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.

interruption obviously did not

it this

constant meddling was starting

head, Angus apologized. But even as he

apologize, but we have

"Be quick!"

was obviously not pleased with being stopped from eating, but since that was something he had gone through

and proceeded

if the food had poison, but it

food wasn't the only means to poison

Ding! Ding—

before

everything came out clean, Angus finally took

poison in the food. Thank

"Tsk."

Jomnuk picked the tableware and

Jomnuk devoured it in a single bite lacking any reserve.

the situation going

Waylan inquired,

that." Jomnuk

he was the only one who knew the code that granted access to the defensive system's main database, Jomnuk held

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

"I see."

another bite of the meat, Jomnuk

that, for now, things are still under

on reports, the barrier is

long will it last?

what Douglas said, about

"...Mhm."

frowning deeply while chewing

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

there are a lot stronger than we initially anticipated,"

to original estimates, the troops sent by the demons should've

to be wrong. The demons had sent a

weren't pulling any

with the weather. Because of it, the barrier has been set up

The demons weren't dumb.

the barrier was set up, they instantly attacked it with all their might in

exactly because of that attack the barrier got disrupted, making it consume more energy to stabilize. Thus, it would last a

that way, there was a very real possibility of losing

Jomnuk muttered in a gloomy tone,

each individual present couldn't help but frown at

no one spoke a

by putting his cutlery down

"Hmm! I'm full."

was not far from Jomnuk, showed a displeased expression

every person in the room was a little

rest, "Now that I think about

food on the table,

I've eaten my fill and there's still enough food,

"No sir, we can't—"

was promptly cut off by Jomnuk. The latter glared at

"Enough!"

voice echoed

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

quietly. He lowered his head, not wanting

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

the table, Jomnuk

Eat. There's plenty for all

"Don't mind me."

one to move was Ren who sat down on a seat

forward and stabbed it towards one of the dishes, much

the fork in his mouth,

"Not bad."

good, I like your guts,

towards the others and pointed at Ren in

over here is the only

"Don't mind me."

it and similarly

bite of the food, Waylan looked

to eat as well? Eating won't hurt them much. I'm here, nothing will happen. Let loose

joyfully at the dinner table, Angus eventually gave