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—!

cleared up a bit, he realized he had not been dreaming, and Ren had indeed been

Smack—! Smack—!

"S…stop!" "Stop!"

"You're awake!"

relieved voice

"…Yeah."

similarly replied in a relieved

god the

They really hurt.

"Are you okay?"

"…Yeah."

move his body up, he realized he couldn't move a single

"Ugk."

escaped from his lips as

"Stay down."

hand pressed down on his

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

the moment, he could see Ren's face turn bitter with

'I guess he cares…'

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

just too much of an ass to

turned his gaze

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

understand that his current condition was

his body, to feel little to

Smallsnake could tell.

on the verge

'This sucks.'

uttered inside of his mind as his eyelids

don't want to

was still something that he wanted to do before dying. Something that he

die

Yet…

what was happening, but

at the moment was Ren's blurry figure. He could also faintly hear something, but his mind was too out of it to properly process what he was

slowly overtook his

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

"Have..a..rest."

faint curl spread on his

'Okay.'

***

"This is bad."

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

something

need to do something about

you said, they

did I

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

"Who goes there?"

a glimpse behind them. It was there

staring at me with their eyes open, I realized that they were probably responsible for

one of the demons slowly walked in my

so you

taking a step forward, I tried to shield Smallsnake away from the

was critical, and if anything happened at the

'Shit.'

made my heart palpitate with

I can't let anything happen to

because his safety was my responsibility, but because

before Amanda, Kevin, and

highs and lows. I

as to how you humans managed to

He had 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

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

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

the bulky demon, he had a rather lanky build and his horns were