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—"

this for

I

suddenly glared at by the two 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 calm them

I

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

"Really?"

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

when did he

guard, but I quickly shoved the thought to the back of my mind and focused my

aside. I've already completed what I

"Huh?"

Duchess heard what I had to say,

finished already?

completed

expression on her face. She then took the finished cigarette out of her mouth and

narrow his eyes at her, but if anything, this was the response that she had hoped for, thus her expression changed to

throat, she looked back

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."

Whether or not I took the time to explain it

then. Onto the next

hands and stared at the

my hand in her direction,

"What are you doing?"

worry. I'm not going to hurt you, we've already signed a

effect on the Duchess as she still stepped

Why do you want to

soon find out. Don't worry

"Sto—hgkh."

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

became hazy, and what appeared to be millions upon millions

hand and having

"This is it."

contents contained within, I channeled my mana, causing a layer of dark threads to begin

"Next."

few minutes, I looked around for any orbs that might have contained recollections

hundred pitch-black spheres floating around me. I had long since lost track of time and

that needed

a genuine

"This should be all."

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

Thump—!

fell next to me. Jin was able to grab hold

a brief moment,

"What did you do?"

at

"You worried about her?"

"No."

"Then..."

"Just answer."

sighed and waved my

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

"I see."

nodded, then picked up the blunt that had been left on the ground.

also want to erase all evidence of us

I smiled at Jin.

sure pick

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

did the two

rid of all

"What about the mess?"

at the

"Good question…"

pondering for a moment, I