The Author's POV

Hearing Edward's brittle voice that was pent up with all his emotions, I smiled softly.

"Sorry, I had to take a little detour."

Clank—! Clank—!

With my sword unsheathed, I hacked at the chains that bound him and freed his arms and legs.

Following the release of the chains, he started to fall down. In response, I lowered my body and pressed my hand on his shoulder, preventing his fall.

"Are you okay?"

"…yeah."

Glancing at me, Edward had a bitter look on his face.

"It's been a while since I've moved, and with my mana sealed for this long, my muscles just gave out."

"It's alright. I'll help you out for now."

Supporting Edward's body up, I helped him out of the room. On our way out, Edward opened his mouth and asked.

"…Did you do it?"

His voice sounded rather weak and frail. Glancing at him from the corner of my eyes, I nodded.

"Yeah."

When I recalled my other self's conversation with the Duke, there were times when I was afraid that the deal would've fallen apart.

Especially during that time, my other self had threatened him.

If there was one thing you learned at the Lock about demons, it was never to threaten a demon belonging to the Pride clan.

If he hadn't been wary of the rumors about my strength, I would've been afraid he would have just attacked me then and there.

Fortunately, my other self knew when to back down, and from there was able to make a deal with the Duke.

Thankfully, I didn't have to give anything up. Initially, the Duke was against the idea of me keeping my stuff, but considering what he would gain, he eventually relented.

It wasn't every day he would get a core belonging to a Duke-ranked demon. Furthermore, with multiple alibis pointing out the fact that I had killed him, he could consume it without worrying.

No Duke would refuse such a tempting offer.

Well, it wasn't like my other self gave him any choice to begin with.

"Took you a while."

While I was carrying Edward on my shoulders, appearing right in front of us was Lightning Dragon.

His appearance shocked Edward as he looked at me.

"What is he doing here?"

Nodding in Lightning Dragon's direction, I glanced at Edward.

"He's our ticket out of the Demon Realm."

"Our ticket out?"

"Yeah. He knows of a portal that can lead us back to earth."

Edward's face relaxed as soon as he heard those words. Staring in Lightning Dragon's direction, he nodded his head.

"I'll be in your care."

"Don't worry about it."

Waving his hand to brush him off, Lightning Dragon took a couple of black robes from his dimensional space and handed them to us.

"For now it's best if you wear this."

"Sure."

"Okay."

Simultaneously nodding our heads, Edward and I took the hoodies and put them on.

This was something that the Duke had ordered.

Since he was planning on consuming the core, he couldn't let it seem as though he was working with me.

If it did, his plans would instantly crumble. Well, that was unless he decided to kill all witnesses, and realistically speaking, that was a bit more of a hassle than doing things this way.

"So…"

In the midst of putting on the robe, I suddenly heard Edward's voice.

I turned my head to look his way. Did he need something?

His next words made my expression harden.

"…I've been meaning to ask this for quite a while, but what's your relationship with my daughter?"

"Ehm…"

Scratching the side of my cheek, I carefully answered.

"The both of us attended the same academy, so we can say we're classmates."

Honestly, it was a bit more complicated than that, but my gut told me to leave it as it was.

"I see.."

As Edward raised the hoodie to cover his face, he nodded his head.

me on the

just curious. No need to

that, he

my head to stare at his

pressure coming out of his body that

he wasn't even channeling his mana

'Overprotective dad…'

my head, I followed him from behind and caught up with Lightning Dragon who looked at

"What?"

in

turned

your hoodie on and let's go. We

*

"This way…"

Dragon, I, along with Edward

portal Lightning Dragon used

through portal devices they created. Not only that, but

to access the demon realm, the

only way to enter a dungeon was through the portals that were set up on

at Lightning Dragon who was

we have left till we

"We're here."

Dragon abruptly halted

dawned on me that we were in the middle of

glance at Lightning Dragon again, I

exactly is this

"Eh…"

around the place, Lightning Dragon embarrassingly

at his surroundings, a wry smile appeared on his

"…I forgot."

"Shit."

his words, I

forgot about

he is the key to

of course directed to my other self who was the one that told me that Lightning Dragon was the only one that could help

"You don't remember?"

Edward's voice echoed throughout the forest. Sharing the same dumbfounded look, he

you say that you

"I did."

no, Liam nodded

know that it's

to look at the other figure that

way to sense where

"...I can try."

the figure lowered his hood and

help out

he too started to look

one of the threes, I shook my

Duke had his own

necessary to know the coordinates of the two locations in order to set up a portal. And since the Duke had never been

required in order to activate the portal, and since none of us could use it,

of the

"Haaa…"

a long and tired sigh and stared at the sky. Although I wanted to help, my body was still aching from the side effect of the skill, and although the pain was a

hope they

But...

passed, and the results

'How useless.'

help

I quickly scanned my surroundings. But upon realizing just how vast the place was, my face sank

take

"I've found it!"

I was about to start searching, I heard

in the distance holding a small

"You found it?"

with relief and excitement, Edward walked up to him before looking

"Can you activate it?"

"Yes."

demonic energy suddenly sprang out from

Crack. Crack. Crack.

demonic energy, thin black threads appeared in the air, and minuscule tearing sounds could

ten minutes, a black portal started to

took him a lot of demonic energy to activate the portal. In the end, he struggled for a

"Haaa…haa…haa…I'm done."

echoed throughout the forest. He looked

done a good

calmly patted my hand on

doing

Crack—

the demon in his abdomen area and

same. I'm also doing this for the

the deal I made with the

about the fact that I

of the agreement

core. But once he did, a breeze brushed past, scattering what remained of him in

the demon died, I glanced toward the portal

go. It's

***

Duke Adramalech's voice.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

stared at

come soon, give

"An acquaintance?"

was he talking about? Duke Adramalech had no

back at the figure, the Duke decided to

feel any