The Author's POV

'I'm sorry, but it looks like you'll have to be sacrificed.'

If possible, I would have shed a few tears at this time. However, I was a man, and men don't cry.

"Okay. You can take him."

I felt a potent glare at the back of my head, but I disregarded it. Certain sacrifices were required for the greater good, and Jin was that one sacrifice.

Priscilla's expression changed to one of surprise the moment I gave in and agreed. She looked at Jin first, then at me, with an open mouth as she alternated her gaze back and forth between us.

"You're agreeing?"

"Why not?"

"Eh?"

"What's with you?"

She displayed a surprisingly wide range of expressions today, especially for a demon of her stature. The poise that she displayed in the very beginning had long since vanished, and what I saw in front of me was nothing more than a misguided child.

'Come to think of it, if you push her buttons correctly, Angelica isn't that much different.'

Were all demons like this?

"I'm fine with giving him to you. Of course, I won't be fine with it if you're planning on doing something bad to him."

Her objective was not hard to discern at all. She most likely was dissatisfied with the mana contract, and as a result, she wanted to keep Jin close to her in order to maintain some degree of leverage for herself.

When viewed from her perspective, her choice was one that was entirely rational. Although the mana contract was a good way to establish a certain level of "trust," it was never a bad idea to have additional leverage.

Plus, I actually wanted Jin to stay behind as well. Just like she wanted to monitor us, I also wanted to monitor her. It went both ways.

"…You are one strange human."

A smile blossomed on my face. It was rather twisted, but it still counted as one.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

*

"For now, just as agreed. I will give you a small portion of what is promised to you."

The Duchess handed me a miniature sized wooden box. The container wasn't particularly large—it was roughly the size of a notebook—and it had a very light feel to it when handled.

After opening a small wooden case, a sweet, honey-like odor permeated the entire space, and I caught a glimpse of a small bottle containing a thick black liquid inside it.

Within a few short moments after catching a whiff of the honey-like scent, the blood in my body began to circulate rapidly, and my hands instinctively reached for the bottle.

'Finally...'

"Hmmm."

Opening the lid, I gave it a good whiff.

It was good.

"How is it?"

"It'll do."

I closed the lid and nodded in satisfaction. This was exactly what I needed.

agreement, I will now help you with your

anything you would like from

look at the others. They were all staring at me. After a brief pause for

that Duke guy…what was

"Ukhan."

"Ukhan, huh..."

recalled his words and

Didn't he say something about the gall bladder being

"It is…"

she listened to my words, indicating that she had an implicit understanding of the

before walking over to her. The moment I took a step forward, her expression changed, and

worry, I mean no harm. Let

out with

"…touch your head."

***

melody lingered in the air. Duke Ukhan maintained his poise as he sipped from a murky

"Reporting."

The Duke continued to enjoy the

to be to his

With regards to their backgrounds, aside from the fact that

and the other guard

four appears to be a long-range fighter, while the other appears to be a close-range fighter who specializes in speed and the arts of the dagger. Regarding the other two, we weren't able to

It is possible to get rid of them, but it would take a few

monitor their movements. If you give the command, we can go ahead and

the report that was given to him by one of his servants, the Duke's expression did not shift in the least bit. Quietly listening, he nodded his head subtly

murky liquid

"There's no need."

given this a lot of thought, but he ultimately decided that it would not be worthwhile to give up several capable spies

them in the cave and wasn't necessarily worried. They were nothing but flies in

get rid of them. They

tad bit later, he could

carefully set the teacup he was holding down on the table before rising to his feet. He then

his back, he admired the scenery in front of

regarding their situation. There are more important issues at hand right now, and it would be unproductive to focus

He licked his lips.

plenty of time

"I beg to disagree."

in the room,

"Who!"

soon as he turned around, the first thing he

on the seat opposite

"Do you mind?"

gesture toward the teapot. Then, as if he were in his own home, he poured himself

"Ukh."

spat out the drink immediately

"What is this crap?"

his features, but he seemed genuinely offended by the taste

with you demons and drinks? Do you only know how to drink

Ukhan sat calmly opposite him on the sofa. His appearance may have initially startled him, but

old teacup, he

"Not bad."

feeling genuinely

"The tea?"

me noticing, but you also managed to knock out two of my guards at the same time. You

after attributing the figure's sudden entrance and action to