The Author's POV

"I wonder what will happen when I combine the two together."

Melissa cheerfully hummed as she mixed a couple of herbs in a small pot.

The situation would've frightened any normal person, and they would've frantically tried to find an escape from this strange planet, but…

Melissa was different.

Her attachment to earth was quite frankly nonexistent. Neither she nor her family liked each other.

Her staff didn't like her, and she didn't like them.

…maybe there were her friends there, but could she really even call them friends? Maybe? Well, it didn't matter.

At the end of the day, what Melissa cared for the most was research.

The way she presented herself made it seem as though she was troubled with all the work she was doing, which was true. There was no doubt that she was overworked, but it did not mean, however, that she disliked what she was doing.

In fact, she loved it.

Trying new things and proving her father wrong was a lifelong passion of hers that she would never trade for anything else.

Just thinking of his salty face...

"Yeah, I love research~"

The fact that she found herself on a new planet, with its new vegetation and surroundings, only served to arouse her excitement.

Thinking about all the different combinations she could make by extracting the essence of the different plants around her…

"Mhmhm~ Isn't this the best?"

Stirring the pot in front of her, Melissa's smile grew wider.

Rustle—!

The sound of rustling caught Melissa's attention. Her head snapped to the direction where the sound originated.

The space surrounding her started to distort, allowing her to get a clear sight of what lay beyond the barrier she set up.

"Who's there!?"

She raised her voice and stood up. A series of different cards and spheres appeared in her hand.

Mana circulated from out of her body, covering the area around her.

'Shit, how is it possible for my barrier to have been found out?'

It must be noted that she set up an extremely high barrier. It was something she had paid a lot of money for since she was planning to leave the human realm to collect samples of different plants.

Who would've thought it would come in so handy. In any case, Melissa's expression turned extremely solemn as she understood that for someone or something to have already seen through its camouflage, that person was extremely skilled.

"Hold on."

It was at that moment that Melissa heard a familiar voice coming from the distance as she lowered her hands a little.

Right then, Melissa was able to catch a glimpse of a familiar figure who was looking at her strangely.

"Kevin?"

Spotting the figure, Melissa immediately recognized him.

Well, it wasn't that hard. There weren't that many people as handsome as him.

Maybe Jin.

…and definitely not Ren.

Although he did seem to have become a lot more handsome than in the past.

Not that Melissa would openly admit it.

make if she

"Melissa, let me in."

onto the barrier revolving around her, Melissa watched as ripples

Kevin, Melissa didn't answer immediately. Instead, she squinted her

"Hmm…"

"Melissa?"

on Melissa's face tightened when

uses whenever he talks

"Eh?"

Kevin's face

you doing? And what does that have

has to do with a

replied as her

"…So?"

her foot began to

was testing if the person outside was really

her circumstance, she was not stupid enough to invite

guard never

the next minute, I'll keep you

grew impatient as she saw

"Ugh."

a groan, Kevin's face grimaced as

"P..pushhover.."

I didn't

ear, Melissa leaned her body

his fists tightly before

Ren's nickname for me

"…Sounds about right."

Immediately after that,

out of her tent, Melissa carefully

Do you have any idea about

that she

quite happy with the fact that there was

her new discoveries to her father if she

her biggest grip; with the whole situation, and now that it was solved, she

in the midst of her thoughts, scratching the back of his head, Kevin apologetically

"…About that."

of Kevin's sudden strange behavior, Melissa's head snapped to

when he saw

here, I think this might have to do

***

Bang—

the floor, I felt an intense pain aimed at

think you're doing with all

sinister voice echoed out as I felt a kick on my ribs area and my body flew toward

Bang—

"Ukh."

a groan, I heavily gasped

of this, as I heavily breathed for air, I made sure to

was going to get beat up,

against the side of my head,

truly becoming more and more of

Bang—!

"Khhh."

with

"Akh!"

grasp my hair, I was

eyes closed, I still felt a burning sensation in my eyes as I was pulled by my hair

past, it wasn't anything worth complaining about as

Thud—

smashed against the hard

here. If I see you pull any

an echoing sound of rock grating coming

that the darkness returned and

slowly fell on my cheeks. The sudden contact

sudden scenario confirmed one