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

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

her lips, Amanda sat back

"You've worked hard."

***

me, and there's

demons that were standing right in front of him while six white orbs floated atop

presence was unlike any other, and their expressions contained nothing

the seven clan

lord, we will accept any decision

head, Prince Murdock, the head

what those orbs are, but if you are giving them

reflected the thoughts of the other

you can say

around Jezebeth cycled atop

rather precious. So much so

breathing stopped the moment those words escaped from

that receiving the yellow orbs would increase

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

fact that the orbs could increase their

greed flashed across the eyes of all

'As expected .'

sight made

his words

must mean that all of you want the

heads all nodded their heads at once,

to pick favorites,

forward, and golden runes flashed in the air,

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

"This should be enough."

the orb formed, Jezebeth looked at the seven demons and waved

Xiu! Xiu! Xiu!

the seven demons, and before they could

***

[Human Domain, Ashton City.]

order. Don't rush forward; we will call you

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

in the air as people whispered amongst themselves, unsure of

their finest clothes as if this were the start of a grand adventure, while

them clutched their belongings tightly, double-checking that they hadn't forgotten anything. The promise of a new life was too great to risk leaving anything

us

her husband, her voice trembling

hide his own uncertainty. "They said

there any pictures of the

man asked, his

already sent it to you

friend responded, pulling out his phone to show the

gleaming in the sunlight. It pulsed

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

"Your ID, please."

official called out, bringing everyone back to the

came forward, checked their

"Here you go, officer."

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

everything checks out. You

finally said, waving them

of anticipation and nervousness

one knew exactly what to expect on the other side of the portal. Some had seen the pictures

to be

barely anything they knew about the planet. The only thing they knew for certain was that this was their only chance for

Woom!

and the

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

Woom!

portal activated again, and another group stepped forward

"Next!"

and

numbered in the thousands slowly started to dwindle. The sun, which had previously hung in

behind the portal,

have to hurry, or

"Okay, Mom."

put her phone away and followed

front of them, and they were soon going to be

Ren coming

"Ren?"