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.

I will now

there is anything you would like from

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

mention it, that

"Ukhan."

"Ukhan, huh..."

his

Didn't he say something about the gall bladder being a potent poison for

"It is…"

she listened to my words, indicating that she had an implicit understanding of the question that I was about to

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

worry, I mean no harm. Let me

reached out

"…touch your head."

***

maintained his poise as he sipped from a murky black

"Reporting."

the drink without so much as casting a

to be to his

only ones we were unable to deal with were the ones that saved 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,

paused, and

to be a close-range fighter who specializes in

are currently residing within the Duchess's estate and are currently under her protection. It is

currently stationed a couple of spies to monitor their movements. If

servants, the Duke's expression did not shift in the

the murky liquid that was contained

"There's no need."

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

when he interacted with them in

it, I'll just get rid of

the Duchess's reinforcements had arrived just a tad bit later, he could already picture their skulls exploding right in front of his very

to his feet. He then moved toward the glass window that was

his back, he

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

He licked his lips.

plenty of

"I beg to disagree."

whisper echoed in the room, startling the

"Who!"

when, as soon as he turned around, the first thing he noticed was the sight of his two guards lying face

seat opposite him was a familiar, cloaked

"Do you mind?"

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

"Ukh."

spat out the drink immediately

"What is this crap?"

been a hood covering his features, but he seemed

no worse than dirt. What is up with you demons and

appearance may have initially startled

he placed it in

"Not bad."

murmured, feeling

"The tea?"

only did you manage to sneak in here without me noticing, but you also managed to knock out two of my guards at the same time.

regained his composure after attributing the figure's sudden entrance and action to his extraordinary