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.

that he

only he hadn't been

this one isn't all too

lips opened enough to reveal a set

a first glance, he looks pretty

that was merely

already come to the conclusion that

to challenge

face deepened as he slowly

"...A pity."

muttered under

makes you willingly choose to kill yourself like

he really believe that he could escape after seeing what he had done to

the fact that he could have lived a few more years, he became greedy and decided to challenge

a terrible mistake

that I have to

hand, he proceeded to head

for him to

***

don't you

to my room, the first thing

that I didn't want to, but the

I couldn't speak to him inside of my

of my circumstances, he

matches that you've experienced. You should be

line of sight, I subtly

'I know.'

Of course, I knew.

coming at me with the intent of killing me, unlike Edward who

I was fully aware of the fact that he wasn't going to be honest with his rank as he

me during the fight. As if the Duke would

the biggest humiliation in

fight against the Duke had he been suppressed. With everything that I've

mid-sentence, and silence

his sentence

then

stand no chance at beating him. Your only choice

direction, I

thoughts were quite

don't trust

of four months, he had done it for his own

for

understood this point as I took

He also knew this.

was

was still unclear about his real

to kill the demon king and get rid of his curse? But what

perhaps the fact that time would repeatedly loop for him, or

I wasn't sure.

he would always keep his

His silence seemed forced.

or something was stopping him

the weird chains? This was

I still didn't

when

I cocked my head forward

you were

understand my thoughts, he

that dungeon. What difference does it make now?... Are you really that confident in defeating a Duke-ranked demon

he paused for a

you want to die, or how many times you die, you will never die. That is your

me, his ice-cold eyes looked

your body. But, it is within my best interest that you don't die,

hand, he pointed his finger toward

is within your best

***

Clank. Clank. Clank.

were being pulled inside a small cell, creating a loud

"Ukhh.."

toward the other side of the cell and saw a figure standing there. Blinking a