The Author's POV

"As expected, those bastards took advantage of my absence to lay their hands on my guild."

Several files and papers were projected on the holographic projection in front of Edward, whose deep voice echoed throughout the apartment.

The more he stared at them, the greater the frown on his face became.

"You don't have to worry too much."

Standing by his side, Natasha comforted him.

"Your daughter is a lot more capable than you think. She may not have handled everything perfectly, but she was still able to deal quite a severe blow to all of the guilds that tried to lay their hands on the Demon Hunter guild."

"I would say that she had done a fantastic job."

"...She really did."

The news of his daughter's accomplishments made Edward's face soften a bit.

As he gazed at all the things she had accomplished during her career, he felt great pride fill him.

Despite being just twenty years old, she was able to manage the guild without her father's support and prevent it from being devoured by other guilds.

His pride grew for every minute that passed.

'You truly have grown up so well...'

"Edward."

Jolting him out of his thoughts, Edward suddenly heard his wife's voice. Turning his head, he softly asked.

"...Yes?"

With an uncertain look on her face, Natasha thought for a moment before asking.

"You can choose not to answer this, but..."

"Weren't you supposed to be in the demon world? From what I've heard, you fell into some sort of scheme, and the dungeon you were in desync. How is it possible for you to have come back?"

Edward's face turned serious when he heard her words.

Pondering for a bit, he eventually nodded his head.

"There is no need to hide anything from you. Yes, I was indeed in the demon world."

"So it's true..."

Natasha's face was filled with worry as she looked at Edward.

"...But how were you able to escape? I heard that it's almost impossible for someone to come back to earth once they enter the demon world."

"About that."

After briefly covering his hand with his mouth, Edward looked at Natasha for a moment before finally telling her everything.

From how he had spent several years trying to find a way out, to one day finding himself inside the arena after getting injured in a big fight, and everything else that happened after.

The expression on Natasha's face changed when she heard Edward tell about his time with the demons. It became increasingly concerned.

"...Who would've thought that the fights were rigged. Had it not been for Ren who—"

"Wait, did you just say Ren?"

Cutting Edward off, Natasha's eyes opened up a little bit.

"Yes? You heard correctly."

Tilting his head, Edward looked at Natasha.

"Is there something wrong with him? Had it not been for Ren I would've never been able to escape the place."

After his confirmation, Natasha sat down on a couch with a deep and contemplative look on her face.

Finding her reaction strange, Edward sat next to her.

"What's wrong? Did something happen with Ren?"

"Yes..."

Natasha nodded her head.

Lifting her head up to stare at Edward, she softly mumbled.

"It was also because of him that I was able to get rid of the Mind breaker curse..."

"What?"

her words, Edward stood up as his

you just say that Ren was

look on her face, Natasha nodded

"...Yes."

back in Issanor, Natasha's

"He's a good man."

attempt to rebuke, Edward opened his mouth. However, as he thought about what had happened in the past, and what Ren had done

"...He is."

up from her seat, Natasha checked

here anytime soon. How about we

"Okay."

***

Knock— knock—

much thought after hearing someone

I was greeted by a familiar face. A face that I had not seen for over the past half a year. It

at that moment that my mind blanked out as

"You…"

took Amanda's careful gaze to snap me out of it. With no trace of

felt a

you looked

snapped out of it and raised her head to look at

specifically my hair

happened to

Nola who had her head turned away from me. It was from

'…It was you.'

going through

they were

Ugh.

replied in the same way I had

"It's kind of complicated."

Vaguely.

"Complicated?"

Amanda's eyes squinted. But she eventually relented and

you don't tell me. As long as you're fine, I'm

me to reflexively cover it. Staring at her,

"What are you doing?"

"…Your scars."

scars on my chest,

quite a lot. A lot more

trying to hide her emotions, I could

I smiled reassuringly.

healed once I get myself a potion. They aren't even that bad,

my fight against Lightning

That fight...

everything I had

"I see…"

by what

last long as a small hand reached out

It was Nola.

"Nola?"

small hand, Nola pointed in my

"Sister. Remember the promise!"

"Ah!"

hand, Amanda glanced in my direction.

rather, it became

her mouth, she

good that

"Hmph!"

Nola's exaggerated

second, Amanda's lips trembled. This obviously didn't escape

want to pretend to be angry at me, at least try

"Sister!"

Amanda,

face quickly crumbled as she quickly apologized

just can't do it. Why

way, she gave me a signal with her eyes. With one glance, I understood what

I did this, Amanda

is very sad that you aren't talking to him anymore.

"…Cry?"

at me, I secretly channeled some mana and pinched the side of my leg, causing my eyes to

"Oh no."

changed as she

cry. Nola was only

"...You're not?"

asked as I wiped my

repeatedly shook her

"No."