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.

that, then it meant

I should take would be to heal my soul, but what if

to heal my soul? ...but if it was truly like that, why would he reveal to me that

'This...'

deeper I started thinking, the greater the throbbing sensation in my

he was definitely trying to mess

much so that I finally realized why I had never been able to get the upper hand over

had everything planned, but it was just that he was playing a psychological

Just like now.

he had said, I no longer had any idea

I heal my

tightly. This was definitely not a pleasant

quite tired, I think we need to give him some

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

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

was his name

"Ren."

The queen answered.

before that she glanced in Amanda's direction before looking back at me with a strange look on her

Her gaze felt weird.

you, but it looks like you're in no condition for it, so I will

head

you. Thank you for what

moment of time, silence enveloped the room. Raising my head and seeing

fine. You don't have to mention

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

would still like to thank you. I was already grateful for the fact that you were willing to dispose of something so precious in order

"It's fine, really."

feeling a little bit awkward

for a good while. Then, with a soft smile

guess we should head back

"...What about her?"

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

had not yet woken up when she revealed everything to them, I had no idea about what had happened whilst I was asleep. My heart tensed when I saw the

to

"Leave her be."

"Huh?"

strange sound escaped from my mouth as I heard her

reacted this way as almost everyone in the room aside from Melissa who had no idea about what

shock, the

"How come?"

of answering the elven queen, Amanda's mother shook her

that boy, I mean Ren, all I would be doing is adding trouble to the person who

happened had it not been for her. We don't have to kill her, but

displeasure was understandable. Being a queen, she naturally had to be more ruthless than others, and as a sovereign, being lenient towards

the direction of the elven

The people I should be angry about should be the ones behind her. Not

Angelica's direction. Her brows furrowed

mean that I have forgiven you. Had it not been for my daughter,

closing her eyes and letting out a sigh, she

Had I

Amanda's mother took

on her face, but it didn't look like she would

Still mad about the words I said to rebuke her, she

Kevin who left after a

should get

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

Clank—

remained in the room were

"Rough day, huh?"

***

Issanor, infirmary.