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—!

after the dream cleared up a bit, he realized he

Smack—! Smack—!

"S…stop!" "Stop!"

"You're awake!"

heard Ren's relieved voice as the slapping

"…Yeah."

similarly replied in a relieved voice, but for a

the slapping

They really hurt.

"Are you okay?"

"…Yeah."

moment Smallsnake tried to move his body up, he realized he

"Ugk."

escaped from his lips as his mind

"Stay down."

pressed down on his chest as Ren shook

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

see clearly, at the moment, he could see Ren's face

'I guess he cares…'

somewhat happy to see this. Sometimes, Smallsnake really doubted that Ren cared for him,

too much of an ass

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

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

to understand that his current condition

being able to move his body, to feel little to

Smallsnake could tell.

the verge of

'This sucks.'

mind

want to die

to do before dying. Something that

couldn't die just

Yet…

became heavier. He didn't know what was happening, but the incoming

figure. He could also faintly hear something, but his mind was too out of it to

the end, darkness slowly overtook his vision and his

out the

"Have..a..rest."

curl spread on his lips before his

'Okay.'

***

"This is bad."

as I stared at Smallsnake,

condition was quite frankly terrible. If something

need to do something

just like you said, they know each

did I

throughout the room as my head snapped back and I

"Who goes there?"

asked while taking a glimpse behind them. It was there that

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

answering my question, one of the demons

you know demonic

step forward, I tried

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

'Shit.'

the thought made my heart palpitate

what, I can't let

wasn't just because his safety was my responsibility, but because he was

Kevin,

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

how you

the two demons asked. He had a rather bulky figure and two large horns on his head that circled inwardly. The darkish red tone

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

way to teleport to other planets? If so, that would truly

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