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—!

bit, he realized he had not been dreaming, and Ren had

Smack—! Smack—!

"S…stop!" "Stop!"

"You're awake!"

voice as

"…Yeah."

in a relieved

the slapping

They really hurt.

"Are you okay?"

"…Yeah."

body up, he realized he

"Ugk."

his

"Stay down."

hand pressed down on his chest as Ren shook his

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

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

'I guess he cares…'

that Ren cared for him,

much of an ass

as he turned his gaze away from

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

a genius to understand that his current condition was

able to move his

Smallsnake could tell.

on the

'This sucks.'

mind as

don't want to die

wanted to do before dying. Something that he promised himself to accomplish

die just

Yet…

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

moment was Ren's blurry figure. He could also faintly hear something, but his mind was too

end, darkness slowly overtook his vision and

make out the last words

"Have..a..rest."

on

'Okay.'

***

"This is bad."

at

something wasn't done soon, I couldn't guarantee

do something

said,

I

the room as my head snapped back and I saw

"Who goes there?"

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

at me with their eyes open, I realized that they were probably responsible for beating me up and

one of the demons slowly walked in

you know

a step forward, I tried to

happened at the

'Shit.'

the thought made my

matter what, I can't let anything happen to

his safety was my responsibility, but because he was

before Amanda, Kevin, and

lows. I couldn't for the love of god let anything

how you humans managed to get into

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

such level of strength wasn't anything that I would take note of, but since my mana was currently sealed, it certainly felt like I was staring

figured out a way to teleport to other

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