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,

fifty percent. If he's hiding something,

"Fifty percent, huh?"

Anozech interlocked

high, don't

answering, I decided to pose the

you think, your excellency? What are the chances of me

"You?"

Duke fell into thought again, he raised

creased when I saw

"Thirty percent?"

"....Thirty percent."

in a

proceeded to clench my teeth. In a way, it was made possible

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

his hand, Duke Azenoch

think that

"Yes."

I nodded without hesitation.

"I think that your–"

"Stop."

my speech as the Duke's voice echoed throughout the room, stopping

I felt the cold touch at

had it not been

the hair at the back of my neck

met eyes with another demon. His features were different compared to the Duke who looked more like a human. In a butler's attire, the demon behind me glared at

how you speak to the Duke

his hand from

that, he lowered his head to the Duke

the inconvenience, your

"It's alright."

Duke casually waved his hand before turning his attention back to me. Meanwhile, the demon quickly retreated from the spot where he

"Don't mind him."

eyes lingered on the spot where his servant

chances of beating the Overlord are

"No."

shook

"Hmm?"

face

say

couple of cards

the Duke's face relaxed

still have a couple

"That is correct."

"...How intriguing."

pause in the conversation. After

would you like to

'Bingo.'

on my face, I

you really

"Heh."

Duke let out

out a small device from one of the drawers of his

"I'll help you out."

to toss the device

"Here."

"...Thank you."

the device, I

looks like a

It was the device that was

I flipped it around repeatedly and

thing, lowering the hand that held the device, I

"Ehm, what's this."

The Duke smiled.

"That..."

he proceeded to point at the device in

that thirty percent, into a

"One hundred percent?"

device in my hand with an absentminded look

my head again,

will be able to win

"That is correct."

The Duke smiled.

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

"I see..."

a simple nod, I put the device

saw this. As he asked, he had a satisfied look

there anything you wish from

"Excuse me?"

to stare at the

He continued.

reward you for your efforts. So tell me what

"...What I want?"

my head, I pretended

I already knew what I

been aiming for from the very beginning

slowly opened my

"If I win..."

I met the