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

was, I nodded to confirm my previous words,

I said. I

—Y…you…

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

If not for the fact that I don't have the slightest idea of where you are, I'd have already strangled you

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

I give up. Where are you? Send us your coordinates, we'll

me

head and checking the coordinates of the room with the aid of a small device, I quickly

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

a moment… Ah, yes, I've

something else from

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

need anything else, just

ensued. After a couple of seconds,

thank you for your hard work. Had it not

did everything myself anyway."

time, I realized that I had only slept for a total of three hours. This was clearly not enough as my mind was still quite

come to pick you up. Once they knock on the

I replied, my eyes stinging slightly from

you soon. Great

"Mhm…you too."

off the communication device, and my eyelids slowly came to a

***

outer walls of Henolur came to

others, returned and announced the end of the war, everyone in the city rejoiced as the citizens and warriors alike basked in

was the fact that the demons had still not fully retreated, but they had stopped attacking

were filled with dwarves, orcs, and even elves as they happily chatted

brought great suffering, had also strengthened the bonds

particular tavern in Henolur, on a round table, were six hooded figures in

the dampening

spoke up in shock, his body trembling

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

you sent us. That's also where we met her… But her condition seemed quite critical. She looked to be on the verge of

asked. His serious

wrongly, she was S ranked. Her injuries

face slightly, revealing

currently seated with his members of Caïssa: Ava, Hein,

talking about was probably Durara, the one

paled slightly, but he was able to recompose himself quite

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

worry, we're

his worries were unnecessary as Leopold and the others

she?" Ren

taking

a little before

a

was thinking, Smallsnake opened his mouth, deciding to

you thinking so

Ren asked, raising his head, a sly

too familiar with the smile, Smallsnake raised his hands and shook them

Whatever you're planning, I'm

asked, his smile only

What are you talking

or to be more precise, Leopold and Hein, grew confused at Smallsnake's sudden

the direction of Ren's face,

he smiles like that, you should know that nothing good will come. Trust me,