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 his

could insist,

"He can't take alcohol."

"Huh?"

moment as he pointed at the

he won't

"You'll be surprised..."

my father but paid no attention to the change in expression that appeared on his face and

even get drunk off of

"Ren."

moment that

leaned toward where the chicken was, trying to get a

time, I tried

'I spoke too much.'

chicken looks very

Slap―!

"Ow."

to getting to the chicken when someone

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

to go ahead and eat first? Wait for everyone to

"But―"

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

"Pfttt..."

a laugh coming from my right side, my face

face as

was clearly

thought it was funny, didn't

asked, leaning closer to her.

"No."

looked back at me,

My eyes furrowed tightly.

I wouldn't be able to hear your

have no idea

to feign ignorance, and my eyes turned

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

nodded my head and took my eyes away from

it. Pretend that you don't know. I'll see how you deal with

if I would let

also the matter regarding the black eye that I needed to pay her back for. Well, that was mainly my fault...but I

Nola, sit next to your

was

addict. It seemed like every time I saw her; she had her face

couldn't really

friends with whom she could play

from her had I

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

"Noooo, ma! noo!"

our mother took the

dinner. I'll give the

but I didn't feed

"Hm?"

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

I would not get anything to eat since I

edges

'How sweet of her.'

feed him later. Eat

"No, bu―"

"No buts!"

for the worse, and she stomped her way over to the

this

reminded me of the scene that occurred a couple of minutes ago

probably

pouty face, Nola fiddled with the utensils in

'Cute.'

appearance was nothing

body over to

you don't have to worry about feeding me. There will definitely be food for me later. Though I

patted her gently on the head, only to have my

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

to

mean? Didn't you just say that you wanted

"No?"

at me,

back at her,

you saying that