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 them

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

his

a beat to compose his answer carefully, and the interviewers all

they’re immortal. That’s one of the largest perks, but also the largest responsibility. Old age can’t claim them. Any wound that they receive can be recovered from. Aside from that, it comes with a tremendous advantage against divinity. They’re sort of like… like an

mean by

scratched his chin. “If a mortal uses spirits, it’s either in one of two ways—with magic, or by strengthening the 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 way, it could be said to be better than they use it, as I’d

You think spirits are vaunted

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

this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's

hand. “I plead

Well…” Durran once again shuffled through the papers in front of him. “As we established, most of this information is something we already know. You have quite the resume, Argrave. And fortunately for you, we here

skill. Fortunately, they

you do.” Durran set down his papers and nodded at Argrave. “You’re going to start your

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him?!”

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, Argrave seemed

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,

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

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 chewing it up with his teeth until it

in brightness, in intensity. Most notably, however, is what the spirits inside him are doing.” She looked

Argrave, the gray eyes on his head glowing green as he called

connection between us is still there, but I just can’t get through. Can we stop him

obstacle for him in the past,” Raven observed

mean he needs to go through it all at once.” She looked at Raven, and fearlessly said, “Did you have to encourage him so? Can you

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

the process.” She looked around. “I shall find a bed for him to rest in, for now. Rest assured I will have any of you at hand in a

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