The Author's POV

Sunlight filtered through the canopy of trees, gently bathing my body and enveloping it with a thin layer of warmth.

The birds chirped, and a gentle breeze lingered in the air.

It felt nice outside, but as I sat down on a wooden bench in a familiar park, everything around me seemed so intrusive.

"I want it, mom!"

"No, that's enough sweets for today."

"Umhhhh!"

My gaze never left the pair of mother and daughter in the distance. They were quite close to me. About a hundred meters.

…Yet, they never felt so distant before.

"Nola, you better behave. I already told you that you can't have any more candy for today."

"Why!?"

"Because I said so."

I couldn't help but crack a smile as I watched the two of them argue from a distance. It was a sight that had been seen plenty of times before. One to which I have been accustomed for a considerable amount of time.

"Is there something that you need, young man?"

Apparently noticing my gaze, the woman turned her head to look at me.

She looked the same, maybe a bit older than in my memories.

I smiled at the two.

"No, don't mind me. You guys just remind me of my family."

"Oh."

The woman flashed me a smile before patting Nola on the head.

"Is your sister as naughty as her?"

Lowering my head to look at Nola, I laughed.

"…You can say so. Perhaps even naughtier."

"You must have it tough then."

The woman spoke with sympathy before taking Nola's hand. She was currently glaring daggers at me, and I couldn't help but laugh once more.

"It's getting late. We have to go. It was nice knowing you."

"It was nice knowing you too."

I murmured while staring at their departing backs.

I didn't have to wait for very long before I lost sight of the two of them, and when that happened, I leaned back against the bench that I was sitting on.

"This is fucked."

The whole situation was fucked.

"Why did you do this, Kevin?"

I had an idea at first, but it only became clear to me after a while.

the

was a world where Kevin and I never

more accurate to say that this is a world where the Demon King never

mana existed, gates and dungeons didn't. The Monolith also didn't exist, and no one had

and the other races

was also very different from what I remembered, with Ashton city still existing but the four great cities having

That wasn't all.

of the people here was drastically lower than in the world that

was none other than Octavius who held such power, but despite my best efforts, I was unable to find any humor in this

This world…

made no

I take

"Huh, yeah, sure."

side a little and

my arm, I took a

sending me to this world? There must be a reason… and how do

this without a reason.

perhaps wondering why you've

tensed. The voice… It was somewhat familiar. I just couldn't quite

my right. Immediately, my breath stopped, and my mouth opened and closed several

a face that I'd

to a guy whom I used to regard as my best friend. The same one that I had

"M,matthew?"

***

Angel Wing Guild.

at the screen in front of him. Two other

incredibly tense

gazed in the direction of

over and over again. It showed a young person with short black hair,

the twelfth time that Edward watched, and yet, he couldn't understand how that youth managed

it some sort of

was that

impossible to get, and those that did have it were the most authoritative individuals in the

had to sacrifice a hefty sum

some

of the men behind Edward uttered. He had long gray hair and a thick

then I'm sure we would've known about it. There's no way our

"I agree."

had a fairly large stomach, dark hair that was beginning to thin out toward the back of his head,

the detection of the captain. Since he boldly entered the place, I'm sure he must've had some sort

"Yeah."

"Hmm."

frowned when he

practically impossible for someone that young

Guild in the world, they would undoubtedly be the first to learn of any newly discovered skills in the world, so

someone that has been

made him frown, and

you guys have

"No."

man shook

the database, but I got nothing. No family

"Hmm."

frown deepened further at

possibility was starting to seem

absolutely nothing on

"Actually, there is something."

plump man spoke, taking out a tablet and passing it

and the base system, we were able to find a video

"Oh?"