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"

I hope you

"Tell me."

calm smile on my face, my dad

hope you stay safe and don't put yourself into too much danger. We already lost you once, we can't afford to lose you again.

"...Ah."

Those words.

reminded me of an old promise I made. One that

head, I softly

"…I-I, I will try."

a couple of seconds, a calm smile appeared

"That's good enough.."

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

way, where is

preschool, she should

My mother replied.

"An hour?"

his watch, my father

you want to

"Can I?"

My eyes lit up.

I really missed Nola.

her schedule,

Amanda is too busy today, so it was supposed to be my turn to pick her up. But since you're here, why don't you go

"Yes, that soun—"

mid-sentence, I looked at

hold on, did you just say

I perhaps mishear? Or was it a

that's right, you still

mother's eyes suddenly lit

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

to my mom excitedly talk about Amanda, millions of questions emerged in my mind. In the end, I could voice of them out, as

a hard one to

it wasn't an

out of my thoughts was once again my mother as

ever told me that you knew such

"…ehm, mom?"

at my mom and staring at me with shining in her eyes, I scooted a bit further

Leaning over, she asked.

you really only

"…Yeah."

I awkwardly replied.

from time to time, I don't ever recall our relationship being anything more than that

"Really?"

her eyes and

nothing going on between us. I think

charm, especially Amanda who liked cute things. This was

if you

my mom no longer asked any questions about my relationship

or so, I caught up

parents did try to ask me multiple times where I had been during these past eight months, I promptly dodged those questions. After a while, they both got the hint

and through this conversation, my mind, for

P.M, covering her mouth with her hand, my mother

it's almost time for

"Now? Okay."

before leaving the room. Before I left, I made sure to look at my

I resolved myself to become

for my sake and their

*

5 P.M.

in front of a large building,

should be

here once, I was sure that this was the location of Nola's preschool. Besides me, I could see a lot of parents similarly waiting for

of me, I could see cute pictures and paintings hanging outside the windows

reasons, I couldn't just go meet Nola with my face. Although most people may have forgotten who I was, there

this happen, as that would put my family in a lot of danger. Thus, I could only do this

—Riiing!

signaling the end of the of Preschool. Following the bell, the doors of the pre-school swung open, and

"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 sixties,

me, I'm here to pick up Nola Dover. I'm sure you guys have

my arrival. If they didn't do that,

care lady stepped aside and entered the