Zam heads back to his company, recalling the Holy Sister’s order to capture Light alive. He wonders if Light is really that valuable. When he arrives at his hideout, he expects Light to have fallen into a trap but instead finds his men fast asleep.
Meanwhile, at Bu’s workshop, Ivil apologizes for dragging Light into their problems. Light doesn’t mind, saying Monica and her captors were after him anyway. Ivil then announces that he is cutting ties with the Blackbird Merchant Group. This will make them lose all their income, but he insists that safety comes first.
Monica comes downstairs, despite her mother telling her to rest. She asks if her father plans to stop making weapons. Ivil replies that he can’t—he needs to find a new buyer. He explains that weapons are different from other forged goods; they have a special value. He wants Monica to understand this. He also says that stopping weapon production would mean closing the workshop entirely, and after 25 years of blacksmithing, he takes pride in his work. He refuses to compromise.
Monica then asks if he’s really okay with his weapons being used for evil. This question drains her energy. Her mother suggests she rest and continue the discussion later. Monica reluctantly agrees.
Since it’s already late, Ivil suggests Light stay overnight at the workshop. Light hesitates, but after some encouragement, he agrees. He checks with Aya, who is drowsy and simply tells him to accept.
Later, Monica’s mother leads Light and Aya to their room. As they walk, Light comments that the workshop seems to be thriving. Monica’s mother happily explains that everyone there admires Ivil and dreams of working for him forever. Light teasingly asks if she also makes weapons. She laughs, saying she is just a housewife and stays out of Ivil and Monica’s disputes. Light disagrees, noting that Monica talks just like her mother, meaning she does have an influence. He tells her to be more confident, and his words clearly touch her.
Later, Light finds Monica standing alone, gazing into the distance. He asks if she is feeling better. She says the sleeping powder has worn off and asks about Aya. Light replies that Aya is still asleep, exhausted from waiting outside while he rescued her. Monica says Aya is a good girl.
Light then notices something in Monica’s hand. She reveals it is the first dagger she ever forged. She recalls that when her father saw it, he told her she had a natural talent for blacksmithing. His rare praise made her very happy. Light isn’t surprised, believing she has been skilled since childhood.
Monica explains that when she gained the Super Forge skill, she thought she was destined to be a blacksmith. But now, she isn’t so sure. Light remarks that she clearly respects her father. She agrees, saying he taught her many skills and expanded the workshop by training students.
She admits that, at first, blacksmithing was just about getting praise, making people happy, and earning money. It was something she enjoyed. But after her grandmother died, she realized it was much more. By then, many of her swords were already in use, and she became afraid to forge more. That’s why she can’t stay in the same workshop as her father.
Monica then asks Light if he has ever killed someone. He admits that he has—undead beings who were once human. At first, he doubted himself, but he chose not to hesitate in order to protect Aya.
Monica confesses that she is unsure if swords are good or evil. She asks Light if he wields his sword for righteousness. He says he does, but adds that his idea of good may differ from hers. He then asks if she believes it is right for an adventurer to fight enemies. Though unsure, Monica admits she admires people who work hard to achieve their dreams.
At the Blackbird Merchant hideout, Doug wakes up in chains and angrily demands an explanation. Zambo tells him that this is exactly how he found him and asks if Doug plans to do anything after such humiliation. Doug declares that he won’t stay silent, and Zambo responds that he already has a plan—they will act at dawn.
The scene shifts to the morning, where Alo wakes Light, announcing that breakfast is ready. Light heads downstairs and tries to sit at the dining table, but Monica’s little brother stops him, saying the seat next to him is reserved for Monica. Their mother explains that it is her designated seat, kept open for her return. Light asks where Monica is, and her mother assumes she is in her room, asking Light to bring her breakfast after they eat.
Later, Light and Aya bring Monica her breakfast and find her working in the garden. Monica explains that she wants to make up for worrying her parents the day before. Since she doesn’t feel like going to the workshop, she’s tending to the yard instead. Light asks if they are growing anything, and she replies that they are, but the harvest is poor. Intrigued, Light inspects the garden and uses his Fruit Master skill to encourage the plants to grow.
Surprised, Monica asks if that was a skill. Light confirms that it was his Fruit Master ability. She then asks how he managed to put the Blackbird Merchants to sleep the previous day. He explains that it was another skill, adding that Fruit Master allows him to eat as much fruit as he wants. Skeptical, Monica remains unconvinced, but before he can explain further, a loud noise interrupts them.
They rush to the workshop and find it under attack by the Blackbird Merchants. Monica demands to know what Zambo has done, and he smugly replies that he zapped them because they wouldn’t let him through. Then, in a shocking move, he zaps her father right in front of her and tells Light to take the fight outside.
Outside, Light summons his Sleep Fairy, commanding it to put Zambo to sleep. However, Zambo wraps himself in his Lightning Armor, nullifying the sleep powder’s effects. He boasts that he’s going to destroy both Light and the workshop, then launches an attack with crackling lightning. Aya observes that his ability, Thunder Charge, allows him to gather lightning around himself and release it in bursts.
Zambo strikes the workshop again, forcing Light to take a more aggressive approach. He dismisses the Sleep Fairy and orders Monica and Aya to step back. Zambo sneers, saying Light will pay for breaking the expensive doors at his hideout. Light counters that it was his own fault for kidnapping Monica. Zambo argues that he needs Monica’s talent to forge high-quality weapons from low-grade materials, believing she can create something far better than the makeshift swords he has now. In frustration, he stomps on his current sword, calling it worthless garbage.
Monica protests, reminding him that craftsmen put a lot of effort into making those weapons. But Zambo dismisses her, saying that as a merchant, he doesn’t get attached to his merchandise. Light tells him to step aside, but Zambo refuses, demanding that he and Monica surrender to avoid further destruction. Light declares that he will capture Zambo and hand him over to the Security Bureau, then charges at him.
Zambo dodges quickly, and Light retrieves a sword from the ground, determined to protect the workshop and his weapon. However, Zambo’s lightning barrier prevents Light from getting close. Undeterred, Zambo hurls metal projectiles at Light. Although Light manages to deflect some, he still takes damage. Curious, he asks what the projectiles are made of.
Zambo reveals that they are metal balls and declares that he won’t make victory easy. He launches another attack, and Light, unable to predict their movements, suffers more injuries.
Suddenly, Monica gets an idea and calls Aya over, asking her to analyze the metal balls. Aya examines one and confirms that they are made of iron. Acting quickly, she uses her skill to craft an object and tosses it to Light, instructing him to use it.
When Light catches the object, he immediately recognizes it as Monica’s signature frying pan. At first, he wonders if she’s suggesting making pancakes, but she quickly clarifies that it’s meant to catch the iron balls. Before he can fully grasp her meaning, Zambo resumes his assault. This time, however, the metal balls stick to the pan.
Monica explains that she enchanted the frying pan with an ability to attract iron, surprising Zambo. However, the pan still conducts lightning, injuring Light in the process. He reassures Monica that he’s used to being hit by the metal balls, but she notices that his sword is chipped and won’t hold up much longer. Knowing he needs a stronger weapon but unable to forge one herself, she watches as Light is thrown against a wall beside her.
Light instructs Aya and Monica to retreat while he holds off Zambo until the Security Bureau arrives. Determined to protect the workshop, he charges at Zambo again. Watching him fight, Monica wonders if there’s truly nothing more she can do. Recalling their conversation the night before, she urges Aya to come with her, hoping they can come up with a plan.
Meanwhile, far away at the West Yumba Plateau, Lena arrives at her final stop, the Blue Deer Station. The carriage driver informs her that this is as far as he can take her, and she’ll have to continue on foot. He seems surprised to see a young girl traveling alone, but Lena explains that she has urgent business.
Noticing a large crowd, the driver mentions that it’s the season of the Athena Fairy Festival and asks if she’s here for the event. Lena replies that she’s only searching for someone, then sets off alone, hopeful that she will find Ratina.
Back at the battle, Light charges at Zambo once more but is stopped by his crackling lightning barrier. Zambo then decides to raise the stakes by forming a weapon—a sword made entirely of compressed lightning. The sheer power of the weapon forces Light to momentarily fall back.
When Light resumes his attack, he’s surprised to find that the lightning sword feels as solid as steel. Smirking, Zambo explains that even formless lightning can become hard when compressed tightly. Shocked by this revelation, Light realizes that Zambo has an edge in a sword fight. However, when Light swings again, his own blade slices right through Zambo’s lightning sword.
Seizing the moment, Zambo counters with a swift attack. He boasts that his blade is a fusion of lightning and steel, meaning whether or not it cuts depends entirely on Light’s own actions. Determined to win, Light pushes his Sword God skill to its absolute limit and attacks again.
However, Zambo skillfully uses his martial arts to deflect Light’s strikes, making him seem almost untouchable. Refusing to back down, Light swings wildly, but every attack is blocked. Realizing he needs another tactic, he uses the wind pressure from his sword swings to push Zambo backward, momentarily sending him flying.
Angered, Zambo gets serious and summons a powerful lightning beast named Juvitus. He sends the beast charging at Light, who tries to disperse it with gusts of wind, but his efforts are futile. Struggling to keep the creature at bay, Light is caught off guard when Zambo suddenly strikes from behind with his lightning blade, knocking him down.
Meanwhile, hidden behind a workshop window, Monica tells Aya that she is determined to save her father and the others—and that she will forge a new sword for Light.
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