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—!

his left and right cheeks sting, and after the dream cleared up a bit, he realized he had

Smack—! Smack—!

"S…stop!" "Stop!"

"You're awake!"

Ren's relieved voice

"…Yeah."

in a relieved voice, but for a different

god the

They really hurt.

"Are you okay?"

"…Yeah."

moment Smallsnake tried to move his body up, he

"Ugk."

pained groan escaped from his lips as his mind

"Stay down."

on his chest as Ren

Fortunately, I've given you enough

he could see Ren's face

'I guess he cares…'

for him, but seeing how worried

just too much of an ass to

his face as he turned his gaze away from Ren and

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

a genius to understand that his current condition

move his body,

Smallsnake could tell.

was on the verge of

'This sucks.'

mind as his eyelids grew

don't want

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

couldn't die just

Yet…

became heavier. He didn't know what was happening,

blurry figure. He could also faintly hear something, but his mind was too out

the end, darkness slowly overtook his vision and his

for him, he was able to make out the last

"Have..a..rest."

on

'Okay.'

***

"This is bad."

carefully stood up as I stared at Smallsnake, who

terrible. If something wasn't

to do something about this

said, they know each

did I

malice echoed throughout the room as my head snapped back and I saw two demons standing behind the door of

"Who goes there?"

was there that I caught sight of the others

their eyes open, I realized that

of the demons slowly walked

you know

tried to shield Smallsnake away from the

state was critical, and if anything happened at the moment, I

'Shit.'

made my heart palpitate with

I can't let anything happen

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

Amanda, Kevin, and the

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

curious as to how you

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 a Viscount

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

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

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