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"

brief moment, I nodded my head and greeted

"Mhh hello..."

hands and supporting my chin on them, I calmly looked at

be the issue?

few days, I've constantly been getting text messages from

wouldn't be able to do anything as I was in the Lock, now that I was back here, it was about time I tackled

hope it wasn't something

Smallsnake

I have to rely on Leopold to restrain her. You understand what the consequences of

human, this Matriarch signed the contract not

Smallsnake midsentence, Angelica crossed her arms and glared at

this Matriarch wants to go out, she will naturally

her, Smallsnake looked at me and

what

head,

see, you have a

before I could finish speaking, cutting me

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 go as she's simply

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

I stopped Smallsnake

"...no, I understand"

Smallsnake said made

had Angelica's core inside of my body, her strength was a far cry from what it was at her

cut by more than half. The reason for this was because

unless their core was destroyed, and if there were no repercussions in them not having their core, the demons could just hide their core and literally be

god was

to rebalance the demons, he decided to make demons weaker the longer they

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

as my

Smallsnake

for a second before

"...it's a codename"

got

*Puff*

puffing smoke in the air, Leopold nonchalantly looked at

at me, I have no interest in joining

didn't have any

Angelica for the whole

single mission, he felt more tired now than back when he was tutoring in the Moonlight

at least treated him well here unlike in the Moonlight mercenary group where they didn't

some of the smoke coming from his cigarette,

should probably stop smoking. It's not

*Puff*

onto his chest as he took another puff of

I've got lungs of steel. Smoke ain't gonna kill someone like

die of canc...never mind, forgot that wasn't

Right.

in my word were practically something that didn't exist

wonder Leopold smoked

turning my attention back to Smallsnake,

did he

head, Smallsnake

"...no, not directly

"What about indirectly"

his chin, Smallsnake nodded

"Indirectly yes"

I raised my

How did he do

for a second before he softly recounted what