The Author's POV

Khhhhh—!

The static sound of the radio sounded.

"...I guess he hung up."

A trace of pity flashed across my eyes as I put the radio transmitter away.

Standing up and putting my coat on, I nudged the others to follow me.

"Alright, let's go."

Now that I had taken care of the annoying flies swarming on my back, I could now go to my destination without too many worries.

"Ren, how long do we have left?"

Ryan asked from behind.

"We're almost there."

Our current destination was Henolur, the dwarven capital.

After travelling for the past four months, we had almost arrived at the location.

"Precise time?"

"About one more week of travel, I would say."

Originally we were supposed to take a lot less time to arrive; however, to slow down Xavier and the other's pursuit, I decided to take a slight detour and travelled near the elven border.

Fortunately, during our fight right now the elves didn't get involved, but in all likelihood, they were already aware of our presence.

"Let's go before we run into trouble."

"Are you talking about the elves?"

Smallsnake arrived by my side and followed along.

"That's right."

Playing with the dimensional spaces that he had collected from the people we had just killed, Smallsnake handed them to me.

"...Do you think they'd attack us? I heard that they don't attack humans."

"Sort of, but you can never be too safe."

With humanity's advancement these past few decades, all three races started viewing humans in a more 'favourable' light.

That being said, this didn't mean that they still fully trusted us.

This was why a conference was going to be held soon.

It was made with the purpose of talking about the potential third cataclysm that was soon going to hit the earth and the possibility of allowing humanity to join the alliance.

Well, that was well into the future.

Right now, my goal was to enter the dwarven domain and increase my strength by leaps and bounds.

"Let's hurry for now. I don't want to meet any trouble along our way."

***

A few kilometres away from where Ren and the others were, Gazing at them from a distance, were two obscured figures.

With each breath the two figures took, the mana in the air would follow their breathing rhythm. Almost as though they were in complete synch with the mana in the air.

"Should we attack?"

Looking right, one of the figures asked as a melodious voice rang out.

Judging from their subservient tone, it was evident that the figure they talked to was higher ranked.

"...no"

The other figure shook its head.

"What about the demon?"

The higher-ranked figure pointed towards the distance, revealing a delicate white hand devoid of imperfection.

"Did you sense the mana of the people they were fighting?"

"Mhm, it was tainted with demonic energy."

"Right, for that female demon to work with humans and kill multiple contracted individuals, we can assume that she is no longer on the same side as the demons."

Although most demons worked with each other, in the end, what they cared for most was their self-interest.

Just because they were from the same race didn't mean that they had to help them.

This was a natural occurrence that occurred in all races.

"...That's true. However, I've also noticed that the demon follows that human with long hair. Strange."

The whole time they observed the fight in the distance, they noticed that everything revolved around a specific human with long black hair and blue eyes.

one being targeted, to

is indeed strange; let's observe a little

those words faded,

***

like usual, Amanda sat on her

was a boring route that she had grown accustomed to over the last year or so in

guild, Board member -

reflected the sunlight coming from the window

—Knock! —Knock!

A knocking sound sounded.

"Come in."

her mouth,

"You called for me?"

a slim girl with long light

It was Melissa.

what did you call me for,

around the neatly

front of Amanda, she crossed her legs

"..."

stack of papers down, Amanda wordlessly

a couple of seconds until Melissa could no longer take it and mouthed in

my beauty? Sorry,

the project

finally opened her mouth

going well; why? Has something come

"No."

her head, prompting Melissa's brows

you call me? Don't tell me you asked me to come

she rested her cheek

know phones

"It's not that."

a small barrier appeared, enveloping the two of

"What are you doing?"

barrier that was

she didn't show much of a reaction. She knew Amanda well. She wasn't one to do stupid

joking about the previous comments about you being

"Here."

small tablet resting on her desk, a holographic video

image mid-air, the

playing, multiple different scenarios

scenarios, there was a common thing: a middle-aged man playing with a young

last video, where the

in Melissa's voice as she took her eyes away from the video and looked at

looking for a partner to look at dramas

"No, look carefully."

middle-aged man playing

"That's Ren."

"..."

brief moment,

and closing her mouth multiple times, Melissa didn't know what to

dumbstruck by

her face

lost it? Has all the work you've

"It has not."

Amanda calmly replied.

Melissa snorted in response.

it has. So you are telling me that Ren has now become some weird

"I have proof."

"Proof?"

stopped and raised

taking out a small key, Amanda inserted the key inside

the drawer back. After taking out a couple of

"Here."

"What's this?"

with a confused look on her face,

after a while, alternating her gaze between the video and the

these the profiles of the people

"Mhm, they're Ren's parents."

of her head, Melissa tapped on the names of

I figured from their names, and the fact that his father looks similar to him...but this isn't nearly enough to prove that he is

this as

another paper

paper was a detailed profile of the middle-aged man who visited

disappeared ten years ago. This was the first time in ten years that

"..."

paper, Melissa carefully looked through it

opposite to her, Amanda was unable to read her expression. Instead, she seemed to be

a couple of minutes had passed that Melissa finally opened

are you about

"Very sure."

Amanda replied.

this kind of

on Ren's parents due to having done a background check on them prior to when they first met and when

a better idea of who the

behaviour had given Amanda another reason to believe that the man

"I see..."

muttered underneath her

straight and tapping her finger on the armrest of the sofa, she

say what you said is true; why did you tell