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

not taming the Abyssal Mammoth, which, although difficult, wasn't impossible for her to beat. Her goal was to recruit as many talented people to her side in order to aid her

other demons would see

though there is a

change in Priscilla's facial features as she peered at her servant through the corners of her

his body for

"Disappear from my sight."

"Understood."

quietly melted into the background of the room, leaving Priscilla

Tak. Tak.

as she walked toward the chair of her

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 and then exited

do with

***

that

surrounding environment, his

way he was holding his hands at the edges of his hood, trying to pull it down as far as he could, he didn't

energy has also started

"Haa..."

myself, placing my hand

Look, we're not the only group wearing hoods. If you look carefully, apart from a few, most people

surrounding us as we stood in the middle of a large plaza. One look was enough to tell that the vast majority of them

was only referring to the

a few other people who had the same plan as us and were

less as we perfectly

"You're right..."

aware of the other hooded

"Has everyone gathered?"

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

into the heads of everyone present, and there was a slight alteration in the expression on my face

fine control of

almost on the level of my

Tak.

materialized on the balcony of a white building that stood adjacent to the plaza, and with the tap of her heel, she drew the attention

appeared, the faces of many people present

'This is dangerous.'

comparable to that of Suriol, an individual who had been close to achieving the rank of prince and was the same individual who had

be able to win...but the price will

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

increased a notch as I took a small

"Hm..."

itself behind

standing behind her while maintaining a calm and