Chapter Summaries

Greg brought Chloe to help Alice and Victoria prepare for the Hundred-Academy Exchange Meeting, but he had to settle a clash between Chloe and Victoria and reassure Alice that Chloe’s help was acceptable. After Alice and Chloe began researching, Greg and Victoria started a card duel that set off real flames in the laboratory.

• Chloe arrived at the laboratory and immediately argued with Victoria over why she was there.
• Greg explained that he had invited Chloe to help with Exchange Meeting research, then persuaded Chloe to work with Victoria by asking her as a personal favor.
• Alice worried that using someone who was not her student would count as academic fraud, but Greg convinced her it was an unwritten rule of magical academia.
• Greg encouraged Chloe, who had doubts about her knowledge of magic theory, and she joined Alice at the lab bench to study and record data.
• Greg and Victoria pulled out card decks and began a duel, causing real flames to erupt behind them.

After surviving Alice and Chloe’s explosive alchemy experiments, Greg and Victoria planned to unwind in the Dungeon. Sylvia declined to join them so she could prepare harder for the Exchange Meeting, leaving determined to improve.

• Alice and Chloe’s experiment caused a fiery explosion, leaving Greg and Victoria exhausted and covered in dust.
• Sylvia checked on Greg and Victoria, who explained that they had been watching over Alice and Chloe’s dangerous experiments.
• Greg suggested that he and Victoria go to the Dungeon to unwind, and Victoria eagerly agreed.
• Victoria invited Sylvia along, but Sylvia decided to return to her preparations for the Exchange Meeting.
• Greg and Victoria watched Sylvia leave and thought she was a good girl for working so diligently.

Greg and Victoria encountered Vivian in the corridor, where Greg’s lie about their plans and Victoria’s closeness to him stirred Vivian’s suspicions about their relationship. Before Vivian could question them, Lilith appeared and nervously asked her sister to have afternoon tea.

• Greg and Victoria set off together, but Vivian stopped them in the corridor and asked where they were going.
• Greg claimed they were taking a break, and Vivian wished him luck because she believed he was preparing for their future together.
• Victoria whispered that Vivian was friendly because Greg had left the Student Council, and Greg agreed rather than reveal their recent Dungeon expedition.
• Vivian noticed how intimately Victoria and Greg stood together and began to suspect their relationship was closer than she had thought.
• Lilith interrupted Vivian and asked her to have afternoon tea.

Lilith invited Vivian to afternoon tea, but Vivian rejected the invitation after noticing Lilith’s glances toward Greg and fearing her own feelings for her sister would weaken her resolve. Lilith ran off hurt, while Vivian decided to keep their distance until everything was settled.

• Lilith nervously invited Vivian to afternoon tea, and Greg left with Victoria to give the sisters privacy.
• Vivian thanked Lilith and said she was happy, then asked whether Lilith had finished her training, etiquette lessons, and Exchange Meeting preparations.
• Lilith shouted that Vivian was an idiot and ran away down the corridor.
• Vivian recalled Greg saying he had been keeping an eye on Lilith and grew wary of Lilith’s glances toward him.
• Vivian concluded that Lilith might have feelings for Greg and decided to preserve some distance between them until everything was settled.

Greg tested whether a High-Grade Diffusion Gem could spread his World-Devouring Black Flame across multiple targets, confirming it worked and gaining several elemental attack skills. Nightmare watched him and Victoria fight, grew suspicious of Victoria, and sensed her restored power had become sufficient to bless Greg.

• Greg used Victoria’s Magic Device and the High-Grade Diffusion Gem to spread World-Devouring Black Flame across a group of monsters, killing them and acquiring Earthfire Explosion, Waterwave Flow, and Earth Piercing.
• Greg noticed the Diffusion Gem had cracked after use and decided to save the technique for a crucial moment until he could improve it with other equipment and gems.
• Victoria angrily accused Greg of stealing her prey, and he returned her Magic Device before joining the hunt.
• Nightmare watched Greg and Victoria, wondered whether something was wrong with Victoria, and sensed her faith had restored enough power to grant Greg a blessing.

Greg returned to camp and learned that Nightmare had recovered enough power to give him a blessing. She performed a ceremonial rite to grant him Night’s Blessing, leaving him feeling its power fill his body before she touched his lips.

• Victoria refused Greg’s offer to share the cramped tent and headed back to her dorm.
• Greg considered upgrading the camp by building a wooden cabin.
• Nightmare told Greg that she had recovered enough power to bestow a blessing on him.
• Nightmare asked Greg to lie down and performed a ritual to grant him Night’s Blessing.
• Greg felt the blessing’s power spread through his body, then felt Nightmare grow heavier on his chest and touch his lips.

Greg received Nightmare’s blessing, which greatly strengthened him at night but could not function inside Dungeons, and he planned for Nightmare to accompany him to the Empire. He also decided to ask Wendy to bring Ellie along, while Wendy wondered whether her departure had improved things.

• Nightmare gave Greg the Night’s Reign blessing, which reduced damage and increased his Magic Power at night but did not work inside Dungeons.
• Greg complained that Nightmare had used her cat tongue to kiss him, and she said she would take care next time.
• Greg invited Nightmare to accompany him to the Imperial Dungeon, and she agreed to hide in his shadow.
• Greg decided to ask Wendy to take Ellie to the Empire so Ellie would not travel alone or meet the Academy delegation.
• Wendy sneezed in her study, then looked toward the Empire and returned to her work, thinking that things should have improved since she left.

As the Hundred-Academy Exchange Meeting approached, Greg ran into Vivian at the Academy gates while trying to leave for a visit with Ellie and Wendy. Vivian mistook his awkward small talk and attempted departure for a shy invitation to walk, and she caught his wrist to accept.

• The Academy grew excited and tense as students discussed the representatives and the five elite schools competing at the Exchange Meeting.
• Greg tried to leave the Academy alone to visit Ellie and Wendy before their trip, but he encountered Vivian at the gates.
• Greg greeted Vivian and tried making small talk about the Exchange Meeting and the weather, then said he would be on his way.
• Vivian believed Greg had arranged another chance encounter because he wanted to invite her for a walk.
• Vivian caught Greg's wrist and told him she would go for a walk with him, leaving Greg startled.

Greg and Vivian encountered a fire deliberately started by Demon King Cult mages on the Commercial Street and rescued the people trapped inside. The cultists confronted them from a rooftop and prepared to attack.

• Greg walked through the Commercial Street beside Vivian, drawing curious and suspicious looks from passersby.
• A blast set a nearby three-story building ablaze, and Greg recognized the incident as an attack staged by Demon King Cult mages.
• Greg urged Vivian to leave and rushed into the burning building to rescue its trapped residents.
• Vivian followed Greg and used ice magic to clear a safe path through the flames.
• Greg and Vivian rescued the last injured person, then faced three hooded cultists who accused them of lacking reverence for the Demon King.
• The cultists' leader aimed his Magic Device at Greg and Vivian and threatened to kill them.

Greg and Vivian defeated three Demon King Cult followers, but a hidden cultist threatened a little girl before an unknown swordsman intervened. Greg rescued the girl and ran toward the alley where the sword aura came from, while Vivian recognized its source and stayed behind.

• Greg and Vivian coordinated their attacks and subdued three fire-wielding Demon King Cult followers.
• A cultist in the crowd grabbed a little girl and raised his dagger to sacrifice her to the Demon King.
• An unseen swordsman severed the cultist's dagger arm with a burst of sword aura.
• Greg incapacitated the cultist, rescued the girl, and entrusted her to Vivian.
• Greg ran toward the alley where the sword aura had come from, while Vivian recognized who had wielded it and did not follow.

Greg found Ellie after she used her sword to help him, but she was angry with him and refused to explain until he apologized. Ellie revealed that she thought he had gotten back together with Vivian, leaving Greg realizing why she was upset and preparing to correct her misunderstanding.

• Greg rushed into the alley and found Ellie sheathing her sword after she had helped him.
• Ellie ignored Greg and walked away, so he followed and tried to cheer her up with compliments and an offer of dinner.
• Greg apologized and admitted he was wrong, prompting Ellie to sarcastically bring up his criticism of her cooking.
• Ellie asked why Greg had stayed with Vivian as if they had gotten back together.
• Greg realized Ellie had mistaken his improved friendship with Vivian for a reconciliation and recalled how Ellie had defended him when their engagement ended.

Greg convinced Ellie that he had not rekindled his relationship with the First Princess, then learned that the Church’s base was a lavish estate. He entered the mansion with Ellie and wondered how the newly established Church could afford such luxury.

• Greg explained that he and the First Princess had only met to repay a favor, and Ellie accepted that she had misunderstood him.
• When Greg demanded that Ellie show her sincerity, she pressed her sword to his neck, and he quickly apologized.
• Ellie asked why Greg had come to see her, and he began to explain before she led him to the Church’s base.
• Greg discovered that the Church’s base was a luxurious estate, far grander than the shabby camp where he lived.
• Maids welcomed Ellie and escorted her and Greg through the mansion, leaving Greg astonished by the Church’s apparent wealth.

Greg visited Wendy and, pretending to give Church orders, sent her with Ellie to the Empire Capital to establish a Night Church base. After leaving the manor, he wondered whether Melina was behind the Demon King Cult’s recent attack and decided to watch her during the Exchange Meeting.

• A maid escorted Greg and Ellie to Wendy’s office, where Wendy greeted Greg as Cult Leader and assumed he had come to discuss the Night Church’s growth.
• Wendy said the Church’s expansion in the city had nearly reached saturation, and Greg used that as a pretext to order her to accompany Ellie to the Empire Capital and establish a base.
• Wendy questioned the danger of expanding into a Church of Light stronghold, but Greg said unrest would soon create an opportunity, and she agreed to go with Ellie.
• Ellie objected to being ignored, and Greg dismissed her as a child before leaving the manor that night.
• Greg considered the Demon King Cult’s attack and wondered whether Melina had planned it, concluding that he needed to watch her during the Exchange Meeting.

Greg, Victoria, Alice, and Chloe completed a high-conductivity Magic Device before the Departure Ceremony, and Greg joined the Academy’s Exchange Meeting representatives at the Main Plaza. The group prepared to leave aboard an Airship, where Greg spotted several familiar students among the assembled representatives.

• Greg, Victoria, Alice, and Chloe finished a belt-shaped Magic Device that let a Low-Tier Gem be used twice.
• Alice packed the device, and Greg, Victoria, and Alice left the Laboratory after exchanging farewells with Chloe.
• Greg returned to the Dungeon, cleaned up, and headed to the Main Plaza while Alice and Victoria went their separate ways.
• Greg arrived at the assembly point and saw Sylvia studying, Lilith reassuring her, and Vivian organizing the representatives.
• Greg spotted Yelina among the third-year representatives as students gathered to cheer the departing group.

Greg joined Glory Kael Magic Academy’s delegation as it prepared to leave for the Hundred-Academy Exchange Meeting, while Church leaders discussed strange activity in the capital’s Dungeon and their unease about Saintess Candidate Sylvia. The Church planned to leave the investigation to the arriving Saintess and avoid approaching Sylvia, despite Reinhardt’s concerns about defying the goddess’s choice.

• Victoria and Alice arrived at the assembly point, completing Glory Kael Magic Academy’s delegation before Academy Head Olivia announced their departure.
• Bernard heard Reinhardt’s report that magic fluctuations and unusual monster activity had been detected deep in the capital’s Dungeon.
• Bernard told Reinhardt that the Archbishop had invited the Saintess to the capital and intended for her to handle the Dungeon matter.
• Reinhardt noted that Sylvia, the goddess-appointed Saintess Candidate, would travel with Glory Kael Magic Academy, but Bernard advised against approaching her.
• Bernard admitted that the Archbishop held more influence than the goddess’s chosen candidate and feared Seraphina would be disappointed in the Church.

During the journey to the Hundred-Academy Exchange Meeting, Greg planned how to survive the Imperial Dungeon, attract the Saintess’s attention, and avoid Melina. Sylvia visited his cabin and suddenly pushed him onto the bed, leaving him pinned beneath her.

• Greg reviewed his plans to clear the Imperial Dungeon, seek the Saintess’s help with his curse, and keep away from Melina.
• Sylvia came to Greg’s cabin aboard the luxury airship, and he invited her inside.
• Sylvia quietly locked the cabin door while Greg prepared tea.
• Sylvia struck Greg from behind, pushed him onto the bed, and straddled him.

Sylvia clung to Greg and nearly kissed him, revealing the jealousy and longing she had suppressed while they were apart. Their moment was interrupted by an argument involving Victoria, and Victoria's question about whether Greg and Sylvia had been together left them both silent.

• Sylvia asked Greg to stay with her and rested against his chest, admitting through her actions how jealousy over his time with Victoria had built inside her.
• Greg questioned what his relationship with Sylvia meant as she grew bolder and moved close to kiss him.
• A noise and argument in the corridor interrupted Greg and Sylvia just before their lips touched.
• Three older students cornered Victoria and insulted her for being a commoner and an Academy representative.
• Greg and Sylvia arrived together and stood beside Victoria, with Greg rebuking the three students.
• Victoria asked whether Greg and Sylvia had been together, and both fell silent.

Greg defended Victoria against three noble girls who accused her of winning her representative position and scholarship through shady deals. After the girls left, Victoria thanked Greg, but he teased her until she chased him down the corridor, while Sylvia worried that the two were growing closer and resolved to work harder to keep up.

• A noble girl accused Victoria of using shady deals to become a representative, and Greg defended her by pointing out that the noble girls had secured their places through family connections and money.
• Greg praised Victoria's hard work, and Sylvia asked the three girls to leave while standing by her friend.
• The noble girls left in frustration, and Victoria thanked Sylvia and awkwardly thanked Greg.
• Greg teased Victoria about supposedly being involved with the Academy Head, so Victoria chased him down the corridor.
• Sylvia watched Greg and Victoria run off together, worried they might leave her behind, and decided to work harder to catch up with them.

Kaira and Adele reunited at the Empire Capital for the Hundred-Academy Exchange Meeting and discussed their delegations, including Adele’s talented student Melina. The arrival of Glory Kael Magic Academy’s airship drew the square’s attention, and an elegant blue-haired girl stepped out first.

• Kaira and Adele reunited in the square and compared their difficult journeys to the Exchange Meeting.
• Adele praised Melina’s exceptional magical talent, while Kaira hoped she might attract the notice of a great academy.
• Kaira and Adele discussed their academies’ preparations and vowed to compete in specialized defense.
• A Glory Kael Magic Academy airship landed, and a poised girl with aqua-blue hair emerged to the crowd’s amazement.

At the Exchange Meeting, Greg tried to build a gentlemanly reputation by carrying luggage for the girls around him. His strategy succeeded so well that Alice and Yelina also asked for his help, prompting Victoria to question his sanity.

• Kayla and Adele admired the Glory Kail representatives and noticed Greg among them.
• Greg carried luggage for Victoria and Sylvia, explaining that he wanted to be a good person.
• Victoria teased Lilith about being jealous, and Greg offered to carry Lilith's suitcase too.
• Vivian silently handed Greg her suitcase, and he took it despite feeling pressured by her gaze.
• Alice and Yelina both asked Greg to carry their luggage, and Victoria asked when he had lost his mind.