Chapter Summaries

Herbert gave Valentina a haircut, and she was delighted by her reflection and his care. After collecting her hair to use as a material, Herbert went to wash it at a secluded well, where he unexpectedly encountered the grass carp again.

• Herbert cut Valentina’s tangled red hair while she ate, then showed her the new medium-length style in a mirror.
• Valentina admired her reflection in disbelief, and Herbert let her keep the mirror.
• Herbert wiped Valentina’s face with a damp towel, and she quietly appreciated being cared for.
• Herbert gathered Valentina’s hair and left the prison to wash it before using it as a material.
• Herbert reached the secluded well and found the grass carp beside it again.

Herbert avoided investigating the abused grass carp and reported a mysterious change in the Lightless Prison to the Bishop of Thorns, hoping the Archbishop would handle it. As Herbert prepared to leave, the Bishop asked whether he had encountered anything blasphemous lately.

• Herbert found the dead grass carp again, drew water, and chose not to investigate or report its abuse.
• Herbert visited the Bishop of Thorns at the Tribunal and asked to report a serious matter to the Archbishop.
• Herbert explained that the Lightless Prison had become impossible to enter or advance through, and that he could not find its prisoner or reach the fourth area.
• The Bishop of Thorns said he would inform the Archbishop later and told Herbert the matter was not urgent.
• As Herbert turned to leave, the Bishop of Thorns asked whether he had recently encountered anything blasphemous.

Herbert resisted an attempt to manipulate his thoughts and concealed his defenses by pretending the Bishop of Thorns had asked him to investigate a fallen monk. The Bishop dismissed him, then confronted the Rusty Nail Bishop, who said the test had followed the rules.

• The Bishop of Thorns asked Herbert about blasphemy, and outside interference briefly made Herbert anxious to reveal his secrets.
• Herbert recognized the mental manipulation and regained his composure with the help of his protections.
• Herbert pretended to believe the Bishop wanted him to hunt a fallen monk and fervently begged to take the mission.
• The Bishop of Thorns concluded Herbert was a promising Holy Knight, dispelled the interference, and sent him away.
• The Bishop of Thorns confronted the Rusty Nail Bishop in the shadows, and the Rusty Nail Bishop replied that the test had followed the rules.

The Cardinals of the Tribunal discussed Herbert’s secret examination and confirmed that he was innocent, trustworthy, and unaffected by the sealed objects. The Rusty Nail Bishop decided to recruit him into the knightly order, provoking the Bishop of Thorns, who insisted Herbert belonged to his Tribunal.

• The Rusty Nail Bishop defended secretly testing Herbert, while the Bishop of Thorns argued that Herbert was already a member of the Monastery.
• The Rusty Nail Bishop reported that Herbert had a resilient mind and a soul-protecting Magic Artifact, but that his answers had been truthful.
• The Rusty Nail Bishop revealed that Herbert still carried deep resentment and wanted to prove himself in battle, even wishing for an honorable death.
• The Rusty Nail Bishop refused to identify who was persecuting Herbert and confirmed that Herbert was innocent, unaffected by the sealed objects, and trustworthy.
• The Rusty Nail Bishop announced he would recruit Herbert into the knightly order, and the Bishop of Thorns angrily claimed Herbert belonged to his Tribunal.

After nearly exposing himself to the Rusty Nail Bishop’s mind influence, Herbert sought a way to protect his soul and wrote Duke Albert a blunt request for a Magic Artifact. He then tried to consume Nenasya’s red hair, learned that his blood was the key, and faced a vision of endless fire.

• Herbert returned to his room shaken by the Rusty Nail Bishop’s attempt to influence his thoughts and decided he needed stronger soul protection.
• Herbert wrote Duke Albert a terse letter asking for an item to protect his soul and sent it through another monk.
• Herbert waited for a chance to speak with the Harmonic God, then tried to swallow the red hair he had hidden but spat it out.
• Nenasya told Herbert that consuming the hair depended on his blood, not swallowing it by mouth.
• Herbert’s blood fell onto the crimson strands, red mist rose, and endless fire appeared before him.

Herbert dreamed that he had become a Dragon, devoured a vast expanse of fire, and encountered the enormous Dragon King called the Destroyer, who crushed him. He woke with his memories still missing and tested whether he could eat a candle flame, only to cough up wax.

• Herbert found himself in a world covered in flames, discovered they tasted delicious, and ate them until his Dragon body grew enormous.
• A one-eyed Dragon King emerged from beneath the earth and questioned Herbert about his name and bloodline.
• The Dragon King named himself the Destroyer, then stomped Herbert into the ground and said they would meet again.
• Herbert woke from the vision, touched a candle flame, and tried to slurp it, but coughed after sucking wax into his mouth.

Herbert learned that the Dragon King's bloodline inheritance made him immune to fire and stronger when exposed to flames, and that he could gain further inheritances from Dragon materials. Nenasya told him the Dragon King had been betrayed and killed, and the chapter ended with a red-haired Dragon in a cage asking to smell him.

• Herbert tested his new fire immunity by holding his finger in a flame, and Nenasya explained that heat could no longer burn him but impacts could still hurt him.
• Nenasya revealed that Herbert had received the Dragon King's bloodline inheritance, which let him draw strength from flames and could grant him more abilities through additional Dragon materials.
• Herbert asked Nenasya about the Dragon King, and she recounted how he had killed a god, attempted to ascend, and was betrayed and slain by a fellow Dragon and three true gods.
• Nenasya promised Herbert that no one would hurt him once she broke free of her seal.
• The next day, a red-haired Dragon in a cage called Herbert over and asked to smell him, making him wary.

Herbert cleaned Valentina’s greasy hands and face while reflecting on how dangerous the powerful dragon was, though her goofy behavior undercut his caution. When Valentina sensed an ancient scent on him, Herbert dodged her attack and left the cage, then encountered Freime, who also wanted to examine him.

• Herbert teased Valentina until she reached for his arm, then caught her hand and wiped away the grease.
• Herbert cleaned Valentina’s face as well, despite reminding himself that she was a powerful magical beast.
• Valentina said Herbert carried a familiar, ancient scent and tried to investigate it more closely.
• Herbert joked that Valentina could call him Father, dodged her furious swipe, and left for the Deepwater Prison.
• Herbert realized Valentina might have sensed the lingering effect of his dragon king inheritance, then found Freime beckoning him over for a closer look.

Herbert confirmed that Freime only found him annoying, then used his new sense of direction to reach Svannie Moore’s cell in Lightless Prison. He found her sealed inside a black iron coffin and heard a faint click when he asked if she was there.

• Freime rejected Herbert’s attempts to talk and sealed herself inside her water sphere, while Herbert realized she could sense something about him but could not identify it.
• Herbert left Deepwater Prison and returned to Lightless Prison, where the Sea Monster Queen’s Longing kept him from losing his way.
• Herbert recognized that Archmage Svannie was changing the terrain beneath his feet and warned her he could interfere with the sealing formation too.
• Svannie stopped altering the path, allowing Herbert to find her cell.
• Herbert knocked on the black iron coffin and asked if Svannie was there, and a faint click came from inside.

Herbert discovered that Eliza Fatt, a vampire imprisoned in a black iron coffin, could not get out and offered to help her. When Eliza tried to hypnotize him into giving her blood, Herbert resisted and stabbed her through the coffin instead, then grabbed his sword blade.

• Herbert realized the tapping came from Eliza Fatt, the Vampire Prince trapped inside the coffin.
• Herbert tried to move the heavy coffin lid but managed to open it only by a few millimeters.
• Eliza begged Herbert for blood and used her voice to try to compel him to obey.
• Herbert drew his sword and thrust it through the gap, striking Eliza in the chest.
• Herbert told Eliza he would give her blood and grabbed the blade wedged in the coffin.

Herbert tricked Elisa into drinking holy water made from his blood, severely weakening her and forcing her to expel most of it. He widened the coffin’s opening, introduced himself as a Holy Knight, and left their future relationship uncertain.

• Herbert cut his palm and offered Elisa his blood, which she eagerly licked.
• The holy properties of Herbert’s blood burned Elisa, and he revealed that he was a Holy Knight.
• Elisa tried to purge the holy blood but weakened herself further, suffering a complete defeat.
• Herbert widened the gap in Elisa’s coffin and introduced himself, saying he hoped they would get along.
• At dusk, a trembling black-robed figure was interrupted by a voice asking whether someone was there.

Herbert found Grass Carp growing increasingly violent and went to report him, but discovered a murdered clergyman in the Tribunal. As the clergy vowed vengeance, they surrounded Herbert, leaving him to fear that they suspected him.

• Herbert found a third badly mutilated grass carp and worried that Grass Carp was losing control of his urges.
• Herbert decided to report Grass Carp to the Tribunal for desecration.
• Herbert arrived at the Tribunal and found more than a hundred clergy gathered around the body of a murdered young clergyman.
• A Penitent Sister called on the clergy to find the murderer and avenge their fallen brother.
• The clergy silently moved away from Herbert and watched him with cold eyes, making him fear they were coming for him.

Herbert faced accusations that he had murdered Frank and committed blasphemy, but refused to defend himself on their terms. He revealed his Mark of Purity and challenged his accusers to explain whether they were questioning the god who bestowed it on him.

• Herbert endured the monks’ suspicion and hostility, fearing that the Tribunal would torture him if he cooperated.
• A bald nun accused Herbert of blasphemy, claiming she had seen him near the kitchen when the grass carp were tampered with.
• Brother Jeffs added that he had seen signs of blasphemy near the Well of Mourning when Herbert passed by.
• The monks’ hostility surged as they treated Herbert as a heretic, while the disciplinary nun calmly asked whether he had anything to explain.
• Herbert asked Sister Ivanka and Brother Jeffs whether they were challenging his purity, then revealed the Holy Mark on his hand.
• Herbert challenged the crowd by asking whether they were questioning the god who had bestowed the blessing upon him.

Herbert defended himself against accusations of blasphemy by displaying the Holy Mark and accusing Ivanka and Jeffs of having fallen. Priest Kaplan declared Herbert innocent and ordered the two accusers to undergo baptism and interrogation, leaving Herbert to accept her ruling.

• Herbert displayed the Holy Mark to prove his purity and challenged Ivanka and Jeffs by accusing them of falling to an evil god.
• The clergy accepted that Herbert was innocent, and most turned to Priest Kaplan to resolve the uproar.
• Kaplan declared Herbert was not a blasphemer and asked Ivanka and Jeffs to explain their accusations.
• Kaplan judged that Ivanka and Jeffs showed no signs of lying but ordered them to undergo baptism in the Confession Pool and then her personal interrogation.
• Kaplan asked Herbert whether he was satisfied with the outcome, and he respectfully accepted her arrangements.

After Herbert’s blood revealed the Tribunal hall’s hidden patterns, Kaplan healed his hand and granted him access to sanctuary resources. Worried about the higher-ups’ plans for Grass Carp, Herbert chose to spend the night with Valentina.

• The Tribunal sent the two monastics who accused Herbert to the Confession Pool for twelve hours of confession and interrogation.
• Herbert reflected that he needed to grow stronger and reach Lava Hell so he could use the Dragon King Inheritance.
• Herbert’s blood revealed the great hall’s patterns, and he explained that he had created holy blood to survive an attack in the Foreign Races' Prison.
• Kaplan realized Herbert had been excluded from using sanctuary resources, healed his wound, and told him he could take whatever he needed.
• Kaplan told Herbert that the Chief Inquisitor already knew about Grass Carp and warned him not to tell others.
• Herbert avoided returning to his room and told Valentina he had come to sleep with her.

Herbert used a heartfelt confession to ask Valentina if he could touch her tail, leaving her stunned after she mistook his request for a declaration of love.

• Valentina suspected Herbert was hiding something and pressured him to reveal what he wanted.
• Herbert warned Valentina not to blame him, then grabbed her hand as she tried to retreat.
• Herbert earnestly asked Valentina to let him touch her tail.
• Valentina began refusing what she thought was a romantic advance, then froze when she heard his actual request.

Herbert deliberately provoked Valentina by asking to touch her tail, then explained to Nenasya that her anger was mostly embarrassment and that he had left to give her time to cool down. He reached Freime in the central area of the Deepwater Prison as she finished singing the ballad of the Sea Monster Queen and the human prince.

• Herbert asked Valentina to transform and let him touch her tail, making her realize he had intentionally teased her and sending her into a fury.
• Herbert fled to the second area of the Deepwater Prison while Valentina angrily shook and bit the bars of her cage.
• Herbert told Nenasya that Valentina had been more embarrassed than angry and that he had left to let her calm down.
• Herbert heard Freime singing the ballad of the Sea Monster Queen and the human prince and said he understood the song.
• Freime stopped before the final line, lamented the song, and turned in shock when Herbert applauded and approached her.

Herbert visited Freime in her cell while she sang, and her splash soaked his robe. Freime realized her singing had no effect on him, leaving her baffled by his immunity.

• Freime plunged into her water sphere and splashed Herbert when he entered her cell at night.
• Freime examined Herbert closely after realizing he showed no signs of being affected by her singing.
• Herbert mistook Freime's stare at his soaked, transparent robe for an attempt to ogle him, and they argued.
• Freime asked why Herbert was fine and confirmed that he had heard her singing.
• Herbert asked why Freime had left the song's final line unfinished, and she retreated into the water sphere, stunned that her singing had not affected him.

Herbert visited Freime at night, listened to her worries, and persuaded her to let him touch her tail before agreeing to hear her sing again. Meanwhile, the Bishop of Thorns and the Chief Inquisitor realized someone had escaped, as a hunched figure reached the Foreign Races' Prison.

• Freime repeatedly asked Herbert if he was all right, and he jokingly claimed that touching her tail would cure his supposed illness.
• Freime let Herbert touch her tail, but pulled it away when his careful strokes tickled her too much.
• Herbert secured Freime's tacit agreement to let him touch her tail again and accepted her invitation to hear her sing another time.
• The Bishop of Thorns and the Chief Inquisitor concluded that someone had escaped and wondered whether he had fled to the Mist Mountains.
• A hunched figure pressed a hand against the door of the Third Disciplinary Ward, also known as the Foreign Races' Prison.

Herbert wondered whether Freime’s singing had caused the destruction of the ports and tried to learn more about it while bantering with Nenasya. Their exchange ended with Herbert discovering that Nenasya had not bewitched the Penitent, as Valentina noticed a strange fishy smell.

• Herbert suspected Freime’s singing could kill ordinary people and considered whether it explained the destroyed ports.
• Nenasya teased Herbert about Freime, then offered to sing despite warning that people might die if she did.
• Herbert avoided asking Nenasya to sing immediately and urged her to offer on her own when she wanted to.
• Herbert joked that Nenasya had turned a Penitent into Grass Carp, but she denied ever bewitching anyone besides him.
• Valentina noticed a fishy smell and wondered where it was coming from.