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..."

see what I could do to make myself stronger.

be the

at a certain page, I

—Flip!

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

look for anything in the novel

one that would help me

problem...if not for Irene being able to detect lies, none of this would've

was an item that could help me with

—Plap!

"Haa..."

couple of minutes after, I

knew what I had to

the book, I had a general idea of my next course of action. Even though it would cause some trouble

now all I wanted to do was get

—Ding!

my phone suddenly

agreed to listen

was Amanda. Her message was vague yet I instantly understood

[Demon hunter? They agreed?]

[Yes]

[When?]

needed to know the time. Since this was a formal meeting, I needed to prepare in full. Just one mistake and the

week, a day after the

understand, I'll get

[Okay]

Amanda no longer messaged me. Since I

"Alright, this is good"

take a

would I secure a long-term money system, but

because of this. The more talented I appeared the greater the appeal of the

magic card system, but in me

was what I

guess that's sorted for now… Also,

stared at the bracelet

With everything that had happened recently, I didn't

something

that...guess it's time to annoy

took out my phone

Melissa, about the

arm still

...

the same time, inside a white laboratory

—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 different-sized boxes.

—Booom!

the lab. Inside of a white confined room that

long after, the fire died down and a red card held by two

#598 - Mana

glass, a beautiful

"Another failure"

fact that the current magic circle installed in

what am I

just started there were a lot

commercially viable, Melissa needed to have only a 30%

the moment her efficiency

a far cry from her

got

from the other side

message me at

white lab coat, Melissa took the phone. Instantly her brows

about the

"This bastard..."

clenched the side

with the magic card concept and now he

Fuck that.

order an advanced potion off the

quickly ordered. She couldn't be bothered to make a potion herself, so might as well just order one from the market and pretend that it

"An advanced potion?"

"Yes"

"What about the quality?"

that, make it the

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

she, Melissa Hall,

Impossible!