We all rushed into the Mansion and everyone headed for their rooms to pack up some clothes. 

“What’s going on? And why are you all rushing?” Mother appeared out of her room, drying her hair with her towel. She had just come out of the shower.

“Mother, A large portal has appeared in the middle of the city and this place is not safe anymore, so we’re going to have to move temporarily.” I said, in a rush, setting up the coordinates on a portal device.

“Wait, what are you talking about?” She asked, shaking her head.

“Auntie, the city isn’t safe anymore. We’re moving to a safer location for the time being, so quickly pack your things. We need to depart.” Malia reiterated, helping mother into the room. 

Jace rushed out of the room with a change of clothing.

“Aren’t you going to change out of your school clothes?” He pointed at my dark blazer.

“Who cares about what I’m wearing? The world could be ending, this is trivial.” I replied. 

The portal finally opened and the other side could be seen.

Malia and Mother rushed out of the room and we were all ready now. Allefin, Naz, Malia, Sara, Jace, Mother and lastly me…

We all entered the portal.

[You have entered a blue portal]

**

As we exited, the noise of a busy environment flowed through our ears. It was pure chaos. The Hunter Bureau was filled with office workers and Hunters running around in a frenzy. The large portal must have caused an uproar of questions and the Government was probably riddling them with questions.

I could feel mother getting a bit worried so I told her to sit down with the others. The atmosphere must have been making her nervous.

“I’ll have a chat with the Director, so just sit here. Everything will be fine.” I smiled at my worried mother, making her expression relax a little. Malia, Naz and Sara sat beside her to comfort her.

I nodded at Jace and Allefin, before walking up the stairs to the Director’s room.

-Knock. Knock.

“Come in!” The Director said. 

I turned the knob of the door, before entering. The wrinkles and frown on his face had become worse than ever and his aura had intensified.

“Oh Zeref! Welcome back. I was going to call for you. I’m glad you came here anyways.” The Director smiled, shaking my hand.

“So what are the reports on this dungeon?” I asked, trying to get some information on what we were going up against.

“This is the largest Dungeon Portal we have ever seen: A Calamity Class threat – the highest threat level. Our Sensory mages have predicted that it will open up in 3 weeks, so we’re planning on a raid in 2 weeks, so even if the first team fails. We will still have 1 week left to figure something out.” He replied.

“I want to participate in this raid, but I have a request for you.” My voice was stern. 

I didn’t want to miss such an opportunity to farm levels; this could boost my levels by tonnes.

“Yeah sure. What is it? As long as it’s in my capacity I will help as much as I can.” 

“I’ve come here with my friends and my mother. I need you to provide some accommodation for them and give some combat training to my friends. If possible, they’ll need experience if the dungeon raid fails and monsters start to come out of the portal. If you want I’ll even pay for their expenses.” I said.

“No, No, No. That’s doable. The more fighters we have the better and you still are a very important person to the Hunter Association. I’ll assign a High Level A rank Hunter to train them in combat, then take them out to hunt beasts.” He smiled, shaking my hand one more time. 

“Okay then. I’ll leave my mother and friends in your career; In the meanwhile I’m going to do my own training.” 

**

“You can’t leave again! Not in such troubled times like this!” Mother argued back. 

I shook my head, before kneeling down and grabbing her hands. 

“Mother, please. It’s necessary. I must get stronger, strong enough to protect you all. At my power level, I’m unable to ensure your safety and everyone else’s.” I tried to reason with her but her motherly instincts wouldn’t let me leave.

“No! You’re not going anywhere. You said this place was safe, so why do you have to fight? Just let the adults handle this. You’re still just a kid.” She replied, her voice filled with worry.

“I’m not like other kids. You should know this by now, I’m different. I have to do this mother, as a Hunter, I must tend to my duties and attend this raid.” I got up.

“I know you miss your dad. I miss him too, but this is not the way to go about it. You don’t have to follow in his footsteps and become a Hunter. You don’t have to put yourself in danger like he did.” Mother wiped her tears and looked at me with a saddened face.

“Mother it’s not like th-“

She got up and hugged me tightly. I could feel my chest become warm, as her tears began soaking my shirt. Mother and I had never even talked about Dad. After all these years, I forgot how much his death affected us. 

I knew him for a couple years, but mother… that was her lover. She must have been struck so hard by the news. I wasn’t surprised when she hadn’t visited me during my 8 year training period. I would be broken too; in a way that feeling of loss was similar to when I lost Nina, so I never questioned Mother’s decisions to isolate herself for 8 years. 

“Just come back safe.” She lifted her head, before she walked away and grabbed a tissue.

“Mother, here take these please.”

“What.” 

I pulled out a sac of coins from my dimension ring, a portal device, a Black ring and a White card.

“This Black Ring is a safety device and a dimension ring. It’s one of the most precious and powerful rings in the world, it will protect you against any spell/ attack. Make sure you wear this at all times.” I said, putting it on the index finger on her right hand. 

“No Zeref, Please. You can’t give this to me.” She tried to give it back, realising how expensive it must have been, but I insisted.

I had retrieved this ring from the Anomalous Dungeon Reward Vault. In total I had 5 of these rings; I was already wearing one. Now Mother wore the 2nd one. 

“If events turn bad and Everything goes south, I want you to take Malia and the others to the Elven Kingdom, with this portal device. 

“This White Card is a gift I received from their Prince. Go to the Eleven Palace and show the guards this card. You just have to introduce yourself and the Royal Family will take care of everything; they’ll provide you with everything, so you won’t have to worry.” I reassured her, holding her hands, before kissing her forehead.

“You can go Zeref but Just promise me you will get back safe.” Her eyes were still filled with fear.

“I promise..” I smiled.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep