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.

enough to attract

as many talented people to her side in order to aid her with the incoming fruit harvesting event―World Decree―that would soon take

would see through her intentions and perform

is a spy

features as she peered at

body for a split second before finding it disappear into thin air, and what followed was Priscilla's voice as

"Disappear from my sight."

"Understood."

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

Tak. Tak.

she walked toward the chair of her

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 large wooden door and then exited

to make do with what I have

***

sure that

environment, his eyes darting toward his

trying to pull it down as far

the demonic energy has

"Haa..."

placing my hand over his shoulder, and

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

were a lot 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 demons, but a closer inspection revealed that there were also

was only referring to

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

stand out even less as we perfectly blended with the

"You're right..."

became calmer after becoming aware of the other

"Has everyone gathered?"

reaching the minds of each and

but it effortlessly made its way into the heads of everyone present, and there was a slight alteration in the expression on my face as

control

on the level of my

Tak.

materialized on the balcony of a white building that stood adjacent to the plaza, and with the

faces of many

'This is dangerous.'

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

I might be able to win...but the price

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

as I took a small step

"Hm..."

figure that was erecting itself behind her. He

behind her while maintaining a