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.

he had

hadn't been that

one isn't all

Duke Azonech's lips opened

glance, he

was

that simple request he had asked, Duke Azonech had already come to the conclusion that he wasn't one that could

wanted to challenge

face deepened as he slowly

"...A pity."

under

willingly choose to kill yourself like

that he could escape after seeing what he had done

of the fact that he could have lived a few

terrible mistake

pity that I have to

his mouth with his hand, he proceeded to head

him to reap

***

don't

back to my room, the first thing

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

movements was being closely monitored, and given that I couldn't speak to him inside of my mind, I could only

aware of my circumstances, he continued

other matches that you've experienced.

of sight, I subtly nodded my

'I know.'

Of course, I knew.

coming at me with the intent of

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

the fight. As if the Duke would ever let

would be the biggest humiliation in his

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

paused mid-sentence, and silence enveloped the

didn't need him to finish his sentence to understand what he was trying to

was then that he

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

in his direction, I didn't

my thoughts

don't trust

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

doing it for the sake of doing

understood this point as I took advantage

He also knew this.

there was only a

was still unclear about his real

rid of his curse? But what exactly was this curse

that time would repeatedly loop

I wasn't sure.

tried asking him, he would always keep his

His silence seemed forced.

something was stopping

perhaps the weird chains? This was most likely the

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

be just like when

cocked

know you were

my thoughts,

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 power at any second without warning

eyes, he

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

his ice-cold eyes looked down at

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

hand, he pointed his finger toward

best interest if

***

Clank. Clank. Clank.

inside a small cell,

"Ukhh.."

awakening from his groggy state, Edward glanced toward the other side of the cell and saw a figure standing there. Blinking a couple of