Chapter Summaries

Mitarashi Kazuhiro fled the Action Team’s pursuit and escaped into Kyoto, planning to seek refuge with Hagoromo-Gitsune if necessary. Jennifer reported the mission’s failure to Bell, who ordered a base established in Kyoto and prepared to go there.

• Mitarashi Kazuhiro returned to the forest where the battle had taken place, but fled after discovering the Action Team searching for him.
• The Action Team pursued and cornered Mitarashi, but he escaped into Kyoto despite Jennifer’s secret delight at the mission’s failure.
• Jennifer tried to disguise her excitement before reporting to Bell that Mitarashi had escaped into Kyoto’s territory.
• Bell ordered Jennifer to establish a base in Kyoto and said he would head there.

Bell and his companions toured Kyoto while Jennifer’s team tracked down Mitarashi Kazuhiro. The chapter ended with the Action Team trapping him inside a large sealing barrier.

• Bell teased Kagura for leaving a mess at home, and Kagura and Bell traded excuses for sightseeing instead of handling it.
• Yomi warned Kagura to stay close to Bell if danger arose, while Kagura joked that she would push him into harm’s way.
• That night, Bell and Kagura argued about Byakuei’s visibility and the glowing Protego Totalum barrier nearby.
• Yomi asked Bell whether Mitarashi was inside the barrier, and Bell guessed that Jennifer and her team had caught him.
• Jennifer and the Action Team tracked Mitarashi Kazuhiro and set up a large sealing barrier to trap him, while Jennifer looked forward to the confrontation.

Bell and his allies located their target inside a barrier and worked to protect the ordinary people caught within it. As Bell called out the hidden forces, Hagoromo-Gitsune, Nura Clan yokai, human exorcists, and Kagura arrived, leaving the gathered factions facing one another.

• Jennifer reported that the barrier team had located the target, and Bell used potent Living Death Draught mist to put the ordinary people to sleep.
• Bell transformed crushed stone into Little Beans and sent them into the barrier to carry the sleeping civilians out.
• Bell called to the figures hiding in the darkness, and Hagoromo-Gitsune appeared and claimed the area as her territory.
• A red-eyed yokai challenged Hagoromo-Gitsune, while a black-haired young man insulted the yokai and called on Kain Ryuji to speak.
• Kain Ryuji recognized Kagura's Byakuei and questioned why someone from the Tsuchimiya Family had come to Kyoto, but Kagura said she was not from the Tsuchimikado Family.
• Yomi called Kagura down before she could continue talking with Kain Ryuji.

Yomi and Kagura joined Bell’s group as they faced several factions of powerful evil spirits, including Hagoromo-Gitsune. Hagoromo-Gitsune tried to seduce Bell into surrendering the Killing Stone, but he resisted and exposed her false claim about its origins.

• Yomi sensed that the newly arrived evil spirits were at least as powerful as Mitarashi, and worried that Kagura might be ambushed in the air.
• Kagura descended to Yomi’s side, while she and Bell refused to reveal their group’s identity to Ryuji.
• The leaders of the other factions eyed Bell’s group warily, but Bell trusted his many Wizards to face the enemy spirits.
• Hagoromo-Gitsune tried to seduce Bell and asked him to give her the Killing Stone, claiming it had formed from her body.
• Bell resisted her seduction and pointed out that records showed the Killing Stone had formed decades after Hagoromo-Gitsune’s body had rotted away.

Bell sent Yomi into the barrier to kill Mitarashi and retrieve the Killing Stone while the three rival factions hesitated to act. Hagoromo-Gitsune eventually attacked Bell, triggering a massive battle among all the groups in Kyoto.

• Bell used Legilimency and others’ emotions to confirm the three rival factions would not unite against him.
• Bell ordered Yomi to kill Mitarashi, take the Killing Stone, and make sure Mitarashi could not play dead; Yomi charged into the barrier.
• The factions confronted Bell, but their mutual distrust kept them from making a move while Yomi’s battle with Mitarashi began inside the barrier.
• Hagoromo-Gitsune attacked Bell with her fox tails and scarlet flames, and Bell blocked the attack with Protego Totalum.
• The other factions joined the fight, and a massive melee erupted in Kyoto’s urban district.

Bell fought Hagoromo-Gitsune while the Nura Clan's forces battled her subordinates, and he began considering selling magical items to yokai to balance the Curse World's arms market. Nura Rikuo was knocked away, and Hagoromo-Gitsune focused on obtaining the Killing Stone to resurrect Seimei.

• Bell exchanged attacks with Hagoromo-Gitsune until Nura Rikuo joined the fight and introduced himself as the Nura Clan's Third Generation.
• Bell asked Nura Rikuo about the Nura Clan's history and leadership, then considered trading magical items to yokai as an arms dealer.
• Yuki Onna Riku warned Bell not to pry into the Nura Clan's information and objected when he called them yokai.
• Hagoromo-Gitsune swept Nura Rikuo away with her tail, prompting Riku to rush to protect him.
• Hagoromo-Gitsune ignored Nura Rikuo and focused on seizing the Killing Stone to resurrect Seimei.

Bell fought Hagoromo-Gitsune to keep her from reaching the barrier and taking the Killing Stone, then learned she wanted to use it to revive Seimei. The battle became unavoidable, and Bell ordered the Action Team to protect the barrier as he prepared to fight at full strength.

• Bell evaded Hagoromo-Gitsune's attacks and stopped her from reaching the barrier with a giant hand of rock.
• Hagoromo-Gitsune revealed that she wanted the Killing Stone to revive her son, Seimei, whose remnant soul was in the earth veins.
• Bell questioned whether the remnant soul could still be Seimei, but Hagoromo-Gitsune insisted that her son could withstand the earth veins' evil thoughts.
• Bell decided he could not give Hagoromo-Gitsune the Killing Stone and ordered the Action Team to withdraw and protect the barrier.
• Jennifer led the Action Team back to the barrier while Bell prepared to unleash his full strength.

Bell overwhelmed Hagoromo-Gitsune with a series of powerful Curses, then nearly killed her with Annihilation. Hagoromo-Gitsune survived by sacrificing a tail, but she was weakened and feared that another death would be final.

• Bell attacked Hagoromo-Gitsune with Sectumsempra, leaving her tails wounded and bleeding.
• Hagoromo-Gitsune struck back with a sea of fire, but Bell countered with Surging Waves, then attacked with a Water Dragon and Frozen Wasteland.
• Bell appeared beside Hagoromo-Gitsune and used Annihilation, but she sacrificed a tail to survive.
• Kyokotsu checked on Hagoromo-Gitsune, who admitted she was fine while concealing her weakened state.
• Hagoromo-Gitsune realized she had to avoid being killed again because she still wanted to revive her child.

Bell took the Killing Stones after using a Berserk Spell to drive Mitarashi’s soul into the other fragments, then left the ruins with Yomi and his followers. Yura recognized the badge Bell gave Nura Rikuo as belonging to the Menethil Family, whose representatives were expected to arrive later.

• Yomi gave Bell three Killing Stones, and Bell used a Berserk Spell on one to make the soul fragments attack Mitarashi’s hidden soul.
• Bell reassured Yomi that Mitarashi was barely alive, took the Killing Stones, and gave badges to Hagoromo-Gitsune and Nura Rikuo.
• Bell and Yomi vanished, and Jennifer took Kagura away as the rest of Bell’s group departed.
• Ryuji discovered that Yura had gone to the Nura Clan and grew angry that she was with Nura Rikuo.
• Yura recognized Nura Rikuo’s badge as the emblem of the Menethil Family and explained that the family sold magical items, including the Exploding Flame Beads she had used on him.
• Nura Rikuo and Hagoromo-Gitsune’s companions became interested in the Menethil Family’s promised visit.

Bell returned to the Academy with Yomi after the Rat Catching Operation, but bringing her inside required a special agreement that barred her from using spiritual power. He then faced Hermione, who saw Yomi following him and immediately suspected he had been unfaithful.

• Kagura and Yomi cried and begged Bell to stay, but he left with Yomi to avoid trouble from the major families.
• Bell explained that Yomi was his Shikigami, and Tang Anhe confirmed the contract rune linking her to Bell.
• The Academy allowed Yomi to enter only if she wore a spiritual-power detector and refrained from using spiritual power on campus.
• Bell worried about explaining Yomi's presence to Hermione as they returned to the courtyard.
• Hermione rushed out to welcome Bell, saw Yomi behind him, and suspected he had brought home another girl.

Bell introduced Yomi to Shanna at the Academy, prompting Hermione to confront him about their relationship. After Bell showed Hermione evidence of Yomi’s severe injuries and explained their contract, Hermione accepted that he had gone to help her but remained curious about why Yomi called him Master.

• Shanna recognized Yomi, who said Bell had brought her to the Academy rather than bringing her to study abroad.
• Bell asked Shanna to show Yomi around and warned her that Yomi could not use magic power at the Academy.
• Yomi called Bell Master and mentioned their contract, making Hermione demand an explanation about their relationship.
• Bell told Hermione that he and Yomi were platonic friends and explained that he had gone to check on her after learning she was badly injured.
• Hermione examined a photograph of Yomi’s injuries, accepted Bell’s reason for visiting her, and asked why Yomi followed him and called him Master.
• Bell began explaining how Yomi had come to the Academy and what their contract meant.

Hermione confronted Bell after learning that he had made Yomi his Shikigami, and Bell explained that his rare Holy Spirit Guardian spell had been the only way to save her. The argument ended with Bell reassuring Hermione that he loved her and teasing her about their engagement.

• Hermione learned that a Shikigami had to obey its master and angrily accused Bell of making Yomi one.
• Bell said he had chosen to make Yomi his Shikigami because otherwise he would have had to let Kagura kill her.
• Bell explained that Holy Spirit Guardian was an exceptionally difficult spell he had created and that its power had only become clear through his contract with Yomi.
• Hermione doubted Bell's relationship with Yomi, and Bell insisted that he loved Hermione and had no romantic interest in Yomi.
• Bell put his arm around Hermione and reminded her that they had agreed to become engaged at the previous year's Christmas Ball.

Hermione defended Yomi and warned Bell not to harm her, while reflecting on Yomi’s painful past. Nearly half a month later, Yomi trained Bell in Kendo at the Academy, where he suspected she was using Hermione to keep him in line.

• Hermione sympathized with Yomi’s tragic history and threatened Bell if he touched her.
• Yomi settled into life at the Academy, where she watched Quidditch and attended Bell’s daily training sessions.
• Yomi struck Bell during Kendo practice to help him improve, and Bell complained that she had hit him too hard.
• Yomi threatened to tell Hermione that Bell had molested her, and Bell suspected she had learned to exploit his weakness.

Bell trained in Kendo with Yomi, learning to use his physical advantages while defending against her attacks. After his wooden sword broke, Yomi explained how to judge its condition, and Shanna arrived to tease him.

• Bell healed Yomi’s forehead wound, then began a serious sparring session with her.
• Yomi critiqued Bell’s attacks and taught him to hold back some strength as he fought.
• Bell exchanged dozens of moves with Yomi, but she eventually broke his wooden sword and struck him on the forehead.
• Yomi explained that Bell should listen for damage to his sword and showed him how to break one into pieces.
• Shanna came outside and teased Bell about getting beaten up, while Bell blamed his broken sword for his loss.
• Bell noticed blood on Yomi’s chin and treated her injury.

Bell, Hermione, Shanna, and Yomi left training and discussed the upcoming Four Academy Tournament, which would select teams to represent each academy. Bell expected the exchange students to be allowed to compete, while Shanna eagerly hoped to face Ma Jingjing.

• Hermione took over treating Yomi after arriving, and Yomi endured the slow healing while worrying about Hermione’s distracted manner.
• Bell and the others headed from the suitcase toward the Dining Hall as the Academy buzzed with anticipation for the holiday and tournament.
• The chapter explained that Upper Academy students would form five-person teams, with internal matches selecting three teams to represent each academy in the Four Academy Tournament.
• Shanna asked Bell whether they could enter so she could compete against Ma Jingjing and prove herself.
• Bell said the higher-ups would notify them in the next few days, but he expected the exchange students would likely be invited.

Bell learned that his group could enter the Four Academy Tournament as a fifth party and skip the Preliminary Round. He told Shanna and Hermione the news, then recruited Roy and Bridget, who became excited until Roy worried that competitors might die.

• Dean Han approved Bell's group's participation as a fifth party and let them advance directly to the Main Tournament.
• Shanna celebrated the news, while Hermione eagerly asked Bell to confirm that they would skip the Preliminary Round.
• Bell explained why direct entry made sense and decided not to bring Yomi into the tournament as a contracted spirit beast.
• Bell told Roy and Bridget they could compete, and Roy nervously asked whether people could die in the tournament.

Bell refused to return to Britain for Christmas, explaining that China’s travel restrictions and his duties as Team Professor made the trip impractical. On New Year’s Day, he gathered everyone for a picnic, where Hermione and Shanna argued over whether a picnic needed tables and chairs.

• Bell reassured Roy and Bridget about the Four Academy Tournament’s safety, and they considered working for the Menethil Family after graduation.
• Bell’s mother Elena urged him to sneak back to Britain for Christmas, but Bell explained that the Nine Provinces Guardian Array blocked Portkeys and that leaving would be too risky.
• Bell finally persuaded Elena not to bring the family to China, since it was too late to apply for entry.
• Students stayed at the Academy for New Year’s Day, with many preparing for the Four Academy Tournament.
• Bell’s group prepared a picnic in a scenic clearing, but Hermione told Shanna that picnics did not need tables and chairs.
• Shanna refused to sit on the grass and teased Hermione for not bringing any food, leaving Hermione speechless.

Yomi, Shanna, and Hermione prepared a New Year picnic while Bell went to the Middle Academy to bring Luna. Bell returned with Luna and found Roy and Bridget arriving in conspicuously formal clothes, leaving them embarrassed by the difference in customs.

• Hermione argued with Shanna about cooking, while Shanna claimed she was a superb chef because Yomi and her House-elves could cook.
• Yomi laid out the picnic blanket and served lunch boxes she had prepared, and Shanna praised her cooking.
• Bell picked up Luna from the Middle Academy and found that her roommates treated her kindly despite her eccentric personality.
• Bell returned the Bena to Shanna and saw Roy and Bridget approaching in formal clothes that stood out among the Academy's plain robes.
• Bell reassured Roy and Bridget that their outfits simply reflected different customs.

After a New Year picnic helped Roy and Bridget feel at ease with Bell’s team, the Four Academy Tournament Preliminary Round began. Bell negotiated a future match between Ma Jingjing and Shanna, while Shanna became a sought-after strategist and urged her classmates to use dirty tactics to win.

• Bell hosted a New Year picnic for Roy and Bridget, who gradually relaxed and talked with the group about the tournament.
• Ma Jingjing confronted Bell over his team’s direct entry to the Main Tournament, and Bell promised to arrange a fight between her and Shanna.
• Ma Jingjing agreed to wait until the tournament or afterward to challenge Shanna, while Xiang Lanxian worried that a fight could injure her team’s Captain.
• Shanna became the Second Year Class One teams’ dog-headed strategist, advising classmates on opponents and tactics.
• Shanna urged Guo Yixin’s team to exploit Wang Wu’s upset stomach with stomachache curses, and Guo Yixin agreed to follow her plan.

Bell agreed to return to Britain with Hermione for Winter Break, but an invitation to the Spring Festival Celebration and a New Year’s transaction delayed their plans. Hermione insisted on accompanying him despite the possible danger.

• Hermione told Bell she missed her parents, and Bell agreed to travel with her to Britain during Winter Break.
• Bell said they might postpone their trip by a few days because he had been invited to the Spring Festival Celebration and had a transaction to handle on the First Day of the Lunar New Year.
• Hermione recognized the Spring Festival Celebration as a major Academy event after Ma Jingjing, Li Xin, and Wang Shouqiang’s teams secured the top qualifying positions.
• Hermione questioned Bell about his new information and worried he might bring back another Shikigami or spirit pet.
• Bell offered to let Hermione accompany him to the transaction and warned her there might be danger, and Hermione accepted.