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?

voice was filled with incredulity. As though

I was, I nodded to confirm my previous words,

I said. I took

—Y…you…

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

you? If not for the fact that I don't

no? I was just taking a small nap, I don't think that warrants getting strangled

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

me a

the coordinates of the room with the aid of a small

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

moment… Ah, yes, I've

something else from

once again slid down and propped my

else, just stay out of

a couple of seconds, in

for your hard work. Had it not been for

Not like I did everything myself anyway." I tiredly said,

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

Soon enough, someone should come to pick you up.

I replied, my eyes stinging slightly

see you soon. Great

"Mhm…you too."

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

***

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

and announced the end of the war, everyone in the city rejoiced as the citizens

was the fact that the demons had still not fully retreated, but they had stopped attacking and even showed signs of

and taverns were filled with dwarves, orcs, and

had also strengthened the bonds of those who

Henolur, on a round table, were

your way to the dampening system you encountered a duergan lady,

spoke up

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

since we had another dwarf escort us to the location you sent us. That's also where we

figure asked. His serious tone made the atmosphere on the table

don't recall wrongly, she was

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

his members of Caïssa: Ava, Hein,

they were talking about was probably Durara, the one who

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

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

worry, we're

from the looks of things, his worries were unnecessary as Leopold and the others gave him confirmation that they

is she?"

dwarves," Hein responded, taking a small

little before he

chin, Ren had a thoughtful look

his mouth, deciding to ask directly. He had an

so hard about? You can't

his head, a sly smile appearing on his

with the smile, Smallsnake raised his hands and shook

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

asked, his

What are you

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

the direction of Ren's face,

seen it plenty of times. Whenever he smiles like that, you should know that nothing good will come. Trust