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 had failed

hadn't

isn't all too

Duke Azonech's lips opened

glance, he looks

that was merely on

had already come to the conclusion that he wasn't one that could be

wanted to

deepened as he

"...A pity."

muttered under

willingly choose to

really believe that he could escape after seeing

could have lived a few more years, he became

a terrible mistake on his

that I have

he proceeded

was time for him to

***

time don't

first thing

the place, I didn't answer. It wasn't that I didn't want

of my movements was being closely monitored, and given that I couldn't

aware of my circumstances, he

like all the other matches that you've experienced. You should be aware of

his line of sight, I subtly nodded

'I know.'

Of course, I knew.

coming at me with the intent of killing me, unlike

wasn't going to be honest with his rank as he

fight. As if the

be the biggest humiliation in his

are more than enough to fight against the Duke had he been suppressed. With everything

paused mid-sentence, and silence enveloped the

need him to finish his sentence to understand what he was trying

was then

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

in his direction, I didn't say

thoughts were quite

don't

despite helping me over the course of four months, he

doing it for the sake of doing

understood this point as

He also knew this.

there was only a

unclear about his

it just to kill the demon king and get rid of his

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

I wasn't sure.

him, he would

His silence seemed forced.

as though someone or something was stopping him from saying

perhaps the weird chains? This was most

aside, I still didn't feel comfortable

be just like when you use Monarch's indifference. It won't make a

I cocked my head forward

didn't know you were the one controlling

understand my thoughts,

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 that could potentially use his

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

want to die, or how many times you die, you will

closer to me, his ice-cold eyes looked down at

But, it is within my best interest that you

his hand, he pointed his finger toward my

your best

***

Clank. Clank. Clank.

were being pulled inside a small cell,

"Ukhh.."

Edward glanced toward the other side of the cell and saw a figure standing there. Blinking a couple of times to get a