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.

Amanda. Why aren't you answering?

she leaned her body forward and pressed her lips against Rens. He stopped talking immediately

lips, Amanda sat back

"You've worked hard."

***

got six orbs with me, and there's seven of you

demons that were standing right in front of

and their expressions contained nothing but reverence

were the seven clan

accept

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

those orbs are, but if you are giving them to us, they must be of significant

the thoughts of the other

I guess you

orbs around Jezebeth cycled atop his

So much so that you

breathing stopped the moment those words escaped from his

that receiving the yellow orbs

their current level, increasing their strength was nearly impossible, and almost everyone was stuck in the same

fact that the orbs could

intense greed flashed across the eyes of all seven

'As expected .'

made Jezebeth

that his words would elicit

this, it must mean that all of you want

nodded their heads at once, and Jezebeth

pick favorites, I'll do a little

his finger forward, and golden runes flashed in the air, enveloping the

the tip of his finger, forming a small white orb that was of similar size to the

"This should be enough."

at the seven demons and waved his hand

Xiu! Xiu! Xiu!

seven demons, and before they could react, their heads rolled

***

[Human Domain, Ashton City.]

forward; we will call you

was laced with tension as the crowds gathered around the portal, waiting for their turn to step through and embark

as people whispered

if this were the start of

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

us

husband, her

trying to hide his own uncertainty. "They said that they would guarantee us shelter and

any pictures of the

his voice laced

I already sent it to

responded, pulling out his phone to show

was a towering structure, gleaming in the sunlight. It pulsed with a soft, blue light that spread across

was almost

"Your ID, please."

out, bringing everyone back to the

forward, checked their identification, and provided them with instructions

"Here you go, officer."

handing over his identification papers. The officer scrutinized

checks out.

finally said, waving them

a sense of anticipation and nervousness in

one knew exactly what to expect on 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

was to

this was a completely different world, and there was barely anything they knew about the planet.

Woom!

portal activated, and the first group stepped

sight, and there was a moment of tense

Woom!

soft hum, the portal activated again, and another group stepped

"Next!"

and the crowds

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

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

Nola. We have to

"Okay, Mom."

put her phone away

line in front of them, and

Ren coming

"Ren?"