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.

best we make the most out of it. We've

five months on our trip over here. While it wasn't long, it wasn't

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

amount of time we had over here was significantly greater

"It's perfect."

enough time, but given the time I

out several bottles, each of which contained a substance I was familiar with, then I took several deep

"…I can only try."

might not be able to rank up due to the lack of mana in the air... I no longer relied on

Demonic energy.

***

white curtains that led to the balcony ballooned outward like the sails of a ship and moved in an odd wavelike pattern as

"Pftt…"

sudden laughter broke the silence

rejected his request, Priscilla found herself unable to hold

not telling me he'd erase my

manner

the past, and

made the right bet

was on

thought of being on

his strength extremely terrifying, but so were

a single day. In a single day, he managed to do what she

from the sloth house point of view, then

the House of Envy being the main target of everyone, the House of Sloth was the one that gained the most from the

did they not lose any of their forces, but they were also the house with the greatest advantage during the upcoming World

the others, they

more I think about it, the

seven Prince ranked entities was enough to

"Huh."

and gazed at the moon outside. She

"Huh?"

had nothing in her hand. Immediately her

I forgot to ask the other

***

air. The world around him was devoid

the only movement that could be seen was

appeared before

"It's been a while."

strikingly similar to that of the chained man.

was none other

to his appearance, Ren calmly

at him for

he was trying to check if

let out a sigh and

you going to be like

"…"

response.

is to it? Do you have no goals that you

"…"

something wrong with

hand, several tubes

ahead,

something that may potentially help you. I won't ask anything in return, but... if it truly helps