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.

obviously did not sit

is it this

constant meddling was starting to get to

head, Angus apologized. But even as he did, he chose not to stop

apologize, but we have to do our

"Be quick!"

with being stopped from eating, but since that was something he had gone through for over a month,

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

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

wasn't the only means to

Ding! Ding—

wasn't long before the results came

came out clean, Angus finally

poison in the food. Thank you for waiting,

"Tsk."

his tongue, Jomnuk picked the tableware and

any reserve. Chewing on the food, he looked at Waylan and loudly asked, almost spitting saliva and

the situation going

a napkin, Waylan inquired, "Upstairs? Do you

that." Jomnuk

knew the code that granted access to the

Waylan replied leisurely, "From what I've heard, the situation upstairs is under control as of right now. The dwarves have currently set up the

"I see."

bite of the meat, Jomnuk nodded

that, for now, things are

on reports, the barrier

long will it last?

Douglas said, about six

"...Mhm."

grumbled, frowning deeply while

less time than I expected. From my initial calculations, it should've been far longer

a lot stronger than we

troops sent by the demons

out to be wrong. The demons had sent a tougher

weren't pulling any

it, the barrier has been set up prematurely and an

The demons weren't dumb.

instantly attacked it with all their might in hopes of consuming its

was exactly because of that attack the barrier got disrupted, making it consume more

kept going that way, there was a

of the meat, Jomnuk muttered in a

room as each individual present couldn't help but

one spoke a word. Everyone

lasted till Jomnuk finally broke the silence by putting his

"Hmm! I'm full."

was not far from Jomnuk, showed a displeased

only one as every person in the room was a

the look given by everyone, taking a toothpick, Jomnuk asked the rest, "Now that I think about it, you guys also seem

on the table, Jomnuk flashed a

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

"No sir, we can't—"

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

"Enough!"

echoed throughout the

since a while ago you've been constantly annoying me. Is that your new job? You already

He lowered his head, not wanting to

what's the fucking problem? Since you've checked it and

table, Jomnuk looked at everyone

There's plenty for all

"Don't mind me."

who sat down

it towards one of the dishes, much to the surprise of

in his mouth, Ren smiled

"Not bad."

Good, good, I like

looked towards the others and pointed at Ren in a

over here is the only one that

"Don't mind me."

could no longer stand it and similarly sat down,

a small bite of the food, Waylan looked towards Angus and helplessly shrugged

Why don't you have something to eat as well? Eating won't hurt them much.

at everyone eating joyfully at the dinner table, Angus eventually gave up and sat