The Author's POV

-Fuuua!

White steam rose in the air as I stepped out of a capsule.

"khh..."

Groaning out loud, I frowned and massaged my forehead. Squinting my eyes I softly mumbled to myself.

"...no wonder there is a time limit for using the virtual time regressor"

The reason why I was massaging my forehead was because I was currently experiencing a mild migraine..

..and I believe that the migraine I was experiencing was probably due to the fact that I had just used the time regressor machine that was accessible by everyone in the dorm. With the machine injecting neuron-enhancing substances into my body, in order to slow down time, the neurons inside of my brain were being enhanced and stimulated in a way that everything would flow so fast inside of my brain that it would feel like time itself had slowed down.

...still, it wasn't a pleasant experience.

Honestly, the reason why I tested the time regressor machine today was because Leo and Ram were still in the middle of their lessons and I had nothing to do...and, wow.

Just wow.

Only after using the time regressor machine for myself that I finally understood why it was so coveted by Gerrard and the others...it was simply a cheat code.

I only spent an hour there but it felt as if I had stayed there for a whole day. Though it didn't sound like much, on that one day I spent in the machine, I constantly practiced all of my arts without any distractions.

One full day of training without getting tired nor losing focus...it was simply absurd. With it, not only did I improve my arts by a lot, but I also managed to consolidate most of the knowledge that I had learned this morning from Donna.

As of right now, my [Keiki style], [Ring of vindication], and [Drifting steps] were one step closer to breaking through the greater realm of mastery. A huge step for me.

Once I reached the greater realm of mastery for my sword arts, I would definitely see a massive boost in my strength.

With just a few more lessons from Donna accompanied by the time regressor machine to consolidate my knowledge...reaching the greater realm of mastery within two months wouldn't be a problem. Just in time for Immorra.

Thinking thus far, calming myself down. A frown appeared on my brows as I thought to myself.

'...if I have two time stamps rather than one the rate of my progress would definitely drastically increase...It's too bad that I have to give one of my time stamps to Gerrard each week. Hmm'

The more I was reminded of the fact that I had to give Gerrard a time stamp, the deeper my frown became.

After a bit more thinking, I shook my head.

"...this won't do"

Now that I had finally realized the importance of the time regressor machine...brushing my hair to the side as I calmly walked back to my dorms, I softly and coldly said

"I guess it's about time I set up my board..."

...

The next day, Northern district, Caïssa headquarters

-Click!

Opening the door to the warehouse main building, I was instantly greeted with a deathly silence. Frowning slightly, turning to the corner of the room leading to the main hall of the building, I raised my voice and said

"...anybody here?"

Soon after, as I entered the main hall where a large squared wooden desk sat, I found three people sitting on it quietly staring at each other. Noticing my presence, turning their attention towards me, the first one to greet me was Smallsnake.

"Ren you're finally here"

Thereafter, after Smallsnake greeted me, the next one was Leopold who had both of his legs on the table followed by Angelica's cold voice.

"Welcome back boss"

"Human, you're finally here"

a brief moment, I nodded

"Mhh hello..."

sitting at the head of the large table, interlocking my hands and supporting my chin on them, I calmly looked

be the issue?

the past few days, I've constantly been

was in the Lock, now that I was

just hope it wasn't something

head, Smallsnake immediately started

go out in the streets every day. It's gotten to the point where I have to rely on Leopold to restrain her. You understand what the consequences of her leaving

Matriarch signed the contract

midsentence, Angelica crossed her arms and

to go out, she will naturally go

her, Smallsnake looked at me and

what I'm

head,

you have a

speaking, cutting me

because you have her core and she is too far away from you, her powers are significantly reduced. If not for that I wouldn't have minded letting her

reduced because of the core problem, she can't go out as her concealment abilities are currently drastically weakened. Moreover, if she was spotted

I

"...no, I understand"

said

body, her strength was

The reason for this was

their core was destroyed, and if there were no repercussions in them

was fair

to rebalance the demons, he decided to make demons weaker the longer they stayed away from

tell her that I don't like being called stick-like human. I've got a name and it's

my

Smallsnake

Smallsnake froze for a second before softly

"...it's a codename"

Smallsnake...it's got a nice

*Puff*

and puffing smoke in the air, Leopold nonchalantly looked at

have no interest in

didn't

dealt with Angelica for the whole week,

accomplished a single mission, he felt more tired now than back when he was

here unlike in

shook my head. Thereafter, as I inhaled some of the smoke

stop smoking. It's not good for

*Puff*

his chest as he took another puff of his

lungs of steel. Smoke ain't

people that die of canc...never mind, forgot that

Right.

in my word

Leopold

something and turning my attention back to Smallsnake,

Ryan, did he contact

head, Smallsnake

"...no, not directly

"What about indirectly"

his chin, Smallsnake nodded

"Indirectly yes"

I raised my brow and eagerly

How did he

exited face, Smallsnake's face twitched for a second before he softly recounted what had happened these past few