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—!

left and right cheeks sting, and after the dream cleared up a bit, he realized he had not been dreaming, and Ren had

Smack—! Smack—!

"S…stop!" "Stop!"

"You're awake!"

voice as the

"…Yeah."

a relieved voice, but for

the

They really hurt.

"Are you okay?"

"…Yeah."

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

"Ugk."

escaped from his lips as

"Stay down."

pressed down on his chest as Ren shook his

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

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

'I guess he cares…'

somewhat happy to see this. Sometimes, Smallsnake really doubted that Ren cared for him, but seeing how worried he

was just too much of an ass to show

his gaze away from Ren and he stared

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

a genius to understand that his current

barely being able to move his body,

Smallsnake could tell.

on the

'This sucks.'

of his mind as

don't want

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

die just

Yet…

He didn't know what was happening, but the

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

overtook his vision and his consciousness

for him, he was able to make out the last

"Have..a..rest."

curl spread on his lips before his

'Okay.'

***

"This is bad."

I stared at Smallsnake, who was

condition was quite frankly terrible. If something wasn't done soon, I couldn't guarantee

to do something

said, they know

I tell

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

"Who goes there?"

behind them. It was there that I caught sight

eyes open, I realized that they were probably responsible for beating me

of the demons slowly walked in my

you know

a step forward, I tried

happened at the moment, I feared that he

'Shit.'

made my

what, I can't let anything happen

just because his safety was my responsibility, but because

Kevin,

with me through my highs and lows. I couldn't for the love of god

quite curious as to how you humans managed to

circled inwardly. The darkish red tone of his skin and the aura he exuded were similar

but since my mana was currently sealed, it certainly felt like I was staring at a

also quite curious. Have the humans perhaps figured out a way to teleport to other planets? If so, that would truly

demon, he had a rather lanky build and his