The Author's POV

Four days later.

"Ugh, not this again."

My face darkened as I looked at myself in the mirror.

Wearing the same suit as when I met the other elders in Henlour, I once again struggled to tie my tie.

There were improvements, however.

Staring at my reflection in the mirror, turning around, and touching my tie multiple times, I nodded in satisfaction.

"It's not too bad."

Compared to last time, when I struggled quite hard to tie it, there were massive improvements.

Remembering how Douglas had tied my tie, I was somewhat able to mimic his movements. Thanks to that, I was able to somewhat do a good job. Was well satisfied with it.

Of course, it wasn't perfect, but it was better than nothing.

Staring at myself in the mirror and fixing my hair which was still quite long, my hand paused slightly.

'They should also be there…'

Kevin, and the others. I was finally going to see them properly.

This time, not from afar.

"Huu…"

Thinking about them, I let out a long breath.

'I guess it's time.'

After thinking things through, I decided to finally reveal myself to the others.

There was no point in hiding myself from the others. Sure, the high-ranking members of the Union were there, but it wasn't like they could instantly tell that I was 876.

With the chip disabled, it would be quite difficult for them to figure out who I was.

This was why I decided to stop pretending. Of course, I was only planning on revealing myself to them. Not the Union.

Despite the fact that the chip was now disabled, and there being no concrete evidence linking me to 876, there were still many loopholes in such thought.

For example, the last sighting of 876 was in the dwarven domain. I came out of the dwarven domain. 876 is a human, I am a human...there were just too many links for my comfort.

'It's too risky to expose myself completely.'

The more I thought about it, the more I realized just how much of a risk my exposure was, but…

'I'll still meet them.'

My mind was made, and I wasn't going to change it, even if the risks were there.

I just needed to be more careful.

Fixing my clothes, and reaching out for my mask by the side of the table, I pressed it against my face and my face soon morphed into that of someone else.

"But before that, I need to take care of something else…"

There was something very important that I needed to take care of before meeting with the others again.

***

"Hurry up, we're going to be late.

Emma's voice rang from below the residence as she looked up towards a certain window.

Ci Clank—

Opening the window of the room, Kevin leaned out of it and shouted.

"Give me a minute! I'm coming."

"Wha—"

Clank—!

Kevin closed the window before she could even speak. This obviously did not sit well for her as she Crossed her arms together, and pouted in dissatisfaction.

slower than me? It's not like he's putting on

"Maybe it's his hair?"

hair? It shouldn't take this

replied to Amanda who was standing beside her. She was currently wearing a beautiful black dress that sparkled under the

her hair, which was being held by a small pin, exposing

"Hmmm…"

to take a

closer look, it's the first time

"Thank you."

replied with

times before placing her hand

Gli Clank—

of them heard the sound of a door closing. What followed after was Kevin's apologetic

for the wait. I was having trouble

"Took you long enough."

commented from the side. Wearing a pale yellow one-piece dress, Melissa leaned by the side of the

for Melissa to not wear any glasses, and today, for the first time in a while, she decided to wear contacts, exposing her beautiful crystal

as her brows were slightly knit a frown. But at the same time, she always looked annoyed. This was probably why no one

down the stairs and arriving before the others, Kevin looked around before

here, shall

her watch,

we'll end

"Okay."

once Emma's words faded everyone headed towards where the ceremony was being

just as they had taken a few steps, Kevin suddenly recalled

"Wait, what about Jin?"

"…"

"…"

"…"

and

after a couple of seconds that Emma finally opened her

was coming…or rather, forgot

***

where the ceremony was being held was in the enormous white

sheer number of attendees was far too many for a simple building to

where only the high-ranking elven members stayed, but they made a special exception this time,

"All done?"

"Yeah."

suit, I met up with

the others who also

quite uncomfortable with a suit, but whenever

are

fine.

a comical sight if I had

her choice, but it was also the most appropriate one

mean that the orcs and elves still fully trusted her. Perhaps some

the dwarves, she was considered a traitor to

only

"Is there anyone missing?"

Douglas asked, looking around.

wore back in the dwarven domain, Douglas still looked as imposing

even

my head, I

think everyone

"Did you forget anything?"

suit, I shook my

have everything with

then, we may

Douglas headed towards the lake in the faraway

his pace, I

with

mean with

I had last seen him. Since the time we split up when we first arrive. I was genuinely curious if he had met up with

"Yeah."

been too busy attending meetings with the others that I had no time

building in the distance that was becoming clearer by

aware of

look that

I turned my head and looked at Waylan who was quietly following us from

he looked to

that was about to embark on a long war appeared on his face. Quite frankly, he looked quite

before turning my attention back to Douglas and pointing at Waylan