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

there is anything you would like from

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

you mention it, that Duke guy…what was

"Ukhan."

"Ukhan, huh..."

his

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

"It is…"

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

moment I took a step forward, her expression

no harm. Let

reached out with my

"…touch your head."

***

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

"Reporting."

continued to enjoy the drink without so much as casting a

be to his

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, not much is known

and the other guard

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

her protection. It is possible to get rid of them, but it would take

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

Duke's expression did not

into it at the murky liquid

"There's no need."

a lot of thought, but he ultimately decided that it would not be

he interacted with them in the cave and

it, I'll just get rid of them.

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

he was holding down on the table before rising to his feet. He then moved toward the glass window that was located on the right side of the

back, he admired the scenery in front

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 for that

"I beg to disagree."

echoed in the room, startling

"Who!"

the first thing he noticed was

importantly, sitting on the seat opposite him was a

"Do you mind?"

Then, as if he were in his own home, he poured himself some liquid from a cup and brought it closer to his mouth before

"Ukh."

drink immediately after tasting

"What is this crap?"

a hood covering his features, but he

dirt. What is up with you demons and drinks? Do you

appearance may have initially startled him, but

he placed it in

"Not bad."

feeling genuinely

"The tea?"

sneak in here without me noticing, but you also managed to knock out two of my guards at the same time. You must have some

the figure's sudden entrance and action to his extraordinary stealth-like