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."

hand holding onto the page of the book trembled as Kevin had trouble

of the demon, three translucent yellow rings appeared, revolving

Bang—!

on the ground and tried to force his body to a halt. However, it wasn't enough. His

he had

the first disc was a second that stopped a bit further

before he

the demon could react, ***** was already upon it.

wave of mana suddenly

"Huuup!"

making use of the [Keiki style], ***** opted to apply a simpler

sword,

using the last

"Puchi!"

down from above, creating

not possible.

Kevin moved back. A look of complete denial

he still be alive? I-I

terrifying explosion, the mourning,

How could he still

he didn't want to believe it. How could he? How could he suddenly accept the

could he accept such a sick

didn't understand

could it

he thought he

trembling lips, Kevin tried

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

were in vain. It just wasn't possible for him to remain cool-headed.

a recount

was seeing was what

ranked demon was about to block

"Haa…"

Kevin knew that it was impossible. He knew Ren's

impossible for the

"Ugh..."

was then that Kevin's head started

groan, Kevin's knees buckled

his head, Kevin supported his body by holding

the

"Argh..."

head intensified as the

his hand, it wasn't long

"… What just happened?"

a couple of times, Kevin's

at

on the book, Kevin's eyes opened widely. That was because the black mist covering the

his mouth, a subtle green glow enveloped the bottom

after, his body explosively shot towards the

"This…"

weakly slumped back on his chair as he absentmindedly

shoes… It really is

his head with both hands, Kevin's mind was a

that his best friend was alive, there

to him, and why did he fake his death?

more questions flooded Kevin's

a while, Kevin's eyes

knew that the answer lay somewhere

Flip—! Flip—!

part, without missing a single detail. Now that he knew that Ren was the person in the book, he wanted to know

"Hehe…"

Kevin's face would change from time to

would sometimes frown, oftentimes be taken aback,

became. Though he was in the middle of a war, he seemed to be fine. In fact,

multiple Baron-ranked demons and

"Hah?"

a certain page. Frowning, Kevin leaned back slightly. The more he read, the bigger his frown

long, his face turned extremely

he tried his best

the headmaster's face slowly

Because of the bounty, I was forced

ripples slightly. For a while,

Bang—!

"What?!"

pounded the

fists clenching tightly

"Union!"

glared at the book. For them to do what they did to Ren... The veins on Kevin's forehead

bastards! How could you sell out the one

betray Ren like that when he had helped them, those bastards. Kevin's rage was

"Haa...haaa..."

up a piece of paper beside him, Kevin tried his best

when he read about Ren's plans regarding the Union did Kevin finally