Chapter Summaries

While working with Victoria, Greg learned that Sylvia had been helping the Church of Light and then hurried off after hearing the Church of Light and the Night Church might clash. Victoria stayed behind to cover for him, wondering what the Church of Light was planning for Sylvia.

• Greg and Victoria chatted while repairing the building, and Victoria agreed to buy him cold noodles in exchange for a promised meal at the Golden Crucible.
• Greg warned Victoria that the Demon King Cult had stolen the belt-shaped Magic Device and asked her to lie to Alice, and Victoria agreed for a meal at the Golden Crucible.
• Victoria told Greg that Sylvia had declined to help with reconstruction because she had something more important to do, and Victoria suspected the Church of Light was preparing Sylvia to become Saintess.
• Greg heard that the Church of Light and the Night Church might clash, so he left the work site to investigate while Victoria covered for him.

Greg intervened when the Church of Light and the Night Church nearly came to blows over which church deserved credit for protecting the Imperial Capital. Sylvia and Ellie ended the dispute, while Greg left without revealing that he was the Night Church’s Bishop.

• A Sister of the Church of Light and Talaya argued over their churches’ roles during the Imperial Capital disaster, and Talaya defended the Night Church’s Bishop.
• Greg entered the standoff in his work clothes and tried to calm both sides by listing a string of titles without revealing his identity.
• Sylvia and the masked swordswoman Ellie arrived and ordered the groups to stop arguing.
• Sylvia made the Sister apologize to Greg, and Ellie prompted Talaya to apologize as well.
• Greg left the crowd, and Sylvia and Ellie led their respective groups away.

Greg worried that the Church of Light would obstruct the Night Church’s growth, but he postponed dealing with the conflict and joined Victoria, Yelina, Vivian, and Lilith for an unexpected cold-noodle outing. The five headed to a modest shop, while Greg hoped their group would not attract attention.

• Greg concluded that the Church of Light would continue to threaten the Night Church’s expansion, even in places where the Night Church had permission to operate.
• Victoria blamed Greg for letting Yelina overhear his plan to get cold noodles, and Greg denied doing it on purpose.
• Yelina said she enjoyed eating at small local shops, and Vivian agreed to come along, giving Greg a meaningful glance.
• Victoria teased Lilith about eating commoners’ food, and Lilith claimed it was a royal duty before Vivian told her she did not have to come.
• Greg recalled how his planned meal with Victoria had turned into an outing with Yelina, Vivian, and Lilith, and hoped they would not draw attention.

Greg brought Victoria, Vivian, Yelina, and Lilith to Old Tom’s cold noodle shop, where Vivian paid for their meal with a gold coin. As the group sat down under the other customers’ jealous stares, Yelina asked Greg what his relationship with Victoria was.

• Old Tom listened as Magic Academy students discussed the phantom enemies, the Black Sun, and the Goddess of Night while he served noodles.
• Greg entered Old Tom’s shop with Victoria, Vivian, Yelina, and Lilith, drawing everyone’s attention.
• Greg asked Victoria for extra portions, but Vivian offered to pay and handed Old Tom a gold coin.
• Old Tom seated the five at the best table, while Greg noticed the other customers glaring at him enviously.
• Yelina asked Greg what his relationship with Victoria was.

Yelina asked Greg what his relationship with Victoria was, prompting Victoria, Lilith, and Vivian to wonder about the answer as well. Surrounded by four expectant gazes, Greg struggled to respond.

• Yelina noticed Vivian and Greg growing closer, but worried that Greg’s natural closeness with Victoria threatened their relationship.
• Yelina asked Greg what his relationship with Victoria was, and Victoria realized she wanted to know too.
• Lilith recalled Victoria visiting Greg’s Dungeon camp and began to suspect something between them.
• Vivian calmly waited for Greg’s answer, considering what it might mean for her future relationship with the other girl.
• Old Tom delivered the cold noodles and hurried away after sensing the tense atmosphere at the table.
• Greg sweated under the four girls’ gazes and struggled to find an answer that would satisfy them.

Greg reassured Yelina that his relationship with Victoria was innocent, and the group relaxed over cold noodles. Vivian then revealed that Catherine Roman and her family would arrive at the Academy the next day, leaving Greg curious about their visit.

• Greg told Yelina that he and Victoria had become close friends and that nothing romantic was happening between them, and Lilith accepted his explanation.
• Lilith enjoyed the cold noodles, while Yelina privately decided she did not consider Lilith a romantic rival to Vivian.
• Greg told Victoria she was the only friend at the Academy he could completely relax around, and Victoria blushed and hid her smile.
• Vivian considered Victoria a possible future younger sister, and the group began eating after Greg urged them to start before the noodles clumped.
• Yelina reminded Vivian that Academy members were expected to welcome someone the next day, and Vivian said Catherine Roman and her family were coming.

Catherine Roman traveled to the Imperial Capital aboard a Roman Merchant Guild airship, where her siblings mocked her business and discussed the Night Church’s powerful leader. She planned to approach the Night Church despite doubting she could secure a partnership, and thought of an interesting man who might still be in the city.

• Catherine Roman watched the airship approach the Imperial Capital and went to the lounge for fresh air.
• Catherine’s second brother and third sister mocked her merchant guild and praised their own businesses, but Catherine calmly refused to merge hers.
• Catherine privately reflected that she had developed the Screech-Type Magic Device and released it through covert channels.
• Catherine’s siblings discussed the Imperial Capital disaster and the Night Church’s powerful leader, and her second brother suggested investing in the organization.
• Catherine decided she would try to contact the Night Church and thought that the man she had in mind might still be in the Imperial Capital for the Exchange Meeting.

Sarah brought Greg Sass from Glory Kael Magic Academy to an imperial banquet to introduce him to her father, the emperor. When the emperor recognized Greg as the masked man who had created the Black Sun above the Imperial Capital, he realized how extraordinary his guest was.

• Sarah had Greg taken from the construction site, dressed in formal clothes, and brought to the palace banquet to make new connections.
• Greg ignored the attention of several noblewomen and focused on the buffet while waiting at the banquet.
• The emperor arrived, and Sarah led him through the crowd to introduce Greg Sass as a gifted student from Glory Kael Magic Academy.
• Greg nervously greeted the emperor, who found him familiar and remembered him standing beside Wendy as the masked man who had created the Black Sun above the Imperial Capital.

The emperor recognized Greg as the likely savior of the Imperial Capital but kept his identity secret and warned Sarah to treat him only as a friend. After the emperor left, noble ladies approached Greg at the banquet before the Roman Merchant Guild’s arrival drew attention.

• The emperor privately recognized Greg as the young man who had saved the Imperial Capital, but concealed his knowledge and invited him to pursue a future in the Empire.
• The emperor told Sarah that Greg was beyond her ability to handle and instructed her to associate with him only as a friend.
• The emperor decided to prepare a future gift for Greg as a dowry for Wendy, while Greg felt relieved that his identity had not been discovered.
• Lina von Klein and several other noble young ladies approached Greg to introduce themselves and ask about his family.
• The guests noticed the Roman Merchant Guild arriving, and Greg wondered whether Catherine, Vivian, and the other Student Council members were at the banquet.
• A bone-chilling sensation swept over the noble young ladies just as they turned back toward Greg.

At a banquet, Catherine Roman approached Greg after seeing other guests avoid her and asked him to dance, citing their shared contract. Vivian watched them with a possessive glare, making Catherine even more curious about Greg.

• Catherine Roman was ignored by the Empire's elite and declined a young nobleman's invitation to dance.
• Catherine spotted Greg and used their contract as an excuse to leave the nobleman and approach him.
• Greg refused Catherine's invitation before recognizing her and asking why she had come over.
• Catherine saw Vivian watching them with an icy, possessive gaze and found Greg even more interesting.

Greg danced with Catherine after she used her promised resources for Victoria as leverage, and he warned Catherine to watch her family. Catherine asked him to introduce her to the Night Church, while Greg realized too late that someone with long ice-blue hair had seen him dancing with her.

• Catherine mentioned that Victoria had spent most of her resources on the Exchange Meeting, so Greg agreed to dance with her until the song ended.
• Greg and Catherine danced together as onlookers admired them and the young nobleman who had pursued Catherine watched in humiliation.
• Greg asked about the Screech-type Magic Device and warned Catherine to watch the people in her family.
• Catherine asked Greg to take her to the Night Church, hoping to seek its support, and called him her partner.
• Greg noticed a familiar figure with long ice-blue hair leaving the banquet and realized he might be in trouble.

Vivian fled the banquet after seeing Greg dance with Catherine, afraid that jealousy and their secrecy would drive him away. Greg comforted her with a kiss, then knelt in the rain and asked her to dance, leaving her facing his outstretched hand.

• Vivian watched Greg and Catherine dance and felt jealous and afraid that Catherine might replace her.
• Vivian ran from the banquet hall into the storm, and Greg followed, calling her name.
• Vivian admitted to Greg that she feared losing him and blamed herself for feeling jealous.
• Greg kissed Vivian in the rain, and she stopped struggling and returned the kiss.
• Greg knelt before Vivian and asked, "May I have this dance, beautiful Princess?"

In the rain, Greg comforted Vivian with memories of their childhood and promised that she would always have a place in his life. Vivian asked him to prove it and revealed that she was alone in the dorm that day.

• Greg caught Vivian's hand and led her in a dance through the rain.
• Greg recalled childhood moments, including the rainy day when he cheered Vivian up by splashing in a puddle.
• Vivian remembered how Greg had been her light and began to smile.
• Greg told Vivian that his love for her was unique and swore she would always have a place in his life.
• Vivian asked Greg to prove his promise and said she was the only one in the dorm that day.

Greg and Vivian grew close in her dorm room, where he promised to take responsibility for her for the rest of her life. Meanwhile, Catherine brought Victoria the profits from her investment, unaware of what was happening in the room next door.

• Greg waited in Vivian's dorm room and worried that he was taking advantage of her vulnerability.
• Vivian came out of the bathroom, sat beside Greg, and accepted his promise to take responsibility for her future.
• Victoria woke to Catherine's late-night visit and learned her one-silver-coin investment had earned her a bag of gold coins.
• Catherine heard a strange noise from Vivian's room, but Victoria said Vivian was probably cleaning.

Vivian woke after spending the night with Greg and felt that her fear of losing him had disappeared, though she hid the evidence of his visit from Yelina. She told Yelina she was fine and asked her to oversee the house reconstruction while she rested in the dorm.

• Vivian woke to find Greg gone and recalled their night together with a mix of embarrassment and happiness.
• Vivian covered the marks on her bed before opening the door to Yelina.
• Yelina noticed Vivian walking stiffly, and Vivian said she had fallen the day before.
• Yelina tried to reassure Vivian about Greg and Catherine's dance, but Vivian said she had sorted out her feelings.
• Vivian asked Yelina to handle the house reconstruction while she stayed in the dorm to rest.

After spending the night with Vivian, Greg tried to hide the evidence from Nightmare, who was absorbed in studying an old Pocket Watch. Nightmare revealed it could anchor a one-use return through time, and Greg realized Wendy might know how to activate it.

• Greg showered as soon as he returned to avoid Nightmare noticing any scent connected to Vivian.
• Nightmare questioned Greg’s behavior, then returned to examining the Pocket Watch while he rested and recalled the night with Vivian.
• Nightmare said she had learned the Pocket Watch could serve as a one-use anchor for turning back time, though she did not know how to use it.
• Greg realized Wendy’s connection to the Mother of the Clepsydra might let her explain the Pocket Watch’s function.

As the slum reconstruction neared completion, Greg, Victoria, and Lilith celebrated their work and learned that the Night Church had taken in the local children. Greg turned down Victoria’s invitation to dinner, telling her to ask him again next time.

• Victoria and Greg finished painting a wall and discussed preparing for the Final Defense as Lilith joined them, exhausted from the work.
• Victoria teased Lilith about getting along with the children, and the two chased each other through the ruins while Greg watched.
• The children thanked Greg, Victoria, and Lilith, then explained that a sword-carrying woman and the Night Church had offered them protection and education.
• Victoria thanked Greg for helping the children, while Vivian announced that the reconstruction was nearly complete and everyone could rest starting the next day.
• Victoria invited Greg to dinner, but he declined because he had other plans and told her to ask him again next time.

Greg met Catherine at dusk and led her toward the Night Church’s base in the Imperial Capital, while she found his unconcerned manner interesting. After reuniting with Rom and Colwin, Greg warned them not to touch the black cat in his dorm, prompting them to rush back to see it.

• Catherine waited conspicuously for Greg, who asked her not to do so again as he took her to show her the way to the Night Church’s base.
• Catherine agreed, though Greg clarified that he hoped there would not be a next time.
• Greg ran into Rom and Colwin, who suspected he was cheating on Victoria with Catherine.
• Greg explained that he was only guiding Catherine and told Rom and Colwin that a hissing black cat was staying in his dorm.
• Rom and Colwin hurried back to the dorm to see the black cat.

Greg accompanied Catherine to the Night Church’s newly rebuilt headquarters, where they were taken to meet the Deputy Bishop. He discovered that Talaya, the Church’s fervent admirer of its Bishop, was their guide and endured her lavish praise of him.

• Greg told Catherine that his temporary roommates from the Exchange Meeting had become his friends.
• Greg and Catherine arrived at the Night Church’s rebuilt headquarters, and Catherine told the guards that Greg was with her.
• Talaya came to receive Catherine, recognized Greg, and said she would not retaliate over their previous encounter.
• Talaya led Greg and Catherine inside and praised the absent Bishop, while Greg awkwardly listened.

Catherine approached the Night Church’s Deputy Bishop, Ellie, to seek cooperation, while Greg quietly signaled Ellie to play along. Ellie accepted Catherine’s proposal immediately, leaving Catherine both delighted and suspicious that she had been targeted.

• Talaya led Greg and Catherine to meet the Night Church’s Deputy Bishop and warned them to behave respectfully.
• Greg pointed out that Ellie was asleep, and Ellie woke to find Talaya apologizing for disturbing her rest.
• Talaya introduced Catherine Roman and Greg, whom she called an unidentified gentleman, before leaving them alone to discuss business.
• Greg secretly signaled Ellie to pretend to agree reluctantly, then left the room with Talaya.
• Catherine began proposing cooperation with the Night Church, but Ellie accepted at once, surprising Catherine.