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

correctly? Did you just say that

a complicated look on her face, Natasha nodded

"...Yes."

had happened back in Issanor, Natasha's face softened up a little before

"He's a good man."

what had happened in the past, and what Ren had done for him, he eventually closed

"...He is."

from her seat, Natasha checked her

here anytime soon. How about we go to

"Okay."

***

Knock— knock—

without too much thought after hearing someone knock. After all, I could only think of my mother knocking on my room

was at the moment when I opened the door that I was greeted by a familiar face. A face that I had

at that moment that my mind blanked out

"You…"

snap me out of it. With no trace of shyness, she carefully examined my

felt a

have you

said those words, Amanda snapped out of it and raised her head to look

hair as

happened to your

away from me.

'…It was you.'

through

happen when they were in their teens? An

Ugh.

back at Amanda, I replied in the same way

"It's kind of complicated."

Vaguely.

"Complicated?"

squinted. But she eventually relented and

you don't tell me. As long as you're

prompting me to reflexively cover

"What are you doing?"

"…Your scars."

scars on my chest,

are quite a lot. A lot more than when I last saw

hide her emotions, I could tell from her glance that

I smiled reassuringly.

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

from my fight against

That fight...

really took everything I

"I see…"

completely convinced by

last long as a small hand reached out for her pants and

It was Nola.

"Nola?"

Nola pointed in my

"Sister. Remember the promise!"

"Ah!"

with her hand, Amanda glanced in my direction. Following

rather, it became

mouth, she

that you're

"Hmph!"

was Nola's exaggerated snort as she turned

This obviously didn't escape my sight as

at

"Sister!"

at Amanda, Nola raised

crumbled as she

I just can't do it. Why don't you

her eyes. With one glance,

same time, I did this, Amanda pointed in

a very good game. Your brother is very sad that you aren't

"…Cry?"

head to look at me, I secretly channeled some mana and pinched the side

"Oh no."

an instant, Nola's face changed as

Nola was

"...You're not?"

asked as I

repeatedly shook

"No."