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

could insist, I

"He can't take alcohol."

"Huh?"

for a moment as he

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

"You'll be surprised..."

direction of my father but paid no attention to the

even get drunk off of beer. It won't

"Ren."

the moment that I heard

him, I picked up my fork and leaned toward where

time, I tried

'I spoke too much.'

looks

Slap―!

"Ow."

to the chicken

mother was to blame, and she gave me

and eat first? Wait for everyone to sit

"But―"

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

"Pfttt..."

my right side, my face darkened, and my head snapped

a blank expression on her face as she

clearly feigning

it was funny,

to her. My eyes

"No."

looked back at me,

My eyes furrowed tightly.

be

have no idea what you're

feign ignorance, and my eyes

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

my head and took my eyes

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

would let

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

next to your

preoccupied with her phone when she arrived, was the last person to take a seat

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

couldn't really

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

would've been no different from her had I been

raising a 'pet', and she

"Noooo, ma! noo!"

when our mother took the phone away from her

about to have dinner. I'll give

but I didn't feed

"Hm?"

look at Nola. What

that I would not get anything to

the edges of my

'How sweet of her.'

can feed him

"No, bu―"

"No buts!"

a turn for the worse, and she stomped her way over to the seat next to mine,

does this scene look

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

probably

fiddled with the utensils in

'Cute.'

was nothing short

body over to

There will definitely be food for me later. Though I do appreciate the

head, only to

while muttering to herself and crossing her arms in front of her chest. Her appearance

to

just say that you wanted

"No?"

looked at

looked back at her,

I clearly remember you saying