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

could insist, I chimed

"He can't take alcohol."

"Huh?"

he pointed at

wine. 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

even get drunk off of beer. It

"Ren."

the moment that I heard my father's

leaned toward where the chicken was, trying to get

I tried to

'I spoke too much.'

chicken looks

Slap―!

"Ow."

to the chicken

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

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

"But―"

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

"Pfttt..."

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

was that Amanda had a blank expression on her face as she

clearly

thought it was

to her.

"No."

at me, her

My eyes furrowed tightly.

wouldn't be able to hear your

idea what you're talking

feign ignorance, and my eyes turned into

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

head and took

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

let something like this

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

sit next to

when she arrived, was the last person to take a seat at the

a full-fledged addict. It seemed like every time I saw her;

couldn't really

that she did not have any friends with whom she could play in

no different from

case, she was apparently raising a 'pet', and she needed to take

"Noooo, ma! noo!"

mother took

dinner. I'll give the phone back to you

I didn't

"Hm?"

at Nola. What did

would not get anything to eat since I would be the last one to

feel the edges of my lips

'How sweet of her.'

can feed him

"No, bu―"

"No buts!"

mother raised her voice, Nola's mood immediately took a turn for the worse, and she stomped her way over to the seat next to mine, grumbling

this scene look

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

was probably

a large pouty face, Nola fiddled

'Cute.'

was nothing short

body over to her, I

have to worry about feeding me. There will definitely be food for me later. Though I do appreciate the fact that

gently on the head, only to

crossing her arms in

to feed

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

"No?"

at me,

at her, also

think I clearly remember you saying that