The Author's POV

Had to rewrite the whole chapter, everything is now solved, enjoy.

"Ren, where have you been…I thought…I thought…"

Staring at my mother who was choking on her words, I felt a slight pang in my heart. Scooting over to her side and caressing her back, I reassured her that everything was alright.

"I know, but don't worry. Everything is over, I'm here."

"Sniff, sniff,...Okay."

Nodding her head weakly, my mother eventually calmed down. After a while, wiping the tears in the corner of her eyes, she asked.

"Ren, what are you going to do now? Now that you're back, will you go back to the Academy?"

With a smile on my face, I shook my head.

"No, ill be going away on a trip."

"A trip?" Taken aback by my response, my mother lifted her head and asked. "How long will it take? Will you be back by the end of the weekend?"

Closing my eyes, I once again shook my head.

"…no, I'll be going for a bit longer than that."

"Longer? A week?"

Pursing my lips, and staring at my mother in the eyes, I responded.

"..A couple of years."

"What!?"

My mother suddenly stood up in shock.

With her eyes wide open, she shouted. "You just came back and you're already leaving? What do you think you're doing?! Don't you care about how we feel?"

'It's because I care about you that I have to go.'

I inwardly muttered to myself, but never actually said those words out loud.

I didn't want to let my parents know about the chip and the bounty on my head. If they heard about it, I wouldn't even want to imagine how they'd react.

Therefore, lowering my head and clenching my fists, I resolutely replied.

"Mom, Dad, although I know I have been gone for the past eight months, I really wish you let me go. I need to go on this trip."

I needed to become stronger.

This trip was the key to achieving that. Throughout my whole life in this new world, I realized how flawed this world I created was. Everything in this world revolved around backing and power, and without it, you were nothing.

I understood this clearly. Even then, I couldn't stand that.

Never again did I want to feel so helpless. Never again did I was to go through a similar situation as before.

This was why this trip was necessary.

I needed to change myself, and become more ruthless and decisive. I still laked a lot of experience, and my mind was still too immature for this world.

If I truly wanted to survive in this world, and defeat the demon king, this was the only path I could take.

"No, Ren, I cant le-"

Despite my words, my mother still shook her head. However, right before she was about to disagree, my father put his hand on her shoulder and said.

"Let him."

"Ronald!" My mother looked at my father in shock. "Are you really going to let him go like this? Right after he only just came back to us?"

Looking back at my mom, Ronald shook his head and pointed at me. "Just look at him. He's already made up his mind. There is no changing his decision."

"But."

"Just leave him be. He's already an adult, we can't do anything about his decision"

Lifting my head up, I gratefully looked at my dad.

"Thank you"

but I hope you

"Tell me."

smile on my

don't put yourself into too much danger. We already lost you once, we can't afford to lose you again. Promise me

"...Ah."

Those words.

old promise I made. One that

head,

"…I-I, I will try."

calm smile appeared n my father's

"That's good enough.."

away, a gloomy atmosphere shrouded the room. Uncomfortable with this atmosphere, trying to lighten

the way, where is

in preschool, she should be out in about an

My mother replied.

"An hour?"

watch, my father

you have time, do you want to go

"Can I?"

My eyes lit up.

I really missed Nola.

her schedule, my

turn to pick her up. But since

"Yes, that soun—"

stopping myself mid-sentence, I looked at my mother

did you just say

Or

right, you still

eyes suddenly

about how she met Amanda, and how helpful she had been. From how she would always pick Nola up whenever they were

mom excitedly talk about Amanda, millions of questions emerged in my mind. In the end, I could voice of them out, as a weird feeling rushed over

was a hard one to

wasn't an

was once again my mother as she suddenly

haven't you ever told me that you knew such a

"…ehm, mom?"

and staring at me with shining in her eyes, I scooted a bit further away from her. The pressure that she was exuding was a bit frightening

Leaning over, she asked.

really

"…Yeah."

I awkwardly replied.

time, I don't

"Really?"

eyes and gave me a skeptical

on between us. I think

Amanda who liked cute things. This

you say

my mom no longer asked any questions

next hour or so, I caught

multiple times where I had been during these past eight months, I promptly dodged those questions. After a while, they both got

about many different things, and through this conversation, my mind, for

covering her mouth with her

I think it's almost time for Nola to finish Preschool,

"Now? Okay."

sofa, I turned around and embraced both of my parents one last time before leaving the room. Before I left, I made sure to look at my parents one more

resolved

my sake

*

5 P.M.

front of a large

be the

Nola's preschool. Besides me, I could see

of me, I could see cute pictures and paintings hanging

obvious reasons, I couldn't just go meet Nola with my face.

my family in a lot of danger.

—Riiing!

of a bell ringing in the distance signaling the end of the of Preschool. Following the bell, the

"huuu."

clothes I moved towards the entrance of the kindergarten. Approaching the care lady, who was an older lady that seemed to be in her

Nola Dover. I'm

my parents inform them of my arrival. If they didn't do that, the Preschool would've never allowed

head slightly, the care lady stepped aside and entered the