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.

patted me

curious. No need

that, he

stare at his back, I

incredible pressure coming out of

his mana or anything of the

'Overprotective dad…'

and caught up with Lightning Dragon who looked at me with a strange look on his

"What?"

in his

glare, I turned around

let's go. We don't have

*

"This way…"

Edward

current destination was the portal Lightning Dragon used to travel

earth, there was only one way to get there, and that was through portal devices they created. Not only that, but they

fact that dungeon desyncs could be used to access the demon

dungeon was through the portals that were set

stared at Lightning Dragon who

long do we have left till

"We're here."

abruptly halted

around the place. It soon dawned on me that we were

to glance at Lightning Dragon

is

"Eh…"

Dragon embarrassingly scratched

look at his surroundings, a wry smile appeared

"…I forgot."

"Shit."

his words, I couldn't help

forgot about

he is the key to escaping the demon

that told me that Lightning Dragon was the

"You don't remember?"

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

say that you knew

"I did."

Dragon, no, Liam nodded his

that it's

turned to look

perhaps know of a way

"...I can try."

look of disdain, the figure lowered his hood and displayed his horns before nodding his

can help out

hand as he

back on one of the

Duke

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

portal, and since

part of

"Haaa…"

out 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

only hope they would

But...

passed, and the results remained the same. My

'How useless.'

me help out as

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

my take

"I've found it!"

to start searching, I heard

distance

"You found it?"

relief and excitement, Edward walked up to him before

"Can you activate it?"

"Yes."

out from the demon's body as he started channeling it toward the

Crack. Crack. Crack.

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

minutes, a black portal started to appear

that it took him a lot of demonic energy to activate the portal. In the end, he struggled for a couple more minutes before he finally dropped it

"Haaa…haa…haa…I'm done."

rough breathing echoed throughout

done a

to the demon, I calmly patted

doing

Crack—

his abdomen area and broke his core before he

also doing this for the

do this, given the deal I made with the Duke, I

about the fact that I struck a deal

part of the agreement

took the demon a few seconds to disintegrate after I cracked the core. But once he did, a breeze brushed past, scattering what remained of him in

where the demon died, I glanced toward the portal before turning my attention to the other

It's

***

Duke Adramalech's voice.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

desk, Duke Adramalech stared

acquaintance of mine might come soon, give this to him if

"An acquaintance?"

talking about?

at the figure, the

feel any strength from