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—!

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

Smack—! Smack—!

"S…stop!" "Stop!"

"You're awake!"

relieved voice as the

"…Yeah."

in a relieved voice, but for a

god the slapping

They really hurt.

"Are you okay?"

"…Yeah."

tried to move his body up, he realized

"Ugk."

groan escaped from his lips as his

"Stay down."

his

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

the moment, he could see

'I guess he cares…'

Ren cared for him, but seeing how

too much of

on his face as he turned his gaze away from Ren and he stared at

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

didn't take a genius to understand that his

move his body, to feel little to no

Smallsnake could tell.

was on the verge of

'This sucks.'

uttered inside of his mind as

want

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

couldn't die

Yet…

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

also faintly hear something, but his mind was too out of it to properly process what

overtook his vision and his consciousness

able to make out the last words

"Have..a..rest."

curl spread on his lips before

'Okay.'

***

"This is bad."

stood up as I stared at

something wasn't done soon, I

need to do something about

like you said, they know

I tell

throughout the room as my head snapped back and

"Who goes there?"

them. It was there that I caught

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

one of

you know

taking a step forward, I tried to

current state was critical, and if anything happened at the

'Shit.'

made my

can't

because his safety was my responsibility, but because he was one of the people I knew

Amanda, Kevin, and the

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

as to how you humans

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

that I would take note of, but since

Have the humans perhaps figured out a way to

a rather lanky build and his horns were sharp rather than curly