Light Novel Volume 20/Summary

Chapter 1: Future Plans and Cliff's Troubles.
Rudeus reviews his discussion with Orsted where they came up with 3 courses of action. The first is to use the Rude Mercenary Company for intelligence gathering. The second is to make connections with influential people with political power and warn them of the war that will occur in 80 years. Examples include Ariel, the next queen of Asura Kingdom and Cliff, the grandson of the Pope of the Milis religious order. The third is to gather warriors who will help Orsted to fight Laplace in his place. They plan to gather those whose fate is already to fight Laplace and who won't easily become Hitogami's disciple, such as Ogre God, Dwarf God, disciples of Water God Style and Sword God Style, North God Karuman III, Death God Randolph, and Ruijerd. Rudeus considers the fact that Hitogami will likely try to influence people within Rudeus's organization and disrupt their plans. Rudeus reasons that since Hitogami is limited only 3 disciples, the plan is to have a large enough organization that the effect of 1 or 2 betrayals doesn't cause significant disruption to their plans. Rudeus brings up with Orsted the need for a method of communication when they are separated. Orsted suggests creating a device similar to the Seven Great World Powers stone monuments and adventurer guild cards. Orsted intends to build the communication device himself. Lastly, Rudeus wants a method for transporting his Magic Armor Mark 1, which is quite bulky. He plans to use summoning magic, but he is currently unable to summon inorganic matter. Rudeus hopes that with some practice, he will be able to do this.

Rudeus visits Cliff. Cliff and Elinalise were having sex earlier in the day, when Rudeus tries to visit. Cliff has a haggard appearance when he greets Rudeus, which has been the case since his child was born. Elinalise greets Rudeus while breastfeeding her baby. Cliff reveals that he has received a letter from his grandfather in Milis. The letter expresses how the grandfather cares for Cliff's well-being and looks forward to Cliff's return; the letter also warns Cliff that there is conflict within the Milis religious order and that Cliff should prepare himself for this if he should return. Cliff indicates that his initial intention was to return to Milis after graduating and that he was prepared to deal with the scheming within the Milis religious order. However, now that Cliff has a family, he is concerned for the well being of his son Clive, as the Milis religious order readily targets the weak and Cliff isn't confident that he can protect his son. Furthermore, Cliff's grandfather is still unaware that Cliff has married an elf and Cliff worries about the scandal this might trigger, as some factions of the Milis religion persecute anyone who isn't human. Therefore, Cliff is conflicted. On one hand, he wants to return home, but on the other, he realizes that he would be exposing his wife and child to danger, and because of his wife's elf heritage, his grandfather might be put in danger as well. Rudeus doesn't know what the right decision is, either. Rudeus offers for Cliff to join Orsted's faction. Cliff would receive Rudeus's and Orsted's support and protect Cliff's family. In return, Cliff would prepare for Laplace's revival. Rudeus explains the plan in detail to Cliff and about their plan to prepare for the battle with Laplace 80 years in the future. Rudeus feels he's offering Cliff a good deal. Cliff asks for more time to think about the offer. Although Rudeus is confused as to why Cliff doesn't agree right away, he respects the request for more time to decide. Cliff plans to give Rudeus an answer at the graduation ceremony, which is in 2 months.

Chapter 2: The Zanoba Store.
Rudeus visits Zanoba. As Zanoba is no longer a prince, he has sold off his royal possessions to raise money and bought a house near Rudeus. He lives there with Ginger and Julie. Rudeus pays Zanoba a salary for research and development on the magic armor. Rudeus enters Zanoba's home, to find Zanoba and Julie making dolls together. Rudeus asks Zanoba to resume their project to produce and sell Ruijerd dolls. Rudeus hopes that this will allow him to more easily find Ruijerd, partly so that he can recruit Ruijerd in the fight against Laplace, and partly to simply meet Ruijerd again. Another motivation for resuming the production of the figures is to draw in craftsmen, who may also have ideas for improving the Magic Armor, whose development has stalled. Zanoba and Julie agree to start mass producing Ruijerd figures.

Chapter 3: Cliff and the Magic University Student Council.
Cliff visits the staff at the university and submits his thesis, "Tools that suppress curses". The staff at Ranoa University are enthusiastic. They feel this research is going to be recorded in the history books. However, the top graduates are already decided and so although his thesis was the best of that season, Cliff will not be recognized as a top graduate. Cliff doesn't mind this. In the past, he may have thrown a tantrum, but over the years he has changed and no longer feels the need to have the title of the top graduate. Still, Cliff is dissatisfied because his thesis is only on "Suppression" and not "Removal",

He wants to return to Milis, but he doesn't want to endanger his family. He thinks on Rudeus's proposal of join Orsted, He knows that almost all his growth was thanks to Rudeus, but for some reason he doesn't like this fact. He never doubted that he himself was a genius, but when he says that phrase, he feels better about himself.

When he leaving the university, he finds Norn and the student council in a discussion over a Wraith who was draining the mana of the students. Norn is conflicted, as there aren't any adventurers or priests available with exorcism magic to defeat the monster, but she doesn't want to ask her brother for help. Cliff decides to help Norn. Together with the student council, they go to the basement warehouse. This warehouse has several relics. Due to a cleaning proposed by Norn, someone possibly destroyed the old seal which sealed the Wraith. The group finds the wraith and start to fight. The wraith controls various skeletons, whose skill is proportional to the skill of the person while they were alive. The student council group starts to fall apart. Cliff uses his magic eye, finds the weak point of the wraith and defeat the wraith with his magic. They discover that the wraith was born because hundreds of years ago, a teacher locked some students in a room, who ended up dying. The teacher then sealed the room.

Cliff and the student council make an honorary funeral for the deceased students. Cliff asks Norn why she didn't ask Rudeus for help. She answers that she wanted to do everything by herself, as much as possible. They then talk about their future plans. Cliff asks Norn if she will ask Rudeus for help in the future. She responds that she wants to use the knowledge that she's gained at school and to see her own limits. Cliff thanks Norn and in turn, she also thanks Cliff for helping her for all those years.

Lying in his bed at night, Clive sees the face of Elinalize, and remembers when he first met her. Although she was different than what he expected, she also was more beautiful than expected. They talk and Cliff decides to walk with his own feet and to only ask for Rudeus's help only if necessary, as he don't want to grow dependent.

Chapter 4: Cliff and Zanoba's Graduation.
In the two months before the graduation ceremony, Rudeus and Zanoba worked on setting up their first store front. They were supported with advice from a member of their mercenary group, who used to own a store but failed. Rudeus reflects on how he was hesitant to accept advice from someone who failed, but decided to give him a chance. They set up their shop as a small warehouse in the outskirts of the workshop district. The small warehouse has enough room to carry their inventory, and it has an associated store front.

At the graduation ceremony, Cliff and Zanoba are lined up with the rest of the graduates. Zanoba was allowed to graduate despite recently dropping out, since he 's a special student and Vice Principal Jinas was accommodating. There are about 500 graduates. The student council, led by Norn, are present as well. Brooklyn von Eruzais, a graduate from the royalty of Neris Dukedome, was recognized at the ceremony as a Graduate representative. Rudeus sees Cliff, who has a listless face. Rudeus notes that Cliff in the past would have been angry at not being chosen as representative. After all, Cliff's achievements at Ranoa overshadows all the other graduates. He achieved advanced rank in all four attack magics, advance rank in healing magic, advanced rank in detoxification magic, intermediate rank barrier magic, and advanced rank exorcism magic. On top of that, there is his thesis on suppressing curses. Rudeus looks closer at Cliff''s face and recognizes that he looks troubled. Rudeus speculates that this is because Cliff still hasn't decided on whether to accept Rudeus' s offer to join Orsted.

After the graduation ceremony, Rudeus meets with Zanoba and congratulates him. Zanoba notes that although he thought the graduation ceremony would be just an annoyance, he actually enjoyed it. The graduation representative, Brooklyn von Eruzais, introduces himself to Rudeus and challenges him to a duel. Brooklyn acknowledges that he was only recognized as a graduation representative due to his family's influence and that his test results were always second to Cliff. Brooklyn has wanted to test his strength against Rudeus ever since he defeated Badigadi in one hit. Brooklyn explains that when he returns to his home country, he will inherit a position where he is responsible for his subordinates and so will not have the opportunity to test his own strength at his own convenience. Rudeus agrees to the duel.

Rudeus easily defeats Brooklyn. Brooklyn seems to have know this was how it was going to go, and graciously accepts his loss. Other graduates then gather and challenge Rudeus to duels as well. After that, Rudeus dueled with about 20 people. They all left feeling satisfied. The duels weren't tiring for Rudeus, but Zanoba, who was the referee, was tired. They then go meet with Elinalise and Cliff, who were watching the duels from the rooftop. Rudeus congratulates Cliff on his graduation. Rudeus asks Cliff what his plans are. Cliff states that he will stay with his family for the next year, at least until Clive stops breastfeeding. As it takes two years to travel from Sharia to the Holy Land of Milis, Cliff wants to return home two years after graduation, as he feels obligated by a sense of duty. Cliff plans to use the teleportation circles to shorten the travel time. In terms of joining Orsted's company, Cliff declines for now. He wishes to climb the ranks of the Milis order with his own strength, without Orsted's support. Rudeus understands. Rudeus is reminded of the people who challenged him to a duel earlier. It is the desire to test one's own ability. Once he stands at the top of the Milis order, Cliff will become Rudeus and Orsted's associate. After one year, Cliff will leave his family behind for an indeterminate period of time, until he is at the top. Although not happy, Elinalise has accepted Cliff's decision. Rudeus is conflicted. By respecting Cliff's decision, Rudeus risks having Cliff being in a position where he will be murdered, meaning that he will lose his connection to the Holy Milis Kingdom as well as the person best at studying curses. But Rudeus also acknowledges that by allowing him to struggle alone, this may spur personal growth in Cliff. Rudeus decides to respect Cliff's decision. Rudeus thinks to himself that it may be three years before Cliff rejoins them. In the meantime, Rudeus plans to get in touch with Ariel, and increase their mercenary force. Cliff and Rudeus finish their serious conversation. They all go celebrate Cliff and Zanoba's graduation.

Side Story - A Country Hick Goes to the City.
Information to be added later on.

Side Story - Coming-of-Age Ceremony.
Information to be added later on.

Chapter 5: And What Results From This.
Information to be added later on.

Chapter 6: And To Milishion....
Information to be added later on.

Chapter 7: Cliff's Return Home.
Information to be added later on.

Chapter 8: Latreia Residence.
Information to be added later on.

Chapter 9: Milis Religious Organization Headquarters.
Information to be added later on.

Chapter 10: Meeting with the Pope, and....
Information to be added later on.