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

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

I 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 one day back

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

"It's perfect."

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

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

"…I can only try."

air... I no longer relied on mana alone. I could use my time to

Demonic energy.

***

the bright moon that hung high in the night sky. There was complete silence in the room as the white curtains that led to

"Pftt…"

laughter broke the silence

she rejected his request,

deserves it for not telling

manner that he did, it would have been nice if

past was the past, and what

made the right

he was on my

shuddered at the thought of being on the opposite

was his strength extremely terrifying, but so were his

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

sloth house point of view, then they

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

their forces, but they were also the house

others,

I think about it, the scarier

he had managed to fool seven Prince ranked entities was enough to prove

"Huh."

outside. She then brought two fingers

"Huh?"

that she had nothing

ask the other

***

chains hung in the air. The world around him was devoid

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

figure appeared before

"It's been a while."

strikingly similar to that of the chained man. No, rather, they

was none other

to

and just stared at him for

though he was trying to check if

eventually let out a

when are you going

"…"

received no response. Nonetheless, he

that really all there is to it? Do you have no goals that you want to achieve before dying…

"…"

something wrong

his hand, several tubes

straight ahead, he

anything in return, but...