"Wait, isn't that...

"

The moment the black hooded figure removed his hood, I was left sitting in shock.

The drink in my hand dropped on the counter, and my mouth hung wide up.

'How?'

I wondered to myself as I sat there in a daze.

"Hiiik.

"

In the meantime, the dwarf that was picking a fight with the hooded figure quickly sobered up and dragged his friends out of the tavern.

He realized that he had messed with the wrong person.

Staring at the dwarf that had just left, I turned my attention back to the hooded figure who once again covered his features with the hood.

Standing up, I walked in his direction.

"May I sit?

"

I asked whilst looking at him from above.

Lifting his head, the hooded figure's cold voice rang through my ear.

"Didn't I say that I wanted to drink in peac—

"

Mid-sentence, the hooded figure paused. His eyes widened a little bit.

"hmm, you're also a human?...so young as well.

"

"Yeah.

"

I casually put my drink on the table.

"So, can I sit?

"

"No, I still want to be left in peace.

"

The black-hooded figure still shook his head.

Ignoring him, I still sat down and took a sip of the ale.

"Ugh, bitter.

"

The result was me putting on a bitter face.

Seriously, the ale was just too bitter.

"You have a lot of balls.

"

"...not really

"

I murmured thoughtlessly.

For the most part, I was a coward.

Unless forced to, I would never do something that would end up putting my life at risk.

If not for the fact that I was sure that the hooded figure before me would not hurt me, I would've never have approached him.

"Knowing the extent of my abilities, you still approaching me. Don't think that just because you're human, I won't touch you.

"

He warmed.

In response to his threat, I shrugged my shoulders.

"Mhm, I'm not that stupid.

"

"Since you know, I'll give you ten seconds; if you don't leave in that amount of time, I'll forcefully remove you.

"

Putting his cup down, the hooded figure started counting.

"1...2...

"

Eying the hooded figure from the side of my eyes, I lazily stood up.

Pretending to be downcast, I muttered out loud.

"Well, I just wanted to say that I used to be good friends with your daughter, Emma. But it seems like I'm unwanted.

"

"...3—huh?

"

The man abruptly stopped counting.

Then, standing up and grabbing me by the collar, his voice raised.

"What did you just say?

"

His cold voice sent shivers down my spine.

Still retaining my composure, raising both hands in the air I replied with a slight smile.

"Emma Roshfield, your daughter. I know her.

"

That's right.

The hooded figure before me was Emma's father, Waylen Roshfield, mayor of Ashton city and Vice-director of the Union.

'...Union.'

Pretending to keep a smile on my face, my jaws clenched tightly, and my eyes closed.

Just the thought about that organization caused my blood to boil.

For what they did to me, I was going to make them pay dearly, just like the Monolith.

Regarding Waylen, although he was part of the Union, I did not resent him.

The people I had resentment with were the ones that decided to cast me out as though I was trash.

...those guys.

All I could tell them was to wait for me. Wait for me to come to clean up the place!

Retaining his grip on my clothes, Wayland's eyes squinted.

"You know my daughter?

"

"Can you let go first?

" Then, tapping his large hands on my clothes, I spoke in annoyance.

"Kinda hard to breathe.

"

Realizing that his hands were still on my clothes, Waylan apologized and let go.

"Ah, sorry.

"

"It's fine.

"

Fixing my clothes, I calmly sat down and looked at Waylan, who sat back down.

Observing him from up close, I couldn't help but think.

'He sure does look like Emma.'

Handsome face, auburn colored hair, and a perfect physique. No wonder Emma looked the way she did.

Damned genes.

Twirling his almost empty cup, Waylan suddenly asked.

"...do you truly know Emma?

"

"Mhm

"

I nodded and pretended to take a sip of my ale.

I didn't actually drink it, though. Too bitter.

"How can I tell that you're not lying?

"

"U can't, nor do I care if you don't.

"

That was a lie.

I actually did care especially after I remembered that he worked for the Union.

A crazy thought hit me as soon as I saw him.

'What if I bring him to my side?'

Dealing a significant blow to the Union with my current power, was practically impossible. In fact, in the future as well.

They were just too strong.

...but that didn't mean that it was completely impossible.

What if I decided to grow a cancer inside of the Union?

Monica and Wayland.

What if I somehow brought those two people to my side. What would the end result be?

Just the thought threatened to cause the edges of my lips to curl upwards.

Still, that was just a thought for now.

It was all up in the air for how I was going to deal with them.

"...You're right; I have no way of knowing whether you are lying or not.

"

"Here.

"

Tapping on my bracelet and taking out my Lock student ID card, I handed it to him.

"What's this?

"

Taking the card, Waylan slowly started reading it out loud.

"Ren Dover, seventeen, lock class A-25...

"

Halfway through reading the card, Wayland stopped.

Pretending to take another sip of the ale, I raised my brow.

"Believe me now?

"

"Yeah.

"

Wayland nodded before passing the card back to me and asking.

"How is she? is she okay? Is everything alright?

"

At his question, I helplessly shrugged my shoulders.

"How would I know? You know damn well that I haven't seen her for months.

"

Without portals, it took a long time to arrive at the dwarven domain.

Furthermore, the last time I saw her was like a year ago, and we weren't even that close.

"...Right. Sorry, I got a little bit too worked up.

"

"It's understandable.

"

Leaning back on the chair, I looked at the ceiling before opening my mouth.

"Well, I do know that her situation isn't the best right now.

"

"What do you mean?

" My words instantly piqued Walan's interest as he leaned his body forward.

"Care to tell me what you know?

"

Frowning, I thought for a moment before saying.

"Well, this is a few months old news, but your brother is making your daughter's life difficult.

"

Before leaving the human domain, I had Smallsnake send me information regarding the others to see how they were doing.

Out of everyone I asked, Emma was the only one that seemed to be in a dire state.

Her uncle seemed to have started making a move.

This was much faster than anticipated, and even worse, it seemed like he was working with the Parkers.

"My brother?

"

Waylan tilted his head.

"Yeah...

" Sighing, I explained.

"He's been trying his best to get Emma out of the Lock and has also frozen all of her cards. So she basically has nothing.

"

"That bastard!

"

—Smack!

Waylan suddenly stood up and smacked his hand on the table. His enraged roar shook the whole tavern, and not long after, the table in front of me broke apart.

All eyes in the tavern were drawn towards us.

But it seems like Waylan was too caught up in his rage to not realize this as he followed up.

"How dare he!

"

A threatening aura slowly started exuding out of his body.

Standing up from my seat, I quickly tried to calm him down.

"Calm down, hear me out before you do something stupid.

"

Unfortunately, I was but an ant in his eyes.

Waving his hand, I was pushed a couple of meters back.

"How can I remain calm in this situation? No, I need to tell the others that I need to go.

"

"Oy, at least listen to me before you go.

"

"What is it?

"

Waylan asked as he turned around to face my direction.

"Just have a seat, and let me finish talking.

"

Shaking my head, I tossed a couple of coins to the clerk and sat on a new seat.

From how unfazed he was, this seemed to be a regular occurrence.

"Please.

" I motioned with my hand.

"At least let me finish before you go on a rampage.

"

"...Alright.

"

My pleading, fortunately, worked as Waylan soon sat back on the seat opposite to him.

Throwing him a grateful look, I thanked him.

"Thank you.

"

'I guess it's true when they say that all fathers are suckers for their daughters.'

Not that I wouldn't understand since I probably would've also been the same if Nola was in the same situation.

"...so, what did you want to say?

"

Waylan impatiently asked.

Scratching the side of my head, I opened my mouth.

"All I wanted to say was that you don't have to worry.

"

"Don't have to worry, you do know th—

"

"Oy, let me finish.

"

Cutting him off, I glared at him before continuing.

"Although Emma is in a tough situation, I never once said that she was helpless. She got a lot of reliable people working with her to solve the problem. Your presence will do more harm to her growth than anything else.

"

"What do you mean?

"

"If you indulge your daughter, she's never going to grow. No offense, but your daughter is pretty spoiled. If you're there, she's never going to grow up and solve her problems by herself.

"

If Emma never overcame any challenge presented before her, she would never grow.

Although she had Kevin with him, it didn't mean that things would be easy.

She needed to experience hardship to grow. I knew this best.

"Plus, a guy I know will help her out.

"

"Did you just say a guy?

"

Waylan's eyes turned into two small slits. A wisp of his pressure radiated out of his body.

"ehhh...he's a friend.

"

I replied whilst looking away.

"Tell me more.

"

"...

"

Did I just accidentally sell Kevin out?

I was putting on a good word for him in my defence.

"Haha, well, keummm, it's getting hot in here.

"

"No, no, I know what you're trying to do. You're trying to switch the conversation. Who is the guy?

"

"Errr...he's my best friend?

"

When I was trying my best to dodge the conversation, Waylan suddenly grinned.

"I'm joking. I don't mind as long as he truly is reliable, as you say.

"

Sighing in relief, I seriously said.

"He's reliable. That I am sure of.

"

"...Alright, I'll trust your words for now.

"

Smiling, I cursed inside of my mind

'Trust me my ass'

It would take him months to get back in the human domain, and even then, there was a high chance that he would be in big trouble since he most likely had some critical work to do here.

He had no choice but to trust my words.

"Now that I've answered all of your questions...

"

Propping my elbows on the table and interlocking my hands together, I rested my chin on my hands.

"It's my turn to ask questions.

"

Waylan leaned back and took a sip of his new drink.

"...right, it's only right that I answer some of your questions.

"

Without wasting any time, I went straight to the point and pointed to a table not far from us.

Where the dwarf from before sat.

"What is going on here? I heard the word demons being mentioned by that dwarf from before, and seeing how you're here, it seems like something is going on here.

"

"Haa, you're sharp.

"

Wayland said as he put the cup down.

"At the moment, I, along with a few others, have been sent to the dwarven domain to carry out some diplomatic talks with the dwarfs regarding artifact trading.

"

Shrugging his shoulders, Waylan wryly smiled.

"Unfortunately, we arrived at the wrong time.

"

"Wrong time?

"

My brows knit.

Taking a sip of the ale, Waylan raised his cup and said.

"Mhm, and that's because right now, the dwarves are at war with the demons.

"

"War?

" My eyes shot wide open. Then, I leaned forward with both hands on the table and urgently asked.

"Are you telling me that the dwarves are at war with the demons right now?

"

"Indeed, in fact, it's still in the early stages.

"

Glancing towards his left and right, he whispered.

"Furthermore, to establish a good diplomatic connection with them, we have no choice but to stay behind and help them. You're most likely going to be dragged into the war as well.

"

"Shit...

"

Leaning back on my seat and massaging my forehead, I felt a massive headache coming.

If what Waylan said was right, then I really might get dragged into the war.

Not because I wanted to, but because by the time I left, I would end up facing thousands of demons at the same time.

Talk about bad timing.

Raising my head, I suddenly recalled a small part of the conversation.

"Wait, did you just say we? What do you mean by we?

"

Nonchalantly taking a sip of his ale, an amused smile appeared on Waylan's face.

"Right, you mentioned you were from the Lock, right?

"

"That's right.

"

Placing the drink down and whipping the foam that was on his mouth, Waylan opened his mouth and said.

"Isn't that great? Your headmaster is also here.

"