Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “The Upbeat Tarot Club”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Two months after the previous events, Fors the Magician proposes a commission to investigate Lewis Wien, an Aurora Order Oracle who previously harmed her teacher Dorian Gray’s family. She is unsure whether she must personally kill him and agrees to first determine his whereabouts.
• Alger the Hanged Man suggests that Fors report Lewis Wien directly to the churches instead of arranging an assassination. They agree that she should investigate him first, inform Mr. Chariot if she finds useful information, and report him to the churches or seek Mr. World’s help if necessary.
• Fors asks whether anyone can provide Meteorite Crystal or Lava Octopus blood crystals. Cattleya the Hermit offers to obtain the latter and investigate the former.
• Sifa, acting as Mr. Chariot, seeks the Baron of Corruption potion formula to prepare for Chik’s advancement. World already possesses the formula and sells it to Sifa for 2,500 pounds.
• Sifa then announces that he is also searching for the Iron-blooded Knight formula, a Sequence 4 Hunter Pathway formula. His request shocks the gathering because it reveals that he is preparing to advance to the Demigod level.
• Cattleya agrees to ask around for the formula, though she warns that it will be extremely difficult to obtain.
• Audrey the Justice requests rare materials for her advancement. Cattleya offers to obtain some of them, including spinal fluid from a Black Hunting Giant Lizard.
• World asks for the Sequence 4 Seer Pathway formula, revealing that he too is preparing for a Demigod advancement.
• Cattleya responds by requesting a drop of blood from any mythical creature, indicating that she is also preparing to advance from Sequence 5.

Character Developments

• Fors/Magician: Shows gratitude and responsibility toward Dorian Gray by undertaking the investigation into Lewis Wien. She also continues gathering materials for her own advancement, though she feels intimidated by the rapid progress of the others.
• Sifa/Chariot: Demonstrates his growing authority and concern for his crew by preparing the Baron of Corruption formula for Chik. His search for the Iron-blooded Knight formula confirms that he has progressed far beyond Sequence 7 and is now planning for the Demigod stage.
• Klein/World: Helps Sifa by selling him the Baron of Corruption formula and begins searching for a Sequence 4 Seer formula, signaling his own advancement plans.
• Alger/Hanged Man: Offers practical advice concerning Fors’s mission and tries to steer her toward reporting Lewis Wien to the churches. He becomes increasingly unsettled by the rapid advancement of the other members.
• Cattleya/Hermit: After previously being reprimanded, becomes much more active in trading and assisting others. Her requests show that she is also preparing for advancement.
• Audrey/Justice: Continues collecting rare ingredients for her potion, showing steady progress despite being far behind the higher-ranking members.
• Chik: Though absent, his development is important: he has nearly digested the Briber potion, and Sifa is preparing the next formula for him.

Significant Themes

• Rapid advancement and competition: Multiple members are preparing for high-level breakthroughs, creating a sense of pressure and rivalry within the Tarot Club.
• Mutual assistance and resource exchange: The members rely on one another to obtain rare formulas, materials, and intelligence that would otherwise be nearly impossible to secure.
• Responsibility toward allies: Sifa’s preparations for Chik’s advancement show his commitment to rewarding loyal companions and supporting his crew.
• Pragmatism over personal heroics: Fors’s mission shifts from personally killing Lewis Wien to gathering information and potentially reporting him to the churches.
• Hidden strength and identity: World’s access to rare formulas and Sifa’s unexpected progress remind the members that appearances conceal their true abilities and resources.

Character Interactions

• Alger challenges Fors’s plan and persuades her to consider reporting Lewis Wien rather than killing him.
• Sifa and World negotiate the purchase of the Baron of Corruption formula, while Alger offers an alternative route to obtain it.
• Cattleya assists Fors and Audrey with rare materials and agrees to investigate Sifa’s request for the Iron-blooded Knight formula.
• World’s and Sifa’s requests for Sequence 4 formulas shock the other members, especially Fors and Alger, while Cattleya’s own request confirms that several members are approaching major breakthroughs.
• The gathering ends with a heightened awareness among the members that advancement to the Demigod level is no longer a distant possibility for several of them.

Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Cattleya asks the Tarot Club to help locate mythical creature blood, likely needed for the Mystery Pryer pathway’s advancement to Demigod. The members agree to keep watch for it.
• The Moon requests information about followers of the Primordial Moon, offering substantial rewards for clues or direct identification. He distributes wanted posters naming Galis Kevin, Dandy, Lola, Windsor Belling, and Argos.
• During the free discussion, the Sun reports on his expedition to Afternoon Town, the gateway between the human world and the mythological realm surrounding the Giant King’s Court.
• He describes Afternoon Town as a decayed, gloomy settlement divided into upper, middle, and lower levels. Although it supposedly experiences perpetual afternoon sunlight, the explorers found it oppressive, lifeless, and shrouded in darkness.
• The Sun recounts how his exploration group—himself, Joshua, and Haim—discovered a basement altar surrounded by dried blood. A candle on the altar listed three names:

Ouroboros — Angel of Fate

Medici — Red Angel

Sasrir — Dark Angel

• The phrase “Rose Redemption” also appeared.
• After discovering the altar, the Sun’s companions vanished, and the inscriptions became clearer, as if freshly written. He found himself trapped in an altered version of Afternoon Town, where the town appeared inhabited and normal.
• The Sun prayed to Mr. Fool and was rescued. During the rest of the expedition, the explorers’ shadows transformed into monsters, forcing them into repeated battles.
• The group eventually reached a ruined church and found an unfamiliar clergyman praying. The clergyman confessed that:
  • Someone had tempted Sasrir.
  • The Kings frequently met in a palace associated with dusk.
  • The people of Afternoon Town had changed and created secret altars and performed forbidden rituals.
  • A great Catastrophe would begin there.
• When questioned about the Kings, he named Sasrir, Ouroboros, and Medici. Before he could reveal the fourth name, transparent flames erupted from his body and burned him to ashes.

2. Character Developments

• The Sun demonstrates increased maturity and confidence while recounting his expedition. Though he remains affected by the terror of Afternoon Town, he is now able to present the events clearly and methodically.
• His faith in Mr. Fool is reinforced after Mr. Fool rescues him from the distorted version of the town.
• Sifa becomes deeply intrigued by the clues surrounding the three Kings of Angels and Rose Redemption, recognizing the possible historical importance of the organization.
• The Tarot Club members, particularly Audrey and Sifa, react with growing fear and curiosity as the Sun describes the town’s supernatural horrors.
• Mr. Fool maintains his mysterious, composed image, treating the Sun’s rescue as an effortless and insignificant act.

3. Significant Themes

• The boundary between reality and mythology: Afternoon Town functions as a gateway where ordinary human existence overlaps with ancient divine and mythological forces.
• Decay and corrupted history: The ruined town, blood-covered altar, forbidden rituals, and altered shadows suggest that past civilizations and beliefs have been distorted over time.
• The danger of forbidden knowledge: Merely discovering the names of powerful Kings of Angels triggers supernatural changes and isolates the Sun from reality.
• Faith and salvation: The Sun survives by praying to Mr. Fool, contrasting the helpless clergyman’s apparent devotion to an unseen Lord.
• Historical mysteries and conspiracy: The references to Rose Redemption, the palace of dusk, Sasrir’s temptation, and the coming Catastrophe hint at a major ancient conspiracy.
• Reality as unstable and deceptive: The town’s apparent return to normal life, the disappearance of companions, and the transformation of shadows show that perception and physical reality can be manipulated.

4. Character Interactions

• Cattleya and the Tarot Club: Cattleya seeks assistance in obtaining mythical creature blood, while the others offer to remain alert for leads.
• The Moon and the Tarot Club: The Moon recruits the members to search for Primordial Moon followers, offering payment and distributing wanted posters.
• The Sun and the Tarot Club: The entire group focuses on the Sun’s report, asking no direct questions but listening closely as he reveals increasingly disturbing information.
• The Sun and Mr. Fool: The Sun openly thanks Mr. Fool for rescuing him from the supernatural trap. Mr. Fool responds calmly, reinforcing his image as an immensely powerful but inscrutable entity.
• The explorers and the clergyman: The Chief questions the praying clergyman about the Kings, Sasrir’s temptation, and the Catastrophe. The clergyman begins to answer but is mysteriously killed before revealing the fourth King’s identity.

At the Tarot Club, Sifa learned that the projection of the Giant King's Court in the Sea of Ruins was connected to reaching the Forsaken Land of the Gods. After returning to the Explorer, he received a letter from Danitz reporting that the Iceberg Admiral had vanished, leaving Sifa unsure what had happened to her.

• The Fool told the Sun that the fourth name was concealed and revealed that Bernadette knew how to enter the Forsaken Land of the Gods through a projection of the Giant King's Court.
• Cattleya described the projection in the easternmost waters of the Sonia Sea and recounted her voyage through the Sea of Ruins.
• The Fool ended the Tarot Club gathering, and Sifa returned to his room, where Grigor teased him about looking happy.
• Sifa stayed aboard the Explorer near Bayam while the crew went ashore in shifts, then received a letter from Danitz through Miss Viri.
• Danitz told Sifa that the Iceberg Admiral had been missing for three days and that attempts to contact her had failed.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sifa receives a request for help and asks Miss Viri to locate the sender and guide him through the Spirit World.
• After leaving a note for his crew, Sifa uses the River Styx Ring to travel through the Spirit World to the Golden Dream.
• Upon returning, he experiences another memory lapse caused by removing the River Styx Ring and the grayish-white ring, forgetting roughly six seconds of events.
• Sifa discovers that Danitz had recruited another helper because he was uncertain whether Sifa could arrive: the infamous adventurer Gehrman Sparrow.
• Gehrman arrives with Anderson Hood, the renowned “strongest Hunter.” The crew recognizes Anderson and reacts with hostility because of his past relationship with Captain Edwina.
• Danitz introduces Sifa to the newcomers, revealing his reputation as the Pirate Hunter who drove back the Admiral of Hell and defeated the crew of the Deep Sea.
• Klein, secretly acting as Gehrman Sparrow, recognizes Sifa as Mr. Chariot of the Tarot Club and realizes that Sifa is younger than expected and follows the Reaper pathway.
• The group heads toward the captain’s cabin to begin investigating the disappearance or crisis that prompted the request for assistance.

Character Developments

• Sifa: Demonstrates confidence and independence by traveling through the Spirit World, but his recurring memory loss highlights the dangerous cost of using the rings. He remains calm and practical despite Danitz hiring additional help.
• Danitz: Shows concern for the situation and relief when Sifa does not object to the presence of another helper. His intense hostility toward Anderson reflects Anderson’s antagonistic history with the Golden Dream’s crew.
• Klein/Gehrman Sparrow: Maintains his cold adventurer persona while privately identifying Sifa’s true Tarot Club identity. He believes his Seer abilities may give him an advantage in locating the missing people.
• Anderson Hood: Is introduced as powerful, arrogant, and deliberately provocative. His teasing of Danitz and references to Edwina immediately reignite the crew’s resentment, while his ability to redirect hostility toward others reveals his sharp social instincts.
• The Golden Dream’s crew: Their collective loyalty to Edwina is emphasized through their disdain for Anderson and their admiration for Sifa’s reputation.

Significant Themes

• Identity and secrecy: Several characters operate under aliases or hidden identities, especially Klein, whose knowledge of Sifa contrasts with Sifa’s need to conceal his awareness of Klein.
• Trust and cooperation: Despite rivalries and hidden agendas, Sifa, Gehrman, and Anderson must work together as hired helpers.
• Dangerous supernatural power: Sifa’s Spirit World travel is effective but carries a serious consequence—temporary memory loss.
• Reputation and rivalry: The characters’ legendary reputations shape how they are treated, while Anderson’s provocations expose the competitive and antagonistic culture among Hunters and pirates.
• Jealousy and loyalty: The crew’s devotion to Edwina creates humorous tension, particularly because Anderson openly boasts about his past interactions with her.

Character Interactions

• Sifa consults Miss Viri and relies on her to navigate the Spirit World.
• Danitz questions Sifa about his sudden arrival, then explains that he also recruited Gehrman.
• Jodson explains Anderson’s history and reputation to Sifa.
• Danitz greets Gehrman and Anderson, but reacts angrily when Anderson jokes about pulling Edwina’s hair.
• Sifa and Anderson size each other up as fellow Hunters, while Klein recognizes Sifa’s hidden identity.
• Anderson intentionally redirects the crew’s hostility by suggesting they should fear Gehrman or Sifa more than him, nearly provoking Sifa into attacking him.

Klein examined the ancient book Groselle's Travels in Edwina's cabin and performed a ritual seeking answers about her disappearance. He returned with a warning that the crew needed to watch one another and that someone aboard might be involved.

• Sifa suspected the ancient book on Edwina's desk was connected to her disappearance, while Klein recognized it as Groselle's Travels.
• Klein asked Danitz to prepare a ritual and sent everyone else out of the cabin while he sought an answer.
• Sifa and Anderson traded taunts outside as Danitz worried about the ritual and the crew waited for Klein.
• Klein emerged, said he had not yet solved the problem and would perform a lengthy ritual, then warned the crew not to interrupt and to watch one another because he suspected someone aboard.
• Sifa noticed Danitz was missing from the cabin, realizing Klein had likely found the source of the problem and was trying to deal with it.

Chapter Summary: “Ice and Snow World”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Klein, acting as Gehrman Sparrow, recruits Sifa and Anderson to join a dangerous adventure connected to Groselle’s Travels, the mysterious book containing Edwina and Danitz.
• Klein hints that the expedition may involve hunting a Dragon, which appeals to Anderson’s pride despite his initial refusal. Anderson quickly recognizes the danger but agrees after jokingly provoking Klein.
• Sifa agrees immediately, partly because he is willing to face danger and partly because he owes Edwina a favor.
• Klein instructs both men to smear their blood on the book’s cover. Anderson vanishes first, confirming that the book transports people into an internal world. Sifa follows after ensuring his mystical items remain with him.
• Sifa awakens in a freezing, storm-filled landscape of ice and snow. He uses Fire Crows to protect himself from the cold and confirms that his body, soul, and weapons entered the book with him.
• A terrifying, high-level presence approaches. Sifa suspects it may be an ancient Dragon, based on Klein’s earlier comments and the creature’s overwhelming aura.
• Rather than confront the unknown enemy recklessly, Sifa melts a cave into the ice and hides. The powerful creature passes overhead without discovering him.

Character Developments

• Klein/Gehrman Sparrow: Demonstrates his usual direct, intimidating manner and carefully prepares for the expedition. His distrust of Anderson is evident, particularly when Anderson jokes about leaving “hidden dangers.” Klein also shows practical foresight by preserving blood-stained paper to help locate the others if they become separated.
• Sifa: Shows loyalty, courage, and sound judgment. He accepts the mission because of his debt to Edwina, but he does not confuse bravery with recklessness. His decision to hide from the possible Ancient Dragon reflects the Hunter’s principle of careful preparation before pursuing prey.
• Anderson Hood: Reveals his sharp instincts and survival-minded caution. He immediately senses that Klein’s invitation signals exceptional danger, yet his vanity and desire for the Dragon Hunter title eventually draw him in. His shameless humor and provocative personality contrast with Klein’s stern manner.
• Edwina and Danitz: Although absent from the immediate action, their disappearance is explained: they entered the world within Groselle’s Travels.

Significant Themes

• Courage versus recklessness: The chapter emphasizes that true courage includes recognizing when an opponent is too dangerous to confront without preparation.
• Preparation and survival: Sifa’s adherence to the Hunter’s Acting Code—understanding one’s prey and preparing before hunting—guides his actions.
• Trust and suspicion: Klein cooperates with Sifa but remains wary of Anderson, while Anderson’s jokes test the boundaries of their relationship.
• The unknown and supernatural exploration: The book functions as a gateway to an isolated world whose rules, dangers, and inhabitants remain mysterious.
• Loyalty and obligation: Sifa’s decision is motivated partly by his promise to help Edwina, showing that personal debts influence even highly dangerous choices.

Character Interactions

• Klein treats Sifa with noticeably more respect and courtesy than Anderson, prompting Anderson to accuse him of favoritism.
• Anderson attempts to undermine the expedition by pointing out its danger and trying to draw Sifa into resisting Klein’s plan, but Sifa remains committed.
• Klein and Anderson exchange tense, sarcastic remarks, with Anderson using humor to mask caution and Klein responding coldly.
• Klein and Sifa cooperate efficiently during the blood ritual, while Klein’s practical instructions help prepare them for possible separation.
• Once inside the book, Sifa is isolated and must rely on his own judgment when confronted by the presence of the presumed Dragon.

Chapter Summary: “Giant (Third Update)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sifa returns to the snowy wilderness and waits in a sheltered area rather than searching blindly for Edwina. He assumes Klein will use divination to locate the group.
• Klein arrives with Danitz and Anderson. Danitz continues treating Klein with deference, while Anderson mocks his excessive concern for Sifa.
• Klein reveals that the violent aura Sifa sensed belongs to the King of the North, a monster suffering from Loss of Control that has accumulated many frost-related Beyonder Characteristics. Within its domain, it may rival a Demigod.
• Sifa evaluates his available abilities and mystical items, recognizing that his fire-based Hunter abilities will be especially effective in the icy environment. He prepares a battle strategy centered on his own powers, supported by his mystical artifacts and companions.
• Following Klein’s divination through an earring once owned by Edwina, the group reaches a mountain cave.
• They encounter a female Elf guarding the entrance. She resembles a mysterious man Sifa previously saw in a dream at a seaside temple.
• The Elf immediately aims an arrow at Anderson. Anderson becomes fascinated by her appearance and declares that he wants to use her as a painting model, prompting Danitz to call him vulgar.
• When Anderson attempts to approach, the Elf’s arrow manifests silvery lightning, suggesting she possesses Storm Pathway abilities.
• Sifa uses the mystical item Mrs. Christie to steal the Elf’s thoughts, causing her expression to become vacant. Klein and Anderson both notice the unusual technique and reassess how dangerous and well-equipped Sifa is.
• Before the group can proceed, an enormous gray-blue, one-eyed giant nearly four meters tall appears with a massive greatsword. It asks who they are and why they have come to Groselle’s camp.

Character Developments

• Sifa displays increasing tactical maturity. He analyzes the King of the North’s weaknesses, reorganizes his equipment, and prepares to rely on his Hunter abilities rather than depending on his strongest mystical items. His use of Mrs. Christie also reveals another hidden capability, causing others to overestimate—or more accurately recognize—the breadth of his resources.
• Klein remains cautious and pragmatic, guiding the group through divination and maintaining his cold “Gehrman Sparrow” persona. His surprise at Sifa’s ability shows that Sifa continues to possess abilities even Klein does not fully understand.
• Danitz remains loyal and protective toward Klein, acting almost like a servant while also reacting sharply to Anderson’s provocations.
• Anderson retains his bold, shameless personality. His immediate fascination with the Elf provides comic relief, but his sharp observation of Sifa leads him to raise Sifa’s danger rating significantly.
• The female Elf is established as vigilant, aggressive, and highly capable, with apparent Storm Pathway powers.
• The giant is introduced as a powerful and mysterious guardian connected to Groselle’s camp.

Significant Themes

• Preparation versus recklessness: Sifa chooses to wait, plan, and adapt instead of rushing into danger, contrasting with Anderson’s impulsiveness.
• Hidden abilities and mistrust: Sifa’s use of Mrs. Christie reminds the others that his capabilities and artifacts remain difficult to judge, increasing the group’s uncertainty about him.
• Power in unfamiliar environments: The snowy domain changes the balance of abilities, making fire especially valuable and limiting the usefulness of Sifa’s death- and spirit-related powers.
• The mystery of the Book World: The Elf and giant appear to be inhabitants of the world rather than ordinary humans, deepening the mystery surrounding Groselle’s camp and the nature of the book.
• Composure amid overwhelming danger: The group repeatedly encounters beings far larger or more powerful than themselves, yet must rely on cooperation, observation, and negotiation rather than immediate combat.

Character Interactions

• Danitz greets Sifa with relief, while Anderson teases him for worrying unnecessarily.
• Klein gives the group a brief warning about the King of the North, prompting Sifa to revise his battle plan.
• Anderson’s attraction to the Elf’s appearance irritates Danitz and causes him to be labeled vulgar.
• Sifa secretly interferes with the Elf’s mind, while Klein and Anderson independently notice the act and become more wary of him.
• The chapter ends with the group confronted by the giant, who challenges their presence at Groselle’s camp and forces them into a potentially dangerous first contact.

Sifa and Klein joined Edwina’s companions inside Groselle’s book, where they met the camp’s other members and learned that their arrival had set the story moving toward a battle with the Frost Dragon Ulyssan. Longzel revealed that the travelers had spent ages in the book, often sleeping until a new member appeared.

• Edwina introduced Groselle, Shatas, Sifa, Klein, Anderson, and Danitz, and Groselle welcomed them into the camp to fight Ulyssan.
• Edwina told Sifa that everyone in the book understood one another despite speaking different languages.
• Inside the cave, Edwina introduced Mobet, Snoman, and Longzel, and Mobet identified himself as a Sequence 5 Dream Stealer.
• Longzel asked Sifa and Klein about his family in Backlund, then learned that the Northwest Borough no longer existed.
• Mobet explained that the group had spent long stretches living ordinary lives or sleeping, and Sifa realized their arrival had pushed the book’s story toward its ending.

Klein and Sifa questioned the ancient companions about the Fourth Epoch, the elves, and the Kings of Angels. Their discussion ended when Ulyssan, the King of the North, arrived at the cave.

• Edwina predicted that the group would soon meet the King of the North because the travelogue was nearing its end.
• Mobet told Klein that he had lived during the Solomon Empire, when gods walked the earth and divine kingdoms existed on land.
• Klein traded a golden wine cup with Shatas for the Ocean Songster potion formula, while Sifa recognized the Elf King from his shared dream.
• Snoman claimed that the Sun God was the Father of All Things and had reclaimed his authority from the Elf King, prompting Shatas to draw her bow before Groselle stopped her.
• The ascetic identified Sasrir as the Dark Angel and named Adam as another King of Angels, just as Ulyssan arrived at the cave.

Sifa and the others fought the King of the North, Ulyssan, after he attacked their cave with icy-blue flames. Sifa wounded the dragon with a concealed Flame Spear, and Shatas struck his forehead with a lightning-charged arrow.

• Sifa raised a wall of fire against Ulyssan's icy-blue attack, while Groselle shielded the group with his sword and opened a path out of the cave.
• Klein, Sifa, Anderson, Shatas, Longzel, Mobet, and Snoman emerged to fight Ulyssan, while Edwina told Danitz to stay behind.
• Longzel tried to prohibit Ulyssan from flying, but the dragon took to the air before Longzel struck his neck with a sword.
• Sifa wounded Ulyssan with a Flame Spear launched under Potential Burst, concealed by Conspiracy, and enhanced with Fatal Attack.
• Ulyssan charged Shatas, but Groselle intercepted him, and Mobet stopped the dragon's jaws while Snoman empowered Shatas's lightning.
• Shatas fired a lightning-charged arrow that struck Ulyssan squarely in the forehead.

Sifa and the others coordinated their abilities to wound and restrain Ulyssan, the King of the North, while Klein prepared to exploit the openings they created. The group continued attacking the grounded Frost Dragon as Anderson drew his attention and Sifa made passages for Klein’s Flaming Jump.

• Sifa hindered Ulyssan with Unclean Bullets, and Anderson wounded him with a Flame Spear as he tried to dodge.
• Ulyssan unleashed a blizzard and an expanding ice-blue halo, freezing Groselle until the ascetic freed him.
• A Beyonder weakened the storm, a woman dispersed it with singing, and Longzel imprisoned Ulyssan while Sifa severed his left wing.
• Edwina briefly disrupted Ulyssan’s emotions, and Anderson provoked him into charging past and crashing into an ice-covered boulder.
• Groselle attacked Ulyssan while Snoman, the female elf, Mobet, Longzel, Anderson, Edwina, and Klein supported the fight; Sifa hurled fireballs and made passages for Klein’s Flaming Jump.

Sifa and the others battered Ulyssan in a desperate fight, badly wounding the Frost Dragon but suffering injuries and losses of their own. As Klein struggled to control Ulyssan’s frenzied Spirituality Threads, Sifa used Midnight Dream to command the Dragon to sleep.

• Sifa, Shatas, Longzel, and Edwina combined their attacks to sever Ulyssan’s foreleg and inflict a major wound on his shoulder.
• Ulyssan unleashed freezing power, but Snoman’s sunlight warmed the group before the Dragon knocked Groselle aside and charged him.
• Anderson and Sifa helped Ulyssan fall into a snow pit, while Chariot stole the Ice-Blue Halo that threatened Klein.
• Ulyssan froze Snoman and left Groselle with a broken arm, but Edwina caused the Dragon pain and Groselle charged back into the fight.
• Sifa melted Snoman’s ice prison and returned to battle as Klein continued struggling to control Ulyssan’s Spirituality Threads.
• Sifa used flames to approach Ulyssan and commanded him to sleep with Midnight Dream.

Sifa, Klein, and their companions coordinated their attacks to kill Ulyssan, the King of the North. Ulyssan’s corpse turned into a set of doors, and the exhausted survivors wondered if they had found the exit.

• Sifa’s Forced Sleep failed, but Klein established initial control over Ulyssan while Mobet distracted the Frost Dragon.
• Edwina disrupted Ulyssan’s attempt to unleash extreme cold, allowing Shatas and the ascetic to strike him with a charged arrow.
• Anderson plunged into Shatas’s wound and tore open Ulyssan’s torso from within.
• Sifa fired a plasma beam through Ulyssan’s heart, and Groselle severed the Dragon’s head with his sword.
• Ulyssan’s corpse transformed into snow-covered double doors, and Sifa asked whether they were the exit as Groselle celebrated their victory.

After escaping Groselle's Travels, Sifa and the others watched Groselle and his companions rapidly age and die, then divided their beyonder characteristics and made plans for their remains. Sifa returned to the Golden Dream and found a new Message Board post about the Black Emperor, including a request from Shi Miao that he read the book and call her Mommy.

• Sifa and the others returned from the Book World to Edwina's captain's cabin, where Groselle's Travels revealed only that Groselle had led his companions in slaying the King of the North.
• Mobet, Shatas, Groselle, Snoman, and Longzel rapidly aged and died, leaving behind four beyonder characteristics; Edwina explained that Longzel's potion and powers had been false.
• Anderson proposed dividing the characteristics and arranging the companions' burials, so Sifa took Groselle's characteristic and responsibility for Shatas and Mobet's ashes, while Klein took Shatas's characteristic and the remains of Groselle, Snoman, and Longzel.
• Edwina gave Groselle's Travels to Klein, and she invited Sifa and Klein to travel to Bayam aboard the Golden Dream; Sifa returned to his old room on the ship.
• Sifa summoned the mysterious tome and read Shi Miao's detailed message about Nast and the Black Emperor, followed by Shi Miao asking him to read the book and call her Mommy.

Chapter Summary: “Whatever Is Spoken Shall Be Known”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sifa rereads the old messages left by the Watchers when he first arrived in the world. Because he now understands more mystical knowledge and the existence of the Kings of Angels, previously censored information becomes readable.
• The messages provide strategic advice about the various Beyonder pathways:
  • The Error, Door, and Fool pathways are dangerous because of Amon, Mr. Door, and the Evernight Goddess.
  • The Black Emperor and Justiciar pathways are complicated by Roselle and corrupted Uniquenesses.
  • The Hunter, Demoness, Wheel of Fortune, Hermit, and Artisan pathways are discussed as more viable alternatives.
  • One message details the Hunter pathway’s advancement sequence, culminating in the Red Priest, whose ritual requires starting a continent-wide war.
• Sifa learns important secrets about the Twilight Hermit Order:
  • It was founded by Adam and others seeking the resurrection of the original Creator.
  • The organization manipulates history to prepare for the end of the world.
  • Mentioning Adam or the Twilight Hermit Order causes Adam, as a Spectator, to become aware of it—hence the chapter’s title, “Whatever Is Spoken Shall Be Known.”
• Sifa visits Edwina in the Golden Dream’s captain’s cabin and retrieves the golden compass needed for his future exploration of the Styx Ruler’s hidden location.
• Klein arrives carrying a deformed golden wine cup intended for Shatas’s burial. Sifa suggests placing it in her grave rather than cremating it.
• Edwina invites Sifa and Klein to a celebratory bonfire. Sifa attends, while Klein and Edwina remain behind because of their grief over the deaths of Groselle and the other book-world inhabitants.
• Klein asks about the giant iron-black key discovered in the Styx Ruler. Edwina lends it to him for research, suggesting that it may conceal an important secret related to the Giants, possibly the Giant King’s Court.
• After several days, the Golden Dream reaches a private port near Bayam. The crew warmly bids farewell to Sifa, Klein, and Anderson.
• Danitz asks Sifa for the Conspirer potion formula and ingredients. Sifa agrees to reserve them for him but warns that Danitz is not ready and should restart his Acting Method from the beginning to avoid losing control.
• Sifa leaves the port using the River Styx Ring and Spirit World Traversal, arriving at Faust, the Old Elven Capital on Sonia Island.

Character Developments

• Sifa becomes increasingly informed about the world’s hidden powers and political dangers. He carefully records the Watchers’ revelations and continues pursuing the Styx Ruler mystery while balancing caution with ambition.
• Edwina displays a more emotional and compassionate side. Though normally reserved and scholarly, she is deeply affected by the deaths of Groselle and the others, revealing that she struggles to express grief openly.
• Klein/Gehrman Sparrow remains restrained and practical. He avoids the celebration, focuses on researching the Giant-related key, and maintains his cold adventurer persona.
• Danitz shows strong ambition and eagerness to advance to Conspirer, but also immaturity regarding the dangers of premature advancement. Despite Anderson’s mockery, he remains determined.
• Anderson continues to tease Danitz but also gives him sensible advice about acting and defensive preparations.

Significant Themes

• Knowledge as danger: Information is not merely power; speaking certain names can expose the speaker to supernatural observation, especially through Adam’s Spectator abilities.
• Fate and strategic survival: The Watcher messages emphasize choosing pathways carefully, avoiding powerful enemies, and understanding the larger schemes governing the world.
• Grief beneath restraint: Edwina, Klein, and the crew respond differently to loss, showing how seemingly unemotional characters carry private sorrow.
• Ambition versus preparation: Danitz’s desire to advance contrasts with Sifa’s warning that power gained without proper preparation can lead to death or Loss of Control.
• Mysteries of the past: The Styx Ruler, the Giants, the Golden Key, and the Old Elven Capital continue to connect the characters to ancient civilizations and larger secrets.

Important Character Interactions

• Sifa and Edwina: Sifa retrieves the compass, while Edwina warns him about the danger of returning to the Styx Ruler.
• Sifa and Klein: They cooperate over Shatas’s remains and depart the Golden Dream together, though their goals differ.
• Klein and Edwina: Klein borrows the Giant key for research, agreeing to share any discoveries with Edwina.
• Sifa and Danitz: Sifa offers Danitz future access to Conspirer ingredients but insists that he first master the Acting Method.
• Danitz and Anderson: Anderson mocks Danitz’s ambitions while warning him that advancing recklessly could cause Loss of Control.
• Sifa and the crew: The crew celebrates with Sifa at the bonfire and gives him an enthusiastic farewell, demonstrating their growing camaraderie.

Chapter Summary: “Ever by My Beloved”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• In Winterleaf Cemetery, a young black-haired man—implicitly Sifa—arrives carrying two urns and asks to bury his deceased friends, Shatas and Mobet.
• He pays for a joint grave and gives the epitaph “Ever by my beloved.” After personally witnessing the burial and praying, he says farewell. Two leaves fall onto the gravestone with their tips touching, symbolizing the lovers’ enduring bond.
• Sifa later returns to the Explorer and meets with key crew members to discuss their potion digestion and needs.
• At the Tarot Club gathering above the Gray Fog:
  • The Sun acquires the Notary potion formula.
  • Alger privately negotiates with the World for the Ocean Songster formula and its main ingredient, both originally obtained from Shatas.
  • Cattleya offers Fors the Meteorite Crystal needed for her advancement and confirms Audrey’s acquisition of the Black Hunting Giant Lizard spinal fluid.
  • Sifa purchases the Lucky One potion formula and its main ingredient from Cattleya.
  • The World reveals possible access to pure mythical-creature blood—Angel blood—but says it may take at least three months.
• The Sun reports that the City of Silver’s expedition remains in Afternoon Town, slowly clearing monsters and searching for ancient traces. Because of their food shortage, the explorers are forced to eat some of the monsters they kill.
• The World then reports that Mad Captain Connors Viktor and his crew were found dead after his ship drifted near a dock, apparently damaged by a storm and fire.
• Sifa explains Connors’s connection to human trafficking and the colonial missing-persons case. The World links the operation to the Demoness Sect, Vice Admiral Tracy, MI9 figures loyal to the Royal Family, and Capim, revealing further connections to the conspiracy behind George III’s godhood ritual.

2. Character Developments

• Sifa displays grief and respect by personally arranging Shatas and Mobet’s burial. His growing knowledge and influence are also evident in the Tarot Club, where he acts as an informed intermediary and confidently purchases the Lucky One formula.
• Shatas and Mobet are characterized posthumously through their final resting place as lovers who wished to remain together.
• Alger appears unusually hesitant and troubled before privately negotiating with the World, suggesting that obtaining the Ocean Songster materials may come at a significant personal or financial cost.
• Fors becomes increasingly anxious about being the weakest Tarot Club member as others advance. Despite her financial difficulties, she commits to buying the Meteorite Crystal so she can continue progressing.
• Audrey is cheerful and confident after obtaining an important potion ingredient, with her wealth allowing her to disregard the high cost.
• The Sun is excited to receive the Notary formula, while his report about the City of Silver reveals his growing endurance and acceptance of the expedition’s harsh circumstances.
• The World/Klein continues to demonstrate extensive connections and intelligence, particularly regarding Angel blood and the hidden slave-trading network.

3. Significant Themes

• Love, mourning, and remembrance: Shatas and Mobet’s joint burial and epitaph emphasize love continuing beyond death.
• The gradual strengthening of the Tarot Club: Nearly every member is advancing or gathering materials for advancement, though Fors feels increasingly left behind.
• The cost of survival: The City of Silver’s inhabitants are forced to eat monsters, illustrating the extreme deprivation caused by their cursed environment.
• Hidden conspiracies and moral corruption: The deaths of Connors Viktor and his crew expose links between human trafficking, political powers, the Demoness Sect, and George III’s apotheosis ritual.
• Knowledge and power: Access to formulas, ingredients, and intelligence determines each character’s ability to progress and survive.
• Grief amid larger conflicts: Sifa’s private farewell to his friends contrasts with the Tarot Club’s broader discussions of supernatural politics and conspiracies.

4. Character Interactions

• Sifa negotiates with the cemetery groundskeeper and entrusts him with Shatas and Mobet’s burial.
• At the Tarot Club, Sifa silently observes the members’ relative progress and worries about Fors’s position.
• The World privately exchanges information with Alger, providing the Ocean Songster formula and main ingredient.
• Cattleya conducts several major transactions with Fors, Audrey, and Sifa.
• The Sun honestly answers questions about the City of Silver, prompting concern from Justice and the other members.
• Sifa and the World collaborate in explaining Connors Viktor’s role in the slave-trading network.
• The revelations cause the group to connect the missing-persons cases and trafficking operations to the population needed for George III’s godhood ritual.

Chapter Summary: “Ghost Ship”

Key Plot Points and Events

• During the Tarot Club gathering, the members discuss the Backlund Smog Incident, the Missing Persons Case, and the suspicious death of the Mad Captain.
• Klein reveals that a powerful Black Emperor Pathway Beyonder—possibly a Demigod—was aboard the Mad Captain’s ship and escaped before Sea King Jahn Kottman arrived. Because the Loen Royal Family controls this pathway, the evidence suggests possible Royal Family or military involvement in the Smog Incident.
• Sifa, the Hanged Man, and the Hermit agree to investigate the matter through their respective contacts and networks.
• After the gathering, Sifa reflects on the deeper truth behind the Smog Incident: George III’s attempt to become a True God, with Adam and the Twilight Hermit Order likely helping conceal the plan. He concludes that the Tarot Club must proceed cautiously and prepare for a future confrontation.
• Kardashian unexpectedly appears in Sifa’s cabin. They discuss Sifa’s difficulty obtaining a Demigod advancement. She suggests that he switch to her pathway and seek help from her teacher, but Sifa rejects the idea because of the dangers of changing pathways.
• Sifa enters another dream connected to Abrio’s past. Abrio is imprisoned after failing to infiltrate Nast’s forces and is threatened with execution. Lieutenant Connor offers him a chance to escape, but Abrio realizes that being rescued by Nast will cause the navy to view him as a pirate accomplice.
• Nast rescues Abrio from the execution ground. Rather than return ashore and be recaptured, Abrio asks Nast to kill him. Nast instead offers him a place aboard his ship. Abrio agrees to serve for one year, establishing the beginning of their relationship.
• Sifa is awakened by Kardashian, who is terrified because “the possible thing” has arrived. A huge, mysterious vessel emerges from dense sea fog near the Explorer, accompanied by ghostly green lights.
• Recognizing it as the legendary Ghost Ship, Sifa orders the crew to raise anchor, lower the sails, prepare the cannons, and attempt to evade it.
• He retrieves the anti-undead artifacts Ghost Scream and the River Styx Ring, preparing to defend the Explorer against whatever supernatural threat the ship carries.

Character Developments

• Sifa: Becomes increasingly cautious and strategic. He understands that the Smog Incident involves forces far beyond ordinary politics and decides to gather evidence gradually rather than act recklessly. He also demonstrates growing competence as a captain by immediately organizing the crew when the Ghost Ship appears.
• Klein/The World: Continues investigating the Smog Incident and its possible connection to the Loen Royal Family, indirectly helping expose the truth while protecting the Tarot Club from premature danger.
• Miss Justice: Is positioned to undergo a gradual change in her favorable view of the nobility and Royal Family as she learns about their possible corruption.
• Kardashian: Reveals unusual vulnerability and fear when the Ghost Ship arrives, suggesting that she recognizes its danger or knows something about its nature.
• Abrio: Shows desperation, pride, and practical intelligence. His decision to join Nast’s crew is motivated not by loyalty or love of piracy, but by the realization that he has no safe life on land.
• Nast: Is portrayed as principled and unexpectedly honorable. He repays Abrio’s accidental sacrifice, refuses to kill him, and offers him a place among his crew while emphasizing his own limits as a pirate.
• Lieutenant Connor: Acts as both Abrio’s superior and romantic rival. He pressures Abrio by using the impending marriage to Miss Glinwint as motivation, revealing their personal and professional conflict.

Significant Themes

• Truth versus evidence: Sifa knows the real cause of the Smog Incident but lacks proof, emphasizing the danger of possessing truth without the means to reveal it.
• Political corruption and moral complexity: The chapter challenges simplistic views of good and evil, suggesting that even respected institutions such as the Royal Family and military may hide atrocities.
• Caution and long-term planning: The Tarot Club must investigate carefully because their enemies include True Gods, Angels, and ancient organizations capable of destroying them.
• Freedom and survival: Abrio’s choice to join Nast reflects the limited options available to someone trapped between the navy and piracy.
• Honor among criminals: Nast’s actions complicate the image of pirates as simple villains; he follows a personal code and values repaying debts.
• The supernatural unknown: The Ghost Ship’s arrival introduces a new immediate threat and reinforces the dangers lurking across the sea.

Important Character Interactions

• Sifa and the Tarot Club: Sifa aligns with Klein, the Hanged Man, and the Hermit in investigating the Smog Incident and possible Royal Family involvement.
• Sifa and Kardashian: Their exchange combines humor, distrust, and practical concerns about advancement. Kardashian’s later fear signals that the Ghost Ship is an especially serious threat.
• Abrio and Connor: Their conversation reveals professional rivalry, romantic competition, and Connor’s attempt to force Abrio to succeed.
• Abrio and Nast: Their relationship shifts from infiltration and rivalry to reluctant alliance. Nast saves Abrio, while Abrio’s decision to remain aboard Nast’s ship creates the foundation for their future connection.
• Sifa and his crew: Sifa takes command during the crisis, while Nelson rallies the sailors to prepare for battle.

Ending

The chapter ends with the Ghost Ship looming beside the Explorer in supernatural fog. Sifa arms himself with powerful anti-undead artifacts, but the ship’s nature and intentions remain unknown.

Chapter Summary: “Boarding”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After acquiring three Demigod-level mystical items, Sifa returns to the Explorer, only to find the ship under attack by an enormous vessel emerging from the fog.
• Cannon fire surrounds the Explorer, followed by the appearance of numerous Zombies in the sea. The undead blockade the ship and prevent its escape.
• The terrifying vessel is revealed to be Celeste, the Cursed Ship and “Sea Devil,” commanded by an unknown captain.
• An undead pirate explains that Celeste is searching for a human connected to dreams about Abrio. Realizing that his connection to Abrio makes him the target, Sifa claims to be the person they seek.
• Sifa negotiates the Explorer’s safe departure in exchange for meeting Celeste’s captain. He orders Nelson to flee toward Bayam once he boards.
• Nefi, unwilling to let Sifa face the danger alone, accompanies him after transforming into her Dawn Knight armor.
• Sifa and Nefi cross Celeste’s giant tongue-like gangplank and enter the ship, whose interior resembles a living organism, filled with flesh, veins, undead, and Spirit World creatures.
• Sifa uses the warmth of Solar Halo to repel the undead and protect himself and Nefi as they pass through the ship.
• On the deck, they are attacked by Sabog, a former crewman who betrayed Abrio and has become a powerful Zombie.
• Nefi battles Sabog and demonstrates the power of the Dawn Knight, using her shield, sword, Dawn aura, and Light Storm to destroy multiple undead attackers.
• The old pirate intervenes and leads Sifa and Nefi toward the captain’s cabin. Sabog is restrained by Celeste’s creatures and then brutally swarmed and devoured as punishment for attacking without permission.

Character Developments

• Sifa shows courage, quick thinking, and a willingness to risk himself to protect the Explorer’s crew. He deliberately identifies himself as Celeste’s target and negotiates from a position of limited power.
• His connection to Abrio becomes increasingly dangerous, suggesting that Abrio’s past and Celeste’s pursuit may be tied to Sifa’s fate.
• Nefi proves her loyalty and bravery by volunteering to accompany Sifa. Her Dawn Knight transformation reveals a fighting style focused on agility, defense, and adaptability.
• Nefi gains confidence during combat, effectively using her sword and shield while resisting supernatural enemies with Dawn’s purifying power.
• Sabog is revealed as a traitor from Abrio’s past. His transformation into an undead creature has made him stronger but also subject to Celeste’s brutal hierarchy and punishments.
• The old pirate appears grotesque and unstable but remains an obedient representative of Celeste’s captain, enforcing the ship’s rules.

Significant Themes

• Courage in the face of overwhelming power: Sifa knowingly boards a vessel filled with undead and supernatural threats, relying on strategy rather than brute strength.
• Loyalty and sacrifice: Nefi follows Sifa into danger, while Sifa prioritizes the safety of the Explorer and its crew.
• The persistence of the past: Abrio’s unresolved history continues to endanger those connected to him, drawing Celeste and its undead crew into Sifa’s life.
• Life, death, and corruption: Celeste blurs the boundary between a ship and a living organism, while its undead inhabitants embody physical decay and supernatural existence.
• Authority and punishment: The undead crew obey a rigid hierarchy. Sabog’s violent punishment demonstrates that Celeste’s dangers come not only from external enemies but also from its own internal laws.

Character Interactions

• Sifa negotiates directly with the old pirate, offering himself in exchange for the Explorer’s escape.
• He reassures Nefi while also instructing Nelson and Caven to protect the ship and its crew.
• Nefi acts as Sifa’s shield during their boarding and later fights Sabog to defend him.
• Sabog recognizes Sifa as Abrio and attacks him, prompting Nefi’s intervention.
• The old pirate suppresses Sabog’s rebellion, leads Sifa and Nefi onward, and allows the ship’s undead inhabitants to punish Sabog for disobedience.

Sifa met Celeste, the living spirit of the ghost ship, and learned that the Styx Ruler had stolen Captain Abrio’s spirit. Celeste offered Sifa the notarized Sequence 4 Iron-blooded Knight formula and ingredients in exchange for help finding the Styx Ruler, then proposed marking him to ensure he kept his promise.

• Sifa entered the captain’s cabin alone and used the River Styx Ring to discover that the figure wearing Abrio’s body was Celeste, the ghost ship itself.
• Celeste explained that Abrio’s spirit had been stolen by the owner of the Styx Ruler, and Sifa revealed that the ship was on the Sonia Sea but too dangerous for him to approach before becoming a demigod.
• Celeste offered Sifa a Hunter pathway potion formula in exchange for help recovering Abrio, and Sifa disclosed that he was a Hunter.
• Ralf Sauron recited the Sequence 4 Iron-blooded Knight potion formula and ritual, then used a Notarization Certificate to certify that they were genuine.
• Celeste offered an Adult Iron Dragon heart and scales but said he would mark Sifa so he could track him, adding that the main ingredient might have no substitute.

Sifa accepted Fors’s commission to assassinate the Aurora Order’s Mr. X in exchange for help finding materials, then developed a plan and tested the Giant Card’s effects while in Wraith form. By Wednesday, he had reached Backlund in disguise and prepared to begin the operation.

• Sifa learned Celeste’s agents could be contacted through Aaron Jeff in Bayam and left the ship with Nefi.
• After Kardashian could not suggest a substitute for an adult iron dragon, Sifa sent letters to Iceberg Admiral and Admiral of Stars and planned to seek leads at the Tarot Club.
• Fors told Sifa that the Aurora Order’s Oracle Lewis Wien, likely a Traveler known as Mr. X, would hold a gathering, and Sifa accepted the assassination commission in exchange for Abraham Family material leads and the spoils.
• Fors accepted Sifa’s terms, and he planned to have Caven infiltrate the gathering while he disrupted Mr. X and dealt with any hidden Saint.
• Sifa combined the Wraith Staff with the Giant Card and discovered that the transformed spirit form greatly enhanced his strength, concealment, and abilities.
• On Wednesday, Sifa arrived at the Black Cat inn in Backlund disguised as Duke.