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.

time, it's best we make the most out of it. We've got plenty of

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

that was the fact that one day here wasn't actually the same as one day back

on this world was significantly different from that on earth; consequently, the amount of time we had over here was significantly greater than

"It's perfect."

given the time I had, maybe… just maybe—by the time I returned, I'd be strong

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

"…I can only try."

up due to the lack of mana in the air... I no

Demonic energy.

***

complete silence in the room as the white curtains that led to the balcony ballooned outward like the sails of a ship and moved

"Pftt…"

broke the

the human made when she rejected his request, Priscilla found herself unable to

for not telling

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 in

the past was the past, and what was done

had made the right

was on

the thought of being on the opposite side of

extremely terrifying, but so were

day,

sloth house point of view, then they were the

Envy being the main target of everyone, the House

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

the others, they weren't

I think about it, the scarier this

entities was enough to prove just how scary of

"Huh."

gazed at the moon outside. She then brought

"Huh?"

she had nothing

the

***

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

and the only movement that could be

appeared before

"It's been a while."

of the

was none other

to his appearance, Ren calmly sat down in front of

at

trying to check if he was

a sigh

are you going

"…"

response. Nonetheless,

that really all there is to it? Do you have no goals that you want

"…"

something wrong

hand, several

straight ahead, he

but... if it truly helps you and your sanity returns, will you listen to