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.

have time, it's best we make the most

we'd only have about five months on our trip over here. While it wasn't long, it wasn't

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

a day on this world was significantly different from that on earth; consequently, the amount of

"It's perfect."

thought there wasn't enough time, but given the

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

"…I can only try."

able to rank up due to the lack of mana in the air...

Demonic energy.

***

white curtains that led to

"Pftt…"

the silence in the

she rejected his request, Priscilla found herself unable to

it for not telling me he'd erase

Even though she did comprehend the reason he acted in the manner that he did, it would have been nice if he had informed her of it

was the past, and what was done was

made the right bet in

was on

shuddered at the thought of being on the

only was his strength extremely terrifying, but so were

day, he managed to do what

house point of view, then they were the

Envy being the main target

lose any of their forces, but they were also the house with the

others, they

about it,

managed to fool seven Prince ranked entities was enough to prove just how scary

"Huh."

moon outside. She then brought two

"Huh?"

realize that she had nothing in her hand. Immediately her face

I forgot to ask the

***

restrained by chains hung in the air. The world around him was devoid

and the only movement that could be seen was the very

appeared before

"It's been a while."

to that of the chained man. No, rather, they

was none

other self, who showed no reaction to his appearance, Ren calmly sat down in front of

just stared at him for an unknown period

he was trying to check if he was still alive

let out a sigh and

you going

"…"

received no response. Nonetheless,

to it? Do you have no goals that you want to achieve before dying…

"…"

there's something

his hand, several

straight ahead,

ask anything in return, but... if it truly