The Author's POV

Vrr— Vrr—

"Hmm?"

Waking me from my slumber was a low buzzing sound coming from my right side.

It was quite subtle, reminiscent of a bee's buzz. Needless to say, it was fairly annoying.

Opening my eyes slightly and lowering my head towards the direction of where the buzzing sound was coming from, my sight soon paused on the communication device tightly held in my right hand.

Vrrr— Vrrr—

The buzzing sound continued, and as my mind cleared up, I could feel my hand vibrate slightly.

'How long have I been sleeping for?'

My thoughts felt groggy as I propped my body up with the aid of the wall.

'Since the communication device is working, they should already be done by now…'

Lowering my head and turning the communication device on, I spoke in a thick, hoarse voice.

"Hello? You guys done already-"

—Ren!

The moment I answered the communication device, Waylan's voice sounded from the speaker, cutting me off.

His voice was quite loud and sounded a bit panicked. Instantly, my head sobered up and my brows furrowed tightly. My body tensed slightly.

"What happened while I was gone? Did something go wrong? Did the enemies perhaps have a secret weapon that we were not aware of?"

Many possibilities rushed through my head as my heart sank.

Thinking of all the possible things that may have gone wrong while I was asleep, my previous relaxed attitude completely vanished as I prepared for the worst.

—What are you talking about?

"Huh? What do you mean? Did something go wrong or not?"

But it looked like I was overthinking too much as Waylan's words allayed my fears.

—No, everything is fine. I'm only calling because we were worried that something happened to you. You just left out of nowhere, without even telling us what you were going.

"Ah…"

'Right, the dampening system was back on and I couldn't quite tell them that I was taking a nap.'

Smiling wryly, I scratched the back of my head.

"Sorry about that… I was taking a nap. Since I couldn't participate in the fight, I figured that I may as well just go to a random room and sleep. I was gonna be a burden anyway."

Silence.

Once my words faded, I was met with total silence.

Even though he wasn't present at the moment, I could vividly imagine Waylan opening and closing his mouth, speechless, trying to find the right words to say.

It might have looked amusing to an onlooker, but I was feeling a bit guilty...just a little.

The silence continued for a brief moment before Waylan repeated.

—…A nap? Did you just say…that you were taking a nap?

with incredulity. As though he couldn't quite comprehend

to confirm my previous words, even though

exactly what I said. I

—Y…you…

to say, Waylan fumbled before eventually giving up, letting out a long, exhausted

fact that I don't have the slightest

harsh, no? I was just taking a small nap, I don't think that

Send us your coordinates, we'll send someone to pick

me a

the aid of a small device, I quickly sent Waylan the location of

lowering my hand to stare at the communication device,

moment… Ah, yes, I've got

something else

the side of the wall, I once again slid down and propped my hand

don't need anything else, just

brief pause ensued. After a couple of seconds, in a low whisper, Waylan

work. Had it not been

myself anyway." I

had only slept for a total of three hours. This was clearly not

enough, someone should come to pick you

my eyes stinging slightly from the lack of

you soon. Great

"Mhm…you too."

said before turning off the communication device, and

***

war that took place on the outer walls of Henolur came to a

had happened, once Gervis, alongside the others, returned and announced the end of the war, everyone in the city rejoiced as the citizens

had still not fully retreated, but they had stopped attacking and even showed signs of giving up did not go unnoticed by the dwarves, who rejoiced

and even elves as they happily chatted amongst

although brought great suffering, had also strengthened the bonds of those who participated in it. They all held each other in high

on a round table, were six hooded

on your way to the dampening system you encountered a duergan lady, and she's

the hooded figures spoke up in shock, his

done with her? Have you told the others about her…? Or, do only you guys know?"

escort us to the location you sent us. That's also where we met her… But her condition seemed quite critical.

the Duergar's rank?" The hooded figure asked. His serious tone made the atmosphere

I don't recall wrongly, she was

muttered with a complex frown on his face. He lifted his face slightly, revealing the features of a young man with pale

seated with his members of

about was probably Durara, the

of information, Ren's face paled slightly, but he was able to recompose himself

at the others on the table, Ren carefully worded his reply, "She's extremely dangerous. You must

worry, we're

of things, his worries were unnecessary as Leopold and the others gave

she?" Ren

thanks to the dwarves," Hein responded, taking a small sip of the

a little before he leaned back on

a

his mouth, deciding to ask directly. He had an ominous

thinking so hard about? You

what?" Ren asked, raising his head,

smile, Smallsnake raised his hands and shook

against it! Whatever you're planning, I'm

wrong, Smallsnake?" Ren asked, his smile

up with you? What

others, or to be more precise, Leopold and Hein, grew confused

it in the

he smiles like that, you should know that nothing good will come. Trust me, I've experienced it