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?

As though he couldn't quite comprehend what

the good guy that I was, I nodded to confirm my

what I

—Y…you…

say, Waylan fumbled before eventually giving

I don't

taking a small nap, I don't think

up. Where are you? Send us

give me

room with the aid of a small device, I quickly

hand to stare at the communication device, I asked, "Did you get

Ah, yes,

Need something else from

again slid down and propped my hand over my

don't need anything else, just

ensued. After a couple of seconds,

for your hard work. Had it not been for your help, the war would've never

myself anyway." I tiredly said,

time, I realized that I had only slept for a total of

up now. Soon enough, someone should come to pick you up. Once they knock on the door, open

eyes stinging slightly from the lack

you soon. Great

"Mhm…you too."

before turning off the communication device, and my eyelids slowly came to

***

on the outer walls of Henolur came to a halt as the demons stopped their assault and

knew what had happened, once Gervis, alongside the others, returned and announced the end of the war, everyone in the city

the demons had still not fully retreated, but they had stopped attacking and even showed signs of giving up did

filled with dwarves, orcs, and

the bonds of those who participated in it. They all held

tavern in Henolur, on a

that on your way to the dampening

hooded figures spoke up in shock, his body

her…? Or, do only you guys know?" The hooded figure asked, his tone containing

only ones present back then since we had another dwarf escort us to the location you sent us. That's also where we met her… But her condition seemed

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

I don't recall wrongly, she was S ranked. Her

figure muttered with a complex frown on his face. He lifted his face slightly, revealing the features of a young man with pale blue eyes resembling the ocean. It was

of Caïssa:

duergar they were talking about was probably

face paled slightly, but he was able to recompose

the others on the table, Ren carefully worded his reply, "She's extremely dangerous. You must be extremely careful around her. In fact, have you

worry, we're

his worries were unnecessary as Leopold and the others gave him

she?" Ren

taking a

Ren's brow raised a little before he leaned back on

chin, Ren had a thoughtful look on

opened his mouth,

are you thinking so hard about? You can't

what?" Ren asked, raising his head, a sly smile appearing

Smallsnake raised his hands and

I'm against it! Whatever

Ren asked, his

What

more precise, Leopold

it in the direction of Ren's

that smirk over there? No? Well, I've seen it plenty of times. Whenever he smiles like that, you should know that nothing good will come. Trust me, I've experienced it too many times