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.

we make the most

on our trip over

only realized later that I had grossly underestimated something over here, and that was the fact that one day here wasn't actually the same as

was significantly different from that on earth; consequently, the amount of time

"It's perfect."

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

several bottles, each of which contained a substance I was

"…I can only try."

the air... I no longer relied on mana alone. I could use my time to train with my newfound

Demonic energy.

***

the white curtains that

"Pftt…"

broke the silence

the human made when she rejected his request, Priscilla

it for not telling me he'd

acted in the manner that he

was the past, and what was done

made the right

was on

being on the

his strength extremely terrifying, but so were his

took him was a single day. In a single day,

at it from the sloth house point

houses busy with the succession war, and the House of Envy being the main target of everyone, the House of Sloth was the one

their forces, but they were

the others,

more I think about it, the

fact that he had managed to fool seven Prince ranked entities was

"Huh."

outside. She then brought two fingers to

"Huh?"

she had nothing in her hand.

forgot to ask the other human for

***

figure restrained by chains hung in the air. The world around him was devoid of any light

a lifeless look on his face and the only movement that could be seen was the very slight contraction

appeared

"It's been a while."

to that of the chained

was none

other self, who showed no reaction to

anything and just stared at him for an unknown

was trying to check if

out a sigh and spoke

you going to

"…"

received no response.

Do you have no goals that you want to achieve

"…"

something wrong

hand,

straight ahead,

ask anything in return, but... if it truly helps you and