Chapter Summaries

Lord of Mysteries: Starting as a Reader
1638 summaries

Ch. 761A Test (Bonus Chapter)

Chapter Summary: “A Test” (Bonus Chapter)

Key Plot Points and Events

  • The Tarot Club gathers above the gray fog, and Klein observes everyone’s reactions—especially Mr. Tower, Abner—to determine whether he has recovered memories from a previous life.
  • Klein places a yellowish-brown book on the table, immediately attracting the members’ attention. Alger senses that it is connected to the Law of Beyonder Characteristic Convergence and suspects it is a high-level artifact of the Sailor Pathway.
  • Klein reveals that the book is the Book of Calamity, a Sealed Artifact created from the Beyonder characteristic of Queen of Calamity Hosenam, an Angel-level Elf subordinate god from the Second Epoch.
  • He asks the Tarot Club for information about Queen Hosenam and the Elf Queen, using the question both to learn more about ancient history and to test Mr. Tower’s reaction.
  • Derrick reports that the Ancient Sun God once sent the Red Angel and the Angel of Fate to hunt the God of Luck and Queen Hosenam, but the mission failed.
  • Klein concludes that the members, including Abner, do not possess additional useful information. He then offers Derrick a reward for his contribution.
  • Following advice from an elder of the City of Silver’s Six-Member Council, Derrick requests additional portions of Communion, likely to help advance the City of Silver’s revival and religious development.

Character Developments

  • Klein/The Fool: Becomes increasingly cautious and analytical. He monitors the members’ emotions to determine whether Abner is secretly the transmigrator Liu Bo and whether he has regained his memories. Klein also appears unusually impatient, suggesting that something outside the expected course of events may have happened, possibly involving the Sea God.
  • Abner/Mr. Tower: Reacts naturally to the Book of Calamity and shows genuine surprise. He recognizes its connection to the original storyline but assumes that changes may have resulted from the actions of other transmigrators. His thoughts also reveal growing concern that major historical or present-day events may be diverging from the expected plot.
  • Audrey/Miss Justice: Immediately notices the unusual book and becomes intensely curious about its origins and contents, reinforcing her sharp observation and intellectual interest.
  • Alger/Mr. Hanged Man: Instinctively senses the book’s attraction and correctly connects it to Beyonder characteristic convergence, demonstrating his increasing expertise and awareness of high-level artifacts.
  • Derrick/The Sun: Provides rare historical information from the City of Silver and becomes more willing to make requests for the benefit of his people. His request for additional Communion shows his growing political responsibility.
  • The Tarot Club: The members continue to function as a cooperative information network, but the appearance of the Book of Calamity creates unease and speculation about ancient gods, Sealed Artifacts, and hidden historical forces.

Significant Themes

  • Testing and suspicion: The chapter centers on Klein’s covert test of Abner, as he tries to determine whether Abner is truly Liu Bo and whether he remembers their previous connection.
  • Uncertainty caused by transmigrators: Abner recognizes that the presence of multiple transmigrators may have radically altered the original sequence of events, making the “plot” unreliable.
  • Ancient history and hidden powers: The Book of Calamity opens questions about the Second Epoch, the Elf Queen, the God of Luck, the Western Continent, and possible connections to a Sefirah.
  • Beyonder characteristic convergence: The book’s attraction to Alger illustrates the dangerous and instinctive pull between related Beyonder characteristics.
  • Power, knowledge, and exchange: Information is treated as a valuable resource. Klein rewards Derrick for his report, while Derrick learns to negotiate for resources benefiting the City of Silver.
  • Unexplained divergence: Klein and Abner both suspect that recent events may no longer follow the expected course, particularly regarding the hunt for the Sea God and other major supernatural developments.

Important Character Interactions

  • Klein and Abner: Klein watches Abner’s emotions for signs of recognition, while Abner analyzes Klein’s unusual behavior and suspects that something unexpected has occurred.
  • Klein and the Tarot Club: Klein uses the group’s established information-sharing structure to investigate Queen Hosenam and the Elf Queen without compromising his authority.
  • Derrick and Klein: Derrick supplies information from the City of Silver and receives the opportunity to request a reward, ultimately asking for more Communion.
  • Alger and the Book of Calamity: Alger’s instinctive response demonstrates the artifact’s high level and reinforces the dangers of Beyonder characteristic convergence.
  • The City of Silver and the wider supernatural world: Derrick’s report connects the isolated City of Silver to ancient conflicts involving the Ancient Sun God, the Red Angel, the Angel of Fate, the God of Luck, and Queen Hosenam.
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Ch. 762Zaratul

Chapter Summary: “Zaratul”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Sun asks Mr. Fool about “Communion,” believing it to be a religious ritual. Klein agrees to arrange it, privately planning to provide Intis pies through his Blessed of Cuisine.
  • Fors asks whether the Tarot Club members can participate. Klein, through World, explains that Mr. Fool has a Blessed who specializes in Communion and that devout prayers will allow them to receive the blessing.
  • Audrey submits two diary pages and notes that she still owes Klein two more.
  • Abner privately requests Klein’s help with an expedition into Groselle’s Travels. He explains that:
    • Roselle has left hidden arrangements inside the book.
    • A safe entrance requires three books and three Cards of Blasphemy.
    • Edwina was attacked by the Delien Family and rescued by mysterious men in black.
    • The expedition may involve an avatar of Amon.
  • Abner asks Klein either to send a Blessed carrying the Black Emperor card or to lend him the card directly. Klein, intrigued by the connection to Roselle, Liu Bo, and the Second Epoch, says he will answer the following day after assessing the danger and obtaining the Sea God’s remnant.
  • Abner agrees to meet “Gehrman Sparrow” in Bayam but is advised to disguise himself because the governor’s bounty against him remains active.
  • Klein reads the newly submitted diary pages. They reveal information about:
    • The Beria Family’s leader possibly being replaced by a Succubus connected to Roselle and Ialdabaoth.
    • Tosk having once been the territory of the Nightmare Dragon during the era of the Twin Gods.
    • The Valin and Delien families, both connected to the current expedition and recent attacks.
    • Roselle’s struggles with desire, potion side effects, self-control, transmigration, the Oldest One, and his own true identity.
  • The final diary entry abruptly states: “I saw Zaratul! Zaratul, who had completely lost control and become a Monster!”

Character Developments

  • Klein/Mr. Fool: Becomes increasingly suspicious of Abner’s identity and unusual confidence. He wonders whether Abner might be Liu Bo, another transmigrator, and considers joining the expedition personally to investigate both Abner and the mysteries surrounding Roselle.
  • Abner/Mr. Tower: Displays unusual familiarity with Klein’s capabilities and the situation in Bayam. He confidently requests major assistance but remains serious and sincere when discussing the expedition’s dangers, suggesting that his behavior is not merely playful.
  • Fors, Audrey, Xio, and Emlyn: Show curiosity and enthusiasm about Communion, revealing their growing comfort with Mr. Fool’s bizarre religious customs and “blessings.”
  • Roselle: His diary portrays him as both indulgent and reflective. Beneath his lecherous behavior, he is deeply concerned with identity, desire, transmigration, and the origin of consciousness.
  • Zaratul: Is foreshadowed as having suffered a catastrophic loss of control and transformation into a Monster.

Significant Themes

  • Mystery and hidden identities: Klein continues questioning whether Abner is Liu Bo and whether Abner deliberately selected diary entries connected to Tosk.
  • Faith and performance: Klein’s “Communion” is essentially an improvised religious explanation concealing mundane food distribution, highlighting the gap between divine appearance and practical reality.
  • Control versus desire: Roselle’s reflections contrast indulgence with Temperance and suggest that true advancement requires mastering instinct rather than merely satisfying it.
  • Transmigration and identity: Roselle’s questions about Huang Tao, self-awareness, and the Oldest One mirror Klein’s own uncertainty about the transmigrators and their deeper origins.
  • Dangerous knowledge: The expedition promises access to secrets from the Second Epoch, Roselle, and the mysterious book, but also exposes the participants to Amon and other catastrophic threats.

Important Character Interactions

  • Sun and Mr. Fool: Sun reverently requests Communion, while Klein calmly agrees despite the misunderstanding.
  • Fors and Mr. Fool: Fors openly asks to partake in Communion, encouraging others to express similar interest.
  • Klein and Abner: Their private conversation becomes the chapter’s central interaction. Abner reveals the expedition’s risks and requests the Black Emperor card; Klein conceals his own interest and suspicions while delaying his answer.
  • Klein and the Tarot Club: Klein hides the private discussion by blocking everyone’s senses, then restores communication afterward, maintaining his carefully constructed image as Mr. Fool.
  • Klein and Roselle: Though Roselle is absent, his diary creates an indirect dialogue with Klein, combining useful historical information with humor and philosophical questions.
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Ch. 763"World" Characteristics Freshly Open for Business

Chapter Summary: “World” Characteristics Freshly Open for Business

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Klein examines four diary pages. One clearly states that the “mad” Zaratul was transferred to a secluded hall by an Unknown existence, whom Klein suspects may be the Emperor. The remaining text is scrambled and unreadable, apparently due to a deliberate alteration.
  • During the Tarot Club meeting, Derrick thanks Abner for the Secret Art that helped save City of Silver residents imprisoned beneath the Round Tower and close to losing control.
  • Derrick explains that the City of Silver selected the second of Abner’s three proposed methods for reconstructing the Secret Art. Its leaders are satisfied with the exchange and ask what else the City must do.
  • Klein tells them they may continue exploring as long as they do not restrict equivalent exchange with other Tarot Club members. This ambiguous answer leads the others to speculate about Mr. Fool’s hidden plans, particularly regarding the route into and out of the Forsaken Land of the Gods.
  • Audrey asks whether the intelligence she supplied on prominent Intis families was useful. Abner confirms that it greatly improved his understanding of Intis but learns that Audrey is still reserving the mysticism question owed to her.
  • Fors complains about the dangerous and troublesome Flesh Trigger Abner gave her. It embarrassed her, caused her to lose an important item, and left her burdened with an unwanted writing commission. Abner apologizes and offers to create a replacement Beyonder item, though Fors declines out of politeness and immediately regrets doing so.
  • The World puts a Witch Beyonder Characteristic and a Demoness of Pleasure Beyonder Characteristic up for sale. Abner purchases both for 5,500 pounds, paying 5,000 in cash and the rest in weapon crystals.
  • Emlyn envies the large transaction but suppresses his desire to arrange another purchase because his available bill of exchange cannot yet be redeemed.
  • At the end of the trading session, Alger announces that major events have occurred in Bayam and on Symeem Island, setting up the next discussion.

Character Developments

  • Klein/Mr. Fool: Continues gathering clues about Zaratul and the Emperor while carefully maintaining an image of unfathomable wisdom. His vague response to the City of Silver accidentally causes the others to attribute deeper intentions to him.
  • Abner/Mr. Tower: Demonstrates increasing influence and wealth. He has become an important intermediary for the City of Silver, gains valuable intelligence on Intis, and casually purchases two Mid-Sequence Beyonder Characteristics.
  • Derrick: Shows gratitude and loyalty toward Abner, especially because the Secret Art saved people close to him. He also becomes a messenger between the City of Silver and the Tarot Club.
  • Audrey: Continues to behave strategically, retaining her right to ask a mysticism question until she finds the most valuable opportunity.
  • Fors: Reveals a more emotionally vulnerable and somewhat awkward side in her interaction with Abner. She wants compensation but is too polite to accept it directly.
  • Alger: Remains highly suspicious and analytical, attempting to infer Mr. Fool’s intentions and the significance of the World’s newly acquired Demoness characteristics.
  • Emlyn: Shows growing ambition and envy of the wealth circulating within the Tarot Club, though he remains constrained by his finances.

Significant Themes

  • Mystery and hidden agendas: The incomplete diary entry about Zaratul and the unknown hall deepens the mystery surrounding the Emperor, Zaratul, and powerful hidden entities.
  • Misinterpretation of authority: Klein’s deliberately vague statements are treated as profound strategic directives, highlighting the gap between his actual uncertainty and the Tarot Club’s perception of Mr. Fool.
  • Equivalent exchange and cooperation: The City of Silver’s relationship with the Tarot Club develops through practical trade, knowledge-sharing, and mutual benefit.
  • Power, wealth, and influence: The sale of Beyonder Characteristics and Abner’s expanding resources show the increasing scale of transactions among the members.
  • Social awkwardness and personal bonds: Fors and Abner’s exchange mixes genuine concern, politeness, embarrassment, and unspoken expectations, suggesting a developing relationship.
  • Dangerous advancement: The Secret Art and Beyonder Characteristics both emphasize the risks of losing control and the difficult balance between gaining power and preserving one’s humanity.

Important Character Interactions

  • Derrick and Abner: Derrick expresses sincere thanks for the Secret Art, while Abner confirms the City of Silver’s chosen reconstruction method and asks about its leadership’s progress.
  • Derrick and Mr. Fool: Derrick seeks guidance about future cooperation; Klein’s answer grants permission for continued independent exploration without revealing his actual uncertainty.
  • Audrey and Abner: Audrey confirms that she is postponing her mysticism question, preserving a future advantage.
  • Fors and Abner: Fors complains about the Flesh Trigger’s consequences, and Abner offers compensation. Their polite back-and-forth leaves Fors secretly wishing she had accepted.
  • Klein and the other Tarot Club members: Klein observes how everyone projects hidden meaning onto his statements, while he privately struggles to formulate concrete objectives.
  • The World and Abner: They complete a major transaction involving two Demoness Pathway characteristics, reinforcing Abner’s growing commercial and strategic importance.
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Ch. 764Filling in the Blanks

Chapter Summary: “Speculation”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Alger reports that Sea God Kalvetua, weakened after hiding for more than a century, is nearing collapse and has begun acting desperately. Its fanatical believers are attacking various locations and preparing to die alongside their god.
  • Sea King Jahn Kottman has arrived in Bayam, suppressed Kalvetua’s influence, and sealed Blue Mountain Island. He is expected to find Kalvetua within a day or two, which would likely end the crisis quietly.
  • Through World, Klein reveals that Kalvetua’s instability was caused by the Moses Ascetic Order discovering an Ancient Elf ruin on Symeem Island and taking the Book of Calamity. The book is connected to Kalvetua’s origins.
  • The exploration was overseen by a Pillar of the Moses Ascetic Order, identified as Yaluolan, who is revealed to be an Angel rather than merely a high-ranking Beyonder.
  • The Tarot Club speculates about how World obtained the Book of Calamity and what relationship Yaluolan may have with Mr. Fool.
  • Alger explains the Demoness Sect’s internal conflict on Symeem Island. The group learns that White Saintess Katarina, Tracy’s mother, was transformed into a marionette by Intis envoy Owen Delien, codenamed “Lust” of the Psychology Alchemists.
  • The members discuss whether Owen can be reported. Xio explains that the authorities already know his identity but will not act because of the Delien Family’s influence and its protection from the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun.
  • Abner suggests informing the Demoness Sect, since they could retaliate without needing formal evidence.

Character Developments

  • Klein/Mr. Fool: Carefully uses World to reveal information while concealing his own involvement. He hopes the ongoing crisis will give him time to recover the Book of Calamity’s inheritance. He is also embarrassed by rumors surrounding World and the Demoness Sect.
  • Alger: Demonstrates strong knowledge of the Sea God, Moses Ascetic Order, and Demoness Sect. His respect and reverence for Mr. Fool deepen when he assumes Yaluolan may have been one of Fool’s hidden agents.
  • Abner/Mr. Tower: Shows extensive hidden knowledge, correctly inferring Yaluolan’s identity and connection to Leticia and Tran. He also reveals crucial intelligence about Katarina and Owen Delien while pursuing his own interests.
  • Audrey/Justice: Reacts with moral disgust to Owen’s manipulation of Katarina and feels conflicted because she is herself connected to the Psychology Alchemists.
  • Xio/Judgment: Provides a realistic explanation of why the authorities will not move against Owen, emphasizing political influence and lack of evidence.
  • Sharron: Remains skeptical of the official appearance of events and recognizes that Sherlock Holmes could not have defeated a Moses Ascetic Order Pillar directly.
  • The Tarot Club: Their growing knowledge leads them to make increasingly elaborate—but often incorrect—speculations about Mr. Fool’s power and secret arrangements.

Significant Themes

  • Speculation and incomplete information: Much of the chapter revolves around characters piecing together events from fragments, often reaching conclusions that are partly or entirely wrong.
  • Hidden identities and manipulation: Yaluolan’s true status, World’s actions, Katarina’s transformation, and Owen’s secret identity all emphasize the danger of concealed motives.
  • Political power versus justice: Owen’s crimes are known, but his family’s influence and church connections protect him from punishment.
  • Moral ambiguity: Characters and organizations operate according to their own interests, making it difficult to distinguish justice, revenge, manipulation, and self-preservation.
  • The dangers of supernatural artifacts: The Book of Calamity causes a regional crisis, demonstrating how ancient relics can destabilize gods, organizations, and entire populations.
  • Reputation and misunderstanding: World’s involvement in several disasters leads the Tarot Club to interpret him as a supernatural omen or agent of Mr. Fool’s will.

Character Interactions

  • Audrey prompts Alger to explain the Sea God crisis, while the other Tarot Club members react to World’s revelations.
  • World identifies Leticia Dorella and explains her connection to the Book of Calamity; Alger recognizes her and reassesses World’s past actions.
  • Abner questions whether Yaluolan supervised the expedition, and World confirms it. Mr. Fool’s correction that Yaluolan should be called “She” dramatically changes everyone’s understanding of her power and status.
  • Alger asks Abner whether he knows Yaluolan, but Abner carefully denies any personal connection.
  • The members discuss rumors about World’s involvement with the Demoness Sect. Klein attempts to defend himself through World, but some members remain unconvinced.
  • Abner exposes Owen Delien’s role in controlling Katarina, prompting moral outrage from Audrey and a discussion about whether the Demoness Sect should be informed.
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Ch. 765After the Tarot Club

Chapter Summary: “After the Tarot Club”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • During the Tarot Club meeting, Emlyn asks how his enchanted puppets could remove their own seals and disappear. Sharron suggests that an Evil Spirit possessed them, while Abner advises him to pray to the Sanguine Ancestor. Klein supports Abner’s suggestion, causing the others to speculate about the connection between Mr. Tower, the Sanguine Ancestor, and the missing puppets.
  • After the meeting, Klein divines Abner’s invitation to enter Groselle’s Travels. He determines that the journey is dangerous but acceptable—and that refusing may lead to even greater danger—raising questions about his connection to Roselle or Liu Bo.
  • Klein prepares to send Communion to his blessed. Shako, acting as a Witch, abandons her malicious “dark cuisine” temporarily and prepares a sincere offering for Mr. Fool. Klein names it “Witch Soup Pasta,” which is later delivered to Fors.
  • Fors visits the dying Mr. Teren on behalf of Dorian. Teren recognizes her name, gives her a bag intended for his family, and reveals a password for a personal item hidden in a Trier bank safe-deposit box. He dies shortly afterward by deliberately taking a potion that causes organ failure, choosing to die as a human rather than risk losing control and becoming a Monster. Fors collects his Beyonder characteristic and begins handling his affairs.
  • Abner sends Jane a birthday gift through her Messenger, then teleports with Cecia and the Magic Mirror from Tosk to Bayam. He plans to gather intelligence at Scented Leaf Bar.
  • At the same time, Klein finishes a battle in an underwater ruin connected to the Spirit World. He retrieves the mysterious flattened golden wine cup from beneath the ruins and escapes. Sea King Jahn Kottman arrives soon afterward, replays the scene through a water curtain, and orders his allies to find the Demoness responsible.
  • Back Above the Gray Fog, Klein reflects that his resistance to using the Demoness card is weakening and that the card may actually help him act as a Faceless.

Character Developments

  • Emlyn Moon: Becomes visibly agitated and defensive about his missing puppets, especially when Fors jokingly suggests they fled because he mistreated them. His reluctance to pray to the Sanguine Ancestor shows both pride and uncertainty despite his belief that he is the Ancestor’s chosen “Sanguine Savior.”
  • Klein/Mr. Fool: Acts with unusual confidence in endorsing Abner’s advice, implying that he understands the true source of the puppet incident. He continues balancing his secret identities, divine authority, and investigations into Groselle’s Travels, while growing more comfortable using the Demoness card.
  • Abner/Mr. Tower: Demonstrates knowledge of the puppet incident and subtly guides Emlyn without revealing the truth. He remains active in coordinating allies, sending Jane a gift, traveling to Bayam, and pursuing intelligence.
  • Fors/Miss Magician: Shows compassion and responsibility by caring for Mr. Teren’s funeral arrangements rather than immediately pursuing the mysterious bank item. Her medical knowledge allows her to recognize that Teren deliberately caused his own death.
  • Shako: Takes her Witch Acting seriously by creating harmful food, but her devotion to Mr. Fool reveals a gentler and more sincere side. She is excited to prepare a meaningful offering after being inspired by the Communion.
  • Mr. Teren: Dies with dignity, deliberately choosing death over the possibility of becoming a Monster. His final revelation creates a new mystery for Fors to investigate.
  • Jahn Kottman: Becomes aware of Klein’s involvement in the underwater ruin and begins a hunt for the Demoness card’s user.

Significant Themes

  • Secrecy and hidden identities: Nearly every major interaction involves concealed knowledge, including the truth behind Emlyn’s puppets, Abner’s identity, Klein’s actions, and Teren’s final message.
  • Dignity in the face of corruption: Teren’s suicide reflects the fear of losing control and becoming monstrous, emphasizing the value characters place on retaining their humanity.
  • Fate and inevitability: Klein’s divination suggests that his connection to Groselle’s Travels may have been established long ago, reinforcing the chapter’s recurring tension between choice and predetermined fate.
  • Acting and transformation: Shako’s “dark cuisine” and Klein’s use of the Demoness card both show how Beyonders adopt roles to advance their powers, while also risking changes to their identities.
  • Faith and divine authority: Shako’s Communion and Emlyn’s potential prayer to the Sanguine Ancestor demonstrate how divine connections influence ordinary actions and create expectations among the Tarot Club members.
  • Mystery and escalating danger: The bank item, the missing puppets, the golden wine cup, and the Sea King’s investigation all introduce unresolved threats and future plotlines.

Important Character Interactions

  • Emlyn and Fors clash humorously over the idea that his puppets fled because of his treatment, while Sharron offers the more serious explanation of Evil Spirit possession.
  • Abner advises Emlyn to seek the Sanguine Ancestor, and Klein’s endorsement gives the suggestion unusual weight.
  • Shako’s devotion to Mr. Fool leads her to prepare “Witch Soup Pasta,” which becomes a direct connection between her and Fors through Klein’s Communion.
  • Fors and Mr. Teren share a final, mysterious encounter in which he entrusts her with a password and private responsibility before dying.
  • Abner’s unseen care for Jane is shown through his birthday gift, while his partnership with Cecia continues as they travel to Bayam.
  • Klein’s actions in the underwater ruin directly provoke Jahn Kottman, establishing a new conflict between the hidden Demoness identity and the Sea King.
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Ch. 766Entering the Travelogue

Chapter Summary: “Entering the Travelogue”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Jane receives a magical birthday gift from Abner: a charm that draws her into a dreamlike celebration filled with fireworks, music, and a castle. Abner humorously ends the dream by smearing cake on her face, preventing the dream’s beauty from making reality feel disappointing.
  • Cattleya observes Jane’s reaction and privately hopes Abner will prepare an equally thoughtful gift for her upcoming birthday.
  • After testing the Sea God Scepter and establishing the “Ten Commandments” for the former Sea God believers in the Rorsted Archipelago, Klein returns to Bayam and goes to sleep.
  • Abner enters Klein’s dream, accompanied by a seductive maid, and invites him to join an expedition with Vice Admiral Iceberg, Edwina. Klein agrees after Abner proves his identity with the Fallen Morning Star necklace.
  • Abner gives Klein a letter from Edwina for Danitz. Klein leaves it with Danitz along with a note explaining that he will be away for several days.
  • Abner’s maid escorts Klein through a concealed teleportation route, allowing the two to travel quickly to the expedition’s destination.
  • Danitz reacts with alarm upon learning that Klein is accompanying Edwina, worrying that Klein may harm or exploit her. Before he can act, he receives an invitation to a banquet at the Governor’s Mansion—addressed to Gehrman Sparrow.
  • Abner and Klein arrive at a hidden ritual chamber beneath the Sari family estate, where Edwina is waiting.
  • Abner explains that Roselle’s ritual chamber lies beneath the estate and that Cecia will remain behind to guard it while they enter Groselle’s Travels. Though Klein initially dislikes Abner’s manipulation of Cecia, he accepts it after considering her past crimes and his own future as a Marionettist.
  • The three place Groselle’s Travels, the Book of Astrology, and the Book of Stealing Luck into the ritual altar. The resulting gateway is incomplete and requires three Blasphemy Cards.
  • Abner, Klein, and Edwina insert the Door, Black Emperor, and Error cards, respectively, opening the gateway and entering the world within the travelogue.
  • They arrive before a gigantic ice-like Dragon sleeping on a mountain of treasure. Edwina identifies it as Ulyssan, the King of the North.

Character Developments

  • Jane shows affection and emotional warmth toward Abner, appreciating both the beauty and playful absurdity of his gift. She begins thinking about returning the cake prank in reality.
  • Abner demonstrates thoughtfulness, emotional insight, and considerable mystical expertise. He deliberately designs Jane’s dream to avoid emotional harm, manipulates dream communication skillfully, and organizes the expedition with careful preparations.
  • Klein continues becoming more perceptive about Abner’s abilities, recognizing that Abner is powerful not only in combat but also in dream manipulation, teleportation, and unusual mystical techniques. He also shows growing acceptance of morally complex methods that resemble the practices he may eventually use as a Marionettist.
  • Edwina remains analytical and observant, noticing that Roselle’s ritual has been altered and questioning the origins and modifications of the gateway.
  • Danitz remains deeply suspicious and protective of Edwina. His fear of Klein’s ruthlessness conflicts with his belief that Edwina would not be attracted to someone as crude as Gehrman Sparrow.

Significant Themes

  • Affection expressed through humor: Abner’s gift shows that intimacy can involve playful teasing as well as grandeur.
  • Dreams versus reality: The cake gag deliberately softens the transition from an idealized dream to ordinary reality.
  • Trust and verification: Klein does not immediately trust Abner, requiring proof of his identity before accepting the invitation.
  • Moral ambiguity: Abner’s use of Cecia as a guard raises ethical concerns, but her history and lack of trustworthiness complicate the issue.
  • Preparation and hidden history: The altered ritual chamber and incomplete gateway suggest that Roselle modified an older mystical structure, hinting at deeper secrets behind Groselle’s Travels.
  • Entering the unknown: The expedition marks a transition from preparation and investigation into direct confrontation with the dangerous world inside the travelogue.

Character Interactions

  • Jane and Abner’s relationship is shown through the affectionate birthday dream and Jane’s desire to retaliate playfully.
  • Cattleya watches Jane and quietly compares her own relationship with Abner to theirs.
  • Abner and Klein interact cautiously but efficiently, with Abner providing proof and Klein maintaining his guarded Gehrman persona.
  • Abner, Klein, and Edwina cooperate to activate the ritual, combining their knowledge and the three required Blasphemy Cards.
  • Danitz’s reaction highlights his distrust of Klein and his loyalty to Edwina, while also providing humorous contrast to the expedition’s serious preparations.
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Ch. 767Dragon

Chapter Summary: “Dragon”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Abner, Klein—still disguised as Gehrman Sparrow—and Edwina enter the world inside Groselle’s Travels through an unusual combination of the “Black Emperor,” “Error,” and “Door” pathways.
  • They discover the Frost Dragon Ulyssan, the “King of the North,” sleeping atop a mountain of treasure. Although it possesses power comparable to a Demigod, it is an unstable creature formed from accumulated Frost-type Beyonder Characteristics.
  • After using divination and analysis, they determine that Ulyssan will not awaken unless attacked. They decide not to kill it, since its death might end the story and eliminate their only known exit.
  • The group concludes that the plot has stalled because the story’s main characters have not yet fully gathered. They decide to locate the protagonists and investigate what Roselle hid within the book.
  • Abner and Klein discuss the world’s artificial nature. Abner explains that Ulyssan and its treasure were imagined into existence and cannot leave the book, making the dragon useless for Klein’s Bizarro Sorcerer ritual.
  • Klein reveals that he learned about the book from Arrodes, while Abner explains that he knows of Arrodes through a prayer Secret Art circulated by a Mysticism Mentor of the Church of Storms. Edwina becomes interested in learning the ritual.
  • Guided by Edwina’s mirror, the group travels through the deadly blizzard to a cave. There they find five sleeping figures: Giant Groselle, soldier Longzel, an unnamed ascetic, a nobleman from the Fourth Epoch Solomon Empire, and an Elf.
  • Abner places Longzel’s family notebook on his chest. The notebook opens a mysterious door connected to Longzel’s dream and the Sea of Collective Subconscious.
  • Suspecting that Roselle’s secret is hidden within Longzel’s dream, Abner summons the “Blue-Eyes White Dragon” and has the group ride it into the dream world.

Character Developments

  • Abner continues acting as the group’s strategist and source of hidden knowledge. He recognizes the artificial nature of the book’s world and quickly identifies Longzel as a likely focal point of Roselle’s arrangements.
  • Klein remains cautious and analytical while maintaining his Gehrman persona. He shows concern over preserving the exit, confirms that he can still access the gray fog and potentially assume the Sea God identity, and displays his usual dry internal commentary.
  • Edwina demonstrates strong investigative abilities through her mirror and knowledge of the travel journal. Her intense curiosity is highlighted when she learns about Arrodes and immediately wants to study the related Secret Art.
  • Ulyssan is presented as enormously powerful but fundamentally flawed: an artificial, unstable being confined to the book’s world.
  • Longzel is increasingly implied to be special. Unlike most of the other characters, he has a proper name and a direct connection to the hidden mechanism leading into the dream realm.

Significant Themes

  • Reality versus imagination: The dragon, treasure, and even the surrounding world are imagined constructs with limitations distinct from reality.
  • Stories and narrative rules: The world appears governed by the unfinished plot of Groselle’s Travels. The heroes’ absence has caused the story to stall, while Roselle’s intervention has created a hidden route through Longzel.
  • Secrets and hidden pathways: The “Black Emperor,” “Error,” and “Door” symbolism emphasizes rule distortion, loopholes, and bypassing normal procedures.
  • Identity and disguise: Klein continues concealing his true identity, while Abner’s comments suggest he may suspect more about Klein than he openly admits.
  • Exploration and knowledge: Edwina’s curiosity and the group’s investigation reflect the chapter’s emphasis on uncovering the truth behind Roselle’s arrangements.

Character Interactions

  • Abner advises against attacking Ulyssan, and Edwina supports finding the story’s protagonists first.
  • Klein and Abner exchange subtle remarks about their prior knowledge of the book, each recognizing that the other is withholding information.
  • Abner teases Klein about his possible interest in the dragon’s treasure, while Klein internally suspects that Abner may know more about his aliases and circumstances.
  • Edwina asks about Arrodes’s Secret Art, but Abner postpones the explanation to keep the expedition moving.
  • Abner protects Edwina from the mental danger of seeing the summoned Dragon’s true mythical form by disguising it with an illusory filter.
  • The chapter ends with the three characters cooperating closely as they mount the summoned dragon and enter Longzel’s dream.
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Ch. 768Roselle's Scheme

Chapter Summary: “Roselle’s Scheme”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Abner tests Klein by mentioning the “Blue-Eyes White Dragon,” suspecting that Klein may recognize it as a reference to their shared former world. Klein’s lack of reaction confirms to Abner that he is deliberately hiding his own suspicions.
  • Abner explains to Edwina that the Bone Dragon is a puppet made from a former Psychology Alchemists’ Dream Weaver, and that its card was created by Emperor Roselle.
  • The group enters Longzel’s dream, which depicts Backlund over a century earlier. Longzel is finally able to embrace his deceased mother, fulfilling the longing embedded in Groselle’s Travels.
  • Edwina asks whether the people trapped in the travelogue can escape. Klein and Abner conclude that most have been inside too long and would die or rapidly age if released—unless a miracle occurs.
  • Longzel’s thought of a “miracle” creates a passage leading to Liveseyd, the City of Miracles, the divine kingdom of Ankewelt, the Dragon of Imagination.
  • Abner realizes that the area’s proximity to the Chaos Sea weakens the influence of Outer Deities and possibly prevents interference from True Gods. He suspects this is why the Goddess and the God of Knowledge guided him and Klein there.
  • Inside Liveseyd, the group enters the Dragon King’s palace and discovers the Hall of Truth, where their thoughts are automatically spoken aloud.
  • Klein, Edwina, and Abner struggle to control their minds. Klein nearly exposes his knowledge of their shared origins, while Edwina’s thoughts reveal her curiosity, her opinion of the others, and her friendship with Sharron.
  • The murals suggest that Groselle’s Travels may be connected to a plan for Ankewelt’s resurrection, though Abner notices that the final murals appear to have been added later and may instead conceal another scheme.
  • Behind the Dragon King’s pillar, the group finds an open passage and a Bronze Door leading downward.
  • Abner discovers the true base of the Dream Labyrinth Tower, built inside the reflection of Liveseyd and extending into the Sea of Collective Subconscious.
  • He deduces Roselle’s likely plan: Roselle severed part of his soul and intended to use the Tower’s accumulated “miracles” to resurrect it. He may have planned to steal a resurrection miracle from the insane Zaratul using the Book of Stealing Luck and the ritual that brought the group into the travelogue.
  • The Beyonder characteristics held by Fanny and Mr. Sarr may have been prepared as possible vessels for Roselle’s resurrection, though Abner cannot yet determine which—or whether both—are involved.
  • Before Abner can decide how to interfere, the tower’s entrance opens and an irresistible force pulls him, Klein, and Edwina inside.

Character Developments

  • Abner: Becomes increasingly confident in his deductions about Roselle, Ankewelt, the Dream Labyrinth, and the purpose of the travelogue. His Pure White Eye and knowledge of the original story allow him to identify hidden structures and distinguish between genuine remnants of the Dragon King’s plan and later additions. He also continues concealing his transmigrator identity from Klein and Edwina.
  • Klein: His suspicion that Abner may be connected to the modern world is strengthened, but he remains cautious and avoids revealing his own identity. The Hall of Truth exposes his homesickness, curiosity, and anxiety about accidentally revealing dangerous information.
  • Edwina: Continues to act as the group’s scholarly and inquisitive member. Her thirst for knowledge outweighs her caution, and the Hall of Truth reveals her unexpectedly lively inner thoughts beneath her calm, “icy” exterior.
  • Longzel: Receives emotional closure by embracing his mother within the dream, an event made possible by the special circumstances created by Roselle or the Calamity Seal.
  • Roselle: His past actions are reframed as part of a complex resurrection plan involving a severed soul, the Dream Labyrinth Tower, stolen miracles, and potentially multiple Beyonder vessels.
  • Ankewelt: Though apparently absent, the Dragon King’s divine kingdom and possible resurrection contingency remain central to the chapter’s mystery.

Significant Themes

  • Homesickness and belonging: Longzel’s reunion with his mother mirrors Klein and Abner’s suppressed longing for their former world. The chapter contrasts emotional attachment to one’s original home with the bonds formed in a new world.
  • Miracles and resurrection: The repeated idea of a “miracle” connects Longzel’s emotional wish, Liveseyd’s divine nature, the Dream Labyrinth’s rewards, and Roselle’s attempt to restore his severed soul.
  • Truth and concealment: The Hall of Truth forces hidden thoughts into the open, highlighting the characters’ secrets, mutual suspicion, and need for mental discipline.
  • Legacy and manipulation: Roselle’s creations, Ankewelt’s divine kingdom, the travelogue, and the Dream Labyrinth all continue to influence events long after their creators’ apparent deaths or disappearance.
  • Identity and transmigration: The Blue-Eyes White Dragon reference and the characters’ carefully controlled reactions emphasize the danger of recognizing shared origins without openly acknowledging them.
  • Knowledge as power: Abner’s accumulated knowledge allows him to interpret the city, murals, ritual books, and Dream Labyrinth, but his incomplete information leaves him uncertain about the true threat.

Important Character Interactions

  • Abner and Klein: They engage in a silent battle of suspicion, testing each other through expressions, reactions, and concealed thoughts. Both recognize that the other is hiding major secrets.
  • Abner and Edwina: Abner provides her with explanations about the Bone Dragon, Ankewelt, and the dangers of Liveseyd. He also partially releases his thoughts to protect her from the Hall of Truth’s effects.
  • Klein and Edwina: Their thoughts are unintentionally exposed to one another. Edwina’s comments about Klein’s companions and Sharron embarrass her, while Klein tries desperately to redirect his own thoughts away from dangerous subjects.
  • The trio and Longzel: Their observation of Longzel’s reunion gives the group a moment of emotional relief before the exploration becomes more dangerous.
  • The trio and the Hall of Truth: The location turns their internal thoughts into audible statements, creating both humor and tension while forcing them to confront their lack of trust and self-control.
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Ch. 769The Beginning

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • In the Ratway beneath Tosk, Selo Delien, the Black Knight, returns from killing a Nightmare Monster and discovers that all his attendants except the butler Varys have vanished.
  • Selo grows suspicious of the butler, who speaks unlike the real Varys, and attacks him with his greatsword. However, the attack rebounds, revealing that the apparent confrontation was a Nightmare illusion.
  • The “butler” is exposed as an Amon avatar. The avatar’s stolen fate causes his own hand to be severed, but he restores it using stolen Flesh Magic. He realizes that the Kaspersky stronghold prevents him from contacting his other avatars, though several had already been summoned to Tosk.
  • Amon changes into his familiar young-man appearance and declares that he has found the people hiding within the Ratway.
  • Inside the Men in Black’s hidden base, Selo is bound to an altar as part of a ritual intended to transfer the pollution surrounding Roselle’s return onto him. The commander explains that the Ratway contains three Mystical Reenactments created by Roselle: Nightmare Dragon’s Game, Reinhardt-Solomon’s Raven Lasso, and the Crete Labyrinth.
  • The Crete Labyrinth has trapped Amon, specifically because the labyrinth is effective against Marauder Pathway Beyonders. The commander intends to keep Amon imprisoned until Roselle requires his assistance.
  • The commander reveals a personal hatred of Amon, recalling how Amon once parasitized his family and how Roselle rescued him and later helped him take revenge.
  • Meanwhile, the Dream Labyrinth Tower announces that someone has reached its first floor. The three people with the highest authority on the third floor—Abner, Klein, and Edwina—are forcibly transported into the top-level scenario. The total number of Tower Climbers is confirmed as five.
  • Telles Reno, a Sequence 4 Prophet of the Knowledge Church, receives the same notification. His prophecy tells him to assist the holder of the Lightseeker in winning the competition, which he interprets as an oracle from his god. He spends all his points through the Exchange List.
  • Other powerful figures receive opposing divine orders: Shanks is commanded by the Mother Tree of Desire to destroy the Tower’s final ritual, while an Aurora Order Saint is ordered to seize the Tower and destroy it.
  • The first-floor scenario is revealed as a Holy Grail War. The main objective is to win the war and make a wish. Optional objectives include summoning a Heroic Spirit, killing the other Masters, and finding and awakening the person possessed by Roselle Gustav’s phantom.
  • Abner discovers that he has replaced Kiritsugu Emiya and possesses a Cursed Seal. Edwina has replaced Irisviel von Einzbern but lacks a Cursed Seal, raising questions about her role and the identities of the remaining participants. Klein is absent, while the Magic Mirror hidden in Abner’s sleeve begins to tremble.

Character Developments

  • Selo Delien: Demonstrates suspicion and aggression but is ultimately revealed to be trapped and incapacitated, becoming a sacrifice in the commander’s ritual.
  • Amon: Shows his characteristic confidence and amusement, but the Kaspersky arrangement successfully limits his avatars and traps him within the Crete Labyrinth.
  • The Men in Black commander: Reveals his deep personal resentment toward Amon and his loyalty to Roselle. His plan is to use Selo to transfer Roselle-related pollution and preserve Amon as a future resource.
  • Telles Reno: Receives a divine prophecy and chooses to act on it, apparently aligning himself with Abner’s side despite the potential political implications.
  • Abner: Quickly analyzes the Holy Grail War scenario, recognizes its connection to Roselle’s resurrection, and realizes that his identity as Kiritsugu places him in a central role.
  • Edwina: Is assigned the role of Irisviel, suggesting that she may be part of the scenario’s “protagonist team,” though her lack of a Cursed Seal makes her status unusual.

Significant Themes

  • Identity and deception: Illusions, false identities, avatars, and replaced characters dominate the chapter. Neither Selo’s opponent nor the participants’ identities can be taken at face value.
  • Fate and stolen destinies: Amon’s powers involve stealing and manipulating fate, while the Labyrinth Tower forces characters into predetermined narrative roles.
  • Sacrifice and ritual: Selo is prepared as a sacrificial vessel, and the Dream Labyrinth Tower itself appears to be part of a larger ritual connected to Roselle’s return.
  • Power struggles among gods and factions: Multiple divine entities issue contradictory orders, turning the Tower into a battlefield involving the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, the Mother Tree of Desire, the Aurora Order, Roselle, and Amon.
  • Narrative and fiction becoming reality: The Holy Grail War scenario directly recreates elements of Fate/stay night, but reinterprets them through the chapter’s supernatural cosmology and Roselle-related corruption.

Character Interactions

  • Selo confronts the false Varys, only to be defeated through an illusion and captured for sacrifice.
  • The Men in Black commander discusses Amon’s imprisonment and his own history of suffering at Amon’s hands.
  • Telles receives a prophecy directing him to support Abner, creating a potential future alliance.
  • Abner and Edwina compare their assigned identities as Kiritsugu and Irisviel, while Abner notices that Klein is missing and begins speculating about the other participants.
  • The chapter ends with Abner’s Magic Mirror signaling, suggesting that a significant revelation or communication is imminent.
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Ch. 770Klein's Identity

Chapter Summary: “Klein’s Identity”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Abner explains the mechanics of the Holy Grail War to Edwina: seven Masters, each commanding a Servant, compete for the Holy Grail, which can grant a wish.
  • He deliberately withholds the original story and much of his knowledge, fearing that revealing it could expose him to supernatural detection.
  • Edwina discovers that her mystical item, Tranquil Winter, has lost its former abilities inside the Dream Labyrinth Tower and has transformed into something resembling a Gatekeeper, capable of containing souls.
  • Abner suspects that Tranquil Winter may be the vessel of the “Lesser Grail.” He begins connecting the Holy Grail War to Roselle Gustav’s resurrection plans and possible interference from the God of Knowledge.
  • Abner theorizes that the Servants are fragments or sealed versions of Roselle’s soul. The Holy Grail War may be designed both to help Roselle resurrect and to prevent the participants from making the resurrection wish.
  • He interprets the “Sacred Relic” as the soul of a powerful being used to summon a specific Servant. Without one, the ritual would summon a random “Phantom of Roselle Gustav.”
  • Abner prepares to use the soul contained within the Solar Scepter—the Evil Spirit of a former Eternal Blazing Sun pope—as a Sacred Relic.
  • Before he can perform the summoning, he is pulled into the ancient palace above the Gray Fog by a request from The World.
  • There, he learns that Miss Temperance has also entered the Dream Labyrinth Tower because she and The World share authority over it.

Character Developments

  • Abner demonstrates growing insight into the Tower’s structure and Roselle’s conflicting resurrection scheme. He recognizes that the Holy Grail War itself may contain hidden warnings and contradictory objectives.
  • He remains cautious and secretive, withholding both the original Holy Grail War narrative and his full suspicions about the Gods.
  • Edwina adapts to her altered role and equipment, becoming linked to the Gatekeeper-like function of the Lesser Grail. Though she lacks enough information to evaluate Abner’s theories, she contributes practical questions about Sacred Relics.
  • Klein/The World is revealed to be participating in the Tower under the identity of Kenneth El-Melloi Archibald.
  • Miss Temperance has replaced Sola, indicating that the Tower is assigning major participants roles from the Fourth Holy Grail War and sometimes allowing shared control of a character.

Significant Themes

  • Identity and role replacement: Characters are placed into identities from the Holy Grail War, raising questions about whether they are merely acting roles or are being transformed by the identities they inhabit.
  • Conflicting wills within Roselle: Roselle’s resurrection plan appears internally divided. One aspect seeks to make resurrection possible, while another creates missions and mechanisms that discourage or obstruct it.
  • Soul, resurrection, and fragmentation: The Servants may be fragments of Roselle’s soul, temporarily reconstructed through the Grail system. The chapter presents souls as objects that can be sealed, sacrificed, transformed, and recombined.
  • Secrecy and supernatural knowledge: Abner’s reluctance to reveal his knowledge reflects the danger of information itself in the Lord of Mysteries universe.
  • Divine manipulation: The possible involvement of the Goddess, the God of Knowledge, and Roselle suggests that the Tower is part of a larger struggle among powerful beings with competing agendas.

Character Interactions

  • Abner gives Edwina a practical explanation of the Holy Grail War, while carefully concealing information that could compromise his advantage.
  • Edwina shows him Tranquil Winter and asks about the significance of Sacred Relics, prompting Abner to explain his theory about soul sacrifices.
  • Abner shares most of his deductions with Edwina but omits his more speculative accusations concerning the God of Knowledge.
  • After entering the Gray Fog palace, Abner exchanges information with The World about their identities in the scenario. The World also clarifies that Miss Temperance was drawn into the Tower because of her shared authority over it.
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Ch. 771The Setup

Chapter Summary: “The Game”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Klein realizes that Mr. Tower—Abner—understands the references to Fate/Zero, including the identities of Director Ken, Sola, and Irisviel. Abner confirms that Vice Admiral Iceberg replaced Irisviel, revealing that he is no longer hiding his knowledge.
  • Klein and Abner exchange information about Roselle’s possible resurrection. Klein explains that Roselle encountered a mad Zaratul and likely imprisoned Him within a dark palace.
  • Abner reveals that he previously encountered and sealed a normal Historical Image of Zaratul in the Nation of the Evernight. If that image encounters Zaratul’s main body, it may allow Zaratul to resurrect.
  • The discussion turns to whether the Evernight Goddess supports Roselle’s resurrection plan. Abner argues that She likely opposes it, since the seal on Zaratul cannot currently be undone and Abner cannot release Him until reaching the Demigod level.
  • Abner theorizes that Roselle may use the Dream Labyrinth Tower’s rules, along with the Black Emperor’s powers of Distortion and Stealing, to alter any final wish and resurrect Zaratul by stealing his fate. However, this method could leave Roselle vulnerable to continued corruption and pollution.
  • Klein shares three of Roselle’s cryptic warnings:
    • “The Calamity Seal is working with the Traitor Dragon. It cannot be trusted.”
    • “I am not myself, yet I am myself.”
    • “Beware the Mother Card.”
  • Abner interprets these clues as suggesting that:
    • The Calamity Seal may have manipulated or betrayed Roselle.
    • Roselle’s personality has been altered by the Primordial Moon after his transformation on the moon.
    • The “Mother Card” refers to the Mother Goddess of Depravity.
  • Sharron points out that the inability to undo Zaratul’s seal makes the resurrection plan appear to be a trap.
  • Abner begins to suspect that Roselle’s resurrection may be part of a larger divine scheme, possibly the “Silver Moon Plan,” orchestrated by the Gods and connected to the Mother Goddess of Depravity.

Character Developments

  • Klein recognizes that Abner is more knowledgeable and perceptive than he is in matters concerning transmigrators, Roselle, and the Dream Labyrinth Tower. Klein becomes increasingly cautious about what he reveals.
  • Abner demonstrates confidence in analyzing Roselle’s plans and divine conspiracies, but he also realizes that important information remains hidden from him. His suspicions shift from Roselle’s independent resurrection attempt toward a broader plot involving multiple Gods.
  • Sharron contributes a concise but crucial observation: the sealed Historical Image of Zaratul may be deliberately designed as bait, highlighting her sharp instincts.
  • Temperance/Sharron remains confused by Klein and Abner’s coded references, reinforcing that much of the discussion concerns secrets inaccessible to her.

Significant Themes

  • Knowledge as power and danger: The characters carefully conceal information while testing one another’s understanding. Even seemingly casual references reveal hidden identities and connections.
  • Identity and corruption: Roselle’s statement, “I am not myself, yet I am myself,” raises questions about whether a resurrected person remains the same individual after being altered by divine influence and pollution.
  • Manipulation and hidden agendas: Roselle, the Calamity Seal, the Gods, and the Mother Goddess may all be manipulating events. The apparent resurrection plan may be only one layer of a much larger game.
  • Resurrection and its consequences: Returning from death is not presented as a simple restoration. It may require stealing fate, relying on dangerous powers, or accepting severe mental and spiritual corruption.
  • Trust and betrayal: The Calamity Seal’s possible betrayal of Roselle, along with the uncertain motives of the Evernight Goddess and other Gods, makes it difficult for any character to determine who is truly helping whom.

Important Character Interactions

  • Klein and Abner: Their conversation is a tense exchange of coded information and mutual probing. Both recognize the other’s intelligence and hidden knowledge, while carefully avoiding full disclosure.
  • Klein and Sharron: Klein notices Sharron’s confusion and silently indicates that he will explain the matter later, showing his continued effort to control sensitive information.
  • Abner and Sharron: Sharron’s question about who knows of Zaratul’s sealed state forces Abner to acknowledge that several Gods may be aware of it. Her observation that the situation resembles a trap significantly influences Abner’s thinking.
  • Klein and Roselle’s legacy: Through Roselle’s mutterings, Klein acts as the source of crucial warnings, allowing the others to reinterpret the resurrection plan and suspect a deeper conspiracy.
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Ch. 772Giving Up

Chapter Summary: “Taking It Easy”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Abner realizes that the apparent conflict among the Evernight Goddess, the God of Knowledge, and Lilith is likely part of a larger deception aimed at the Mother Goddess of Depravity.
  • He concludes that Roselle’s resurrection plan was probably corrupted or manipulated by the Mother Goddess. Her goal is likely to make the Gods believe Roselle has returned safely, allowing Her influence to penetrate the Barrier.
  • Abner suspects Lilith is the true mastermind because She is the only one capable of acting near the Chaos Sea and has maintained an apparently neutral position.
  • He decides not to interfere too aggressively. By “taking it easy,” he can observe how much the corrupted Roselle and the Mother Goddess are willing to invest in ensuring his victory in the Holy Grail War.
  • Abner explains that Servants summoned without a high-level soul as a Sacred Relic will probably be disguised “Phantoms of Roselle.”
  • Klein reveals that he has already summoned a Servant using a Card of Blasphemy depicting the Demoness pathway. The result is Rider-class Medusa from Fate/stay night.
  • Medusa possesses roughly Sequence 3 strength normally and can reach Angel-level power through her Noble Phantasm. Her personality and appearance resemble the fictional character, while her abilities seem artificially assembled through Roselle’s powers and the special environment.
  • Abner suggests that Klein try to “awaken” Medusa, which might increase her strength.
  • Rather than immediately gathering in Fuyuki City, Abner proposes that he and his companions explore the enormous battlefield—covering nearly all of Honshu Island—and allow the other Masters to weaken one another first.
  • He believes the supervising “church” may tolerate this apparent violation of Holy Grail War rules. Even if they lose their Master qualifications, Abner considers that an acceptable outcome because it would remove their burden.

Character Developments

  • Abner becomes more confident in interpreting the Gods’ hidden plans. He shifts from direct participation to strategic observation, deliberately conserving effort while testing the Mother Goddess’s limits.
  • Klein remains cautious and suspicious. He worries that Abner may know or suspect his identity as the Fool and is unsettled by Abner’s suggestion that the Fool approved the trap.
  • Klein also demonstrates creativity and initiative by summoning Medusa through an unconventional method, though he is uncertain whether she is truly a Roselle Phantom.
  • Sharron provides Abner with an important reminder that helps him connect the resurrection plan, the Gods’ actions, and the larger trap.

Significant Themes

  • Deception and layered schemes: The chapter emphasizes that apparent conflicts between powerful beings may be staged to deceive an even greater enemy.
  • Corruption disguised as salvation: Roselle’s resurrection may appear successful while secretly allowing the Mother Goddess of Depravity to infiltrate Earth’s defenses.
  • Strategic patience: Abner’s decision to “take it easy” reflects the value of restraint, observation, and allowing enemies to reveal their intentions.
  • Identity and constructed reality: Medusa’s existence raises questions about whether a summoned being is a true individual, a phantom, or an artificial personality assembled from multiple supernatural abilities.
  • Trust and uncertainty: Klein struggles to determine whether Abner genuinely respects the Fool or has discovered his true identity.

Character Interactions

  • Abner thanks Sharron for her warning and explains his deductions to Klein.
  • He teasingly suggests that the Fool approved the trap, causing Klein to internally question whether Abner knows his secret.
  • Abner and Klein discuss the mechanics of Servant summoning, Sacred Relics, Command Spells, and Medusa’s abilities.
  • The three characters coordinate their future meeting while Abner persuades Klein that they should avoid rushing into the main conflict and instead observe the Holy Grail War from a distance.
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Ch. 773Reinforcements at the Door

Chapter Summary: “Reinforcements Arrive”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Abner returns from Above the Gray Fog and rejoins Edwina in the Sunroom. Edwina has been examining a radio resembling one described in Emperor Roselle’s manuscripts.
  • Abner tells Edwina that Klein—referred to as Gehrman—and his companions will soon join them. He omits sensitive information about the trap and the possibility of abandoning the mission.
  • At Abner’s suggestion, they summon the Servant using the Sun Scepter and the Command Spell markings on his hand.
  • The ritual creates a powerful whirlwind and summons a young woman in black armor carrying a thorned spear. She appears to be an Alter version of King Arthur in the Lancer class.
  • Abner realizes that the Servant is actually Auerbach, the Angel-level Evil Spirit formerly inhabiting the scepter. The Dream Labyrinth Tower has given Auerbach a new body, personality, and some of Artoria Pendragon’s traits.
  • Auerbach explains that she can currently use abilities from Sequence 9 to Sequence 3. By releasing her Noble Phantasm, she can access her former Sequence 2 strength and additional powers temporarily granted by the Tower.
  • Abner names her “Leah” for use within the dream world and reserves “Lancer” for combat situations.
  • Soon afterward, a masked Servant resembling Hundred-Faced Hassan scouts the Sunroom. Before Lancer can attack, a mysterious man appears and claims he is not an enemy.
  • Edwina recognizes the man as her former teacher, Telles, a powerful Mysticism Mentor whose reputation and charisma had previously been mentioned by Closia.

Character Developments

  • Abner demonstrates increased caution and strategic thinking. He carefully controls what information he shares, evaluates Auerbach’s abilities, and immediately positions himself between the threat and Edwina.
  • Edwina remains intellectually curious, especially about Roselle’s inventions and the Tower’s possible library, but also shows appropriate suspicion toward Klein and his allies.
  • Auerbach/Leah retains her original identity and devotion to Abner despite receiving Artoria’s personality and abilities. She is intensely loyal, reverent, and eager to serve him.
  • Lancer’s strength is established as unusually high compared with ordinary Servants because her original soul and Angel-level essence were preserved.
  • Telles is introduced as a charismatic and apparently formidable figure from Edwina’s past.

Significant Themes

  • Identity and transformation: Auerbach has been given Artoria’s form and personality traits but remains fundamentally herself, raising questions about whether identity comes from memory, soul, faith, or appearance.
  • Power and sacrifice: Auerbach’s strongest abilities require releasing her Noble Phantasm, which may damage the shell that allows her to exist in the dream world.
  • Trust and secrecy: Abner trusts Klein but deliberately withholds dangerous information, emphasizing the risks of communication within the Dream Labyrinth Tower.
  • Imagination creating reality: The Tower can construct bodies, abilities, and personalities by combining powers from extraordinary sources, suggesting immense and possibly dangerous creative authority.
  • Loyalty and faith: Auerbach’s devotion to Abner remains stronger than the influence of her newly acquired identity, making faith a stabilizing force in her transformation.

Important Character Interactions

  • Abner and Edwina discuss Klein’s expected arrival and whether he can be trusted; Abner firmly vouches for him.
  • Abner questions Auerbach about her identity and capabilities, establishing their master-servant relationship.
  • He gives her the practical alias “Leah,” while she responds with fervent loyalty and promises of victory.
  • Edwina protects the room during the summoning by creating a Wall of Spirituality.
  • Abner shields Edwina when a possible enemy approaches, while Lancer prepares to attack.
  • Edwina recognizes the arriving stranger as Telles, connecting the current crisis to her past and introducing a potentially important ally—or threat.
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Ch. 774News from Telles

Chapter Summary: “Telles’s News”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Telles Reynolds, a lecturer at the University of Lenburg and High-ranking Deacon of the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, reveals that he received an Oracle instructing him to help the holder of the “Lightseeker” achieve victory in the Dream Labyrinth Tower’s first-floor scenario.
  • Telles’s Heroic Spirit discovered that Abner had summoned a servant from the Sun domain and immediately went to assist him.
  • Although Telles’s claims were notarized as truthful by Abner’s Lancer servant, Leah, Abner performs a ritual to ask the God of Knowledge and Wisdom to verify the Oracle. The God responds through a phantom brass eye, and the parchment confirms the Oracle is genuine.
  • Abner’s ritual is partly a strategic maneuver. He already largely believed Telles but wanted to demonstrate his special status and prevent the Demigod from attempting to control the situation.
  • After trust is established, Telles enters the Sunroom, where Edwina provides tea and the group discusses how he located Abner and Edwina so quickly.
  • Telles explains that his replacement identity is connected to the Holy Grail War: his father is the Church’s Archbishop overseeing the event, and his teacher is Tokiomi, the city’s mysticism administrator and a Master who has summoned the King of Heroes as an Archer.
  • Abner identifies Telles’s Heroic Spirit as Hundred-Faced Hassan, an Assassin-class servant.
  • Telles reports that the Matou Family was destroyed by the Shadow Saint of the Aurora Order, who had replaced the family’s Master and summoned a terrifying black-armored Berserker. Only Tokiomi’s young daughter survived, apparently because the Aurora Order Saint intended to use her against Tokiomi.
  • Abner wonders whether the black-armored Berserker could be Lancelot, but the chapter leaves the identity unresolved.

Character Developments

  • Abner demonstrates caution, confidence, and strategic intelligence. Rather than accepting Telles’s explanation at face value, he verifies it publicly and uses the ritual to establish psychological authority.
  • Telles is revealed to be a powerful and well-connected Prophet and Church official. Though cooperative, he becomes increasingly wary of Abner after seeing his ability to bypass the Tower’s restrictions and recognize Heroic Spirits.
  • Edwina remains reserved but serves as an important source of information, identifying Telles and explaining his background to Abner. Her continued partnership with Abner is also noticed by Telles.
  • Leah, Abner’s Lancer servant, provides an impartial confirmation that Telles is not lying and maintains protective vigilance throughout the meeting.
  • Tokiomi is established as a major participant in the Holy Grail War, having summoned the King of Heroes.
  • The Shadow Saint of the Aurora Order emerges as a ruthless but calculating antagonist, destroying the Matou Family while deliberately sparing Tokiomi’s daughter for strategic purposes.

Significant Themes

  • Trust and verification: Truth is not accepted merely because someone appears sincere; supernatural confirmation and independent judgment are necessary.
  • Power and authority: Abner uses his connection to the God of Knowledge and Wisdom to intimidate Telles and assert control despite being weaker in formal sequence.
  • Strategic cooperation: Allies may have different motivations, making diplomacy and leverage as important as combat.
  • The collision of worlds: The Holy Grail War scenario is treated as a reconstructed mystical ritual, blending Roselle’s fictionalized history with genuine supernatural systems.
  • Cruelty and pragmatism: The destruction of the Matou Family and the sparing of one child demonstrate how powerful factions treat people as tools in a larger conflict.

Character Interactions

  • Edwina quietly briefs Abner on Telles’s identity and advancement.
  • Abner and Telles engage in a cautious negotiation, with Abner testing Telles’s claims and Telles attempting to establish himself as a trustworthy ally.
  • Leah verifies Telles’s honesty and protects Abner during the initial confrontation.
  • Telles recognizes Abner’s unusual status and becomes more cautious after witnessing his successful prayer.
  • Abner and Telles exchange information about the Holy Grail War, the summoned Heroic Spirits, and the actions of the Aurora Order.
  • The chapter ends with Abner and Telles focusing on the mysterious black-armored Berserker, whose identity may have major implications for the scenario.
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Ch. 775Hunt's Invitation

Summary of “Hunt’s Invitation”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Abner becomes uneasy after learning that the Aurora Order’s Saint has summoned a black-armored Heroic Spirit. His Pure White Eye gives him an indistinct premonition that the Servant is extremely dangerous.
  • He suspects the summon may be connected to the Mother Goddess of Depravity, possibly serving as a tool to force her to invest more power in the developing conflict. He also considers whether the Mother Tree of Desire manipulated recent events, including the Beria Family’s attack on Lynn.
  • Prophet Telles briefs Abner on the other Tower Climbers, including Klein, Sharron, and Shanks of the Rose School. Abner decides to hide with Edwina while Telles monitors the situation in Fuyuki City.
  • Klein and Sharron arrive with an eyepatched female Servant: a Roselle phantom summoned as a Rider-class Heroic Spirit. Klein explains that the phantom remembers only Roselle’s life after crossing over and behaves far less responsibly than the original Roselle.
  • Abner secretly gives Klein a recording card so he can preserve Roselle’s embarrassing behavior, intending to show it to “Old Huang” later.
  • Following arrangements made above the Gray Fog, Abner’s group leaves Fuyuki City for a nearby town. His Magic Mirror and its “Demon” continue operating in Fuyuki alongside Telles, while Roselle’s Medusa remains behind to protect Abner, Edwina, Klein, and Sharron.
  • Two days later, Edwina detects three souls converging, indicating that three Heroic Spirits have been killed simultaneously.
  • Leah reports that the Aurora Order’s Servant is a genuine Profane Presbyter with Angel-level power. It massacred the Saber-class, Archer-class, and Telles’s Assassin-class Servants during a banquet hosted by the Saber-class Conquering King.
  • Leah survived only because she could temporarily unleash Angel-level strength, and she rescued Telles.
  • Telles proposes hunting the Rose School’s Demigod Tower Climber and taking his Heroic Spirit, likely to strengthen their side and improve their chances of obtaining the wish-granting Holy Grail.
  • Abner agrees to participate, joking to Edwina that the “outsider” is joining the hunt.

Character Developments

  • Abner remains cautious and analytical, recognizing the larger divine forces manipulating the Tower War. Though he initially intends to stay uninvolved, he accepts that the Aurora Order’s overwhelming advantage requires action.
  • Telles shifts from observation to aggression, deciding to hunt another Tower Climber and seize his Servant. This reveals both his ambition and his concern about the balance of power.
  • Klein is visibly disturbed by Roselle’s behavior, especially the phantom’s comfort with possessing a woman’s body and its questionable morals. His reaction provides comic relief and emphasizes his growing familiarity with Roselle’s personality.
  • Edwina continues to act as Abner’s trusted companion and guardian, but she is surprised when he abandons his vacation-like avoidance and joins the conflict.
  • Leah demonstrates exceptional loyalty and strength by surviving the Aurora Order Servant’s attack and protecting Telles.
  • Roselle’s phantom is established as an incomplete and morally unreliable version of Roselle, possessing only post-transmigration memories.

Significant Themes

  • Divine manipulation and hidden agendas: The conflict is shaped by the Mother Goddess of Depravity, the Mother Tree of Desire, the Aurora Order, and other powerful entities whose motives remain only partly understood.
  • Caution versus intervention: Abner tries to remain distant from the battle, but the sudden escalation forces him to act.
  • Identity and incomplete resurrection: The Roselle phantom raises questions about whether memories alone are enough to recreate a person, especially when the memories of a transmigrator are missing.
  • Power imbalance and survival: The Aurora Order’s Profane Presbyter possesses overwhelming strength, transforming the conflict from a cautious competition into a desperate struggle for allies and resources.
  • Humor amid danger: Roselle’s inappropriate behavior and Abner’s decision to record it contrast with the increasingly deadly supernatural conflict.

Character Interactions

  • Abner and Telles coordinate surveillance and communication, with Abner relying on Telles to track the Tower Climbers.
  • Abner privately questions Klein about Roselle’s awakening, then gives him a recording card to preserve the phantom’s embarrassing conduct.
  • Klein, Sharron, Edwina, and Abner regroup and relocate according to plans made above the Gray Fog.
  • Leah communicates with Abner through the Command Spell, reporting the massacre and Telles’s proposed hunt.
  • Abner accepts Telles’s invitation to hunt the Rose School Demigod, then informs Edwina, who is confused by his sudden decision to rejoin the battle.
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Ch. 776Another Card of Blasphemy

Chapter Summary: “Another Card of Blasphemy”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Fuyuki City remains largely destroyed from previous Servant battles, though the Dream Labyrinth Tower maintains the illusion of normal life in the surviving area near the church.
  • Shanks, a Demigod of the Rose School’s Indulgence Faction, escapes a devastating battle against a powerful enemy. His summoned Magician Heroic Spirit is mentally unstable because the Tower implanted a Hero Series personality into the sacrificed soul used for the summoning.
  • Injured and suffering from revived curses, Shanks spots Sharron and decides to pursue and capture her, despite suspecting that her arrival at a hotel may be bait.
  • Sharron is revealed to be Abner in disguise. Abner uses the Pure White Eye to counter Shanks’s reflection-based concealment and lure him into an ambush.
  • When Shanks attacks, Sunfire erupts through the Pure White Eye, severely burning him. He uses a Command Spell to summon his Heroic Spirit, but the Heroic Spirit becomes fixated on the golden-haired Heroic Spirit appearing in the hotel and rushes into Roselle’s Medusa ritual Barrier instead.
  • Shanks is then struck by repeated lightning from Mr. Fool’s Sea God Scepter while Prophet Telles detonates the desires and mental “plague” embedded within him.
  • Shanks dies, and Abner’s allies recover his belongings. Among them is a card depicting a Roselle-like woman: the Moon Card.
  • The card reminds Abner of Roselle’s message and the activation incantation “Aetna,” confirming its connection to the mysterious Silver Moon Plan.

Character Developments

  • Shanks is shown as powerful but unstable, driven by violent desires and weakened by his injuries and curses. His impulsiveness leads him directly into Abner’s trap.
  • Shanks’s Heroic Spirit proves unreliable and psychologically fractured. Rather than protecting its summoner, it becomes distracted by another Heroic Spirit and is imprisoned.
  • Abner demonstrates careful planning, disguise, tactical analysis, and confidence in the Pure White Eye’s abilities. He begins reconsidering its possible connection to a White Angel and the All-Seeing Eye.
  • Prophet Telles reveals a ruthless strategic role by exploiting both Shanks’s physical condition and the psychological corruption hidden within him.
  • Roselle’s influence continues indirectly through the Moon Card and the Silver Moon Plan, suggesting that his long-term schemes remain important.

Significant Themes

  • Manipulation and counter-manipulation: Shanks attempts to prey on Sharron, only to become the target of a carefully constructed deception.
  • The danger of uncontrolled desire: Shanks’s indulgence, lust, and violent impulses impair his judgment and ultimately contribute to his death.
  • Identity and artificial personalities: The Heroic Spirit system creates conflict between the summoned soul’s original mind and its implanted heroic persona.
  • Power concealed within artifacts: The Pure White Eye and Moon Card both hint at deeper forces and hidden plans beyond what the characters currently understand.
  • Illusion versus reality: The Dream Labyrinth Tower controls the environment, preserving a false version of Fuyuki City and blurring the boundaries between real people, imagined constructs, and summoned beings.

Character Interactions

  • Shanks interacts uneasily with his unstable Magician Heroic Spirit, recognizing that the summoned personality is difficult to control.
  • Shanks pursues the disguised Abner, mistaking him for Sharron and attempting to capture him.
  • Abner’s deception brings Shanks into conflict with multiple allied forces: the golden-haired Heroic Spirit, Roselle’s Medusa ritual, Mr. Fool’s lightning, and Telles’s mental attack.
  • The final discovery of the Moon Card connects Abner’s current battle to Roselle’s broader Silver Moon Plan.
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Ch. 777On the Eve of the Decisive Battle

Chapter Summary: “Eve of the Final Battle”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Abner investigates the appearance of the Moon Card and Roselle’s message, questioning whether Leon the Lion truly received Roselle’s instructions or whether his memories were altered. He suspects the “restriction” and delayed message may have been implanted by Lilith, the Evernight Goddess, or the God of Knowledge and Wisdom.
  • After defeating Shanks, Abner retrieves his Beyonder Characteristic and allows the Magic Mirror to consume Shanks’s soul. The dangerous influence of the Mother Tree of Desire is suppressed because they are inside the Dream Labyrinth Tower, near the Chaos Sea, where its power is limited.
  • The Magic Mirror reveals that the Moon Card originally belonged to a Life School of Thought High Summoner, a believer in the Primordial Moon. Shanks’s Heroic Spirit had used this person’s soul as a Holy Relic, allowing him to summon Bluebeard/Marschal Gilles, whose abilities were connected to the Door Pathway.
  • From these clues, Abner understands the broad purpose of the Silver Moon Plan, apparently a scheme devised by Lilith, the Evernight Goddess, the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, and the Calamity Seal against the Mother Goddess of Depravity.
  • Abner realizes that his own uniqueness—especially the Pure White Eye—allows him to function as a trigger or tool in the gods’ plan. He also concludes that Klein and Sefirah Castle are being used as bait and a smokescreen, encouraging the enemy to overcommit while believing the gods have fallen into its trap.
  • Telles forcibly contracts Bluebeard after the Heroic Spirit abandons resistance upon seeing Leah. Abner, Klein, and the real Sharron reunite with the others and retreat to a nearby villa, bringing Shanks’s corpse and the three Heroic Spirits.
  • At the villa, Edwina guards the Realistic Sandbox, a powerful strategic artifact that can affect the corresponding reality of Fuyuki City. It also serves as an emergency means of teleporting the group to safety.
  • Telles reports that the Church bishop overseeing the Holy Grail War has summoned all Masters and Heroic Spirits to eliminate the Aurora Order Saint, who has been destroying the city and killing civilians.
  • Abner recognizes that this summons likely signals the beginning of the final battle, perhaps because the enemy—or Roselle under its influence—is becoming impatient or has provoked an intolerable reaction.

Character Developments

  • Abner demonstrates increasing strategic insight, piecing together the gods’ hidden plan and recognizing his own role within it. He remains cautious about thinking too deeply, fearing that a Great Old One might detect his thoughts.
  • He also continues to maintain his disguise as Sharron, though he eventually changes back into his own appearance after the group reaches the villa.
  • Telles the Prophet proves useful by contracting Bluebeard and relaying the Church’s summons, while his father’s identity within the scenario gives him access to important information.
  • Klein continues to function as both an apparent participant and a possible decoy in the larger divine scheme.
  • Edwina acts as a reliable defensive support, guarding the Realistic Sandbox and preparing an emergency escape route.
  • Bluebeard shifts from enemy to controlled ally after seeing Leah and abandoning resistance.
  • Leon the Lion becomes the subject of Abner’s suspicion, as Abner considers the possibility that his memories and instructions were tampered with.

Significant Themes

  • Manipulation and hidden agendas: Memories, messages, and apparent plans may have been altered, making it difficult to determine who is acting according to whose intentions.
  • Cosmic-scale strategy: The gods are engaged in a layered plot against a Great Old One, using Abner, Klein, Sefirah Castle, and the Silver Moon Plan as pieces in a high-risk trap.
  • Knowledge as danger: Abner must limit his own deductions because understanding the enemy too clearly could expose him to its perception.
  • Identity and disguise: Abner’s continued use of Sharron’s appearance reflects the importance of deception and the instability of identities within the scenario.
  • The approach of catastrophe: The Church’s summons and the Aurora Order Saint’s destruction of Fuyuki signal that the conflict is moving rapidly toward a decisive confrontation.

Important Character Interactions

  • Abner mentally evaluates Leon’s relationship with Roselle, recognizing that Leon’s hostility masks deep loyalty and affection.
  • The Magic Mirror provides Abner with crucial information about the Moon Card, the High Summoner, and Bluebeard’s summoning.
  • Telles successfully binds Bluebeard, while Bluebeard responds submissively after encountering Leah.
  • Abner, Klein, and Sharron reunite with Telles and the Heroic Spirits before relocating to Edwina’s villa.
  • Edwina notices Abner’s continued Sharron-like clothing and reacts with rare amusement.
  • Telles informs the group of the Church’s summons, prompting Abner to recognize that the final battle is imminent.
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Ch. 778Amon's Judgment

Chapter Summary: “Amon’s Judgment”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • The group learns that the Church has called for the subjugation of an Aurora Order Saint, likely because the Saint is preparing something dangerous. Telles, Abner, Klein, and Sharron agree to participate and depart quickly to prevent the Shadow Saint from preparing a counterattack.
  • Telles claims only the Rose School Saint’s spirit as his reward, leaving the remaining spoils for the others.
  • The group examines the spoils from their previous battle with Shanks: a Silent Disciple Beyonder Characteristic, the Blood Refinement Notebook, a monocle, and Shanks’s damaged corpse. Abner withholds the Moon card because it may be connected to the plans of the Goddess and Lilith.
  • Abner distributes the spoils:
    • Sharron receives Shanks’s corpse, which can potentially be turned into a Mummy after purification.
    • Klein receives the Marionette Beyonder Characteristic, allowing him to advance toward the demigod level.
    • Edwina receives the Blood Refinement Notebook.
    • Abner keeps the mysterious monocle.
  • Leah, the spirit of the former Eternal Blazing Sun Pope, is tasked with separating the Beyonder Characteristic into its component levels.
  • The chapter then shifts to the Kaspersky base, where an Amon avatar has intentionally allowed himself to be captured. The base can restrain him only temporarily, and the young commander explains that killing the avatar would merely return its Beyonder Characteristics and information to Amon’s main body.
  • Amon claims that Roselle’s resurrection plan will fail because the gods—especially Evernight—would never permit it. Although he cannot uncover Evernight’s secrets, he believes Roselle’s plan is likely a trap.

Character Developments

  • Abner demonstrates leadership and fairness by organizing the spoils according to each person’s contributions. He also shows strategic caution by withholding the Moon card and retaining the monocle for further investigation.
  • Sharron accepts Abner’s generosity and prepares to use Shanks’s corpse for her advancement, emphasizing her continuing reliance on the Tarot Club and Mr. Fool.
  • Klein maintains Gehrman Sparrow’s calm persona while accepting the Marionette characteristic. His internal observations reveal growing suspicion that Abner may be connected to the modern world and may possess an unusually casual attitude toward Mr. Fool.
  • Edwina receives a dangerous but valuable artifact. Abner trusts her judgment enough to believe she will study it without recklessly using it.
  • Amon remains playful, confident, and manipulative even while imprisoned. His willingness to be captured shows that the avatar’s detention is part of a larger investigation.
  • The young commander appears knowledgeable about both Amon and Roselle, calmly countering Amon’s provocations and revealing that the prison is less effective than Amon initially assumes.

Significant Themes

  • Trust and reciprocal cooperation: The group’s successful operation and fair distribution of rewards reflect the growing trust among its members.
  • Strategic deception: Amon’s deliberate capture and Abner’s earlier use of a “bait” identity both show that victory depends on manipulating an opponent’s expectations.
  • Dangerous knowledge and power: The Blood Refinement Notebook offers extraordinary benefits but attracts a gaze from the stars, illustrating the risks of forbidden or supernatural knowledge.
  • Hidden agendas and divine conflict: The withheld Moon card, the Aurora Order’s suspected preparations, and the debate over Roselle’s resurrection all point to larger schemes involving gods and high-level factions.
  • Identity and modernity: Klein begins reconsidering Abner’s behavior, noticing similarities between Abner’s attitude and that of someone shaped by modern Chinese culture.
  • Inevitable opposition to resurrection: Amon argues that the gods themselves will prevent Roselle’s return, suggesting that divine interests may outweigh individual plans.

Character Interactions

  • Telles consults Abner and the others before committing to the Church’s operation, establishing a cooperative, though cautious, relationship.
  • Abner explains the distribution of Shanks’s remains to Sharron, acknowledging her role and their shared Tarot Club connection.
  • Sharron initially suggests that Klein choose something else, but Klein accepts the Marionette characteristic because her advancement will benefit him in future battles.
  • Abner entrusts Edwina with the Blood Refinement Notebook while explicitly relying on her restraint.
  • In the final scene, Amon verbally tests the young commander, while the commander responds with measured explanations. Amon then shifts the conversation toward Roselle’s resurrection, attempting to provoke or manipulate him while revealing his own suspicions about Evernight and the gods.
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Ch. 779The Battle Begins

Chapter Summary: “The Battle Begins”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Inside the villa, Leah separates several Prisoner Pathway materials and Beyonder Characteristics from Shanks’ corpse. Abner stops her before she extracts anything weaker than the “Zombie” level, since such items have little value.
  • Klein helps Miss Sharron move Shanks’ corpse and the “Marionette” characteristic into the bedroom, intending to store them above the Gray Fog without exposing the Fool’s secret.
  • Prophet Telles returns with black Books of Command Spells for the group and uses the Realistic Sandbox to relocate the villa several blocks away from the Aurora Order’s Shadow Saint.
  • The group emerges into a devastated battlefield. The surrounding buildings have been destroyed, while a mountain is engulfed by thunder and an eruption of black, viscous matter resembling the Chaos Sea.
  • Telles warns that the Shadow Saint’s ritual must be stopped before he wins the Holy Grail War. Abner chooses not to use his decisive Historical Projection talisman, since doing so might interfere with the Gods’ larger plans.
  • Abner uses a Command Spell to empower Leah and sends her, Medusa, and Bluebeard toward the mountain. Telles follows to provide support.
  • The Shadow Saint’s three corrupted Heroic Spirits—the Conquering King, King of Heroes, and Hundred-Faced Hassan—emerge to confront them, creating a three-on-three battle.
  • Medusa suddenly loses the abilities granted to her, causing her Pegasus to vanish. Hassan exploits the weakness and severely injures her.
  • Abner infers that the Shadow Saint can strip abilities from Heroic Spirits whose powers originate from the Dream Labyrinth Tower. Leah and Bluebeard, whose summons were strengthened through Sacred Relics, are unaffected.
  • Abner theorizes that the Shadow Saint has awakened the consciousness of the Profane Presbyter incorporated into the Dream Labyrinth Tower, using the True Creator’s divinity and the Chaos Sea to seize authority over the other Heroic Spirits.
  • He further suspects that the Mother Goddess of Depravity and Lilith are involved in opposing or manipulating this development, with Lilith’s “Silver Moon Plan” possibly requiring the Beauty Goddess characteristic to be placed into the Life School of Thought’s Summoning Door.

Character Developments

  • Abner: Continues balancing his own interests with the hidden agendas of the Gods. Rather than reveal his full strength, he deliberately “acts” within the expected rules of the Holy Grail War. His observations lead him to a major theory about the Shadow Saint’s power and the structure of the Dream Labyrinth Tower.
  • Klein: Remains cautious about exposing the Fool’s identity and helps Sharron conceal the corpse and characteristics. He recognizes the black substance as resembling the contamination associated with Miss Judgment but keeps his questions to himself.
  • Sharron: Cooperates with Klein in securing the corpse and remains composed when exposed to the apparent Chaos Sea, suffering only mild dizziness.
  • Edwina: Like Sharron, withstands the Chaos Sea-like manifestation without serious contamination.
  • Telles: Acts as the group’s guide and strategist, relocating the villa and recognizing the urgency of stopping the Shadow Saint. Though internally conflicted, he joins the battle as a support fighter.
  • Leah: Receives Abner’s command and enters combat with confidence, pledging to win glory for him.
  • Medusa: Suffers a major setback when her granted abilities are stripped away, leaving her vulnerable to Hassan’s attack.
  • The Shadow Saint: Demonstrates frightening control over the battlefield and opposing Heroic Spirits, suggesting that he has partially usurped the Dream Labyrinth Tower’s authority.

Significant Themes

  • Hidden power and manipulation: The apparent Holy Grail War is shaped by larger conflicts among Gods, resurrective schemes, and the Tower’s internal powers.
  • Acting versus revealing the truth: Abner deliberately withholds his strongest methods to preserve the Gods’ plans, emphasizing the danger of exposing one’s true capabilities.
  • Authority and control: The battle is not merely between Heroic Spirits; it is also a struggle over who controls the Dream Labyrinth Tower and the Chaos Sea.
  • Contamination and corruption: The black liquid, the Grazed Heroic Spirits, and the Profane Presbyter represent the spread of corrupting forces into spiritual and divine systems.
  • Uncertainty of reality: The apparent Chaos Sea may be a filtered projection rather than the true entity, reinforcing the chapter’s ambiguity between illusion, ritual, and reality.
  • Cosmic political conflict: The actions of the Mother Goddess, Lilith, and other Gods suggest that the battle is one part of a much larger plan involving Sefirah Castle and the Silver Moon Plan.

Important Character Interactions

  • Abner and Klein: Both discreetly manage the danger of exposing their secrets while cooperating in the villa and battlefield preparations.
  • Klein and Sharron: Work together to conceal Shanks’ corpse and characteristics, with Klein carefully avoiding behavior that might reveal the Fool’s limitations.
  • Abner and Leah: Abner commands and empowers Leah, while she responds with loyalty and determination.
  • Telles and the group: Telles provides the transportation and tactical framework, while Abner and the others accept his leadership in launching the counterattack.
  • Leah, Medusa, and Bluebeard versus the corrupted Heroic Spirits: The expected three-on-three confrontation begins, but Medusa’s sudden loss of power immediately shifts the battle’s balance.
  • Abner and the wider divine conflict: His deductions connect the Shadow Saint’s actions to the Profane Presbyter, the True Creator, the Mother Goddess, and Lilith’s hidden objectives.
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Ch. 780Abner's Melodramatic Script

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • The weakened enemy Servants—whose true souls had already been absorbed into Edwina’s Silent Winter oil lamp and the Lesser Grail—are defeated by Abner’s forces. Leah uses the Holy Lance to unleash Angel-level Holy Light, purifying the King of Heroes and gravely injuring the Conquering King.
  • Bluebeard and Telles cooperate effectively against the fragmented Hassans, exploiting Telles’s familiarity with Assassin Hassan’s abilities.
  • The Profane Presbyter unleashes a massive storm of silver-white lightning from the mountain. Leah neutralizes much of it, but the remaining lightning destroys the wounded Conquering King, Roselle’s Medusa, and the remaining Hassans indiscriminately.
  • The accumulated souls cause the Silent Winter oil lamp to activate as the Lesser Grail. Abner deliberately allows it to fly into the hands of the five-meter-tall Profane Presbyter, who places it into the mountain’s black-mud-filled opening. A passage to a distant castle appears.
  • Abner follows his prearranged “script”: Edwina uses the Sandbox to withdraw Telles, while Abner spends Command Spells ordering Leah to assume her mythological form.
  • Leah becomes a radiant Sun God Bird and purifies the corrupted monsters guarding the mountain. However, the Profane Presbyter counters her with the word “Light,” transforming himself into an overwhelming source of pure radiance. His power dissolves Leah’s divine form and defeats her completely.
  • Bluebeard catches Leah as she falls and attempts to heal her, but her artificial body is already collapsing. Before dying, Leah gives him a card and tells him to activate it with the incantation “Aetna,” entrusting him with stopping the Profane Presbyter.
  • Grief-stricken and fully immersed in his Bluebeard persona, the High Summoner places the card onto the final page of his grimoire.
  • Meanwhile, Abner recovers the former Eternal Blazing Sun Church pope’s Evil Spirit and watches the events through a Magic Mirror, questioning whether his overly theatrical plan—and his reliance on an unseen lunar entity—will succeed.

Character Developments

  • Abner: Reveals himself as a manipulative strategist, deliberately controlling the battlefield and sacrificing Leah’s apparent victory so the Lesser Grail reaches the Profane Presbyter. He orchestrates events like a dramatic narrative and remains detached enough to criticize his own melodramatic staging.
  • Leah: Demonstrates immense power and unwavering loyalty. She willingly expends her life and artificial body to fulfill Abner’s orders, even after being decisively defeated. Her final act shows both courage and trust in Bluebeard.
  • Bluebeard/Gil: Becomes increasingly consumed by his Servant identity and attachment to Leah, treating her as his “Lady Saint.” Her apparent death drives him into grief and determination, motivating him to use the final card against the Profane Presbyter.
  • Telles: Proves valuable through his knowledge of Hassan’s abilities, but is removed from the battlefield by Abner before the decisive confrontation.
  • Profane Presbyter: Establishes himself as the dominant force in the Holy Grail War. He effortlessly destroys the enemy Servants and overwhelms Leah’s mythological form, displaying power comparable to or exceeding that of a True God.
  • Edwina: Successfully gathers and transports the souls within the Lesser Grail, enabling the next stage of the ritual.

Significant Themes

  • Manipulation and theatricality: Abner treats the battle as a carefully written performance, arranging betrayals, sacrifices, and dramatic confrontations according to his “script.”
  • Identity and role-playing: Bluebeard’s personality increasingly replaces the High Summoner’s original identity, while Servants and Masters become entangled in the roles they perform.
  • Sacrifice and loyalty: Leah’s destruction emphasizes her absolute devotion and willingness to die for her lord’s objective.
  • Overwhelming divine power: The Profane Presbyter’s light presents a force that even a being associated with sunlight cannot challenge, reinforcing the gap between ordinary supernatural entities and godlike existences.
  • Artificial existence and mortality: Leah’s body, created through Imagination, cannot withstand the strain of her mythological form; her power comes with an unavoidable physical cost.
  • Uncertainty beneath control: Despite Abner’s elaborate planning, his final thoughts reveal doubt about whether his hidden ally on the moon can be trusted and whether the script will produce the intended outcome.

Character Interactions

  • Leah coordinates with Abner through Command Spells and follows his plan despite the enormous risks.
  • Bluebeard and Telles work together to eliminate the Hassans, combining grimoire magic with specialized knowledge.
  • Leah and the Profane Presbyter clash directly, with his superior “light” completely neutralizing her Sun God Bird form.
  • Bluebeard catches and attempts to heal Leah, then receives her final instructions and card, transforming his grief into resolve.
  • Abner observes the entire confrontation remotely, simultaneously directing events and judging the emotional spectacle he has created.
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