Recaps

Claire asked Sophia to arrange for him to study at the Royal Capital Magic Academy, and she agreed in exchange for a favor. After Sophia left, Claire and Shane discussed her influence and intelligence as they headed to their carriage.

• Claire explained how he had inferred Sophia’s ties to the Magic Academy and asked her to help him study there.
• Sophia agreed to arrange Claire’s admission for the next day and said he owed her a favor.
• Outside the restaurant, Claire noticed the injured Beggar Boy, and Sophia explained how underground gangs used children to beg after they could no longer steal.
• After Sophia departed with her guards, Shane admitted he had been too intimidated to speak, while Claire criticized him for leaving the conversation to him.
• Claire told Shane that a relationship between two equally smart people would be exhausting, and Shane realized Claire was comparing his intelligence to Sophia’s.

Claire chose to save Sirian, a dying beggar who crawled toward her and begged for help. Sirian’s past revealed how the Razor Society had exploited and tortured him, and he lost consciousness after Claire approached.

• Sirian dragged himself across the road toward Claire despite his severed tendons and failing strength.
• Claire asked Shane whether they should save Sirian, then climbed down from the carriage to approach him.
• Sirian’s memories showed how he had been forced into the Razor Society as a child and made to steal for the gang.
• After saving money for years to escape, Sirian was caught, tortured, and left to die in an alley.
• Sirian saw Claire as his chance to survive, crawled toward her, and finally relaxed as his consciousness faded.

After Claire healed Sirian and gave him a revolver and twenty bullets, she sent him away to decide what he wanted to do. Sirian returned to the Razor Society headquarters and attacked its members, where a gunshot ended the confrontation with its Silver Rank leader.

• Claire and Shane treated Sirian’s severed tendons and severe injuries, and Sirian woke up healed in Claire’s shop.
• Sirian offered to serve Claire, but she told him she had saved him on a whim and did not need repayment.
• Claire demonstrated that her handgun could destroy a wooden bed and gave Sirian a revolver with twenty bullets before sending him away.
• Sirian reflected on his life, chose not to sell the weapon, loaded six bullets, and headed for the Razor Society headquarters.
• A Razor Society thug grabbed Sirian, so Sirian stabbed the man and slit his throat with a dagger.
• The Silver Rank leader confronted Sirian, and a gunshot rang out as the corpse hit the ground.

Claire entered the Magic Academy to visit its library and encountered Edith, who was recruiting members for her Astral Realm Society. After she rejected the invitation and advised Edith and Bell to focus on gaining strength first, Claire rode toward the library.

• Shane gave Claire her Magic Academy student card, and she rode the Wolf King through the south gate after the academy’s identity scanner verified her.
• Claire asked a student for directions to the library and met Edith, who invited her to join the Astral Realm Society.
• Claire declined Edith’s invitation, questioned whether freshmen could meaningfully study the Astral Realm, and pointed her toward the library.
• Edith argued with Bell, who wanted to join the society and help recruit members, but she rejected his offer because she thought he lacked genuine interest.
• Claire rode away, but Bell stopped her and asked why she had rejected Edith’s invitation; Claire said she was stronger than him.

Claire explained to Edith several ways of reaching other planes and recommended using summoning magic to enter the Necro Plane. After Edith left, Bell attacked Claire but was defeated by the Wolf King and sent away in disgrace.

• Edith stopped Bell from attacking Claire, and Claire asked why she was eager to explore the Astral Plane.
• Claire explained that ancient Planar Teleportation Arrays, worship of the Shadow Plane’s true gods, and summoning magic could lead to other planes.
• Claire described how summoned undead could help someone enter the Necro Plane and search for stable spatial rifts.
• Edith thanked Claire and left with her flyers, while Bell scolded Claire for sharing dangerous knowledge.
• Bell cast a fireball at Claire, but the Wolf King cut through it with a wind blade and pinned Bell to the ground.
• Claire had the Wolf King release Bell, then blasted him away with a gust and rode off.

Claire discovered Isaac’s detailed designs for a Flying Ship and other magical machinery in the academy library, then sought him out and offered him a place working for her. Isaac, discouraged by his mentor’s criticism, received his first strong encouragement and agreed to consider Claire’s proposal.

• Claire studied in the Magic Academy library and found Isaac’s notes describing a Flying Ship and other inventions powered by magic.
• Claire learned that Isaac was a fifth-year student at the Royal Capital Magic Academy and decided to recruit him for her viscountcy.
• Isaac lamented that his mentor had called his designs useless and planned to change his research direction.
• Claire found Isaac by the lake, praised his designs, and told him to work under her.

Claire convinced Isaac that his impractical Flying Ship design could inspire a cheaper Magic Airship, then persuaded him to leave the royal capital and join her in Nafu City. She ended by offering to show him her revolver.

• Claire met Isaac and praised his ideas while explaining that his Flying Ship design was impractical.
• Claire suggested using lighter-than-air gas and wind-element arrays to create a Magic Airship with far lower energy costs.
• Isaac recognized that the Magic Airship could fly and became excited about the possibility of building one.
• Claire invited Isaac to Nafu City, and after hesitating, Isaac agreed to go with her.
• Claire took out her revolver and promised to show Isaac another treasure.

Claire demonstrated her gun to Isaac, who became eager to transform it into a Magic Weapon capable of penetrating powerful magical defenses. They went to a blacksmith street and began working with the dwarf Teklin, leaving their ambitious weapon project underway.

• Claire fired her gun at a tree and explained to Isaac how its gunpowder-powered bullet worked.
• Isaac asked Claire to shoot him, and his Spell Ward blocked the bullet without harming him.
• Isaac proposed upgrading the gun with magical runes, parts, an acceleration array, enchanted bullets, and more explosive propellant.
• Isaac took Claire to a blacksmith street outside the Outer City and introduced her to the dwarf Teklin.
• Claire and Isaac entered Teklin's shop to begin making a Magic Weapon they hoped could kill an Archmage.

Claire, Isaac, and Teklin worked together to develop a more powerful magical firearm, with Claire creating a liquid propellant that increased its explosive force more than twentyfold. The chapter ended with Isaac inscribing the bullets and Claire explaining how to modify the casings.

• Isaac and Claire discussed cheaper materials for bullets, and Teklin began forging them and their casings.
• Claire bought explosive magic materials from a shop owned by Countess Sophia and started experimenting with propellants.
• After several failed tests, Claire developed a liquid propellant by combining two incompatible potions, increasing its power more than twentyfold.
• Claire explained how Audu Metal could keep the potions separated until magic power liquefied the metal and triggered the explosion.
• Isaac engraved inscriptions onto a bullet while Claire explained the casing modifications to Teklin, who agreed to help produce them.

Isaac, Claire, and Teklin completed a magically reinforced revolver with enchanted bullets and a Space Gem that provided endless ammunition. Isaac and Claire traveled to the Sunset Mountains to test the weapon, where they found the Azure Armored Rock Turtle.

• Isaac finished the penetrating, anti-magic bullets, and Teklin reforged the revolver with magical materials and components.
• Isaac embedded a Space Gem in the revolver’s cylinder so it could draw bullets from storage without reloading.
• Isaac and Claire decided to test the weapon on a Level Three magical beast, and Isaac found a quest targeting an Azure Armored Rock Turtle at Moonwater Pool.
• Claire carried Isaac on the Wolf King to the Sunset Mountains, where they carefully approached the pool without drawing other beasts’ attention.
• Isaac, Claire, and the Wolf King reached Moonwater Pool and spotted the massive Azure Armored Rock Turtle.

Claire and Isaac captured an Azure Armored Rock Turtle and tested Claire’s modified revolver on it. The shots devastated the turtle, demonstrating the weapon’s power against heavily defended targets.

• Isaac and Claire fought the Azure Armored Rock Turtle with spells, trapping it in a swamp and binding it alive.
• Claire loaded a Magic Bullet into his modified revolver and shot the turtle’s shell, leaving a massive, bloody wound.
• Isaac examined the damage and judged that the turtle was close to death, while Claire assessed the weapon’s power against powerful opponents.
• Isaac shielded the turtle, and Claire fired at its head, killing it instantly.

Claire and Isaac perfected their Magic Weapon, but Isaac told her he could not return to Nafu City because his mentor and the Magic Academy wanted him to stay. Claire left to confront the Academy’s leadership, determined to take Isaac with her.

• Isaac carved a Muting Array onto Claire’s handgun and explained how replacing its cylinder could reduce recoil.
• Claire had Teklin finish the gun and forge Magic Bullets, then spent the night studying in the Magic Academy library.
• Claire went to Isaac’s classroom the next morning, where he apologized and said his mentor would not let him leave for Nafu City.
• Claire promised to speak with the Academy’s higher-ups, then kicked the classroom door open and tossed Gold Coins to the gatekeeper for the damage.

Claire confronted Bell after he used his Red Scale Dragon Colt to pin down the Wolf King. The Wolf King defeated the colt, and Claire destroyed it with her Magic Handgun, leaving Bell stunned.

• Bell arrived on the Red Scale Dragon Colt and taunted Claire while the beast pinned the Wolf King beneath its hoof.
• The Wolf King overcame its fear of the colt’s Dragon Bloodline, bit its neck, and threw Bell from its back.
• The Wolf King badly wounded the Red Scale Dragon Colt, but Bell cast Water Wave and sent the wolf flying.
• Bell blamed Claire for the attack and demanded an explanation, so Claire shot the Red Scale Dragon Colt to pieces.
• Claire mounted the Wolf King, passed Bell, and told him that the shot was her explanation.

Claire sought Sophia’s help to free Isaac from the Magic Academy, agreeing to split their business profits equally in exchange. Sophia agreed, then asked Claire to sell fifty tons of Nightmare Flowers, leaving him stunned as she began to explain why she had so many.

• After leaving the Magic Academy, Claire went to Sophia’s mansion in the Inner City to ask for help taking Isaac away from the academy.
• Sophia negotiated over their business deal, and Claire agreed to a fifty-fifty split in exchange for her help.
• Sophia agreed to intervene at the Magic Academy without asking who Isaac was.
• Sophia asked Claire to sell her stock of Nightmare Flowers, and he learned she had fifty tons.
• When Claire asked where the flowers came from, Sophia said there was a reason and began to explain.

Claire helped Sophia devise a plan to inflate demand for her surplus Nightmare Flowers and sell them to speculators before the market collapsed. Sophia agreed to arrange Isaac’s release within three days, while choosing to keep playing the risky scheme.

• Sophia told Claire that a rumored ceasefire in the Blazing Flame Plane threatened to leave her with more than thirty million Gold Coins’ worth of perishable Nightmare Flowers.
• Claire proposed creating a false market bubble by buying up the royal capital’s Nightmare Flowers, spreading rumors of a powerful alchemist’s discovery, and selling Sophia’s stock to eager speculators.
• Sophia understood Claire’s plan and warned that she wanted to keep playing, despite Claire’s caution that the bubble could become uncontrollable.
• Sophia promised to meet with the Magic Academy’s higher-ups and arrange Isaac’s release within three days.
• After Claire left, Sophia relaxed on the sofa and called her an interesting little fellow.

Claire and Shane planned to profit from the rising price of Nightmare Flowers while recruiting skilled people for Nafu City. Before heading to the Magic Academy, Claire accepted Sirian’s pledge and gave him resources to build his gang into a force in the royal capital.

• Claire told Shane about Sophia’s plan to sell her Nightmare Flowers and instructed him to buy once the price reached ten Gold Coins, then sell at twenty without chasing higher prices.
• Claire gave Shane her Purple Crystal Card to invest and asked him to find apprentice or junior mages and skilled craftsmen for Nafu City.
• Claire renamed the iodized salt shop the Tulip Shop, joking that she might someday become Duke Tulip.
• Sirian returned Claire’s handgun and told her he had taught himself the common language and arithmetic, defeated the gang that had exploited him, and founded a small gang.
• Claire accepted Sirian’s pledge, gave him most of her spare bullets, and told him to develop his forces and seek Shane’s help if he encountered problems.

Claire prepared to return to Nafu City after recruiting staff and arranging business in the royal capital. She gave Sirian cultivation manuals, secured Isaac’s agreement to come with her, and left Shane to manage the Nightmare Flower scheme.

• Claire gave Sirian a Battle Aura Cultivation Method and an ancient manual, and Sirian vowed to grow strong enough to help her.
• After Claire left, Sirian threatened an underling who asked about her and kept watch as she departed.
• Isaac told Claire that his mentor had approved his move to Nafu City, and Claire asked him to recruit Teklin by offering double his current pay.
• Shane reported that Sophia’s people had bought up the royal capital’s Nightmare Flowers, and Claire told him to wait for rumors to spread and withdraw once their investment doubled.
• Shane said Sirian had returned the ancient book and appeared to have begun cultivating Battle Aura; Claire told Shane to help him if he ever needed it.
• Claire announced that she would return to Nafu City the next day and leave the royal capital’s affairs to Shane.

Claire left the royal capital with a group of recruits and headed for Nafu City, then used her trade panel to meet Martin, a wizard from a world with a flawed magic system. She offered him a meditation method, but rejected his proposed trade goods until he presented a glowing blue lantern.

• Claire left the royal capital with a genius from the Magic Academy, a dwarven blacksmith, skilled technical personnel, and a Level Two Dragon Blood Magic Beast, then set out for Nafu City.
• Claire opened a trade and met Martin, who offered a potion for serious external injuries; she countered by showing him an Advanced Healing Potion.
• Claire demonstrated effortless spellcasting and learned that Martin’s world’s incomplete wizard methods consumed life force when used.
• Claire offered Martin a Basic Meditation Method to address the flaws in his world’s cultivation methods.
• Martin showed Claire his treasures, but she rejected his Magic Crystal and Curse Skull before he presented a faintly glowing blue glass lantern.

Claire traded for the Nether Spirit Lamp and discovered that ghostification let her perceive an entrance to the Spirit World, though she could not reach it. She returned to Griffin Barony, saw signs that merchant traffic had increased, and looked forward to seeing how Nafu City had changed.

• Claire traded with Martin for the Nether Spirit Lamp and declined his friend request because she lacked Trade Points.
• Claire tested the lamp, confirmed ghostification caused no harm, and transformed her whole body into a ghostly phantom.
• Claire perceived a vortex-like entrance to the Spirit World before ending her ghostification.
• Claire returned to Griffin Barony and saw the bandits' corpses displayed beside a notice praising her bravery.
• Claire noticed more merchant caravans on the road and prepared to see what had changed in Nafu City.

Claire returned to Nafu City just as the Water Cloud Beast egg in her room was hatching. The creature chose Claire as its master, and the chapter left her playing with the mischievous cloud-like beast alongside Regan, Isaac, and Teklin.

• Regan told Claire that the blue egg had begun trembling and was expected to hatch soon.
• Claire introduced Regan to Isaac and Teklin, then hurried with them to the hospital where Rona was watching the egg.
• The Water Cloud Beast hatched in a flash of white light, and Claire stepped forward before it could choose someone else as its master.
• The newly hatched beast flew into Claire's arms, while Isaac and Teklin failed to coax it away from her.
• The Water Cloud Beast drenched Regan with a small rain shower before returning to Claire, who pinched its cheek as it made a pitiful face.

Claire’s Water Cloud Beast showed a special attachment to her, while Teklin and Isaac helped her upgrade the salt and MSG production machinery in Nafu City. After working through the night, they finished the renovations and went to sleep.

• The Water Cloud Beast favored Claire and responded warmly when she reestablished a Mental Connection with it.
• Claire showed Teklin and Isaac around Nafu City and took them to see the salt-making machines at the Salt Factory.
• Teklin and Isaac eagerly agreed to improve the machines, and Claire sent the workers home for a paid day off so they could begin.
• Claire explained the machinery to Isaac while Teklin forged components, and they upgraded the salt production equipment with more effective formations and inscriptions.
• Claire, Teklin, and Isaac also renovated the MSG machines and added two production lines, finishing the work by dawn before returning to the Baronial Manor to sleep.

Claire took a Dragon Blood Colt to the military camp to train the Gale Wolves not to fear dragon bloodline beasts. The Wolf King attacked the colt and helped the wolves overcome their fear, leaving Claire to stop them before they killed the valuable animal.

• Claire discussed the town's new accommodations and blacksmith shop with Regan, while the Academy of Sciences was still being arranged.
• Claire rode to the military camp with the Dragon Blood Colt, and its presence made the Gale Wolves collapse in fear.
• Claire had the Wolf King attack the colt, showing the wolves that it could be beaten.
• The Gale Wolves regained their courage and joined the Wolf King in attacking the colt.
• Claire stopped the wolves before they killed the colt, which she intended to sell for more than twenty thousand Gold Coins.

Claire’s training of the Dragon Blood Colt was interrupted when Regan reported that rivers across the viscountcy had suddenly dried up. Claire inspected a village riverbed and began investigating the source of the water loss, leaving the crisis unresolved.

• The Dragon Blood Colt recalled its privileged upbringing as the Wolf King and its pack chased it down during training.
• The wolf pack brought the battered colt back to Claire, and Hant said the knights would take it to Rona to be healed.
• Regan told Claire that rivers in multiple villages had dried up, threatening the crops that depended on irrigation.
• Claire rode with Hant and the knights to inspect a village river, where the riverbed held only a few shallow pools.
• Claire ordered Regan to bring the kingdom’s map and Isaac so they could investigate where the rivers originated.

Claire helped villagers improve their water-carrying efforts after the river dried up, but the wells could not meet the crops’ needs. The Water Cloud Beast emerged from a well transformed into a raincloud, and Claire ordered it to bring the rain over the farmland.

• Claire learned that the crops risked withering without irrigation, and the village chief organized villagers to draw water from the wells.
• Claire carved shoulder poles for the villagers, used magic to fill buckets, and sent a cart of water toward the farmland.
• The Water Cloud Beast sensed Claire’s concern, surveyed the villagers, and plunged into a well.
• Claire prepared to investigate after hearing a rumble, then watched the Water Cloud Beast emerge as a large black storm cloud.
• The Water Cloud Beast began raining over the village, and Claire told it to move over the farmland.

Claire used the Water Cloud Beast to water the farmland, then investigated why the rivers supplying her territory had dried up. She sent three knights upstream to find the cause, while the possibility of a costly water-plane channel remained unresolved.

• Claire's Water Cloud Beast made rain over the farmland, then dumped its remaining water on Isaac and fell asleep after Claire let him pinch its cheeks.
• Isaac proposed opening a channel to the water Elemental Plane, but admitted that only an Archmage could create one and that maintaining it would be expensive.
• Regan brought Claire a kingdom map, and she traced three rivers through her territory to their upstream region in Count Grein's Barony.
• Claire concluded that the rivers' drying up must have an upstream cause and asked Kellan to investigate one river.
• Claire sent two more knights to follow the other rivers and ordered them to avoid danger and return with a report.