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

beat. Her goal was to recruit as many talented people to her side in order to aid her with the incoming fruit harvesting event―World

see through her

as though there is a spy

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

who was quietly kneeling on one knee, suddenly felt a powerful pressure bear down on his body for a split second before finding it disappear

"Disappear from my sight."

"Understood."

his figure quietly melted into the background of the room, leaving

Tak. Tak.

as she walked toward the chair of her desk and donned

shoulders and 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

with

***

you sure that they won't find

our surrounding environment, his eyes darting toward his

at the edges of his hood, trying to pull it down as far as he could, he didn't look much different from someone who had

the demonic energy has also started to

"Haa..."

to myself, placing my hand over his shoulder, and

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

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 were demons, but a closer inspection revealed that there were also orcs and members of other races interspersed among

only referring to the people I

a few other people who had the same plan as us and were concealing their identities by donning

less

"You're right..."

aware of the other hooded figures that

"Has everyone gathered?"

reverberated through 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 alteration

fine control of

was almost on the level of

Tak.

building that stood adjacent to the plaza, and with the

the instant she appeared, the faces of many people present changed, unable

'This is dangerous.'

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

the two of us fight, I might be able to win...but the price

one of the strongest demons in this city made me aware of just how dangerous the place I was in

increased a notch as I took a small step

"Hm..."

a second figure that was erecting itself behind her. He was also a

was standing behind her while maintaining