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.

definitely high enough to attract the

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

see through her intentions

is

was no change in Priscilla's facial features as she peered at her servant through the

kneeling on one knee, suddenly felt a powerful pressure bear down on his body for a

"Disappear from my sight."

"Understood."

his words, his figure quietly melted into the background

Tak. Tak.

heels reverberated throughout the room as she walked toward the chair of her desk and donned

flapping it open 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

to make do with what I have

***

that they won't find

our surrounding environment, his

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

like the demonic energy has

"Haa..."

to myself, placing my hand over his shoulder, and shook

the only group wearing hoods. If you look carefully, apart from a few, most people here

look was enough to tell that the vast majority of them were demons, but a closer inspection revealed

only referring to the

there were quite a few other people who had the same plan as us and were concealing their identities by donning hoods that were very similar

made us stand out even less as we

"You're right..."

after becoming aware of the other hooded figures that were

"Has everyone gathered?"

the room, reaching the minds of each and every one

particularly loud, but it effortlessly made its way into the heads of everyone present, and there was a slight

fine control of

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

faces of many people present changed, unable to hide their

'This is dangerous.'

been close to achieving

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

one of the strongest demons in this

notch as I took a small step

"Hm..."

of a second figure that was erecting itself behind her. He was also a demon, and he was dressed in

standing behind her while maintaining