The Author's POV

"Useless, useless, uselss..."

While browsing SilverStar's belongings, I found myself saddened by the fact that I was unable to locate any of the things that I was looking for.

I found the room to be fairly large, about as big as a tennis court, and it was quite beautifully decorated with all kinds of furniture. Plants, flowers, and other nature-related things dominated most of them.

But this was expected given his elven nature.

"Still nothing."

I muttered after moving one of the sofas to the side, and still not finding anything. I was honestly starting to get quite frustrated.

"He's a lot more cautious than I originally let him out to be."

In all fairness, I should've expected this from the very beginning. After all, given the current environment, who wouldn't?

"Guess I can only go for the second option."

Sitting down on one of the couches, I stopped searching and just relaxed. There was another and simpler way to get the resources.

...and it should present itself any minute now.

"What are you doing here?"

It was then that a familiar voice echoed inside the room as a silver-haired figure entered. There was a seething rage hidden within that voice as the man in the air rippled slightly.

Glancing in the direction of the silver figure, I gave her a simple nod.

"You're here."

"...You're here?"

SilverMoon's body froze for a split second as she cocked her head to the side. Clearly confused about my intentions.

"You were waiting for me?"

She asked.

To which I nodded.

"Yes, I was."

Well, sort of.

Musing for a moment, she asked.

"Have you reconsidered my previous offer?"

"No."

I shook my head.

Standing up from the sofa, I calmly walked in her direction.

"My intentions in coming here are simple."

Stopping in front of her, I extended my hand in her direction.

"Tell me where SilverStar's resources are."

Immediately after those words left my mouth, SilverMoon's eyes turned bloodshot. The mana in the air rippled, and her hair fluttered widely. Seeing how the situation was getting out of hand, I immediately cut her in the middle of her words.

"How dare y—"

"I can help you get rid of the Overlord."

For a moment, the mana coming from her body stopped and her eyes paused on me. Before she could do anything else, I took advantage of the moment and continued speaking.

"You've already seen what happened when SilverStar fought against the current Overlord. A total defeat."

SilverMoon's face twisted when I said those words. Regardless, I kept pushing.

"You know yourself that you are weaker than SilverStar, meaning that you have no chance of ever exacting revenge against the current Overlord."

The more I spoke, the more SilverMoon's face twisted.

Even then, she never once interrupted me. It was clear that she couldn't dispute any of the words that I was saying.

After glancing at her for a moment, I asked.

"You've probably already heard about what happened between the current Overlord, haven't you?"

"...Yes."

She nodded her head.

was coming out of her body had already receded back, and I was

mess, and her eyes had a lost look in

appearance was a far cry from the confident and overbearing one from the

shell of her

this was understandable. With SilverStar now dead, what was

was to regain freedom and escape with her husband, but now that he was dead, such an option was no longer

was anything but

hair back, SilverMoon

don't know a lot, but I heard that

"Indeed..."

my teeth, I pretended to be

wave of oppressive mana burst out from my body, forcing SilverMoon to

face closer to her, I spat through

same race, but guess what? Not only was I kicked

Crack. Crack.

I cracked my knuckles.

"Nice acting."

side. Trying my best to keep my composure in check, I

the mana that was coming

my bringing out my mana. One, to show her that I truly held a grudge against

show her my

her that I was worth

yours, and

reason why you came

in her eyes as she thought back at SilverStar. Even then, her hatred for the Overlord ran quite deeply

mouth, I was able to see a trace of

What makes you think you can beat him? Someone

at her for a brief moment

don't really have a

"What do you mean?"

SilverMoon's eyes narrowed.

smirked slightly

not confident in beating him, then who

a

couldn't argue back with

I kept pushing.

next match. Whoever wins against us will become the next Emperor since you yourself don't seem to become

reaction. And the more I talked, the more I could see the despair in

I kept pushing, I

'What a vile strategy...'

someone when they were at their lowest point,

was essentially what I was doing

this whole scenario had been designed to be

had created a point of connection between SilverMoon and me as a result of telling Edward about the situation

killing SilverStar, and given SilverMoon's relationship with SilverStar, it was only natural for such a scenario to

where she was desperate

she knew her limits, and so she could only despair at the thought of never being able

and used that connection to manipulate her into giving

her hope, I was

vile strategy, but

were they as they had also done such

prove to you that you've

voice to

me the resources and I will

***

grounds as I

"Huuuu..."

felt the mana inside of my

I managed

in the end, I was able to break through

for when I broke through to rank, but given

moment, I opened my eyes, I was met with a pair of

I stared into those pupils I felt a cold chill run down my

'He's strong.'

a glance for me to understand that I

first time in a long time, I finally felt a sense of dread coming

his sword as though it was a teddy bear, Lightning

saw this, but I didn't put

calm as it had ever

two contestants

a familiar voice echoed throughout the entire arena, causing the crowd to become even

moment of

"Yes."

"...Yes."