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 what

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

what I said. I took

—Y…you…

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

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

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

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

me

checking the coordinates of the room with the aid of a small device,

I sent the message, lowering my hand to stare at the

a moment… Ah, yes,

Need something else

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

anything else, just stay

After a couple of seconds, in a low whisper, Waylan

you for your hard work. Had it not

I did everything myself anyway." I tiredly said, closing my

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

enough, someone should come to pick you up. Once they

stinging slightly from the

you

"Mhm…you too."

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

***

on the outer walls of Henolur came to a halt as the

Gervis, alongside the others, returned and announced the end of the war, everyone

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

with dwarves, orcs, and

although brought great suffering, had also strengthened the bonds of those

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

the dampening system you encountered a duergan lady, and she's still

up

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

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

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

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

figure muttered with a complex frown on his face. He lifted his face slightly, revealing the features of a young man with

his members of Caïssa:

duergar they were talking about was probably Durara, the one who

paled slightly, but he was able to recompose

the table, Ren carefully worded his reply, "She's extremely dangerous. You must be extremely careful

worry, we're not that

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

she?" Ren

dwarves," Hein responded, taking a small

Ren's brow raised a little before he leaned

chin, Ren had a thoughtful

to what he was thinking, Smallsnake opened his

are you thinking so hard

his head, a sly smile appearing

raised his hands and shook them

Whatever you're

asked,

What

more precise, Leopold and Hein, grew

and pointing it in the direction of Ren's

smiles like that, you should know that nothing good will come. Trust me, I've experienced it too many