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."

politely refused with a smile on

could insist,

"He can't take alcohol."

"Huh?"

looked stunned for a moment as he pointed

I'm sure he

"You'll be surprised..."

glance in the direction of my father but paid no attention to the change in expression that appeared on his

get drunk off of beer.

"Ren."

the moment that I heard my

I picked up my fork and leaned toward where the

I

'I spoke too much.'

looks very

Slap―!

"Ow."

to getting to the

turned out that my own mother was to blame, and

you to go ahead and eat first? Wait for everyone to

"But―"

raise you to be this rude. Now that we're at it, you'll be the last one

"Pfttt..."

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

that Amanda had a blank expression on her face as she sat quietly with her posture correct and her eyes focused on

clearly feigning

was funny, didn't

to her.

"No."

back at me, her

My eyes furrowed tightly.

wouldn't be

have no idea

and my eyes turned

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

head and took my

you don't know.

I would let something

regarding the black eye that I needed to pay her back for. Well, that was mainly my fault...but I wasn't going to let that

next

was preoccupied with her phone when she arrived, was the last person

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

couldn't really blame

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

would've been no different from her

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

"Noooo, ma! noo!"

our mother

to have dinner. I'll give the phone back to

I didn't feed Ren

"Hm?"

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

to eat since

could feel the edges of my lips curl

'How sweet of her.'

him later. Eat

"No, bu―"

"No buts!"

Nola's mood immediately took a turn for the worse, and she stomped her way over to

this

me of the scene that occurred a couple of minutes ago

was probably overthinking

face, Nola fiddled with the utensils in front of

'Cute.'

was nothing short of

over to her,

will definitely be food

head, only to have my hand shoved

and crossing her arms in

to feed

Didn't you just say that

"No?"

looked at

looked back at her, also

remember you saying that you wanted to