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."

father politely refused with a smile on his

insist, I chimed

"He can't take alcohol."

"Huh?"

moment as he pointed

I'm sure he won't get drunk off of

"You'll be surprised..."

sidelong glance in the direction of my father but paid no attention

can even get drunk off of

"Ren."

that I heard

looking at him, I picked up my fork and leaned toward where the chicken was, trying to get a piece of

the same time, I tried to change

'I spoke too much.'

chicken looks very

Slap―!

"Ow."

wasn't even close to getting to the chicken when someone smacked me

to blame,

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

"But―"

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

"Pfttt..."

from my right side, my face

as she sat quietly with

was clearly feigning

was funny, didn't

to

"No."

at me,

My eyes furrowed tightly.

wouldn't be able to

idea what you're

to feign ignorance, and my

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

head and took my eyes

know.

let something like

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

sit next to your

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

she was a full-fledged addict. It seemed

I couldn't really

understandable, given that she did not have any friends with whom

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

raising a 'pet', and she needed to take

"Noooo, ma! noo!"

our mother took the phone away from her

give the phone back to

didn't feed

"Hm?"

at Nola. What

would not get anything to

feel the edges of

'How sweet of her.'

feed him later. Eat

"No, bu―"

"No buts!"

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

this

scene that occurred

probably overthinking

face, Nola fiddled with the utensils in front

'Cute.'

was nothing short of

over

food for me later. Though

the head, only to have my hand shoved back

muttering to herself and crossing her arms in front of her

to feed

Didn't you just say that

"No?"

at

looked back at her, also

remember you saying that you wanted to