Another great thing about being inside the barrier was that the Inn function buffs like [Comfortable Blessing], [Soothing aura], [Increased Absorption], and [Rested Soul] applied here automatically.
It was just that since he only managed to build inside the cave not long ago, his teammate hadn’t felt this effect yet. He specifically built the new modules where his teammates were, but it was only recently so they probably wouldn’t notice the change yet.
As for why they hadn’t received the notification requirement to pay yet, it was because they paid access in the main inn for a few days, so they did not receive a ’bill’ for the day (the 1 gold required to stay within the barrier for a day).
The effect became noticeable after an hour. Combined with the rest they had the previous day, everyone had mostly recovered already.
He took this chance to take out a few meat and cook them, hoping to get at least E-class cuisine for the group of them.
It was outside the kitchen, but because he was already consistent with C and D-class cuisine, E-class was fairly easy for him without the kitchen cheat anymore.
He did feel just a bit conscious about all the ravenous eyes on him, watching his every movement. Obviously, back when he had an open kitchen he was fine. Was it because of the level differences?
The food he made this time was a meat floss sandwich on pita bread. Pita bread made of bindergrain had quite a long shelf life and he had a lot of it in his space. All he had to do was heat it and cook the meat in his pan (his growth type weapon, hehe), and he was good to go.
Crunch!
"Ahhh! So delicious!" Leez exclaimed, moaning a little as she tasted the special crunch of the wrap and the softness of the meat inside.
"It’s like the meat tickles my taste buds in both texture and flavor!" Marcus said looking very energetic now.
"Can I have more?"
While their team ate delicious food, the monsters outside were agitated further.
BANG! BANG!
Weakening themselves, even if just a bit, in the process.
"This cave is really strong. How many monsters are still out there?"
"I know right? I was expecting a battle in the middle of the night, but nothing happened," another said. Although they had a few hours rest, they were fully prepared to wake up and move the moment they were tapped. It was just that it never happened.
Finn smiled.
"Well, never underestimate my barrier."
.
.
Everyone gaped at him.
Wait, what!?
...
The group took several moments to calm down and several of them headed to the mount of the cave, pushing the carcasses away.
The monster carcasses were at least toughened-level so they would not smell for a while, which was why they did not mind using them as walls for half a day.
All this time, they just thought this monster wall was particularly strong!
Only after clearing did they realize that there was a barrier here now, too!
Since when?
"Just early today," he said. "It just...appeared. It was probably master," he said, shrugging, trying to make it sound like it was no big deal so that it wouldn’t be a big deal.
Anyway, with the barrier there, people felt hope that they could finally get out of this predicament.
Still, while excited that a barrier had appeared, they were highly concerned at what happened to them.
Why were there so many fortified-level monsters at the border? Just a bit of push, or if a team encountered them and they would run after them, wouldn’t these monsters enter and wreak havoc in level 1 as well?
...
The group finally emerged an hour later, weapons on hand, and jumping up as a team to deal with the remaining monsters.
There were a few fortified levels left as well as a few dozen toughened monsters. "Did the carcass shield really work then?"
Gideon shook his head. "No, they were probably attracted by something else," he said, narrowing his eyes and looking in a direction. As a high-leveled person with high potential, his senses had always been stronger than others. "Anomalies. A lot of anomalies."
"You think something’s happening in the dungeon areas?"
Gideon nodded. He was someone who dealt with fortified-level monsters a lot. A bit of carcass masking wouldn’t be enough to hide from them.
At this, everyone’s expressions turned solemn. But first, they had to get out of here first!
Durgan and Gideon jumped up to deal with the fortified level monsters. Before getting injured, they had landed a few hits already.
Combined with the monsters’ reckless banging on the barrier, as well as making them attack each other with their own blood and essence food, the monsters had been further weakened during the past day.
The rest of the monsters were dealt with by the rest of them. These monsters were stupider so they were quite bloodied by now after damaging themselves while trying to beat the barrier, which ultimately made it easier for the team to deal with them.
This was one of the only times wherein bleeding in the danger zone was acceptable.
The group did their best from the get go, using skills as needed, because they could not afford any more delays and attract more monsters.
After this, they ran out, as quickly as they could without looking back, reaching the inn about a fraction of the time than usual.
The awakened folk training in and around the main inn were shocked by their poor states and their unusual solemn expressions.
Leez, Marcus, and even Gideon only bought some of Finn’s snacks and food before heading straight back to Lotus Town.
They did not know what was happening deep in the danger zones, but they ought to send missions there as soon as possible, just in case.
....
Except for a few awakened people who decided to continue training and didn’t have a high enough position to have their teams, the rest of the adventurer groups left to make a report.
After all, there was suspicious monster activity and all of them might be affected if let be.
Meanwhile, since Finn knew the dangers had increased, he’d like to help the survivability rates of other people. He needed more and more people to join him in Level 2 area, but knowing the new dangers there made him want to prepare more.
On a lighter note, another thing he wanted to improve before heading out was to use their new kiln to make lots of vats and tiles.
He needed a lot of vats and bottles because many of the potions they were making needed this.
These would be relatively sturdy because the one the Hearth Market gave was really too fragile. One wrong move and that bottle would practically disintegrate. How could they afford that in battle?
Further, his wines and sauces needed the vats and bottles as well.
The tiles were to improve their roads. Although he knew that more people would come just by word of mouth from adventurers he wanted it easily found.
He still remembered his encounters with Ren, the goblins, and others. He also remembered some of the fresh corpses he found not far away from the inn.
He wondered how many people could’ve survived if they had found his place earlier?