The Author's POV

Sunlight filtered through the canopy of trees, gently bathing my body and enveloping it with a thin layer of warmth.

The birds chirped, and a gentle breeze lingered in the air.

It felt nice outside, but as I sat down on a wooden bench in a familiar park, everything around me seemed so intrusive.

"I want it, mom!"

"No, that's enough sweets for today."

"Umhhhh!"

My gaze never left the pair of mother and daughter in the distance. They were quite close to me. About a hundred meters.

…Yet, they never felt so distant before.

"Nola, you better behave. I already told you that you can't have any more candy for today."

"Why!?"

"Because I said so."

I couldn't help but crack a smile as I watched the two of them argue from a distance. It was a sight that had been seen plenty of times before. One to which I have been accustomed for a considerable amount of time.

"Is there something that you need, young man?"

Apparently noticing my gaze, the woman turned her head to look at me.

She looked the same, maybe a bit older than in my memories.

I smiled at the two.

"No, don't mind me. You guys just remind me of my family."

"Oh."

The woman flashed me a smile before patting Nola on the head.

"Is your sister as naughty as her?"

Lowering my head to look at Nola, I laughed.

"…You can say so. Perhaps even naughtier."

"You must have it tough then."

The woman spoke with sympathy before taking Nola's hand. She was currently glaring daggers at me, and I couldn't help but laugh once more.

"It's getting late. We have to go. It was nice knowing you."

"It was nice knowing you too."

I murmured while staring at their departing backs.

I didn't have to wait for very long before I lost sight of the two of them, and when that happened, I leaned back against the bench that I was sitting on.

"This is fucked."

The whole situation was fucked.

"Why did you do this, Kevin?"

I had an idea at first, but it only became clear to me after a while.

not the

world where

to say that this is a world where the Demon

gates and dungeons didn't. The Monolith also didn't exist, and no one had ever heard of the

and the other races

but the four great cities having disappeared from the world's map and being replaced by many other

That wasn't all.

drastically lower than in the world

despite my best efforts, I was unable to find any humor in this

This world…

no

take

"Huh, yeah, sure."

side a little and

my face with my arm, I took

There must be a reason… and how do I

Kevin did all of this without a reason. There must've

you perhaps wondering why you've been

my ears, and my body tensed. The voice… It was

slowly lowered my arm and looked toward my right. Immediately, my breath stopped, and my mouth opened and closed several

a face that I'd never

to a guy whom I used to regard as my

"M,matthew?"

***

Angel Wing Guild.

Two other

was incredibly

uttered a single word as everyone gazed in

past were played over and over again. It showed a young person with short black hair,

time that Edward watched, and yet, he couldn't understand how that youth managed to disappear from

some

was

get, and those that did have it were the most authoritative individuals in the entire

a hefty sum to acquire a single

some

Edward uttered. He had long gray hair

we would've known about it. There's no way our information network

"I agree."

a fairly large stomach, dark hair that was beginning to thin out toward

sort of trick to escape from the detection of the captain. Since he boldly entered the place, I'm sure he must've had some sort of

"Yeah."

"Hmm."

when he heard their

someone that young to know a skill and yet be unknown

the most powerful Guild in the world, they would undoubtedly be the first to learn

someone that has been secretly groomed by

frown, and he turned

guys have anything on

"No."

older man shook his

I got nothing. No family history, no DNA, no date of birth, nothing…

"Hmm."

deepened further

was starting to seem

there absolutely nothing on

"Actually, there is something."

plump man spoke, taking out a tablet and passing

the cameras and the base system, we were

"Oh?"