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

Smack—! Smack—!

"S…stop!" "Stop!"

"You're awake!"

heard Ren's relieved voice as

"…Yeah."

similarly replied in a relieved voice, but for a

the

They really hurt.

"Are you okay?"

"…Yeah."

his body up, he realized he couldn't move a

"Ugk."

from his

"Stay down."

on his chest as Ren shook his

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

the moment, he could see Ren's face turn bitter with

'I guess he cares…'

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

of an ass to

his face as he turned his gaze away from Ren and

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

understand that his current condition was

able to move his body, to feel little to no

Smallsnake could tell.

was on the

'This sucks.'

inside of his mind as his eyelids grew

don't want

he wanted 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

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

overtook

to make out the last words that Ren

"Have..a..rest."

curl spread on his lips

'Okay.'

***

"This is bad."

as I stared at Smallsnake, who was passed out

something

to do something

like you said, they know

I tell

my head snapped back and I saw two demons

"Who goes there?"

a glimpse behind them. It was there

ground staring at me with their eyes open, I realized that they were

my question, one of the demons slowly walked in

so you know

forward, I tried to

and if anything happened at the

'Shit.'

the thought made my heart palpitate with

can't let anything happen to

because his safety was my responsibility, but because he was

Amanda, Kevin, and the

and lows. I couldn't for the love of

you humans managed

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

that I would take note of, but since my mana was currently sealed,

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

Unlike the bulky demon, he had a rather lanky build and his horns