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—!

a bit, he realized he had not

Smack—! Smack—!

"S…stop!" "Stop!"

"You're awake!"

voice as the slapping

"…Yeah."

similarly replied in a relieved voice,

god the

They really hurt.

"Are you okay?"

"…Yeah."

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

"Ugk."

groan escaped from his

"Stay down."

his chest as Ren shook his

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

he could see Ren's face turn bitter with

'I guess he cares…'

really doubted that Ren cared for

too much of an ass

as he turned his gaze away from Ren and he stared

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

take a genius to understand that his current condition was

move his body, to feel little to

Smallsnake could tell.

was on the verge

'This sucks.'

inside of his mind as his eyelids grew

don't want to die

something that he wanted to do before dying. Something that he promised himself to accomplish

couldn't die

Yet…

progressively became heavier. He didn't know what was

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

darkness slowly overtook

able to make out the last words that Ren

"Have..a..rest."

faint curl spread on his lips before his mind

'Okay.'

***

"This is bad."

carefully stood up as I stared at Smallsnake,

condition was quite frankly terrible. If something wasn't done soon, I

need to do something about

like you said, they know

I tell

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

"Who goes there?"

taking a glimpse behind them. It was there that I caught sight

me with their eyes open, I realized that they were

one of

so you know demonic

I tried to shield Smallsnake away from the

happened at the moment,

'Shit.'

the thought made my heart

matter what, I can't let

because his safety was my responsibility, but because he was

before Amanda, Kevin, and the

I couldn't for the love of god let

quite curious as to how you humans managed to get into this

horns on his head that circled inwardly. The darkish red tone of his skin and the aura

since my mana was currently sealed, it certainly felt like I

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

other demon spoke up. Unlike the bulky demon, he had a rather lanky