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—!

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

Smack—! Smack—!

"S…stop!" "Stop!"

"You're awake!"

relieved voice as the

"…Yeah."

a relieved voice,

god 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

"Stay down."

his chest as Ren

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

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

'I guess he cares…'

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

of an ass

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

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

genius to understand that his

able to move his body, to feel little to

Smallsnake could tell.

was on the verge

'This sucks.'

mind as his

want

he wanted to do before dying. Something that he promised

die

Yet…

He didn't know what

faintly hear something, but

the end, darkness slowly overtook his vision and

make out the last words that Ren had

"Have..a..rest."

spread on his lips

'Okay.'

***

"This is bad."

stood up as I stared at

something

do something about this

said, they know

I

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

"Who goes there?"

there that I caught sight of the others on

the others on the ground staring at me with their eyes open, I realized that they

one of the

so you know demonic

taking a step forward, I tried to shield Smallsnake away

anything happened at the moment, I feared

'Shit.'

my heart

what, I can't let anything

safety was my responsibility, but because he was

before Amanda, Kevin, and

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

how you humans managed to get into this

a rather bulky figure and two large horns on his head that circled inwardly. The darkish

occasions, 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 at

also quite curious. Have the humans perhaps figured out a way to teleport to

lanky build and his horns were sharp rather than curly like