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 been that

this one isn't

lips opened enough to reveal a set of

a first glance, he

was merely on

come to the conclusion that he

wanted to challenge

face deepened as

"...A pity."

muttered under his

choose

really believe that he could escape

a few more years, he became greedy and decided to challenge

mistake on his

that I have

he proceeded to head

for him to reap his

***

don't

first thing that greeted me was

It wasn't that I

closely monitored, and given that I couldn't

of my

matches that you've experienced. You should

his line of sight, I subtly

'I know.'

Of course, I knew.

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

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 Duke would ever let himself lose in front of his

be the biggest humiliation in

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

and

sentence to understand what he

then that he

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

in his direction, I

my thoughts were

still don't trust

knew that despite helping me over the course of four months, he had done it for

doing it for the sake of doing

understood this point as

He also knew this.

there was

was still unclear about

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

that time would repeatedly loop for

I wasn't sure.

he would always keep

His silence seemed forced.

as though someone or something

they perhaps the weird chains? This was

questions aside, I still didn't feel

thinking too much. It'll be just like when you use Monarch's indifference.

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

didn't know you were the one

to understand my thoughts, he shrugged his

make now?... Are you really that confident in

stared deeply into my eyes, he paused for

you want to die,

his ice-cold eyes looked

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

he pointed his finger

your best interest if you don't

***

Clank. Clank. Clank.

inside a small cell, creating a

"Ukhh.."

standing there. Blinking