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

They were all staring at me. After a brief pause for thought,

mention it, that

"Ukhan."

"Ukhan, huh..."

recalled his

say something about the gall bladder

"It is…"

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

a step

worry, I mean no

reached out with my

"…touch your head."

***

maintained his poise as he sipped from a murky black

"Reporting."

to enjoy the drink without so much

seemed to be

with were the ones that saved the Duchess. With regards to their backgrounds, aside from

and the other

the 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

and are currently under her protection. It is possible to get rid of

If you give the command, we can

he was listening to the report that was given to him by one of his servants, the Duke's

murky liquid that

"There's no need."

it would not be worthwhile to give

those 'annoyances' when he interacted with them in the cave and

comes down to it, I'll just get rid of them. They

and the Duchess's reinforcements had arrived just a tad bit later, he could already picture

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

his back, he admired

eye on 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

"I beg to disagree."

gentle whisper echoed in the room,

"Who!"

around, the first thing he noticed was

seat opposite him

"Do you mind?"

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

"Ukh."

drink immediately after tasting

"What is this crap?"

been a hood covering his features, but he seemed

no worse than dirt. What is up with you demons and drinks? Do you only

the sofa. His appearance

up his old teacup, he placed it in

"Not bad."

feeling genuinely

"The tea?"

managed to

his composure after attributing the figure's sudden entrance and