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.

was unfortunate that he

he hadn't

one isn't all too

from above, Duke Azonech's lips opened enough to

a first glance, he looks pretty

course, that was

come to the conclusion that he

to

deepened as he

"...A pity."

muttered under

choose to kill

really believe that he could escape

that he could have lived a few more years, he became greedy and

terrible mistake on his

true pity that I have to kill

his mouth with his hand, he proceeded

him to

***

don't you

to my room, the first thing that greeted me was my

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

being closely monitored, and given that I couldn't

of my circumstances, he continued

match won't be like all the other matches that

his line of sight, I subtly nodded my

'I know.'

Of course, I knew.

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

that he wasn't going to be honest with his

fight. As if the Duke would ever let himself lose in front of

would be the biggest humiliation in

been suppressed. With everything that I've taught you over the past four months, this should

paused mid-sentence, and silence enveloped the

sentence to understand what he was

then

if that's the case, you stand no

his direction, I didn't

my thoughts were

don't trust

course of four months, he had done it for his

doing it for the

understood this point as I

He also knew this.

there was

unclear

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

would repeatedly

I wasn't sure.

asking him, he would always keep

His silence seemed forced.

as though someone or something was stopping him from

the weird chains? This was most likely

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

too much. It'll be just like when you use Monarch's indifference. It won't

I cocked my head forward

you were

to understand my thoughts,

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 and

eyes, he

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

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

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

his hand, he pointed his finger toward my

best interest if

***

Clank. Clank. Clank.

small cell, creating a loud rattling

"Ukhh.."

the other side of the 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 the room,