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

Edward could insist, I chimed

"He can't take alcohol."

"Huh?"

a moment as he pointed at the bottle

wine. I'm sure he won't get drunk off of

"You'll be surprised..."

sidelong glance in the direction of my father but paid no attention to the

even get drunk off of

"Ren."

stopped speaking the moment that I heard

up my fork and leaned toward where the chicken

the same time, I tried to

'I spoke too much.'

looks

Slap―!

"Ow."

to getting to the chicken when someone smacked me in

turned out that my own mother was to blame, and she gave

go ahead and eat first? Wait for everyone to

"But―"

this rude. Now that we're at it, you'll be

"Pfttt..."

I heard a laugh coming from my right side, my face darkened, and my head snapped in

as she sat

was clearly

thought it was

asked, leaning closer to

"No."

back at

My eyes furrowed tightly.

be

no idea

and

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

slowly nodded my head and took my eyes away from

you don't know.

if I would let something like

her back for. Well, that was mainly my fault...but I wasn't going to

next to

phone when she arrived, was the last person to

a full-fledged addict. It seemed

I couldn't

did not have any friends with whom she could play in light of our

been no different from

'pet', and she needed to take care of it

"Noooo, ma! noo!"

to object when our mother took the phone

I'll give the phone

I didn't feed Ren

"Hm?"

Nola. What did she mean

to eat since I would

could feel the edges of my lips curl

'How sweet of her.'

feed him

"No, bu―"

"No buts!"

raised her voice, Nola's mood immediately took a turn for the worse, and

does this

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

was probably

a large pouty face, Nola fiddled with the utensils in

'Cute.'

current appearance was nothing

over to her,

me. There will definitely be food for

on the head, only to have

gave me a sulky look while muttering to herself and crossing her arms in front of her chest.

to

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

"No?"

looked at me,

looked back at her,

I think I clearly remember you saying