The Author's POV

"Why didn't you kill him?"

An eerie voice echoed across a small room.

With my head lowered, I replied.

"Did I have to kill him? ...If so, I do apologize for my actions."

In the two days since my fight with Lightning Dragon, I had essentially recovered from all of my wounds. Some parts of my body were still sore, but that was just about it.

Regarding where I was...

It was Duke Anozech's private area.

"No, you don't have to be sorry."

In the aftermath of my fight with Lightning Dragon, it seemed that I had finally caught the Duke's attention.

Which was something that I desired from the very beginning.

He was instrumental in my inevitable escape.

"...Rather, you did me a favor by not killing him."

Lifting my head slightly, I raised my brow.

My head lowered once more when I saw the look on his face.

"Is that so? …then I'm flattered."

"...I'm starting to like you more and more."

The Duke said. I could tell he was pleased by the sound of his voice.

A faint smile spread across my face as I thanked the Duke.

"Thank you."

'Keep thinking that...'

It was only out of courtesy that I thanked the Duke.

While it was obvious I had never planned on killing Lightning Dragon, I was okay with him misunderstanding my intent.

After all, who would refuse free goodwill?

A little while later, Duke Anozech spoke again.

"I've recently gotten a report that you've allied yourself with the second-ranked in the Duke bracket, with the goal of killing the current Overlord, is that right?"

As soon as I heard his words, I pretended to be shocked before quickly burying it.

'As expected, the arena is heavily monitored.'

"Don't worry, I won't do anything to you. It's not against the rules."

The Duke reassured, evidently acknowledging my reaction.

My head lowered further.

"Nothing truly escapes you, your excellency."

In spite of saying that, I was rather surprised.

For my chat with SilverMoon to be discovered so easily by the Duke. It made one wonder how deep their surveillance system was.

'I need to tread more carefully...'

My awareness of this only heightened my guard regarding my future plans.

That said, this wasn't something that I had not expected.

Rather, this worked in my favor.

The Duke's next words proved me correct.

"...Do you want to fight the next Overlord?"

Raising my head, I replied without any hints of hesitation.

"Yes."

In spite of my quick response, the Duke's face remained the same.

My hatred for Edward was always obvious, I never tried to hide it. As a result, the Duke probably didn't find it surprising that I wanted to fight him.

"Are you that eager to fight the Blood Prince?"

"I indeed am, your excellency."

"Hmm..."

Seemingly falling into deep thought, the Duke mused for a moment before he opened his mouth again and asked again.

"You've observed how the current Overlord fights, right?"

"Yes, I have."

"Then what do you think your chances of beating him are?"

I paused and thought.

a while,

If he's hiding something, then

"Fifty percent, huh?"

Duke Anozech interlocked his hands behind

pretty high, don't you

answering, I decided to pose the Duke

What are the chances of me beating the

"You?"

again, he raised three fingers in

creased when I

"Thirty percent?"

"....Thirty percent."

Duke repeated in a dead-pan

to clench my teeth. In a way, it was made possible to see from the

I didn't say anything. I just continued staring at the

his hand, Duke Azenoch

think that I'm

"Yes."

I nodded without hesitation.

"I think that your–"

"Stop."

my speech as the Duke's

sweat dripped down on my body as I felt the cold touch at the

died had it not been

at the back of my neck still standing,

eyes with another demon. His features were different compared to the Duke who looked more like a

how you speak

warned, after slowly removing his hand from

lowered his head

apologize for the

"It's alright."

waved his hand before turning his attention back to me. Meanwhile, the demon quickly retreated

"Don't mind him."

Anozech's eyes lingered on the spot where his servant used to

said that your chances of beating the Overlord are thirty percent, do you agree or

"No."

still shook my

"Hmm?"

Duke's face changed

could say anything

still have a couple of cards up my

words, the Duke's face relaxed and a smile returned to his

still have a couple of cards up your

"That is correct."

"...How intriguing."

pause in the conversation. After

would you like to become

'Bingo.'

look on my face,

you really

"Heh."

let out a short

out a small device from

"I'll help you out."

to toss the device in my

"Here."

"...Thank you."

the device, I

a

was the device that was

clueless, I flipped it around

the hand that held the device, I

"Ehm, what's this."

The Duke smiled.

"That..."

he proceeded to point

device that will turn that

"One hundred percent?"

my hand, I stared at the device in my hand with an absentminded look on

head again,

this I will be able

"That is correct."

The Duke smiled.

to do is press that device in the most critical conditions, and the rest will be easy. Just make sure to take

"I see..."

nod, I

bigger when he saw this. As he asked, he had a

anything you wish from

"Excuse me?"

raised my head to stare at the

He continued.

reward you for your efforts. So tell me what

"...What I want?"

I pretended to fall into

I already

aiming

opened my

"If I win..."

head, I met the Duke's