost the ability to continue as a Wizard.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal and redemption: Anthony’s earlier betrayal continues to affect his relationship with Leo, while his refusal to betray Leo again suggests a desire to preserve some moral integrity.
• Suspicion and hidden motives: Leo distrusts straightforward actions, especially Anthony’s sudden confession, and searches for the ulterior motive behind it.
• Pragmatism versus morality: Anthony rejects material benefits to preserve his principles, whereas Leo evaluates people primarily by their usefulness and reliability.
• Power and manipulation: Bess uses threats, resources, and personal leverage to influence Anthony, illustrating the coercive politics among Wizards.
• Reputation and appearances: Leo’s wealth could expose him to danger, so he deliberately manages how others perceive his advancement.

Character Interactions

• Bess and Anthony: Bess pressures Anthony to sabotage Leo, offering protection and advancement resources. Anthony refuses despite intimidation, leading Bess to condemn him as stubborn.
• Leo and Anthony: Their exchange begins as a routine trade negotiation but turns into a confession and compensation for betrayal. Leo accepts the payment but remains wary of Anthony’s intentions.
• Leo and Barbara: Leo gives Barbara instructions to contact former associates, reinforcing their master-servant relationship.
• Leo and Bess indirectly: Though they do not meet, Bess’s attempt to block Leo’s advancement establishes a growing conflict between them.

Chapter Summary: How to Lose Magic Stones? You Must Be Crazy

Key Plot Points and Events

• Leo contacts the Wizards who previously sought him out, including Ilis, Assistant Sally, Meys, and Beckum.
• He negotiates with Wizard Meys, who wants to purchase Ink Gold after hearing about its auction value. Leo agrees to sell him enough for one person, but only if Leo controls when Meys attempts to advance to a First-Circle Wizard. The attempt must occur within one month.
• Meys accepts the condition, revealing that he urgently wants to advance and has waited a long time for the opportunity.
• After speaking with Leo, Meys deceives his Instructor by claiming he has been unable to contact Leo. He privately justifies abandoning his Instructor, believing Leo now offers greater value and a better chance at advancement.
• Leo meets Wizard Beckum at a restaurant. Beckum apologizes for their hostile first encounter and seeks to rebuild relations, hoping to obtain Ink Gold.
• Instead of immediately selling Ink Gold, Leo offers to give it to Beckum for free if Beckum can help him “lose” a large amount of Magic Stones in a reasonable, believable way.
• Leo explains that he receives approximately 1.5 million Magic Stones monthly and currently possesses around eight million. He wants to dispose of both his existing wealth and future income without attracting suspicion.
• Beckum begins assessing Leo’s situation so he can recommend a suitable method.

Character Developments

• Leo becomes increasingly strategic and transactional. He uses Ink Gold as leverage to control Meys’s advancement and to recruit Beckum’s help with his unusual financial problem.
• Meys demonstrates ambition, desperation, and opportunism. He is willing to deceive his Instructor and replace that relationship with an alliance with Leo if it improves his chances of becoming a First-Circle Wizard.
• Beckum shows pragmatism and adaptability. Unlike his earlier hostile behavior, he quickly apologizes, accepts Leo’s potential friendship, and focuses on finding a mutually beneficial arrangement.
• Leo and Beckum’s relationship shifts from antagonism toward cooperation, though their interaction remains based largely on calculated benefit.

Significant Themes

• Power through resources: Ink Gold and Magic Stones allow Leo to influence advancement, alliances, and other Wizards’ decisions.
• Pragmatism over loyalty: Meys abandons his Instructor when Leo becomes more useful, framing betrayal as an objective and rational choice.
• Ambition and advancement: Meys’s longing to become a First-Circle Wizard motivates his deception and willingness to accept Leo’s strict conditions.
• Wealth as a burden: Leo’s enormous and continuous income has become a problem rather than an advantage, forcing him to find a socially believable way to lose it.
• Negotiation and strategic relationships: The chapter emphasizes alliances built through mutually beneficial exchanges rather than trust or personal loyalty.

Important Character Interactions

• Leo and Meys: Leo offers Ink Gold in exchange for deciding when Meys will attempt advancement. Meys reluctantly agrees, prioritizing the chance to become a Formal Wizard.
• Meys and his Instructor: Meys lies about failing to contact Leo while secretly planning to rely on Leo instead of his Instructor.
• Leo and Beckum: Beckum apologizes for their previous conflict and seeks friendship. Leo tests Beckum by asking him to devise a legitimate way to dispose of millions of Magic Stones, offering Ink Gold as payment.

Chapter Summary: Nova

Key Plot Points and Events

• Beckum advises Leo on how to spend or “lose” his enormous supply of Magic Stones without attracting suspicion. He recommends investing in unproductive research laboratories, especially one based on Leo’s own research, since this would allow Leo to spend Magic Stones continuously and reasonably.
• Leo considers buying goods or gambling, but Beckum warns that gambling could become an addictive vice and damage Leo’s rationality.
• Beckum confidently explains that, despite being weaker than Leo in magical knowledge and spellcraft, he is the Tower of Dawn’s most skilled First-Rank Wizard Apprentice at earning Magic Stones.
• Leo thanks Beckum and promises him the Ink Gold needed for his advancement attempt. He also offers to provide Ink Gold for future attempts if Beckum fails again.
• Moved by Leo’s generosity, Beckum sincerely apologizes for previously treating him with sarcasm and admits that he had misjudged Leo. The two reconcile and agree to maintain a friendship.
• Leo then travels to the Nova Assembly to meet Wizard Nova, whom he has not seen for several months.
• Nova has failed multiple times to advance to the First-Circle but is now in better condition rather than discouraged. Changes regarding the limited supply of Ink Gold have prevented First-Circle Wizards from excessively plundering Combination Spells, allowing Nova’s spiritual energy to stabilize.
• Nova believes he may succeed in his next advancement attempt. Leo asks him to advance within the next month so that Nova can help divert attention while Leo attempts to become a Formal Wizard.
• Leo reveals that Anthony, Meys, and Beckum will also advance during the same period, creating a larger distraction and reducing the chance that other First-Circle Wizards will interfere with him because he is a Prossian.
• Nova agrees, provided Leo gives him books about Wizards, preferably texts copied from the Ancient Ruins. Leo promises to reproduce the ancient spell books he recorded during his previous visit.

Character Developments

• Leo demonstrates strategic thinking and caution. He is concerned about spending his Magic Stones plausibly and carefully organizes multiple simultaneous advancements to protect his own plans.
• He also shows generosity and social awareness by offering Beckum future supplies of Ink Gold, strengthening a potentially valuable alliance.
• Beckum shifts from sarcastic and suspicious to openly respectful and friendly. His confidence in his financial expertise is balanced by practical wisdom, particularly his warning about gambling.
• Nova has grown mentally and spiritually stronger after repeated failures. Rather than becoming depressed, he has achieved a more stable condition and renewed confidence in his chances of advancement.

Significant Themes

• Practicality and concealment: Leo must act “reasonably and normally” to hide his extraordinary wealth and intentions from other Wizards.
• Equivalent exchange and alliances: Magical resources, knowledge, and assistance are exchanged to build mutually beneficial relationships.
• Perseverance after failure: Nova’s repeated failed advancements have ultimately helped him stabilize and improve, showing that failure can contribute to eventual success.
• Trust and corrected judgment: Beckum and Leo overcome their initial misunderstanding, demonstrating how direct communication can replace prejudice with respect.
• Risk and self-control: Beckum’s warning about gambling emphasizes the importance of preserving a Wizard’s rationality and avoiding uncontrolled desires.

Character Interactions

• Leo and Beckum move from a practical consultation about Magic Stones to a sincere reconciliation. Leo’s offer of Ink Gold proves his goodwill, while Beckum’s apology confirms his change in attitude.
• Leo and Nova discuss advancement plans through a relationship based on mutual benefit. Leo offers access to ancient magical knowledge, while Nova agrees to act as part of Leo’s defensive strategy by advancing at the same time.
• Their conversation also reveals Leo’s awareness that his Prossian identity makes him vulnerable to obstruction from other First-Circle Wizards.

Chapter Summary: “Are You Satisfied?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Leo tells Nova that he discovered traces of Nova’s spiritual energy on a book in the ruins, asking whether Nova had visited them before.
• Nova claims that he had previously gone near the ruins to read non-magical books, explaining that he marked some of them. Leo accepts this explanation without suspicion and leaves.
• Alone, Nova reveals his anxiety. He wonders whether Leo was testing him and recognizes that his lie could expose him. He decides that someone else should handle the Wizard connected to the ruins and resolves to prevent Leo from learning that he never visited the island.
• Nova reflects that he has been in the organization for several years and that the Wizard King’s plan is nearing completion, hinting at a larger conspiracy.
• Meanwhile, Beckum brings Leo to a series of research laboratories so Leo can invest Magic Stones in projects deliberately chosen for their poor prospects.
• The first project, led by the Second-Rank Wizard Apprentice Grien, seeks to transform Magitech Devices into artificial lifeforms.
• Leo examines the project’s experimental data but finds it unconvincing and unworthy of recording in his Compendium Manual. He immediately decides to leave.
• Beckum explains that many Wizard research projects are unrealistic “dreams” designed to attract funding. Their creators often exploit investors, sustain themselves with the money, and avoid responsibility by citing the projects’ low success rates.
• Beckum advises Leo to invest in research led by First-Rank Wizard Apprentices if he eventually wants practical, worthwhile projects.
• Leo visits several other deliberately unprofitable projects and confirms that all of them are essentially bottomless pits with no genuine value.

Character Developments

• Nova: Becomes increasingly cautious and paranoid after Leo’s question. His private thoughts confirm that he is concealing important information and is connected to the Wizard King’s unfinished plan.
• Leo: Continues to trust Nova, failing to recognize the danger behind Nova’s explanation. He also demonstrates practical judgment by quickly identifying worthless research and refusing to waste attention on it.
• Beckum: Acts as Leo’s guide through the research sector. Though blunt and somewhat dismissive toward Grien, he is knowledgeable about fraudulent or impractical research schemes and gives Leo useful investment advice.
• Grien: Represents the type of ambitious but poorly grounded researcher who relies on an idealistic vision rather than convincing evidence.

Significant Themes

• Deception and hidden agendas: Nova’s polished explanation conceals his involvement in a larger plot, while his internal monologue reveals the risks of being exposed.
• Trust versus suspicion: Leo’s lack of suspicion contrasts with Nova’s fear that even a casual question might uncover the truth.
• Dreams versus practicality: The research projects highlight the gap between grand theoretical ideas and results supported by evidence.
• Exploitation and corruption: Beckum describes how researchers manipulate investors by appealing to dreams while avoiding accountability for failure.
• Knowledge and discernment: Leo’s Compendium Manual and his ability to recognize worthless research symbolize the value of genuine understanding over impressive-sounding claims.

Character Interactions

• Leo and Nova: Their friendly conversation about books appears harmless, but Leo’s question about the ruins unsettles Nova and exposes the tension beneath their relationship.
• Leo and Beckum: Beckum guides Leo through potential investments and candidly explains the dangers of funding unrealistic research. Leo listens and learns from his advice.
• Leo and Grien: Grien enthusiastically presents his artificial-life research, but Leo’s brief examination of the data leaves him unimpressed.
• Beckum and Grien: Beckum treats Grien coldly and makes it clear that Leo’s investment decision is already made, reinforcing the impression that Grien’s project is being funded only to generate losses.

Chapter Summary: “Distress Signal”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Leo and Beckum finish inspecting several laboratories and research projects designed to consume large amounts of Magic Stones. Beckum provides Leo with a list of unprofitable research directions for his next investment.
• Leo notices that they are being followed. He quickly catches the stalker, a nervous Minotaur, and learns that he was sent by Molly to seek help.
• The Minotaur explains that Molly volunteered as a test subject in Wizard Antu’s laboratory. Her Mental Radiation has exceeded safe limits, placing her close to becoming a Mutated Creature.
• Although Beckum warns Leo that Antu is connected to the influential Formal Wizard Bess and suggests abandoning Molly if she is not important, Leo insists on investigating. Molly was one of his first friends at the Tower of Dawn and is now the only one remaining.
• Beckum agrees to accompany Leo, hoping his acquaintance with Antu will make negotiations easier.
• They reach Antu’s laboratory, located in a busy commercial district. Beckum explains that Antu researches a potion for First-Rank Wizard Apprentices that supposedly stabilizes mental energy and aids advancement, despite the potions’ dangerous Mental Radiation side effects.
• At the laboratory, Beckum gains entry by claiming that Leo is a potential investor. The Minotaur is insulted and dismissed by an apprentice, while Leo rewards him with five Magic Stones.
• Inside, Leo finds Molly in severe distress, gasping for breath with a vacant expression as her Mental Radiation approaches a critical level.
• Beckum tells Leo to retrieve Molly while he negotiates with Antu, noting that Leo’s promised investment of one million Magic Stones should persuade Antu to tolerate the interruption.
• As Leo approaches Molly, a Second-Rank Wizard Apprentice objects, insisting that Beckum’s permission to enter does not allow Leo to move freely through the laboratory.

Character Developments

• Leo: Demonstrates both practical ruthlessness and strong loyalty. Though he is willing to spend Magic Stones on questionable research to achieve his larger objective, he immediately risks conflict with Antu to save Molly. His reaction shows that old friendships still matter deeply to him.
• Beckum: Acts as Leo’s guide and negotiator. He understands the Tower’s power structures and warns Leo about Antu’s connection to Bess, but ultimately respects Leo’s decision and supports him.
• Molly: Is revealed to be in grave danger after becoming a test subject. Her condition emphasizes the risks faced by apprentices who submit to Wizard experiments.
• The Minotaur: Despite being treated contemptuously by the laboratory staff, he remains loyal to Molly and bravely seeks help. Leo’s reward earns his gratitude.
• Wizard Antu and his assistants: Are portrayed as commercially motivated researchers who exploit apprentices and test subjects while prioritizing their research and potential profits.

Significant Themes

• Friendship and loyalty: Leo’s willingness to challenge a powerful Wizard for Molly contrasts with the Tower’s transactional culture.
• Exploitation in magical research: Apprentices and other beings are treated as disposable test subjects, while dangerous products are sold to desperate customers.
• Power and influence: Beckum’s warning highlights how connections to Formal Wizards can protect researchers and make opposing them dangerous.
• Moral compromise: Leo is participating in questionable investments to achieve his own goals, yet he draws a line when someone he cares about is endangered.
• The commodification of magic: Research is judged by its profitability and marketability, even when its products and experiments carry severe risks.

Important Character Interactions

• Leo and Beckum discuss wasteful research investments and the dangers of interfering with Antu.
• Leo confronts the Minotaur and learns of Molly’s emergency.
• Beckum advises Leo but ultimately agrees to help him.
• The laboratory apprentice humiliates and dismisses the Minotaur, revealing the institution’s cruelty.
• Beckum uses Leo’s potential investment to gain entry and negotiate with Antu’s laboratory.
• Leo moves to rescue Molly despite the staff’s objections, setting up a likely confrontation in the next chapter.

Chapter Summary: “Rescue”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wizard Beckum introduces Leo to a wizard interested in investing one million Magic Stones in his laboratory. The investor wants to inspect the laboratory before committing, and the Second-Rank Wizard Apprentice eagerly agrees.
• Leo immediately visits Molly, whom he finds in critical condition. Her Mental Radiation is near the point of triggering a Mutation Phenomenon, which would transform her into a Mutated Creature.
• Molly explains that she voluntarily participated in a dangerous experiment conducted by Wizard Antu’s laboratory. She accepted the risk because she was promised ten thousand Magic Stones—enough to pay her tuition and continue studying wizardry.
• Molly believes it is too late to save herself and asks Leo to deliver her belongings and final letter to her family after her death.
• Leo suspects that Molly’s condition may not be accidental. Because the laboratory is connected to Wizard Bess, he reasons that Bess may have used Molly as a pawn in a scheme against him.
• Although Leo previously might have avoided confronting powerful First-Circle Wizards, his increased strength and confidence in advancing to a First-Circle Wizard allow him to consider using the situation for a counterattack.
• Leo offers to attempt an untested method for reducing Molly’s Mental Radiation. The procedure could either save her or cause her to mutate immediately.
• Molly, unwilling to accept certain death, agrees to take the risk despite the possibility of incurring a large debt.
• Leo plans to return with her to the Esmond Gathering, but Wizard Beckum calls out to him before they leave.

Character Developments

• Leo: Displays greater confidence, composure, and willingness to confront powerful enemies. He quickly analyzes Molly’s condition, identifies a possible connection to Bess, and offers a risky but potentially life-saving solution.
• Molly: Moves from resignation and despair toward determination. Though she initially believes survival is impossible, Leo’s offer restores her hope, and she chooses to fight for her life.
• Wizard Bess: Though absent, she becomes increasingly suspicious as a possible force manipulating events against Leo.
• Wizard Beckum: Acts as the intermediary presenting the wealthy investor and remains involved as Leo prepares to leave with Molly.
• Wizard Antu: Is identified as the person overseeing the dangerous experiment that caused Molly’s condition, though his exact role in the larger scheme remains uncertain.

Significant Themes

• Exploitation and desperation: Wizard apprentices and other vulnerable individuals are driven to risk their lives as cheap experimental subjects because they lack resources.
• Hope versus resignation: Molly has accepted death, but Leo’s intervention gives her a reason to continue living.
• Manipulation and hidden schemes: The suspicious circumstances surrounding Molly’s experiment suggest that powerful wizards may exploit weaker people as tools in conflicts.
• Growth and confidence: Leo’s improved abilities and advancement plan have changed him from someone who would avoid danger into someone capable of confronting it strategically.
• The cost of ambition: Molly’s desire to continue studying wizardry leads her to accept an extreme risk, illustrating how advancement in the wizarding world demands sacrifice.

Character Interactions

• Leo and Molly share a sincere, emotional reunion. Molly is relieved that Leo came, while Leo openly assesses her condition and presses her for an explanation.
• Molly confesses her despair and asks Leo to fulfill her final wishes.
• Leo reassures her not with empty comfort but with a dangerous, practical proposal.
• Molly carefully judges Leo’s sincerity before accepting his help, creating a renewed bond of trust between them.
• The chapter ends with Beckum interrupting their departure, likely linking Molly’s rescue to the investor and the broader political or magical conflict surrounding Leo.

Chapter Summary: “Now It’s Time to Discuss My Benefits”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Leo meets Wizard Antu and Beckum after retrieving Molly from Antu’s laboratory.
• Antu apologizes for using Molly as an experimental subject and allows Leo to take her away, but warns that her dangerously high Mental Radiation could later trigger a Mutation Phenomenon.
• Antu offers to contact his mentor, Wizard Bess, who has researched reducing Mental Radiation. Leo firmly refuses, suspecting ulterior motives and choosing not to become indebted to Bess.
• After Leo leaves, Antu reports to Bess. It becomes clear that Bess engineered the situation for his own benefit, leaving Antu to bear Leo’s potential resentment.
• Leo returns with Molly to the Esmond Gathering and attempts to stabilize her himself rather than seek help from other Formal Wizards, who might exploit the opportunity to demand access to his research.
• Using a dangerous mental-energy technique enhanced by his Second Spell Casket, Leo stimulates Molly’s mental energy and gradually reduces her Mental Radiation.
• The treatment causes Molly intense pain, but it succeeds: her Mental Radiation falls to a safe level, halting the threat of Mutation.
• During the process, Molly unexpectedly breaks through and becomes a Third-Level Wizard Apprentice.
• Grateful and emotional, Molly thanks Leo and offers to repay the enormous cost of her treatment.
• Leo agrees that compensation is appropriate but points out that she could not repay the cost in Magic Stones, even over decades. He prepares to propose an alternative arrangement.

Character Developments

• Leo: Demonstrates loyalty and decisiveness by personally saving Molly despite the risks. He remains distrustful of Wizard Bess and refuses to let others exploit his knowledge or situation. At the same time, he adopts a pragmatic attitude toward compensation, emphasizing that their relationship can involve both friendship and fair exchange.
• Molly: Moves from a near-Mutation crisis to a safe condition and advances to Third-Level Wizard Apprentice. Her gratitude deepens her bond with Leo, while her willingness to repay him shows responsibility and independence.
• Wizard Antu: Appears apologetic and caught between his concern about offending Leo and his obligation to his mentor. He is portrayed as a reluctant intermediary who suffers the consequences of Bess’s scheme.
• Wizard Bess: Revealed to be manipulating events for personal gain. His “assistance” appears motivated by a larger objective rather than genuine concern for Molly.
• Beckum: Accompanies Antu but has little direct involvement, serving mainly as part of the group witnessing Leo’s recovery of Molly.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and friendship: Leo risks harming his own mental energy to save Molly, proving that his care for her is genuine.
• Manipulation and hidden motives: Bess’s involvement suggests that offers of help within the wizarding world often conceal attempts to gain benefits or leverage.
• Self-reliance versus exploitation: Leo chooses to treat Molly himself rather than seek assistance that would allow other Wizards to demand access to his research.
• Fair exchange and personal boundaries: Although Leo values Molly as a friend, he insists that the substantial resources and danger involved in saving her deserve compensation.
• Growth through adversity: Molly’s crisis ultimately leads not only to recovery but also to a breakthrough in her cultivation.

Character Interactions

• Leo and Antu maintain a tense, formal exchange. Leo accepts Antu’s permission to take Molly but rejects his offer of help and makes clear that he has not forgotten what happened.
• Antu and Bess’s conversation exposes the unequal relationship between them: Bess benefits from the situation while Antu carries the blame.
• Leo and Molly share the chapter’s most important interaction. Leo reassures her, endures the risks of treating her, and saves her from Mutation. Molly responds with tears, gratitude, and an offer to repay him.
• Their final exchange shifts from emotional gratitude to negotiation, as Leo prepares to define what he will receive in return for rescuing her.