Ren strolled into his modest home, his light brown hair tousled and his eerie eyes glowing faintly under the dim light. The old man was lounging in his chair, flipping through a worn book.

The old man looked up, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Ren, your master invited us to a party.”

Ren raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. “A party? What for?”

“She said she finally became an SS-ranked Human. She’s celebrating with the people she likes,” the old man replied, closing the book with a thud.

Ren’s face broke into a grin. “Well, that’s good news. Get ready. We’re going.”

The old man leaned back in his chair, shaking his head. “I’m not going. That’s your thing, not mine.”

Ren folded his arms and smirked. “Oh no, you’re not getting out of this. You’re coming, and we’re getting suits—one for you, one for me.”

“Kid, I’m too old for this nonsense,” the old man muttered.

Ren crouched beside him, his sharp eyes narrowing mischievously. “If you don’t come, I’ll tell Master you didn’t show because you’re scared of big crowds.”

The old man groaned, rubbing his temples. “Fine, you little brat. But don’t expect me to enjoy it.”

Later, they both stood before the mirror, transformed. Ren adjusted his sleek black suit, the tailored fit emphasizing his tall, lean frame. His light brown hair was neatly styled, and his intense, eerie eyes gave him an air of mystery.

The old man, surprisingly dapper in a dark gray suit, grumbled, “Why do you look like you just walked off the cover of some romance novel?”

Ren chuckled, grabbing his tie. “Because I have the face for it.”

Before the old man could respond, a sleek black car pulled up outside. The driver stepped out, handed Ren the keys, and said, “The master wanted you to have this.” Without waiting for a reply, the driver left.

Ren opened the passenger door, bowing slightly. “Come on, Dad. I’ll drive.”

The old man paused, eyeing him suspiciously. “Do you even know how to drive?”

Ren smirked, dangling the keys. “Of course I do. I’m not some clueless kid anymore. Now get in.”

Grumbling under his breath, the old man slid into the seat, muttering, “If we crash, it’s your fault.”

Ren chuckled, settling into the driver’s seat and starting the car.

As they cruised through the bustling city, Ren glanced at the old man. “So, how’s the city you protected in your youth?”

The old man leaned back, his gaze distant. “Still standing. Thanks to me.” He smirked. “Shut up, you brat.”

Ren laughed softly, his voice growing serious. “Did you ever have a lover?”

The old man’s smirk faded, replaced by a wistful look. “Yeah. She was killed during the monster swarms.”

Ren tightened his grip on the wheel. “Was she in the army too?”

The old man nodded, his voice heavy. “She died protecting civilians.”

Silence fell between them until the old man broke it. “Do you know about monsters?”

Ren replied, “Yeah. When the Nether merged with this world, demons, ogres, dragons, elves, and dwarves all appeared. But the demons caused the most chaos.”

The old man interrupted, “I’m not talking about demons. I’m talking about monsters. Vile creatures born from the Void. They came after the Second Demon War and ravaged both humans and demons alike.”

Ren frowned. “What is this Void?”

The old man shook his head. “No one knows.”

They pulled up outside a grand, glittering building, the car rolling to a stop.

The old man stepped out, craning his neck to take in the structure. “It’s big.”

Ren sighed, straightening his suit. “Yeah. I wish she could see this too.”

The old man smirked. “So, you found someone?”

Ren’s ears reddened as he muttered, “Well… yeah.”

Inside, the party was already in full swing. The crowd buzzed with excitement, laughter, and the clink of glasses. Ren helped the old man find a seat and murmured, “Stay here. I’ll go look around.”

The old man’s grin was almost wicked. “Or someone in particular?”

Ren flushed but walked off without replying. Across the room, Lyria watched him, her gaze lingering. She wasn’t ready to approach him just yet, but her lips curled into a faint,smile as he disappeared into the crowd.

The lavish party was in full swing, the grand hall alive with music, chatter, and the clinking of glasses. Ren was navigating through the crowd, his sharp eyes scanning for Lyria. His tailored black suit and confident aura turned heads, and before long, a group of well-dressed young women noticed him.

“Excuse me,” one of them said, stepping forward with a shy smile. “Are you… with the host?”

Ren stopped, his smile polite. “Sort of. I’m here to celebrate with my master.”

“Oh, so you’re one of the powerful ones,” another chimed in, her tone flirtatious.

Ren chuckled lightly, scratching the back of his head. “I wouldn’t say that.”

The girls giggled, clearly charmed, and began introducing themselves. Ren greeted each of them warmly, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries. He wasn’t oblivious to their interest, but his demeanor remained composed and gentlemanly.

Across the room, Lyria had been watching the scene unfold. She didn’t know why her chest tightened at the sight of Ren surrounded by those girls. Her hands balled into fists as she thought, What’s wrong with me? am I… jealous?

She floods towards him Why am I even running behind him?

She stopped herself, taking a deep breath. No, I shouldn’t act so desperate. At least, not in front of him.

An idea struck her. Straightening her posture, she started walking toward him, pretending to scan the room as though she were looking for someone else. Her eyes deliberately avoided Ren, but her steps carried her closer. Will this be enough? she wondered.

Ren’s sharp eyes caught her immediately. “Oh hey, Lyria!” he called out, his voice cutting through the noise as he gently excused himself from the group of girls.

The girls pouted slightly but moved aside as Ren approached her with a radiant smile. “Hey, Lyria. Looking beautiful as always,” he said, his voice softening.

Lyria was wearing a white frock that accentuated her grace, making her look like a princess out of a fairy tale. She met his compliment with a sharp glare, her cheeks flushing slightly. “What do you want?” she snapped.

Ren smirked, leaning closer. “Looks like you forgot our romance earlier.”

Her face turned crimson as she punched him lightly but firmly in the stomach. “I’ll kill you,” she muttered, turning away to hide her embarrassment.

Ren coughed, laughing softly. “Alright, alright. I’m sorry.”

As she stood with her back to him, trying to will away her obvious blush, Eira, her aunt, approached with a mischievous smile. “Wow, you two are already acting so romantic. Should we start preparing for the wedding?”

Lyria spun around, her voice loud and defensive. “No, Aunt! I—”

Before she could finish, Ren turned toward the host of the evening, their master, and walked over to shake her hand. “Congratulations, Master, on finally becoming SS-ranked.”

The master smiled, nodding in acknowledgment. “Thank you, Ren. It’s been a long journey.”

As Ren and the master chatted, Lyria fumed silently, her arms crossed. Yet her eyes kept darting toward Ren. Eira leaned in closer to whisper, “You know, for someone who claims to hate him, you’re staring a lot.”

Lyria hissed, “I’m not staring! I just… don’t want him embarrassing me in public.”

Eira chuckled knowingly. “Sure, dear. Keep telling yourself that.”

Eventually, Ren rejoined them, his smile teasing as always. “Missed me already, Lyria?”

Lyria rolled her eyes but didn’t reply. Ren tilted his head, stepping closer. “You know, you’re really bad at pretending to hate me. You keep watching me. It’s kind of cute.”

Her face heated up as she stammered, “I—That’s not true! I hate everything about you!”

Ren grinned wider, clearly enjoying her flustered state. “Oh? What do you hate the most about me?”

Lyria opened her mouth to retort but stopped, realizing she didn’t have a convincing answer. She huffed and turned away again, her blush deepening.

Eira laughed outright. “See? You’re already starting to like him.”

Lyria glared at her. “Aunt, I swear—”

Ren interrupted, his voice softer this time. “It’s okay if you do, Lyria. You don’t have to admit it now. I’m patient.”

Her heart skipped a beat at his words, and for a brief moment, she looked at him without her usual glare. But just as quickly, she turned away, her voice shaky. “Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

Ren smirked, but his tone was kind. “I’ll try not to.”

Their playful conversation was cut short by the sudden arrival of a commanding presence. The crowd seemed to part instinctively as a tall, regal figure approached. His silver hair shimmered under the chandelier light, and his piercing green eyes held an ancient wisdom. His pointed ears marked him as an elf, but it was his sheer aura of power that made heads turn.