The Author's POV

My eyes were glued to Edward's body, which was lying on the ground. In my ears, the noise from the crowd was drowned out.

During that moment, I had all my attention focused on Edward.

It wasn't until I saw his chest move that I finally relaxed.

He was still alive.

As he lay on the ground with his eyes wide open, staring at the red sky of the arena, his body was anything but fine.

Taking a deep breath and inwardly praying, I put the device back in my dimensional space and closed my eyes.

'I hope Amanda does not find out about this…'

If she found out I beat up her father...

Shivers ran down my spine.

'...Yeah, let's hope that does not happen.'

What Demon King?

She would probably finish me before that happened.

Well, I didn't think she would go that far, but I still didn't care to find out what would happen.

Keeping this secret under the grave was a sacred duty.

"Haa..."

I exhaled, and slowly opened my eyes.

As I opened my eyes again, I felt everyone's gaze pause on me. A pin-drop silence filled the arena grounds as none of the spectators spoke.

I then glanced toward the right. Nevertheless, I was surprised to find that the demoness had not appeared yet.

She was usually punctual.

'Where is she?'

I wondered to myself as I glanced around the place. It didn't take long for her to appear, as her figure appeared next to me shortly thereafter.

'Ah, there she is.'

Her eyes alternated between Edward and me as she hung open-mouthed. Eventually, she began to announce the match's result. The look on her face never changed as she spoke.

It was still filled with shock.

[…and the winner of the match is White Reaper, officially dethroning the Blood Prince from his Overlord position, and thereby becoming the new Overlord!]

It wasn't long before her words deeply echoed throughout the whole arena.

During a brief pause, the crowd and spectators digested the information before erupting into cheers.

The stadium started shaking as the cheers grew louder.

It was that loud.

My attention briefly focused on Edward's direction before I turned around and moved toward the metallic gates in the distance.

'My job is done, I should get prepared for the big event that is coming soon...'

It was about time I returned home.

***

"Not bad…"

Duke Azenoch's face was tinged with a faint curl as he watched White Reaper's figure slowly exit the arena.

The more he looked at him, the more pleased he became as he mumbled softly.

"He did not make the same mistake as the other one."

Recalling what had happened with SilverStar, the Duke shook his head with evident disappointment.

He was a good seedling. An obedient one.

unfortunate that he

hadn't been

isn't all

White Reaper from above, Duke Azonech's lips opened enough to reveal a set

a first glance, he

that was

had already come to the

wanted to

face deepened as he slowly

"...A pity."

under his

choose to kill yourself like

he could escape after seeing what he had

could have lived a few more years, he became

a terrible mistake on

I

his hand, he proceeded to head out of the

time for him to

***

don't you

the first thing

I didn't answer. It wasn't that I didn't want to, but the place was definitely

monitored, and given that I couldn't

of my circumstances, he continued

the other matches that you've experienced. You

his line of sight, I

'I know.'

Of course, I knew.

as Edward, he was actually coming at me with the intent of killing me, unlike Edward who came with a completely different

aware of the fact that he wasn't going to be honest with his rank as he would only

during the fight. As if the Duke would ever let

biggest

more than enough to fight against the Duke had he been suppressed. With everything that I've taught you over the past four months, this should be

paused mid-sentence, and silence enveloped

need him to finish his sentence to understand what he was

was then

that's the case, you stand no chance at beating him. Your only choice is

his direction, I didn't say

my thoughts were

don't

me over the course of four months, he had done it for his own

for the sake of

this point as I took

He also knew this.

there was only

was still unclear about

of his curse? But what

would repeatedly loop for him,

I wasn't sure.

I tried asking him, he would

His silence seemed forced.

or something was stopping

chains? This was most likely the

of these unanswered questions aside, I still didn't feel comfortable with the idea of him taking

be just like when

those words, I cocked my head forward

I didn't know you were the one controlling

to understand my thoughts, he shrugged his

me to control your body not too long ago, when we were in that dungeon. What difference does it make now?... Are you really that confident in defeating a Duke-ranked demon

stared deeply into my eyes, he paused for a brief moment before

tell you something. Regardless of how many times you want to die, or how many times you die, you will never die. That is

his ice-cold

your body. But, it

hand, he pointed his

your best

***

Clank. Clank. Clank.

a small

"Ukhh.."

the cell and saw a figure standing there. Blinking a couple of times to get a better look at the