The Author's POV

"This will do for now."

Brian carefully combed his hair and adjusted his clothes in front of the mirror. In addition to his white shirt, he wore a black pair of pants that seemed a bit too big for his body.

His shirt was slightly wrinkled, but given his current living conditions, it was all he could do.

It was still nevertheless a good look for him. He looked sharp.

"Haaa…"

As Brian exhaled, he leaned forward and placed both hands on the side of the sink.

Softly mumbling under his breath, he gazed at his reflection, particularly his green eyes.

"You can do it. You can defiantly do it, Brian!"

This was the first day of his new job, and he couldn't screw it up. Brian's resolve hardened as he thought about his mother's condition.

"I can definitely do it."

As Brian turned around, he slapped his cheeks and closed the faucet.

As he carefully opened the bathroom door, he felt his previous nervousness disappear completely.

Upon exiting the bathroom, Brian was greeted by a blast of cold air coming from the air conditioner of the building.

"You must be the newbie."

A young man in his mid-20s greeted him near the entrance to the bathroom. With long black hair that flowed down his shoulders, he had a face that mesmerized everyone who looked at him. Especially his eyes that made one fall into a trance with just a glimpse.

'Handsome.'

As he stared at the man in front of him for a moment, even Brian was mesmerized for a short couple of seconds.

"Eh..ah."

He fumbled with his words.

As he extended a hand, the man carefully scrutinized Brian's face.

"Nice to meet you, newbie."

A bright smile adorned his face.

"My name is Hemlock. Hemlock Feyner...and I'll be your supervisor."

***

"Smallsnake!" "Smallsnake!" "Smallsnake!"

Suddenly, he was awakened by a familiar voice. After slowly coming to his senses, Smallsnake spotted a familiar face.

'…Ren.'

He silently thought to himself as he struggled to open his mouth.

He could feel water dripping inside of his mouth as some of the water began spilling all over his face. He didn't know for how long this had been going, but he no longer felt as thirsty as before.

Even so, his body and mind remained numb.

"Smallsnake!" "Smallsnake!"

He heard Ren's voice calling out for him.

'Why is it him out of all people?'

When Smallsnake thought about how someone would hallucinate near death, he wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.

If there was a face that he didn't want to see when he was close to death, it would definitely be Ren's.

He had been traumatized enough by him.

"Smallsnake!" "Smallsnake!"

Smack—! Smack—!

and after the dream cleared up a bit, he realized he

Smack—! Smack—!

"S…stop!" "Stop!"

"You're awake!"

Ren's relieved voice as the slapping

"…Yeah."

in a relieved voice, but for a

god the

They really hurt.

"Are you okay?"

"…Yeah."

tried to move his body up, he

"Ugk."

escaped from his lips as his mind

"Stay down."

down on his chest as

Fortunately, I've given you enough water to hydrate you, but your conditions

couldn't see clearly, at the moment, he could see Ren's face turn bitter

'I guess he cares…'

Sometimes, Smallsnake really doubted that Ren cared for

just too much of

he turned his gaze away from

"..it's..b..ad, isn't it?"

understand that his

barely being able to move his body, to feel little to

Smallsnake could tell.

the

'This sucks.'

inside of his mind as his eyelids grew

don't want to die

wanted to do before dying. Something that he promised himself to accomplish no

die

Yet…

what

was Ren's blurry figure. He could also faintly hear something,

slowly overtook his vision and

was able to make out the last words that Ren had said to

"Have..a..rest."

curl spread on his lips before his mind

'Okay.'

***

"This is bad."

stood up as I stared at Smallsnake, who was passed out before

frankly terrible. If something wasn't done

to do something

like you said, they know each

did I tell

voices filled with malice echoed throughout the room as my head snapped back and I saw two

"Who goes there?"

glimpse behind them. It was there that I caught

Jin and the others on the ground staring at me with their eyes open, I realized that they were probably responsible for beating me up and

answering my question, one of the demons slowly walked in

so you

a step forward, I tried to shield Smallsnake

was critical, and if anything happened at the

'Shit.'

my heart palpitate with

can't let anything

because he was one of the people I knew for the

before Amanda, Kevin, and

highs and lows. I couldn't for the love

curious as to how you humans managed to get into

horns on his head that circled inwardly. The

that I would take note of, but since my mana was currently sealed, it certainly felt like I

out a way to teleport to other planets? If so, that would

he had a rather lanky build and his horns were sharp rather