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 well

it this

starting

But even as he did, he chose not to

but we have to do our regular

"Be quick!"

pleased with being stopped from eating, but since that was something he had gone through for over a month, it had become a mild annoyance by

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

the whole table. The device not only checked if the food had poison, but it

all, food wasn't the only means to

Ding! Ding—

long before the results came

came out clean, Angus finally

no poison in the food. Thank you

"Tsk."

tongue, Jomnuk picked the tableware and finally started to

any reserve. Chewing on

is the situation

napkin, Waylan inquired, "Upstairs? Do you mean

that." Jomnuk waved

to the

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

"I see."

of the meat, Jomnuk nodded

saying that, for now,

But, based on reports, the barrier is slowly running

it

said, about six to eight

"...Mhm."

frowning deeply while chewing

less time than I expected. From my

because the forces sent there are a lot stronger than we initially

the troops sent by the demons should've been a tad

wrong. The demons had sent a

pulling

the problem with the weather. Because of it, the barrier has been

The demons weren't dumb.

attacked it with all their might in hopes of

barrier got disrupted, making it consume more energy to stabilize. Thus, it would last

way, there was a very real possibility of losing

bite of the meat, Jomnuk muttered in a gloomy tone, "This is

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

couple of minutes, no one spoke a word. Everyone

till Jomnuk finally broke the silence by putting his

"Hmm! I'm full."

Jomnuk, showed a displeased expression at

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

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

at the food on the table, Jomnuk

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

"No sir, we can't—"

tried to refuse, but he was promptly cut off by Jomnuk.

"Enough!"

voice echoed

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

replied quietly. He lowered his head, not wanting to offend

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

towards the empty seats at the table, Jomnuk looked

There's plenty

"Don't mind me."

who sat down

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

his mouth, Ren

"Not bad."

I like your

boisterously, Jomnuk looked towards the others and pointed at Ren in

this human over here is the only one that

"Don't mind me."

could no longer stand it and similarly sat down,

food, Waylan looked towards Angus

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

the dinner table, Angus eventually gave up and sat down,