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."

my head repeatedly before opening my mouth and saying, "That's

Just stick it in and

it, I'll

USB stick-looking device inside of a small socket at the bottom of the

Clink—

the device into the socket, the panel flashed

[Database synchronisation]

0%________________100%

the message window, my eyes lit up in

"It worked."

from the side, "We would have been in

right. But, we're not in the clear yet," I responded from the side, cooling down my initial

tab that had now moved up to 2% progress, I solemnly said, "I'm sure that the elders have been made aware of what happened here by this time.

looked green but had a tired look on his face, I could tell that in the state they were currently

"Oh, right."

that a thought suddenly occurred to me

out a small bag and

him on his broad shoulder to get his attention, I

help you

"Huh?"

to face me, Ultruk briefly glanced at my face before looking

are these?" His deep

few things I picked up in a

was none other than Immorra, but he

could possibly get from that place, there were a few things I had no

to me. I wasn't exactly sure on how precious they were because

couldn't recover like we did with mana. They consumed special fruits like the

retrospect, they did recuperate their aura at a much faster rate than

I was hoping that he would have a much easier

what is inside,

bag in my hand and looked through

"——?!"

moment he opened the bag and saw what was inside of it,

Ultruk's rapidly changing facial expressions was so amusing

his eyes darted between me and the

No, where did you

said with slight

up from the ground, Ultruk hurriedly moved towards where I was and grabbed me by my shoulders before he started shaking me

this stuff?! Answer

grasp, I was left powerless as he

Wait a… minute!

life flash before my

free myself from the grasp of his hands, they wouldn't budge

to

stop. You're

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

head and apologised, "Oh, sorry. I was

sincerity in the huge orc's tone. It felt a

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

in his hand. As he

eat this everyday with my comrades and friends. It was a time where we basked in the sunshine, and enjoyed the afterglow of the sunset. I'd almost

in the orc's tone became even more apparent the more he talked. I had never seen him talk so much, especially in such

surprise. Turning his attention towards the fruit, he

feel any mana fluctuations coming

because this fruit is

fruit in two, a subtle

familiar energy that Waylan knew all

"Aura…"

"Correct."

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