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.

thought of the faces he would make if she admitted

"Melissa, let me in."

onto the barrier revolving around her, Melissa watched

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

"Hmm…"

"Melissa?"

when she heard

Ren uses whenever he talks

"Eh?"

across Kevin's face as he

are you doing? And what does that have to

to do with

replied as her eyes

"…So?"

foot began to tap on

testing if the person outside

she was not stupid

guard never went

answer me within the next minute, I'll keep

impatient as she

"Ugh."

groan, Kevin's face

"P..pushhover.."

I didn't hear it

hand behind her ear, Melissa leaned her body forward.

fists tightly before he glared in her

nickname for me is

"…Sounds about right."

he was indeed Kevin, Melissa walked toward the cabin and pressed a button. Immediately after that, the barrier around her tent quickly

her tent, Melissa carefully

have any idea about what's

that she

didn't show it externally, she was actually quite happy with the fact that

to

situation, and now that

Melissa was in the midst of her thoughts, scratching the back of his head, Kevin apologetically looked at

"…About that."

behavior, Melissa's

when he

yourself here, I think this might have to

***

Bang—

stumbling on the floor, I felt an intense pain aimed at my

think you're doing with all the

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

Bang—

"Ukh."

heavily gasped for air.

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

I was going to get beat up, I

smash against the side of

truly becoming more and more

Bang—!

"Khhh."

that we are unaware you are communicating with the person next door? "Don't worry, we'll move you both

"Akh!"

was suddenly dragged out of my

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

to what I had experienced in the past, it wasn't

Thud—

smashed against

over here. If I see you pull

grating coming from the hallway, and

the darkness returned and my eyes were once again

my cheeks. The sudden contact

sudden scenario confirmed one thing for