The Author's POV

"That is all…"

Inside a spacious white hall, a dwarf put a small file on top of a desk and stepped back.

"Looks like the situation is still stable."

There were multiple people inside the hall; sitting on a large oval wooden desk. One of them grabbed the papers and read through them; he was a bald old dwarf. He wore circular black-framed glasses and had thick black brows.

"We've only suffered minor casualties so far, an' tha city hasn't been breached."

"…at least for now."

Someone else added.

With long hair cascading down his back and pointy ears, the man was an elf. His hair was primarily of golden color, however, if one looked closely, they'd noticed a few silver strands in his hair.

A regal aura exuded from his body.

Opening his mouth, his melodious voice rang throughout the whole room.

"Although the situation looks stable for now, we never know what might happen in the future. It's best if we don't get overconfident with the result of the first wave."

"I agree with Nasir."

A deep and powerful voice sounded, and the table slightly shook.

The voice belonged to an orc whose physique was at least double that of any of the individuals present inside the hall.

His terrifying eyes could make any regular person faint in fear.

"We should not be arrogant with our results."

Putting the papers down, the bald dwarf from before opened his mouth.

"Yroh, Nasir, although I understand what yer trying ta say, dinna be so pessimistic, we still haven't activated tha city's main defensive system yet."

A proud smirk appeared on the dwarf's lips as soon as he mentioned the city's defensive system.

And rightfully so.

Everyone in the room knew just how powerful the dwarves' defensive system was. That was because the dwarves never shied away from showing it off to the others.

Although they didn't know the full extent of its capabilities, from what they saw, it was no joke.

If not for the fact that it consumed a lot of energy, the dwarves would've already used it by now.

"Once tha system be up, we won't have ta worry aboot those demons for a while."

"…but don't you think that the demon's movements are a bit suspicious, Belgig?"

This time another person spoke up.

He appeared to be an old man well into his eighties. His long white hair gently cascaded down his back, and his long white beard reached down towards his chest. The only unordinary thing about him was probably his temperament. He wore a kind and warm smile on his face, making him look friendly to those around him.

He was Douglas, the headmaster of the Lock.

"They indeed be, Douglas, me best guess be that they're trying ta infiltrate tha defensive system an' shut it down."

"...That would be pretty problematic."

The bald dwarf's response caused Douglas to frown.

Belgig, which was the name of the bald dwarf, quickly reassured.

"Don't worry; we've already taken countermeasures for this."

"You have?"

"Yes, but I'll have ta apologise in advance for nae telling ye anymore than this."

Raising his brow slightly, a look of understanding appeared on Douglas's face.

"Understandable."

Smiling kindly, he stopped asking questions.

He understood what Belgig was trying to imply.

'No one could be trusted.'

For there could be someone present in the room that was secretly working with the demons. It was best to have the least amount of people know about the ins and outs of the defensive system.

Tap.Tap.Tap.

Tapping on the table, Belgig suddenly recalled something. A sly smile appeared on his face as he looked at Douglas.

"On another note, now that I'm talking ta ye Douglas, I want ta thank ye."

"Thank me?"

tilted his head

didn't remember doing anything notable

Belgig to raise

of what

"Northern area?"

knit. After a while, he shook

"No, I apologize."

"Is that so?"

towards the corner of the room where

hand, he beckoned for him to come

you there. Show Douglas the video of

"Yes."

the middle of the table and a holographic projection soon appeared in front

a video

"Here you go, sir."

"Thank you."

video. Although he had already seen this before, he couldn't help but

him, the other people also curiously watched the video

Furthermore.

his head, Belgig amusingly

to see

"Huh?"

how those at the towers beautifully

and by the end

"Not bad."

they aren't bad at all. They

quite the talented

eyes, it was still

who wasn't was Douglas, who looked intently at a certain youth on the

have I

***

"We're here."

the others, I followed the orc from before down the stairs of the tower. Towards the

the city, towards the third level, and connects with each of the towers

started explaining to me the ins and outs of

he spoke, his deep voice shook my

fact that the orc knew

is

that came from his nose whenever he

get a

about the prospect of buying a

Ghorloz nodded his head.

new one made, or

"Achievement points?"

payment system

—Clank!

of the tower, Ghorloz opened a large metallic door. As soon as he opened the door, a wave of hot hair brushed past my skin. A strange pungent smell also lingered in the air, prompting my nose to involuntarily close up and my face to

"Ugh."

used to the smell as Ghorloz continued to leisurely

to reward those that contributed

to him, I

check my

Ghorloz halted his steps.

looking at me,

to check your

"Yeah."

I nodded.

said, I should

exact number of demons I had killed,

"Follow me."

from behind. Because he was at least twice my size, each step he too was about two

stopped in front of a large board. From where I was, I could

large crowd formed around the board, it was hard to see the full names of the people as they obstructed my

let other people

a path for me with his big body, I would've

my vision, and I was able to

here ranks individuals by achievement points...krrr...It goes

his large hand on my shoulder, Ghorloz squinted

at the board to see whether my name

they know how achievement points

as simple as counting

without taking his eyes

see if his name was

"I see..."

I silently muttered.

said made sense. No, rather, my

see your name

"Give me a second."

take me long to find my name,

209 17

209, that's not

expect to be ranked so highly if I had to be