Chapter Summaries

At the festival, Greg’s dating advice led Rom and Colwin to feed candied hawthorn to Kaira and Adele, and Greg did the same with Victoria despite his flustered heart. Meanwhile, Wendy entered the Silvermoon Pavilion to change her appearance and recognized a familiar blue-haired woman at the counter.

• Rom followed Greg’s advice and fed Kaira a candied hawthorn, which she happily ate.
• Colwin bought Adele a skewer and nervously offered it to her, and she accepted a bite.
• After Rom and Colwin gave Greg expectant looks, Greg offered a candied hawthorn to Victoria, who agreed to try it.
• Greg thanked Victoria for helping him avoid embarrassment while privately wondering why his heart was pounding.
• Wendy arrived at the Silvermoon Pavilion to change her appearance and recognized a familiar blue-haired woman at the counter.

Wendy, Vivian, and Lilith ended up waiting together at the Silvermoon Pavilion, where Vivian and Lilith confronted each other over their reasons for visiting. Greg, unaware of the tense gathering, hurried after Rom and the group.

• Wendy disguised herself by removing her glasses and undoing her ponytail, then tried to avoid recognition when she encountered Vivian in the lounge.
• Vivian asked Wendy if they had met before, but Wendy redirected her attention by reminding her of Ellie, and Vivian stopped questioning her.
• Lilith entered the lounge and panicked when she saw Vivian; the sisters challenged each other about why they had come to the pavilion.
• Wendy hid behind her magazine and concluded that all three women wanted to see Greg.
• An attendant returned to find Vivian and Lilith in a tense standoff while Wendy watched from the corner.
• Greg sneezed on the street, wondered if Hachimi had insulted him, then hurried after Rom when called.

While the group shopped for souvenirs at the Imperial Capital celebration, Greg invited Victoria to exchange gifts, and both carefully chose something for the other. Victoria gave Greg an Amulet Necklace, and Greg presented her with a sword-shaped ring that he thought was cool, leaving her unimpressed.

• Rom and Kaira browsed souvenirs together, while Colwin and Adele chose gifts for their families.
• Greg bought Chloe a Constant-Temperature Alchemical Core and noticed Victoria standing apart from the others.
• Greg suggested that he and Victoria exchange souvenirs, and Victoria agreed despite protesting.
• Victoria carefully chose an Amulet Necklace for Greg and realized that choosing a gift could be enjoyable.
• Victoria showed Greg the necklace, which he praised, and Greg gave her a rugged ring shaped like a longsword.
• Victoria frowned at Greg's gift as he enthusiastically called the ring cool.

Greg gave Victoria a flower-shaped ring, and the two exchanged souvenirs in a moment of unexpected closeness before their friends teased them. Their festival outing took a dangerous turn when Greg noticed the crowd surrounding them was acting strangely, and Nightmare sensed the Fallen Mother's power among them.

• Greg gave Victoria the flower-shaped ring and claimed he had bought the sword-shaped ring to tease her.
• Victoria put the amulet necklace around Greg's neck, and they stood close until their friends interrupted them with teasing.
• Greg noticed the festival crowd gathering around them with strangely empty eyes and warned his companions.
• Nightmare sensed traces of the Fallen Mother's power in the crowd, and Greg suspected Melina was taking revenge.

Melina’s controlled crowd attacked Greg and his companions, but Juno broke the weak mental interference with an intimidating word of power. Greg kept the cause vague, and the group headed off to find dinner as Juno joined them.

• From the Clock Tower, Melina watched the controlled crowd surround Greg and his companions, then left after spotting Juno approaching.
• Greg stopped Rom from attacking the ordinary people, while Kaira dodged their blows and Greg searched for a way to restrain them safely.
• After Nightmare suggested using Dragonfolk pressure to break the weak control, Greg called to Juno, who used an intimidating word of power and woke the crowd.
• Greg led his companions out of the encirclement and told them the incident was probably a petty prank, without revealing Melina’s involvement.
• Kaira and Victoria suggested finding dinner, and Juno dashed over to join them.

Juno joined Greg and Victoria’s group for dinner after claiming Victoria owed her a favor, then rushed ahead when they found Vivian dining with Lilith. Greg was left in the doorway, hoping to avoid interrupting the sisters’ tense attempt at reconciliation.

• Juno told Greg she had planned to explore the festival with Vivian and the others, then said she wanted to go with him because she liked his scent.
• Victoria questioned Juno, who sniffed her and declared that she smelled stinky; Greg explained that Juno perceived scents differently as a Dragonfolk.
• Juno insisted that Victoria owed her a favor for her help, so Victoria agreed to let her join the group for dinner.
• Greg led the group into a restaurant and saw Vivian and Lilith sharing an uneasy meal as Vivian tried to ease the tension between them.
• Juno ran over to greet Vivian, while Greg froze in the doorway and cursed the interruption.

As Veronica prepared to leave the Imperial Capital, she warned Bernard and Reinhardt to maintain discipline in the Church of Light. Before departing, she told Sylvia that the Church forbade its followers from entering the Dungeon because dangerous heretics lived there.

• Veronica warned Bernard that she would purge the Church’s ranks if he and Archbishop Dominic Solomon resumed their schemes.
• Veronica ordered Director Reinhardt to oversee discipline within the Church of Light.
• Veronica dismissed Bernard and Reinhardt when Sylvia arrived to see her off.
• Sylvia asked Veronica to explain the Dungeon, concealing that she wanted to help Greg.
• Veronica told Sylvia that the Dungeon held followers of dangerous heresies, which was a key reason the Church barred its followers from entering.

Veronica told Sylvia that followers of five sealed Outer Gods had escaped from the Dungeons and caused the phantom attack on the Imperial Capital. Sylvia refused to give up her Candidate Saintess position, resolved to support Greg, and was left longing to see him after Veronica departed by airship.

• Sylvia questioned Veronica about whether humans still lived in the Dungeons, and Veronica explained that the Outer Gods' followers had escaped and caused the phantom attack on the Imperial Capital.
• Veronica warned Sylvia about the burden of becoming Saintess and challenged her to give up the Candidate Saintess position if she was afraid.
• Sylvia firmly refused, declaring that becoming Saintess was her duty and that she wanted the power to protect and support Greg.
• Veronica told Sylvia to relay that Greg could contact her for help, deliberately provoking Sylvia into insisting that she would help him herself.
• Veronica departed aboard the airship, and Sylvia watched it leave before thinking that she wanted to see Greg.

Greg, Vivian, Victoria, and their companions shared an uneasy dinner after visiting the festival, while Lilith struggled to hide her concern about Greg and Victoria. Vivian accepted their closeness but still felt a little jealous, and Wendy watched the group from upstairs, convinced she was witnessing a six-person date.

• Rom, Colwin, Kaira, and Adele sat at a nearby table, leaving Greg between Victoria and Vivian as Juno eagerly chose food.
• Lilith taunted Victoria, and Victoria retorted that she had beaten Lilith in the Second Defense.
• Vivian asked whether Greg and Victoria had walked around the festival together, and Juno confirmed they had been together before she joined them.
• Vivian's jealousy froze Juno's tea, so Greg held Vivian's hand beneath the table until her magic settled.
• Lilith panicked at the thought that Greg and Victoria had been alone together, then relaxed when Victoria explained that the others had been with them.
• Wendy watched from the second floor and mistook the gathering for a six-person date.

Wendy unexpectedly found Greg dining with Victoria, Juno, Vivian, and Lilith while she negotiated with Sarah upstairs. Greg escaped the growing tension at the table for the restroom, where Wendy pulled him into a locked stall.

• Wendy spotted Vivian and Greg downstairs while meeting Sarah in disguise, then concealed her reaction and resumed their diplomatic discussion.
• Greg and the women enjoyed a lavish meal, with Victoria and Greg sharing food and Lilith awkwardly trying to offer Greg a bite.
• Vivian ate the seafood from Lilith's fork, leaving Lilith flustered, while Victoria questioned whom Lilith had meant to feed.
• Greg left the table to use the men's restroom and splashed water on his face.
• Wendy grabbed Greg's arm, pulled him into a restroom stall, and locked the door, startling him.

Wendy seized a chance to be alone with Greg and slipped into the men's restroom to pull him into a stall. Their private moment was interrupted when Rom entered to ask Greg for his opinion, leaving Greg to hide his surprise and explain away an odd sound.

• Wendy saw Greg leave the table and hurried after him, deciding to enter the men's restroom despite her hesitation.
• Wendy found Greg alone at the sink, pulled him into an open stall, and locked the door.
• Wendy hugged Greg and admitted she wanted him to herself for a little while; Greg agreed to keep her company.
• Rom entered the restroom and called out to Greg, while Wendy silently urged Greg to answer him.
• Greg spoke to Rom from the stall and claimed a bug had startled him when he made an odd sound.

Greg hid his encounter with Wendy in a restroom stall while giving Rom advice about pursuing the girls he and Colwin liked. After Wendy left, Sarah and Wendy departed the restaurant, and Juno noticed a new scent on Greg before drooling on Victoria’s thigh.

• Rom asked Greg how he and Colwin could take things further with the girls they liked, and Greg advised them to split up and arrange dates that would keep them out past the dorm cutoff.
• Rom mistook Greg’s struggle with Wendy in the stall for a battle with a bug and left determined to go on a separate date.
• Wendy thanked Greg for cooperating, then left the restroom while Greg stayed behind to recover.
• Wendy returned to Sarah, and the two left the restaurant after deciding to continue their conversation elsewhere.
• Greg returned to Victoria and claimed he had been admiring himself in the mirror, but Juno smelled a female’s saliva on him and started drooling on Victoria’s thigh.

At the Festival, Greg helped Rom and Colwin find the courage to invite Kaira and Adele to explore the streets with them. After the two pairs departed, Greg realized he was left to spend the evening with Vivian, Lilith, Victoria, and Juno, and reluctantly agreed to go with them.

• Greg suggested that the group split up, and Rom and Colwin used his suggestion to invite Kaira and Adele on separate walks.
• Victoria said she wanted everyone to spend time together on the Festival's last night, but Greg pulled her aside so the couples could leave alone.
• Rom invited Kaira to explore East Street, and she happily accepted.
• Colwin cautiously invited Adele for a walk, and she blushed before agreeing.
• Greg looked at Vivian, Lilith, Victoria, and Juno, worried about their rivalries, but agreed to set off with them.

Greg accompanied Victoria, Lilith, Juno, and Vivian through a lively nighttime festival, where the group’s peaceful outing gave way to two brewing conflicts. Victoria and Lilith faced off as Juno pushed Vivian too far, leaving Vivian’s ice-blue magic surging.

• Greg walked through the nighttime festival with Victoria, Lilith, Juno, and Vivian, surprised that they had not yet started a serious fight.
• Victoria bought Greg a dough figurine modeled after his Abyss-Edge Armor, and the stall owner praised Greg as the hero who had saved the Empire.
• Victoria and Lilith traded insults over the figurine, and their magic power began to stir as Greg looked for help.
• Juno teased Vivian with masks and pressed a Red Dragon-Patterned Mask onto her face despite Vivian telling her to stop.
• Vivian removed the mask as ice-blue magic power surged around her, and Greg regretted bringing the four girls together.

As the Exchange Meeting ended with the Empire's fireworks, Greg sensed someone watching him but joined Victoria and the others without finding the observer. Olivia and Luna discussed looking after Greg, Ellie learned the Night Church could leave the next day, and Melina left the celebration alone.

• Greg calmed down after sensing a gaze in the crowd, then joined Victoria and the others to watch the fireworks.
• Olivia told Luna that Greg was now her precious darling too and promised to look after him at the Academy.
• Olivia and Luna watched the fireworks together and toasted to their quiet before the next semester's Five-Academy Competition.
• Wendy told Ellie that the Night Church's Imperial Capital affairs were settled and they could leave the next day, prompting Ellie to celebrate her chance to harass Greg.
• Melina watched the fireworks, dismissed family and friends as pawns, and walked away alone.

Greg and the girls watched the fireworks and said good night after the Exchange Meeting festivities. Later, Sylvia confronted Greg in his dorm room about his relationship with Vivian and moved toward him, leaving her intentions unclear.

• Victoria admired the fireworks and wished Sylvia had been there, while Lilith teased her about enjoying the display.
• Greg and the girls returned to the Magic Tower, where Lilith, Victoria, and Juno said good night before Vivian stayed behind with him.
• Greg praised Vivian for keeping their relationship secret, and Vivian kissed him before hurrying back to her dormitory.
• Greg returned to his empty room, but Sylvia arrived after midnight and asked if he had slept with Vivian.
• Sylvia pinned Greg to the floor, said she would cover up every trace Vivian had left, and leaned down toward him.

As the academy representatives prepared to return home, Greg reunited with Rom and Colwin and learned they had only slept beside their dates. He traded his worn clothes to Juno, then hurried away after Aurora gave him a knowing look; Aurora ordered Juno to train for the upcoming Five-Academy Competition in the Dungeon.

• Greg heard Nightmare complain that Sylvia had kept him pinned down, and promised to take the lead next time.
• Greg found Rom and Colwin, who thanked him for helping them spend the night with Kaira and Adele, though they had only slept in the same rooms.
• Juno gave Greg a pouch of money in exchange for his worn clothes, then delighted in their scent.
• Aurora watched Greg with a knowing smile, making him leave quickly.
• Aurora told Juno to train in the Dungeon for the Five-Academy Competition, and Juno agreed after Aurora refused to give her more pocket money.

After Greg returned to the Glory Kail Academy group, his fame from the Exchange Meeting earned him an enthusiastic welcome and changed how other students treated him. Vivian sent him to meet Olivia, where he also reunited with his master Luna, and he ended by teasing Olivia.

• Greg hurried to the Glory Kail Academy group, hoping Olivia could protect him from Aurora.
• The students crowded around Greg to praise his Exchange Meeting performance, while three noble girls who had once opposed him showed awe and regret.
• Vivian quieted the students, sent them to prepare for boarding, and told Greg that the Academy Head wanted to see him.
• Greg found Olivia beside Luna and greeted Luna as his master.
• Greg turned to Olivia and asked why she had wanted to see him, calling her a damned cowgirl.

After the Exchange Meeting, Greg destroyed the recording he had used to secure Olivia’s cooperation, and they argued over their mutually exploitative relationship. Olivia then asked Greg to prepare Glory Kail’s promising students for next semester’s Five-Academy Competition by training them in the Dungeon, prompting him to warn her that students could die there.

• Greg shattered the Recording Stone containing Olivia’s confession, and Olivia crushed the fragments beneath her foot.
• Olivia insisted that she would have helped Greg without being blackmailed, but admitted that she exploited him sincerely.
• Olivia explained that Glory Kail had placed last in the Five-Academy Competition for the past ten years and asked Greg to train several promising students.
• Olivia proposed intensive training in the Dungeon, and Greg objected that the dangerous place could kill the students.
• When Olivia questioned whether the Dungeon was only survivable by someone like Greg, he told her not to slander his beloved.

Greg agreed to take Victoria, Sylvia, Lilith, Vivian, and the newly transferred Melina into the Dungeon for training after Olivia promised to do anything if Glory Kail won the Five-Academy Competition. At the airship boarding area, Victoria mistook Sylvia’s exhaustion and evasive answers for evidence that Veronica had mistreated her, while Sylvia resolved to avoid repeating what she had done with Greg.

• Olivia clung to Greg and promised to do anything if Glory Kail took first place, so Greg had Luna record her oath and agreed to train the Academy’s top students.
• Olivia added Melina to the group, and Greg cursed when he learned she would be joining Victoria, Sylvia, Lilith, and Vivian.
• Victoria noticed Sylvia walking unsteadily at the airship boarding area and offered to carry her luggage and help her recover.
• Sylvia denied that Veronica had done anything to her, but Victoria assumed Veronica had caused her condition and grew angry on Sylvia’s behalf.
• Victoria carried Sylvia’s suitcase aboard, while Sylvia felt guilty about what she had done with Greg and resolved to restrain herself in the future.