The Author's POV

—Clank!

I slid the doors that led to the balcony.

"...how annoying"

After the match with Haris, I left immediatly. With everyone distracted by Kevin's match, I took the opportunity to slip out and go back to my dorm.

Like that, I avoided most reporters.

Furthermore, apart from electives, there were no other lectures today. Therefore, I was naturally free.

Regarding Kevin's match, he naturally won. I wasn't sure about how many times he go challenged, but it was probably more than five.

"Haaa...what should I do now?"

A lot of my plans had changed because of what had happened in the most recent days. My plans of laying low were pretty much scrapped.

"hmm..."

Were they?

Now that I thought about it, although I could no longer remain as hidden as before, nothing prevented me from building my forces secretly.

I guess you could say that I was now operating in both the light and the dark.

In a way this was good.

A lot of my plans would speed up as a result of this. I did not need to be as cautious as before and could be more brazen about it.

'...Should I create an alias?'

By creating an alias I could still operate more secretly. On one hand, I would be this 'talented' individual that studies in the Lock.

On the other hand, I would use my other alias to operate my mercenary group and company.

That would be ideal.

...but who knows. I needed more time to think about this.

After what had happened a couple of days ago, I found my confidence shatter into pieces.

Anytime I came up with a plan, I felt paranoid.

What if this happened? What if that happened? What if a meteorite suddenly fell from the sky and destroyed my company?

With my recent successes piling up, I had become arrogant and complacent. I needed to stop thinking that I had everything in my control.

Nothing was ever in my control.

Just like Everblood, there were things that I couldn't account for. I needed to knock this into my skull.

I was so sure that everything was going according to my plans before...and guess what, Everblood showed up.

Someone who I didn't properly account for.

"...there's that fucker too"

There was also Matthew...

I'd never have expected him to go public with the incident.

If I could have, I would've immediately have told Irene the truth. The truth about the fact that he was a villain.

Sadly, I couldn't.

With Matthew knowing that I had a way to cure the Mindbreaker curse, I knew that I couldn't touch him at the moment.

If such news were to be revealed to the world, not only would I become the number one target of the demons, I would also be targeted by other people who were desperate for the cure.

Fortunately, since I could reveal that he was contracted to a demon, he also couldn't reveal what he knew.

We were currently at a stalemate.

"...Damn it, I need to be stronger"

I clenched my teeth hard and glared at the scenery outside of the balcony.

I had to get stronger quicker.

"I can't let this go on..."

Taking out the diary that contained all of the information about the novel, I quickly flipped through its pages.

—Flip! —Flip!

"Where is it..."

had to see what I could do

should be

a certain page, I

—Flip!

the tip of my finger, I flipped to the next page. My eyes constantly moved from the left to

anything in the novel that could be useful for me in

item would be one that would help me pass lie

a problem...if not for Irene being able to detect lies,

was an item that could help me with regards to

—Plap!

"Haa..."

of minutes after, I closed the

I had to

a proper look at the book, I had a general idea of my next course of action. Even though

I wanted to do was

—Ding!

moment, my phone

to

was Amanda. Her message was vague yet I instantly understood what

[Demon hunter? They agreed?]

[Yes]

[When?]

meeting, I needed to prepare in full. Just one mistake and the

a day

understand, I'll get everything ready by

[Okay]

longer messaged me. Since I knew her personality,

"Alright, this is good"

this deal would take a load

only would I secure a long-term money system, but create a connection with the demon hunter guild

of this. The more talented

investing in the magic card system, but

was what

for now… Also,

wrist, I stared at the bracelet in my

not checked the extra items I got from Immorra. With everything that had happened recently,

was something

time

my phone and quickly typed

about

still

...

time, inside a

—Clank! —Clank!

heavy sound of machinery moving items to and fro resounded across the white laboratory space. Large metallic arms moved around the asphalt pavement carrying

—Booom!

room that could be seen through a rectangular

the fire died down and a red card held by two pincers

- Mana lingering in

glass, a beautiful girl

"Another failure"

countless trials, Melissa still couldn't quite synchronize the mana inputted in the card with the right pysons. Despite the fact that the current magic circle installed in the card was a

am I

there were

only a 30% efficiency loss.

moment her

a far cry from

you've got a

other side of the room.

Who would message me at

lab coat, Melissa took the phone. Instantly her

about

"This bastard..."

side of the

already busy enough with the magic card concept and now

Fuck that.

advanced

she quickly ordered. She couldn't be bothered to make a potion herself, so might as well

"An advanced potion?"

"Yes"

"What about the quality?"

lowest..no scratch that, make it the highest quality

tempted to just give Ren the lowest quality potion. However, she suddenly

Melissa Hall,

Impossible!