The Author's POV

The memories swept through her consciousness like a tsunami, penetrating every nook and cranny of her mind and taking control of everything that was contained therein.

Amanda felt as though her world was spinning as a series of images began to pop into her head.

She wasn't sure how long she had been standing there, but when she came to, she noticed that the sun had already started to set.

"You've finally digested the memories?"

It was from behind her that she heard a voice that she knew all too well.

She sat herself down on his chair without even bothering to look at him and tried to digest everything that had been thrown at her.

She propped her elbows against the table and massaged her forehead.

"The memories…"

Her head throbbed.

"…Are they real?"

"Why wouldn't they be?"

Ren appeared right in front of her.

He looked at her with a smug expression on his face, and the corners of his lips were slightly upturned.

The expression on his face...

She was genuinely irritated by it, but as she thought back on the memories that were flooding her mind, she found that she couldn't bring herself to complain about it.

She…

Was that really her?

"Hehehe."

Ren laughed in the most irritating manner and sat down on the desk.

"What do you think?"

He moved his body in closer proximity to her, and his eyes narrowed as he did so. At the same time, the smile that had been partially visible on his face gradually vanished, and what replaced it was an extremely serious expression.

"Squid-like person?"

His voice was calm, but Amanda could feel the hidden anger within it.

His ego had been hurt.

"I didn't know you thought of me like that, Amanda… I'm honestly quite hurt."

He continued on.

There was a look of expectation in his eyes as if he wanted her to correct what her other self had said, but Amanda didn't give him that benefit.

When she raised her head, she purposely squinted her eyes and cocked her head.

"I guess you…"

She stopped herself mid-sentence and shook her head.

"…No, never mind. You don't look like a squid."

"Wait, hold on. You think I'm deaf? You clearly were about to say something."

Ren's expression changed for the worse, and he leaned his body forward. He seemed rather desperate at the moment, and Amanda's lips trembled.

She was having a hard time keeping herself composed.

'It's too easy.'

As impressive as Ren was, he was the simplest person to read.

She knew him like the back of her hand, and pressing his buttons wasn't something that she found difficult.

With that said…

'Was that really me?'

Amanda tried to conceal her expression by covering her face with her hands.

Despite not being able to view her own memories, she had seen enough from Ren's perspective to find herself secretly squealing at her own behavior.

Would that really be how she would've turned out if the Demon King had never existed?

It made her shiver.

aren't

her lips against Rens.

lips, Amanda sat back down on

"You've worked hard."

***

with me,

in front of him while six white orbs

demons' presence was unlike any other, and their expressions contained nothing but reverence

the seven

accept

of his head, Prince Murdock, the head of the Clan of

but if you are giving

thoughts of the other

guess you can say

orbs around Jezebeth cycled atop his

precious. So much so

the moment those words escaped from

demons' expressions changed when they learned that receiving the yellow

and almost everyone was stuck in

the orbs

intense greed flashed across the eyes of all

'As expected .'

made

his words

all reacting like this, it must mean that

nodded their heads at once, and

want to pick favorites, I'll do a little something to make

in the air, enveloping the entire room in a white

glow agglomerated toward the tip of his finger, forming a small white orb

"This should be enough."

the seven demons and waved

Xiu! Xiu! Xiu!

before they could react, their heads rolled back, and the

***

[Human Domain, Ashton City.]

Don't rush forward; we will call you

with tension as the crowds gathered around the portal, waiting for their turn to step through and embark on a journey to a

anxiety hung palpably in the air as people whispered amongst

clothes as if this were the start of a grand adventure, while others wore practical and sturdy outfits meant

clutched their belongings tightly, double-checking that they hadn't forgotten anything. The promise

us shelter,

husband,

he replied, trying to hide his own uncertainty. "They said that

there any pictures of the

man asked, his

already sent it to you on

responded, pulling out his phone to show the

a towering structure, gleaming in the sunlight. It

was almost deafening, causing many to clutch their

"Your ID, please."

bringing everyone

checked their identification,

"Here you go, officer."

his identification papers. The officer scrutinized the documents, checking

out.

finally said,

sense of anticipation and nervousness in the

the other side of the portal. Some had seen the pictures of a lush, verdant world that seemed unlike any other, while others whispered of danger

to be

different world, and there was barely anything they knew about the planet. The only thing they knew for certain was that this was their only chance for a

Woom!

the first group

the crowd as they disappeared from sight, and there was a moment of tense silence as everyone waited to see if

Woom!

the portal activated again, and another group stepped forward

"Next!"

called out, and the crowds

began to move forward, and the crowd of people that numbered in the thousands slowly started to dwindle. The sun, which had previously hung in the sky, started to fall, and

people lining up behind the portal, and amongst them was a

We have to

"Okay, Mom."

away and followed behind her

were only a couple of people left in the line in front of them, and they were soon going to

is Ren coming with

"Ren?"