The Author's POV

Clank—!

"Follow me."

Coming out of my cell, I followed a demon out.

Everything happened out of nowhere. I was just quietly relaxing in my cell, and before I knew it, a demon came to my room and called out for me.

I was quite clueless about where I was going, but I decided not to say anything and just followed along.

There was no point in asking questions that I would not get an answer to.

That, and...

The fact that I already had an idea of what was going on.

'This might actually be a good chance for me...'

Glancing toward my left and right, as I followed the guard, I realized that the security was fairly lax.

There didn't seem to be many demons patrolling the area, and to make matters even stranger was the fact that my mane wasn't sealed.

It had to be noted that the demon in front of me was ranked lower than me. If I wanted to, I could kill him with a simple slap.

Not that I had any plans on doing that since I had a goal in mind.

Finding Amanda's dad.

Furthermore, I was sure that the security-only looked lax. In reality, it was probably extremely tight. Had this not been the case, many of the prisoners would've long escaped.

Tok. Tok.

The steady and calm of our footsteps echoed throughout the corridors. The corridors were pretty badly maintained as I could see cracks everywhere. Not only that, but they were also quite narrow, forcing me to move sideways sometimes.

To make matters worse, lingering in the air was an old and stuffy smell.

"We're here."

Walking for who knows long, we soon stopped in front of a large metallic door. Standing beside the door were a couple of demons.

With a simple nod, the demon walked toward the door.

To Tok—!

He then proceeded to knock on the door.

For the first couple of seconds, he was met with no response. However, this did not last for long as the door soon started to open.

Clank—!

Once the door was half-opened, I was finally able to catch a glimpse of what was behind it.

A luxuriously decorated room that far contrasted the shabby room I was previously staying in. A nice red carpet blanked the floor, and all sorts of decorations appeared in the room. From sofas to paintings and other things that would make one drool at the sight.

'So this is how the top rankers live...'

Gazing at the room for a bit, my line of sight paused on a few individuals inside the room. After a quick look, I was able to assess that they were the top rankers of the Duke bracket.

It was hard not to notice them. The pressure that their bodies emitted was quite frightening. It was at a level where I needed to take them seriously if I wanted to win.

Not that I showed it outwardly as I kept a straight face and stepped into the room.

The moment I stepped into the room, I felt everyone's gazes pause on me, carefully scrutinizing every part of my body. Not bothered by them, I calmly walked toward where the sofas were and leisurely sat down.

Crossing my legs and leaning back, I opened my mouth.

"So..."

I looked at everyone in the room.

"What did you guys want to talk about?"

"..."

Silence.

No one in the room said a word as they continued to stare in my direction.

It was then that someone finally spoke up.

seems to be quite

beard was a dwarf. Raising his brow he

"Herr...Herr...not bad."

his hand, he

SteamPunk, Rank five in the

Rank thirty

As I did, I suddenly smelt a foul order coming from the

'His breath stinks.'

best to not make any strange faces. His breath was

"White Reaper."

found an elven lady staring in my direction. She had a rather long scar tracing down her face, and I could feel hints of insanity in

stared straight into her

"You are?"

"Rank two, Silvermoon."

in

why

"Somewhat."

other people in the room became even more apprehensive as

know why we've called you, then what do you think? Will you join our

I smiled.

'Group, huh?'

had already been briefed by my other self about what this group was all about. It was essentially a

of this was so that they could monopolize all the top ten spots, and support the current Emperor rank. In short, everyone here

had a chance to respond, she took a step

you join a

words were filled with conviction and resoluteness. Had I not been warned beforehand, I might've even been

"Oh..."

her a half-hearted

the tone of

seem excited by this. Do you by chance happen to know that once you

"I do."

I nodded.

Of course, I did.

very first

goal in mind, the games

look so disinterested. Are you perhaps

a powerful pressure sprung out from her body before heading

not

I was caught off-guard a bit. Even then, I

staring at me with bloodthirsty looks, I leaned back on the sofa and

want me

out from SilverMoon instantly disappeared. A smile soon replaced her previous

"Much better."

a satisfied tone. Clasping her hands together, she cut straight to the

"Lose your next game."

"Hm?"

leaned my head

"Lose my next game?"

"That's correct."

eyes paused on a certain individual standing not so far from where I was.

'He's big...'

the room, but now that I took a closer look at

contrast to the others in the room, the bloodthirsty aura coming out of his body was far

"Skull Crusher."

would only have to be a fool to

quite pressurizing. It felt as though I was back in Issanor, in the presence of the

words, the

like you've recognized

to the orc, she

and someone who you will lose to in

"I don't need this."

off, Skull Crusher glared

next match. I can easily get rid

may be right, but rules are

to look in my

good. If you're interested in ever becoming free,

scrutinize me carefully, her brows knit for a couple

Crusher said, any one of us in the room is enough to crush you. It is in your best

Her face was filled with confidence when she said those

you say, will you join

extended branch, I softly

"Tempting..."