Chapter Summaries

Victoria and Lilith argued over their Second Defense scores as they prepared for the Final Defense, while Sylvia tried to keep the peace. A mysterious figure raced past them, and Sylvia recognized him as Greg.

• Victoria complained to Sylvia about the Final Defense preparations and worried that Greg had been secretly studying for three days.
• Sylvia suggested that they take a break for food, and Victoria agreed to go with her.
• Victoria taunted Lilith about scoring six points higher than her, and the two argued over who would do better in the Final Defense.
• A figure rushed past Victoria, Lilith, and Sylvia, making them hold down their skirts against the gust.
• Sylvia recognized the fleeing figure as Greg, while Victoria and Lilith vowed to punish him.

Greg hurried to find Juno so she could help him contact Princess Sarah about reaching Wendy before her execution. He encountered Melina in Juno’s dorm, rejected her invitation, and left while Melina became more interested in the secret she suspected he was hiding.

• Greg planned to use Juno to approach Princess Sarah, who could visit Wendy in the Empire Prison dungeon.
• Greg went to Juno’s dorm and was startled to find Melina answering the door.
• Melina told Greg that Juno had gone to the Training Room with Vivian, then invited him inside to help with her Final Defense topic.
• Greg refused Melina’s invitation, citing his commitment to a girl he liked, and hurried away.
• Melina told her roommate that Greg had knocked on the wrong door and decided that his wariness meant he was hiding a secret.

Greg wondered when Melina had become interested in him and decided to steer her toward Victoria. He found Juno and Vivian sparring in the training room, where Juno spotted him afterward and asked if he had changed his mind about returning with her to the Ember-Eyed Tower.

• Greg reviewed the events that might have drawn Melina's attention and resolved to let Victoria win her over.
• Greg went to the training room and found Juno and Vivian sparring before a crowd of students.
• Juno's Word Spirit Magic and Vivian's ice magic clashed until Vivian defeated Juno in their restricted match.
• Juno asked Vivian how she had grown so much stronger, and Vivian thought of someone as a faint smile appeared.
• Juno caught Greg's scent, spotted him in the crowd, and asked if he had decided to return to the Ember-Eyed Tower with her.
• Vivian saw Greg and turned an exceptionally icy expression on Juno.

Greg met Juno in the Training Room and asked her to introduce him to Sarah, the Third Imperial Princess, while Vivian watched them leave together. Juno agreed to help only if Greg fought her first.

• Juno claimed Greg had come to accept her offer to transfer to the Ember-Eyed Tower, making Vivian jealous.
• Greg asked Juno to speak with him privately, and Vivian watched them walk away in disappointment.
• Greg explained that he wanted Juno to introduce him to Sarah, the Third Imperial Princess, so he could get to know her.
• Juno mistook Greg's request as romantic interest in Sarah and joked that collecting pretty females was his hobby.
• Juno raised a Barrier and challenged Greg to fight before she would help him.

Greg fought Juno after she insisted on testing his strength before helping him, and defeated her with ease. The spectators recognized his combat skill, while Vivian grew more determined to win him back.

• The spectators noticed Greg and Juno had raised a barrier, and Vivian realized their disagreement gave her a chance to pursue Greg again.
• Juno demanded a fight before she would help Greg and charged at him with flaming attacks.
• Greg dodged Juno’s strikes and used low-level spells to control the fight, drawing on his familiarity with her moves.
• Juno tried to catch Greg in an explosive fire attack, but Greg evaded it and the fireballs detonated on her.
• The spectators praised Greg’s fighting ability, and Vivian watched him with renewed determination to win him back.

After defeating Juno, Greg agreed to meet Sarah the next morning and tried to leave, but Juno became intoxicated by his scent. Greg escaped the crowd of admirers surrounding him with Vivian, who pulled him into an emergency passage.

• Greg defeated Juno, and she promised to introduce him to Sarah the next morning.
• Greg covered Juno with his coat, but she sniffed it and became flushed and dazed from his scent.
• Greg dispelled the Barrier and asked the girls to take Juno to the infirmary; she left clutching his coat.
• Students crowded Greg with praise and requests until Vivian formed an Ice Wall and pulled him into an emergency passage.

Vivian kissed Greg in the stairwell to reward him after he promised he would not transfer to the Ember-Eyed Tower Magic Academy. Greg teased her into trying a more intimate kiss, and the chapter ended as he leaned toward her and Vivian closed her eyes.

• Greg thanked Vivian for helping him escape the crowd, and she asked if he planned to transfer to the Ember-Eyed Tower Magic Academy.
• Greg assured Vivian that he would stay at Glory Kail, easing her fear that he would leave.
• Vivian asked Greg to close his eyes and briefly kissed him, then shyly asked whether it counted as a good reward.
• Greg teased Vivian by telling her to open her mouth and stick out her tongue, and she nervously followed his instructions.
• Greg leaned toward Vivian, and she closed her eyes without pulling away.

Greg and Vivian grew closer as they discussed their feelings and the reason Greg had left Duke Sass's House. After revealing that most of his family had sided with the Demons, Greg promised to find a way to save Erin too.

• Greg supported the unsteady Vivian downstairs after they kissed, while Nightmare complained about his thoughts and admitted she still desired something she could not remember.
• Greg reassured Vivian that she mattered deeply to him, and she told him she was happy to have a place by his side.
• Vivian apologized for leaving Greg in the past, but Greg said he had pushed her away and revealed that most of the Sass Family had sided with the Demons.
• Vivian worried that the family might restore Greg as heir and asked whether Erin was in danger.
• Greg promised to find a way to get Erin out of Duke Sass's House.

Greg escorted Vivian out after helping her, and Vivian secretly kissed his cheek before they were discovered by Victoria, Lilith, and Sylvia. Greg and Vivian concealed what had happened, and Sylvia whispered that she wanted a turn next time as Greg left.

• Vivian kissed Greg's cheek, and Greg helped her down the stairs before they left together.
• Victoria, Lilith, and Sylvia caught Greg and Vivian coming out of the passage, and Greg claimed Vivian had felt dizzy and he had taken her toward the infirmary.
• Vivian confirmed Greg's explanation, and Lilith accepted it while Victoria asked Greg where he had been for four days.
• Greg told Victoria he planned to outwork everyone in the Final Defense, then left Vivian in Victoria's care and prepared to go.
• Sylvia caught up with Greg and whispered that she wanted a turn next time before returning to the others.

Ellie reassured the Night Church officers that Greg’s plan would rescue Wendy, while Greg sold his pajamas to Juno after discovering she wanted them because wearing his clothes seemed to improve her energy. Juno paid him forty gold coins, and Greg offered to provide custom orders for extra.

• Ellie sent the Night Church officers to carry out Greg’s plan and hoped they would soon rescue Wendy.
• Juno visited Greg’s dorm and asked to buy the pajamas he had just taken off.
• Greg refused at first, but Juno offered all the gold coins in her purse, so he fetched the pajamas and gave them to her.
• Juno inhaled the pajamas’ scent and handed Greg forty gold coins.
• Greg pocketed the money and told Juno that custom orders would cost extra.

Greg met with Third Imperial Princess Sarah and claimed he had cared for Wendy during her six-month disappearance, persuading Sarah to deliver him a letter. Sarah mistook Greg and Wendy for lovers, while Greg left hoping Wendy would decipher the hidden message in the letter.

• Juno led Greg to Sarah’s consultation room, then left to pursue a more important task.
• Greg asked Sarah whether Wendy had returned and was about to be executed, then claimed he had looked after Wendy for six months.
• Sarah cautiously questioned Greg, but agreed to help after deciding he had risked his future because he loved Wendy.
• Greg gave Sarah an unsigned letter for Wendy, and Sarah promised to deliver it when she returned to the Imperial City.
• Sarah called Greg and Wendy a pitiful couple, while Greg kept quiet about the letter’s hidden message and hoped Wendy would understand it.

Imprisoned and awaiting execution, Wendy confronted the Crown Prince’s steward, whose presence and behavior felt strangely familiar to her. Sarah brought Wendy food and a letter from Greg, and Wendy realized the déjà vu might point to a shocking possibility about her past.

• Wendy refused the steward’s offer to leave her cell in exchange for cooperating, and spotted dried blood on his cuff.
• The steward claimed he had dealt with a man who tracked him down, then left after Sarah arrived and accused him of threatening Wendy.
• Sarah gave Wendy pastries and asked whether she had been happy during the past six months; Wendy said she had been happier than ever.
• Sarah passed Wendy a letter from Greg, and Wendy excitedly suspected that the Bishop was about to act.
• Sarah teased Wendy about having a good eye for men, prompting Wendy to connect the letter and Sarah’s assumptions to a startling possibility.

Wendy read Greg’s coded letter in her cell, mistook its affectionate wording for signs of his feelings, and deciphered its hidden messages. After sending him a coded reply through Sarah, Wendy sensed she needed to make one more preparation and called Sarah back.

• Wendy imagined a future with Greg before Sarah snapped her out of her daydream.
• Wendy read Greg’s letter and blushed at its words of concern and encouragement.
• Wendy decoded two possible messages in the letter and decided Greg had intended the one stating that events had gone as predicted.
• Wendy wrote Greg a coded reply and asked Sarah to deliver it to him personally.
• Sarah promised to keep trying to persuade her father, and Wendy called her back to ask one more favor.

Greg learned from Wendy’s coded reply that a suspicious figure, likely the escaped third-floor lord, was hiding near the Crown Prince, so he decided to involve Olivia in his next plan. He found Olivia and Luna Starfall drinking together, leaving him facing an unexpected sight.

• Greg decoded Wendy’s message and told Sarah he was moved by her concern, while Sarah promised to keep trying to help her.
• Greg concluded that Wendy’s reply confirmed a suspicious person was hiding by the Crown Prince’s side, and he burned the letter after reading it.
• Greg decided to use his backup plan and headed to find Olivia.
• Victoria suggested that she and Sylvia attend the public execution at Empire Plaza the day after tomorrow, saying she wanted to see the Fifth Imperial Princess.
• Greg entered Olivia’s alcohol-filled room and found Olivia and Luna Starfall sitting together on the table among liquor bottles.

Greg found Olivia and Luna drinking together and pretended he felt down so Olivia would offer to help. Olivia fiercely defended him, recalling how his achievements had let her taunt the other academy heads, while Luna watched impassively.

• Luna smashed a bottle over Olivia's head after Olivia declared that Luna had lost their drinking game.
• Greg found Olivia and Luna together and said he had come because he felt down and wanted a drink.
• Olivia angrily offered to shoot whoever had upset Greg, praising his debate victory and perfect score.
• Olivia recalled using Greg's achievements to provoke Isadora, Aurora, and Moon Enchantress.
• Olivia decided Greg was too valuable to let anyone mistreat him.

Greg pretended to be overwhelmed by a personal crisis to win Olivia and Luna’s sympathy while hiding his plan to rescue Wendy. He left them believing he wanted to drown his sorrows, with Olivia drinking beside him and Luna ready to help.

• Luna offered to help Greg, even with burying bodies, and Greg called her his Master while thanking her and Olivia.
• Greg acted dejected and refused to explain what was wrong, making Luna admire his apparent concern for them and Olivia suspect a scheme.
• Greg asked Olivia for whisky, then produced a purse full of gold and asked her to bring more bottles.
• Olivia pocketed the money, brought out more whisky, and joined Greg for a drinking session while Luna watched.

Greg pretended to pass out after drinking with Olivia and Luna so they would learn he planned to save Wendy, the Empire's Fifth Imperial Princess. After discovering Wendy was due to be publicly executed, Olivia and Luna agreed to secretly follow Greg and help him disrupt the execution.

• Luna joined Greg and Olivia in drinking as Olivia and Luna traded stories from their younger days.
• Greg pretended to pass out, then mumbled that Wendy had been falsely accused and that he would save her.
• Olivia realized Greg was worried about someone he loved, and Luna recognized Wendy as the Empire's Fifth Imperial Princess.
• Luna revealed that Wendy was scheduled for public execution the day after tomorrow, and Olivia understood Greg intended to raid the execution grounds.
• Olivia and Luna decided to follow Greg and blend in before causing chaos to help their companion.

Greg woke beside the drunken Olivia and Luna, then left to prepare for the final battle. Meanwhile, Veronica learned that the escaped Dungeon target was likely still in the Imperial Capital, and Greg arrived to visit her.

• Greg woke on the floor with Olivia and Luna asleep on either side of him and recalled overhearing their decision the night before.
• Greg carefully freed himself from Olivia and Luna, then left for the dormitory to make his final preparations.
• Veronica read and hid a transcript of Greg's Second Defense speech before a guard sister reported the Tribunal chief's death in the Imperial Capital.
• Veronica worried that a battle with the escaped Dungeon target in the Imperial Capital could endanger civilians and expose secrets about the Dungeon.
• A guard sister told Veronica that Greg had arrived to visit her and asked whether to let him in.

Greg visited Veronica and told her he had a good idea where the person who escaped from the Imperial Dungeon was hiding, offering to help her. Sylvia saw him enter Veronica's room and became convinced Veronica was coercing him, then resolved to save him.

• Greg waited outside Veronica's room and entered after the guard nun gave him permission.
• Sylvia saw Greg go into Veronica's room and convinced herself Veronica had used her authority to force him inside.
• Sylvia promised herself she would save Greg, no matter what.
• Veronica warmly welcomed Greg and apologized for the guard nun's suspicion, and Greg said he did not mind.
• Greg told Veronica he had a good idea where the person who escaped from the Imperial Dungeon was hiding and offered to help.
• Veronica admired Greg's devotion and sense of duty, calling him Seraphina's Shadow Blade.

Greg persuaded Veronica to help him draw out the creature hiding beside the Crown Prince by rescuing the Fifth Imperial Princess, Wendy. Before leaving, he warned Veronica to beware of “Returning Night,” leaving her wondering whether it referred to the Goddess of Night.

• Greg told Veronica that the creature was hiding beside the Crown Prince and suspected it planned to control the Empire through him.
• Greg argued that Wendy was also a target and proposed rescuing her to force the creature to intervene.
• Veronica agreed to support Greg from the shadows and subdue the creature when it appeared.
• Greg told Veronica to beware of “Returning Night,” then left her pondering the phrase and its possible connection to Nightmare, the Goddess of Night.