The Author's POV

"Tsk."

Coming out of the Duchess's room, I clicked my tongue.

'I tried at least.'

Lowering my head, I looked at the three other tubes in my hand before putting them away.

Moments prior, I tried to negotiate for a devil fruit, but I was flat out rejected by her.

In the end, all I could do was leave with my head lowered.

'I can't be too impatient.'

I could've negotiated for a devil fruit before, but the Nectar was far more important to me. While I wasn't completely healed, I felt far more refreshed than I had in a very long time.

I even had a very good night's sleep for once.

Plus…

'It's not like there won't be an opportunity later.'

"You're back?"

"Yeah."

As I made my way back to our residence after secretly escaping the estate, I was greeted by the sight of Melissa tinkering with an odd substance. Nothing unusual.

Already used to this, I found a chair not so far from her and took a seat.

"Have you found what you've been looking for?"

"Not really."

Melissa shook the test tube in front of her and quietly observed it.

Though faint, I caught sight of a couple of bubbles on top.

…Just what sort of potion was she making?

"When are we going to leave?"

"When the time comes."

The only way back was through Kevin, so until the designated time, we'd be stuck here for a bit more.

"Thankfully, I'm already finished with what I needed to do, so I guess we can take it easy until the time is right if that's okay with you?"

"That's fine with me."

Melissa nodded her head without a change in expression.

It seems like she was enjoying her stay here.

"That's great."

I stood up from the seat.

make the most out of it.

assumed that we'd only have about five months on our

underestimated something over here, and that was the fact that one day here wasn't actually the same

world was significantly different from that on earth; consequently, the amount of time we had over here was significantly

"It's perfect."

there wasn't enough time, but given the time I had, maybe… just maybe—by the time I returned, I'd be strong

my hand and pulled out several bottles, each of which contained a substance

"…I can only try."

up due to the lack of mana in the air... I no longer relied on mana

Demonic energy.

***

room as the white curtains that led to the balcony ballooned outward like the sails

"Pftt…"

laughter broke the silence in

face the human made when she rejected his

telling

the reason he acted in the manner that he did, it would have been nice if he had informed her

the past, and what was

had made the right bet in the

was on

being on the opposite side

only was his strength extremely terrifying, but so

day. In a single day, he managed to

one looked at it from the sloth house point of view, then

other houses busy with the succession war, and the House of Envy being the main target of everyone, the House of Sloth was the one that gained the most from

were also the house with the greatest advantage during the upcoming World

the others,

about it,

fool seven Prince ranked entities was enough to prove just

"Huh."

the moon outside. She then brought two fingers to

"Huh?"

that she had nothing in her hand. Immediately her

to ask the other human for another

***

him was devoid

on his face and the only movement that could be seen was the very

figure appeared before

"It's been a while."

that of the

none other than

reaction to his appearance,

and just stared at him

he was trying to check if he was still alive

let out a sigh and

when are you going to be

"…"

received no response. Nonetheless,

all there is to it? Do you have no goals that you want

"…"

something wrong with

his hand,

ahead,

return, but...