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

Smack—! Smack—!

"S…stop!" "Stop!"

"You're awake!"

Ren's relieved voice as the slapping

"…Yeah."

replied in a relieved voice,

god the slapping

They really hurt.

"Are you okay?"

"…Yeah."

moment Smallsnake tried to move his body up, he

"Ugk."

groan escaped from his

"Stay down."

on his

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

he could

'I guess he cares…'

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

too much of an

on his face as he turned his gaze away from Ren

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

a genius to understand that his current condition

to move his body, to feel little to

Smallsnake could tell.

the verge

'This sucks.'

inside of his mind

want to

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

die just

Yet…

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

He could also faintly hear something, but his mind

the end, darkness slowly overtook

was able to make out the last words

"Have..a..rest."

a faint curl spread on his lips before his mind

'Okay.'

***

"This is bad."

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

current condition was quite frankly terrible. If something

need to do something about this

just like you said, they know

I tell

voices filled with malice echoed throughout the room as my head snapped back

"Who goes there?"

taking a glimpse behind them. It was there that I caught sight of the others on the

staring at me with their eyes open, I realized

than answering my question, one of

you know demonic

step forward, I tried to

critical, and if anything happened at the moment, I feared that

'Shit.'

thought made my heart palpitate with

can't let anything happen to

because he was one

before Amanda, Kevin,

I couldn't for the love of god let

you humans managed

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

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

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

the bulky demon, he had a rather lanky build and