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

it this

constant meddling was starting to

apologized. But even as he

have to

"Be quick!"

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

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

checked if the food

wasn't the only means to

Ding! Ding—

wasn't long before the results came

Angus

in the food.

"Tsk."

Jomnuk picked the tableware and finally started to

a large piece of meat, Jomnuk devoured it in a single bite lacking any reserve. Chewing on the food, he

is the situation going

Waylan inquired, "Upstairs? Do you

Jomnuk

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

heard, the situation upstairs is under control as of right now. The dwarves have currently set up the barrier, and

"I see."

the

now, things

on reports, the barrier is

will it last? Any

what Douglas said, about six to eight more

"...Mhm."

grumbled, frowning deeply while chewing on the

expected. From my initial calculations, it should've been far

there are a lot stronger than we

the troops sent by the

to be wrong. The demons had sent a tougher task force

weren't pulling any

it, the barrier has been

The demons weren't dumb.

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

it consume more energy to stabilize. Thus, it would last a lot less than

going that way, there was a very

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

atmosphere shrouded the room as each individual present couldn't help but frown

no one spoke

silence by putting his cutlery down

"Hmm! I'm full."

not far from Jomnuk, showed a displeased expression

one as every person in the room was a little grossed

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

food on the table, Jomnuk flashed

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

"No sir, we can't—"

off by Jomnuk. The latter

"Enough!"

echoed throughout the

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

quietly. He lowered his head, not

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

empty seats at the table, Jomnuk looked at everyone in

There's plenty for all

"Don't mind me."

one to move was Ren who sat down on a

towards one

in his mouth, Ren smiled in

"Not bad."

Good, good, I like your guts,

towards the others and pointed at

over here is the only one

"Don't mind me."

the others could no longer stand it and similarly sat down,

bite of the food, Waylan looked towards Angus and helplessly

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

at everyone eating joyfully at the dinner table, Angus eventually