Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Enfeoffment (Part Two)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• As autumn arrives, Romon withdraws into seclusion for more than two weeks at a time, studying and becoming familiar with his newly acquired Divinity.
• Over three months, faith in Romon spreads throughout Tako Domain, allowing the Tree Spirits to stop preaching and focus on other duties.
• Luoli leads the Tree Spirits in daily religious study and organizes their work purifying the castle. They hold a noon ritual in the castle’s highest hall, using their nature-based power together with Romon’s divine strength to transform the dark aura left behind by the former False God.
• During the latest ritual, Luoli and the Tree Spirits form a hexagram formation and channel their combined power through Romon’s statue. Romon responds from within the Altar, merging his power with theirs.
• The purification succeeds completely. A gigantic golden image of Romon appears above the castle and releases divine light over it, creating a spectacle witnessed by nearby villagers.
• The witnesses interpret the event as a divine miracle and proof that Romon is a True God. They kneel and pray, and stories of the miracle spread throughout Tako Domain, strengthening Romon’s reputation and faith.
• Romon realizes that the public display was excessive and may reveal that he is different from the other powers in the region. He has already killed spies sent to investigate him, but he expects his identity and unusual nature will soon attract greater attention.
• With the dark aura removed, the Altar begins to tremble and emit golden light. Romon reflects that a new deity would normally merge with the Altar, erase the previous vampire’s remnants, and generate new Divinity.
• Romon senses conflicting powers within the Altar—including dragon aura and light—and begins to suspect that he understands the true identity of the mysterious Black Sun.

Character Developments

• Romon: Continues developing his Divinity and demonstrates increasing control over the Altar and the territory’s spiritual forces. He becomes more aware of the political and religious risks of revealing his power, while also making progress toward uncovering the Black Sun’s identity.
• Luoli: Acts as the Tree Spirits’ leader and remains deeply devoted to Romon. She emphasizes discipline, religious learning, and usefulness to their master, guiding the others through both ritual work and study.
• The Tree Spirits: Grow more organized and committed to serving Romon. They transition from public preaching to religious education and ritual purification, though they are disappointed when their purification work ends because they have become accustomed to being useful and admired.
• The Villagers: Their faith in Romon intensifies after witnessing the golden manifestation, reinforcing the rapid spread of his religion.

Significant Themes

• Faith and divine legitimacy: The villagers’ interpretation of the manifestation as proof of Romon’s godhood shows how miracles create and strengthen religious belief.
• Service and loyalty: Luoli teaches that the Tree Spirits’ value lies in learning and performing whatever benefits Romon, highlighting their absolute devotion.
• Transformation and purification: The Tree Spirits’ ritual converts the castle’s corrupting dark aura into natural power, symbolizing the replacement of the old False God’s influence with Romon’s authority.
• Power and concealment: Romon’s miracle increases his influence but also risks exposing him to enemies, emphasizing the danger of openly displaying supernatural power.
• Conflicting divine forces: The dragon aura, light, and abyssal power within the Altar suggest deeper mysteries about the former deity, the Black Sun, and the nature of Divinity itself.

Important Character Interactions

• Luoli instructs the Tree Spirits to study religious texts and continue improving themselves as Romon’s servants.
• She leads them in the purification ritual, coordinating their formation and channeling their combined power through Romon’s statue.
• Romon silently responds to Luoli’s ritual from the Altar, creating a direct spiritual connection between master and servants.
• After the ritual, Luoli encourages the Tree Spirits to continue studying and cultivating rather than becoming idle.
• Romon observes the Tree Spirits’ work from seclusion and later reflects on the consequences of their successful ritual and the public miracle it creates.

Chapter Summary: The Attack (Part 1)

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter opens with a creation myth: a World Tree emerges from the void and gives birth to land, sky, oceans, other planes, and six divine fruits representing the world’s innate gods.
• A Black Dragon invades at the world’s beginning, devours the fruit of light, and forces four immature divine fruits to descend early, creating the primordial gods.
• Romon senses the presence of another World Tree within his Shennong Horn Space. He realizes that the Black Dragon’s aura is connected to the “sin within the light” and begins questioning the true identity of the Lord of Radiance.
• After emerging from seclusion, Romon receives a report from Luoli. The Tako Domain has stabilized after months of suppressing opposition and spreading Romon’s faith, especially following a recent miracle.
• Gesuo, whom Romon appointed Viscount, has finally adapted to governing the territory and no longer constantly seeks Romon’s instructions.
• Pope Kanrongpa contacts Romon through the faith network, asking whether his faction may begin its planned military operation. Romon approves, believing the Tako Domain is secure enough and concealment is becoming difficult.
• In Haboba’s territory, Kanrongpa announces the Divine Oracle. Lord Haboba and the clergy begin preparations to attack the Gohata Count Fief, with Haboba hoping to gain military merit and eventually be recognized by Romon.
• The Salante forces launch their attack the following day. Count Gao Hata is shocked that Haboba has attacked again and immediately seeks aid from the Temple and his patron god, Dumida.
• Dumida, an old-established War God, observes the invasion and becomes enraged. It summons several neighboring gods to form a coalition against Romon’s forces.
• The god of the nearby Ilusen Fief also receives the warning. Having noticed something familiar about the divine power in the Tako Domain, he considers investigating personally, but ultimately decides that Romon must be dealt with.
• Back in the Tako Domain, Romon detects seven incoming divine signals. He reveals that, unlike ordinary gods, he does not depend on an Altar and therefore is not bound by the usual mutual deterrence between gods. He prepares to seize the power connected to the approaching Altars.

Character Developments

• Romon: Becomes increasingly aware of the world’s deeper divine structure and the Black Dragon’s influence. His confidence and ambition grow as he recognizes that his lack of dependence on an Altar gives him a major strategic advantage.
• Luoli: Continues serving as Romon’s trusted administrator and provides a clear account of the territory’s progress.
• Gesuo: Develops from an inexperienced warrior into a more capable and independent Viscount, validating Romon’s decision to appoint him.
• Pope Kanrongpa: Demonstrates loyalty and strategic discipline. Though eager for the campaign, he maintains a calm, authoritative public image befitting a pope.
• Lord Haboba: Becomes increasingly ambitious and eager to prove his worth to Romon. He views the attack as an opportunity to earn recognition and establish the Salante Duchy.
• Dumida: Is portrayed as powerful but frustrated by the limitations imposed by its Altar and the world’s rules. Its anger turns the local conflict into a broader divine confrontation.
• The Ilusen God: Shows caution and insight, recognizing that Romon’s divine power may be unusual, though it ultimately joins the effort to suppress him.

Significant Themes

• Power as the basis of authority: The people of the Tako Domain accept Romon’s faith largely because his strength produces visible protection and prosperity.
• Faith and political control: Religious conversion, territorial administration, and military expansion are closely connected; Romon’s religion functions as both a spiritual system and a tool of governance.
• Defiance of established rules: Existing gods believe the world prevents large-scale annexation, but Romon’s independence from Altars may allow him to bypass those restrictions.
• Ambition versus stability: Haboba seeks glory through conquest, while Romon carefully waits until his own domain is secure before approving the attack.
• Hidden cosmic history: The World Tree, the Black Dragon, the Lord of Radiance, and the mysterious rules governing the world suggest that the current political struggle is part of a much larger divine conflict.

Important Character Interactions

• Romon and Luoli: Romon questions Luoli about the territory, and their exchange shows Luoli’s role as a reliable aide and Romon’s concern with effective administration.
• Romon and Gesuo: Although Gesuo does not appear directly, Romon reflects on why he chose him and feels relieved that Gesuo is finally succeeding as Viscount.
• Romon and Pope Kanrongpa: Their communication through the faith network demonstrates Romon’s control over his church and Kanrongpa’s dependence on divine approval before beginning the campaign.
• Kanrongpa and Haboba: Kanrongpa delivers Romon’s approval and helps organize the attack, while Haboba eagerly pushes for immediate action.
• Dumida and the invading forces: Dumida views the Salante attack as a direct challenge and responds by rallying neighboring gods.
• The neighboring gods and Romon: Their shared alarm reveals that Romon is already regarded as a destabilizing threat to the established divine order.

Chapter Summary: “Attack (Part 2)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Romon learns that the god of Ilusen Fief has left its territory, making it vulnerable to attack. He realizes that his strategy of luring the god away has worked far more easily than expected.
• He views the False Gods as weak and inexperienced compared with himself, though he acknowledges that their centuries of accumulated power and influence still make them dangerous.
• Romon explains his broader objective: destroying their Altars. Altars channel faith to the gods, enable divine spellcasting, and contain power that Romon can potentially absorb. Destroying them also weakens the gods’ influence.
• Before leaving, Romon instructs Luoli to oversee the ancient castle and contact him if necessary. He then teleports to the border of Tako Domain, near Ilusen Fief.
• Using his knowledge of the False Gods’ habits, Romon correctly deduces that the Ilusen god’s Altar lies beneath its central castle.
• He travels invisibly to the city, teleports directly into the underground passages, and avoids the guards while navigating the maze-like complex.
• In the Altar’s great hall, animated statues attack him. Romon destroys them instantly with the Ninth Level Druid spell Revenge Storm.
• He discovers that the Altar has fused with the god’s personal aura. This prevents him from easily purifying and absorbing its power, disappointing him.
• Romon therefore chooses to destroy the Altar completely. He uses Nature’s Judgment, overwhelming the Altar’s defensive formation.
• He activates a teleportation scroll immediately after launching the attack, escaping before the resulting destruction can harm him. From outside the castle, he witnesses a massive explosion that shakes the earth.

Character Developments

• Romon is shown as calculating, opportunistic, and highly confident. He has no moral objection to surprise attacks, viewing them as the most efficient way to gain power while minimizing risk.
• His growing Divinity has greatly enhanced his speed, perception, teleportation abilities, and combat power.
• Romon’s contempt for the False Gods becomes clearer: he considers them intellectually limited and dependent on inherited systems rather than personal ability. Nevertheless, he remains cautious about the power they have accumulated.
• He also shows practical judgment. When he realizes the Altar’s fused power cannot be profitably absorbed, he abandons that goal and focuses on destroying it.
• Luoli demonstrates loyalty and concern for Romon, worrying about his decision to go alone. Romon responds reassuringly and entrusts her with responsibility for the castle.

Significant Themes

• Strategy over brute force: Romon relies on deception, timing, infiltration, and teleportation rather than confronting the enemy directly.
• Power and faith: The chapter emphasizes that religious power is physically and magically concentrated in Altars. Destroying an Altar cuts off faith, weakens divine authority, and destabilizes a god’s influence.
• Exploitation of weakness: Romon treats the False Gods’ absence as an opportunity and takes advantage of their dependence on old traditions and defensive systems.
• Efficiency and pragmatism: Romon consistently chooses the course that offers the greatest reward with the least danger, including fleeing immediately after attacking the Altar.
• The limits of power: Although Romon is much stronger than the Divine Beings, he recognizes that certain fused or unfamiliar powers cannot easily be controlled or purified.

Character Interactions

• Romon and Luoli share a master-and-servant relationship marked by obedience and mutual concern. Luoli follows his orders but worries about his safety, while Romon reassures her and trusts her to manage the castle.
• Romon’s main “interaction” with the False God occurs indirectly through the Altar. He exploits the god’s absence, bypasses its guards and defenses, destroys its statues, and launches an attack against the source of its power without confronting the god directly.

Romon destroyed the altar and underground palace in the castle while Pope Kanrongpa’s army fought the Hata Gao Army. When six allied gods attacked the battlefield, Romon’s assault on the God of Ilusen Domain’s altar forced him to flee and alarmed the others, leaving them determined to strike back.

• Romon confirmed that his explosion had destroyed the altar and underground palace, then watched for the local False God to return.
• Pope Kanrongpa led Salante's Army against the Hata Gao Army, while Lord Haboba worried that other gods might join the battle.
• The God of Ilusen Domain arrived with other gods, and they ordered Count Gao Hata to attack so they could draw out Romon and Elno the Golden Dragon.
• Six gods attacked Salante's Army and Elno the Golden Dragon, overwhelming the battlefield as Pope Kanrongpa and Lord Haboba struggled to hold their forces together.
• The God of Ilusen Domain suddenly aged and fell after Romon destroyed his altar, then fled toward his domain as the other gods feared their own altars were under attack.
• The gods abandoned the fight and resolved to return to their domains before planning to destroy Romon.

Romon ambushed the weakened God of Ilusen Domain after destroying his altar and defeated him inside the Shennong Horn Space. The god vanished, leaving behind the Sacred Sword as spiritual energy rained over the space.

• The God of Ilusen Domain flew back toward his ruined altar, raging and mourning the loss of his youthful appearance.
• Romon intercepted the god, admitted to destroying the altar, and fought him as the god attacked with his Sacred Sword.
• Romon overwhelmed the god with Nature Revenge Storm and transported him into the Shennong Horn Space, where the god lost his connection to his followers and struggled under the space’s pressure.
• Romon bound the god with golden chains, chose to erase him while sparing the Sacred Sword, and watched the god’s body and divine power disappear.
• Spiritual energy rained across the Shennong Horn Space, and the Sacred Sword fell before Romon.

Romon claimed the Sacred Sword as a Divine Artifact and joined the campaign against the Gohata Count Fief, where he and Elno shattered the city’s magical defenses. Their army stormed the city as enemy forces were slaughtered, and screams rang out from the central castle.

• Romon recognized the Sacred Sword as a Divine Artifact, tested its power, and sent Luoli orders to attack the Ilusen Fief after killing its god.
• Luoli announced Romon’s victory and organized the attack, while Viscount Gesuo and Bishop Hagen pledged to work together.
• Count Gao Hata’s gods disappeared, so he ordered his forces to retreat into the city, where Pontiff Kanrongpa summoned Elno.
• Romon met Elno and invoked their shared covenant with the High Gods before using the Sacred Sword and Elno’s attacks to break the city’s Magic Formation.
• Elno swept into the city with dragon breath, and Lord Haboba led the army through the breach to attack the enemy forces.
• A terrible howl and a stream of screams came from the central castle.

Summary of “Great Victory (Part 2)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After a major battle in Ilusen Fief, Viscount Gesuo and the forces loyal to the Romon God celebrate a decisive victory. Their side suffered few casualties, captured many prisoners, and occupied the entire fief.
• The soldiers and priests credit their success to their god, who destroyed the enemy altar and city, killed numerous warriors, and personally slew the opposing god.
• Luoli arrives with several Tree Spirits to offer assistance and inquire about the god’s ongoing campaign in Gohata Count Fief. Although no news has arrived, she remains confident in his victory.
• The group enters Ilusen City, which is under martial law. Bishop Hagen emphasizes that the local civilians are now subjects of their god and must not be mistreated.
• Luoli and the Tree Spirits detect a woman crying from inside a locked residence. They discover two soldiers assaulting her while her family members are bound nearby.
• The woman reveals that the soldiers killed her husband and child. The soldiers confess that they had murdered the family after becoming interested in the woman, intending to blame the deaths on an enemy soldier.
• Viscount Gesuo prepares to execute the perpetrators immediately, but Bishop Hagen stops him. He declares their actions to be blasphemy against the gods and orders them to be publicly burned to death.

Character Developments

• Viscount Gesuo appears increasingly devoted and submissive toward the Romon God and those close to him, especially Luoli and the Tree Spirits. His confidence as a victorious lord is shaken when he discovers atrocities committed by his own soldiers, but he responds forcefully and seeks accountability.
• Luoli demonstrates greater maturity and authority than before. She is respected as someone close to the god and uses her heightened Tree Spirit senses to uncover hidden wrongdoing. Her compassion and commitment to protecting civilians become clear.
• Bishop Hagen reveals a strict interpretation of the god’s laws. Rather than allowing a quick execution, he insists on a public, exemplary punishment designed to reinforce religious authority and discipline.
• The soldiers expose the danger of unchecked violence among newly recruited troops. Their actions show that victory in battle does not automatically eliminate cruelty or lawlessness.
• The priests and warriors become even more devoted to the Romon God, interpreting the victory and the harsh punishment as proof of his divine power and justice.

Significant Themes

• Divine authority and religious loyalty: The characters attribute every military success to their god, whose presence shapes both battlefield strategy and political rule.
• The responsibilities of conquest: Occupying territory brings the obligation to protect civilians and establish order, not merely defeat enemies.
• Justice versus revenge: Gesuo initially seeks immediate personal punishment, while Hagen demands a formal, public sentence intended to uphold divine law.
• The contrast between victory and moral corruption: Although the battle is celebrated as a “great victory,” soldiers commit horrific crimes against civilians, showing that military success can conceal serious internal problems.
• Fear as a tool of governance: Public burning is presented not only as punishment but also as a warning intended to deter future atrocities and strengthen reverence for the god.

Character Interactions

• Gesuo and Luoli interact with mutual courtesy, though Gesuo is especially deferential because of her close relationship with the Romon God.
• Luoli reassures the anxious priests and Gesuo that their god will prevail in Gohata.
• Bishop Hagen joins the group and participates in the inspection of the newly conquered city.
• Luoli’s discovery of the assault forces Gesuo, Hagen, and the other leaders to confront abuses committed by their own troops.
• Gesuo moves to kill the soldiers immediately, but Hagen intervenes and redirects the punishment into a public religious execution, reinforcing the authority of the god’s law.

Chapter Summary — Black Sun (Part One)

Key Plot Points and Events

• Romon’s forces complete their conquest of the Gohata Count Fief after breaching the final inner fortress. The remaining defenders surrender once their patron god is killed.
• Romon and Elno the Golden Dragon defeat several Divine Beings. Elno gives Romon the corpses that do not match his own attributes as loot, while Romon plans to process them later.
• The pair return to the restored Elven Palace. Elno tells Romon to activate the palace’s Virtual Godhood, since Romon is the heir chosen by the High God.
• Upon arriving, Romon senses an unexplained disturbance and feels a strong sense of unease. Elno cannot detect anything unusual and dismisses the possibility as mere precognition.
• Inside the palace, Romon discovers an ancient throne and reads inscriptions describing the Mother Goddess, the Elven Empire, and a powerful creation intended to oppose the gods and fate.
• Romon takes the floating crown above the throne. The palace recognizes him as its master, grants him full authority over the Virtual Godhood, and activates the Imperial Capital.
• This activation awakens a gigantic Black Dragon imprisoned within the core of the world’s Black Sun. The dragon believes Romon has violated the rules of the world and attempted to ignite Divine Fire.
• The Black Dragon projects its killing intent across the world, causing fear, darkness, thunder, and widespread oppression. It then targets the Elven Palace with a devastating red beam, ending the chapter on a cliffhanger.

Character Developments

• Romon is established as a successful conqueror and an increasingly powerful Divine Being. He confidently accepts the Divine corpses as spoils and takes control of the Elven Palace and Virtual Godhood.
• His unease before activating the palace shows that, despite his confidence, he possesses an instinctive awareness of supernatural danger. His decision to proceed demonstrates ambition and willingness to take risks.
• Elno, the Golden Dragon, remains blunt, arrogant, and intensely pragmatic. He respects Romon not for his morality but because of his strength, reflecting Dragonkind’s values. He also begins to acknowledge Romon’s authority as the palace’s chosen heir.
• The Black Dragon is introduced as an ancient, imprisoned power connected to the Black Sun. It is furious, violent, and protective of the rules it believes it established over the world.

Significant Themes

• Strength over morality: Elno openly values power above loyalty, virtue, or human ethics. The chapter contrasts human surrender with the dragons’ ruthless worldview.
• Authority and inheritance: Romon’s crown symbolizes his acceptance of the Elven legacy and his elevation as heir to an ancient imperial power.
• The return of a lost empire: The restored palace, Virtual Godhood, and Imperial Capital suggest that the Elven civilization may rise again through Romon.
• Divine conflict and fate: Romon’s activation of the palace challenges existing gods and cosmic rules, provoking retaliation from the Black Dragon.
• Hidden danger beneath apparent victory: The conquest of the fief seems complete, but Romon’s success triggers a far greater threat tied to the world itself.

Character Interactions

• Romon and Elno discuss human loyalty after the defeated soldiers surrender. Elno dismisses human faithfulness and says he would rather seek followers among dragons.
• Romon teasingly questions whether Elno considers him morally superior; Elno bluntly replies that only Romon’s strength earns his respect.
• Elno advises Romon to activate the Virtual Godhood, and Romon accepts the suggestion without hesitation.
• When Romon senses danger, he consults Elno. Elno initially finds no evidence of a threat but acknowledges that Romon’s unease may be a form of divine precognition.
• Romon’s coronation-like act inside the palace directly provokes the imprisoned Black Dragon, setting up an imminent confrontation.

Black Sun (Part 2) — Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• A red beam of Divine Thunder descends from the Black Sun and strikes Elno, the Golden Dragon, while he rests on his treasure hoard.
• Elno senses overwhelming danger but cannot evade the attack. His defenses absorb part of the blow, yet he is driven into the ground, creating a pit over a hundred meters deep.
• The Black Dragon within the Black Sun prepares a second attack, dismissing Elno as an inferior Golden Dragon.
• The second Divine Thunder strikes Romon’s Elven Palace. Romon activates the palace’s defenses, but the barrier and much of the palace are destroyed. Many Golems are shattered, and Romon is nearly overwhelmed.
• The attack consumes the Divine Power being transferred to Romon. He survives but is exhausted and realizes how powerless he remains before the Black Dragon.
• Before a third attack can occur, the chains binding the Black Dragon tighten, apparently forcing it back into dormancy. The Black Sun returns to its former calm state.
• Romon investigates Elno and finds him badly injured but alive. Elno’s Divinity and Divine Soul remain intact, allowing him to survive.
• Romon treats Elno with healing magic and scrolls, restoring his vital areas enough for the dragon’s natural regenerative abilities to take over.
• After recovering somewhat, Elno thanks Romon and confirms that the attack came from within the Black Sun. However, he hesitates and denies knowing anything more, suggesting he is concealing important information.
• Elno leaves to recuperate. Romon returns to the ruined palace and orders the Virtual Godhood to begin rebuilding it.

Character Developments

• Romon: His confidence is shaken by the Black Dragon’s effortless attacks. Although he has reached the Saint Druid rank and gained Divinity, he recognizes that he is still extremely weak compared with the power inside the Black Sun. Despite his fear, he remains responsible and compassionate, protecting and healing Elno.
• Elno: The proud Great Dragon is nearly killed by a single Divine Thunder strike, revealing the overwhelming strength of the enemy. His survival demonstrates the resilience of his Divinity, but his evasive reaction implies that he knows more about the Black Sun or its occupant than he admits.
• The Black Dragon: It is established as an extraordinarily powerful being capable of attacking across the Mist Plane. It is restrained by mysterious chains, which interrupt its assault and force it into sleep before it can destroy Romon.
• The Virtual Godhood and Golems: The palace’s systems survive sufficiently to report the damage and begin reconstruction, showing that Romon’s technological and magical infrastructure remains functional despite the devastation.

Significant Themes

• The limits of power: Romon’s status as a powerful Divine Being does not make him invincible. The attacks force him to confront the gap between his abilities and those of the Black Dragon.
• Hidden danger and uncertainty: The Black Sun appears ordinary after the attacks, creating an unsettling contrast between its peaceful appearance and the destructive entity inside it.
• Restraint and imprisonment: The Black Dragon’s chains suggest that it is bound or controlled in some way, raising questions about who imprisoned it and what would happen if it were fully released.
• Trust and obligation: Elno was injured while assisting Romon, and Romon treats him out of gratitude and moral responsibility. Elno’s willingness to heal under Romon’s protection also indicates developing trust between them.
• Secrets and concealed knowledge: Elno’s hesitation and denial imply that he understands the Black Sun’s nature but is unwilling—or unable—to reveal the truth.

Character Interactions

• Romon and Elno develop a stronger bond when Romon heals and guards the injured dragon.
• Elno acknowledges that Romon saved him and promises not to forget the assistance.
• Their conversation about the attacker establishes that both now understand the threat comes from within the Black Sun, though Elno withholds further information.
• Romon’s interaction with the Virtual Godhood at the end shows his determination to restore the palace and continue despite the attack.

The Duchy (Part 1) — Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the Black Dragon’s attack damages the Elven Palace, Romon becomes deeply alarmed and suspects that larger forces are targeting everything he has built.
• He teleports back to Tako Domain rather than risk traveling through the world again. Because his consciousness is linked to the Elven Palace, its damage leaves him physically injured as well.
• After resting for a day, Romon conducts an experiment using a magic formation designed to stimulate Nature’s Aura. He confirms his disturbing suspicion: the world itself is beginning to reject him, and that rejection is growing stronger.
• Romon concludes that he cannot remain in this world indefinitely. He believes his most urgent priority is to reach the realm of igniting divine fire, which may allow him to survive the developing crisis.
• He orders Luoli and all the Tree Spirits to leave Tako Domain and return to Shennong Horn Space. However, Romon chooses to remain temporarily because he feels obligated to stabilize his territory and protect his followers.
• Romon summons Viscount Gesuo and Bishop Hagen to assign responsibility for Tako Domain. Gesuo is placed in charge of administration, while Hagen is instructed to help govern and organize the religious structure.
• Following their military victory and territorial expansion, Romon orders the creation of the Salante Duchy, with Haboba to be crowned Grand Duke.
• The territory is to be divided into several dioceses, with Hagen becoming bishop of Tako Diocese. Romon also orders the establishment of a seminary so priests receive formal training.
• He commands his followers to stop expanding militarily and instead consolidate and absorb their recent gains.
• Romon withdraws from public activity, sealing himself away before using an altar to begin his return to the Main World. He is reassured that the World Tree continues transmitting the power of faith, which the world cannot reject.

Character Developments

• Romon shifts from confidence after victory to fear and urgency after realizing the world is rejecting him. His priorities change from expansion to survival, spiritual advancement, and preserving his domain.
• He also demonstrates a stronger sense of responsibility: although he knows he must leave, he refuses to abandon his believers and first arranges a stable government.
• Luoli remains loyal and immediately obeys Romon’s orders. Her concern for his safety shows her personal attachment and devotion, while the Tree Spirits’ reluctance to leave reflects their growing emotional connection to Tako Domain.
• Viscount Gesuo has successfully organized the territory and proves willing to accept greater responsibility. His respectful concern about Romon’s departure highlights the authority and trust Romon has established.
• Bishop Hagen continues to function as a committed religious leader. He accepts Romon’s orders concerning dioceses, priestly training, and consolidation.
• The Tree Spirits have become attached to the land and its people, indicating that Romon’s expanding influence has created a genuine community rather than merely a conquered territory.

Significant Themes

• Alienation and rejection: Romon, despite being a Saint Druid and possessing the World Tree, is increasingly treated as an outsider by the world itself.
• Power versus vulnerability: His immense abilities—teleportation, divine authority, and control over nature—cannot fully protect him from the world’s underlying laws.
• Responsibility to followers: Romon chooses to remain behind temporarily because faith creates obligations. Leadership requires him to secure his people’s future even while facing personal danger.
• Institution-building: The creation of the Salante Duchy, dioceses, and seminary shows the transition from conquest to organized governance.
• Faith as a persistent connection: Though the world rejects Romon’s presence, it cannot sever the flow of faith through the World Tree, preserving his influence after his departure.
• Preparation for greater danger: The chapter emphasizes withdrawal, consolidation, and advancement rather than further conflict, suggesting that a larger crisis is approaching.

Important Character Interactions

• Romon and Luoli: Romon explains the world’s rejection and orders the Tree Spirits’ evacuation. Luoli questions whether they should wait, but ultimately follows his decision without hesitation.
• Romon and the Tree Spirits: He personally gathers and sends them to Shennong Horn Space. Their reluctance to leave reveals their attachment to Tako Domain.
• Romon and Viscount Gesuo: Romon confirms Gesuo’s administrative success and entrusts him with governing Tako Domain. He instructs Gesuo to cooperate closely with Hagen.
• Romon and Bishop Hagen: Romon gives Hagen direct religious and political instructions, including establishing dioceses, founding a seminary, and ending further external attacks.
• Romon and his believers: His decision to remain temporarily, organize the duchy, and continue supporting them demonstrates that his relationship with his followers is based on more than simple authority—it is sustained by mutual faith and obligation.

Chapter Summary — Duchy (Part 2)

Key Plot Points and Events

• Romon enters the inner domain of his Virtual Godhood, which appears as a small world containing a lake, a forest, and golden symbols condensing into water.
• He senses an inexplicable spiritual aversion to the domain but proceeds to command the Virtual Godhood to analyze Druid spells and skills. It absorbs and reorganizes his accumulated knowledge, greatly deepening his understanding.
• Romon realizes that the world’s rejection of him is intensifying and believes another divine or cosmic attack may be imminent. Since the duchy has been established and the Great Dragon Elno has recovered, he decides he must leave.
• Romon uses the Altar’s teleportation gate to return to the Main World, declaring that he will return only after ascending to godhood. Once he departs, the Altar’s power is exhausted and it collapses.
• Back home, Romon’s prolonged absence has created emotional and political strain. Bell worries about him, while Alice helps conceal the truth that Eileen has fallen ill.
• Alice travels to the Earth Goddess Temple, where she finds her younger brother Ruxiji and visits Eileen. Eileen has collapsed from exhaustion after managing the territory and suppressing unrest in Romon’s absence.
• Eileen’s illness is being kept secret to prevent Bell and the territory’s people from becoming alarmed. She is recovering but remains physically and emotionally drained.

Character Developments

• Romon becomes more knowledgeable and powerful through the Virtual Godhood’s analysis of Druid abilities. His growing awareness of the world’s rejection forces him to prioritize escape and eventual ascension.
• Alice, now thirteen, has matured considerably. She protects her mother, handles sensitive information, maintains a composed public demeanor, and takes responsibility for the family in her father’s absence.
• Bell is emotionally fragile because of Romon’s disappearance and her dependence on Eileen to manage the household and territory. Her recent illness has also left her somewhat confused and vulnerable.
• Eileen is revealed to be the true pillar of the duchy. Her relentless efforts to manage political, religious, and domestic crises have caused her to collapse from exhaustion. Despite her weakness, she remains concerned with preserving stability and protecting Bell from worry.
• Ruxiji, only eleven, has begun training with Prince Maiduai and has lost much of his childish innocence. The crisis has made him more serious, responsible, and determined.
• Romon’s absence has forced the children, especially Alice and Ruxiji, to mature prematurely.

Significant Themes

• Power and danger: Romon’s Virtual Godhood offers immense analytical power, but his instinctive aversion suggests that great power may carry hidden dangers.
• The burden of leadership: With Romon gone, Eileen must carry the duchy’s political and social responsibilities alone, demonstrating how leadership can consume an individual.
• Family loyalty and protection: Alice and Eileen conceal painful truths from Bell to shield her, while the family quietly supports one another during Romon’s absence.
• Maturity through hardship: Alice and Ruxiji are becoming adults earlier than expected because circumstances require them to assume responsibility.
• Absence and emotional strain: Romon’s repeated disappearances leave the household without its central presence, causing loneliness, anxiety, and instability.
• Duty versus personal well-being: Eileen sacrifices her health to preserve order, illustrating the damaging cost of placing responsibility above oneself.

Character Interactions

• Romon interacts primarily with the Virtual Godhood, treating it as a powerful analytical system while remaining wary of its spiritual implications.
• Bell and Alice share a tender but strained exchange in which Alice comforts her mother while hiding Eileen’s illness.
• Alice and Ruxiji cooperate to protect the family and maintain secrecy about Eileen’s condition.
• Alice and Eileen discuss Bell’s suspicions and Eileen’s recovery, revealing their mutual trust and shared responsibility.
• Eileen and Alice both express longing for Romon, emphasizing how deeply his presence stabilizes both the family and the duchy.

Summary of “No More Hesitation (Part 1)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ruxiji worries aloud that his father, Romon, may disappear permanently. Eileen reacts sharply because Romon’s repeated absences have caused her and the family deep anxiety.
• Eileen senses a powerful, familiar aura approaching the Earth Goddess Temple. Believing it may be Romon—or possibly an enemy—she uses a temporary Restoration Spell to overcome her illness and goes downstairs to investigate.
• The approaching figure is revealed to be Romon. Eileen is overwhelmed with relief and emotion, embraces him, and breaks down over the pain and fear caused by his long absence.
• Romon explains that he was forced to leave and promises to explain everything once they are home. Eileen’s temporary spell wears off, causing her condition to worsen, and Romon realizes she has been seriously ill.
• Romon returns with Eileen and their children to the Lord’s Villa, where the household welcomes him joyfully. During dinner, Ruxiji asks whether Romon will disappear again. Romon promises that this was the final time and that he will not abandon them again.
• Romon later recounts his experiences in the Abyssal World to his family, withholding information about the strategically important Mist Plane.
• His close allies, including Nick and Fafier, visit to celebrate his return. Romon notices that his longtime friends have aged, reminding him of how much time has passed.
• Trusted followers report on the territory’s affairs. Princess Qian Niya and Prince Maiduai then arrive to discuss the increasingly tense political situation.
• Romon confirms that Maiduai has reached the Fourth Level of strength. He also openly declares his support for Prince Xiusenya and Maiduai’s claim to formally become the Count of Blue Soil Island, signaling that he will no longer remain politically hesitant.

Character Development

• Romon: Returns more emotionally aware of the damage his disappearances have caused. His remorse toward Eileen and his children leads him to promise stability. Politically, he becomes more decisive, openly supporting Prince Xiusenya’s faction instead of concealing his position.
• Eileen: Her strength and composure conceal profound fear and loneliness. Romon’s return allows her suppressed emotions to surface, and her physical illness underscores how severely his absence affected her.
• Ruxiji: Reveals a deep psychological fear of losing his father permanently. Though initially anxious and impulsive, he learns to trust his mother’s judgment and later expresses the family’s desire to remain together.
• Alice: Acts as a calm, sensible influence on Ruxiji, preventing him from following Eileen into a potentially dangerous confrontation.
• Prince Maiduai: Has matured into a capable fifteen-year-old and reached the Fourth Level, demonstrating diligence and strong potential.
• Nick and Fafier: Their aging emphasizes the passage of time and the cost of Romon’s long absences, while their joy at seeing him confirms their continued loyalty.

Significant Themes

• Family separation and reunion: Romon’s return brings immense relief, but the family’s happiness is mixed with fear that he may leave again.
• The emotional cost of duty: Romon’s adventures and responsibilities have protected or advanced his position, but they have also caused his family illness, anxiety, and emotional suffering.
• Promises and responsibility: Romon’s vow that he will not disappear again represents an attempt to repair the trust damaged by his repeated departures.
• The passage of time: The aging of Nick and Fafier and Maiduai’s growth highlight how much has changed during Romon’s absence.
• Political commitment and decisiveness: Romon’s public support for Maiduai marks a turning point. He resolves to stop hesitating and openly involve himself in the struggle over Blue Soil Island and the kingdom’s succession politics.

Important Character Interactions

• Eileen and Ruxiji: Her fierce response to his pessimistic remark reflects her own fear, while his concern after she weakens shows their close family bond.
• Alice and Ruxiji: Alice restrains and reassures him, demonstrating her practical judgment and protective role as his sister.
• Eileen and Romon: Their emotional reunion exposes the depth of their love, Eileen’s suffering, and Romon’s guilt over leaving her alone.
• Romon and his children: Their questions force Romon to confront the insecurity his disappearances have created. His promise seeks to restore their sense of safety.
• Romon, Nick, and Fafier: Their reunion combines warmth and nostalgia, with Romon recognizing how time has changed his old friends.
• Romon, Qian Niya, and Maiduai: Their meeting shifts the chapter from domestic reunion to political action. Romon’s explicit pledge of support establishes a new, more assertive phase in his role within the kingdom.

Chapter Summary: “Hesitate No More (Part 2)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After twenty years in the new world, Romon stands on a hill overlooking the growing lands around him and decides to advance the Shennong Horn Space.
• The space doubles in size from fifty million to one hundred million mu, expanding to an area larger than the Aisk Kingdom. Its Seeds of Life spread throughout the newly enlarged territory, while the Light Orb rises to illuminate the entire space.
• Romon selects the Earth Domain as his new Domain. This raises him to a Level 3 Saint Druid, alongside his existing Fire, Water, and Wind Domains. His status confirms him as a divine being and the First Authority Master of the space.
• A massive column of green light rises from Thorn Forest, announcing Romon’s advancement across the continent. Bells ring throughout Far-Sail Port City, fireworks fill the sky, and the city’s people cheerfully celebrate his promotion to “His Highness.”
• Romon’s family joins the celebration. His son Ruxiji proudly shouts that his father is now “His Highness,” while Eileen watches him with quiet happiness.
• Several days later, the chapter shifts to Far-Sail Port City, now a highly prosperous and well-organized metropolis. Government officials marvel at how dramatically the city has developed under Count Teta Xiao’s administration.
• The old king of the Aisk Kingdom visits the city personally. He is deeply impressed by its prosperity but recognizes that Romon’s rise to Saint Druid has fundamentally changed the political balance.
• The king concludes that Romon can no longer be controlled or treated merely as a powerful noble. Since conflict with him would be dangerous, peaceful coexistence and cooperation with Romon are now the best options.
• During his visit, the king reflects on his deceased son, Prince Xiusenya, and worries about the succession of the Royal House. He considers whether Maiduai, Xiusenya’s surviving child, might become a future crown prince, but realizes that Romon’s attitude toward Maiduai will be decisive.
• The king ends the day’s inspection and returns to his residence, still weighing the future of the kingdom and the Royal House.

Character Developments

• Romon reaches a major new stage of power, becoming a Level 3 Saint Druid and gaining the Earth Domain. His advancement establishes him as a divine, continent-shaping figure rather than merely an influential noble.
• Despite his immense status, Romon publicly demonstrates respect toward the king by personally hosting the welcoming ceremony. This suggests political maturity and a desire to avoid unnecessary conflict.
• Eileen responds to Romon’s advancement with restrained pride and affection, particularly as she watches their son celebrate.
• Ruxiji displays youthful excitement and admiration for his father, openly proclaiming Romon’s new status to the city.
• The old king shifts from confidence in royal authority to cautious diplomacy. He recognizes that Romon’s power now rivals the influence of the Royal House and begins planning carefully to preserve the kingdom’s stability.
• The king’s grief over Prince Xiusenya remains unresolved, and his concern for Maiduai reveals his desire to protect the late prince’s bloodline while avoiding another succession crisis.

Significant Themes

• The growth of power and status: Romon’s advancement transforms him from a powerful noble into a divine-level figure whose influence surpasses ordinary political structures.
• Political adaptation: The king realizes that old methods of control are no longer effective and that diplomacy, mutual benefit, and coexistence are necessary.
• Prosperity through leadership: Far-Sail Port City’s rapid development demonstrates the effects of capable administration and long-term investment.
• Legacy and succession: The king’s thoughts about Xiusenya and Maiduai emphasize the importance of bloodlines, inheritance, and preserving the Royal House.
• Family pride and continuity: Romon’s advancement is not only a political event but also a deeply personal moment celebrated by Eileen and Ruxiji.
• Power beyond law: The chapter stresses that Romon now stands above the continent’s normal legal and political order, making him someone even kings must treat as an equal.

Character Interactions

• Romon’s advancement is celebrated by Eileen, Ruxiji, Alice, Bell, Ruxiji, and the city’s Knights through bells, fireworks, and public cheers.
• Ruxiji’s excited declaration about his father contrasts with Eileen’s quieter, more composed happiness.
• The visiting official Haka and his Knight driver discuss Far-Sail Port City’s extraordinary growth, though they restrain their comments when they remember the king is listening.
• The king observes the city from his carriage and internally compares Romon’s achievements with the limits of royal authority.
• The king’s courteous reception by Romon reassures him that Romon is willing to maintain peaceful relations.
• The chapter ends with the king considering how Romon might influence Maiduai’s possible claim to the throne, making their future relationship politically crucial.

Coronation (Part One) — Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• On the journey back to Far-Sail Port City, the old king and his royal knight observe unusually talented youths: a group of apprentice knights and another group of young Druids, all exceptionally powerful for their age. The king reflects on the rise of the younger generation and Tatshaw Territory’s growing strength.
• The following morning, Far-Sail Port City celebrates Romon’s coronation with fireworks and festivities.
• Little Prince Maiduai prepares for the ceremony with mixed emotions. Though he is also a Highness, he recognizes that Romon’s title and influence are far greater. Looking into a mirror, Maiduai mourns his deceased father and vows to prove himself as the finest prince of Aisk Kingdom.
• Maiduai and Princess Qian Niya travel to the coronation venue, where numerous nobles, officials, citizens, Druids, priests, and distinguished guests have gathered.
• Nick explains that the old king and several legendary Highnesses are attending. The revelation excites the assembled nobles, who recognize the immense prestige Romon has gained.
• Romon appears with elders of the Druid Guild, archbishops, and three powerful visiting Highnesses:
  • Highness Shaki, a formidable knight of the War God Church.
  • Highness Bardes, a powerful mage surrounded by an elemental domain.
  • Highness Edward, a young prince whose Sacred Domain power is connected to Divinity.
• The coronation ceremony begins. Representatives of the God of Order, the Druid Guild, the Earth Goddess Temple, and other major continental powers publicly recognize Romon’s achievement and status.
• Romon’s wife, Eileen, represents the Earth Goddess Temple in honoring him.
• The old king performs the final rite. Romon dons a golden Druid robe, kneels before the king, and receives a golden crown. He is formally proclaimed Highness Romon, prompting enthusiastic cheers.

Character Development

• Romon reaches a major political and spiritual milestone. His strength is no longer merely personal; it is publicly validated by nearly every major institution on the continent.
• The old king reveals an increasingly reflective and concerned attitude toward the future. He recognizes the strength of the younger generation and feels his own age, yet hopes Romon’s advancement will improve Aisk Kingdom’s standing.
• Little Prince Maiduai appears ambitious but emotionally burdened. He feels overshadowed by Romon and longs to surpass expectations associated with his late father. His private vow shows growing determination and pride.
• Princess Qian Niya continues to act as a supportive, affectionate relative toward Maiduai and participates prominently in the royal delegation.
• Nick demonstrates Romon’s expanding political influence, confidently managing the visiting nobles and representing Tatshaw Territory’s authority.
• Eileen is shown to possess significant religious standing as a high-ranking bishop, reflecting her own development and her close partnership with Romon.

Significant Themes

• Generational succession: The king’s observations of gifted youths and Maiduai’s comparison with Romon emphasize that the continent’s future belongs to a rising generation.
• Legitimacy and recognition: The ceremony transforms Romon’s power into formally acknowledged status. Religious organizations, guilds, monarchies, and legendary figures all validate his position.
• Ambition and personal identity: Maiduai’s determination to become the prince his father would be proud of contrasts with Romon’s already-established authority.
• Political power and influence: Tatshaw Territory’s rise has altered the balance of Lower Pakt County, with Romon becoming a leading figure among the nobility.
• Aging and the future of the kingdom: The old king’s pride and unease suggest that Romon’s rise may benefit Aisk Kingdom, but also marks a shift away from the king’s generation.

Important Character Interactions

• The royal knight informs the old king about the extraordinary young warriors and Druids, prompting the king’s reflections on age and succession.
• Maiduai interacts briefly with his maids but remains preoccupied with the coronation and his own ambitions.
• Maiduai and Qian Niya exchange mutual compliments, reinforcing their familial affection before departing for the ceremony.
• Nobles question Nick about Romon’s distinguished guests, revealing their growing interest in and respect for Romon.
• Romon personally welcomes the old king and the visiting Highnesses, demonstrating courtesy and confidence.
• Religious representatives, Druids, Eileen, and the old king each publicly affirm Romon’s status.
• The old king crowns Romon, completing his transformation into a formally recognized Highness before the assembled powers of the continent.

Chapter Summary: “Coronation (Part 2)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Romon travels aboard the Highness, the seventh warship launched from Far-Sail Port, which has officially become part of the Teta Xiao Navy. The growing fleet now has seven of its planned ten ships.
• During the voyage, Eileen explains the privileges and restrictions granted to Romon after he enters the Legendary Realm and becomes part of a sacred lineage:
  • A monthly allowance of five hundred gold coins.
  • Freedom to purchase goods and magical materials.
  • The title and treatment of “Your Highness,” equal to a duke.
  • Immunity from accusations such as treason, heresy, or lèse-majesté.
  • Protection from interference by nations or Churches.
  • A prohibition against directly intervening in mortal wars or killing more than one hundred mortals at once, unless acting in self-defense.
• Romon considers the sacred-lineage title mostly symbolic and believes it has little practical value since he cannot establish an independent duchy. Eileen argues that it will bring honor and future opportunities to his descendants.
• Romon decides to support Prince Maiduai, the fifteen-year-old grandson of the king, in securing control of Blue Soil Island. He views this as both a political statement and his final act of loyalty to Maiduai’s late father, Xiusenya.
• Romon visits Blue Soil Island at Maiduai’s invitation. In front of local officials, he praises Maiduai as a capable and qualified lord, claiming that the young prince has inherited his father’s wisdom, strength, and administrative ability.
• Romon’s praise is deliberately political. It publicly signals his support for Maiduai’s legitimacy, alarming Court Viscount Bajidi and other factions.
• After the king returns to the Royal Capital, a noble raises the issue of Maiduai’s coming-of-age and territorial authority. Despite opposition from the eldest and third princes, the exhausted king approves the ceremony.
• Maiduai is formally granted the title Count Taboru and control of Blue Soil Island.

Character Developments

• Romon has gained a dramatic increase in status and authority. He now openly accepts the deference of Royal House members and uses his position as a Legendary figure to influence royal politics.
• He remains pragmatic and emotionally restrained, treating his support for Maiduai as a limited obligation rather than a commitment to control the prince’s future.
• Eileen acts as Romon’s informed adviser, emphasizing the long-term importance of sacred lineage and carefully explaining its legal privileges and restrictions.
• Maiduai shows excitement and respect toward Romon. His complicated expression after Romon’s public praise suggests that he understands the political importance of the endorsement and may feel both gratitude and pressure.
• Court Viscount Bajidi is visibly shaken by Romon’s declaration, realizing that opposing Maiduai publicly would effectively mean challenging Romon.
• The eldest prince recognizes that Romon’s support has shifted the political balance. Though displeased, he chooses not to resist because the king’s decision appears final. He takes comfort only in the fact that Maiduai has not yet been named Crown Prince.
• The old king appears physically weakened but retains enough authority to settle the matter decisively in Maiduai’s favor.

Significant Themes

• Power and political legitimacy: Romon’s status allows him to transform a personal compliment into a formal political endorsement, demonstrating how influence can be more important than official office.
• The responsibilities of transcendence: The Sacred Domain grants extraordinary freedom, but it also imposes restrictions meant to prevent Legendary beings from dominating ordinary human conflicts.
• Succession and factional politics: Maiduai’s appointment reflects the struggle among the royal princes and suggests that the king may be preparing the young prince for a larger role.
• Legacy and lineage: The chapter contrasts Romon’s dismissive view of sacred lineage with Eileen’s belief that it will shape the fortunes of future generations.
• Friendship and obligation: Romon frames his support for Maiduai as repayment for his relationship with Xiusenya, but his actions also reveal a broader willingness to protect allies and shape the political order.

Character Interactions

• Romon and Eileen discuss the privileges of Romon’s new status, with Eileen stressing its importance and Romon focusing on its limited immediate usefulness.
• Romon and Maiduai interact as an elder patron and a young lord. Romon’s praise strengthens Maiduai’s authority while subtly placing expectations upon him.
• Romon and Bajidi have little direct conversation, but Romon’s disregard for the royal administrator emphasizes his superior status and weakens Bajidi’s influence.
• The king and the royal princes engage in an indirect power struggle. The king’s decision to grant Maiduai his territory overrides the ambitions of the eldest and third princes.
• Through his public statements and actions, Romon effectively interacts with the entire royal court, announcing his political alignment without formally joining the succession conflict.

Chapter Summary: Cleansing (Part 1)

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Ice and Snow Queen learns that Romon has successfully been crowned and is now officially recognized as a prince. The news shocks her because her intelligence network failed to warn her in time.
• She initially lashes out at her four female officials, but after hearing that the coronation was protected by Temple representatives, more than a thousand Druids, and powerful figures such as Shaki, Bardes, and Edward, she accepts that disrupting it would have been extremely difficult.
• The Queen fears Romon will retaliate against the Ice and Snow Kingdom now that his status and power have increased. She acknowledges that the conflict between them has reached a point of no return.
• Because the kingdom has lost major strength—including the Ice and Snow Sage—and cannot easily rely on the Ice and Snow God to intervene again, the Queen orders a defensive strategy. She commands her officials to preserve their most valuable spies in the Aisk Kingdom while activating lesser agents and maintaining control over Tatshaw Territory.
• Meanwhile, at the Lord’s Villa in Far-Sail Port City, Romon works through the night with civil administrator Nick to handle internal affairs.
• Romon reveals that he wants to make the Ice and Snow Kingdom his first target for retaliation and begin “cleansing” its influence and agents.
• Nick refuses to oversee the operation because his administrative duties have exhausted him and he lacks expertise in military and intelligence planning.
• Nick recommends Scholar Lurun, a former trusted assistant of Romon who has retired but possesses extensive experience, knowledge, and organizational ability.
• Romon immediately approves the suggestion and decides to visit Lurun secretly to recruit him, recognizing that the Ice and Snow Kingdom has many spies within his territory.

Character Developments

• The Ice and Snow Queen: Initially furious and panicked, she quickly regains her composure and demonstrates political realism. She recognizes Romon as a serious future threat and shifts from thoughts of offense to cautious defense. Her regret over failing to eliminate him earlier reveals growing fear and vulnerability.
• Romon: Having secured his coronation, he becomes more confident and proactive. Rather than merely defending himself, he begins planning a calculated campaign against the Ice and Snow Kingdom, while remaining cautious about acting openly and violating continental law.
• Nick: His years of administrative work have visibly aged and exhausted him. Although he cannot take on another major responsibility, he remains loyal and useful by identifying an experienced replacement for the operation.
• Scholar Lurun: Though he does not appear directly, he is reintroduced as a highly capable, trusted, and experienced figure who may become central to Romon’s counterattack.
• The four female officials: They are shown as competent but subordinate figures who fear the Queen’s anger and help maintain the kingdom’s intelligence and defensive strategy.

Significant Themes

• Political retaliation and shifting power: Romon’s coronation marks a major change in the balance of power, forcing the Ice and Snow Kingdom to anticipate revenge.
• Intelligence and espionage: Both sides rely heavily on networks of spies, planted agents, and secret information. Control of intelligence becomes as important as military strength.
• The limits of power and law: Romon is powerful but must consider continental covenants and the possible intervention of gods, while the Queen hopes these restrictions will protect her kingdom.
• Leadership under pressure: The Queen and Romon both respond to crisis by reassessing their resources and selecting suitable strategies rather than acting impulsively.
• Trust and delegation: Romon’s difficulty finding someone completely trustworthy highlights the importance of personal loyalty. Nick’s recommendation of Lurun shows how experienced allies can compensate for institutional weaknesses.
• Preparation before conflict: Neither side launches an immediate attack. Both instead gather information, secure resources, and prepare for a larger confrontation.

Character Interactions

• The Queen angrily interrogates her officials before calming down and accepting their explanation.
• Her officials attempt to reassure her, though they privately recognize that Romon’s rise creates a dangerous situation.
• Romon and Nick discuss the planned operation against the Ice and Snow Kingdom. Nick’s exhaustion leads him to reject responsibility for the campaign, but he helps Romon by recommending Lurun.
• Romon responds positively to Nick’s suggestion and prepares to meet Lurun secretly, signaling the beginning of his counteroffensive.

Chapter Summary: “Purge (Part 2)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After years of peaceful retirement, Scholar Lurun is visited by Romon, who asks him to oversee action against the Ice and Snow Kingdom.
• Romon and Lurun discuss how to proceed. Since Romon lacks a publicly defensible reason to launch an outright war, Lurun recommends first targeting the Ice and Snow Kingdom’s hidden strongholds within the Aisk Kingdom.
• This strategy would:
  • Eliminate enemy forces already operating inside Aisk,
  • Prevent them from exploiting a larger conflict later,
  • Allow Romon to respond defensively if the Ice and Snow Kingdom strikes first.
• Romon entrusts Lurun with command of the intelligence network and authorizes him to cooperate with the Royal House’s intelligence organization.
• Lurun sends out two groups:
  • One to locate enemy strongholds throughout Aisk, including the capital and other territories.
  • Another to strengthen covert defenses and protect Romon, the nobles, and important locations.
• Meanwhile, Lord Fanka, the Ice and Snow Kingdom’s chief operative in Aisk, receives orders from his queen to accelerate infiltration of the Aisk government by bribing influential officials.
• Fanka plans to manipulate a trusted former minister of the old king through the minister’s greedy relatives, using money and valuables supplied by the queen.
• However, the supposed intermediary is actually working for Romon’s side. At a dinner meeting, Fanka is drugged, exposed, and stabbed to death.
• The disguised agents then reveal that they are acting under the king’s orders and begin destroying the Ice and Snow Kingdom’s intelligence network in the Royal Capital.
• They massacre the remaining agents and even members of their families, including innocent local people, completing a ruthless purge of the enemy’s capital strongholds.

Character Developments

• Scholar Lurun emerges from retirement and immediately returns to his former role as a strategic mastermind. Although he enjoys a calm, leisurely life, he remains highly capable, disciplined, and politically perceptive.
• Romon demonstrates trust in Lurun by giving him broad authority over intelligence and covert military preparations. His approach is cautious: he wants to avoid appearing as the aggressor while still weakening the Ice and Snow Kingdom.
• Lord Fanka is shown as cautious and aware that Aisk’s leadership may have detected the enemy’s activities, but he ultimately obeys the queen’s orders despite his doubts.
• The young Royal Capital operative appears polite and harmless at first, but reveals himself to be cold, efficient, and utterly ruthless when carrying out Romon’s purge.
• The Ice and Snow Kingdom’s agents are portrayed as vulnerable once their infiltration network is uncovered; their reliance on bribery and covert manipulation leaves them exposed to counterintelligence.

Significant Themes

• Strategic warfare and political legitimacy: Lurun emphasizes the importance of making the enemy appear responsible for initiating open conflict, allowing Romon to maintain a defensible position.
• The value of intelligence: Both sides rely heavily on spies, informants, bribery, and hidden strongholds rather than immediate battlefield confrontation.
• Trust and loyalty: Romon’s confidence in Lurun revives the scholar’s sense of purpose, while Lurun’s continued loyalty to Romon is unwavering despite his long retirement.
• The contrast between peace and violence: Lurun continues drinking tea and maintaining a calm routine even while organizing a large-scale purge, highlighting his ability to separate personal tranquility from political brutality.
• The morality of power: The chapter presents the purge as strategically necessary but depicts its human cost through the indiscriminate killing of agents, families, and uninvolved civilians.

Character Interactions

• Romon and Lurun: Their tea conversation is warm and familiar, reflecting decades of trust. Romon treats Lurun as an old confidant rather than merely a subordinate, while Lurun readily accepts the mission.
• Lurun and his agents: He gives clear, practical orders and inspires confidence, showing his authority over the intelligence apparatus.
• Fanka and his deputy: Their discussion reveals disagreement between caution and obedience. Fanka recognizes the risks, but the deputy argues that the queen’s order must be followed.
• Fanka and the false intermediary: Fanka initially believes he is negotiating with a useful contact, only to discover that he has been trapped and drugged.
• The young operative and the surviving enemy agents: The operative announces Romon’s decree before ordering their total destruction, making the purge a direct message of royal power and retaliation.

Chapter Summary: “Countermeasures (Part 1)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The queen spends the night alone in the Hall of Reflection, pacing anxiously and neglecting her health.
• Her maids reveal that she has been irritable and has repeatedly confined herself there for hours, but they are too frightened and low-ranking to intervene.
• Female official Aibeting discovers the situation and discreetly alerts the queen’s four trusted senior female officials, despite the queen’s order not to inform them.
• The four senior officials enter the hall, place a cloak around the queen, and urge her to rest.
• The queen explains that Romon has begun retaliating against her kingdom. Nearly all of her agents and bases in the Aisk Kingdom have been eliminated, and she fears that the Ice and Snow Kingdom may be his next target.
• She regrets not destroying Romon earlier, when he was weaker, though she does not regret opposing him.
• Initially, the queen considers either negotiating with Romon or launching a preemptive military strike. Her senior officials advise against attacking first.
• They argue that Romon now has greater strength and international prestige, making him politically constrained. If the queen avoids provoking him, he will lack a legitimate reason to attack.
• The queen accepts their strategy: remain militarily still, avoid giving Romon an excuse, and search for a longer-term solution later.
• Her anxiety eases, and she agrees to stop using the Hall of Reflection as a place for prolonged brooding.

Character Developments

• The Queen: Revealed as deeply anxious, regretful, and politically calculating. She fears Romon’s growing power and blames herself for failing to eliminate him earlier. Despite her agitation, she remains receptive to reason and quickly regains composure once presented with a sound strategy.
• The Four Senior Female Officials: Demonstrate loyalty and emotional closeness to the queen, acting not only as ministers but also as longtime friends. Their views have matured from favoring direct confrontation to recognizing the advantages of restraint and diplomacy.
• The Maids: Show fear and helplessness due to the queen’s unpredictable temper and their low status, though they remain concerned about her health.
• Aibeting: Acts cautiously but responsibly, recognizing that the queen’s condition requires the intervention of people with greater authority.
• Romon: Does not appear directly, but his growing influence and successful countermeasures dominate the political situation. He is portrayed as powerful enough to threaten the queen’s kingdom while being constrained by his public position.

Significant Themes

• Political restraint versus aggression: The chapter emphasizes that refusing to strike first can be a powerful strategic choice.
• Power and responsibility: Romon’s increased status gives him strength but also forces him to consider international opinion and political consequences.
• Regret and missed opportunities: The queen regrets not acting decisively against Romon before he became powerful.
• Leadership and emotional burden: The queen’s sleeplessness and isolation reveal the personal cost of ruling during a looming crisis.
• Loyalty and counsel: Trusted advisers help the queen overcome emotional turmoil and make a more rational decision.
• Health versus duty: The chapter highlights the danger of sacrificing personal well-being for political concerns.

Character Interactions

• The maids discuss the queen’s worsening mood with Aibeting but hesitate to disobey her orders.
• Aibeting indirectly leads the four senior officials to the Hall of Reflection.
• The officials confront the queen with concern, balancing respect for her authority with criticism of her self-neglect.
• The queen confides in them about Romon and asks for their honest opinions, emphasizing their unique status as both advisers and lifelong friends.
• Their calm strategic reasoning reduces her anger and fear, while the queen ultimately accepts their advice and promises to care better for herself.

Summary of “Countermeasures (Part 2)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Nick visits Romon’s villa to deliver financial ledgers but learns that Romon is away.
• Two territorial Knights, Horris and Hocas, arrive with Hups, a Knight sent by His Highness Shila of the Mote Kingdom. Hups carries a personal letter and invitation for Romon.
• Since Romon is absent, Nick verifies Hups’s identity and brings him inside to wait. During their conversation, Nick learns that the invitation is to a banquet hosted by the Violet Club.
• Meanwhile, Romon meets with Scholar Lurun to discuss the enemy spies operating in the Aisk Kingdom. Although most spies have been eliminated, the opposing side has not launched the expected attack, frustrating Romon’s plans to justify sending troops.
• Lurun suggests creating an opportunity by infiltrating the enemy’s territory, stirring up conflict, or framing them for hostile actions. Romon agrees that if provocation fails, deception may be used instead.
• Romon returns home, where Nick introduces him to Hups. Romon reads Shila’s letter and invitation and accepts the invitation to the Violet Club banquet.
• The chapter ends with Romon reflecting on Hups’s strength: he is an Eleventh-Level Knight, equivalent to a Silver Knight.

Character Developments

• Romon: Becomes less impatient after Lurun’s advice and accepts that political and military opportunities may require patience or deliberate manipulation. He also shows a warm, affectionate side when discussing his children and demonstrates interest in joining the broader social circle of the Legendary Realm.
• Nick: Acts responsibly and diplomatically. He checks Hups’s credentials, safely hosts him, and helps ensure the invitation reaches Romon without delay. His thoughts also reveal that he is aware of the ongoing spy-clearing operation.
• Scholar Lurun: Continues to serve as Romon’s strategic adviser. He proposes aggressive countermeasures, including provoking or framing the enemy, and reassures Romon that patience and vigilance will eventually produce an opening.
• Hups: Is established as a respectful and powerful messenger from Shila. His high rank and formal behavior emphasize the importance of the invitation.
• Horris and Hocas: Fulfill their administrative duties by bringing Hups to Romon’s residence, then leave once Nick takes responsibility for the guest.

Significant Themes

• Patience versus impatience: Romon wants the enemy to act quickly, but Lurun reminds him that political schemes often require waiting for the right moment.
• Political manipulation and covert warfare: The conflict is being fought through spies, provocation, misinformation, and possible framing rather than open battle.
• Social integration and power networks: The Violet Club represents an elite circle limited to Highnesses. Romon’s invitation signals his growing acceptance into the upper echelons of the Legendary Realm.
• Trust and verification: Nick’s careful inspection of Hups’s identification reflects the importance of caution in a politically tense environment.
• Family affection amid political intrigue: Romon’s concern for his children provides a contrast to the chapter’s espionage and military planning.

Character Interactions

• Nick and the villa guards: Nick learns that Romon is absent and later takes responsibility for Hups.
• Nick, Horris, Hocas, and Hups: Nick questions the visiting Knights, verifies Hups’s identity, and offers to host him. The brothers defer to Nick because of his authority.
• Romon and Scholar Lurun: They debate how to force the enemy into revealing itself. Lurun’s strategic suggestions restore Romon’s confidence.
• Romon, Nick, and Hups: Nick formally introduces Hups, who presents Shila’s letter and invitation. Romon accepts and agrees to attend the Violet Club banquet.

Summary of “Club (Part 1)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter opens at the heavily restricted estate of His Highness Shila in the Mote Kingdom. The estate is so dangerous and prestigious that ordinary citizens are forbidden from entering without permission.
• City sanitation workers are cleaning near the estate gates when Knight Hups arrives on horseback. Using a magical token, he opens the otherwise impenetrable gates and rides into the estate.
• Inside, Hups reports to Shila that Lord Romon has accepted Shila’s invitation and will attend the upcoming banquet.
• After Hups leaves, several powerful figures appear in the hall:
  • Shila, the host of the event
  • Bardes, an old mage
  • Edward, a prince of the Eshiwei Kingdom
  • Shaki, a powerful Knight of the War God Church
• They discuss Romon’s decision to attend and assess his strength, age, and potential.
• The chapter reveals that the gathering is part of an exclusive organization or event called the Club, whose members are powerful Sacred Domain figures.
• Shila announces that he will host this year’s Club banquet at sea, emphasizing his identity as a priest of the Sea God.

Character Developments

• Knight Hups is established as a loyal and disciplined subordinate. Despite his urgency, he behaves respectfully and carefully when reporting to Shila.
• Shila is presented as a powerful but gentle and confident leader. He personally invited Romon and appears pleased that Romon accepted.
• Romon does not appear directly, but his reputation is strengthened. The others believe he may be at least Level 21 or possibly Level 22, despite being only thirty-five and having reached the Sacred Domain without being a Divine Scion.
• Edward is shown to be analytical and diplomatic, offering a charitable interpretation of Romon’s actions.
• Bardes appears blunt and provocative, while Shaki is authoritative and perceptive, emphasizing Romon’s exceptional strength and potential.

Significant Themes

• Power and hierarchy: The estate, its magical gates, and the fearful reactions of ordinary workers highlight the vast divide between common people and supernatural nobles.
• Secrecy and danger: The officials warn the workers not to discuss what they witnessed, reinforcing the secretive nature of the powerful figures’ world.
• Reputation and potential: Romon’s age, self-made advancement, and possible Level 22 strength make him an intriguing newcomer whose abilities are already being evaluated.
• Networking among elites: The Club banquet is not merely social; it offers powerful figures opportunities to form alliances and gain assistance for future missions.
• Identity and symbolism: Shila’s choice to hold the banquet at sea reflects both his personal authority and his connection to the Sea God.

Character Interactions

• The sanitation official orders his workers to avoid the estate and quickly leave after Hups enters, showing the public’s fear of the supernatural elite.
• Hups respectfully reports Romon’s acceptance to Shila, receiving quiet approval.
• Shila and Bardes exchange a mildly teasing disagreement over whether Shila’s status was enough to attract Romon.
• Edward mediates the exchange by explaining that Romon’s acceptance demonstrates courage and confidence rather than recklessness.
• Shaki agrees with Edward and praises Romon’s immense potential.
• The group discusses how Romon’s participation could help him establish alliances and secure support in future missions.