The Author's POV

"Let me have a look."

Moving towards the control system that overlooked the dampening system, I placed my palm on the holographic screen.

Right as my hand touched the hologram, a map of the entire building presented itself before me. Marked on it were a multitude of red dots that depicted the areas where the dampening devices were installed.

The range they covered was also displayed on it.

Scanning the holographic map before me, my brows knit tightly.

Placing my hand under my chin, I softly muttered, "Hmm… This is a lot more troublesome than I had expected."

Tapping one of the red dots marked on the map, a small window popped up in front of me.

On the window were a series of complicated numbers and words.

As I looked through the long, complex numbers and words displayed on the window, the chip inside of my head started processing the information in my mind.

But it was useless. Even with the chip inside of my head, I could barely understand what was happening.

The more I looked the greater the frown on my face became.

'…I should've expected this from the beginning. There's no way the dampening system wouldn't have some sort of defense mechanism installed.'

Getting into the place was the first hurdle, and the second hurdle was now deactivating the system, which, honestly, I knew very little about.

Massaging my forehead, I tried my best to make heads or tails of the data before me.

Turning my head, my eyes paused on Ultruk. He was lying on the ground, breathing heavily.

'…No, that won't do.'

I thought about asking him if he knew anything, but after remembering that orcs weren't the brightest of creatures, I promptly gave up.

"Here."

But just as my head was about to ache even more, Waylan arrived next to me and passed me a small, black-coloured rectangular object.

"What's this?" I asked in wonder as I took the device from Waylan's hands.

Feeling it in my hands, the black object was sized and shaped to resemble a USB device. It wasn't exactly a USB though, since it looked like a black metallic stick.

Flipping it around and seeing nothing particularly special about the stick, I lifted my head and looked up at Waylan.

"…What exactly is this supposed to do?" I repeated, sounding mildly curious.

With a weak smile, Waylan explained, "Before coming, Jomnuk gave me this. He seemed to have already known that you would have trouble figuring out how to disable the system."

"He did? Well…"

Turning to look at the window filled with numbers, I couldn't deny Waylan's words. Or Jomnuk's, for that matter.

"Although Jomnuk did say that you could've done it by yourself, he also added that by the time you'd be done, hours would've already passed… And so, before coming here, he told me to pass it to you."

"Good idea…"

For a moment, I thought that I was going to be spending the next couple of hours trying to figure out how to enter the system.

Fortunately, Jomnuk had great foresight. He had given Waylan the necessary equipment to help me disable the system.

Given that time was of the essence, it was nothing short of a life-saving grace.

Pointing at the holographic map in front of me, Waylan explained to me the uses of the stick.

"According to him, all you have to do is put this thing over there and it should automatically disable the system within the next couple of minutes."

his words, I nodded my head repeatedly before opening my mouth and saying, "That's simple

in and let it do

it, I'll do

any time, I inserted the USB stick-looking device inside of a small

Clink—

into the socket, the panel

[Database synchronisation]

0%________________100%

the message window, my

"It worked."

from the side, "We would have been in trouble if that didn't

yet," I responded from the side, cooling down my initial

panel tab that had now moved up to 2% progress, I solemnly said, "I'm sure that the elders have

was extremely pale, and Ultruk, who, well, still looked green but had a tired look on his face, I could tell that in the state they were currently in, another fight would only lead to our

"Oh, right."

that a thought suddenly occurred to me

my bracelet, I took out a small bag and

to get his attention, I pushed the

might help you recover a

"Huh?"

briefly glanced at my

deep voice

things I picked

other than Immorra, but he didn't need to know

place,

exactly sure on how precious they were because I could not ingest them, but they would hopefully be of some use

used aura, the orcs couldn't recover like we did with mana. They consumed special fruits

at a much faster rate than us,

would have a much easier time

is

bag in my hand and

"——?!"

he opened the bag and saw what was inside of it, his eyes opened wide

changing facial expressions was so amusing I couldn't

his eyes darted between me and

where

slight excitement

was and grabbed me by

this stuff?! Answer me,

was left powerless as

Wait a… minute!

I felt my life flash before my

myself from the grasp of his hands,

to understand

stop. You're killing

after Waylan spoke to him that Ultruk realised what he was doing

his head and apologised, "Oh, sorry. I

surprised by the sincerity in the huge orc's tone. It felt

of the bag, Ultruk took out a pale fruit. Somehow, the fruit looked

at me and Waylan, Ultruk admired the fruit in his hand. As he

this, but this fruit over here is a rare delicacy I have not seen in over five decades. Back when we were still in our own world, I would eat this everyday with my comrades and friends. It

more he talked. I

five decades?" Waylan asked in surprise. Turning his attention towards

don't feel any mana

because this fruit is not

fruit in two, a subtle energy

was a familiar energy that Waylan knew all too

"Aura…"

"Correct."

the fruit's juices dripping from his large hands, Ultruk