The Author's POV

"What's going on in here?"

When I got back from my trip, I was greeted by a thick cloud of smoke.

"Did the mansion catch fire?"

…but how was that possible?

Looking at Amanda, both of us made a dash for the main hall in an attempt to locate the source of the smoke.

Arriving at the large wooden door, I smacked it open.

Clank—!

"What's going on in h—eh?"

In the middle of my sentence, I had to pause in order to rub both of my eyes. I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't interpreting what I was seeing incorrectly.

'I'm not high, am I?'

"I'm almost out human. Give me another pack."

"I've already given you two."

"What about it? Can't you see that I'm already almost done?"

"Smoking harms."

Bang—!

"Damn it human! Don't fucking test me!"

"Test you for what? You haven't even paid me anything for the packs!"

"Ah, so it was about the money! Why didn't you say so? I'll reward you handsomely for another pack, so hurry up and give it to me."

"No. I only have one left, and that's for me."

"Damn you human!"

Bang—!

The table fell apart, and the Duchess got to her feet immediately. The anger visible on her face was accompanied by a heaving motion in her chest.

In her mouth was a half lit cigarette.

"Didn't you just say that you'd sell it to me? You a swindler?"

"When did I say I was ever going to sell it to you? I just pointed out the fact that you took two packs from me for free."

"Bastard!"

She cursed again.

"Do you have any idea as to who I am?"

"I don't care."

"I'll fight you!"

'What in the world happened during the time Amanda and I were out?'

I pinched the middle of my brows.

The room was a complete disaster, and the scattered pieces of what appeared to be chairs, in conjunction with the conversation that I had overheard, helped me get an understanding of what was happening.

...It's just that I found it hard to believe.

'I can't believe this is what I return to...'

Before stepping in between the two of them, I let out an internal sigh. Despite how entertaining it was, I had no choice but to put an end to this.

There were more important things at hand.

going to sell it to

"No."

"You fuck—"

stop this for

I shouldn't

at a loss of what to make out of the situation. It was, if anything, a fairly burdensome

and tried to calm

else understand the problem. When I have time, I'll get you as many packs

get back to

"Really?"

less angry as a result. As soon as I saw this, I let out

did he start

quickly shoved the thought to the back of my mind and focused my attention back

what I

"Huh?"

had to say,

already?

I've already completed

Duchess looked at me with a suspicious expression on her face. She then took the finished cigarette out of her

anything, this was the response that

her throat, she

don't believe you. It's just that I still didn't receive any news from my side, so I find it rather hard to believe

"That's understandable."

go into further detail. Whether or not I took the time to explain it to

then. Onto the

clapped my hands and stared at

her direction, she immediately retreated

"What are you doing?"

hurt you,

to hold any effect on the

doing? Why do you want to suddenly

out. Don't worry about

"Sto—hgkh."

energy and mana, the Duchess froze on the spot, and my hand soon came into contact with her head. After a moment, a

appeared to be millions upon millions of spheres of varying hues filled the space in front

with my hand and having several of them fly in

"This is it."

I channeled my mana, causing a layer

"Next."

might have contained recollections of the others and myself, and

floating around me. I had long since lost track of time and was thus unaware of how long I had

of the others and myself completely from her mind. It was something that needed to be done

a genuine

"This should be all."

moved away from each other and dispersed. With another wave of my hand, my vision shifted, and I suddenly found myself back

Thump—!

able to grab hold of her just in time

at her for a brief moment, he turned his attention back to

"What did you do?"

looked at him

"You worried about her?"

"No."

"Then..."

"Just answer."

and

worry about it. I just made her forget about us for now. I'll return

"I see."

up the blunt that had been left on the ground. He flicked his hand,

assume you also want to erase all evidence of us

I smiled at Jin.

sure pick things up

that had been thrown around. There were quite a lot of

much did

of

"What about the mess?"

at the broken

"Good question…"

for a moment, I eventually waved my