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

thought the process was going rather nicely, but Durran’s demeanor

think an Upper-Level Human does in his or her day-to-day? What are their responsibilities and

a beat to compose his answer

that, it comes with a tremendous advantage against divinity. They’re sort

mean

flesh temporarily by injecting it inside the body. While they’re both effective adaptations, it’s not really ‘using spirits.’ It’s jury-rigging divinity. But being an Upper-Level Human, we can finally utilize those vaunted existences properly. In a

spirits are vaunted

I can slow time. It might be a very small amount, but it can be done. Is there magic that can achieve such a thing? Sataistador was a

an admission you cheated in university, Argrave?” Durran

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his right hand. “I

of this information is

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

Durran set down his papers and nodded at Argrave. “You’re going to start your role as an Upper-Level Human as

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with him?!”

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

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, and his mutterings somewhat sounded like groans and coughs beneath his mouthfuls of food… but

“Need we pry the golden fruit from his hand, that it might not again grace his lips?

gaze went past the surface, into Argrave’s very being. She saw much the same thing she had seen within the fruit—an infinitely-expanding universe of possibilities with neither end nor beginning. It was as though he ate the starry skies themselves, taking in the unknown and

sufficiently. “Rather, it’s growing in brightness, in intensity. Most notably, however, is

Argrave, the gray eyes on his head glowing green as he called upon [Minor Truesight].

she paced around nervously. “The connection between us is still there, but I just can’t get through. Can we stop

obstacle for

it all at once.” She looked at Raven, and fearlessly said,

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 heavier, but the enchantments on her armor made such a

he needs is a place to rest easy. Rest in quiet, without undue stimulus to interrupt the process.” She looked around. “I shall find a bed for him to rest in, for now. Rest assured I will have any

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