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

hadn't

this one isn't all too

White Reaper from above, Duke Azonech's lips opened

a first glance, he looks

that was merely on

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

to challenge

smile on his face deepened as he

"...A pity."

under

you willingly choose to

really believe that he could escape after seeing what he

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

mistake

pity that I

with his hand, he proceeded

for him to

***

don't you

the first thing that greeted

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

that I couldn't speak to him inside of my mind, I could

aware of my circumstances, he

won't be like all the other matches that

of sight, I subtly nodded my

'I know.'

Of course, I knew.

just as skilled as Edward, he was actually coming at me with the intent of killing me, unlike Edward who came with a completely

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

on killing me during the fight. As if the

be the biggest

skills are more than enough to fight against the Duke had he been suppressed. With everything that I've taught you over the past four months, this should be natural.

mid-sentence, and

to finish his sentence to understand what he

was then

no chance at beating

in his direction, I didn't

thoughts were quite

still don't trust

over the course of four

it for the sake

understood this point as

He also knew this.

there was only

unclear about his

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

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

I wasn't sure.

him, he would

His silence seemed forced.

felt as though someone or something

perhaps the weird chains? This was most likely

all of these unanswered questions aside, I still didn't feel comfortable with

be just like when you use

he said those words, I cocked my head forward and gave him

didn't know you were the one controlling

understand my thoughts, he

long ago, when we were in that dungeon. What difference does it make now?... Are you really that confident in

my eyes, he paused for

how many times you want to die, or how

ice-cold eyes looked down at

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

he pointed his

within your best interest if you

***

Clank. Clank. Clank.

pulled inside a small cell, creating a loud

"Ukhh.."

saw a figure standing there. Blinking a couple of times to