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 quite comprehend

that I was, I nodded to confirm my previous words,

what I said.

—Y…you…

words to say, Waylan fumbled before eventually

that I don't have the slightest idea of where you are,

just taking a small nap, I

up. Where are you? Send us

give me

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

stare at the communication

Ah, yes, I've got

Need something else from

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

else, just

After a couple of seconds,

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

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

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

come to pick

eyes stinging slightly from the lack of

see you soon.

"Mhm…you too."

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

***

events of Inferno, the raging war that took place on the outer walls of Henolur came to

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

fully retreated, but they had stopped attacking and even showed signs

bars and taverns were filled with dwarves, orcs, and even elves

brought great suffering, had also strengthened the bonds of those who participated in it. They

of a particular tavern in Henolur, on a round

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

up in

Or, do only you guys know?" The hooded figure asked,

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 quite critical. She looked to be

The hooded figure asked. His serious tone made

she was S ranked.

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

was currently seated with his members of Caïssa: Ava,

they were talking about was probably Durara, the one

paled slightly, but he was able to recompose himself quite

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

we're not that

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

she?" Ren

dwarves," Hein responded, taking a small sip of

brow raised a little before he

Ren had a thoughtful look on his

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

thinking so hard about? You

his head, a

smile, Smallsnake raised

No, I'm against it! Whatever you're planning, I'm totally against

Ren asked,

What are you

be more precise, Leopold

in the direction

he smiles like that, you should know