Recaps

Greg reunited with Victoria and joined Rom and Colwin in inviting Kaira, Adele, and Victoria to the Empire's celebration after the Exchange Meeting. Victoria agreed on the condition that Greg pay, while Kaira reminded everyone to focus on the Exchange Meeting first.

• Greg explained that Victoria was his Junior Fellow, and the two traded familiar barbs about their past in the Laboratory.
• Rom invited Kaira to join the group for the Empire's celebration, and she agreed while leaving the decision to her roommates.
• Colwin nervously invited Adele, and she accepted.
• Greg invited Victoria, who agreed on the condition that he pay.
• Kaira reminded everyone to prioritize the Exchange Meeting, and the group looked forward to it.

Greg arrived at the Hundred-Academy Exchange Meeting and learned that Luna had publicly claimed him as her disciple, despite his never agreeing. As Luna and Olivia argued over him, Aurora became interested in Greg and considered having her niece test his strength.

• Greg rushed into the opening ceremony with Rom and Colwin after a nearly sleepless night.
• The heads of the five great magic academies took their seats and announced the start of the Hundred-Academy Exchange Meeting.
• Luna announced that she had taken Greg as her human disciple, leaving him stunned and the students in an uproar.
• Olivia confronted Luna and insisted Greg was her student, while Luna argued that his failure to refuse counted as agreement.
• Aurora noticed Greg, admired his appearance, and considered having her niece test his strength.

Saintess Veronica Keller arrived in the imperial capital and learned that a monster had escaped the Dungeon. She forbade Reinhardt from entering the Dungeon, said she knew what the creature was and would deal with it if necessary, then headed to the Exchange Meeting.

• Veronica Keller arrived at the Magic Tower’s square, where Bishop Bernard and Deputy Director Reinhardt welcomed her.
• Reinhardt reported that monsters had been breaking through Dungeon levels and that one may have reached the surface six months earlier.
• Reinhardt proposed leading a team into the Dungeon, but Veronica rebuked him for defying Lady Seraphina’s command not to enter Dungeons.
• Bernard defended Reinhardt, and Veronica told them to remember that Lady Seraphina’s words and deeds were the sole truth.
• Veronica said she knew what had escaped the Dungeon and was certain it remained in the capital, promising to dispose of it if the Chief Inquisitor failed.
• Veronica turned toward the Magic Tower to attend the Exchange Meeting.

As the Hundred-Academy Exchange Meeting’s Preliminary Debate approached, Greg Sass stayed confident because he knew the questions and answers from his past playthroughs. His calm was interrupted when he met Melina, the First Heroine, disguised as an ordinary Frost Ring Magic Academy student.

• Greg Sass waited calmly for the Preliminary Debate while students from the academies made their final preparations.
• Greg reassured his nervous senior Yelina, while Vivian watched and resolved to work harder.
• Colwin asked Greg to meet an outstanding junior, and Greg agreed after hearing she was a top student.
• Melina introduced herself to Greg in an ordinary-looking disguise, and Greg recognized her from the original game.

At the Exchange Meeting, Melina approached Greg, curious about his unusual rise and past interference with her plans. Greg used his devotion to Victoria as an excuse to end the conversation, and Melina left as the Preliminary Debate was about to begin.

• Colwin introduced Melina, a junior from his academy, to Greg, who realized she was the dangerous figure he had been wary of.
• Melina questioned Greg playfully and said she was curious about what kind of person he really was.
• Greg pulled Colwin aside and asked him to send Melina away, claiming he already liked Victoria and wanted to avoid misunderstandings.
• Colwin apologized to Melina and explained that Greg was concerned about his relationship, but Melina insisted she only wanted to know him.
• A bell called the contestants back to their seats, and Melina left after wishing Greg luck.
• Greg told Colwin to be more careful about introductions and turned his attention to the upcoming Preliminary Debate.

Veronica arrived at the Magic Tower after the preliminary debate and reviewed the students’ answers with the professors. Greg’s exceptional response caught her attention, while Greg anticipated that she would soon take an interest in him.

• Veronica reached the Magic Tower after the preliminary debate had ended and told Bernard and Reinhardt she would observe the grading.
• Veronica entered the grading room, where professors reviewed answers about magic power loss during transmission.
• The professors praised answers from Victoria Cecil, Sylvia Lorraine, Lilith, Vivian, and other talented students, but Veronica remained unimpressed.
• A professor discovered Greg Sass’s answer, whose original theory and rigorous reasoning astonished Veronica.
• In the dining hall, Greg figured Veronica had just seen his answer and was about to become interested in him.

After the Preliminary Debate, Greg joined Victoria and Sylvia for lunch, where Sylvia misunderstood Victoria’s complaints about their laboratory work. When three noble girls badmouthed Greg, Victoria confronted them and Sylvia defended him, but the argument was interrupted by another petite figure.

• Greg reflected that he had prepared thoroughly for the Preliminary Debate and planned to impress Veronica in the second round.
• Victoria complained that Greg’s laboratory work had cut into her study time, and Sylvia mistakenly thought they had been intimate.
• Greg, Victoria, and Sylvia heard three noble girls insulting Greg as they left the dining hall.
• Victoria confronted the girls and challenged them to face Greg at the Exchange Meeting instead of spreading rumors.
• The girls accused Victoria and Greg of having a secret relationship, and Sylvia defended them before blushing at their taunts.
• As Greg considered stopping the girls by force, another petite figure joined the confrontation.

Yelina defended Greg against three noble girls spreading false claims, and Lilith and Vivian forced them to apologize. Vivian was about to approach Greg when a professor arrived with an urgent summons from Lady Veronica, the Saintess.

• Yelina defended Greg and challenged the three girls for insulting his character.
• Lilith ordered the girls to stop disturbing her meal, then Vivian cited their conduct as a serious violation of Academy rules.
• The three girls apologized to Greg and the others before fleeing the dining hall.
• Vivian saw Greg standing close to Victoria and Sylvia and started to approach him.
• A professor announced that Lady Veronica, the Saintess, wanted to see Greg Sass immediately.

Greg Sass met Veronica Keller, the current Saintess of the Church of Light, after she summoned him following his performance in the Preliminary Debate. The meeting ended with Veronica calling him a heretic and asking if he had any last words.

• Greg wondered why Veronica had summoned him and exchanged teasing thoughts with Nightmare on the way to her quarters.
• Two guard nuns searched Greg before allowing him to enter Veronica’s room.
• Greg met Veronica Keller and felt uneasy around the Saintess he knew as the Scheming Saintess from the original game.
• Veronica asked why Greg seemed afraid, and he politely claimed he was only nervous and honored to meet her.
• Veronica abruptly called Greg a heretic and asked if those were his last words.

Veronica suspected Greg had come from the Dungeon because his debate answers contained ancient knowledge reserved for the Church of Light’s upper ranks. Greg claimed he was a reincarnated heroic spirit and offered Olivia’s testimony, leaving Veronica to decide whether to believe him.

• Veronica confronted Greg over the secret knowledge in his debate answers and concluded he had come from the Dungeon.
• Greg realized the Church had treated Victoria’s identical knowledge differently because she was known as the Hero.
• Greg claimed his knowledge came from memories of a past life as a heroic spirit who had followed Lady Seraphina.
• Veronica rejected Greg’s explanation as unproven, so he asked her to summon Olivia to testify.

Greg claimed he was the reincarnation of Zane Hardy to convince Veronica, then Olivia arrived and backed up his story. Veronica accepted Olivia’s confirmation, leaving her and Greg entangled in the dangerous lie.

• Veronica summoned Olivia to verify Greg’s claim that he was a reincarnated heroic spirit.
• Greg named Zane Hardy as his past life, then explained away Veronica’s observation that Zane had been a woman.
• Olivia entered and realized Greg was lying, but remembered her promise to stand by him during the Exchange Meeting.
• Olivia told Veronica that she had known Greg was Zane Hardy’s reincarnation.

Greg convinced Veronica that he was Zane Hardy reincarnated and asked her to keep his identity secret while he protected the world from the shadows. Veronica trusted him and gave him a blessing, then blushed when she realized she had pressed his hand against her chest.

• Veronica asked why Olivia had not told the Church about Greg sooner, and Greg said he had asked Olivia to keep his identity secret.
• Greg told Veronica he needed more time before revealing why he had not returned to the Church, and Veronica accepted his explanation.
• Veronica told Greg that Seraphina had not descended for several hundred years, and Greg feigned sorrow at the news.
• Greg said he would protect the world from the shadows and asked Veronica to keep his identity secret; she agreed.
• Veronica clasped Greg's hand and placed it against her chest while blessing him, then blushed when she noticed his startled expression.

Greg eased Veronica’s embarrassment and strengthened her faith before leaving with Olivia. At dusk, Ellie and Wendy entered the Imperial Capital, where an explosion confirmed Wendy’s belief that the Bishop had anticipated the crisis and the Empire could still be saved.

• Greg reassured Veronica that she could treat him as a woman, and she resolved to learn from his devotion to the Goddess of Light.
• Olivia accused Greg of manipulating the Church’s Saintess, while Greg insisted his plan might prove a good investment.
• Ellie and Wendy entered the Imperial Capital in disguise after passing a routine check at the gates.
• Wendy suspected that her imperial brother had stationed private troops at the mountain-road camp and might be preparing a rebellion.
• An explosion rocked a building in the city, and Wendy concluded that the Bishop had foreseen events and the Empire could be saved.

Greg Sass topped the Preliminary Debate results, while Vivian felt at peace with ranking below Lilith and Melina failed to find a way to exploit her. Melina wondered whether someone had uncovered her plans after her operations in the Imperial Capital were repeatedly thwarted.

• Greg Sass ranked first in the Preliminary Debate, and students speculated about his identity after Veronica summoned him privately.
• Vivian saw that she ranked below Lilith but felt content, and she left after briefly speaking with Melina.
• Melina realized Vivian's heart had no opening she could exploit, so her plan to control her failed.
• Melina recalled that an unknown swordsman had repeatedly stopped her Imperial Capital operations and gained a reputation as the city's secret guardian.
• Melina wondered who had seen through her plans.

After passing the Preliminary Debate, Greg reassured Sylvia and Victoria about Veronica and prepared to meet Ellie and the others. Vivian unexpectedly appeared and asked him to go for a walk, leaving Greg startled by another invitation.

• Victoria confronted Greg because he had placed first in the Preliminary Debate, and Sylvia stopped their argument.
• Sylvia and Victoria warned Greg to be cautious around Veronica and not expose his power, and Greg agreed without revealing that he had deceived Veronica.
• Greg reminded Sylvia and Victoria to prepare for the Second Defense, whose topic concerned elemental resonance theory in actual combat, and they left to meet their roommates.
• Greg headed toward the Magic Tower's exit to meet Ellie and the others, but Vivian appeared beside him and asked him to go for a walk.

After Greg won the Preliminary Debate, Vivian treated a walk with him as a reward, while Greg struggled to correct her mistaken belief that he liked her. He tried to steer her away from his planned meeting with Ellie and Wendy, but Vivian led him toward it instead.

• Vivian recalled her maid's advice about rewards and decided to reward Greg with a walk after his victory.
• Greg told Vivian that he admired her but did not yet like her romantically, and Vivian calmly said she knew.
• Vivian felt jealous thinking about Greg's closeness with Victoria, then focused on enjoying their time together.
• Greg tried to guide Vivian down a different street to avoid meeting Ellie and Wendy, but Vivian chose the route toward their meeting place.
• Greg followed Vivian through the quiet streets of the Imperial Capital, hoping Ellie and Wendy would not see them.

Greg tried to steer Vivian away from the meeting place with Ellie, but Vivian wanted to enjoy their walk together and see the sunset from a bridge. The walk ended when Greg and Vivian encountered Ellie and Wendy, and Ellie reacted with displeasure at seeing them together.

• Greg repeatedly tried to change their route so Vivian would not reach the place where he had arranged to meet Ellie.
• Vivian told Greg about the historic fountain and said she had once wished to see it with someone, adding that being there with him felt even better than she had imagined.
• Greg agreed to walk with Vivian to a nearby bridge to watch the sunset before heading back.
• Greg and Vivian rounded a corner and came upon Ellie and Wendy outside a shop.
• Ellie spotted Greg and Vivian together and showed clear displeasure, while Greg despairingly blamed his bad luck.

Ellie confronted Vivian about her past with Greg and challenged her claim to remain by his side. Vivian left after Greg defended her and Wendy helped ease the tension, leaving Greg to face the task of making Ellie happy.

• Ellie questioned Vivian about leaving Greg three years earlier and about their sunset walk, while silencing Greg when he tried to explain.
• Vivian said she had left because Greg had shut her out, but she now understood his reasons and wanted to stay by his side.
• Ellie challenged Vivian over how quickly she had given up, and Vivian admitted she had kept trying until she could no longer justify it to herself.
• Greg defended Vivian, said she was his companion, and offered to take the blame for inviting her on the walk.
• Wendy urged Ellie to focus on the present and Greg's upcoming preparations, and Ellie softened enough for Vivian to leave.
• Greg stayed behind with Ellie and Wendy, relieved that the confrontation had passed and resolved to find a way to make Ellie happy.

Greg coaxed Ellie out of her hurt mood by reminiscing about their childhood and promising not to hide things from her. Ellie forgave him and agreed to go out for roast meat with Greg and Wendy, while Greg remained concerned about surviving the danger beneath the Imperial City.

• Greg recognized that Ellie was sulking and tried to comfort her by recalling their childhood and offering to take her for roast meat and dessert.
• Ellie reminded Greg that one childhood incident involved him splashing ink on his former fiancée’s clothes, then objected when he brought up her Monster-slaying practice.
• Greg tugged at Ellie’s sleeve and promised not to hide things from her again, and Ellie flicked his forehead to show she had forgiven him.
• Ellie threatened to tell the Academy that Greg had wet the bed at seven, then agreed to go for roast meat and two desserts.
• Greg invited Wendy to join them, and Wendy praised him for soothing Ellie as they left.
• Greg reflected that his harem prospects had improved slightly, but he still needed to find a way to survive the danger beneath the Imperial City.

Greg took Ellie and Wendy to a barbecue restaurant, then told Wendy that the Demon King Cult’s attacks were meant to distract the Empire from the Dungeon beneath the Imperial Capital. Wendy connected the Dungeon’s power to her brother Finn’s sudden hostility, while Greg warned that Finn might soon force the emperor to abdicate.

• Greg treated Ellie and Wendy to barbecue, and Ellie happily enjoyed the meal.
• Wendy reported that she had recruited followers for Ellie and established a secret base near the Church of Light.
• Greg told Wendy that the Demon King Cult was targeting the Dungeon beneath the Imperial Capital and wanted to seize its power.
• Wendy wondered whether the Dungeon’s power could affect people, recalling that Finn had become hostile toward her half a year earlier.
• Greg claimed that Finn might be influenced by the Dungeon and would likely force the emperor to abdicate soon.

Greg persuaded Ellie to help investigate the Imperial Capital Labyrinth and Dungeon, with Wendy explaining the danger the Demon King Cult posed to the Empire. Ellie agreed to scout ahead using Greg’s map but promised to leave with him if anything went wrong.

• Ellie suggested that she and Greg leave, but Greg argued that they had to protect the Empire’s people.
• Wendy urged Ellie to help Greg enter the Dungeon, warning that the Demon King Cult could plunge the Empire into chaos.
• Ellie agreed to help, provided she could take Greg out immediately if the mission became dangerous.
• Greg showed Ellie a map of the Imperial Capital Labyrinth and told her to scout its routes before entering the Dungeon.
• Greg warned Ellie not to explore deep inside alone and told her to wait until he joined her.

Greg assigned Ellie and Wendy their next tasks before Ellie killed fleeing Demon King Cult members during an attack in the Imperial Capital. Later, Crown Prince Finn recognized Wendy in a portrait and ordered her arrested, just as he learned that the Fifth Imperial Princess had returned.

• Greg told Ellie to take the plans and avoid going too deep, while Wendy was to do what she thought best in the Imperial Capital.
• An explosion struck a building nearby, and Ellie killed the fleeing Demon King Cult members with a precise slash of sword energy.
• Greg returned to the Magic Tower to continue preparing for the Second Defense.
• A soldier showed Finn portraits of two women who had entered the capital, and Finn recognized Wendy in one of them.
• Finn ordered his men to arrest Wendy without attracting attention, but another soldier arrived and announced that the Fifth Imperial Princess had returned.

Greg convinced Alice to leave her room after she had spent days guarding the suitcase containing their new Magic Device. He then met Victoria and Sylvia to help Victoria prepare for the Second Defense.

• Alice hissed at Greg through her door before recognizing him and letting him in.
• Alice explained that she had been guarding the suitcase with their new belt-shaped Magic Device because she feared something might happen to it.
• Greg persuaded Alice to lock her room and take a walk, and Alice thanked him for helping develop the device.
• Greg left Alice and met Victoria and Sylvia to review Victoria's Second Defense materials.
• Sylvia worried she might be intruding, but Greg welcomed her, making her blush.

Greg brought Victoria and Sylvia to his dorm room to help them prepare for the Second Defense, but their study session began with an awkward bed-related misunderstanding. He started quizzing them on their understanding of the topic.

• Greg asked Rom and Colwin to leave so he could study alone with Victoria and Sylvia, and they readily cleared the room.
• Victoria sprawled across Greg's bed and persuaded a hesitant Sylvia to lie down beside her.
• Sylvia accidentally sniffed Greg's bedding and blurted out that it smelled like him, leaving Greg and Victoria stunned.
• Sylvia claimed the room needed fresh air, and Victoria opened the window after checking that the bedding did not smell.
• Greg began the study session by asking Victoria and Sylvia to explain how they understood the Second Defense topic.

Greg helped Victoria and Sylvia revise their drafts for the Second Defense, then secretly touched Sylvia beneath the table while Victoria remained unaware. As Greg brought tea, an unfamiliar woman called Greg Sass to come out and fight.

• Greg reviewed Victoria's draft and corrected the order of her reasoning, prompting her to revise it.
• Greg pointed out weaknesses in Sylvia's draft, and Sylvia guided his hand beneath the table as her idea of punishment.
• Greg touched Sylvia while she pretended to work, but Victoria noticed Sylvia's flushed face and accepted her claim that she was tired.
• Greg withdrew his hand and went to make tea, while Nightmare mocked Seraphina's innocence through their mental conversation.
• An unfamiliar woman knocked on the door and challenged Greg Sass to come out and fight.