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 failed his

only he hadn't

isn't all

Azonech's lips opened

first glance, he looks pretty

that was merely on

that simple request he had asked, Duke Azonech had already come to

wanted to challenge

on his face deepened as

"...A pity."

under

makes you willingly choose to

believe that he could escape after seeing what

fact that he could have lived a few

a terrible mistake on his

I

his mouth with his hand, he proceeded to head out

him to reap his

***

don't

room, the first thing that

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

closely monitored, and given that I couldn't speak to him inside of my mind, I

aware of my

matches that you've experienced. You should

his line of sight, I subtly nodded

'I know.'

Of course, I knew.

as Edward, he was actually coming at me with the intent of killing me, unlike

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 ever let

the biggest

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

mid-sentence, and

sentence to

then that he

stand no chance at beating him. Your only choice is to lend me

in his direction, I didn't

my thoughts were quite

still don't

over the course of four

for the sake

this point as

He also knew this.

there was only a

unclear about his

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

repeatedly loop for him, or was it

I wasn't sure.

him, he would

His silence seemed forced.

someone or something was

chains? This was most likely

of these unanswered questions aside, I still didn't

too much. It'll be just like when you use

cocked my head forward and gave him

I didn't know you were

to understand my thoughts, he shrugged

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

into my eyes, he paused for a brief moment before

me tell you something. Regardless of how many times you want to die, or how many times you die,

closer to me, his ice-cold

repeat this again, I'm not interested in taking your body. But, it is within my best interest

hand, he pointed his finger

is within your best interest

***

Clank. Clank. Clank.

were being pulled inside a small cell,

"Ukhh.."

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