The Author's POV

'Ugh, I just woke up and this is the situation I find myself in.'

Melissa alone was enough to give me a headache, but the fact that almost everyone was here increased the pain in my head. Leaning back on the bed and dully staring at the ceiling of the room, for a moment I wished to slip back into a coma.

Would rather have that than be in this type of situation.

Unfortunately, this was only wishful thinking on my part as following Melissa's words, everyone's head snapped in my direction.

I could only bitterly smile at the sight.

"What are you looking at me for?"

Raising my hand, I pointed in Melissa's direction.

"Don't listen to anything she says. Especially when she's part of the harem."

"Huh?"

This time it was Melissa's turn to feel what I felt as everyone turned to look at her with strange looks on their faces.

Opening her eyes widely, Melissa glared at me.

Sensing her gaze, I slowly mouthed with my mouth.

'Trying to ruin me? I'll drag you down with me.'

As soon as I said those words, I could vividly see the side of Melissa's cheeks tense. I smirked when I saw this.

'That's right, I may have lost the battle, but I won the war.'

Like hell, I would ever let Melissa one-up me.

"Khh..."

Just as things were getting heated between Melissa and me, yet again, a throbbing pain coursed through my body, prompting me to let out a groan.

This instantly attracted the attention of everyone present.

As she was already seated next to me, the first one to help me was Amanda who worriedly asked.

"Are you okay?"

"...Somewhat."

I replied with a forced smile. To be honest, I was anything but fine. Although I had survived, the damage that my soul took was significant.

'I need to find something to heal my soul.'

Though extremely rare, there were definitely ways to heal someone's soul.

The damage to my soul wasn't to the extent that it would affect me in any way, but looking back at what just happened, I felt that I needed to somehow find a way to heal my soul.

The sense of discomfort that it brought wasn't something I quite liked.

Just as I was about to make my mind up about how to heal my soul, a sudden thought crossed my mind.

'Wait, what if this has also been planned by him?'

At this realization, my body froze completely.

Ever since meeting the other Ren, or to be more precise, the entity inside of my body, he had always been acting in a way that made it seem as though everything was going according to how he planned.

...and so far, it seemed to be true.

Everything that had happened to me seemed to have already been planned beforehand by someone. From the incident back at the hotel with Matthew to the dome incident. Everything just felt so warped and altered that made me think of the possibility of it being something that the other entity had planned.

It was only a hypothesis for now, but it wasn't one that I was willing to discard.

it meant that my every move was being

should take would be to heal my soul, but what if that was also part of the

he reveal to me that he had

'This...'

started thinking, the greater

was, he was definitely trying

why I had never been

was just that he was playing a

Just like now.

he had said, I no longer had

I heal my

fists clenched tightly. This was definitely not a pleasant

looks quite tired, I think we need

thought, I suddenly heard a sweet voice from the distance. Turning

our eyes met, for a brief moment neither one of us spoke. Then, turning her head, she looked toward the elven

his name

"Ren."

The queen answered.

her head, Amanda's mother turned her to face me one more time. Or rather, before that she glanced

Her gaze felt weird.

I want to say to you, but it looks like you're in no condition for it, so I will cut

her head

Thank you for

time, silence enveloped the room. Raising my head and seeing that she still had her head lowered, I pursed my

don't

I wasn't ever planning on helping her. It was just that it would've

fact that you were willing to dispose of something so precious in order to heal me, but after seeing the sacrifice you've made just to heal

"It's fine, really."

back, feeling a little bit awkward about the

her head, Amanda's mother's eyes paused on Amanda for a good while. Then, with a soft smile on her face,

guess we should head back

"...What about her?"

to leave, the elven queen pointed in Angelica's direction. My face froze

when she revealed everything to them, I had no idea about what had happened whilst I was asleep. My heart tensed when

as I was about to say something, Amanda's mother spoke

"Leave her be."

"Huh?"

escaped from my mouth as I heard her

wasn't the only one that reacted this way as almost everyone in the room

the shock, the elven queen

"How come?"

the elven queen, Amanda's mother shook

boy, I mean Ren, all I would

We don't have to kill her, but we can still lock her

understandable. Being a queen, she naturally had

the direction of the elven

demon, to begin with. She was just following orders. The people

in Angelica's direction. Her brows furrowed a

not acting up doesn't mean that I have forgiven you. Had it not been for my daughter, I would've loved nothing more but to have followed Maylin's suggestions, but then

and

Had I been

smile on her face, Amanda's mother took a step out of the

displeasure on her

one to leave was Melissa. Still mad about the words I said to rebuke her, she only gave me a casual

it was Kevin who left after a simple

get some

as soon as her eyes paused on Angelica, she quickly made up her

Clank—

room were Angelica and I.

"Rough day, huh?"

***

Issanor, infirmary.