The Author's POV

"Mhm."

Hearing her mother's words, Amanda nodded her head.

Staring at Ren who was lying down on the bed, Amanda turned her head to look at Angelica. A complicated look flashed across her face.

She still couldn't quite come to terms with the fact that the cat that had been following Ren all the time was in fact the same demon that had cursed her mother, but she felt that there was more to the story than it was let out.

"Are you sure about this Natasha?"

Maylin asked while turning to look at Natasha. The icicles in the air trembled slightly.

"This is the same demon that stopped you from seeing your daughter for fifteen years. Are you sure that you want to let her go just like that?"

With her eyes locked on her daughter, Natasha sighed.

"What other choice do I have. Just take a look at my daughter..."

Waving her hand, all of the icicles that were aiming at Angelica vanished out of thin air.

"...Okay."

Giving a cold glance to Angelica, Maylin added.

"Just because I'm not killing you right now doesn't mean that I won't be doing it later. I'm only doing this for her sake."

"..."

Under Maylin's pressure, Angelica kept her cool.

She wasn't a count-ranked demon for nothing. Despite the fact that she had been subjected to the power of one of the strongest people in the human domain, she was able to remain unfazed.

"Let her be Maylin."

Natasha's voice rang throughout the room as she stepped in front of Maylin. Then, turning her attention towards Angelica, she took a deep breath.

Memories of her past surfaced inside of her mind.

She could still remember getting chased and threatened by her, and it honestly frightened her. But, for the sake of looking strong for her daughter, she remained composed.

"...C.can you explain the situation?"

There was a faint tremble in her voice as she asked Angelica her question, but following that, her words became more concise and the tremble vanished.

Turning her head, she looked at Ren.

"What happened for him to turn this way?"

There was an awkward silence following her words.

"You don't have to hide anything. I can tell that it is somehow connected with my awakening."

A complicated look appeared on Angelica's face as she heard her words. It wasn't long before she eventually opened her mouth.

"You're correct."

Lowering her head, Angelica lightly glanced in Ren's direction.

"The reason why he's in that state is indeed due to the fruit that he gave you."

"I see."

Rather than being shocked, a look of understanding appeared on Natasha's face. She then turned to look at Kevin.

"If I don't remember wrongly, you previously said that if something happens to her, the boy over here will die, correct?"

"...Yes."

Kevin nodded his head as his brows furrowed.

words, Natasha pursed her lips before turning her attention

situation. I'm

"Yeah..."

nodded from the side before

believe that Ren and the demoness over here have signed a mana

was most likely a clause that stated that neither party could harm

Natasha plucked her lips outwardly. She then crossed her arms

the moment I ate the fruit and the curse broke, 'she', the demoness, suffered from the

figure, Natasha placed

explains why his soul is

to the analysis from Maylin and Natasha, Angelica's eyes

explain the situation, the two of them

One was the elven queen while the other was the wife of one of the top

luck. They were quite competent

hand over Ren's forehead, Natasha further

already assume that the contract that he signed

mid-sentence as she glimpsed in Angelica's direction. The pause was brief, as she quickly

the round of sixteen of the tournament we can exclude rank [I] and [II] contracts, leaving me with no choice but

point,

would be ranked around in order to survive

Ren's direction. This time her face had a little

that was that the only possible way for Ren

that possible? She was already shocked by the fact that her daughter had reached rank, but rank? What kind of

more prominent from the fact that she knew that he was around the same age as her

her head to look at Maylin, hoping that perhaps her analysis was wrong, but instead, Maylin's next words caused

like you thought, he indeed rank

possible? Didn't he get eliminated from

Turning her head to

I say

would he

smile,

that he was

and Maylin were discussing the reasoning behind Ren's elimination, Amanda who had been listening throughout their

happened was because

she felt

one hand, she was grateful and even touched by what Ren did. After all, he did just try

same time,

having trouble putting it into words, but she really hated the way Ren did things. She hated the way that he just did things without caring

the way he did, and it was exactly because she understood this that she

he told her the situation from the

had never taken part

about the fact that the demon he had contracted with was the one

had a feeling that the demon Ren contracted with was in fact the same demon that had contracted with Elijah, the elective representative back at the

how he

why that demon had not targeted her again, but it was only now that

her eyes, Amanda bit

Ren

did not discourage her. This was only natural. Especially since they

"Oy!"

her

her mother was, she saw her with her back bent and her face a few inches away from

"M...mom!"

flustered at the sight as she stood up from her seat.

tell that you're awake. You can stop

"Eh?"

Natasha

"Ouch!"

***

flicked,

Caught off guard by the sudden situation, I felt my cheeks

recognize the woman before me. She may have looked like Amanda at a first glance, but there was definitely

"Looks like you're fine."

from me. It was then that I was able to see the current situation in the room, and when I did, I almost