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―"

the 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 to reverberate in

"What's going on?"

"What's happening?"

however, it was obvious that the people present weren't exactly unaffected by the situation, all taking out their phones to

was sealed; no one was

There is no cause for concern. I will provide everyone present with

he was able to calm

voice, there was a good chance that some people would have already exited the building to see what was

expression as before, he turned his head to look at

you have

twitched slightly in response

"I believe so too."

In spite of the fact that he appeared to be calm on the surface, I could sense

to go as

his actions weren't

Tap. Tap. Tap.

drummed over the wooden desk, his gaze lingered over me for a brief moment, and then he suddenly dropped his head on

Thud―!

in the room was taken aback by his abrupt action, and when they turned to look at

"He's left."

echoed beside

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

you think the

head raised to look

from the corner of my eyes

entire time, if

Octavious's direction with my head and Monica's

the only one that was looking up at him. From a glance, I could count more than ten of the people in the room already staring in his general direction, and

in the room grew increasingly tense, and before long, everyone's

you must know something about the situation,

directly to his left, was the first person to comment. A smattering of solemnity could be

would give us an explanation of what is going on. I'm sure

fiery red hair and bushy eyebrows spoke. With his arms crossed and wearing a tight black suit, his basketball-sized muscles were accentuated by his attire,

was a head taller than the majority of the room's occupants made him extremely intimidating. In fact, he appeared quite comical

Jordan, the new 7th

people around him put in a somewhat

of the few that didn't seem to be intimidated by Hemlock, his gaze remaining firm

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

already stated that I will provide you with

the room fell into an immediate

together, Octavious began to

wanted to discuss two topics with you guys

something about an alliance,

was the one to speak this

her shoulder, Ivana's disposition

her pupils, which were yellow like

her stand out from the others were, in fact, her pupils, which were horizontal, like

her extended elbow, she smiled, exposing her

us on how the alliance is