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.

will now help

if there is anything you would like

all staring at me. After a brief pause for thought, I turned my attention once more

it, that

"Ukhan."

"Ukhan, huh..."

his words and

him. Didn't he say something about the gall

"It is…"

that she had an implicit understanding of the question that I was

walking over to her. The moment I took a step forward, her expression changed, and the two guards who

no

out

"…touch your head."

***

air. Duke Ukhan maintained his poise as he sipped from a murky black drink while seated in the center on a chair covered in

"Reporting."

enjoy the drink

seemed to be to

the Duchess. With regards to their backgrounds, aside from the fact that they've been in the city for a little over a day now, not much is known

guard paused, and the

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 gather

within the Duchess's estate and are currently under her protection. It is possible to get rid of them,

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

given to him by one of his servants, the Duke's expression did not shift

down into it at the murky liquid that was contained there and then raised his

"There's no need."

of thought, but he ultimately decided that it would not be worthwhile to give up several capable spies in order to

already had a general understanding of those 'annoyances' when he interacted with them in the cave and wasn't necessarily worried. They were

get rid of them. They aren't anything

reinforcements had arrived just a tad bit later, he could already picture their skulls exploding right in

the teacup he was holding down on the table before rising to his feet.

he

them and report back to me whenever there is a new development regarding their situation. There are more important issues at hand right now, and it

He licked his lips.

plenty of time for that

"I beg to disagree."

gentle whisper echoed in the

"Who!"

aback when, as soon as he turned around, the first thing he noticed was the sight of his two guards lying face down on the ground. Passed

sitting on the seat opposite him

"Do you mind?"

his own home, he poured himself some liquid from a cup and brought it closer to his

"Ukh."

out the drink immediately after

"What is this crap?"

have been a hood covering his features, but he seemed genuinely offended by the

than dirt. What is up with you demons and drinks? Do you only know how to

sofa. His appearance may have initially startled him, but

he placed it in

"Not bad."

feeling genuinely

"The tea?"

here without me noticing, but you also managed to knock out two of my guards at the

Ukhan regained his composure after attributing the figure's sudden