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.

make the most out of it. We've

have about five months on our trip over

only realized later that I had grossly underestimated something over here, and that was the fact that one day

consequently, the amount of time we had over here was significantly greater than the five months we had originally intended

"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 maybe—by the time I returned, I'd be strong

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

"…I can only try."

I might not be able to rank up due to the lack of mana in the air... I no longer relied on mana alone. I could use my

Demonic energy.

***

silence in the room as the white curtains that led to

"Pftt…"

sudden laughter broke the

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

it for not telling me

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

past was the past, and what was done

made the right bet in

he was on

thought of being on the opposite side of

extremely terrifying, but so

day, he managed to do what

house point of view, then they were

and the House of Envy being the main target of everyone, the House

they not lose any of their forces, but they were

others, they weren't

about it, the

managed to fool seven Prince ranked entities was enough to prove just how scary

"Huh."

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

"Huh?"

realize that she had nothing in her

ask the other human for another

***

air. The world around him was

look on his face and the only movement that could

appeared

"It's been a while."

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

was none other than

who showed no reaction to his appearance, Ren calmly sat down in

at him for an unknown period

he was trying to

let out a sigh

you going to

"…"

no response. Nonetheless, he

die, but is that really all there is to it? Do you have no goals that you want to achieve before dying… like, perhaps

"…"

it because there's something

his hand,

straight ahead, he

that may potentially help you. I won't ask anything in return, but... if it truly helps you and your sanity