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

is it

meddling was starting

apologized. But even as he did, he chose not to stop in his

have to

"Be quick!"

eating, but since that was something he had gone through

Angus didn't mind it and

checked if the food had poison, but

all, food wasn't the only

Ding! Ding—

before the results came

out clean, Angus finally took a

like there is no poison in the food. Thank

"Tsk."

picked the tableware and finally

large piece of meat, Jomnuk devoured it in a single bite lacking any reserve. Chewing on the food, he looked at Waylan and loudly asked, almost spitting saliva

is the

with a napkin, Waylan inquired,

that." Jomnuk

that granted access to the defensive system's

leisurely, "From what I've heard, the situation upstairs is under control as of right now. The dwarves have currently set up the barrier, and so, for the moment, things are quite

"I see."

of the meat, Jomnuk

you're saying that, for now, things are still under

on reports, the barrier is slowly

it last? Any

what Douglas said, about six to eight

"...Mhm."

grumbled, frowning deeply while chewing on the

time than I expected. From my initial

are a lot stronger

by the demons should've been a tad

demons had sent a

weren't pulling any

barrier has been set up prematurely and an extra bit of energy was used during that

The demons weren't dumb.

instantly attacked it with all their

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

going that way, there was a very real possibility of

muttered in a

shrouded the room as each individual present couldn't help but frown at the turn of

the next couple of minutes, no one spoke a word. Everyone

finally broke the silence by putting his

"Hmm! I'm full."

not far from Jomnuk, showed a displeased expression

wasn't the only one as every person in the room was a

the rest, "Now that I think about it, you guys

at the food on the table, Jomnuk flashed

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

"No sir, we can't—"

he was promptly cut off by Jomnuk. The latter glared at him, seemingly

"Enough!"

rough voice echoed throughout

you've been constantly annoying me. Is that your new job? You

Angus replied quietly. He lowered his head, not wanting

problem? Since you've checked it and it's going

seats at the table, Jomnuk

There's plenty for all of

"Don't mind me."

one to move was Ren who sat down on a

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

fork in his mouth, Ren smiled in

"Not bad."

good, I like your

towards the others and pointed at Ren

here is the

"Don't mind me."

others could no longer stand it and

the food, Waylan looked towards Angus and helplessly shrugged

it go, Angus. Why don't you have something to eat as well? Eating won't hurt them

dinner table, Angus eventually