Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Meeting the Parents”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Klein, restored to his original appearance as Zhou Mingrui, arrives at Xiushan Residential Community with Sharron to visit his family.
• After investigating Abner’s “Low Dimension Parallel World,” Klein confirms that it contains no Beyonder powers and that its version of himself and Huang Tao had mysteriously disappeared, likely because of their connection to Sefirah Castle.
• Klein and Sharron encounter his childhood friend, Li Lu Mian, who immediately assumes Sharron is his wife. Klein introduces her and uses a Language Understanding Talisman to help her communicate in Chinese, though her speech remains deliberately awkward.
• Klein becomes increasingly nervous as he approaches his old home, but Sharron reassures him by firmly squeezing his hand.
• He reunites with his mother and father, experiencing intense emotion because they are information-derived versions of his deceased or absent family rather than the originals.
• Sharron unexpectedly addresses Klein’s parents as “Mom” and “Dad,” stunning them.
• Klein explains that Sharron is his partner. When he calls her his girlfriend, she firmly corrects him by declaring that she is his “wife.”
• Klein then reveals that they already have a child and have returned to discuss marriage, leaving his parents even more surprised.

Character Developments

• Klein/Zhou Mingrui: Despite his immense power and experience, Klein is emotionally vulnerable when confronting his family and old home. He longs for the normal life and familial connections he lost, choosing to knock on the door like an ordinary son rather than use supernatural means to enter.
• Sharron: She demonstrates confidence, decisiveness, and emotional commitment. Although her Chinese is limited, she boldly presents herself as Klein’s wife and openly embraces his family. Her support helps calm Klein during the reunion.
• Klein’s parents: His mother reacts with warm surprise and quickly begins assessing Sharron as a potential daughter-in-law. His father responds with humor and curiosity, while also silently demanding an explanation from his son.
• Li Lu Mian: Klein’s childhood friend remains playful and teasing, quickly interpreting Sharron’s presence as evidence that Klein has found a foreign wife.

Significant Themes

• Longing for home and family: Klein’s return highlights his deep homesickness and desire to reconnect with an ordinary family life.
• Identity and alternate realities: The world is a derivative of Earth’s information, raising questions about whether its people and relationships are “real.” Klein nevertheless experiences genuine emotion toward his family.
• Love and commitment: Sharron’s declaration that she is Klein’s wife emphasizes the seriousness of their bond and her willingness to claim a place in his life.
• The contrast between extraordinary power and ordinary life: Though Klein is an immensely powerful being, he approaches his parents as a nervous son meeting them with his beloved.
• Humor amid emotion: The awkward language barrier, Li Lu Mian’s teasing, and Sharron’s abrupt declarations balance the chapter’s emotional reunion with comedy.

Character Interactions

• Klein and Sharron hold hands throughout the visit, showing mutual affection and support.
• Li Lu Mian jokes with Klein and welcomes Sharron, while Klein explains her identity and limited Chinese ability.
• Sharron greets Klein’s parents directly as “Mom” and “Dad,” creating an immediate but amusing sense of intimacy.
• Klein and Sharron exchange a tender look when she calls herself his wife, confirming their mutual commitment.
• Klein’s final revelation—that they already have a child—turns the family introduction into an unexpectedly dramatic announcement.

Summary: “Resettling the Survivors”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wude, a graduate-educated professional monk with only limited spiritual devotion, buys a Daoist talisman at an antique market.
• After studying the talisman and falling asleep, he awakens on the mysterious Ladder of Light in a realm above the Gray Fog.
• He is met by Fogen’s Hound, a terrifying one-eyed creature, which leads him into an ancient palace.
• There, Wude encounters Klein and Abner’s avatars, whom he assumes are gods. He dramatically accepts their explanation that he died prematurely and must choose a new fate.
• He is offered three options:
  1. Return to his original world, despite his body having already been cremated.
  2. Reincarnate into the body of another dead person.
  3. Transmigrate to another world.
• Wude immediately chooses transmigration after learning that the destination world contains Beyonder powers. He also asks whether he will receive a “golden finger,” revealing his familiarity with reincarnation and other-world fiction.
• Klein grants him three magical matches, each capable of fulfilling a reasonable wish. Wude is then transmigrated into the body of a sailor abandoned by pirates on a deserted island.
• Days later, when Wude is close to using his first match to wish for rescue, a steam-and-sail ship appears, implying that his new life is about to begin.
• Afterward, Abner and Klein discuss the continued resettlement of other Great Old One Survivors and the dangers surrounding Klein and Sharron’s unborn child.

Character Developments

• Wude: Initially startled but composed, he quickly adapts to the supernatural situation. His mixture of Buddhist language, theatrical heroism, and familiarity with transmigration tropes makes him seem eccentric and “chuunibyou,” but he is also cautious and perceptive. Rather than asking unnecessary questions, he immediately chooses the option offering the greatest adventure and supernatural potential.
• Klein: Continues helping Survivors find new lives while maintaining authority as “Mr. Fool.” He is amused and slightly bewildered by Wude’s unusual personality. He also demonstrates confidence in his ability to deal with any hidden influence from the Mother Tree of Desire.
• Abner: Acts as the practical administrator of the resettlement process, explaining Wude’s choices and arranging his transmigration. He privately mocks Wude’s exaggerated behavior but remains helpful and professional.
• Sharron: Does not appear directly, but her pregnancy with Klein’s child is central to the later discussion.
• Mother Tree of Desire: Remains an indirect threat because of her possible connection to Sharron’s child, though Klein believes he can counter any attempt at revival or corruption.
• The Russian priest: Is identified as a future ally in the planned confrontation involving the Mother Tree of Desire and the Mother Goddess of Depravity.

Significant Themes

• Second chances and resettlement: The chapter explores how supernatural beings give prematurely deceased individuals new opportunities in other worlds.
• Faith versus performance: Wude presents himself as a monk, but his behavior blends Buddhist ritual with fantasy clichés and genre-savvy expectations, questioning the difference between genuine faith and adopted identity.
• Reality resembling fiction: Wude interprets the situation through the conventions of transmigration stories, complete with gods, a “golden finger,” and a new world containing supernatural powers.
• Control over fate: Klein and Abner offer structured choices to people whose lives have been disrupted, while Klein’s confidence in Grafting reflects his ability to override threats and manipulate destiny.
• Hidden corruption and cosmic danger: The discussion of Sharron’s child emphasizes that even seemingly safe new beginnings remain vulnerable to the schemes of powerful cosmic entities.

Character Interactions

• Wude and Fogen’s Hound: The Hound silently guides Wude, while Wude cautiously interprets its gestures and follows it despite his fear.
• Wude, Klein, and Abner: Wude treats the two avatars as divine beings, bows to them, and assumes he may be a protagonist chosen for an adventure. Abner explains his options, while Klein observes his eccentricity with bemusement.
• Klein and Abner: They cooperate in resettling Survivors, with Abner handling explanations and Klein providing supernatural authority and assistance.
• Klein and Abner on Sharron’s child: Abner expresses concern that the Mother Tree of Desire may still influence the child. Klein dismisses the danger, stating that he can Graft any attempted revival elsewhere.
• Klein and the Russian priest: Their indirect alliance is based on a bargain involving the Red Priest Unique, supporting a future attack on the Mother Tree of Desire and the Mother Goddess of Depravity.

Chapter Summary: “Silver Moon Hanging High”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Parsons approaches Enmat Harbor, the largest port in northern Loen.
• Wim asks Brother Wood to divine whether he will have a fortunate “chance encounter” in the harbor.
• Using numerology, Wood determines that Wim’s current year is associated with major changes and opportunities. He predicts:
  • Wim must avoid the casino in the West Borough.
  • Wim will help a woman escape trouble in the Dock Borough, leading to favorable developments.
• Wim attempts to persuade Wood not to leave the crew, but Wood refuses. He intends to seek advancement through the Church of Truth, which possesses the formula for the next potion in his pathway.
• Wood reflects on his origins: he is Wude, a monk from another world who emerged from Sefirah Castle and transmigrated into the body of a middle-aged pirate stranded on an island.
• After being rescued by Captain Gray’s crew, Wude adopted the identity of “Brother Wood,” using his knowledge of occultism and his former experience as a temple monk to gain the crew’s trust.
• Through a wish made using a mysterious match granted by Mr. Fool, he received the materials and knowledge needed to become a Sequence 9 “Guide,” later advancing to “Numerologist.”
• Though valuable to the exploration team, Wood’s unusual abilities caused Captain Gray to become wary of him. Wood therefore decides to leave before suspicion grows further.
• As the ship nears the harbor, Wood and the crew suddenly experience a brief, frightening loss of bodily control.
• Wim then notices that the crimson moon has disappeared. It has been replaced by a bright silver moon, creating a mysterious and potentially ominous ending.

Character Developments

• Brother Wood/Wude: Revealed to be a transmigrator and survivor from the old world rather than an ordinary ascetic. He is resourceful, adaptable, and skilled at concealing his identity. Although he has formed attachments to the crew, he prioritizes advancement and survival, choosing to leave before Captain Gray’s suspicion becomes dangerous.
• Wim: Portrayed as enthusiastic, sociable, trusting, and eager for adventure. He respects Wood’s abilities and is genuinely saddened by his departure. His predicted future suggests that he will soon face important changes.
• Captain Gray: Though not directly present in many scenes, he is shown to be cautious and perceptive. His wariness of Wood demonstrates that Wood’s success and mysterious behavior have begun attracting attention.
• Mr. Fool: Remains an unseen but crucial influence. His gift of the match, potion formulas, and materials enabled Wude’s transformation into a Beyonder.

Significant Themes

• Identity and self-invention: Wude constructs the persona of Brother Wood to survive in an unfamiliar world, blending his former religious identity with occult knowledge.
• Fate versus personal choice: Wood’s divination suggests that fate creates opportunities, but initiative is required to seize them. His own decision to leave the ship similarly reflects deliberate action within uncertain circumstances.
• The cost of supernatural advancement: Once Wude chooses the Beyonder pathway, he cannot turn back. His desire to become a demigod forces him into dangerous alliances and unfamiliar institutions.
• Trust and suspicion: Wood is accepted by the crew but never fully understood. His unusual abilities inspire both admiration and Captain Gray’s caution.
• Change and ominous signs: The predicted “major changes” are mirrored by the sudden silver moon, suggesting a larger supernatural event or alteration in the world.

Character Interactions

• Wim and Wood: Their conversation is affectionate and respectful. Wim seeks both a prophecy and reassurance, while Wood offers practical guidance but firmly rejects Wim’s attempt to keep him aboard.
• Wood and the crew: Wood has earned their admiration by guiding them through dangers, yet his hidden origins and abilities prevent complete trust.
• Wood and Captain Gray: Their relationship is outwardly cooperative but marked by Gray’s growing suspicion. Wood recognizes this tension and chooses to withdraw peacefully.
• Wood and Mr. Fool: Though Mr. Fool never appears directly, his influence determines Wood’s Beyonder path and future ambitions.

Chapter Summary: “Tea Party of Three Great Old Ones”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Abner, Lilith, and the Evernight Goddess Amanises meet in Lilith’s divine kingdom after a fierce battle, relaxing on the silver moon above the Land of Abundance.
• Abner reports the aftermath of their campaign:
  • The main consciousnesses of the Mother Goddess of Depravity and the Mother Tree of Desire have been sealed.
  • The Circle of Inevitability, Primordial Hunger, and Uncertain Mist remain temporarily under his control, though he cannot contain them indefinitely because prolonged suppression may trigger dangerous convergence.
  • He plans to remove one Pathway from the Circle of Inevitability and Primordial Hunger and give them to Will and Helena, then release the entities.
  • Uncertain Mist will be released into the Land of Unknown after Leticia completes the Fengshan Sacrifice.
  • The High-Dimensional Overseer Pathway intended for the God of Knowledge and Wisdom will be left unused, since that god’s Sefirah and remaining essence have departed the universe.
  • Inextinguishable Ravings and the Supernova Dominator escaped in advance and are not currently worth pursuing.
• The group discusses what to do with the cosmic portion of the Mother Nest left behind by the Mother Goddess of Depravity. Since combining it with Lilith’s existing portion would likely push her beyond the stable limits of a Great Old One and toward Pillar-level convergence, Amanises proposes sealing it on a desolate planet through the Lord of Mysteries.
• They then discuss the cosmic portion of the Shadow World, which has already been promised to the Lord of Mysteries as his spoils of war. Lilith raises the possibility that Tolzna, now the Hanged Man, might seek it.
• The sealed Mother Tree of Desire briefly manifests an angry expression through the flames of a brazier. Abner explains that the Mother Tree’s desires are being burned away, leaving it effectively a “Desireless Tree Stump.”
• Amanises jokingly suggests placing the sealed relics—the brazier and the cup containing the Mother Goddess of Depravity’s consciousness—near the Magic Wishing Lamp so they can “keep each other company.” Abner extends the joke by comparing it to giving a condemned person a final meal before delivering the Son of Chaos to Vera.

2. Character Developments

• Abner appears firmly in control of the postwar situation, acting as the principal organizer of the defeated Great Old Ones’ remaining Pathways, Sefirah, and sealed consciousnesses. He demonstrates caution by refusing to let Lilith absorb the second half of the Mother Nest and by planning staged releases for the entities he controls.
• Lilith is shown enjoying her status as a Great Old One and the natural beauty of her divine kingdom. She remains practical and inquisitive, asking about the Shadow World and Tolzna’s ambitions. Her ability to safely retain only part of the Mother Nest highlights both her power and the limits imposed by convergence.
• Amanises is more relaxed and openly playful than usual. She offers the solution of sealing the Mother Nest on a barren planet and makes several darkly humorous remarks, revealing a comfortable rapport with Abner and Lilith.
• The Mother Tree of Desire has been drastically weakened and transformed from an active, desire-driven Great Old One into a nearly powerless, sealed remnant whose characteristic impulses are being burned away.
• Tolzna is confirmed to have advanced to the divine throne of the Hanged Man while the others were occupied, suggesting both strategic patience and opportunism.

3. Significant Themes

• The danger of convergence: The chapter emphasizes that even Great Old Ones cannot endlessly contain or combine cosmic authorities without risking the catastrophic convergence associated with the Pillars.
• Balance and distribution of power: The characters carefully divide Pathways, Sefirah, and sealed entities to prevent any one being from becoming excessively powerful or unstable.
• The aftermath of war: Rather than focusing on battle, the chapter explores the logistical and political consequences of victory—who inherits power, what must be sealed, and how defeated enemies are managed.
• Creation and destruction: The Mother Nest may bring life to a barren world even while representing an existential danger. This reflects the recurring duality between creation, corruption, and renewal.
• Cosmic horror mixed with domestic humor: The peaceful moonlit tea-party setting contrasts with discussions of sealed Great Old Ones, cosmic convergence, and execution, creating a darkly comic atmosphere.
• Desire and loss of identity: The Mother Tree of Desire’s transformation into a “Desireless Tree Stump” symbolizes the stripping away of its defining nature and consciousness.

4. Character Interactions

• Abner leads the discussion and explains the fate of the captured entities and their remaining powers.
• Amanises provides practical advice about the Mother Nest and lightly teases Abner about distributing the Lord of Mysteries’ possessions.
• Lilith questions Abner about Tolzna and the Shadow World, showing her awareness of broader political developments.
• Abner and Amanises share subtle mutual familiarity and humor, including Abner’s brief admiration of her unveiled appearance.
• The three Great Old Ones casually joke about the suffering and containment of cosmic beings, demonstrating their confidence, intimacy, and shared detachment from ordinary morality.

Chapter Summary: “Abner Brain’s Presence”

At the Hearth Tavern in Enmat Harbor, Ascetic Wood, Sailor Wim, Captain Gray, First Mate Old Kerton, and Boatswain Palwei gather for drinks after the recent supernatural incident in which people temporarily lost control of their bodies and the Crimson Moon turned silver. Although unsettled, most ordinary people have quickly dismissed the event because it caused no lasting harm.
The group listens to nearby sailors discussing the phenomenon, hoping to learn more from unaffiliated Beyonders who frequent the tavern. Instead, the conversation shifts to current political and supernatural affairs. The sailors gossip about the restoration of the Four Pirate Kings, the new titles of figures such as Iceberg Queen and Queen of Greed, and the influence of Duke Beldan—Abner Brain—over the sea, various monarchs, and the Demon Emperor organization. They also speculate about which queen might eventually marry Abner.
Palwei criticizes the sailors for comparing a few ghosts to the far more ominous lunar transformation. Captain Gray suggests that the speaker may have intentionally minimized the incident to prevent panic. Wim remains suspicious of the Demon Emperor, but Old Kerton explains that the organization has played a significant role in maintaining order during and after the war. He points out that its members carried out the Purification Sequence and that the Delis City Convention was connected to Abner and the God of Truth.
The group is particularly surprised to learn that the Hearth Tavern belongs to the former teacher of Isengard Stanton, linking the tavern—and the present events—to Abner’s wider network. The revelation silences them. Wood privately reflects on Abner as a powerful “protagonist of the era,” comparing his pervasive influence to that of Emperor Roselle and viewing him as another remarkable transmigrator whose presence can be felt everywhere.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Wood remains observant and introspective. His thoughts reveal his awareness of transmigrator history and his admiration—or envy—of Abner’s extraordinary status.
• Captain Gray demonstrates a practical, analytical attitude by interpreting the sailor’s dismissive comments as a deliberate attempt to calm public fear.
• Palwei stays skeptical and grounded, emphasizing the seriousness of the lunar phenomenon.
• Wim is distrustful of the Demon Emperor organization and questions its moral character.
• Old Kerton acts as the group’s source of reliable information, clarifying the organization’s political and humanitarian connections.
• The group’s discussion shifts from casual eavesdropping to serious reflection once Abner’s influence and the tavern’s connection to Isengard are revealed.

Significant Themes

• Normalization of the supernatural: Ordinary people quickly become accustomed to bizarre, world-altering events when those events do not immediately affect their lives.
• Rumor versus truth: The sailors’ gossip mixes real political developments with exaggerated or fabricated stories, showing how public perceptions of powerful figures are shaped by hearsay.
• Hidden networks of influence: Abner’s presence is felt indirectly through the Demon Emperor organization, the Church of Truth, the Delis City Convention, Isengard’s tavern, and international politics.
• Postwar social change: The reduced supervision of unaffiliated Beyonders and the partial public acceptance of formerly secret organizations suggest a more open and transformed society after the war.
• Transmigrators and historical protagonists: Wood compares Abner with Roselle, framing both as exceptional figures whose actions and legacies permeate the age.

Chapter Summary: “Bait”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wude reflects on known transmigrators: Emperor Roselle, Abner Brain, and—possibly—Gehrman Sparrow. He concludes that Roselle and Abner achieved their prominence largely through support from powerful gods.
• Believing Abner is connected to the God of Truth and may be more tolerant of transmigrator ambitions than the God of Steam and Machinery, Wude decides to seek membership in the Church of Truth. He also plans to rely on his two unused Wish Matches if necessary.
• After celebrating with his companions, Wude bids them farewell and travels toward Beldan, where he intends to join the Church of Truth.
• While waiting for his train, Wude sets up a numerology-divination stall to earn money and practice acting as a Numerologist.
• Two suspiciously important men pass by: a refined young man with gold-rimmed glasses and a noble-looking older man with a mustache. Wude feels an unexplained urge to divine the younger man’s origins, but the urge disappears when the man looks back at him.
• Wude’s former companion Wim arrives and reveals that Wude’s earlier divination came true: Wim rescued a woman named Boshan from thugs and immediately fell in love with her. Since she works for Duke Beldan and is taking the same train, Wim decides to follow her and pursue a relationship.
• In the first-class carriage, Roselle observes Wude and Wim from a distance and asks Abner what scheme he is preparing. Abner explains that, despite the Apocalypse crisis being resolved, hidden enemies remain active. He intends to use Wude as bait to draw them out, confident that the enemy does not understand the full scope of the “Unknown” authority.

Character Developments

• Wude demonstrates confidence, ambition, and strategic thinking. He intends to use his transmigrator identity, his connection to Mr. Fool, and his Wish Matches to secure a place within the Church of Truth.
• His understanding of the supernatural world remains incomplete. Although skilled in numerology and familiar with some mysticism, he lacks systematic knowledge of the world’s Beyonder pathways and therefore fails to interpret the strange encounter at the station.
• Wim shifts from an ordinary veteran sailor into an impulsive romantic pursuing what he believes is destined love. His actions also show courage and a willingness to change his life.
• Abner is revealed to be actively manipulating events on a larger scale. He is calm, calculating, and willing to exploit Wude’s movements to flush out hidden adversaries.
• Roselle has recently escaped captivity and remains observant and suspicious, recognizing that Abner’s actions likely conceal a larger plan.

Significant Themes

• Transmigrator ambition and rivalry: Wude compares Roselle and Abner as historical protagonists who refuse to remain subordinate, suggesting that transmigrators naturally seek influence and recognition.
• Reliance on divine powers: The chapter emphasizes that major achievements often depend on alliances with gods, raising questions about whether success comes from personal ability or supernatural sponsorship.
• Fate and interpretation: Wude’s successful prediction of Wim’s romantic encounter contrasts with his inability to understand the mysterious young man, showing that divination can reveal events without providing complete explanations.
• Manipulation and hidden power: Wude believes he is traveling toward a new opportunity, but Abner is secretly using him as bait in a broader conflict.
• Love and destiny: Wim interprets Wude’s divination as proof that Boshan is his destined partner, adding a humorous and personal subplot amid the larger supernatural schemes.

Character Interactions

• Wude thanks his companions before leaving, while Palwei teasingly challenges his certainty that he will join the Church of Truth.
• Wude and the mysterious young man exchange only a brief glance, but the encounter produces an unsettling supernatural reaction in Wude.
• Wude reunites with Wim, who explains how Wude’s divination shaped his decision to pursue Boshan.
• Roselle questions Abner’s motives, and Abner reveals that Wude’s journey is part of a deliberate plan to attract hidden enemies.

Chapter Summary: “Inside the Compartment”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Abner, the Evernight Goddess, Lilith, the Fool, and Adam successfully ambush the Mother Goddess of Depravity and the Mother Tree of Desire, they extract their consciousnesses and Sefirah. These are sealed inside the Fallen Chalice, a Sealed Artifact created from the Beyonder Characteristics of the Gluttony Angel and Apocalypse Apostle.
• With the Mother Goddess of Depravity’s corruption removed, Roselle is freed and returns to reality.
• Roselle initially intends to attack Abner as promised, but restrains himself after recognizing that he cannot defeat a Great Old One. He instead travels peacefully with Abner, Bruna, and Isabella toward Enmat Harbor, planning to take a train to the Kingdom of the Ring Sea and visit Bernadette.
• During the train journey, Roselle questions Abner’s plan to lure out the Monarch of Decay, wondering why such a powerful Outer Deity would remain near Earth when many Great Old Ones now oppose it.
• Abner explains that the Monarch of Decay is not targeting the Evernight Goddess or Lilith. Its true objective is the Sefirah and pathways stripped from the Mother Goddess of Depravity, whose location is unknown. To locate them, the Monarch must obtain the Fallen Chalice, which is held by Abner’s church.
• Roselle realizes that Abner is arranging circumstances that may eventually lead the Monarch of Decay to attack the church and seize the artifact. However, Abner emphasizes that his supposed “bait” is only a possible trap and that he is willing to wait patiently for the Monarch to act.
• Roselle discovers that Abner’s maid, Porshan, was originally named Abby and is one of Roselle and the Mother Goddess of Depravity’s surviving daughters from the Moon. Roselle is embarrassed and denies being her father, claiming he cannot remember the events clearly.
• Roselle further analyzes Abner’s plan, noting how a monk, Porshan, and the veteran Sailor Wim may all be connected by Fate to the Fallen Chalice and the future emergence of the Monarch of Decay.
• After Abner removes the information seal covering the compartment, Roselle leaves with Bruna and Isabella. Only afterward is it revealed that the Evernight Goddess and Lilith had also been present in human form, meaning Roselle unknowingly shared the compartment with three Great Old Ones.

Character Developments

• Roselle shows greater restraint and self-awareness. Although he wants revenge against Abner, he recognizes the gap in their power and avoids a humiliating confrontation. He also reveals discomfort and confusion regarding his forgotten past with the Mother Goddess of Depravity and his possible children.
• Abner is portrayed as calm, patient, and deeply strategic. He views the potential confrontation with the Monarch of Decay as a long-term game and is confident that an opportunity will eventually arise. His playful teasing of Roselle contrasts with his serious manipulation of Fate and cosmic forces.
• Porshan/Abby gains unexpected significance through the revelation that she is one of Roselle’s surviving daughters and has a blood connection to the Mother Goddess of Depravity.
• The Evernight Goddess and Lilith remain discreet observers, demonstrating the extent of their cooperation with Abner and their ability to conceal their presence even from Roselle.

Significant Themes

• Patience and long-term strategy: Abner’s plan depends on waiting for the Monarch of Decay to reveal itself rather than forcing an immediate confrontation.
• Fate and manipulation: Multiple individuals and coincidences are being arranged around the Fallen Chalice, showing how powerful beings use Fate to guide future events.
• Identity and forgotten history: Roselle’s inability to remember the events on the Moon highlights the damage, secrecy, and unresolved consequences of the past.
• Power and restraint: Roselle’s decision not to attack Abner reflects the importance of recognizing one’s limitations in a world dominated by Great Old Ones.
• Family and corruption: Porshan’s origins connect Roselle, the Mother Goddess of Depravity, and the consequences of divine corruption in an unexpectedly personal way.

Character Interactions

• Roselle and Abner: Their relationship remains antagonistic but familiar. Roselle repeatedly insults and distrusts Abner, while Abner responds with amusement and controlled teasing.
• Roselle, Bruna, and Isabella: Roselle travels with both women, who have past romantic relationships with him. He leaves the main conversation to spend time with them after Abner lifts the information seal.
• Roselle and Porshan: Roselle reacts with shock and embarrassment upon learning that Porshan may be his daughter, though he refuses to accept the label.
• Abner and the hidden goddesses: Abner secretly shares the compartment with the Evernight Goddess and Lilith, revealing that his apparent private conversation with Roselle was actually conducted in the presence of two additional Great Old Ones.

Summary of “Beldan’s ‘Prosperity’”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wood arrives in Beldan City by train, entering the city’s old district after the war.
• Beldan has expanded dramatically through territorial changes and wartime immigration. Although its political and economic center has shifted toward the tax-free coastal districts, the old district remains prosperous because of its famous film industry.
• The area around the station is crowded with touts offering lodging, acting lessons, religious services, drinks, and other goods aimed at newcomers and aspiring actors.
• Wood is mistaken for an easy target because he is alone and unfamiliar with the city. He is approached by a muscular man in sunglasses selling unauthorized film copies.
• The seller explains that Mini Projectors have become widespread and affordable, while genuine films remain expensive and limited in smaller inns. This has created a thriving market for pirated film reels.
• He also reveals that former low-level gang members are tolerated as long as they do not reestablish organized criminal groups. Abner’s administration has destroyed the major gangs but allowed some individuals to survive through minor illicit work.
• Wood buys both parts of Roselle’s Secret History and The Terminator, paying one soli and letting the seller keep the change.

Character Developments

• Wood: He remains cautious and observant, initially suspecting the sunglasses-wearing man may be a criminal. His hand moves toward his revolver, but he relaxes after realizing the man is merely a film peddler. Wood’s calm, approachable manner also causes the seller to reveal more than intended. His purchase of the films shows curiosity about Beldan’s entertainment culture and Abner’s influence.
• The film seller: Though dressed in a flashy, intimidating manner, he is ultimately a pragmatic former gang member trying to make a living. He is talkative, commercially shrewd, and unexpectedly candid with Wood.
• Abner Brain: Abner does not appear directly, but his influence dominates the chapter. His policies shaped Beldan’s economic growth, film industry, technology market, gang suppression, and even the local style of street commerce.
• Fors Wall and other figures: Their involvement in film production demonstrates how prominent authors and celebrities have become linked to Beldan’s expanding entertainment industry.

Significant Themes

• Prosperity built on modernization: Beldan’s recovery and growth come from technological development, mass migration, film production, and favorable economic policies.
• The commercialization of dreams: Film City attracts young people hoping to become famous, while merchants profit from their ambitions through acting classes, lodging, entertainment, and religious promises.
• Law, crime, and social tolerance: Abner’s government has eliminated powerful gangs but permits limited petty illegality, suggesting a pragmatic approach to maintaining social stability and employment.
• Technology and unequal access: Mini Projectors have become widely available, but legal content remains costly and controlled, creating opportunities for piracy.
• Cultural transformation: Modern entertainment, celebrity culture, advertising, and consumerism have become embedded in Beldan’s society, producing a setting that feels strangely familiar to Wood.

Character Interactions

• Street vendors aggressively compete for Wood’s attention as he exits the station, treating him as a likely tourist and customer.
• Wood contrasts himself with a well-dressed local gentleman who avoids the vendors, prompting his irritation at being perceived as an easy mark.
• The sunglasses-wearing seller follows Wood and attempts to sell him films. Their conversation shifts from suspicion to negotiation.
• Wood’s questions expose the seller’s connection to former gangs and the tolerated nature of his business.
• The seller enthusiastically recommends films, especially Roselle’s Secret History and The Terminator, while Wood quietly evaluates both the man and the wider social system behind his trade.

Chapter Summary: “Star and Door”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After arriving in Beldan City, Wood rests briefly at the Warrior Inn but decides to explore the city instead of immediately watching his newly purchased films.
• He plans to meet Sailor Wim at six o’clock by the Dragon statue. Wim has become infatuated with Miss Porshan, a beautiful woman from a ducal estate, though Wood doubts Wim has much chance of winning her over.
• Wood uses his enhanced Tourist Guide and Numerology Divination abilities to search for a Beyonder gathering. His goals are to obtain introductory mysticism knowledge, learn about Beyonder incidents, investigate Abner Brain, and find Roselle’s Diary.
• His divination leads him to the Star and Door bar in the Southwestern District. The bar openly facilitates Beyonder gatherings, reflecting how the Churches’ attitude toward Beyonders has changed after the war.
• Wood pays a substantial membership fee and registers for a concealed Beyonder gathering scheduled for nine that night. He is also informed that the bar is backed by the ancient Abraham Family, with Fors Wall as its largest shareholder.
• Meanwhile, Fors and Abner meet privately at the bar. Fors asks when Abner will take her to explore the real starry sky. Abner says he will do so after Vera completes the Fengshan Ritual and Helena’s advancement becomes possible.

Character Developments

• Wood becomes more proactive in pursuing knowledge and connections within the Beyonder world. Rather than remaining a passive observer, he deliberately seeks mystical resources, information, and potential opportunities.
• His cautious and analytical nature is evident in his assessment of Wim’s romance, his concern about the Churches’ policy change, and his desire to understand Abner’s background before joining the Church of Truth.
• Sailor Wim is portrayed as romantically reckless and inexperienced, having fallen in love with Miss Porshan after rescuing her.
• Fors has advanced to the Wanderer Sequence and now seeks greater freedom and adventure, especially the chance to travel through the stars.
• Abner remains informed and strategically cautious. He is involved in powerful plans concerning Vera, Helena, Primordial Hunger, and the Golden Star, suggesting that his actions are tied to major supernatural events.

Significant Themes

• Entry into the Beyonder world: Wood’s visit shows that Beyonder society is becoming more accessible and commercialized, with memberships, disguises, auctions, and organized gatherings.
• Knowledge as power: Wood’s priorities emphasize the importance of gathering information before making decisions or entering dangerous situations.
• Hidden power structures: The Star and Door bar appears ordinary but is connected to the ancient Abraham Family, illustrating how influential forces operate behind public institutions.
• Romance and realism: Wim’s infatuation contrasts with Wood’s practical skepticism, highlighting the difference between youthful emotion and worldly judgment.
• Cosmic danger and preparation: Fors’s desire to explore the stars is balanced by Abner’s warnings and the need to complete complex rituals and advancements first.

Character Interactions

• Wood recalls Wim’s pursuit of Miss Porshan and privately doubts that the rough, ordinary sailor can attract a woman from a prestigious ducal estate.
• Wood briefly encounters the innkeeper’s twin-tailed daughter but avoids interfering in what seems to be a quarrel or hurried errand.
• At Star and Door, Wood speaks with the guard and bar representative, learning about the gathering system, disguise services, membership requirements, and the Abraham Family’s protection.
• Wood’s mention of Fors Wall establishes his connection to the wider Beyonder network and reassures him about the bar’s reliability.
• Fors and Abner’s conversation reveals their familiarity and trust, while also exposing the larger supernatural plans that are unfolding beyond Wood’s current awareness.

Chapter Summary: “Little Girl”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fors suggests prioritizing visits to the alien civilizations previously described by Mr. Door and jokingly proposes that he serve as their tourist guide. Abner agrees, noting that he already knows the locations of those civilizations.
• Abner gives Fors several pages of Roselle’s Diary and asks her to sell them at the evening Beyonder gathering. Fors considers reading them but postpones it because of her poor emotional state.
• In Beldan’s old district, Wood waits beneath the city’s famous Dragon Statue for Wim. The statue symbolizes the refugees’ gratitude because its construction provided them with work during the war. Local legends claim it once transformed into a Bone Dragon to defend the city.
• Wim arrives happily and explains that his rescue of Miss Porshan has led to an invitation to lunch at the prestigious Witch’s Cuisine Restaurant. Wood’s divination confirms that Wim’s romantic prospects are real, though likely to be difficult because of the social gap between him and Porshan.
• Wim has also praised Wood’s divination skills to Porshan’s friends, who want Wood to read their fortunes. Wood agrees, partly because he hopes to learn more about a mysterious Transmigrator senior connected to the duke’s household.
• After returning to the inn, Wood disguises himself and travels alone to the Star and Door Bar for a Beyonder gathering. Using a badge, he is shown a magical hidden entrance: a door drawn in chalk opens into a genuine underground passage.
• Wood arrives in a grand underground hall and takes a seat. A beautiful young woman greets him, but he is shocked to recognize her as the apparent older or disguised version of the little golden-haired girl he saw at the inn.

Character Developments

• Fors remains interested in exploring other civilizations but is emotionally exhausted enough to delay examining Roselle’s Diary.
• Abner continues acting as a knowledgeable organizer and mentor. He helps Fors acquire valuable information while teasing her about her condition and quietly managing access to Mr. Door.
• Wood shows caution, loyalty, and growing investigative instincts. He worries about Wim’s romance, uses divination to check on his friend, and deliberately seeks information about the Transmigrator senior.
• Wim is enthusiastic and romantically optimistic after helping Miss Porshan. His boastful matchmaking attempt also reveals his genuine friendship with Wood.
• The mysterious golden-haired woman is introduced as a major point of suspense. Her resemblance to the inn’s little girl raises the possibility that she is the girl’s older sister, a transformed identity, or someone using a disguise.

Significant Themes

• Exploration and the unknown: Fors and Abner discuss visiting alien civilizations, while Wood enters a mysterious underground gathering connected to hidden supernatural forces.
• Identity and disguise: Wood disguises himself to attend the gathering, and the golden-haired woman’s connection to the little girl creates uncertainty about appearances and true identities.
• Friendship and loyalty: Wood looks out for Wim despite believing his romance may be problematic, and Wim tries to help Wood socially in return.
• Fate versus personal choice: Wood’s divination indicates that Wim’s romance will involve hardship, but Wood chooses not to interfere, leaving Wim to pursue his own path.
• The lingering effects of war: The Dragon Statue represents how wartime suffering, refugee labor, and collective gratitude have become part of Beldan’s identity.

Important Character Interactions

• Fors and Abner: Fors proposes future destinations and receives Roselle’s Diary pages from Abner. Their exchange combines practical planning with Abner’s teasing awareness of Fors’s emotional state.
• Wood and Wim: Wood checks Wim’s romantic situation through divination, while Wim invites Wood into his social opportunity with Porshan’s friends.
• Wood and the mysterious woman: Their brief greeting ends with Wood recognizing her resemblance to the little girl, creating the chapter’s central cliffhanger.

Chapter Summary: “Roselle’s Anger”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wood attends a hidden gathering held in a mystical palace, initially surprised that he has stumbled into a Beyonder-owned establishment.
• He observes the gathering’s presider, a beautiful and languid woman later revealed to be Fors, a Demigod of the Abraham Family known as “Lady Magician.”
• The attendees exchange mystical items, Beyonder knowledge, intelligence, and Potion formulas. Fors’s presence allows her to appraise and notarize transactions, making the trades reliable.
• Wood admires several valuable items—including a Constraint Revolver, Bullet Stamp, Demoness Stockings, and the Book of the Warlock—but cannot afford them.
• A golden-haired woman requests information about Victor Dale, a fraudster who stole 10,000 Gold Pounds. She offers a reward of 1,000 pounds or equivalent Beyonder materials.
• Wood asks for Victor’s birth date, the crime date, and personal belongings so he can use Numerology Divination. Though the target has strong anti-divination abilities, Wood agrees to investigate and learns that information can be submitted through the Star and Gate Bar.
• Fors presents two items of her own:
  • A glass containing a temporary one-cubic-meter Hidden Space capable of storing only liquids. It is purchased for 1,500 Gold Pounds.
  • Several pages of Roselle’s Diary, which immediately attract attention.
• The chapter ends with Roselle angrily confronting Abner from Observer Castle, accusing him of forging diary entries and spreading false stories about Roselle’s romantic conduct.

Character Developments

• Wood demonstrates growing familiarity with mystical practices, particularly Numerology Divination, and shows ambition despite his limited wealth. His reactions also reveal his awe toward high-level Beyonders and valuable mystical artifacts.
• Fors is revealed to be a powerful Abraham Family Demigod. Although casual and reluctant to receive excessive formality, she commands respect and efficiently oversees the gathering.
• The golden-haired woman is established as someone pursuing Victor Dale with considerable financial motivation, suggesting the fraud has personal or organizational significance.
• Roselle is portrayed humorously as vain and easily angered by fabricated accounts of his life. His outrage emphasizes his sensitivity to his reputation and romantic legacy.
• Abner is indirectly characterized as mischievous or provocative through his apparent fabrication of Roselle’s diary entries.

Significant Themes

• Power and hierarchy: The gathering’s participants react with reverence to Fors, highlighting the enormous gap between ordinary Beyonders and Demigods.
• Mystical commerce and trust: Fors’s appraisal and Notarization make dangerous supernatural transactions possible, showing how authority can stabilize underground markets.
• Ambition versus limitation: Wood recognizes the value of many items but lacks the money to obtain them, emphasizing the economic barriers to advancement.
• Truth, rumor, and reputation: Roselle’s anger at the forged diary illustrates how historical narratives can be manipulated, even in a supernatural world.
• Humor amid danger: The chapter balances serious mystical trading and high-level powers with Roselle’s comedic indignation over invented scandals.

Character Interactions

• Wood quietly questions a masked older man, who explains Fors’s identity and status to his hooded companion.
• Wood negotiates with the golden-haired woman over the information needed to locate Victor Dale.
• The attendees respond respectfully to Fors, though she asks them not to be overly formal.
• Fors’s sale of the hidden-space glass demonstrates her role as both presider and supplier of rare mystical goods.
• Roselle confronts Abner over the falsified diary, creating the chapter’s final comedic conflict.

Chapter Summary: “Green Shadow”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Abner hosts a massive Beyonder gathering in Observer Castle. Hidden doors in Star and Door bars across both continents now lead to the castle, having been repurposed from the Northern Region Trial’s teleportation network.
• Roselle teases Abner about his lack of a respectable diary, threatening to expose an embarrassing entry about Demonesses. Abner counters that he never kept a diary, leaving Roselle unable to gain the upper hand.
• The chapter explains the current condition of the three Divine Artifacts that aided Abner during his battle with Liu Bo:
  • Cecia, the soul within the Magic Mirror, has possessed her former body and advanced onto the Blasphemous Priest Pathway. With Abner’s protection, she has absorbed powerful Beyonder Characteristics and is close to regaining Angel status.
  • Golden Saintess Ignacia, residing in the Holy Seal, has recovered her original body and returned to roughly Sequence 3 after obtaining a Demoness of Unaging characteristic.
  • Andre, formerly within the Divine Sword, has abandoned his resentment after learning that Boris was merely Adam’s tool. His soul was redeemed and he now serves in Valhalla.
• Roselle and Abner listen to information exchanged at the gathering, including:
  • Mathematical research supporting the existence of dimensions.
  • Rumors that the God of Death is actually a goddess, which the relevant Church and empire quietly permit.
  • The Eternal Blazing Sun Church adopting the title “Father of All Living Beings.”
  • The worldwide rise of vigilante-style Beyonders known as Rangers.
  • The upcoming completion of the cross-sea bridge in Morning Star City.
• Roselle interprets these developments as signs of major changes among the gods and Pathways. Abner confirms that the Ranger movement is connected to his own Pathway influence, arguing that vigilantes are necessary because only Beyonders can effectively deal with Beyonder-related crimes.
• Later, Wood leaves the Star and Door bar, removes his disguise, and heads toward his inn. Despite never having visited Beldan before, his Tourist Guide abilities give him an uncanny familiarity with the city.
• In an alley, Wood senses something unusual and sees a green figure racing across a rooftop. He identifies her as Lady Green Shadow, Beldan’s famous nighttime Ranger, and wonders whether she is heading toward the same destination as him.

Character Developments

• Abner is shown as powerful, confident, and increasingly influential. He has transformed the teleportation network into a global information-gathering venue and continues protecting and restoring the souls connected to the former Divine Artifacts.
• Roselle remains witty and provocative, but he is also observant and politically perceptive. He quickly recognizes the significance of recent religious and supernatural developments.
• Cecia has undergone the most dramatic transformation, overcoming the usual madness associated with crossing Pathways through the stabilizing influence of the Blasphemous Priest Pathway and Abner’s protection.
• Ignacia has effectively regained much of her former strength and identity.
• Andre has emotionally moved beyond his hatred of Boris after learning the truth behind Boris’s existence, allowing him to be redeemed and enter Valhalla.
• Wood demonstrates the practical value of his Tourist Guide abilities and is introduced as a cautious observer whose journey may intersect with Lady Green Shadow’s activities.
• Lady Green Shadow is established as a mysterious and highly mobile vigilante, though her identity and intentions remain unrevealed.

Significant Themes

• Transformation and restoration: Former enemies, artifacts, and damaged souls are given new bodies, new Pathways, or new purposes.
• The changing supernatural world: Religious titles, divine identities, Pathways, and political structures are all shifting, suggesting a world in transition after major cosmic conflicts.
• Law versus vigilantism: The rise of Rangers reflects the inadequacy of ordinary institutions in a world governed by Beyonder powers. The chapter questions whether illegal vigilantes may nevertheless serve justice.
• Knowledge and information: The Hidden Gathering allows people to exchange intelligence from across the world, emphasizing how information has become a source of power.
• Identity and disguise: Roselle’s teasing, Cecia’s possession of a new body, Wood’s disguise, and Green Shadow’s hidden identity all reinforce the uncertainty between appearance and true self.
• Humor amid cosmic danger: Abner and Roselle’s banter provides comic relief while the background reveals enormous changes involving gods, Pathways, and the structure of reality.

Important Character Interactions

• Abner and Roselle: Their exchange is playful and antagonistic, with Roselle attempting to embarrass Abner and Abner responding with blunt confidence. They also discuss the implications of global religious and supernatural developments.
• Abner and the Divine Artifact souls: Abner acts as protector and benefactor, helping Cecia, Ignacia, and Andre recover, evolve, or find redemption.
• Roselle and Ignacia: Roselle recognizes Ignacia, whom he once killed and sealed away, creating an ironic contrast between her former state and her restored condition.
• Wood and Lady Green Shadow: They do not directly interact yet, but Wood’s encounter with her establishes a likely connection or impending confrontation as the chapter ends.

Chapter Summary: The Wheel of Fate

Key Plot Points and Events

• Aurore recounts her tragic childhood. Her impoverished biological father became addicted to gambling and mortgaged both Aurore and her mother to creditors. They were rescued when the casino gang was destroyed by the heroic Iron Man.
• Aurore and her mother fled to Limon City, where her educated mother found work and gradually built a stable life. The growth of Viscount Beldan’s Film City improved local prosperity.
• Aurore’s mother married Simon, a kind and dependable former factory worker. Simon had previously been deceived by his wife and a factory manager, Victor Dale, who used him as a cover for their affair and falsely claimed Simon’s son as his own.
• Simon and Aurore’s mother created a loving family, but war forced Simon to join the city patrol. After the war, he used battlefield spoils to rent a townhouse and provide the family with a better life.
• Their happiness ended when a grotesque monster invaded the house. Simon fought it to protect Aurore and her mother, sacrificing himself so they could escape.
• The monster contaminated Aurore and her mother, and they were taken to the Church of Truth. A female Hierophant saved them from becoming monsters.
• Simon’s death inspired Aurore to seek supernatural power. She eventually received a revelation leading her to the Star and Door bar, met Miss Wall, and obtained the Ranger Potion. She became a Sequence 9 Beyonder and secretly fought crime under the identity Lady Green Shadow.
• Sister Magu, who had known Simon through the city patrol, mentored Aurore in Beyonder matters and provided her with a mystical disguise item. Simon’s former comrades also supported Aurore and her mother, helping the mother establish an inn.
• After fully digesting the Ranger Potion, Aurore obtained the formula for the next potion, Investigator, but lacked the money for its ingredients.
• She then learned that Wright, one of Simon’s former comrades, had been defrauded by Victor Dale and committed suicide in despair. Recognizing Dale as the same man who had ruined Simon’s former life, Aurore placed a 1,000-Gold-Pound bounty on him at the Star and Door gathering.
• The closing scene shifts to Observer Castle, where Roselle comments that the “Wheel of Fate” is beginning to turn, noting the unusual origins and destinies of several important figures.

Character Developments

• Aurore: Develops from a frightened child into a determined, justice-driven Beyonder. Simon’s death transforms her admiration for heroes into a personal mission to become one. She is now courageous, resourceful, and willing to risk her savings to pursue Victor Dale.
• Aurore’s mother: Evolves from a desperate victim of family exploitation into an independent provider. Her marriage to Simon gives her emotional security, and after his death she becomes economically self-sufficient by opening an inn.
• Simon: Established as Aurore’s true father figure—loving, responsible, and self-sacrificing. His decision to fight the monster defines Aurore’s later ideals.
• Sister Magu: Acts as a protector, mentor, and intermediary between Aurore’s family and the Beyonder world. Her connections help shield Aurore from official scrutiny.
• Victor Dale: Revealed as a recurring villain whose manipulation harmed both Simon and Wright. His apparent Beyonder abilities and resistance to divination make him difficult to find.
• Roselle: Observes the larger supernatural significance of these events and suggests that multiple unusual destinies are converging.

Significant Themes

• The inheritance of trauma and justice: Aurore’s desire to punish Victor Dale arises from both personal betrayal and loyalty to Wright and Simon.
• Family versus blood relations: Aurore’s biological father exploits her, while Simon—her stepfather—provides genuine love and protection, showing that family is defined by care rather than blood.
• Sacrifice and heroism: Simon’s death inspires Aurore’s transformation into Lady Green Shadow, turning grief into a heroic purpose.
• Fate and interconnected destinies: The chapter presents several characters whose lives are shaped by hidden powers, chance encounters, and past actions. Roselle’s “Wheel of Fate” metaphor suggests that major events are beginning to converge.
• Hope amid oppression: Despite poverty, war, betrayal, and supernatural danger, Aurore’s family repeatedly rebuilds their lives through courage, solidarity, and mutual support.
• The danger of power and corruption: Monsters, Beyonder contamination, deceit, and anti-divination abilities reveal the risks surrounding supernatural forces.

Important Character Interactions

• Aurore and her mother: Their relationship is built on shared suffering and mutual dependence, gradually strengthened by their escape to Limon City.
• Aurore and Simon: Aurore initially distrusts him but eventually accepts him as her real father. His loving treatment profoundly contrasts with her biological father’s exploitation.
• Simon and the monster: Simon confronts the invading creature alone, protecting his family at the cost of his life.
• Aurore and Sister Magu: Magu becomes Aurore’s mentor after Simon’s death, teaching her about Beyonder powers and helping her operate as Lady Green Shadow.
• Aurore and Miss Wall: Miss Wall provides the Ranger Potion and helps set Aurore on the Beyonder pathway.
• Victor Dale and Simon: Dale’s earlier deception destroyed Simon’s first family and forced him to leave Stoen.
• Victor Dale and Wright: Dale later scams Wright out of his fortune, indirectly causing his suicide and reigniting Aurore’s determination for revenge.
• Roselle and Abner: At Observer Castle, Roselle discusses the emerging convergence of extraordinary figures and implies that the story is approaching a larger turning point.

Chapter Summary: “Protagonist”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After returning to the inn, Wood uses Numerology Divination to investigate the fraudster Victor Dale, whose crime occurred in Limon City.
• His initial divination indicates that Victor is hiding in Midseashire. To obtain a more precise answer, Wood performs a ritual directed toward Mr. Fool, greatly amplifying his divination.
• The ritual reveals that Victor is actually staying in the same inn, in a room resembling Wood’s own.
• Wood wakes Wim and confronts Victor on the second floor. Victor attempts to shoot them, but Wim disarms him and attacks.
• Victor uses a mystical metal ring to transform into a powerful Devil, warning that nearby civilians may die because Wood and Wim forced him to activate the item.
• Before Wood can use one of his “Wish Matches,” the vigilante Green Shadow intervenes. Using a talisman and an ability resembling a high-level “Game of Fate,” she drags Victor into a supernatural game.
• Green Shadow later returns with Victor subdued. Wood insists that, since he and Wim located the fraudster, she must pay the promised one-thousand-Gold-Pound reward. She confirms that the money is waiting at the Stars and Gates Bar.
• In Valhalla, Abner meets Bethel Abraham, who asks to leave the divine kingdom and reincarnate in the real world. Abner approves, allowing Bethel’s soul to descend into the body of a recently deceased person.
• The chapter ends with Abner remarking that “the protagonist” has arrived.

Character Developments

• Wood: Demonstrates greatly improved Numerology abilities and confidence in his mystical powers. His success leads him to act quickly, but the encounter with Victor exposes his tendency toward recklessness. Afterward, he reflects on the need to balance caution with decisive action.
• Wim: Shows the instincts and combat ability of an experienced sailor and adventurer. His Hunter-enhanced physique allows him to react faster than Victor and survive being violently thrown into a wall.
• Victor Dale: Revealed to possess a dangerous mystical item that can transform him into a Devil. Although initially presenting himself as a fraudster fleeing capture, he becomes a significant supernatural threat.
• Green Shadow: Her identity is indirectly linked to the woman from the Beyonder gathering. She is revealed to possess advanced mystical knowledge and powerful abilities, while also maintaining a playful, somewhat self-deprecating attitude about her disguise and the reward.
• Abner and Bethel Abraham: Their interaction establishes that Bethel is beginning a new life in reality. Abner’s calm approval suggests he has authority over Valhalla and is monitoring larger developments.

Significant Themes

• Caution versus recklessness: Wood recognizes that acting immediately after divination helped prevent Victor’s escape, but also placed him and Wim in danger. His reflection echoes the importance of careful preparation in supernatural investigations.
• The limits of confidence: Wood trusts his Wish Matches and Mr. Fool’s power, but Victor’s transformation demonstrates that hidden mystical artifacts can overturn an apparent advantage.
• Justice and reward: Wood’s pursuit of Victor is partly motivated by a desire to recover stolen wealth and help the victims, but he also firmly demands payment for his contribution.
• Hidden identities and disguises: Green Shadow’s concealed identity, Victor’s transformed appearance, and Bethel’s new body all reinforce the chapter’s focus on uncertainty, altered identities, and concealed power.
• The arrival of a major figure: Bethel’s reincarnation and Abner’s final comment frame his descent into reality as the beginning of an important new storyline.

Character Interactions

• Wood and Wim work together to confront Victor, with Wim providing physical support while Wood relies on divination and mystical items.
• Victor directly challenges Wood and Wim, using intimidation and the threat of civilian deaths to justify his transformation.
• Green Shadow interrupts the confrontation, neutralizes Victor, and later returns him to the inn corridor.
• Wood negotiates with Green Shadow over the reward, revealing that he recognizes her connection to the gathering.
• Abner and Bethel share a brief but significant exchange in which Bethel requests permission to leave Valhalla and begin again in the physical world.

Chapter Summary: “The Fool’s Wedding”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After fulfilling Mr. Door’s request, Abner observes that Wood has successfully encountered Aurore, the “Lady Green Shadow,” confirming that the wheel of fate is beginning to turn. He decides to stop interfering directly so that a greater hidden enemy may eventually reveal itself.
• Abner reflects on the current lives of several characters:
  • The Witch Shako has moved her Witch’s Cuisine restaurant from Backlund to Beldan because of the war.
  • Lina, the Demoness of Affliction, has joined the restaurant after Empress Vera’s rise made Prince Edessak’s protection unnecessary.
  • Edessak has abandoned his disguise and returned to ordinary life, though he and Lina never became lovers because of their incompatible feelings and identities.
• Abner thinks of Trissy, whom he could theoretically rescue from death, but chooses not to. He believes her death while stopping George III’s apotheosis was a fitting conclusion, and that reviving her might damage the meaning of her sacrifice or create further unhappiness—especially because Xio dislikes her.
• Abner prepares to attend the wedding of Mr. Fool and Miss Temperance in a low-dimensional world created from the Old Era.
• Feeling that attending alone would be lonely, he brings Leonard and invites the Evernight Goddess, who accompanies him as Klein’s goddess and apostle.
• At the wedding venue, Zhou Mingrui—Mr. Fool/Klein—welcomes guests while waiting for Sharron. Abner and the Evernight Goddess arrive together and present wedding gifts:
  • Abner gives Klein the Beyonder characteristic of an Ancient Bane.
  • The Evernight Goddess gives a gift meant both for the wedding and for Klein and Sharron’s unborn daughter.
• Li Lo-Mein is overwhelmed by the Evernight Goddess’s terrifying presence, though Zhou Mingrui recognizes his unusually sharp intuition.
• Sharron enters in a wedding dress, accompanied by Reinette Tinekerr and Maric. Reinette, fully restored after recovering her body fragments, acts as Sharron’s godmother, while Maric appears as her younger brother and has advanced to the Marionette Sequence.
• Reinette formally gives Sharron’s hand to Zhou Mingrui. Hidden from ordinary guests, four of Reinette’s floating heads offer Zhou Mingrui a humorous warning not to “learn Liu Bo,” presumably referencing his eccentric or troublesome behavior.
• The chapter closes with the note that this is the penultimate side story, with the final side story to follow shortly.

Character Developments

• Abner demonstrates immense power and restraint. Rather than manipulate events constantly, he chooses to let fate develop naturally, showing patience in confronting a threat that may take centuries to emerge.
• Abner’s judgment of Trissy reveals both moral consideration and personal bias. He accepts her death as deserved and meaningful, while admitting that Xio’s dislike of her also influences his decision.
• Klein/Zhou Mingrui is shown enjoying a peaceful personal milestone after years of danger and cosmic conflict. His wedding and impending fatherhood mark a return to ordinary happiness.
• Sharron has moved into a stable and fulfilling life, marrying Klein and expecting their first child.
• Reinette Tinekerr has fully recovered and now occupies a supportive familial role in Sharron’s life.
• Maric has grown stronger, reaching the Marionette level, and participates in the wedding as Sharron’s brother.
• The Evernight Goddess displays a gentler, more personal side by attending the wedding and preparing a blessing for Klein’s unborn daughter.
• Leonard continues to serve faithfully as the goddess’s guard and acts as her driver during the visit.
• Edessak and Lina remain connected but ultimately incompatible, while Edessak has accepted a quieter, ordinary existence.

Significant Themes

• Fate and noninterference: Abner recognizes that excessive intervention could prevent larger forces from revealing themselves. The chapter emphasizes patience and the importance of allowing destiny to unfold.
• Acceptance of death: Trissy’s death is treated as a meaningful conclusion rather than an injustice to be corrected. The story suggests that not every loss should be reversed.
• The value of memory and idealized relationships: Abner believes that some people and relationships are more beautiful when preserved in memory than when restored to reality.
• Peace after struggle: The wedding represents a rare moment of warmth and normalcy after prolonged supernatural conflict, war, and apocalyptic threats.
• Family and new beginnings: Klein and Sharron’s marriage and unborn daughter symbolize continuity, hope, and the possibility of a future beyond the old conflicts.
• Cosmic beings in ordinary settings: Powerful entities such as Abner and the Evernight Goddess attend a conventional wedding, creating humorous contrast between their terrifying status and the simple human event.

Character Interactions

• Abner observes Wood, Wim, and the others from afar but chooses not to interfere.
• Abner mentally evaluates Lina, Edessak, Trissy, and Xio, revealing his personal loyalties and judgments.
• Abner and the Evernight Goddess arrive together and personally congratulate Klein, presenting powerful and meaningful gifts.
• Klein reacts gratefully to both gifts, especially the goddess’s blessing for his unborn daughter.
• Li Lo-Mein reacts with fear to the Evernight Goddess, while Klein privately explains that her aura reflects her nature as the Queen of Calamity and Fear.
• Reinette formally entrusts Sharron to Zhou Mingrui, acting as both godmother and protector.
• Reinette’s floating heads jokingly warn Klein not to imitate Liu Bo, adding comic relief to the solemn ceremony.

Chapter Summary — “Walking Toward the Stars (End)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• During Zhou Mingrui and Sharron’s wedding, Abner discusses major political and cosmic developments with the Evernight Goddess.
• Leticia Tamara has defeated William I, the Augustus Family’s “Hand of Order,” clearing the way for her to perform the Fengshan Ritual. Roselle assisted her and received a Sequence 1 Beyonder Characteristic as payment.
• Abner explains that he supports Roselle becoming the “Shadow of Order,” believing Earth needs a Great Old One to remain behind after the others depart. Roselle is considered a better candidate than the God of Steam and Machinery, whose advancement depends on first pushing civilization into the interstellar age.
• The Evernight Goddess reveals that she and Lilith will leave behind Sealed Artifact 0-17, information bodies, and other safeguards to conceal their departure and preserve limited protection for their Churches.
• Zhou Mingrui and Sharron formally marry. At that moment, Abner’s “shackles” of Destiny disappear, confirming that he has completed the mission imposed on him by higher-dimensional forces.
• Abner realizes that his role may have been to help Klein achieve a happier ending than in the original timeline. He also understands that Liu Bo’s repeated cycles and his own “fortunate opportunity” were parts of a much larger chain of manipulation by higher-dimensional beings.
• Months later, Queen Vera performs the Fengshan Ritual on Hornacis Mountain, producing extraordinary phenomena. The Churches remain publicly silent, while Sealed Artifact 0-05 is secretly replaced.
• Abner’s starship, formerly Alvin Palace, is renamed the Destiny. It departs from the Moon with Abner, the Evernight Goddess, the Earth Mother Goddess, Tolzna, Bernadette, Cattleya, Xio, Fors, and other companions.
• Klein and Roselle see them off. Klein promises to visit in a few years, while Roselle asks Abner to take care of Bernadette.
• The Destiny opens a passage into the Astral World and begins its voyage toward its first destination, the Golden Star.

Character Developments

• Abner: Finally breaks free from the control of Destiny and higher-dimensional beings. He accepts that his Earth-based mission is complete and begins a new life of exploration among the stars. His emotional reaction to Klein’s happy ending shows both relief and lingering unease about the sacrifices and manipulation behind his journey.
• Evernight Goddess: Demonstrates continued trust in Abner by openly discussing the departure plans. She prepares carefully to preserve the stability of Earth and conceal the gods’ absence.
• Klein/Zhou Mingrui: Gains a genuine happy ending by marrying Sharron. He remains powerful enough to follow Abner across astronomical distances and intends to reunite with him.
• Sharron: Marries Zhou Mingrui, symbolizing the fulfillment of their relationship and the completion of Klein’s more fortunate fate.
• Roselle: Becomes the likely candidate to remain on Earth as its resident Great Old One and the future Shadow of Order. His farewell also emphasizes his concern for Bernadette.
• Leticia Tamara/Queen Vera: Successfully positions herself to conduct the Fengshan Ritual after eliminating the Augustus Family’s opposition.
• The departing gods and companions: Prepare to leave Earth while arranging substitutes, artifacts, and information bodies to prevent the Outer Deities from discovering their absence.

Significant Themes

• Freedom from fate: Abner’s loss of the Destiny shackles represents true liberation from predetermined roles and manipulation.
• The hidden cost of destiny: The chapter suggests that every “gift” from fate carries a price, and that Abner’s opportunities were part of a larger, possibly infinite hierarchy of manipulation.
• Happy endings and altered destiny: Klein’s marriage to Sharron contrasts with his original tragic trajectory, validating Abner’s intervention.
• Departure and new beginnings: Earth’s story reaches a temporary conclusion, while the vastness of the cosmos opens a new stage of adventure.
• Responsibility and sacrifice: The departing gods must leave behind protections and false appearances to shield Earth, while Roselle and others accept responsibilities in their absence.
• Open-ended possibility: Many mysteries—especially the nature of the higher-dimensional beings, the Fengshan Ritual’s full consequences, and the future of the star voyage—are deliberately left unresolved.

Important Character Interactions

• Abner and the Evernight Goddess: They exchange information about Leticia, Roselle, the God of Steam, and the arrangements for leaving Earth. The goddess notices Abner’s emotional reaction after the wedding and expresses concern.
• Abner and Klein: Their farewell is calm and affectionate rather than sorrowful. Klein promises to catch up with the Destiny, showing the continuing strength of their bond.
• Abner and Roselle: Roselle entrusts Bernadette’s safety to Abner, reflecting both paternal concern and confidence in Abner.
• Klein and Sharron: Their mutual vows complete their relationship and trigger Abner’s release from Destiny.
• Abner and his traveling companions: Abner gathers his friends and allies for the next phase of his journey, treating the voyage as a shared expedition rather than a solitary escape.
  The extra story ends with Abner’s Earthly mission complete and the Destiny sailing toward the stars, leaving the future—and many unanswered mysteries—open.

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Chapter Summary: “Welcome Back (The End)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Abner enters the Barrier to accommodate the Key of Light, City of Calamity, and Shadow World, Klein decides to temporarily suppress the power of the Unknown and confront the Celestial Worthy alone. He plans to enter a dream using water from the River of Eternal Darkness, buying Abner time to complete his transformation.
• Klein summons the Tarot Club for an emergency gathering and announces that he will enter slumber because of a war connected to the Apocalypse. His disappearance leaves the members—especially Leonard, Audrey, and Sharron—deeply worried.
• Abner begins merging the three sefirah while resisting overwhelming madness and corruption. The Unknown, awakened by the fusion, tries to stop him, but the White Angel sacrifices itself to delay the attack.
• The High-Dimensional Overseer intervenes, distracting Liu Bo, the awakened figure within the Land of Unknown. This allows Abner to continue the fusion.
• Liu Bo later attempts to tear the sefirah away from Abner. This forces Oliver, the God of Luck, to reveal himself. The Three Divine Artifacts activate a hidden backdoor in the Unknown, briefly deceiving Liu Bo and buying Abner more time.
• Just as Abner’s power is nearly exhausted, Klein secretly sends him a final portion of Unknown power. With this assistance, Abner completes the fusion and becomes the Pillar-level Great Old One known as Tower. His new sefirah, the Fallen Tower, is born, while the three original sefirah and related characteristics are returned to Earth.
• Abner wounds Liu Bo and sends him back to the Land of Unknown. The High-Dimensional Overseer attempts to devour Liu Bo, but Liu Bo instead absorbs and merges with him.
• Through Lighthouse authority, Abner learns the truth behind the Circle of Inevitability: Liu Bo and the High-Dimensional Overseer were trapped in a time loop spanning different worlds and eras. Liu Bo’s apparent actions were part of an attempt to break free from that cycle. Abner’s victory becomes the variable that allows Liu Bo to escape the loop and ascend into another high-dimensional world.
• Abner returns to Earth in March and reunites with the Evernight Goddess, the Earth Mother Goddess, Hosenam, Yaluolan, Bernadette, Cattleya, Xio, and Fors. Each reunion is marked by his simple but emotional declaration: “I’m back.”
• Discovering that Klein has not yet awakened, Abner uses authority left with Alvin to summon the Tarot Club. Klein awakens in Sefirah Castle to find everyone gathered around him.
• Abner leads the group in welcoming Klein back and wishing him a happy birthday. Klein, visibly moved, welcomes Abner in return as “Mr. Tower.” The main story concludes.

Character Developments

• Klein fully accepts the burden of confronting the Celestial Worthy alone, demonstrating his willingness to sacrifice himself for Abner and the world. His final assistance allows Abner to become Tower, and his emotional awakening shows that he has retained his humanity and deep bonds with the Tarot Club.
• Abner completes his transformation from an exceptionally powerful Beyonder into the Tower Pillar, mastering the Unknown and becoming the symbol of desire, destruction, corruption, and the Unknown. Despite gaining power and the opportunity to pursue higher-dimensional existence, he chooses to remain because of his relationships and responsibilities.
• Liu Bo is revealed to be more complicated than a simple antagonist. His actions were driven by a desire to escape the endless Circle of Inevitability. By merging with the High-Dimensional Overseer, he finally breaks free and leaves for another high-dimensional world.
• The High-Dimensional Overseer is revealed to have originated from Liu Bo’s own circumstances and to have been both his hidden companion and the source of his high-dimensional connection. His attempt to exploit Liu Bo ultimately results in their fusion.
• The Tarot Club members display strong loyalty and affection for Klein. Their anxiety during his slumber and their unified celebration upon his return emphasize how far they have developed from a purely transactional group into a genuine family.
• Sharron, Fors, Xio, Bernadette, Cattleya, and the goddesses each reinforce Abner’s network of emotional ties, helping explain why he rejects leaving the world behind.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice and mutual support: Klein risks confronting the Celestial Worthy alone, while Abner’s allies delay Liu Bo and the Unknown. Abner’s ascension is ultimately made possible by the combined efforts of many characters.
• Human bonds versus transcendence: Abner gains the power to leave the universe and enter a higher-dimensional world, but chooses to stay because of his relationships. The chapter argues that personal bonds give reality meaning.
• Cycles, fate, and freedom: Liu Bo’s story centers on escaping the Circle of Inevitability. Abner’s unpredictable existence becomes the variable that breaks the cycle, suggesting that genuine freedom comes from events and choices that cannot be fully predetermined.
• Identity and humanity: Even after becoming a Pillar, Abner remains emotionally connected to others. Likewise, Klein’s return is framed not as the return of an all-powerful god, but as the return of a friend and member of the Tarot Club.
• Homecoming and closure: The repeated phrase “I’m back” and the final “Welcome back” emphasize reunion, restoration, and the completion of long character journeys.

Important Character Interactions

• Klein and Abner support each other indirectly during their separate confrontations, with Klein’s final gift of power securing Abner’s ascension.
• The High-Dimensional Overseer battles Liu Bo, first to prevent him from reaching Abner and later to try to consume him; Liu Bo reverses the situation by absorbing the Overseer.
• Oliver’s appearance, guided by the Three Divine Artifacts, becomes the key diversion that allows Abner to complete the fusion.
• Abner’s reunions with the goddesses, Bernadette, Cattleya, Hosenam, Yaluolan, Xio, and Fors show the breadth of his relationships.
• The Tarot Club’s final collective greeting transforms Klein’s awakening into a celebration of friendship. Abner welcomes Klein as a returning companion, and Klein reciprocates by recognizing him as Mr. Tower.