The Author's POV

"We're here."

When I shut my eyes, I was able to perceive the barrier that blocked my path to the city that was directly in front of me, despite it being invisible from view.

Ohm―! I reached out my hand in front of me and stopped when I came into contact with something hard and smooth.

I was able to catch a glimpse of a tiny ripple that was forming around the area that I touched, and the ripple, to my relief, stopped moving a couple of meters away from where my hand touched.

"It's pretty strong."

Even though I hadn't put it to the test, I had a hunch that not even someone with an rank could break through the barrier in a single attack.

However, I couldn't say for certain since I hadn't tested it yet.

That being said…

Swoosh―!

When I shut my eyes and concentrated on a specific energy within my body, a dark hue centered over the palm of my hand, and I brought it forward in a slow, methodical manner.

…Nothing said that I needed to break the entire structure.

WOOOM―! After the thin film that was surrounding the city was cut cleanly through by my hand, I slowly brought my hand back down.

In that short moment, a small cut appeared on the barrier before me.

It was small, but it was still there.

'I can cut it.'

There was also a fair amount of resistance coming from the barrier, but it was nothing that I was unable to handle in any way. The only issue was that it was a rather slow process, as that single cut took quite a few seconds.

When I turned around to look at the others, I was taken aback to see that they had already surrounded me and were attentively observing the area around us.

'That's good.'

I smiled at the sight.

I had just been considering telling them to cover for me, but it didn't appear as though they required any kind of reminder.

With my back secured, I returned my focus to the barrier in front of me, and I brought my hand up.

'This'll take a couple of minutes.'

***

"The humans have started to breach the city; what should we do, your highness?"

"Nothing for now."

On top of a large structure, Prince Plintus was looking in a specific direction as he stood there gazing outward.

Even though it wasn't obvious, and there didn't appear to be anything out of the ordinary happening, the Prince smiled as he lowered his head and stared at the orb that he held in his hand.

going according

to startle our guests

"Understood."

to the Prince replied. Thinking of

about

"Which ones?"

that are surrounding the city outside.

"Nothing yet."

and Prince Plintus's eyes squinted at what was replayed

humans outside and were all waiting for orders to

and although he was unsure of who they were, he

that comprised the Human Domain, and he was aware that the most difficult opponent was the

Just that…

never get

and fiddled

to get addicted

eventually came to rest on the human who was tampering with the barrier. Particularly the dark film that was covering

changed at the

think we'd have a traitor in our

a demon had betrayed them and had formed a contract with him. Prince Plinuts wasn't sure who the

information out of him once I capture

his mind, the five of them were already

at the moment was finding out who the demon that had betrayed them was and how he should get the

ready to ambush them. As soon as they settle, we'll attack all at

tearing his gaze away

sure you keep the one with the blue eyes alive. Kill the others

Fwap!

his wings once,

***

"We're in."

able to carve out a space

ahh… well, that'll

sweat trickled down the side of my cheek, and I

process was a lot more tiring than I

"Here."

was regaining my strength, I felt a coarse fabric on my face. I didn't need to look to understand what was happening because I immediately

"Thanks."

"Um."

putting away the towel, I noticed Amanda's nose crease

from a glance that she was somewhat repulsed by the sweat from the towel, but it surprised me that she didn't throw it away as she normally would

a few brief seconds, she had returned to her normal self and put the towel away, which was somewhat

neat freak

call

to myself before turning serious

others once and meeting their gaze, I nodded my head. Only when all of them reciprocated did I finally enter

"Follow me."

was

thick clouds that blocked out the sun,