After spending the last week supervising the local orphans on their first hunting trip, Zelos is nearly back in Santor. He's had to deal with another crazy carriage driver along the way, as well as a party of heroes, but now he can finally look forward to some peace and quiet.

Meanwhile, Ado's group is on a mission in beastfolk territory. Along the way, he meets an oddball reincarnator with a fanatical devotion to the beastfolk and butts heads with an invading hero.

Both Zelos and Ado's encounters with heroes give them an idea of what's really going on in the Holy Land of Metis. And the heroes, too, are forced to confront some hard truths that make them rethink their relationship with the powerful theocracy.

Back in Santor, Zelos's peace and quiet doesn't last long before he's once again whisked away-kidnapped this time, by some short, stout acquaintances with a penchant for building. But he just may discover a whole lot more than a few new construction methods...