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

that we'd only have about five months on our trip over here. While

over here, and that was the fact that

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

"It's perfect."

how grim the situation back on Earth was, I originally thought there wasn't enough time, but given the time I had, maybe… just

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

"…I can only try."

up due to the lack of mana in the air... I no longer relied on mana alone. I could use my

Demonic energy.

***

the white curtains that led to the balcony ballooned

"Pftt…"

laughter broke the silence

rejected his request, Priscilla

it for not telling me

did comprehend the reason he acted in the manner that he did, it

the past, and what was done

made the right bet

was on

thought of being on the opposite

strength extremely terrifying, but

In a single day, he managed to do

looked at it from the sloth house point of view,

busy with the succession war, and the House of Envy being the main target of everyone, the House

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

the others, they

more I think about it,

he had managed to fool seven Prince ranked entities

"Huh."

outside. She then brought two

"Huh?"

realize that she had nothing in her hand. Immediately

forgot to ask the other

***

hung in the air. The world around him was devoid of any light as darkness restrained every inch of his

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

appeared before

"It's been a while."

features were strikingly similar to that of the chained man. No,

was none other than

his other self, who showed no reaction to his appearance, Ren calmly sat

didn't say anything and just stared at

though he was trying to check if he was still alive or

out a sigh and spoke

you going to

"…"

no response.

know you want to die, but is that really all there is to it? Do you have no goals that

"…"

something wrong with your

hand, several

ahead,

I won't ask anything in return, but... if it truly helps you and your