Jackal Among Snakes

“So… Argrave of Vasquer.”

The lead interviewer scrutinized Argrave from behind his glasses, golden eyes moving calculatingly. Despite the suit he wore, he sported many tattoos. It spoke to an accommodating workplace, or a poor one.

“That’s right,” Argrave confirmed cordially.

“You’re applying for the position of Upper-Level Human.” The man looked to the other interviewers, on his right and left. They all wore fancy C-suite suits, with luxurious black fabric and gold buttons. “That would place you at upper management, here with us. I’m Durran, and this is Anneliese and Melanie. Our chief executive officer, Elenore, will still have the final say, but we thought this interview might provide us something to present her.”

“Nice to meet you all. Some of you I already know. All three of you, in fact. Upper management is something I’ve long looked forward to,” he answered cordially, bearing a hint of familiarity.

“Alright.” Durran shuffled some papers, taking one in hand. “Let’s start with your educational history.”

“Sure.” Argrave shifted on his seat. “As you know, I studied with Professor Erlebnis, majoring in Everything in the Known Universe, with a minor in Somethings in the Unknown Universe.”

“Professor Erlebnis in Germany, right? His thesis on Everything in the Known Universe is quite renowned.” Durran’s finger traced the paper he held until it stopped near the bottom. “But we couldn’t find any information about your educational background before that.”

“Ah.” Argrave scratched the back of his head. “I had a name change.”

“A name change?” Anneliese spoke up. “Was it due to any controversial or infamous event that could compromise the company?”

“No, I just got transported to another world. Nothing significant,” Argrave explained.

“Okay, that’s understandable.” Anneliese nodded, contented.

“You came up through the sales department. People there had nothing but positive things to say about you, from your demeanor to your performance.” Melanie looked through some papers, then focused on Argrave. “What other roles have you had before our company?”

“Well, I was the King of Vasquer, managing a population in the millions. After that, I became the Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Force Against the Barbarians of the Great Chu. I’ve also been acting as the de facto leader of the Blackgard Union, managing several high-level deities with large portfolios of divinity.”

“So, you’re already well-accustomed to dealing with people that have rather inflated egos,” Anneliese said positively.

of

joke landed, and the interviewers laughed. Argrave thought the process was going rather nicely, but Durran’s demeanor quickly became serious and the

you think an Upper-Level Human does in his or her day-to-day?

off guard. He took a beat to compose his answer carefully, and

claim them. Any wound that they receive can be recovered from. Aside from that, it comes with a

you elaborate on what you mean by ‘like divine?’” Durran

not really ‘using spirits.’ It’s jury-rigging divinity. But being an Upper-Level Human, we can finally utilize

think spirits are vaunted existences?” Melanie

amount, but it can be done. Is there magic that can achieve such a thing?

you cheated in university, Argrave?”

note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report

his right hand. “I

front of him. “As we established, most of this information is something we already know. You have quite the resume, Argrave.

“I would also promote family members regardless of their skill. Fortunately, they just happen to be extremely skilled. Does this

papers and nodded at Argrave. “You’re going to start your

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wrong with him?!” Elenore insisted

after he had bitten into the Fruit of Being. It was because, moments after his first bite, he had slumped against the table and fallen to the floor. Everyone had moved quickly—Anneliese quickest of all, who held Argrave in her arms—but rather than unconscious,

the golden fruit. His eyelids flickered, alternating between open and closed. The hand which held the Fruit of Being continually raised it back up to his mouth, taking fresh bites out of it as he zoned out. The movements were more like sporadic spasms,

we pry the golden fruit from his hand, that it might

It was as though he ate the starry skies themselves, taking in the unknown and chewing it up with his teeth until it became part of him. As

much else sufficiently. “Rather, it’s growing in brightness, in intensity. Most notably, however, is what the spirits inside him are doing.” She

glowing green as he called upon [Minor Truesight]. “It’s fascinating. I’ve never seen spirits behave in a way like this,

around nervously. “The connection between us is still there, but I just

for

to go through it all at once.” She looked at Raven, and fearlessly said, “Did you have to encourage him

slid her arms under Argrave, and picked him up. In his trance-like state, he was much easier to carry—his arm even slid around her neck, like it was natural. He had grown a fair bit

to interrupt the process.” She looked around. “I shall find a bed for him to rest in, for

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