The Author's POV

"Are you here to kill time, or do you intend to declare war on us directly?"

"I wonder about that..."

"Don't feign ignorance."

It was the sound of Octavious and Hemlock's voices that roused me awake.

When I opened my eyes, I noticed that the scene was continuing to unfold exactly as it had been when I had closed them.

I lowered my head to check the time.

'Only two minutes have passed.'

I was surprised to see that not much time had passed since I had activated Monarch's Indifference and that the scene had not changed much since I had left.

'You'll find out in due time.'

These were the words that Kevin told me before ending the connection.

What did they mean? ...I didn't know. There were so many questions that I had, yet at the same time, had no one to answer them.

Whatever was happening was fucked up.

All this secrecy bullshit, I was fucking tired of it.

'In the end, I'm still probably not strong enough.'

I silently clenched my fist under the table. All it took was a deep breath to calm my nerves down.

There was something else that needed my immediate attention at the moment.

"I don't get it; why are you people willing to throw away your lives in such a reckless way? Do you have any idea how formidable the Demon King really is? Do you honestly believe that you have even the smallest chance of beating him?"

"What I'm doing is for the good of humanity, which you guys are unwilling to acknowledge. I have already spoken with the Demon King, and he has promised me that if we choose to submit to him, he will provide us with a land where we can survive in the future."

"Why must we waste so many lives when the solution is right in front of us? Are you really willing to let our race go extinct?"

The air resounded with Hemlock's voice. His voice had a peculiar allure that briefly hypnotized me, but I was able to quickly shake off the effect and my gaze fell on Octavious.

For some reason, Octavious was strangely calm.

Even stranger was the fact that he appeared to be quietly listening to Hemlock's voice without any hints of rage or impatience.

The Octavious that I was familiar with would have almost certainly put an end to Hemlock's life right then and there; however, for some inexplicable reason, he had remained perfectly still the entire time.

For some strange reason, it appeared as if they were both stalling for time.

'It can't be right?'

Another ridiculous notion occurred to me, and I turned my attention to the direction in which Octavious was sitting.

'What exactly are you planning?'

"You seem to be waiting for something."

"I am―"

middle of his sentence. The expressions of the other people in the room began to shift at the same time that the muffled sound of explosions began

"What's going on?"

"What's happening?"

room didn't descend into chaos as one might have anticipated it would as a result of the unexpected situation; however, it was

them, the whole place was sealed; no one was able to

will provide

he was able to calm the whole

that some people would have

the same listless expression as before, he turned his head to look at Hemlock, who

you

twitched slightly

"I believe so too."

the fact that he appeared to be calm

as far as blowing

weren't going

Tap. Tap. Tap.

finger drummed over the wooden desk, his gaze lingered over me for a

Thud―!

to look at him,

"He's left."

voice echoed

appearance of Hemlock to the explosions that echoed outside, a great deal transpired in the span of a few

you think the

raised to

her from the corner of my eyes and shrugged my

you, I've been trapped in this room the entire time, if you want to ask someone, he's your best shot at finding out what

in Octavious's direction with my head and Monica's head turned

the only one that was looking up at him. From a glance, I could count more than ten of the

room grew increasingly tense, and before

must know something about

sat in the chair directly to his left, was the first person to comment. A smattering of solemnity could be seen in his eyes at times when he gazed in

what is going on. I'm sure you haven't

red hair and bushy eyebrows spoke. With his arms crossed and wearing a tight black suit, his basketball-sized

was a head taller than the majority of the room's occupants made him extremely intimidating. In fact, he appeared quite comical seated in his chair, which was obviously too small

the

extremely oppressive, with the people around him

that didn't seem to be

odd was the fact that he didn't do or say anything. Then again, he was probably wary of Hemlock, who was the

I have already stated that I will provide you with an explanation, and

raised his hand, and the room fell into an immediate

fingers together,

you guys before we were abruptly interrupted by... you

about

was the one to speak this

crossed and her glossy red hair falling over her shoulder, Ivana's disposition seemed wild and unrestrained. She was currently donning a one-piece black dress that accentuated her great

than average, and the color of her pupils, which were yellow like Liam's, added

stand out from the others were, in fact,

her extended elbow, she smiled, exposing her

the next ten minutes you will brief us on how the alliance is going to work before finally getting to the