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 out of it.

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

here, and that was the fact that

of a day on this world was significantly different from that on earth; consequently, the amount of time we had over here was significantly greater than the five months we had originally intended

"It's perfect."

enough time, but given the time I had, maybe… just maybe—by the

my hand and pulled out several bottles, each of which contained a substance I was familiar with, then I took several

"…I can only try."

in the air... I no longer

Demonic energy.

***

was tastefully decorated, lit up by the bright moon that hung high in the night sky. There was complete silence in the room as the white curtains that led to the balcony

"Pftt…"

broke the silence

human made when she rejected his

for not telling me he'd erase my

about it. Even though she did comprehend the reason he acted in the manner that

past was the past, and what was done was

the right bet in the

was on my

the thought of being

his strength extremely terrifying,

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

at it from the sloth house

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

forces, but they were also the house with the greatest advantage during the upcoming World

others, they

think about it, the

fool seven Prince ranked entities

"Huh."

and gazed at the moon outside. She then brought two fingers to

"Huh?"

to realize that she had nothing

the other

***

him was devoid of any light as darkness restrained

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

appeared before

"It's been a while."

of the chained man. No, rather, they

was none

who showed no reaction to his appearance,

say anything and just stared at him for an unknown period of

was trying to check if he

a sigh and

when are you going to be like

"…"

no response. Nonetheless,

you want to die, but is that really all there is to it? Do you

"…"

because there's something

hand, several

ahead,

anything in return, but...