The Author's POV

"Are you fine with going with me? Is your father okay with it?"

"There should be no problem..."

Amanda delicately carried the dishes over to the expansive table, which was elegantly adorned with a nice cloth that featured a floral pattern in shades of purple.

"Going where?"

Speak of the devil.

Edward appeared out of nowhere behind the two of us like a hawk before we could even finish setting the table with the dishes.

Amanda calmly looked at him.

"We're going on a short trip."

"Where exactly?"

"I'm not sure myself."

Amanda shrugged, and Edward looked at me.

I looked back at him and also shrugged.

"Don't look at me. My lips are sealed."

"...Is it dangerous?"

"Very."

I seriously nodded my head, and Edward's face slowly darkened.

Taking note of his darkening face, I quickly added.

"If you're worried about her safety, you shouldn't be. I'm also going with her. With me there, nothing's going to happen to her."

"...That makes me even more worried."

Edward commented, prompting my brows to furrow.

"I'm stronger than you."

"Are you now?"

Edward moved forward, crackling his fist in front of me.

Not wanting to be outdone, I also took a step forward. Natasha, however, intervened between the two of us and smiled at Edward before I had the chance to take any action.

"Now, now...how about you stop causing trouble. The whole reason we're having this dinner is because they'll be leaving soon. Let's be honest now; staying in the human domain is not really that safe either."

"But I'm here. I can protect―"

Edward grumbled, but he cut himself off in the middle of his sentence. After observing that Natasha's face was becoming darker, he decided to keep his mouth shut and take a seat.

The top executives of the Demon Hunter guild had their own opulent apartment built within the territory of the guild, which we were currently occupying.

Edward did not decide to live in the mercenary headquarters as my parents did, as he was capable of providing for his own safety and because he was responsible for running a guild.

"Stop fighting, you two; the food is ready."

My mother emerged from the kitchen carrying what appeared to be a large hot tray that held a large chicken. On the tray was also something that looked like a large knife.

"We're here to see Amanda and Ren off before they leave; let's not sour the mood."

She was very careful as she placed the chicken on the table and patted her hands on the apron that she was wearing.

"Are you fine with them leaving for so long?"

Edward asked, seated opposite my mother.

"I am certainly not happy, but it's not like I can stop him. For as long as he tells me that he's leaving, then I'm mostly fine with it."

"Well...fine."

Edward sat back in his chair and relaxed while pouring a glass of wine for himself.

After he had finished filling his cup, he looked over at my father, who had sneakily taken a seat at the table next to my mother, and he extended the wine glass to him.

"Do you want some?"

"No, thank you."

with a smile on his

Edward could insist, I

"He can't take alcohol."

"Huh?"

moment as he pointed at

he won't get drunk

"You'll be surprised..."

but paid no attention to

drunk off of

"Ren."

that I heard my father's

I picked up my fork and leaned toward where the chicken was, trying to get

I tried

'I spoke too much.'

chicken looks

Slap―!

"Ow."

even close to getting to the chicken when

blame, and she

to go ahead and eat first? Wait for everyone to sit down first before

"But―"

to be this rude. Now that we're

"Pfttt..."

my right side, my

face as she sat quietly with her posture correct and her eyes focused on

clearly feigning

thought it was

asked, leaning closer to her.

"No."

at me,

My eyes furrowed tightly.

think I wouldn't be able to

have no idea what you're talking

to feign ignorance, and my

"I see... I see..."

and took my

don't know. I'll

would let something

matter regarding the black eye that I needed to pay her

Nola, sit next

arrived, was

no choice but to admit that she was a full-fledged addict. It seemed like every time I saw her; she had her face buried in

couldn't really

understandable, given that she did not have any friends with whom she could play in light of

no different from

she was apparently raising a 'pet', and she needed to take care

"Noooo, ma! noo!"

to object when our mother took

to have dinner. I'll give the phone back

I didn't

"Hm?"

turned my head to look at Nola. What did she mean

she afraid that I would not get anything to eat since I would be the last one

feel the edges

'How sweet of her.'

feed him later.

"No, bu―"

"No buts!"

the worse,

does this scene

odd reason, it reminded me of the scene that occurred a couple of minutes ago with the chicken and

probably

a large pouty face, Nola fiddled with

'Cute.'

current appearance was nothing short

over

definitely be food for me later. Though I

only to

look while muttering to herself and crossing her arms in front of

to feed

mean? Didn't you just say that you wanted to feed

"No?"

looked at me,

looked back at

you saying