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

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

lips, Amanda sat back down on

"You've worked hard."

***

orbs with me,

the seven demons that were standing right in front of him while six

and their expressions contained nothing but reverence

the seven

lord, we will accept

his head, Prince Murdock,

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

words reflected the thoughts of the

guess you can

yellow orbs around Jezebeth cycled atop

much so that you might even find your strengths

the moment those words escaped

they learned that receiving

impossible, and almost everyone was

that the orbs could increase

orbs in Jezebeth's palm, intense greed flashed across the eyes of all

'As expected .'

made Jezebeth

known that his words would elicit such a

this, it must mean that all of you want

heads all nodded their heads at once, and

since I only have six and I don't want to pick favorites, I'll do a little

golden runes flashed in the air, enveloping

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

"This should be enough."

at the seven

Xiu! Xiu! Xiu!

and before they could react, their heads

***

[Human Domain, Ashton City.]

forward; we will call you one at a

crowds gathered around the portal, waiting for their

people whispered amongst themselves, unsure of what awaited them on

clothes as if this were the start of a grand

that they hadn't forgotten anything. The promise of a new

us shelter,

husband, her voice trembling

replied, trying to hide his own uncertainty. "They said that they would guarantee us

any pictures of

asked, his voice laced

sent it to

pulling out his phone

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

of the portal's energy was almost deafening, causing many

"Your ID, please."

official called out, bringing everyone back to the present

their identification, and provided them with instructions for the journey

"Here you go, officer."

over his identification papers. The officer scrutinized the documents, checking and double-checking

checks out. You

officer finally said, waving

a sense of anticipation and nervousness in

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

was 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

Woom!

the first

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

Woom!

a soft hum, the portal activated again, and another group stepped forward to take

"Next!"

called out, and the

slowly started to dwindle. The sun, which

the portal, and amongst them

to

"Okay, Mom."

away and followed behind

a couple of people left in the line in front of them, and

Ren coming

"Ren?"