"Fuck…"

"I told them it wasn't gonna work like that, but they just insisted it had to be done this way. And since I'm just an intern, I have no choice but to do it. Like, what is this? I get that they've been doing this longer than I have, but I've been here for over a year now. Can't they at least consider my opinion? It's not like I'm saying this just to slack off—it genuinely won't work," I grumbled, slumping into my chair.

"Haaa… I get you," Martin sighed. "But what can we do? It's gonna be just like last time. You point out that it won't work, they ignore you, we do it anyway, and—surprise—it doesn't work. Then they ask us, 'Why isn't it working?' and when we show them why, they go, 'Oh, this really isn't good like this. Do you have a better idea since you worked on it?' Then you show them your idea, and voila, everything's suddenly fine and dandy."

I am Christopher, a 22-year-old university student majoring in mechanical engineering. I'm currently doing my internship at a power semiconductor module manufacturer, working in the R&D department. I work alongside Tom, the lead engineer, and Martin, a fellow student intern. Our main job is error analysis, though we also run tests on newly developed modules.

To put it simply, it's a dream workplace for me. I get my internship stamp, the pay is good, and the work is easy. Best of all, I have no real responsibility—Tom handles that. Not that I'm a freeloader or anything; I do my job well enough, but I don't go out of my way to overachieve. The higher-ups are satisfied with me, so what's the problem?

"Well, no helping it. Gotta do what you gotta do," I sighed. "At least I get paid for the hours worked. It's just frustrating when I know the outcome before even starting, and they still won't listen to my opinion."

"Hahaha, that's so like you," Martin chuckled. "One minute, you're fired up about being forced to do something pointless, and the next, you act like you don't even care."

"I already told you, I live by the code: the least amount of work for the most effect. I don't care how stupid their orders are as long as they don't come complaining to me later. When I tell them something won't work and they don't listen, it's fine—because when it inevitably fails, they'll remember I warned them. That makes things easier for me."

"I don't know if I should call you lazy, stupid, or smart."

"Anyway, I'm heading home," I said, packing up my things.

"Ahhh, so you're leaving all the work for future-you?"

"I won't complain if you do it for me," I joked.

"Hell no. You're on your own."

"Thought as much…" I muttered as I walked out of the lab.

It was raining.

Just my luck. Of all days, this had to be the first time in weeks I had to take the train because my car got a flat tire this morning. What now? I don't have an umbrella, but the station isn't far. I can just make a run for it.

'Yeah, let's do that,' I decided, sprinting through the rain.

'Okay, not too bad, I didn't get that wet.'

Checking my phone for train information, I noticed a notification for a newly released Shadow Slave chapter.

'Oh, lucky me! I can read it on the train.'

A few minutes later, I boarded, opened the new chapter, and… instant disappointment.

It was an author's note.

Just when I thought my luck was turning around.

Well, my old teammates should be playing a match right about now. Maybe I can watch that instead. I used to be an ice hockey player in a top-tier club, but when I started university, I gave it up. I figured I couldn't make a living from hockey, so I ultimately chose to go to school.

I opened the broadcast—only to see the first period had just ended.

'Seriously, what's with my luck today?'

Half an hour later, I arrived at my station. It was still raining. My phone buzzed.

An alarm reminder.

Shit. I had an assignment due.

'I almost forg—'

Before I could finish the thought, my foot slipped on the wet stairs.

I hit the ground hard. My head throbbed in pain, but it wasn't a major fall. Nothing serious… I think. Still, the headache was brutal as I continued my walk home.

'Ugh, just another hundred meters and I'm finally home.'

I reached a crosswalk.

That's when I noticed a truck speeding toward me. Way too fast.

On pure instinct, I leaped forward. The truck barreled through the intersection and smashed into several cars.

'Fhuuu… Truck-kun, you almost got me.'

Just as I had that thought, the sharp scent of gasoline filled the air.

A crashed car was on fire—barely five meters away.

I forced myself up, legs shaking, ready to run, but then…

BOOM.

A deafening explosion.

The last thing I heard was the roar of the blast before everything went dark.