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 got plenty of

five months on

here, and that was

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

"It's perfect."

I originally thought there wasn't enough time, but given the time I had, maybe… just maybe—by

my hand and pulled out several bottles, each of which contained

"…I can only try."

lack of mana in the air... I no longer

Demonic energy.

***

white curtains that led to the balcony

"Pftt…"

sudden laughter broke the silence

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

it for not telling me he'd erase my

she did comprehend the reason he acted in the manner that he did, it would have been nice if he had informed her of

the past, and what was

had made the right

was on

being on the opposite side of

extremely terrifying,

a single day. In a single day,

it from the sloth house point of view, then

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

but they were also the house with

others, they weren't

more I think about it, the

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

"Huh."

moon outside.

"Huh?"

had nothing

ask the other human for another

***

in the air. The world around him was devoid of any light as

a lifeless look on his face and the only movement that could be seen was the very slight contraction of

appeared before

"It's been a while."

that of the

was none

self, who showed no reaction to his appearance,

stared at him for an

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

eventually let out a

when are you going

"…"

no response. Nonetheless,

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

"…"

because there's something wrong

his hand,

straight ahead, he

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