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.

you going to sell it

"No."

"You fuck—"

this

I

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

still raised my hands and tried to

I have time, I'll

was fairly straightforward. Everything would get back to normal as long as the Duchess

"Really?"

eyes lit up and she became noticeably less angry as a result. As soon as I saw this,

when did he

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

already completed what I set

"Huh?"

the Duchess heard what I had to say, her expression

already? This

I've already completed everything

face. She then took the finished cigarette out of her mouth and flicked it

this was the response that she had hoped for,

her throat, she looked back at

me wrong, it's not like I don't believe you. It's just that I still didn't receive any news from my side, so I

"That's understandable."

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

Onto

happily clapped my hands and stared

hand in her

"What are you doing?"

to hurt you, we've

words didn't seem to hold any effect on the Duchess

you doing? Why do you want to suddenly

soon find out.

"Sto—hgkh."

hand soon came into contact with her head. After a moment, a bright white glow appeared on my

millions upon millions of spheres of varying hues filled

with my hand and

"This is it."

and inspecting the contents contained within, I channeled my mana, causing a layer of dark threads to begin covering the orb, which I

"Next."

minutes, I looked around for any orbs that might have contained recollections of the others and myself, and

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

and myself completely from her mind. It was something that needed to be done in order to make sure that everything worked perfectly, and it was imperative that it

a genuine

"This should be all."

dispersed. With another wave of my hand, my vision shifted, and I suddenly found myself back in

Thump—!

was able to grab hold of her just

a brief moment, he turned his attention

"What did you do?"

looked at

"You worried about her?"

"No."

"Then..."

"Just answer."

and waved my

I just made her forget about

"I see."

up the blunt that had been left on the ground. He flicked his hand, and it vanished into

want to erase all evidence

I smiled at Jin.

pick things

out all of the blunts that had been thrown around. There

did the

rid of all

"What about the mess?"

the broken chairs

"Good question…"

pondering for a moment, I eventually waved