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—!

the dream cleared up a bit, he realized he had not been dreaming, and Ren

Smack—! Smack—!

"S…stop!" "Stop!"

"You're awake!"

relieved voice as

"…Yeah."

replied in a relieved voice, but for

the slapping

They really hurt.

"Are you okay?"

"…Yeah."

to move his body up, he realized

"Ugk."

pained groan escaped from his lips as his mind

"Stay down."

his chest

I've given you enough water to hydrate you, but your conditions are

couldn't see clearly, at the moment, he could

'I guess he cares…'

that Ren cared for him, but seeing how worried he

just too much of an

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

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

a genius to understand that his

to move his body, to feel little to no

Smallsnake could tell.

on the verge of

'This sucks.'

inside of his mind

don't want to die

before dying. Something that he promised himself to accomplish no

couldn't die just

Yet…

what was happening, but the incoming

was Ren's blurry figure. He could also faintly hear something, but his mind was too out of it to properly process what he was trying to

end, darkness slowly overtook his vision and

to make out

"Have..a..rest."

a faint curl spread on his

'Okay.'

***

"This is bad."

as I stared at Smallsnake, who

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

to do something about

like you said, they

did I tell

two sinister voices filled with malice echoed throughout the room as my head

"Who goes there?"

taking a glimpse behind them. It was there that I

on the ground staring at me with their eyes open, I realized that they were probably responsible for beating me up

answering my question, one of

you know demonic

taking a step forward, I tried

state was critical, and if anything happened at the

'Shit.'

made my

matter what, I can't let anything happen to

was my responsibility, but because he was one

Kevin,

through my highs and lows. I couldn't for the love of god let anything happen to

as to how you humans managed to get

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

note of, but since my mana was currently sealed, it certainly felt like I was staring

a way to teleport to other planets?

lanky build and his horns were sharp rather than