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

"Melissa, let me in."

barrier revolving around her, Melissa watched

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

"Hmm…"

"Melissa?"

Melissa's face tightened when she

the nickname Ren uses whenever he talks with

"Eh?"

confused expression spread across Kevin's face as he looked

are you doing? And what does

has to do

replied as her eyes

"…So?"

together, her foot began

if the person

about her circumstance, she was not stupid

never went

me within the next minute, I'll keep you

grew impatient as she saw Kevin's

"Ugh."

out a groan, Kevin's face grimaced as he eventually

"P..pushhover.."

didn't hear

her hand behind her ear, Melissa leaned her body forward.

Melissa, Kevin clenched his fists tightly before

nickname for

"…Sounds about right."

and pressed a button. Immediately after that, the barrier around her tent quickly started to disappear and Kevin was finally

of her tent, Melissa carefully

Do you have any idea

was the answer that she wanted to know the

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

to her father if she wasn't able

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

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

"…About that."

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

wryly smiled when he saw

suddenly found yourself here, I think this might

***

Bang—

felt an intense pain aimed

with

felt a kick on my ribs area and

Bang—

"Ukh."

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

air, I made sure to breathe in a certain

I was going to get beat up,

against the

more and more of

Bang—!

"Khhh."

are unaware you are communicating with the person next door? "Don't

"Akh!"

hair, I was suddenly dragged out

still felt a burning sensation in my eyes as I

experienced in the past, it wasn't anything

Thud—

against the

I see you

grating coming from the hallway, and

most important thing was that the darkness returned and my eyes were once again

The sudden contact with the

any case, this sudden scenario confirmed