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.

while, I

If he's

"Fifty percent, huh?"

around, Duke Anozech interlocked his hands behind his

high, don't you

of answering, I decided to pose the Duke

are the chances of

"You?"

into thought again, he raised three fingers in

creased when I

"Thirty percent?"

"....Thirty percent."

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 three fingers in

hand,

think that I'm

"Yes."

I nodded without hesitation.

"I think that your–"

"Stop."

cold touch at the back of my neck interrupted my speech as the Duke's voice echoed throughout the room,

body as I felt the cold touch at

had it not

back of my neck still standing, I slowly turned

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

speak to the

his hand from the back of my

his head to the

for the

"It's alright."

turning his attention back to me. Meanwhile, the demon quickly retreated from the

"Don't mind him."

Duke Anozech's eyes lingered on the spot where his

to our discussion. I said that your chances of beating the Overlord are thirty percent, do you agree

"No."

still shook

"Hmm?"

face changed

before he could say anything else, I

a couple of cards up

relaxed and a smile returned to

a couple

"That is correct."

"...How intriguing."

pause in the conversation. After

would you like to become the

'Bingo.'

surprised look on my face, I

you

"Heh."

out a

out a small device from one

"I'll help you out."

toss

"Here."

"...Thank you."

the device, I started

looks like a

the device that was supposed to stop the

I flipped it around repeatedly and closely examined

good minute of the same thing, lowering the hand that held the device, I looked at

"Ehm, what's this."

The Duke smiled.

"That..."

his hand, he proceeded to point at the device in

the device that will turn that thirty percent,

"One hundred percent?"

the device in my hand with an absentminded look on my

my head again, I

will be able to win

"That is correct."

The Duke smiled.

have to do is press that device in the most critical conditions, and the rest will be easy.

"I see..."

a simple nod, I put the device

bigger when he saw this. As he asked, he had a satisfied look on his

there anything you wish

"Excuse me?"

raised my head to stare at the

He continued.

is only right that I reward you for your efforts. So

"...What I want?"

pretended to fall

reality, I already knew what

been aiming for from

opened my

"If I win..."

head, I