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.

mere thought of the faces he would make if she admitted which

"Melissa, let me in."

around her, Melissa watched

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

"Hmm…"

"Melissa?"

on Melissa's face tightened when she heard him call

nickname Ren uses

"Eh?"

Kevin's face as he looked at

doing? And what does that have to do with

has to do with a

as her eyes

"…So?"

together, her foot began to

the person outside was really

her circumstance, she was not stupid

guard never

within the next minute, I'll keep

impatient as she saw Kevin's

"Ugh."

Kevin's face grimaced as

"P..pushhover.."

I didn't hear

behind her ear, Melissa leaned her

before he

nickname

"…Sounds about right."

a button. Immediately after that, the barrier around her tent quickly

her tent, Melissa carefully

Do you have any idea

was the answer that she wanted to

she didn't show it externally, she was actually quite happy with the fact that there was hope for her to return

new discoveries to her

now that it was solved, she was a

midst of her thoughts, scratching the back of

"…About that."

behavior, Melissa's head snapped to face him

smiled when

I think this might

***

Bang—

stumbling on the floor, I felt an intense

do you think you're doing with all the banging on

I felt a kick on my ribs area and my body flew toward the other side

Bang—

"Ukh."

a groan, I heavily gasped

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

up, I may

smash against the side of

more and more of a

Bang—!

"Khhh."

are unaware you are communicating with the person

"Akh!"

something grasp my hair, I was suddenly dragged out of

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

it wasn't anything worth complaining about as I was soon thrown back into a different

Thud—

against

If I see you pull any

an echoing sound of rock grating coming from

was that the darkness returned and my eyes

The sudden contact with the

this sudden scenario confirmed