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

to recruit as many

see through her intentions and perform similar

as though there is a spy

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

quietly kneeling on one knee, suddenly felt a powerful pressure bear down on his body for a split second before

"Disappear from my sight."

"Understood."

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

Tak. Tak.

the room as she walked toward the chair of her

as she walked toward

have to make do with what I have for

***

that

surrounding environment, his eyes darting toward

the edges of his hood, trying to pull it down as far as he could, he didn't look

seems like the demonic energy

"Haa..."

hand over his shoulder, and shook

look carefully, apart from

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

I was only referring to the people I

mentioning to Jin, there were quite a few other people who had the same plan as us and were

made us stand out even less as we perfectly blended with

"You're right..."

of the other hooded figures that were surrounding us

"Has everyone gathered?"

minds of each and every one of the

voice wasn't particularly loud, but it effortlessly made its way into the heads of everyone present, and there was a slight alteration

control of demonic

on the level of my control

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

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

'This is dangerous.'

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

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

one of the strongest demons in this city

increased a notch as I took a small

"Hm..."

a second figure that was erecting itself behind

while maintaining a calm and emotionless