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 he couldn't

the good guy that I was, I nodded to

I said. I

—Y…you…

fumbled before eventually giving up, letting

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

taking a small nap, I don't think that warrants

Send us

me

the room with the aid of a small

to stare at the communication device, I asked,

moment… Ah, yes, I've

something else from

again slid down and propped my

don't need anything else, just stay out of

couple of seconds, in a low whisper, Waylan

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

Not like I did everything myself anyway." I

checking the time, I realized that I had only slept for a total of three hours. This was clearly not

up now. Soon enough, someone should come to pick you up. Once

eyes stinging slightly from the

see you

"Mhm…you too."

words I said before turning off the communication device, and my eyelids

***

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

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

point of concern was the fact that the demons had still not fully retreated, but they had stopped attacking and even showed signs of giving up did not go unnoticed by the dwarves,

bars and taverns were filled with dwarves, orcs, and

clear that the war, although brought great suffering, had also strengthened the bonds of those who participated in it. They all held

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

saying that on your way to the dampening

figures spoke up in shock, his body

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

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

His serious tone made the atmosphere

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

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:

was probably Durara,

paled slightly, but he was

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

we're not that

his worries were unnecessary as Leopold and the others gave him confirmation that they had

is she?" Ren

taking a small sip of the ale

up?" Ren's brow raised a little before he

chin, Ren had a thoughtful look

what he was thinking, Smallsnake opened his mouth, deciding to

thinking so hard

raising his head, a

Smallsnake raised his hands and shook them in

Whatever you're

wrong, Smallsnake?" Ren asked, his smile

up with you? What are

or to be more precise, Leopold and Hein,

it in the direction of Ren's

of times. Whenever he smiles like that, you should know that nothing good will come. Trust me, I've experienced it too many times for you to