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

he hadn't been that

one isn't all too

lips opened enough to

first glance, he looks pretty

course, that was

already come to the conclusion that he

to challenge

deepened as

"...A pity."

under his

you willingly choose to kill yourself like

he could escape after seeing what he had done to

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

a terrible mistake

that I

his hand, he proceeded to head out of the

him to reap his

***

time don't you

first thing that greeted me

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

and given that I couldn't speak to him inside of

aware of my

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

of 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

of the fact that he wasn't going to be honest

likely planned on killing me during the fight. As if the Duke would ever let himself lose in

would be the biggest humiliation in his

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

paused mid-sentence, and silence

didn't need him to finish his sentence to understand what he was trying

was then that

stand no chance at beating him. Your only choice

direction, I didn't

thoughts

don't

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

it for the sake

as I took advantage

He also knew this.

was

unclear about his real

demon king and get rid of his curse?

would repeatedly

I wasn't sure.

I tried asking him, he would always keep

His silence seemed forced.

though someone or something was

weird chains? This was most likely the

putting all of these unanswered questions aside, I still didn't

when you use Monarch's indifference. It won't make

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

didn't know you

understand my thoughts, he shrugged his

body not too 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

my eyes, he paused for a brief moment before

me tell you something. Regardless of how many times you want to die, or how many times you die, you will never die.

me, his ice-cold

again, I'm not interested in taking your body. But, it is within my best interest that you don't die,

he pointed his

best

***

Clank. Clank. Clank.

a small cell, creating a loud rattling

"Ukhh.."

awakening from his groggy state, Edward glanced toward the other side of the cell and saw a figure standing there. Blinking a couple of times to get a better look