The Author's POV

[Northern tower.]

"How long do you think they will keep the barrier this time?"

Leopold asked Ava, standing next to her. He glanced at her for a moment, wondering what was going through her mind.

"I don't know."

She replied in a soft tone, her eyes transfixed, gazing into the distance. She seemed preoccupied, an endless stream of thoughts rushing in her head.

From time to time, ripples would appear on the barrier. Whenever that happened, waves would form around it, enveloping the mountain.

Ever since a week ago, the situation was getting more and more out of hand.

The attacks of the demons were more ruthless and relentless than ever before. The lower-ranked demons even threw themselves at the barrier, turning into a mush of blood and gore. It was honestly gruesome.

If not for the barrier that had been activated, things would've been extremely dire for everyone.

"Are you going somewhere?"

Hein asked from the side.

Lifting her head and looking at Hein, Ava nodded.

"Yeah."

"Where are you going?"

"To fix this."

Ava lifted her hand, in the middle of her palm lay a pale green flute.

"You're fixing that?"

"Yeah."

It became apparent to her from the last fight that the flute had some serious flaws.

If she did not fix it, once the barrier stopped functioning, she would be in big trouble.

"Great, I'm coming with you, I've got to fix my shield too."

He raised his shield, showing it to Ava.

"Oh, wow. You fought with that?"

She was surprised to see it. The state of the shield was quite bad. Not only was it filled with cracks, but it was also marked with numerous indentations.

In its current state, Ava wouldn't be surprised if it would break at a simple touch. It made her wonder if buying a new one would be better.

Putting the shield away into his dimensional space, Hein looked towards the barrier in the distance.

"Yeah. I need to get it fixed before the barrier goes down."

"You guys planning on going to the utility center?"

Disrupting their conversation was a familiar, tired voice.

"Hua~ If so, I'm coming too."

Yawning, Leopold walked over to them and flashed his gun.

"I've run out of bullets."

***

"Ah, I'm starving!"

Sitting on a round table, Jomnuk, alongside Waylan and a few other individuals, stared at the beautiful dishes presented in front of them. It looked sumptuous, to say the least. Meanwhile, Ren remained standing. He kept his back straight and stared intently at the food on the table.

"Shall we get straight to eating?"

Pulling his sleeves up, Jomnuk eagerly looked at the food in front of him. His eyes shone brightly. Picking up the silverware beside him, Jomnuk prepared to dig into the food.

"Please wait, sir."

But just as he was about to eat, he was once again stopped by Angus, one of the dwarven guards assigned to him, and the one that had previously checked up on him.

not sit

is it this

was starting

even as he did, he chose not to stop in

have

"Be quick!"

not pleased with being stopped from eating, but since that was something

used to Jomnuk's behavior, Angus didn't mind it and proceeded

device, a red glow soon enveloped the whole table. The device not only checked if the

food wasn't the only means

Ding! Ding—

before the results came

clean, Angus finally took a

in the food. Thank you

"Tsk."

the tableware and

single bite lacking any reserve. Chewing on the food, he looked at Waylan and loudly

is the situation

Waylan

Jomnuk

one who knew the code that granted access to the defensive

heard, the situation upstairs is under control as of right now. The dwarves have currently

"I see."

bite of the meat, Jomnuk

now, things

the barrier is slowly running out

will it last?

said, about six to eight

"...Mhm."

frowning deeply while

expected. From my

forces sent there are a

the troops sent by the demons should've been a

demons had

weren't pulling any

with the weather. Because of it, the barrier has been set up prematurely and an extra bit of energy was used

The demons weren't dumb.

was set up, they instantly attacked it with

attack the barrier got disrupted, making it consume more energy to stabilize.

was a very real possibility of losing

muttered in

as each individual present couldn't help but frown at

couple of minutes, no one spoke

the silence by putting his cutlery down and

"Hmm! I'm full."

Jomnuk, showed a displeased expression

as every person in the room was

toothpick, Jomnuk asked the rest, "Now

the table, Jomnuk flashed

eaten my fill and there's still enough food, why don't you guys

"No sir, we can't—"

was promptly cut off by Jomnuk. The latter glared

"Enough!"

voice echoed throughout the

annoying me. Is that your

Angus replied quietly. He lowered his head, not wanting

you've checked it and it's going to waste, let

the empty seats at the table,

plenty for

"Don't mind me."

Ren who sat down on a seat close to

he leaned forward and stabbed it towards one of the dishes, much to the

the fork in his mouth, Ren

"Not bad."

Good, good, I

others and pointed at Ren in a

like this human over here is the only

"Don't mind me."

could no longer stand it and similarly

a small bite of the food, Waylan looked

well? Eating won't hurt them much.

table, Angus eventually gave up