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.

to attract the

Her goal was to recruit as many talented people to her

thought that the other demons would see through her

there is a

no change in Priscilla's facial features as she peered at

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."

figure quietly melted into the

Tak. Tak.

of Priscilla's heels reverberated throughout the room as she walked toward the chair of her desk and

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 opened the

do with what I have for

***

sure that they won't

while carefully examining our surrounding environment, his eyes darting

hood, trying to pull it down as far as he could, he didn't look much different from someone

demonic energy has also started

"Haa..."

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

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

of 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

course, I was only referring

people who had the same plan as us and were concealing their identities by donning hoods

even less as we perfectly

"You're right..."

becoming aware of the other hooded

"Has everyone gathered?"

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

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

fine control of

level of my control

Tak.

the plaza, and with

appeared, the faces of many people present changed, unable to

'This is dangerous.'

who had been close to achieving the rank of prince and was the same individual who had

might be able

that she wasn't even one of the strongest demons in this city made me aware of just how dangerous

as I took a

"Hm..."

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

while maintaining