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

"Melissa, let me in."

around her, Melissa watched as

Melissa didn't answer immediately. Instead, she

"Hmm…"

"Melissa?"

Melissa's face tightened when she heard him call her

nickname Ren uses whenever he talks

"Eh?"

confused expression spread across Kevin's

And what does

has to do with a

replied as her eyes

"…So?"

her arms together, her foot began to tap on

was testing if the person outside was

excitement about her circumstance, she was not stupid

guard never went

don't answer me within the next minute,

as she saw Kevin's struggling

"Ugh."

face grimaced as

"P..pushhover.."

didn't

behind her ear, Melissa leaned her body forward. Her

Melissa, Kevin clenched his fists tightly before he glared

okay? Ren's nickname for

"…Sounds about right."

button. Immediately after that, the barrier around her tent

her tent, Melissa carefully observed

Do you have any

she

was actually quite happy with the fact that there was hope

her new discoveries to her

now that it

her thoughts, scratching the back of his head, Kevin apologetically looked

"…About that."

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

when he

I think

***

Bang—

the floor, I felt an intense

do you think you're doing with

on my ribs area and my body flew toward the other side of

Bang—

"Ukh."

out a groan, I heavily gasped for air. The pain…it was

for air, I made sure to breathe in a certain

get beat up, I may

smash against the side of my head,

and more of

Bang—!

"Khhh."

that we are unaware you are communicating with the person next

"Akh!"

was suddenly dragged out of my

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

what I had experienced in the past, it wasn't anything worth complaining about as I

Thud—

against the

I see you

an echoing sound of rock grating coming from the hallway, and the

the darkness returned and

my cheeks. The sudden contact with the light had

this sudden scenario confirmed one thing for