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Thursday, XX/XX/XXXX | 17:43 |

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Ivan followed the knight outside of the room. Surprisingly they weren't in some kind of underground area, given how dark the summoning room was when they were arrived. Instead, Ivan saw an unending hall full of doors and expensive things, just like in those pictures of European palace on internet.

It poked his curiosity that the knight didn't lead him outside, but instead he led him into an empty room with a door-shaped portal. Its swirling surface bewitched anyone should they stare too long at it.

So this is where they'll dispose of me, huh? That thing doesn't look like it will transport me to the city. She's really good with lip services...

"Get in," the knight ordered curtly.

"Geez, I know. That door-like thing is in the center of the room. Anyone dumb enough will understand what to do with it."

"Then stop lollygagging."

Ivan rolled his eyes and approached the portal, but stopped before he was too close. He turned to Derek, "Hey, where'd this go to?"

"You have no right to ask such thing."

Rights? Yeah, sure.

Before it was about his low attributes and being a heretic, now they had the gall to talk about rights? Damn this stupid kingdom.

"Does that mean you don't know, either?"

His face darkened at that, "You are noisy for someone who is at the death's door. Get in!"

Yep, he definitely doesn't know. This thing will transport me to a random place, then.

"Well, that was the reason why I asked. I'm just using my last will to pry for a little tiny weeny itty bitty information. Am I wrong? No?"

He went a little bit too far this time. Derek had pointed his sword at him, face contorted in anger. "Get in before I use your head as a paperweight!"

"Alright, alright! I get it. There's no need for violence."

Ivan spare the knight a disgusted glance, wishing he was a lot stronger so that he could be the one to use his head as a paperweight instead.

Before he stepped inside the portal, the knight called him.

"Oi!"

Ivan stopped to turn, but was taken aback to see the knight so close to him. He sneered evilly as he muttered.

"You know what? The time in your world isn't stopping while you're here."

What the f--

With that, he kicked Ivan into the portal.

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Thursday, XX/XX/XXXX | ??:?? |

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When he opened his eyes, he was lying on his back. Quickly he sat and looked around. He was greeted by a dense, dark forest. It was so dense that he could not even see the sky and couldn't even tell the time. The surrounding must've been pitch black if it wasn't because of luminescent fungi spread about, providing excellent source of light.

He tried to look past the illuminated area in the distance, but he could not see anything because of the fog. It was oddly red-colored and spooky...

In addition to the fog and dense foliage, there was this feeling of... uneasiness creeping up on him, causing him to be cautious and anxious all at times.

And all of a sudden he remembered the reason why he ended up here.

THOSE FUCKERS ARE SO DEAD!!!

Ivan gritted his teeth in anger. How dare they lie to him! The time in his real world wasn't suspended at all while he was here!! That bitch priestess and her lackeys!!

Damn it!!

Ivan collapsed butt first, realizing that he could no longer return. His chest felt heavy and hurt, and his eyes became blurry as he shed tears on his first day of arrival in the other world.

He wanted to go home...

He was no hero. He was just your usual sophomore student without any astounding skills. He was smart, but not a genius. He was athletic, but neither a gym addict nor a muscle fanatic.

But why him?

Why did he end up with a status so broken he was considered useless? Why was he the only one?

He wanted to go home...

He wanted to see his mother, to see her smile, to taste her delicious cooking, and to see her walking without pain... he just wanted to care for her after all the years she spent raising him alone without a father figure...

But no, that dream was now crushed. Crushed thanks to several people...

Ivan prostrated on the ground, head on the grass and his hands forming a ball on each side--he cried his heart out, both in misery and anger.

As if adding salt to the wound, his phone fell from the pocket uniform. It was turned on when the button made contact with some pebble and one What's Up message was on the display.

He wiped the salty tears from his eyes and unlocked the phone. A shaky finger tapped the notification to open a message from none other than his mom, sent at 14.25...

Son, how's your school? Mom just made you your favorite fried chicken with crispy broccoli. Doctor said I'm getting healthy so you don't have to worry, okay? Come home safely.

Ivan dropped his phone, mouth opened slightly. She made him his favorite dish? Then she stood in the kitchen? No... her knees weren't fine! She fell on the bathroom! There was no way she could be fine standing!! No...

No...

Mom...

Despite the excruciating pain in her knees, she held it in and made him his favorite dish. For her only son, the son whom she loved...

...and she didn't know the unfortunate event that befell him...

The emotions swirling in his chest were threatening to broke his rib cage. The more he thought about his fate and his mother, the more painful his chest was as if someone stabbed him with unseen dagger.

If he knew this would happen, then he wouldn't take that road...

If only he came home a bit late than usual, he wouldn't be in this kind of situation...

Once again as tears touched his sun-kissed cheeks, he collapsed on his side, clutching the phone close to his heart.

He wept miserably to sleep.