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.

unfortunate that he had failed

he hadn't been

isn't all too

observing White Reaper from above, Duke Azonech's lips

glance,

course, that was merely on the

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

wanted to

deepened as he slowly

"...A pity."

under

makes you willingly choose to kill yourself like

that he could escape after seeing what he had

that he could have lived a few more years, he

a terrible mistake

true pity that I have to kill

he proceeded to head

time for him to reap his

***

time don't you

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

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 could only

my circumstances, he

won't be like all the other matches that

sight, I subtly nodded my

'I know.'

Of course, I knew.

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

be honest

had most likely planned on killing me during the fight. As if

the biggest

the Duke had he been suppressed. With everything that I've taught

mid-sentence, and

his sentence to understand what he was trying

was then that he

case, you stand no chance at beating him. Your only

his direction,

my thoughts

don't trust

of four months, he had done it for his

wasn't doing it for the sake of

as I

He also knew this.

was only a

was still unclear about

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

time would repeatedly loop for him, or

I wasn't sure.

asking him, he would always keep his

His silence seemed forced.

though someone or something was stopping him

the weird chains? This was most likely

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

much. It'll be just like when

I cocked my head forward

didn't know you were

being able to understand my

long ago, when 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

he stared deeply into my eyes, he paused

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

ice-cold eyes looked down

I'm not interested in taking your body. But,

hand, he pointed his finger toward

within your best interest if you

***

Clank. Clank. Clank.

small cell,

"Ukhh.."

state, Edward glanced toward the other side of the cell and saw a figure standing there. Blinking a couple of times