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 been

isn't all

Duke Azonech's lips opened enough to reveal a set of

glance, he

that was merely

he had asked, Duke Azonech had already come to the conclusion that

to challenge

deepened as he slowly

"...A pity."

under his

choose to kill yourself

he could escape after

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

mistake on his

pity that I have

he proceeded to head out of the

him to reap his

***

don't you

the first thing that greeted me was

place, I didn't answer. It wasn't that I didn't want to, but

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

my circumstances, he continued

the other matches that you've experienced. You should be aware of

sight,

'I know.'

Of course, I knew.

just as skilled as Edward, he was actually coming at me with the intent

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

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

would be the biggest humiliation in

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

mid-sentence, and silence

his sentence to understand what he

was then that he

the case, you stand no chance at beating

in his direction, I didn't say

thoughts

still don't

helping me over the course of

wasn't doing it for the sake of doing

as I

He also knew this.

there was only a

unclear about his

get rid of his curse? But what exactly was this curse he was talking

would repeatedly loop for

I wasn't sure.

tried asking him, he would

His silence seemed forced.

or something was stopping him

chains? This

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

like when you

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

then I didn't know you were the one

my thoughts, he shrugged his

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

stared deeply into my eyes, he paused for

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

ice-cold eyes looked down at

But, it is within my

pointed his

within your best interest if you

***

Clank. Clank. Clank.

small cell, creating

"Ukhh.."

a figure standing there. Blinking a couple