The Author's POV

"Huh?"

"W-what?"

"Am I seeing things?"

The astonishment that we felt the instant that we set foot back on earth could not be adequately described using any words at all. I was so shocked that the after effects of the portal seemed like nothing to me.

Greeting us at the portal was Kevin. Everything seemed normal from that point. He was currently wearing a nice suit, which I had to say, made him look rather dashing.

I wasn't jealous.

That said…

"What did you do?"

As I emerged from the training area, I was taken aback to see that the headquarters was packed to the gills with individuals.

If that wasn't surprising enough, I couldn't believe how many people there were outside. When I looked out the window at the street below, I couldn't believe how crowded it was.

…It was as if the war had never started in the first place.

I was baffled, and so were the others.

'What happened in the time we were in Melandoir?'

"Surprised?"

Kevin looked at us with a smirk, leading us up toward his office.

"I won't hold you guys up for long. I just need to brief you on the situation, and you can all be on your way."

"Good morning, Alliance head."

"Have a safe day, Alliance head."

The manner in which people greeted Kevin on our way to his office was by far the most perplexing thing that I noticed.

Their eyes… they were filled with reverence.

My brows immediately furrowed when I saw this.

…I slowly started to get an idea of what had happened, and I felt my heart drop for some reason.

Everything seemed to be too good to be true.

"Come, relax in my office for a bit."

As we entered Kevin's office, he graciously offered us a few drinks before taking a seat in one of the chairs there.

"What happened?"

Jin was the first one to speak, asking the question that was lingering in the minds of everyone present.

I just quietly observed Kevin from my seat.

The more looked at him, the more I felt that things were off.

Nonetheless, I still quietly listened to the conversation. I could just be overthinking things, though I doubted it.

"We got lucky, and we managed to defeat all of the high ranking members of the Monolith. Of course, we didn't completely rid of the entire organization, as some went into hiding, but we were able to deal a large glow to them."

Kevin looked at me and smiled.

thanks to

is he

me,

turn the situation around and reverse the trap by sending

in such a nonchalant tone that it made it seem as though he had

everything. I understood how he defeated

to

I looked at Kevin to

"What about Mal—"

up with you guys? Why do I feel demonic energy

Kevin, who stood up and looked at us with a frown. After he waved his hand once, a shadowy radiance began

turned his head to look

"Seriously?"

He wasn't impressed.

I shrugged.

far too thick over there. I wouldn't

"Haaa…"

let out a long

"This is rather troubling."

He grumbled.

while we won the war, the situation is still rather sensitive? I understand you, since everyone knows you and they probably

between Melissa, Jin, and

leaking out of their

"Is that so?"

because I became accustomed to the other world, but I honestly didn't even

frowned. She

"Get rid of it."

I was speechless.

just get rid of it at the snap of my

demonic

the contracts

the expiration of the

traumatized me in ways that

again will I offer contracts

the lot

all of this sorted, I'll have you guys rest in the rooms I have prepared for

pressed the phone on his

contract expires and you get over

Clank—

"You called me?"

after that, Emma burst into the room in an abrupt manner. As she looked around and noticed us, a

you guys doing

"It's a long story."

his tie, he fell back into his chair and lazily

the lot of them in a room. Don't bother asking any questions, they probably won't

"Uhh."

face. As she turned her head, her gaze eventually fell on Amanda, and she let

then. Come with me for

left. Standing

waved at them before they could ask

mind me, I still have something to talk to with

to a sudden pause

"It's alright."

once bothered to glance in

she was acting the way that she was. Just a look in Kevin's direction, and I knew she was still holding a grudge against

…How petty.

Clank—!