In the Kingdom of Aburiria, a long-standing ruler grips power so tightly that the beginning of his reign is lost to memory. The nation languishes in poverty, with its citizens going hungry, while the ruler embarks on an egotistical project—a skyscraper named Marching to Heaven, envisioned to pierce the sky. Lacking funds due to the devalued Buri currency, he turns to the Global Bank for financial backing.

A Queue of Desperation

Amid the economic despair, a glimmer of hope arises with rumors of employment opportunities at Eldares Construction Company. Eager for work, Kamt seizes the chance and becomes the first to apply, but his qualifications fail to impress Tajirika, who dismisses him with humiliation. This public disgrace leaves Kamt simmering with anger and frustration. Observing this, Nyawra feels an inexplicable connection to Kamt, and they cross paths again that night. Disguised as beggars, they are thrown out of an upscale restaurant, Paradise, and find themselves pursued by police to Nyawra's apartment. Acting on impulse, Kamt scribbles a warning sign: "enter at your own risk," adorned with tokens of superstition, and signs it as a wizard. This act births his new identity—the Wizard of the Crow—deterring the police, who later return seeking guidance from him.

The Emergence of the Wizard

After the police depart, Kamt and Nyawra engage in an intriguing exchange. Nyawra surprises Kamt with a plastic snake, identical to one that had caused a stir earlier at Paradise. Their conversation deepens their mutual intrigue, though fear of the unknown holds them back from pursuing it further. The following day, as Nyawra heads to Eldares, Kamt remains behind, awaiting her return. During this, one policeman revisits, prompting Kamt to feign wizardry by consulting a mirror, which satisfies the officer's belief in his mystical prowess and assures his success. Soon, word of the Wizard of the Crow spreads far and wide.

The Madness of Tajirika

Back at her workplace, Nyawra observes her boss, Tajirika, hoarding Buri notes. Entrusted by the ruler to spearhead the Marching to Heaven project, Tajirika's paranoia mounts; he arms himself against imaginary threats. His transformation into a greedy ogre is palpable to his family, who witness his refusal to cleanse the hand that touched the ruler's, now clad in a protective glove. His descent into madness culminates in a visit to the acclaimed Wizard of the Crow, seeking sanity.

A Peculiar Cure

In a bizarre consultation, Kamt claims that Tajirika's affliction is a desire to become white, embarrassing the man into leaving behind sacks of worthless Buri notes as payment. Disgusted by the notes' foul odor, Kamt buries them, only for them to unexpectedly sprout trees yielding American dollars.

A Bold Protest

Meanwhile, Nyawra orchestrates a demonstration against the skyscraper during the Global Bank's visit. Her group, the Movement for the Voice of the People, stages an audacious protest, baring themselves in outrage and brandishing symbolic snakes at politicians. The ruler, enraged by this defiance, commands his "eyes and ears," Machokali and Sikiokuu, to apprehend the protest's mastermind.

The Rise of the Wizard's Reputation

As the Wizard of the Crow, Kamt finds himself inundated with seekers from across Eldares. His reputation grows as he gains repeat clientele, each visit reinforcing his own belief in his supposed powers. By offering vague assurances that enemies will meet their downfall, he inadvertently leads clients to confront their own flaws and fears, often revealing them as their own adversaries.

A Desperate Ruler

Frustrated by Sikiokuu's failure to secure a loan from the Global Bank, the ruler resolves to court the United States for aid. However, during the trip, he succumbs to...