The Author's POV

The room was beautifully illuminated by a glittering chandelier placed in the middle of the ceiling.

Click―!

The handle on the door to the room clicked as it was opened, and a moment later, a tall, graceful figure dressed in black clothing that were rather revealing entered the room, casting about.

Priscilla Pertinol didn't look around as she quietly walked toward the far end of the room, where a large window stood.

Arriving at the window, by her side, was a massive, 10-foot-tall glass pane that was gently tilted toward the side of the wall.

Reflected in the mirror was a graceful figure with long pink hair that reached the ends of her back, stopping right above her waistline. Two thin horns protruded from the top of her forehead, separating her hair and leaving her unable to hide her pristine looks that seemed to make any man drool.

Her face was carefully composed in an almost-statuesque placidity, absent even of the slightest emotion as her red eyes gazed past through the window.

"How many people have decided to sign up for the task?"

In the moment that she opened her mouth, the area behind her warped, and a black figure appeared out of thin air, with one knee to the ground and a respectful expression.

"We've received several applicants so far."

"A rough estimate."

"About a hundred or so."

Priscilla's delicate brows furrowed ever so slightly, unable to disguise her annoyance.

"This little?"

"Yes...it appears as though the other houses have put up similar quests."

"I see."

Priscilla gave a curt nod, the hint of a frown on her lips indicating that she did not appreciate having her hand forced in this manner.

"Looks like they caught on to my intentions."

"It appears so..."

The servant answered, his head lowering and his voice becoming quieter.

"What do you plan on doing? Will you still proceed?"

"..."

Silence filled the room as Priscilla contemplated. Originally, she had anticipated having more than a thousand different participants join her on this quest.

It wasn't just about her fame and good looks that attracted people to join her mission; it was also the fact that the monetary reward was high.

was definitely high enough to attract the attention of

the Abyssal Mammoth, which, although difficult, wasn't impossible for her to beat. Her goal was to recruit as many talented

that the other demons would see through her intentions and perform similar mass recruitment

though there is

as she peered at her servant through

body for a split second before finding it disappear into thin air, and what

"Disappear from my sight."

"Understood."

fade of his words, his figure quietly melted into the background of the room,

Tak. Tak.

reverberated throughout the room as she walked toward the chair of her desk and donned a fur-trimmed black

with a light swing of her arm, the cape followed her as she walked toward the far end of the room, where she opened the large wooden door

make do with

***

you sure that

inquired while carefully examining our surrounding environment, his eyes darting toward

edges of his hood, trying to pull it

seems like the demonic energy has

"Haa..."

sighed to myself, placing my hand over

group wearing hoods. If you look carefully, apart from

a large plaza. One look was enough to tell that the vast majority of them were demons, but a closer inspection revealed that there were

was only referring to the people I could

who had the same plan as us and were concealing

us stand out even less as we perfectly blended with

"You're right..."

after becoming aware of the other hooded figures

"Has everyone gathered?"

room, reaching the minds of each and every one of the people who

heads of everyone present, and there was a slight alteration in the

control of

on the level of my control with

Tak.

to the plaza, and with the

instant she appeared, the faces of many people

'This is dangerous.'

that was emanating from the demon was comparable to that of Suriol, an individual who had been close to achieving

might be able to win...but the price will definitely not be

of the strongest demons in this city made me aware of just how dangerous the

guard increased a notch as I took a small step

"Hm..."

behind her. He was also a demon, and he was dressed in what appeared to be heavy

behind her while maintaining a calm and emotionless