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.

to be

about four feet in height with a long ginger beard was a

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

hand,

SteamPunk, Rank five in the

Reaper, Rank thirty in

As I did, I suddenly smelt

'His breath stinks.'

my best to not make any strange faces. His breath was

"White Reaper."

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 her eyes. Her hair was a mixture of gold and silver, and if not for her scar, she would've looked extremely

straight into her

"You are?"

"Rank two, Silvermoon."

replied in

know why we've called

"Somewhat."

her head. The other people in the room became even more apprehensive as

what do you think? Will

I smiled.

'Group, huh?'

about what this group was all about. It was essentially a group

purpose of this was so that they could monopolize all the top ten spots, and support the current

respond, she took a step to the side

this place. Only if you join a

resoluteness. Had I not been warned beforehand, I might've

"Oh..."

her a half-hearted

elf changed when she noticed the tone of my reply,

happen to know that once you become an Overlord-level contender you can

"I do."

I nodded.

Of course, I did.

on the very

them having a goal in mind, the games would be a

Are you perhaps not keen on the

a powerful pressure sprung out from

not

a bit. Even then, I retained a passive

staring at me with bloodthirsty looks, I leaned

do you want me to

instantly disappeared. A smile soon

"Much better."

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

"Lose your next game."

"Hm?"

head forward a

"Lose my next game?"

"That's correct."

paused on a certain individual standing not so far from where I was. Turning my head, my eyes paused on a towering

'He's big...'

now that I took a closer look at him,

the others in the room, the bloodthirsty aura coming out of his

"Skull Crusher."

would only have to be a fool to not have been able to recognize

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

my words, the SilverMoon

looks like you've

orc, she patted

opponent, and someone who you will lose to

"I don't need this."

the elven lady's hand off, Skull Crusher glared

in our next match. I can

be right, but

turned to look in

your own good. If you're interested in ever becoming free, then this is your only

to scrutinize me carefully, her brows knit for a

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

extended her hand in my direction. Her face was filled with confidence when she

you say, will

at her extended

"Tempting..."