Chapter Summaries

Talaya told Greg why she joined the Night Church and revealed how the Church of Light’s corruption cost her mother her life. She left Greg with a bitter judgment of the Church as a predatory institution.

• Talaya asked why Greg had left the room with her, and Greg said he had wanted to give Wendy and the others privacy.
• Greg learned that Talaya had been with the Night Church for almost half a year and asked why she had joined.
• Talaya asked Greg what he thought of the Church of Light, and he said the institution had a polished exterior but might contain corruption.
• Talaya recalled that the Church of Light recruited her as a child because of her magical talent and promised her family she would become a pillar of the Church.
• After Talaya’s mother fell gravely ill, the Church refused to provide treatment without an exorbitant fee, and her mother died.
• Talaya later learned that Church officials skimmed holy water and resold treatment allocations for profit, and she condemned them as wolves in sacred robes.

Talaya explained that Wendy had brought her into the Night Church after the Church of Light mistreated her. Wendy then secretly pulled Greg aside at the Base, where they discussed Talaya and tried to recreate the effect of their previous kiss.

• Talaya told Greg that the Gospel-Spreading Night Raven had welcomed her into the Night Church and inspired her to seek justice for her mother.
• Talaya turned to demand Greg’s answer, but found that he had disappeared.
• Wendy, disguised with dyed hair and glasses, grabbed Greg and led him to a secluded guest room.
• Greg realized Wendy had been the Gospel-Spreading Night Raven who recruited Talaya, and Wendy confirmed it.
• Wendy kissed Greg to see whether she could repeat the effect of their previous kiss, but it was weaker, and Greg suggested they keep trying.

Greg asked Wendy about an antique pocket watch that had once belonged to her, but she could not remember its origins and let him keep it. After Talaya confronted Greg for wandering through the Night Church base, Wendy vouched for him, and Catherine emerged from her meeting looking profoundly bewildered.

• Greg showed Wendy the pocket watch, and Wendy recognized it as her own but could not recall where it came from.
• Wendy let Greg keep the watch and promised to tell him if her ability helped her remember anything about it.
• Talaya grabbed Greg by the collar and accused him of wandering suspiciously through the Night Church base.
• Wendy explained that Lady Night Raven had invited Greg and proved to Talaya that she served the Night Church.
• Wendy left, and Catherine emerged from her meeting looking dazed and shaken.

Catherine finalized a cooperation agreement with the Night Church, then struggled to understand why they had accepted her proposals so readily. Greg reassured her that they might see more potential in her than in her siblings, and she left determined to focus on the work ahead.

• Catherine and the masked Deputy Bishop finalized every term of their cooperation in an hour, with the Night Church accepting all her proposals.
• Catherine wondered whether Greg had influenced the agreement, but recalled that Talaya had treated him as a stranger.
• Greg asked whether the Night Church had rejected her, and Catherine explained that their quick acceptance seemed strange given her limited influence and funds.
• Greg suggested the Night Church might consider Catherine a more valuable and sincere partner than her older brother and sister, and advised her to focus on what she could do.
• Catherine thanked Greg at a fork in the road, then watched him head toward the Magic Tower before walking in the opposite direction.

Greg returned to his dorm and found Rom and Colwin worshipping Nightmare, while the five academy heads met to discuss the Imperial Capital disaster and the upcoming Final Defense. Olivia diverted attention from Luna, who nearly exposed her connection to Greg, and left planning to make Greg’s Final Defense topic.

• Greg found Rom and Colwin kneeling before Nightmare and praising her as a sacred, beautiful cat.
• Isadora thanked Luna, Moon Enchantress, and Aurora for helping contain the disaster, while arguing with Olivia over the damage Olivia had caused.
• The academy heads discussed the phantom enemies and the person who created the Black Sun, and Luna’s suspicious behavior drew their attention.
• Olivia claimed Luna urgently needed the bathroom, giving Luna an excuse to leave before revealing what she knew.
• Olivia redirected the meeting to the Final Defense, then privately resolved to draw Greg’s topic and make him perform well.

As the Imperial Capital celebrated its restoration, Greg and the other contestants gathered for the Final Defense, each facing an unknown set of topics. Seeing Academy Head Olivia oversee the draw, Greg prayed that she would choose the topic he had prepared for.

• The rebuilt Imperial Capital filled with decorations as most students went out to enjoy the celebration instead of waiting for the Final Defense.
• Greg arrived exhausted after Rom and Colwin spent the night pestering him about how to approach a girl they liked and making assumptions about Victoria.
• Victoria and Sylvia joined Greg in the waiting room, while the contestants gathered and prepared for the Final Defense.
• The contestants worried about which of five topic sets would be drawn, but Greg believed the person drawing would favor a marked set.
• Greg saw Academy Head Olivia at the drawing venue and prayed to Hachimi that she would select the topic he had prepared for.

Olivia shot and destroyed the box holding the Final Defense topics, leaving the students unsure what the new topic would be. Greg collapsed from exhaustion into Victoria’s arms, while Melina concluded the cultists had likely been wiped out and considered exploiting Greg and Victoria’s relationship.

• Olivia fired a shot that shattered the wooden box containing the Final Defense topics.
• Greg lost his strength and collapsed into Victoria’s arms as Victoria and Sylvia reacted with alarm.
• Greg asked Victoria to let him rest against her, and Victoria allowed it despite her embarrassment.
• Victoria scolded the students for staring and told them to return to preparing for the Final Defense.
• Melina concluded the cultists had likely been wiped out and considered using Greg and Victoria’s relationship to her advantage.

Olivia scrapped the established Final Defense procedure and persuaded the other Grand Mages to replace it with an unprepared topic, leaving the contestants unsettled. Greg was called in for his defense, while Victoria quietly wondered whether he had forgotten something important.

• Olivia defended changing the Final Defense rules after Isadora challenged her, and Aurora and Moon Enchantress supported her plan to use a new topic.
• Olivia announced that contestants would learn the topic only upon entering the conference room and could not return to speak with other contestants until the defense ended.
• Greg recovered while resting with Victoria and reassured Sylvia that he was all right.
• A professor called Greg for his Final Defense, and Victoria briefly caught his wrist before wishing him luck.
• After Greg left, Victoria wondered whether her senior had completely forgotten.

The five academy heads discussed Melina after she left, and Aurora, Moon Enchantress, and Olivia competed to claim her. Olivia secured their agreement by offering exchange student places at Glory Kail, while Luna appeared to hope for an opportunity to bring someone to her academy.

• Melina thanked the five academy heads for their guidance and left the meeting room.
• Aurora and Moon Enchantress argued over who would recruit Melina, while Isadora warned them not to cause trouble in the Imperial Capital.
• Olivia declared that she was claiming Melina and offered Aurora and Moon Enchantress unconditional, unlimited exchange student places at Glory Kail after the Five-Academy Competition.
• Luna stood as if to make a request, but Olivia told her an Academy Head could not use the exchange place to visit; Olivia then offered to send someone to Luna in the future.

Greg spoke privately with Veronica before his Final Defense examination, and she warned him to protect his undercover identity while offering him further help. After Veronica left, the professor mistook her farewell for an attempt to recruit Greg to the Church of Light, leaving Greg under even greater pressure.

• Greg asked Nightmare whether she would mourn his social death, and she dismissed the idea before complaining about Veronica's presence.
• Veronica stopped the professor and asked to speak privately with Greg before his Final Defense examination.
• Veronica warned Greg not to reveal his identity while undercover in the Night Church and said she would be heartbroken if he died.
• Veronica offered to help Greg again with his adjustment to a male body, and Nightmare ordered him to accept.
• Veronica publicly praised Greg and said the Church of Light would welcome him, prompting the professor to assume she was trying to recruit him.

Greg entered the Final Defense conference room, worried that his lack of real expertise would be exposed before the five Academy Heads. As they studied him for their own reasons, he awaited the defense topic, still hoping he could manage it.

• Greg followed a professor to the conference room and feared he could not handle the Final Defense after relying on memorized game-guide knowledge in earlier rounds.
• Greg introduced himself to the five Academy Heads, and Olivia encouraged him to impress them while holding Luna back from greeting him.
• Aurora recognized Greg as the human disciple the Elf had mentioned and suspected he was an exceptional prospect after hearing about Juno.
• Moon Enchantress admired Greg's appearance and imagined having him sire her next generation.
• Isadora studied Greg and wondered why he seemed familiar, but she could not place him.

Greg’s Final Defense was delayed by a quarrel among the deans, and Luna’s moon magic revealed a possible way to strengthen Greg and repair Nightmare’s Divine Core. When the defense finally began with the topic of the origin of magic, Nightmare offered to help in exchange for Greg agreeing to pursue a deeper connection with his teacher.

• Greg asked the five deans to announce his Final Defense topic, but they argued over their attention toward him instead.
• Luna unleashed her moon-attribute magic to stop Olivia, Aurora, and Moon Enchantress from quarreling, and Nightmare told Greg that connecting with Luna could benefit them both.
• Olivia calmed Luna, and Isadora began the defense by announcing the topic: the origin of magic.
• Greg realized he knew nothing about the topic and hoped Nightmare could provide firsthand knowledge.
• Nightmare offered to discuss the origin of magic in exchange for Greg agreeing to pursue a mutually beneficial connection with his teacher, and Greg accepted.

Greg used knowledge supplied by Nightmare to defend his thesis on the origins of magic before five Academy Heads, arguing that magic predated humanity and that deities may have risen from human pioneers. He left the defense having impressed the judges, while several Academy Heads considered recruiting him.

• In the waiting room, Sylvia worried about Greg, and Victoria said she expected him to bluff his way through the defense.
• Greg told the Academy Heads that magic existed before human civilization and that humans inherited it from ancient races.
• Greg argued that humanity became magic’s primary inheritor through adaptability, education, and systematic research.
• When Isadora asked about deities, Greg proposed that they had begun as humans who pioneered magic and eventually transcended humanity.
• Greg attributed his claims to an ancient book in Duke Sass’s library, while the Academy Heads considered the implications and some resolved to recruit him.
• Greg silently thanked Nightmare for feeding him answers, and Nightmare reminded him to keep his promise.

After the Exchange Meeting, Greg received a letter from Duke Sass inviting him back to the family, but he recognized it as a warning that the family was still watching him. He chose to maintain a polite response to protect Erin, then stepped into the Empire’s festival and was approached by Melina.

• Greg finished his Exchange Meeting duties and decided to explore the Imperial Capital during the festival.
• A staff member delivered Greg a letter from Duke Sass inviting him to return to the family.
• Greg suspected the letter was meant to remind him that the family was watching him and worried that a complete break could endanger Erin Sass.
• Greg sent Duke Sass a courteous reply, saying he would consider returning and answer later.
• Greg went outside to enjoy the festival, where Melina appeared and teased him about missing her.

Greg tried to avoid Melina at the festival, but she followed him until he ran into Rom, Colwin, Kaira, and Adele. After Melina left with a cryptic promise that they would meet again soon, Rom reminded Greg that Victoria was missing, and Greg realized he had forgotten his promise to explore the festival with her.

• Greg tried to shake Melina, who followed him and teased him about spending time together.
• Greg encountered Rom, Colwin, Kaira, and Adele, and explained that Melina had been following him.
• Colwin confirmed Melina had acted pushily toward Greg before, prompting her to leave after telling Greg they would meet again soon.
• Rom asked where Victoria was, and Greg remembered he had promised to walk around the festival with her after the Exchange Meeting.

Victoria left the Final Defense conference room expecting to meet Greg for the festival, but he had forgotten their plans. After she rejected the arrogant noble Isaac and their argument escalated, a steward arrived and respectfully addressed her as Miss Victoria.

• Victoria found no sign of Greg and decided to attend the festival alone rather than admit that he had stood her up.
• Isaac introduced himself as a noble of the Empire and invited Victoria to tour the festival with him.
• Victoria told Isaac to get lost, insulted him, and tried to leave.
• Isaac blocked Victoria and berated her for being a commoner, drawing the attention of nearby students.
• As Victoria gathered magic and warned Isaac to move, a steward entered with four maids and respectfully asked whether she was Miss Victoria.

Victoria received a bespoke formalwear invitation from the Silvermoon Pavilion arranged by Greg, leaving Isaac humiliated and convinced he could not measure up to him. Greg met Catherine to thank her, while she revealed she had prioritized his request over those from the Night Church and two princesses.

• Morrison, head steward of the Silvermoon Pavilion, told Victoria that Greg had arranged a complete bespoke formalwear service for her.
• Victoria taunted Isaac over the invitation and left with Morrison and the maids, while Isaac collapsed to his knees and resented Greg.
• Victoria assumed Greg had arranged the surprise because of their promise and became cheerful as she went to the Pavilion.
• Greg met Catherine at a café, thanked her for arranging the service, and hurried off to pick someone up.
• Catherine told her secretary that she had postponed requests from the Night Church and two princesses to prioritize Greg, then dismissed the secretary’s concern.

Victoria visited Silvermoon Pavilion, where Greg had arranged an expensive private fitting and custom styling for her. The attendants suggested Greg might have romantic feelings for her, leaving Victoria flustered and trying to convince herself there had to be another explanation.

• Victoria wondered how Greg had become connected to Silvermoon Pavilion and its wealthy clientele.
• Silvermoon Pavilion's attendants welcomed Victoria and dressed her in a carefully chosen gown with matching accessories.
• The attendants praised Victoria's looks and asked whether Greg was her boyfriend.
• Victoria insisted Greg was only her senior, but the attendants argued that his costly arrangements showed she mattered to him.
• Victoria recalled Greg's kindness, wondered if he had feelings for her, then decided he must simply feel guilty about something.

Victoria dressed in an elegant gown at Silvermoon Pavilion and showed it to Greg before they prepared to meet Rom and the others. Greg teased her to hide how stunned he was, but after leaving, he admitted that seeing her dressed up had made his heart race.

• The attendants finished dressing Victoria in a deep blue gown and matching jewelry, and she nervously prepared to see Greg.
• Greg froze when Victoria appeared, while the attendants admired how handsome the two looked together.
• When Victoria asked what he thought, Greg joked that even a goblin would look good in the outfit, prompting her to chase and kick him.
• Greg apologized, then asked Steward Morrison to take him to the men's changing room so he could get ready to meet Rom and the others.
• Out of Victoria's sight, Greg pressed a hand to his pounding heart and admitted that her appearance had overwhelmed him.

Greg and Victoria attended the festival with their classmates in lavish, matching outfits, drawing attention and prompting Alice to tease Greg about their relationship. After Greg and Victoria left, Alice and Grace discussed their students, and Grace wondered whether dating explained Greg and Victoria’s success.

• Kaira and Adele admired Victoria’s dress and jewelry, while Rom and Colwin teased Greg about dressing up with her.
• Alice arrived with Grace, and Greg introduced Alice as his and Victoria’s mentor after Rom mistook her for a child.
• Alice explained that Grace had come to discuss teaching methods after Greg and Victoria’s strong performance at the Exchange Meeting.
• Alice privately warned Greg not to have a baby with Victoria at the Academy, and Greg hastily left with Victoria and their classmates.
• Grace asked whether Greg and Victoria were dating, and Alice agreed; Grace then considered how unlikely it was for Sylvia and Lilith to date.