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

was starting to get to

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

but we have to

"Be quick!"

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 a mild annoyance

and proceeded to take out the

table. The device not only checked if

food wasn't the only means to poison

Ding! Ding—

wasn't long before the

came out clean, Angus finally took a step

in the food. Thank you for waiting,

"Tsk."

his tongue, Jomnuk picked the

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 and pieces of

is the situation

mouth with a napkin, Waylan inquired, "Upstairs? Do

that." Jomnuk

code that granted access to the

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

"I see."

another bite of the meat,

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

barrier is slowly running out of

it last? Any

about six to

"...Mhm."

while chewing

expected. From my

the forces sent there are a lot stronger than

original estimates, the troops sent by the demons should've been a tad bit

The demons had sent

pulling

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

The demons weren't dumb.

up, they instantly attacked it with all

consume more energy to stabilize.

way, there was a very real possibility of losing the

muttered in a gloomy tone, "This

the room as each individual present couldn't help but

couple of minutes, no one spoke a word. Everyone

till Jomnuk finally broke the silence by putting

"Hmm! I'm full."

Jomnuk, showed a displeased expression at

person in

everyone, taking a toothpick, Jomnuk asked the rest, "Now that I think about

at the food on the table, Jomnuk

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 with

"Enough!"

rough voice echoed throughout

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

replied quietly. He lowered his head,

fucking problem? Since you've checked it and it's going to waste, let

the empty seats at the table,

plenty for all of

"Don't mind me."

first one to move was Ren who sat down on a seat close

one

fork in his mouth,

"Not bad."

Good, good, I like

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

this human over here is the only

"Don't mind me."

stand it and similarly sat

a small bite of the food, Waylan

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

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