Warning: This chapter is quite depressing.

My name is Dan...

I abandoned my last name, it doesn't matter what it was.

My parents...fuck my biological parents.

They divorced when I was only four.

And it wasn't a peaceful divorce.

It was full of yells and cursing.

I still remember hiding under my bed sheets just so I wouldn't hear it.

But I couldn't hide from the reality.

My dad moved out and I stayed with my mother.

But even after that, the hell didn't end.

She kept taking out her leftover anger on me.

I couldn't even talk back to her otherwise she would beat me.

My school life wasn't anything great either.

I was always that one quiet guy in the corner, who got bullied all the time.

But I couldn't do anything, I just had to endure.

Endure my classmates.

Endure the pointless school subjects.

Endure my mother's anger.

I was powerless to try anything else.

But then one day...

Only about two weeks before my ninth birthday...

My mother died.

I still remember the day when I came back home only to find some police officers inside it.

I was told she died in a car accident.

But I didn't feel sad...

How could I?

She was just adding to my torture every day.

However, I didn't feel happiness either.

There was nothing to be happy about.

Because I was to be given to my dad to care for me.

I remember he used to be very violent with my mother when they were about to divorce.

Somewhere in my heart, I was hoping he changed.

...

But it got worse.

Not only he would beat me for every mistake I did.

But he would also come home drunk almost every day.

Of course, just like when I was with my mother, my birthday was ignored.

Moreover, he even got angry when I mentioned it to him.

From that moment, I would never speak up even if I thought I was right.

I was terrified I would get punished for speaking too loud.

And then one day...

When I was coming back from school.

I found him lying on the sofa.

First, I thought he was sleeping.

But something was off.

He wasn't snoring like usual.

No...

More precisely...

He wasn't breathing at all.

He was dead.

Tears started flowing from my eyes.

But I wasn't sad.

I was...happy...

And at the same time, I felt disgusted at myself for being happy.

At this time, I still didn't hate my parents.

I didn't know I had the option to do so.

I was then given to some foster family.

My foster mother and father were completely different.

They didn't yell, they didn't curse.

They smiled and hugged each other when something nice happened.

When a problem arose, they tried their best to solve it without any violence.

Even their daughter was completely different from me.

She was happy going to school.

She would hug her parents every day.

I felt jealous...

That was when I started realizing how much I hated my original parents.

How come they were never nice?

How come they just beat me when they didn't like something?

I was jealous and depressed.

But my new parents kept acting as if I was their real son.

At first, I felt like they are just plotting something.

I refused to accept them.

But over time, I warmed up to them.

I accepted this new family.

This new chance for life.

I gained hobbies.

I made friends.

Even the new school I started attending seemed like a better place.

For the first time in my life, I felt genuinely happy.

There was nothing else I could wish for.

...

And then they all died.

It was a car accident.

We were all going on a vacation to a different country.

Of course, we were in a car driven by dad.

But then...

I don't remember what happened.

All I remember next, was waking up in a hospital.

I didn't know what was going on.

They told me I was in a comma for weeks.

And they also told me, that I was the only one to survive that accident.

I couldn't bear it.

Why?

Why me?

Why was I the one to survive?

Is god torturing me?

...no.

God doesn't exist.

I refuse to accept there is a god who would permit all of this to happen to me.

When I was released from the hospital, I went back to where I used to live with my foster family.

It was completely empty.

The silence was suffocating.

I couldn't bear it.

I would wander the streets everyday instead of going to the school for an entire week.

I didn't know what to do.

School?

Who cares about that.

Friends?

They were all pretending anyway.

Nothing mattered to me anymore.

Whether I live or die.

Who cares about that.

As I was wondering around outside, I arrived at the bridge I used to use every day to get to school.

I stopped in the middle of it and leaned on the railings while looking down at the cars driving down.

Jump.

That was my only thought at that time.

Maybe I will die and reincarnate into another world like in manga.

That would be nice...

Or maybe I will go to hell for committing suicide.

...

I really don't know what to do.

That was when I heard a voice from somewhere.

"Would you like to become a hero in a different world?"

"Heh...with pleasure!"

"If that could happen, that would be great..."

I unconsciously answered and then turned around to find out the one who asked me.

...

But there wasn't anyone.

I was all alone on that bridge.

Didn't I just hear someone?

"Then, excuse us."

I heard the voice again.

And as I was about to look for the source, I was suddenly lifted in the air.

As if getting sucked into myself, both the sky and the ground started getting further away from me.

There was the feeling of falling and yet I couldn't tell which way.

I was so confused, I started screaming and waving my arms and legs around.

But it didn't do anything at all.

After an immeasurable amount of time, I finally land somewhere.

I get up and try to look around.

But my eyes stop on a girl...with animal ears.

She looks just like those cute girls from manga.

Small build, red eyes, short black hair.

And those ears are those of...a cat?

No, those are wolf ears.

"Success!"

I suddenly hear a voice from behind me.

When I look properly look around me, there are other people.

Wait a second...

This sensation...

"W..."

"Wait..."

"Wha-?"

This doesn't feel like a dream...

"Where...?"

Some woman in white robes walks up to me from behind and smiles.

"Thank you for hearing our call for help."

"My name is Sophia Mezalodis, may I hear yours?"

...

Her getup kind of reminds me of some magician from one manga I read.

Could...could this be...?

I slowly get up while still keeping my eyes on her.

"...D...Dan...?"

She then bows to me and smiles again.

"Nice to meet you sir Dan."

"I'm sure you are confused."

"For now, follow me and everything will be explained to you."

"...o...kay...?"

I'm confused all right...

But I have a feeling I know what this is supposed to be...

Suddenly appearing in some dark basement surrounded by robed people...

Summoned to another world?

...

I must be dreaming.

But this really doesn't feel like a dream.

Everything looks legitimate.

Pinching in a dream usually doesn't work but I will try anyway.

...

Ouch...

I don't think this is a dream.

But everything is so surreal...

There is even a wolf girl right next to me...

Are those ears real...?

...

I must look really stupid trying to look whether those ears are real or not.

What is her name anyway?

Did she say it?

I must have missed it.

"U-um..."

"I...didn't hear your...n-name...?"

"I'm Reiza."

"Ah...hi Reiza, my name is Dan..."

Ugh, my communication skills are as bad as ever.

She must think I'm an idiot.

We arrive at a giant door guarded by two armored men.

They open the gate for us and we enter.

Inside, there is an elderly man wearing a crown and a majestic cape.

Right next to him is another old man with long gray beard dressed in orange robes.

And there is also a young girl dressed in a beautiful blue and white dress standing there.

"Welcome great hero!"

"I give you my thanks for answering our call."

"I'm the king of the Armundis kingdom."

"My name is Venedict Armundis and this here is my daughter, Amelia Armundis."

He-..

Hero...?

King?

What?

This man who is supposedly a king just called me a hero...

Me?

A hero?

How?

Why?

What did I do to become a hero?

"Your highness, this boy's name is Dan, the hero we summoned."

"And he seemed to be very motivated."

"When I asked him whether he would like to be a hero in a different world, he answered 'With pleasure!'."

"W-..."

"That was...?"

...

So it was for real, huh?

I never thought something like that would actually happen to me.

Sure, I wished for it.

But it's just...

...

It's the same as when you don't like someone and want them to die.

But when they actually die, you realize you didn't actually want them to die.

It's that kind of feeling...?

So I don't want to be here?

Ugh...

I don't know...

Why am I even a hero?

Just because I was the one summoned?

What does it even mean to be a hero?

Do I have to defeat the demon lord or something?

...that sounds impossible for me.

Is it really not just a very vivid dream?

"This...isn't a dream, is it?"

"No, this is reality."

Instant reply.

Sigh...

"You call me a hero..."

"So...umm...I suppose you want me to defeat a demon lord?"

"Eh? How did you know?"

...

So it's true...

"I never thought this cliche development would happen to me..."

"What am I?"

"A protagonist of some manga?"

"Ha..haha..."

...

I think I accidentally said that out loud.

"Umm...did you perhaps want to stay in your previous world?"

"I'm sorry, I must have made some mistake..."

The white robed woman who introduced herself as Sophia Mezalodis suddenly says a sentence which pierces me.

"Wait..."

"Nonono...no..."

"I just..."

"...I didn't expect this..."

"...s-so...umm...give me some...time...?"

Please don't send me back.

Even if this was unexpected, I don't want to go back there.

"Oh, most certainly."

"Amelia, please lead the hero to his room."

"Yes father."

The girl in a dress, who is apparently the princess, lead me out of the big room.

"Are you okay sir hero?"

"Y-yes...I just umm..."

"I need to collect my thoughts..."

"So...could I be left alone...for a bit?"

"Yes, of course."

"I know it must be hard for you to take in all of this at once."

"Y-yeah..."

She leads me to some room, which looks extremely high class.

Everything inside of it looks expensive.

There are also three maids dusting the furniture around the room.

...

This is my room?

You are joking, right?

"Then, one of the maids will bring you something to eat later."

"Other than that, I will tell everyone to leave you alone."

"Is that alright?"

"S-sure..."

"Well then, see you."

The princess smiles and leaves.

The three maids follow behind her.

I'm left alone in this expensive looking room.

Is this really alright?

I close the door and walk around.

I'm really careful to not touch anything in case I accidentally knock it down and break it.

When I arrive near the bed, I slowly bring my hand to the sheets to touch it.

The sensation is so soft and comfortable...

...

I lie down on the bed spreading my arms and legs.

Seriously...

Is this like a reward from god?

For living through that hell?

How am I supposed to interpret this?

As I lie on the bed lost in my thoughts, someone knocks on the door.

I promptly get up and go open the door.

After I open it, I spot a maid with a trolley.

There is plate covered with a metal cover on top of it as well as utensils.

"Excuse me, I brought you your dinner."

"T-thanks..."

The maid enters the room and elegantly places the plate and utensils on a table.

She then uncovers the dish revealing something akin to some artistic masterpiece.

There were finely cut slices of meat lined up right by some reddish brown sauce.

With three egg-shaped dumplings to the side, the dish was decorated with some vegetables.

"When you are done, feel free to leave the dishes here."

"The bathroom is third door on the right when you leave this room and go left."

"R-right...thanks."

The maid bowed to me and left through the door before closing it behind her.

I was left there staring at the dish in daze.

This is my food...?

Isn't this for some kind of king?

...

I guess I just met the king...

So I must be in some royal castle or something, huh...

I seat myself and stab into one of the pieces of meat with my fork.

After taking a bite of it and swallowing it, tears appear in my eyes.

...

I get it...

This is a god giving me another chance at life.

Since my life up till now has been a disaster, I have to try harder than ever to make sure I live to my fullest now.

Last time I was given a chance with my new family, I was too hesitant.

Maybe if I wasn't, it wouldn't have ended like this...

That's why I have to do my best now.

After finishing up the delicious meal, I went to wash my hands at the bathroom.

Curiously, I didn't meet anyone neither in the hallway nor in huge the bathroom.

I thought this was the royal castle...

Why isn't anyone around?

Well, that's a good thing I guess...

When I returned to my room, I locked it from the inside and then laid myself on top of the bed.

I have to do my best.

The old Dan is dead.

From tomorrow...I'm the new Dan.

No more being timid and scared.

I have to do this seriously!