The Author's POV

"Tell me why... you have a demon on your finger."

As soon as Douglas's words faded, the atmosphere instantly froze. The echo of his words chilled the very air, creating a palpable tension.

"What's going on?"

Feeling that something was gravely wrong, Waylan looked at Douglas.

Staring at the two for a while, I tapped the ring on my finger after letting out a long sigh.

'This isn't going to be easy.'

"Looks like I can no longer hide it. Come out, Angelica."

SHUU—

At my call, black steam rose from my hand, much to Waylan's surprise. A stunning woman materialized next to me.

Having just canceled her taxing transformation, Angelica's face was extremely pale, and she barely had any strength to defend herself.

"Need a hand?"

Seeing how weak she was, I offered to lend her a hand, but she swiftly refused it.

"——!"

The moment she appeared, Waylan, who was next to Douglas, finally realized what was going on.

He suddenly became wary.

"A demon…"

A threatening aura suddenly sprang out of his body, aiming towards the currently weakened Angelica.

However, just as the pressure was about to crash against Angelica, Douglas waved his hand. The pressure instantly disappeared.

"Stop."

"Douglas?!"

Waylan cried out in surprise, evidently confused by Douglas's actions. Raising his hand, Douglas calmly looked at Waylan.

"Wait."

Turning his head, Douglas scanned Angelica up and down. A frown emerged on his usually calm face.

Opening his mouth, he asked,

"Have the demons advanced so much that their stealth abilities have become nigh undetectable?"

"It's her skill,"

I replied in Angelica's stead.

"She has a special skill that allows her to turn into any object she wants. The downside, as you can see, is her current, weakened state, where for a while she has no demonic energy in her body. However, because of this skill, it becomes extremely easy for her to infiltrate most areas."

"Oh?"

Humming in thought, Douglas took a step forward, walking towards Angelica who fearlessly stared at him from where she stood.

She seemed unafraid and proud while she matched eyes with a seemingly overwhelming opponent. She looked dauntless.

Halting a few meters away from Angelica, Douglas continued to stare at her. She coldly looked back at him, not letting her gaze falter for a moment.

"..."

"..."

Their staredown continued for what felt like forever, till finally, turning his head to face me, Douglas pointed towards the seats.

"I think we still have a bit to talk about."

Slowly closing my eyes, I looked at Angelica before nodding my head and heading back to the seats.

"I understand."

***

At the same time.

[Lock, Leviathan building.]

Flip—! Flip—!

The sound of pages being flipped echoed inside of a room.

Sitting behind a large wooden desk, dimly lit by a small lamp, Kevin's eyes darted between each page of the novel. He carefully read each line twice to make sure he didn't miss a single detail.

Before long, his finger paused in front of a certain page.

Leaning forward to make sure his eyes weren't deceiving him, Kevin's face changed from one filled with seriousness to one filled with absolute shock.

"…N-no way."

book trembled as Kevin had

translucent yellow rings appeared, revolving

Bang—!

his foot on the ground and tried to force his body to a halt. However, it

he had expected

finger forward, a disc appeared towards his left. What followed the first disc was a second

air, ***** softly landed on the left ring before he propelled himself towards

was already upon it. The demon's face finally changed, but it was too

a powerful wave of mana suddenly burst out from

"Huuup!"

making use of the [Keiki style],

sword, he swung

the attack, using the last ring, ***** used the gravitational effect and changed the course of

"Puchi!"

creating a misty rain

not

Kevin moved back. A look of complete denial

he still be alive?

terrifying explosion, the mourning,

it possible? How could he still be

No, he didn't want to believe it. How could he? How could he suddenly accept the fact that his friend, who he

he accept

stupid if he didn't understand who

could it

that he thought he

his trembling lips, Kevin tried

"Haa...haa... Let's calm down."

just wasn't possible for him to remain cool-headed. The news was too

be a recount

what he was seeing was

Baron ranked demon was about to block

"Haa…"

knew that it

it was impossible for the previous

"Ugh..."

was then that Kevin's head started to sting out of

a groan, Kevin's knees

Kevin supported his body by

the book

"Argh..."

head intensified as the book

with his hand, it wasn't long before the glow

"… What just happened?"

a couple of times, Kevin's

Kevin stared at the book

eyes opened widely. That was because the black mist

of his mouth, a subtle green glow enveloped the

explosively shot towards the demon, like

"This…"

chair as he absentmindedly stared at

It really is

his head with both hands, Kevin's mind was a mess. He couldn't make

his best friend was alive, there was something

him, and why did he fake his death? How did he

and more questions

a while, Kevin's eyes landed on

that the answer lay somewhere

Flip—! Flip—!

knew that Ren was the person in the book,

"Hehe…"

pages, Kevin's face would change from time

be taken aback,

he read, the less his worries for his friend became. Though he was in the middle

and was getting

"Hah?"

Kevin leaned back slightly. The more

long, his face turned extremely

story, he tried

smile on the headmaster's face slowly

Because of the bounty, I was forced to leave the human domain. It is

forward, the headmaster's eyes ripples slightly.

Bang—!

"What?!"

pounded the table

clenching tightly resounded

"Union!"

turned hoarse as he glared at the book. For them to do

sell out the one guy that

when he had helped them,

"Haa...haaa..."

beside him, Kevin tried his best to calm

plans regarding the