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 had failed his

hadn't

this one isn't all too

lips opened enough

glance,

was merely on the

had asked, Duke Azonech had already come

wanted to challenge

face deepened as he slowly

"...A pity."

muttered under his

choose to

he really believe that he could escape

fact that he could have lived a few more years,

a terrible mistake on his

pity that I have to

his mouth with his hand, he proceeded to head out of the

time for him to reap

***

don't

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

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

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

of my circumstances,

match won't be like all the other matches that you've experienced. You should be

of sight, I

'I know.'

Of course, I knew.

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

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

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

biggest humiliation in his

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

and

sentence to understand what he was

was then

and if that's the case, you stand no chance at beating him. Your only choice is

in his direction, I didn't say

my thoughts were quite

still don't trust

of four months, he had done

it for the

understood this point as I took advantage

He also knew this.

there was only

was still unclear

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

it perhaps the fact that time would repeatedly

I wasn't sure.

I tried asking him, he would always keep

His silence seemed forced.

as though someone or something was stopping him from

they perhaps the weird chains? This

didn't feel comfortable with the idea of him taking over my

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

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

you were the one controlling

able to understand my thoughts, he shrugged his

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

into my eyes, he

die, or how many times you

to me, his ice-cold eyes

in taking your body. But, it is

he pointed his finger toward

best interest if you don't

***

Clank. Clank. Clank.

a small cell, creating

"Ukhh.."

figure standing there. Blinking