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 sit well with

is it this

was starting to get

But even as he did,

apologize, but we have to

"Be quick!"

grumpily leaned back on his chair. He was obviously not pleased with being stopped from eating, but since that was something he had gone through for over a month, it had become

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

whole table. The device not only checked if the food had poison, but it also confirmed whether the tableware and glasses

wasn't the only means to poison

Ding! Ding—

before the

Angus finally took

in the

"Tsk."

picked the

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

the situation going

napkin, Waylan inquired,

Jomnuk waved

access to the

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

"I see."

of the meat,

you're saying that, for now,

based on reports, the barrier

will it last? Any

what Douglas said, about six to eight

"...Mhm."

grumbled, frowning deeply while chewing

expected. From my

forces sent there are a lot stronger

by

wrong. The demons had sent a tougher task

pulling

it, the barrier has been set up

The demons weren't dumb.

it

disrupted, making it consume more energy to stabilize.

things kept going that way, there was a very real possibility of losing

meat, Jomnuk muttered

individual present couldn't help but frown

no one spoke a

finally broke the silence by putting his cutlery down

"Hmm! I'm full."

far from Jomnuk, showed a displeased expression

person

given by everyone, taking a toothpick, Jomnuk asked the rest, "Now that

the food on the table, Jomnuk flashed a

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

"No sir, we can't—"

to refuse, but he was promptly cut off by Jomnuk. The latter glared at him,

"Enough!"

voice echoed throughout the

Is

replied quietly. He lowered his head, not wanting to

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

the table,

Eat. There's plenty for all of

"Don't mind me."

was Ren who sat down on a seat close to

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

fork in his mouth, Ren smiled

"Not bad."

Good, good, I like your guts,

Jomnuk looked towards the others and pointed at Ren in a

human over here is

"Don't mind me."

it and similarly sat down,

of the food, Waylan looked towards Angus and helplessly

Why don't you have something to eat as well?

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