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?

filled with incredulity. As though

that I was, I nodded to confirm my previous words, even though he couldn't

what I

—Y…you…

to say, Waylan fumbled before eventually

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

just taking a small

you? Send us your coordinates, we'll send someone

me a

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

message, lowering my hand to stare at the communication device, I asked,

a moment… Ah, yes,

something else

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

don't need anything else, just stay out of

of seconds, in a low

not been

everything myself anyway." I

for a total of three hours.

Soon enough, someone should come to pick you up. Once they knock on the door,

eyes stinging slightly

you soon. Great

"Mhm…you too."

off the

***

raging war that took place on the outer walls of Henolur came to a halt as the demons

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

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

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

suffering, had also strengthened the bonds of those who participated in it. They all held each other in high

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

your way to the dampening

the hooded figures spoke up in shock,

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

sent us. That's also

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

was S

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

members of Caïssa: Ava, Hein, Leopold, Smallsnake,

talking about was probably Durara, the

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

others 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 her

we're not

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

is she?" Ren

to the dwarves," Hein responded, taking a small sip of the ale in front of

a little before he leaned back

his chin, Ren had a thoughtful look

was thinking, Smallsnake opened his mouth, deciding to ask directly.

so hard

what?" Ren asked, raising his head, a sly

the smile, Smallsnake raised

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

asked, his

What are

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

it in the direction of Ren's face, Smallsnake

Well, I've seen it plenty of times. Whenever he smiles like that, you should know that