Recaps

Blacksmith Gordon struggled with his anger over Count Grein's Barony’s defeat and worried about his family’s finances and his children’s education. At dinner, his wife asked whether they should move to Griffin Barony for better-paying work.

• Gordon heard tavern patrons discuss Count Grein's Barony’s defeat, the payment of two hundred thousand Gold Coins, and local gossip.
• Gordon returned home, greeted his wife and children, and listened as his wife urged him to save money for Bev’s schooling.
• Gordon divided the steak among his family and insisted that his son keep attending school despite the cost.
• Gordon’s wife said Griffin Barony was recruiting blacksmiths and other skilled workers at better pay and asked whether they should move there.

Gordon learned that Viscount Griffin was offering high wages, free family housing, and affordable schooling to recruit skilled workers in Nafu City. He abandoned a lucrative blacksmithing order and decided to move his family there, leaving to confirm the arrangements.

• Gordon angrily rejected his wife’s suggestion that their family leave Cosi City, insisting they had lived there for generations.
• At the blacksmith shop, Mellen told Gordon that Nafu City urgently needed mining tools and was offering generous benefits to recruit blacksmiths.
• Mellen described Viscount Griffin’s wealth, free housing and schooling for skilled newcomers, and the free loans available to Nafu City residents.
• Gordon stopped working on Mellen’s order, extinguished the forge, and declared that his family would move to Nafu City.
• Gordon told his wife what Mellen had said, and she agreed to prepare their belongings while Gordon went to Nafu City to find out more.

Gordon brought his family from Cosi City to settle in Nafu City, where they explored the city’s markets and school and experienced the Water Cloud Beast’s sudden street-cleaning rain. The family headed to their new house to change clothes, while Gordon continued to take in the city’s unusual services.

• Gordon finalized his residency contract at the Steward's Office, received a house key and travel money, and returned to Cosi City for his family.
• Gordon, his wife, and their children moved to Nafu City, where Bev happily learned that her parents would stop arguing.
• Gordon showed his family the eastern district’s shops and market, then introduced the children to the free school.
• A sudden downpour soaked the family, and residents explained that the Water Cloud Beast was cleaning the streets and that the hospital treated related colds for free.
• Gordon led his family to their assigned house so they could change out of their wet clothes.

Gordon and his wife arrived in Nafu City and watched Claire and Isaac demonstrate how to install magical streetlights. Claire then ordered Regan to organize workers to mine ore and build another town, aiming to make it a major source of income for Nafu City.

• Gordon and his wife saw a crowd gathered around Claire, Isaac, and the Minotaurs installing streetlights, and a local explained that the Viscount often appeared in Nafu City.
• Claire and Isaac demonstrated the streetlight installation process and taught the Minotaurs how to set the lamps in place.
• Claire explained to Isaac that she wanted streetlights throughout Nafu City and expected the mines to generate value soon.
• After the Minotaurs proved they could install the streetlights, Isaac returned to his Academy of Sciences to work on airships.
• Claire asked Regan about recruitment, then ordered him to gather people willing to mine ore and construction workers to build another town.

Claire brought Isaac to the site chosen for a new industrial town between four mines and explained how local ore processing could drive Nafu City's growth. He demonstrated that heated water could launch a stopper from a sealed tube, claiming the principle would solve the problem of transporting ore.

• Claire planned a town that would process ore into ingots and metal goods, creating jobs and profits while complementing Nafu City's economy.
• Isaac questioned the town's location because it was distant from the mines and lacked the Lixis Merchant Guild's costly Spatial Teleportation Arrays.
• Claire explained that he had chosen the midpoint between the mines for its access to all four sites and the outside, and said he had a solution to transportation costs.
• Claire heated water in a sealed test tube until the escaping steam shot out its stopper, then told Isaac the demonstration could solve the transportation problem.

Claire and Isaac established mining operations in a new town, where Isaac built a coal-powered Steam Engine that solved the ore transport problem. They returned to Nafu City after Regan reported that Shane had arrived, and Claire went to meet him.

• Claire organized housing and mining at the new town while merchants arrived to sell food and daily necessities.
• Isaac studied Claire’s Steam Engine designs and built a working locomotive, which the engineers installed and tested on a circular railway track.
• Isaac and the craftsmen quickly produced more Steam Engines as Claire planned ore and passenger transport for the mining sites.
• Claire and Isaac returned to Nafu City after Regan reported Shane’s arrival from the royal capital.
• Isaac left to begin building his airship, while Regan told Claire that Shane was waiting in the reception room.

Claire met Shane, received the 1.06 million Gold Coins earned from selling their Nightmare Flowers, and heard how the royal-capital price surge ended in a devastating crash. The royal family and major magic shop owners took over the remaining flowers at a discount to contain the fallout.

• Claire told Shane about the newly established town and the changes in Nafu City.
• Shane returned Claire's Purple Crystal Card with 1.06 million Gold Coins from the Nightmare Flowers.
• Shane explained that he sold their flowers at twenty Gold Coins each, then watched prices rise past eighty before they collapsed.
• Shane told Claire that nobles and merchants who borrowed heavily to buy Nightmare Flowers went bankrupt, and a baron jumped from a tower.
• Shane said Lady Sophia, Prince Albert, and his father took over the remaining Nightmare Flowers at thirty percent below the original price.

Claire discussed the harassment of Shane’s Tulip Shop and learned how Sirian had helped stop the troublemakers. She then persuaded Shane to open a tavern in Nafu City’s western district, offering him the land and favorable policies.

• Shane told Claire that troublemakers had falsely claimed the Tulip Shop’s dried shredded squid had made them sick and shouted outside to damage its reputation.
• Shane explained that Sirian had arranged for the troublemakers’ debtors to confront them, and the resulting fight ended with the troublemakers stabbed to death.
• Shane told Claire that Sirian had expanded his gang and joined the Knight Academy, and Claire gave Shane three Magic Bullets for him.
• Claire proposed that Shane establish an entertainment venue in Nafu City’s western district, and Shane agreed to open a tavern.
• Claire promised Shane the land and the most favorable policies for his tavern.

Claire showed Isaac a strange crystal that absorbed magic power and restored itself, then let him go test his newly completed airship. She later taught her students Cinderella, leaving them with the lesson to return lost property to its owner.

• Claire used Trade Points to add Martin, her first trading partner, and the girl who sold her the Black Seed as friends, then began another trade.
• Claire showed Isaac a pink crystal that shattered when struck and regenerated after absorbing magic power from a monster core.
• Isaac noticed the restored crystal magnified his excitement, but hurried off with ten mages to test-fly his airship despite Claire's warning about nearby Flying Magical Beasts.
• Claire declined to watch the test flight and went to teach the children at her school.
• Claire told the children Cinderella's story, and they concluded that anything found should be returned to its owner.

Claire hurried to Doctor Rona's clinic after Yuna reported that a fisherman had caught a mermaid, and found the wounded merman recovering there. Claire restrained the unconscious merman with a magical artifact and waited with Rona for her to wake.

• Yuna told Claire that her father had caught a mermaid, and Claire learned the injured merman had been taken to Doctor Rona's clinic.
• Claire flew to the clinic and persuaded the curious townspeople gathered outside to clear the entrance.
• Rona explained that the merman had a severe abdominal wound but was stable after treatment.
• Claire saw the unconscious merman and fastened a magical restraint around her wrists to prevent a possible attack.
• Rona joked that Claire should restrain the merman's feet, then remembered mermen had no feet, and Claire sat down to wait for her to wake.

Claire and Rona cared for the injured mermaid, who woke frightened and restrained in the sickroom. After Claire calmed her and removed her handcuffs, the mermaid remembered only the name Eve and a vague image of four islands to the east.

• Claire asked Rona about the magical tree, and Rona said it had begun flowering and should bear fruit again in about a month.
• A crash from the sickroom sent Claire and Rona rushing inside, where they found the mermaid awake and frightened among fallen fruit.
• Claire formed a Mental Connection with the mermaid and sensed her fear rather than hostility, then used it to reassure her.
• Claire unlocked the mermaid's handcuffs, and the girl said she remembered the name Eve but little else.
• Eve recalled seawater and four islands to the east as Claire asked where she had come from.

Claire left the amnesiac merfolk Eve in Rona’s care, then learned that crowds had gathered to see her after hearing Claire’s fairy tales about mermaids. Claire arrived at the hospital and found Eve living in a water vat, while Rona insisted the salted water made it suitable.

• Claire confirmed that the merfolk had lost her memory, left her at Rona’s hospital, and returned home to study magic.
• Rumors about the mermaid spread through Nafu City, drawing crowds to Rona’s hospital despite Claire’s warning not to visit without a reason.
• Regan told Claire about the crowd, and Claire realized Eve might have value as an attraction.
• Claire dispersed the onlookers and sent those who needed treatment to other clinics.
• Rona showed Claire Eve in a water vat and explained that she had added salt to the water.

Claire learned that Eve’s song could enchant listeners, then invited the amnesiac mermaid to stay in Nafu City and help him in exchange for fish. Eve agreed because she trusted Claire, while Rona also grew attached to her.

• Claire asked Eve whether she wanted to return to the sea, but Eve said she did not know where she would go.
• Eve sang for Claire and Rona, nearly enchanting Claire and leaving Rona entranced until Claire told her to stop.
• Claire asked Eve to stay in Nafu City and work for him, and Eve agreed because she thought he was a good person.
• Claire explained that her reward would be food, and Eve happily agreed to help in exchange for lots of fish.
• Rona offered Eve her hand, and Eve rubbed her cheek against it, inspiring Rona to earn money for a bigger tank.

Claire left Regan in charge of Nafu City and traveled to the royal capital, where she met Shane and arranged to see Sophia. At their meeting, Claire asked Sophia about the profits from Nightmare Flowers, then sat back down after Sophia admitted she had made a small profit.

• Claire instructed Regan to manage Nafu City, oversee Metallurgical Town, and recruit staff while she went to the royal capital.
• Claire visited the Tulip Shop, where Shane greeted her and became excited when she said she had come to make money.
• Claire asked Shane to arrange a meeting with Sophia, who sent the time and place within half an hour.
• Claire met Sophia at her restaurant and joked that she wanted to see her wearing the Emperor's New Clothes.
• Claire asked how much Sophia had earned from the Nightmare Flowers, and Sophia first claimed she had made nothing before admitting to a small profit.

Claire asked Sophia to open chain and magic stores in Nafu City, then used a story about a Mermaid Princess to explain how sharkfolk could attract customers. Sophia offered him one million Gold Coins for the sharkfolk, but Claire refused, saying they could create more value in his hands.

• Sophia told Claire she had killed the Archmage he introduced, believing she was solving a danger he faced.
• Claire rejected Sophia’s flirtation and asked her to open chain and magic stores in Nafu City.
• Sophia argued the stores would not be profitable because Nafu City lacked customers with enough purchasing power.
• Claire said local craftsmen could make Magic Artifacts and told Sophia a story about a Mermaid Princess to explain his plans for the sharkfolk.
• Sophia offered Claire one million Gold Coins for the sharkfolk, but he refused to sell them.

Claire persuaded Sophia to open two shops in Nafu City and help recruit other businesses, supporting Claire’s plan to attract tourists with mermaid stories. As Sophia departed, Claire reunited with Archmage Hughes and saw how deferential he was to Sophia, leaving her wary of Sophia’s easy agreement.

• Claire explained that she planned to use mermaid stories to draw visitors to Nafu City and asked Sophia to open shops there.
• Sophia agreed to establish two shops and offered to take Claire to a royal-family noble gathering so she could approach other business owners.
• Sophia reminded Claire to dress appropriately for the gathering before her carriage arrived.
• Archmage Hughes appeared and told Claire he had joined the August Family, but Sophia’s comment made him hurry to attend to her.
• Claire offered Sophia a gift for their next meeting, and Hughes silently thanked Claire before disappearing.
• After Sophia’s carriage left, Claire wondered whether Sophia’s agreement concealed another scheme and resolved to stay on guard.

Claire hired Wendy to perform stories from Claire’s storybook, offering her a monthly salary of one hundred Gold Coins. Wendy agreed after reading The Little Mermaid, and Claire asked her to compose music for it and give it a perfect performance.

• Wendy performed Hero Defeats the Evil Dragon for a crowd in the Royal Capital while Claire watched.
• Claire offered Wendy five Gold Coins and invited her to talk over a meal.
• Wendy feared Claire wanted to keep her as a mistress, but Claire explained that she was offering her a bard’s job.
• Wendy agreed to consider the job after reading Claire’s storybook and becoming absorbed in its stories.
• Wendy praised The Little Mermaid, and Claire asked her to compose music for the story and perform it well.

Claire asked Wendy to adapt her story so its quality could spread throughout the kingdom, giving her three days. She then prepared for the Little Princess’s birthday banquet by visiting Shane’s family tailor shop, where she learned the Queen’s celebrated outfit had been publicly valued at over one million Gold Coins despite being free.

• Claire asked Wendy to adapt her story for the kingdom, and Wendy promised to finish within three days.
• Claire asked Shane about royal-capital tailors and learned that Lady Sophia had invited her to the King’s banquet for the Little Princess’s sixteenth birthday.
• Claire urged Shane to open a tailor shop in Nafu City, but he said he would think about it and offered to take her to his family’s shop for free.
• A tailor measured Claire extensively and presented her with outfit sketches, and Claire chose the design she liked best.
• Shane warned Claire that the Queen had paid over one million Gold Coins for her outfit, then explained that his family had supplied it for free while publicly claiming that price.

Claire designed a Qipao as a gift for Sophia, and Sophia liked it so much that she decided to wear it to the royal banquet. Claire was left waiting while Sophia went upstairs to change, even though the banquet was about to begin.

• Claire asked Shane for advice on a gift for Sophia and decided to design her an outfit, paying only for the fabric.
• Claire sketched a Qipao and told Shane to choose fabric that cost little but could sell for a high price.
• The tailor shop delivered Claire's custom outfit, and she arrived at Sophia's residence with the Qipao gift box.
• Sophia came downstairs dressed for the banquet, accepted Claire's gift, and eagerly admired the Qipao.
• Sophia decided to wear the Qipao to the banquet and went upstairs to change, leaving Claire to wait.

Sophia brought Claire to a royal palace banquet, where Claire witnessed the extravagance of the capital’s elite and entered the hall beside her. Their arrival drew the nobles’ attention, especially toward Sophia.

• Sophia dressed in a purple qipao and invited Claire to accompany her in an elaborate carriage drawn by two Level Four Rainbow Snow Deer.
• The carriage carried Sophia and Claire through the cleared streets to the royal palace, where Claire marveled at its defenses and guarded entrance.
• At the palace entrance, Sophia learned Prince Albert had already arrived and linked arms with Claire before they entered.
• Sophia and Claire’s entrance silenced the banquet hall, and the nobles stared at Sophia and examined her unfamiliar companion before resuming their conversations.

At a royal palace gathering, Claire met Count Lamb, head of the Lixis Merchant Guild, and discussed her business ties with him. She hinted that Sophia planned to open magic shops and chain stores in Claire’s territory, leaving Lamb interested in the opportunity.

• Count Norton arrived with Shane and went to meet the king, leaving Shane to keep Claire company.
• Shane introduced Claire to several powerful nobles and merchant family leaders at the gathering.
• Count Lamb joined Claire and Shane, and Claire thanked him for selling her mine facilities and sending professionals to help operate the mine.
• Lamb asked how Claire knew Sophia, and Claire explained that Sophia had resold goods from her shop.
• Claire revealed that Sophia planned to open magic shops and chain stores in her territory.

Claire secured cooperation from Count Lamb and other merchants to supply Nafu City, then realized she had forgotten to prepare a gift for the Little Princess’s sixteenth birthday. She searched her Spatial Ring for something suitable and decided that storytelling might help her solve the problem.

• Claire revealed Sophia’s plans for Nafu City, and Count Lamb agreed to cooperate with her.
• Other merchants approached Claire to discuss business after learning that Sophia and the Ansier Family were involved.
• Claire asked Shane about Sophia’s dress and learned that a master tailor had replaced the fabric with a finer one without charging.
• Shane reminded Claire that the banquet was for the Little Princess’s sixteenth birthday, and Claire realized she had not prepared a gift.
• Claire searched her Spatial Ring for a suitable present, then said she could use her storytelling skills.

Claire prepared a last-minute birthday gift for Princess Irene before joining Shane at the banquet, where King Norris and several nobles presented their gifts. Shane realized his own outfit gift was nearly identical to his father’s, while Claire had yet to reveal what she made.

• Claire went to a private room to prepare a gift for Princess Irene, then returned to the hall just before the banquet began.
• King Norris welcomed the nobles and introduced Irene, whom Claire and Shane watched take the stage.
• Norris gave Irene a gemstone crown, and Lady Sophia presented her with Dreamstone earrings.
• Count Norton gave Irene a handmade outfit, and she said she would wear it at the National Day celebration.
• Shane told Claire that his gift was nearly identical to Norton's outfit, and Claire reassured him that at least she had prepared a gift of her own.

At Princess Irene’s birthday celebration, Claire gave her a pink heart-shaped crystal pendant and told a tragic love story to explain its meaning. Irene was moved by the tale, and the chapter ended with Claire presenting the pendant as a symbol of love and wishing Irene would find true love.

• Prince Albert gave Irene an enchanted pendant, while Sophia showed her dislike of him.
• Shane told Claire that Prince Albert’s failed business venture had cost Sophia a fortune and nearly provoked her to destroy his shops.
• Shane gave Irene his birthday present and introduced Claire as his business partner.
• Claire presented Irene with a pink heart-shaped crystal pendant and told her a story about Warner and Millie, whose love ended in tragedy before Cupid revived Warner.
• Claire explained that the pendant symbolized fragile love and wished Irene would find her true love.

Claire gave Princess Irene a pink crystal pendant and presented her with a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, then planned to market similar crystals through the Tulip Shop. In a carriage with Sophia, Claire discussed the crystal’s ability to amplify romantic feelings and left Sophia amused by her claim that money could bestow love.

• Claire gave Irene the pendant and told her a version of Romeo and Juliet, moving Irene and making her cherish the gift.
• Claire showed Shane that she had more pink crystal and proposed selling it as a new Tulip Shop product, while deciding to wait before launching it.
• After the banquet, Claire told Sophia that the business negotiations had gone well and explained why she had kept the mermaid story secret.
• Sophia asked to sell the crystals, but Claire refused and promised to send her one, saying supply would be limited to the Tulip Shop in the royal capital.
• Claire told Sophia that money could not buy love but could bestow it, and explained that the crystal amplified affection and courage.
• Sophia asked whether the crystal Claire gave her was larger or smaller than Irene’s.