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—!

the dream cleared up a bit,

Smack—! Smack—!

"S…stop!" "Stop!"

"You're awake!"

voice

"…Yeah."

similarly replied in a relieved voice,

the slapping

They really hurt.

"Are you okay?"

"…Yeah."

Smallsnake tried to move his body up, he realized he couldn't move a

"Ugk."

from his lips as his mind

"Stay down."

on his

dehydrated to move. Fortunately, I've given you enough water

clearly, at the moment, he could see Ren's face turn

'I guess he cares…'

really doubted that Ren cared for him, but seeing how worried

much of an ass to

as he turned his gaze away from

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

to understand that

his

Smallsnake could tell.

on the verge of

'This sucks.'

inside of his mind as his

don't want

before dying. Something that

die just

Yet…

progressively became heavier. He didn't know what was happening, but the incoming darkness scared

thing he could see at the moment was Ren's blurry figure. He could also faintly hear something, but his mind was too

slowly overtook his vision and his consciousness

make out the last words that Ren

"Have..a..rest."

spread on his lips

'Okay.'

***

"This is bad."

I stared at Smallsnake, who

terrible. If something wasn't done soon,

to do something

like you said, they

I tell

with malice echoed throughout the room as my head snapped back and I saw two demons standing behind the door of the

"Who goes there?"

a glimpse behind them. It was there that I

on the ground staring at me with their eyes open, I realized that they were probably responsible

one of the demons

you

forward, I tried

anything happened

'Shit.'

made my heart palpitate with

matter what, I can't

because he was

Kevin,

my highs and lows. I couldn't

as to how you humans

a rather bulky figure and two large horns on his head that circled inwardly. The darkish red tone of his skin and the aura he exuded were similar to those of a Viscount ranked

occasions, such level of strength wasn't anything that I would take note of, but since my mana

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

Unlike the bulky demon, he had a rather lanky build and his horns were sharp rather than curly like the other