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."

refused with a smile on

could insist, I

"He can't take alcohol."

"Huh?"

looked stunned for a moment as he pointed

sure he won't get drunk

"You'll be surprised..."

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

off of beer.

"Ren."

stopped speaking the moment that I heard

toward

I tried to change the

'I spoke too much.'

looks very

Slap―!

"Ow."

even close to getting to the chicken when someone smacked me in the

that my own mother was to blame, and she gave me a stern look in

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

"But―"

raise you to be this rude. Now

"Pfttt..."

coming from my right side, my face darkened, and my head

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

clearly

it was funny, didn't

asked, leaning closer to her. My eyes

"No."

back at me, her face

My eyes furrowed tightly.

be able to hear

have no idea

feign ignorance, and my

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

and took my eyes

know. I'll see how

let something

pay her back for. Well, that was mainly my fault...but I

next

her phone when she arrived, was the last person to take

but to admit that she was a full-fledged addict. It seemed like every time I saw her; she had her face buried

I couldn't really blame

given that she did not have any friends with whom

would've been no different from her had I been in her

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

"Noooo, ma! noo!"

began to object when our mother took

to have dinner. I'll give the phone

I didn't feed Ren

"Hm?"

to look at Nola. What did she mean

would not get anything to eat since I would be

the edges of my

'How sweet of her.'

feed him

"No, bu―"

"No buts!"

turn for the worse, and

this scene look

odd reason, it reminded me of the scene that occurred a couple of

probably overthinking

Nola fiddled with the utensils in front of

'Cute.'

appearance was nothing short of

my body over to her, I

will definitely be food for me later. Though

the head, only to

and crossing her arms in front of her chest. Her appearance was nothing

wants to

you mean? Didn't you just say

"No?"

at

at her, also

think I clearly remember you saying that you wanted