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.

of the faces he would make if she admitted which facts made her

"Melissa, let me in."

barrier revolving around her, Melissa watched as ripples formed

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

"Hmm…"

"Melissa?"

when she heard him call her

nickname Ren uses

"Eh?"

confused expression spread across Kevin's face

what does that have to do with

to do with a

replied as

"…So?"

her arms together, her foot began to

the person

her circumstance, she was not stupid

never

within the

impatient as she

"Ugh."

a groan, Kevin's face grimaced as

"P..pushhover.."

didn't hear it

behind her ear, Melissa leaned her body forward. Her hair fell toward

before

Ren's nickname

"…Sounds about right."

cabin and pressed a button. Immediately after that,

her tent, Melissa carefully

have any idea about

the answer that she wanted to know

externally, she was actually quite happy with the fact that

would she rub her new discoveries to her father if she wasn't able to

situation, and now

midst of her thoughts, scratching the back

"…About that."

strange behavior, Melissa's head

wryly smiled when he

here, I think this might have to do

***

Bang—

I felt an intense pain aimed at my

you're doing with all the

kick on my ribs area and my body flew

Bang—

"Ukh."

gasped for air.

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

beat up, I may as well

against the side of my head, I bitterly

and

Bang—!

"Khhh."

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

"Akh!"

my hair, I was suddenly dragged

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

experienced in the past, it wasn't

Thud—

smashed against the hard

stay over here. If I see you pull any

of rock grating coming from the hallway,

that the darkness returned and

contact with the light

this sudden scenario confirmed