Chapter Summaries

Kroya tamed all eighty Fish-Tailed Sea Ducks and mastered the third movement of the Song of Red. He then planned to relocate Air Coral and explore nearby marine sites, but his first stop to hunt Silverback Dragonfish left him speechless.

• Kroya agreed to refine three thousand jin of Sacred White Iron for Baron Kermoyer in exchange for Magic Plants, and they signed a contract.
• Kroya lured the Fish-Tailed Sea Ducks into a barren hollow and weakened them with repeated fireball attacks over five days until all eighty submitted.
• Kroya discovered that the Crescent Moon Fruit’s moonlit mist improved his sleep and mental growth, and he mastered the Song of Red’s third movement, Quiet Little Serenade.
• Kroya brought three Air Coral specimens to shore and marked three promising marine locations with Knight Norman and experienced fishermen.
• Kroya chose to investigate the Silverback Dragonfish reefs first, but the sight at the location left him speechless.

Kroya encountered the Sea Spirit Dolphins and their school of Magic Fish, then led them and the Fish-Tailed Sea Ducks in a fight against a powerful shark. They defeated the shark, and Kroya remained wary as he watched the sea.

• Kroya greeted the two Sea Spirit Dolphins and reprimanded Norman for failing to recognize them as friendly Magical Beasts.
• Norman identified the dolphins’ followers as Glare Magic Fish, Golden-Scaled Fish, and Silverback Dragonfish.
• Kroya asked the dolphins about stronger nearby Magic Fish, and one led a shark toward the boat.
• Kroya ordered the Fish-Tailed Sea Ducks to form ranks as the dolphins and Magic Fish launched a surprise attack on the shark.
• The Golden-Scaled Fish rammed the shark, a Sea Spirit Dolphin blinded it, and the ducks and Kroya’s fire magic helped bring it down.
• Kroya watched the distance warily after the shark floated belly-up.

Kroya and his companions escaped a shark pack with help from a dolphin’s mermaid-given blessing, then explored a coral reef for magical materials. The dolphins returned from a deep trench with five enormous silver-blue shells.

• Kroya prepared to use the merfolk shell as sharks approached, but the female dolphin’s song drove the pack away.
• Kroya told Norman to take the captured shark back for cooking, then rode a dolphin toward a nearby coral reef.
• Kroya learned that the mermaid’s blessing had helped the dolphins recruit followers and that they had prepared food for him.
• Kroya dove into the reef, collected several magically rich corals in his shell, and planned to use them in a magic-storage array.
• The male dolphin returned from a trench with ducks and fish dragging a basket containing five millstone-sized shells.

Kroya harvested pearls from five Sea-Pattern Clams and discovered one clam could not cast its innate spell, so he inscribed Water Luminary Sword on it to test whether it could produce enchanted pearls. After planting Air Coral underwater, he returned to the beach pleased with the haul and planned to continue the experiment at his laboratory.

• Kroya used a ring of gentle fire to open five Sea-Pattern Clams, removed their pearls, and had the injured clams returned to the water.
• Kroya sensed that the last clam thought it was unable to learn or cast its innate spell, explaining why its pearl lacked magic patterns.
• Kroya inscribed Water Luminary Sword onto the clam and learned that it would reproduce the spell’s magic patterns in future pearls if supplied with Water Luminary Power.
• Kroya decided to make a Pearl Core from waterlight essence and charged crystal, but postponed the test until he returned to his laboratory.
• Kroya planted three Air Coral underwater, then returned to the beach and delighted in the pile of items the dolphins had gathered.

Kroya discovered that the Magic Shark’s core contained its soul, but found that turning it into a tower spirit would cost far more magic crystals than he could afford. He instead focused on developing his territory, built three basic coral Mana Pools, and headed to the sunflower field to transfer the magic stored by the sunflowers.

• Rob told Kroya that the shark had a Magic Core, which Kroya ordered brought to his laboratory.
• Kroya examined the core and considered using the shark’s soul to create a tower spirit, but abandoned the idea after learning the materials would cost at least three thousand level-one magic crystals.
• Kroya set aside the tower-spirit plan, ate shark fin soup, and made Pearl Cores.
• Kroya spent ten days and his remaining magic crystals building three coral Mana Pools for pure, water, and fire magic.
• Kroya left for the sunflower field to transfer the sunflowers’ stored magic into the pools and see what the newly grown sunflower could do.

Kroya harvested sunflame magic power from his sunflowers and made a golden potion to sell through the Sacred Spring Trade Guild. The guild reported that a master potion maker wanted to meet with him under a contract that concealed both their identities.

• Kroya discovered that a crimson sunflower had learned the Song of Red and was gradually developing a soul.
• Kroya ordered the Red Sunflower to draw magic power from the other sunflowers, collecting their purified sunflame power in his laboratory.
• Kroya decided to seek more sunflower seeds through the original owner's friend and sent a letter with Rob.
• Kroya made a golden potion from sunflame power and offered it to the Sacred Spring Trade Guild.
• The guild told Kroya that a master potion maker wanted to speak with him in a meeting concealed by a contract witnessed by the God of Order.

Kroya signed a contract with the Sacred Spring Trade Guild and met Seagull in the Deep Blue Illusion to discuss supplying his potion. After realizing the guild had undervalued his earlier waterlight essence, Seagull offered compensation, leaving Kroya considering how to secure a Magic Field and magic plant seeds.

• Kroya signed the Sacred Spring Trade Guild's contract and chose Astral Spirit as his codename.
• Kroya entered the Deep Blue Illusion and met Seagull, who explained that she had assessed his potion.
• Seagull offered to buy Kroya's potion for twenty grade-one magic crystals per bottle after praising its refined sunlight and life force.
• Seagull apologized because the guild had previously undervalued Kroya's waterlight essence and offered him thirty-seven grade-two magic crystals and a Magic Spring Jellyfish.
• Kroya decided that he needed a Magic Field and magic plant seeds to build a sustainable source of magic crystals.

Kroya traded five bottles of Morning Dew Potions and remaining magic crystals with the Sacred Spring Trade Guild for magic field plants and beginner-friendly seeds. After the deal, he received his haul and decided to begin transforming the land around his castle the next day.

• Lady Seagull offered Kroya three ways to obtain a magic field, and Kroya chose a magic plant that would transform land over time as a gift for his disciple.
• Kroya explained that his Morning Dew Potions were unstable and limited in supply, then agreed to sell them to the guild for thirty magic crystals per bottle.
• Kroya chose soothing lily and thicksoil potato seeds for his disciple, and Seagull explained that the plants would lose vitality after two generations unless Kroya bought the preservation formula.
• Kroya made four bottles of potion and placed them in the spring, which delivered a huge pile of items and updated his Membership Points to 3,554.
• Kroya smiled at his haul and decided to start transforming the land around the castle the next day.

Kroya studied the magic plants and elemental jellyfish he had received, then put the jellyfish in the castle’s magic spring to purify its water. The next morning, he set out with Knight Ate and his men to plant the seedlings and magic field grape vine near the air coral site.

• Kroya read the magic field grape vine’s instructions and learned that it could use mana to create different elemental magic fields.
• Kroya placed the elemental jellyfish in the magic spring, where it clarified the water, then ordered Jamie to establish another spring outside the castle and prepare the land behind the mountain for planting.
• Kroya learned from Jamie that the barley harvest had tripled and ordered him to reward Elena’s family with bread.
• Kroya prepared the soothing lilies and thicksoil potatoes for planting, then meditated through the night.
• The next morning, Kroya joined Knight Ate and his men, carrying the grape vine seedling as they headed out to farm.

Kroya planted a magic field grape vine at Castle Back Hill, where it quickly spread across an entire mu and provided space for soothing lilies and thicksoil potatoes. At the Lake, he discovered a tiny winged humanoid inside a glowing point on the mushroom.

• Ate inspected the cleared land at Castle Back Hill and led the farmhands there to help Kroya.
• Kroya planted the magic field grape vine, which rapidly grew to cover an entire mu and cast cool, gentle shade.
• Kroya ordered the farmhands to plant soothing lilies and thicksoil potatoes above the vine’s roots, promising each a silver coin for good work.
• Kroya went to the Lake to check on the mushroom and Kaba Beasts, noticing a strange holy glow on the beasts’ fur.
• Kroya found a grape-sized point of white light on the mushroom and saw a living, winged humanoid asleep inside it.

Kroya discovered that the glowing mass had given him Sacred Power, which he could use alongside mana, and found that it contained a sleeping angel with no apparent awareness. After two Burrowing Mice uncovered a staircase beneath the lake, Kroya descended to investigate what lay underground.

• Kroya found that touching the glowing mass let Sacred Power flow into him, and he shaped it into a fireball alongside his mana.
• Kroya used the Astral Body Inscription Technique to see a sleeping, light-made angel inside the mass and concluded it had transferred its power to him.
• Kroya noticed that Sacred Power had repaired the platinum-colored ring around the angel and resolved to ask the Sacred Spring Trade Guild and the Merfolk about Void Luminary Crystals.
• Two Burrowing Mice told Kroya they had found a staircase beneath the lake and used their soil magic to uncover its entrance.
• Kroya put the exhausted Burrowing Mice in his pocket and descended the staircase.

Kroya entered a hidden chamber using his Mage Association appointment letter and found a research journal about the legendary Void Luminary Ark. He learned that Ilyst had warned later visitors against searching for it, but he remained unsure whether the Ark existed or was connected to a strange platinum-colored ring.

• Kroya used the Mage Association seal on his appointment letter to open the hidden door at the bottom of the stairs.
• Kroya entered the chamber, inspected its vessels, and had the Burrowing Mice open a handwritten booklet.
• Kroya read that an unknown mage had searched the sea and the Merfolk Tribe for the Void Luminary Ark, but found only ordinary Void Luminary Crystals.
• Kroya discovered that Ilyst had later dispelled the mage's traps and left a warning that the Ark was only a legend.
• Kroya wondered whether the Merfolk Tribe's contract involved a different trap and whether the Ark was connected to the platinum-colored ring he had seen in a mushroom.

Kroya found the hidden Astral Crystal Turtle in Ilyst’s secret chamber and learned that it could turn mineral veins into astral crystal ore. He agreed to take the level-five magical beast with him under a Master-Servant Contract, leaving its unusual wish to reproduce by nurturing ore unresolved.

• Kroya kept Ilyst’s notebook and stored the mysterious blue beakers and bottles for later experiments.
• Kroya sensed the Astral Body Inscription Technique in an empty corner and uncovered the hidden Astral Crystal Turtle.
• Kroya calmed the frightened turtle with a soothing melody, and it explained that Ilyst had cast the All Things Communication Spell on it.
• The Astral Crystal Turtle said it could transform mineral veins into astral crystal ore, whose vessels and implements could preserve higher-order powers and resist magic.
• Kroya offered to take the turtle with him under a Master-Servant Contract and asked about its reproduction.
• The level-five turtle said it could reproduce by pouring its power into ore and asked Kroya to carve pieces of ore shaped like itself.

Kroya brought the Astral Crystal Turtle out of the lake and assigned it to care for his white iron ore deposit, while the turtle offered to locate mineral veins. After checking the farm, Kroya spotted a flock of Demon Birds closing in on the sunflowers on his castle terrace.

• Kroya decided the Crystal Turtle could use Earth and Stone Shaping to make a wife, then took it from the hidden chamber after instructing the Burrowing Mice to keep intruders out.
• The Crystal Turtle proved unable to swim, so Kroya carried it to the surface, where it asked for a mine and offered to locate mineral veins.
• Kroya assigned the Crystal Turtle to look after his white iron ore deposit and promised to help with its wish after seeing the results.
• Kroya returned to the farm and inspected the soothing lilies and thicksoil potatoes, then praised the orderly planting and told Ate to distribute the promised payment.
• Kroya spotted a dark flock of crow-like Demon Birds flying toward the sunflowers on his castle terrace.

Kroya watched the sunflowers destroy a flock of magical crows, then discovered strange skin-like bark embedded in some of their bodies. The Sacred Spring identified it as bark from an artificial magic tree, and Kroya sold it before deciding to buy a contract and information about the trees.

• The sunflowers fired Sunflare Rays at the crows, killing or wounding most of the flock while Rob and the farm servants watched.
• Kroya examined the crow corpses and found that eight had smooth, ironlike patches embedded in their chests.
• Kroya cut one patch from a crow and used the Sacred Spring to identify it as bark from a juvenile artificial magic tree.
• An alchemy master called Puppet offered the Dwarves' Earth-Mother Spring for more advanced artificial magic trees, and Kroya guessed the bark could be used to make skin for constructs or puppets.
• Kroya sold the bark and decided to purchase a contract and information about artificial magic trees.

Kroya learned about the valuable artificial magic tree and assigned Rob to search for it, then put the Astral Crystal Turtle to work. After confirming Archmage Ilyst had gone to the Astral Council and could not return, Kroya prepared to test the Crescent Moon Fruit’s power that night.

• Kroya read that the artificial magic tree needed magical blood and produced bark suited to making demon puppets, then decided to have Rob track down the crows that might lead to it.
• The Astral Crystal Turtle and the Woodstar Curving Vine King revealed that they had met before, when Archmage Eurydice tried to eat the vine’s leaves.
• The Astral Crystal Turtle signed a contract with Kroya, who told Muyao to watch over him and ordered Rob to take him to the white iron ore mine.
• Kroya thanked Rob for his service, promised him two potions, and ordered him to search for the artificial magic tree’s location.
• The Woodstar Curving Vine King told Kroya that Archmage Ilyst had gone to the Astral Council and could not return to this world.
• Kroya stored the artificial magic tree bark, meditated until night, and prepared to capture the Crescent Moon Fruit’s power.

Kroya sealed the Crescent Moon Fruit’s silver mist in an astral crystal bottle, where it transformed into a moonlit sea he could enter with his mental power. Inside, he discovered he had become a merfolk and found that his contracted creatures could enter the bottle too.

• Kroya captured the silver mist from the Crescent Moon Fruit in an astral crystal bottle, and its power raged inside before settling into a sea beneath a crescent moon.
• Kroya entered the bottle’s moonlit sea with his mental power and discovered he had a merfolk’s body.
• Kroya swam through the silver ocean until he hit a starlit wall that he recognized as the inside of the bottle.
• Two moonlight creatures called Kroya “Master,” then two Burrowing Mice, a Crystal Turtle, and a Vine appeared around him.

Kroya explored the Sea of the Void Moon, where he discovered that he could study and reproduce the magic of its inhabitants. After copying the Sea Spirit Dolphins’ calming song in his merman form, he stirred the sea and summoned a massive shadow.

• Kroya learned from the Crystal Turtle that the Sea of the Void Moon was a mental realm sustained by the Void God, where merfolk and their companions could meet and heal their minds.
• Kroya cast a Fireball Spell and found that the sea’s power formed a lasting silver fireball, but he showed little interest in the ability.
• The Crystal Turtle demonstrated its Astral Refraction magic by reflecting Kroya’s fireball away.
• Kroya used the Astral Body Inscription Technique to study and reproduce Astral Refraction, astonishing the Crystal Turtle.
• The Sea Spirit Dolphins cast a blessing that calmed the ocean, and Kroya copied their song-like magic in his merman form.
• Kroya’s song made the sea churn instead of calm, and a massive shadow rose from the water.

Kroya’s song awakened a vast moonlight tree in the sea, and adding a melody caused him to collapse as its ancient magic vanished. After recovering, he discovered the tree inside his astral crystal bottle had become dim and disordered, and it asked him for power in exchange for something.

• Kroya’s singing caused an immense, orderly tree of moonlight to rise from the sea and transform his song into magic that calmed the waters.
• When Kroya added a melody from Quiet Little Serenade, the tree responded and inflicted such intense pain that he lost consciousness; the sea then turned gray and dark.
• King Mihail sensed that ancient magic had vanished from a branch of the Void God Tree, searched the surrounding sea without finding the cause, and sealed the merfolk city behind violent currents and whirlpools.
• The Thirsty Sea Glow Algae helped Kroya recover, and he realized his maximum mental capacity had doubled and that he might advance to Third-Level Mage.
• Kroya found that the astral crystal bottle had lost its moonlight and contained the dimmed tree, whose spirit asked for power; he fed it red magic, lighting one tiny leaf before it begged him for more.

Kroya stabilized the collapsing moon sea by feeding mana into its tree, then discovered the tree’s astral spirit body could preserve spell models as fruits. After inscribing all fifty-two spells he knew into it, he went to sleep, leaving the tree’s secrets for later.

• Kroya fed mana to the great tree until another leaf lit and the moon sea stopped disintegrating.
• Kroya learned that the Crescent Moon Fruit had turned to ashes, while the Woodstar Curving Vine King and Crystal Turtle had no answers about what had happened.
• Kroya suspected the Song of Red had disrupted the moon sea and decided to nurture it again with his own mana.
• Kroya used the Astral Body Inscription Technique and found spell models preserved inside fruit-like forms in the great tree’s astral spirit body.
• Kroya inscribed all fifty-two spells he knew into the tree, then went to bed exhausted.