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 had indeed been slapping

Smack—! Smack—!

"S…stop!" "Stop!"

"You're awake!"

relieved voice as

"…Yeah."

in a relieved voice, but

god the slapping

They really hurt.

"Are you okay?"

"…Yeah."

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

"Ugk."

his lips as his mind

"Stay down."

pressed down on his chest as

you enough water to hydrate you, but your conditions are still

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

'I guess he cares…'

Sometimes, Smallsnake really doubted that Ren cared for him, but seeing how worried he was for him,

of an ass to

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

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

take a genius to understand that his current condition

barely being able to move his body, to feel little

Smallsnake could tell.

on the

'This sucks.'

his mind as his eyelids grew

want to die

that he wanted to do before dying. Something

couldn't die just

Yet…

what was happening, but

He could also faintly hear something, but his mind was too out of it to properly process what

slowly overtook his

him, he was able to make out the

"Have..a..rest."

on his lips before his

'Okay.'

***

"This is bad."

stared at Smallsnake, who was passed out

quite frankly terrible. If something wasn't done soon, I couldn't guarantee his

do something about

said, they know each

I tell

throughout the room as my head snapped back and

"Who goes there?"

glimpse behind them. It was there that I caught sight of the

staring at me with their eyes open,

of the

so you know

taking a step forward, I tried to shield Smallsnake

current state was critical, and if anything happened at the moment, I feared that he would

'Shit.'

made my

what, I can't let

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

Amanda, Kevin, and

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

you humans

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 ranked

that I would take note of, but since my mana was currently sealed, it certainly felt like I was staring at a

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

had a rather lanky build and his horns were sharp rather than curly like the