The Author's POV

"W-what?"

Unknowingly Sophia's face started to become bright red.

"Hm? Are you okay?"

Noticing her slight change in demeanor, I tilted my head to the side.

There was something about her behavior.

It didn't seem like I was the only one who noticed this as Leopold worriedly placed his hand on Sophia's forehead.

"Sophia dear, are you okay?"

"S..stop."

Smacking Leopold's hand away, Sophia stuttered as she looked at me.

"It can't be...it..."

'Hold on…'

Meeting her gaze, I suddenly had a strange thought inside of my mind.

'That can't be...'

I quickly shook my head, trying to deny such a thought.

It just couldn't be…or rather, I wanted to not believe in the thought.

It was then that Sophia once again spoke up.

"Y..you're Ren Dover, right?"

As she spoke up, I managed to pick up a slight tremble in her voice.

Letting out a small sigh, I nodded my head.

'It looks like my hunch was right.'

"Yes, I am indeed him."

"Oh my god!"

Sophia's face instantly brightened up. Her face quickly snapped in Leopold's direction.

"Dad! Why didn't you tell me that he was your boss!"

"Huh?!"

Turning his head, Leopold looked at me with a look that said 'what is she on about?'

I shrugged my shoulders in response.

Although I already had an idea, I really wanted to deny it.

It was right then that Sophia suddenly lunged in my direction and grabbed both of my hands and said.

"I'm a huge fan!"

"What!?"

Finally, Leopold was able to understand what was happening. Turning his head, he looked at me with a betrayed and hurt look. His face then proceeded to contort.

'How is this my fault?"

I wanted to rebuke; however, before I even had the chance to do so, Sophia had already started speaking.

"I've watched and replayed all of your matches back at the conference, especially when you beat up that orc and that pretty boy."

A word suddenly caught my interest.

Raising my brow, I asked.

"Pretty boy?"

"Yes, yes, that Kevin guy. Although he looks pretty, he clearly was no match for you. All my friends say he's handsome, but honestly, you are way better looking. Oh, and the way you forfeited was so cool!"

For a split moment, I wanted to let her continue.

Just the fact that she was praising me over Kevin made me like her instantly.

However, knowing just how wrong the situation was, I quickly freed my hands and looked at Leopold. My hope was that he would try and stop his daughter, but...his response wasn't really what I had expected.

With his arms crossed, and with his head lowered, he nodded his head.

"…I have to agree with my daughter. You were pretty cool back there."

"Oy."

Now it was my face's turn to contort.

"What in the world is he doing? This should be the bit where you are supposed to deny!"

Leopold shook his head.

"Boss, I'm an honest man."

"Haaa…"

how to react, I could

caught the attention of the other people present, as

my god!

"Kyyaaaa!"

"It's him!"

"I…."

react as I looked in Amanda's direction in the hope of some help, however, all

this aren't

her face seemed to say. Or at least what I assumed

currently wearing a skin

had given it to her before because she simply attracted

camera was pointed

not been wearing her mask, I could've guaranteed that all attention would've been drawn

because had it not been for the

"Mr. Dover, Mr. Dover."

"Wow."

my thoughts

"Sorry."

Quickly apologizing, Sophia coughed.

single and that you were

her head slightly, she glanced in Nola's and

said that she was your daughter, but doesn't she look a little bit too old to be

Nola is

she could finish her sentence. The moment I said

"However..."

followed up by

my girlfriend is not a

"Hiip!"

I

could already imagine what face Amanda was making. However, this was something I

was not out of pettiness, but because I didn't want Leopold's daughter to

was using Amanda as

"Oh."

Sophia turned to look in Amanda's

head to the side,

"Is that true?"

my eyes

and seemingly understanding each other, Amanda simply took

"Waaah! So beautiful!"

"Oh my god."

her! She was also in

from Kimbol apart

this, they instantly gathered around her and tried to strike up a conversation with

all the attention away from me, on a bad note, it seemed that Sophia had

girlfriend?" She asked with her arms

"Well, sort of."

I nodded my head.

"Sort of?"

started dating not too long

what she was going to try at the

'Prove it to me, prove to me that you

but no thank

wasn't because I disliked Amanda or anything like

with everything that happened today, the idea

true, I still was unsure

than anything else a calming person to stay with, but I had been too busy preoccupied with

was afraid that my

put, I needed more time

"Hmmm…"

at me with a skeptical look on her face. She was still

her, I stood up from my seat and looked at

getting sleepy. Guess it's time for us to go back. You

get out of here before

"Sure."

Leopold nodded his head.

the

"Ren, wait up."

is it?"

"Well…"

room, Leopold scratched the side of his cheek

the cigarettes you

"Nope."

him off before he could finish

no way in hell I was going to give him his cigarettes back. He was simply

cigarettes, think

my face again, I grabbed Amanda's wrist

I made sure to say

your performance…oh, and keep our appearance a

Clank—!

even reply, I quickly

"Haaa…"

of the mess, I let out a long and tired sigh and lowered

up to Amanda, I

more tiring than

"…"

met with

"Amanda?"

her line of sight, I realized where the problem lay and

"Sorry." I quickly apologized.

"No, it's okay."

smiled and looked at Nola who had her arms wrapped around her neck. A smile involuntarily appeared on my face when I saw