The Author's POV

This familiar warmth.

'It's real. It's not a dream.'

When Amanda looked into her father's eyes, tears began to trickle down her cheeks.

"It's okay."

Wiping the tear away from her cheek, Edward softly smiled at her.

"It's really me Amanda. I'm back."

"Ah."

Amanda let out a weak sound as she hugged her father even tighter. Trying her best to imprint the warmth inside of her mind.

A while later, Amanda opened her mouth. The frail sound of her voice echoed throughout the room.

"H..how...how are you here?"

How was it possible for her father to have returned from the demon world?

Many had told her that this was an impossible feat. Something that could never be accomplished due to how dangerous the territory was.

Many times she had wanted to go herself, but knowing how weak she was, she could only silently endure the pain and continue training until she became strong enough to go.

Yet...

Feeling her father's warmth, Amanda knew that he was right here with her.

This was not a dream.

Softly staring at Amanda, Edward opened his mouth to answer.

However...

"Ren Dover! Are you an exhibitionist!? Go and put some clothes this instant!"

He was stopped by Samantha's enraged shout.

Turning around, Amanda watched as Ren left the room with a crestfallen look on his face.

"You think I really did this on purpose? Also, it's not like I'm actually naked, people go to the beach all the time, it makes no difference if they see my chest..."

As he left, nearly everyone in the room heard his parting words.

"Heh..."

Edward chuckled slightly at that moment. With a confused look on her face, she turned her head to look at him.

"Do you two know each other?"

Letting go of him, she sat down on the seat next to him.

Glancing in her direction, Edward had a complicated look on his face as he nodded his head.

"...You wanted to know why I was able to get out of the demon world, right?"

"Yes."

Unknowingly, Amanda's heartbeat started racing as she nodded her head.

In her mind, she was already formulating a theory about what had happened.

The words her father said next confirmed her assumptions.

"It's because of him."

"He helped me escape from the demon realm."

'...As expected, it really was him.'

Instead of being surprised, Amanda's face turned complicated.

She had already formed an idea once her father appeared the same time he did, but being overwhelmed with emotions, she didn't think too much about the situation.

However, now that she had calmed down, she was able to understand exactly what had happened.

Lowering her head, Amanda glanced in the direction of where Ren used to stand, letting her face soften a little. The edges of her lips curled ever so slightly.

'You truly are...'

***

"This is very good."

in hand, I chewed

eating, I would wipe my mouth carefully with a napkin. I also made

wasn't one to eat like this, however, at the

the sake of my

"Keumm...what delicacy this is."

is this

a slight cough, I swallowed another mouthful. Along the way, I made sure to compliment the food. Regardless of whether it was

Unfortunately...

ginger you're eating? I don't think you like ginger, don't

echoed

fork froze

my lips a couple of times in an attempt to get my taste buds to work, I finally tasted the food in my mouth, and from that moment, I had to do my best to stop my tears

'I fucked up..'

a little, my left eye twitched. Nevertheless,

I don't know how you seasoned it, but I think I no

do anything

Then I must compliment you on how well you selected

"I ordered them online."

side of my head, I lowered my head and stopped

the better the situation

be the right decision as the dinner continued

a short time, as my mom's icy

met Ren in the demon

side of the dining

'Shit...'

though fate did not want me to do that

if not for your son, I would've never been able to escape from the demon

a brave son

out of my mother's mouth, I felt as if a sharp knife was

'Please stop...'

head I little, I pleaded with Edward to stop, but it didn't seem as though he got the message as he

against your son

room froze completely as the eyes of several people in the room opened

this is what your goal

Edward was not feigning ignorance to my earlier signals,

"You two have fought?"

mother asked with

me,

'You better stop talking.'

Secretly glancing in Natasha's and Amanda's direction, he put

and he also broke a lot of my bones. Haaa, if not for my sturdy body, your son

"Oh my!"

suddenly felt Amanda's gaze pause

my head, our

with a single glance, I could tell what

he is

"Ugh..."

my face with my hand

I was

only did it for

Edward's face as

didn't say you

misunderstanding was finally clarified by Edward as

me, so there's no need for you guys to think badly of

my eyes began to

is he

was having

me to understand the reason for his sudden actions. Following his

what

had probably misunderstood the moment

what

in order to save you, Ren purposely beat

again, my mother's

smile on Edward's face stiffened a little

then I had my mana sealed and my rank dropped to the same level as Ren. Not only that, but

an awful lot like you are

his sentence, Edward was interrupted

smile on her face, she glanced in Amanda's

no need to be embarrassed, we have all seen Ren's capabilities. It wouldn't be strange for you to lose to