Pain. Pain, PAIN, PAIN.

An indescribable, all consuming pain throughout his entire body. A pain that was simultaneously burning hot and freezing cold. But that wasn't all.

He couldn't breathe. Trapped in an endless sea of green, he was forced to endure the sensation of drowning alive, of being burned down to the bone, of being reduced to nothing more than bloody sludge.

To escape it, he tried moving. But in order to move, he needed a working body to command. Something he had lost the moment he was enveloped.

Trapped. Doomed. Fated to death by recklessness, a single moment of carelessness.

Unable to even take a last breath, unable to even learn of how he would die...

His eyes opened.

A familiar setting. Gray was slumped in front of his laptop.

*BZZZZT*

His phone was vibrating.

Gray frowned and picked it up. "It's three AM. Just who's- huh?"

He had thought that it was someone calling, but it turned out to be his morning alarm. 6:30 AM. Time had passed in a blur without him realizing it.

Gray rubbed his eyes and then glanced at his laptop. On the screen, various computer programming tools were open-

Wait... didn't I do this already?

An odd sense of incongruity. Déjà vu... but stronger than that. Like he was forgetting something important.

"...I'm probably just imagining things."

6:50 AM.

Gray was walking to class. Thankfully, he wasn't sleepy enough to forget to change his clothes. At the moment, he was dressed in a simple black t-shirt and jeans.

A beautiful day outside. A clear blue sky, a brilliant rising sun... not to mention that his project had miraculously been completed while he was half-awake. All-in-all, a wonderful start to a promising day.

"...So why does this seem wrong?" Gray muttered.

At the moment, Gray was walking along a sidewalk parallel to a small road. A setting he was all too familiar with. Something he had done countless times before, even if he preferred driving. Still... "Haven't I done this already?"

An unshakeable instinct. Everything inside him was telling him that this was wrong. That there was something he was forgetting. That if he didn't remember, nothing else would matter ever again.

-But, considering that instinct was nothing new, he ignored it and continued on his way to class.

A blaring train siren. An empty roadside. Crossing the street towards the path leading to campus.

The actions were performed automatically, objectively. He had done it before, and he would do it again... that sort of sensation. Though he felt unsettled, it was nothing more than the usual.

Then his phone rang.

Answer it.

He pulled it out from his pocket.

Don't hang up.

Seeing an unknown caller, he moved his finger to dismiss the call... but on a whim decided to answer instead.

"...Hello?"

For a moment, nobody answered. All Gray heard on the other line was gurgling water and... a garbled scream?

A chill ran down his spine and he lowered his phone to hang up. But before then, a voice called out.

"If you really wanted to die, it would have been better to do it back then, you know? Doing it now... is too late."

Gray froze. With shaky hands, he raised the phone back up to his ear. "Who are you?"

The voice laughed, a hollow sound. "...Do I really need to tell you? Wake up."

The familiar setting vanished in an instant, shattering like the illusion it was. Gray realized that he was still trapped in that endless green expanse. A sea of acid eating away at his body.

A near death experience. It was what he had just gone through. On the verge of death, his body and mind chose to erase his senses and recreate a peaceful setting. A way to fool himself out of despair and inevitable demise.

But could he allow that to just happen? To die without a trace, without knowing why?

LIVE.

A desperate feeling from somewhere primal. Gray lashed out with his limbs.

-Had it been an illusion?

His limbs that had been dissolved down to the bone were fine. Not only that, but his chest, which should have been painfully constricted due to lack of oxygen, was fine as well.

A confusing thought, but one he didn't bother trying to figure out. Even if he was fine at that moment, he wouldn't stay that way if he remained trapped in that acidic sea of green.

He flailed, kicking and swinging his arms in an attempt to escape.

It was futile. No matter how hard he tried, it was like he was trapped in air, his limbs meeting no resistance at all.

Realizing so, Gray stopped moving and instead quickly considered his situation. Clarity granted on the verge of death caused his thoughts to fire in overdrive.

What attacked me? And where am I?

Clues linking together, subtle hints revealing the whole.

Looking around, Gray saw it. A pair of pitch black eyes and a wide black smile. Maliciously endearing.

He was trapped in a giant slime. Most likely born because from the individual slimes teaming up due to the realization that they could not defeat him.

Useless. How do I escape?

It didn't matter how he got there and what he faced. Gray needed to know how to get out and how to kill it.

His body was starting to itch. Signs of the acid finally starting to come into effect.

Gray scanned his surroundings, turning around to look for a weakness. He was on the inside of the slime. It couldn't just be that slimes could only be killed by attacking them over and over. There had to be some core, some nucleus that allowed them to function.

A vain hope, but the only thing that Gray could hope for. If that wasn't the case, and the slime was actually held together by magic...

Gray cut that thought off and focused. Look. There has to be a core. So find it. Focus.

His blue eyes scanned his surroundings. But it was difficult to make anything out. The fact that he was enveloped in some liquid made everything a green blur. The only things that he could see were the giant slime's pitch black eyes and mouth, and another dark object-

There it is.

A black lump, the size of a piece of coal. Directly above him. It must be what served as the giant slime's core.

Gray jumped, trying to swim towards it. But his efforts were in vain. Somehow, even though he was in what should be liquid, he wasn't able to get any resistance to swim and move about.

But if he couldn't, then he would die.

The itch on his skin was starting to become unbearable. Not only that, but his eyes were also starting to sting. If Gray didn't find a way to reach it soon, then...

FOCUS.

A forceful cut off to his thoughts.

Focus. He had to focus. If Gray couldn't reach the core with his hands, then something else would just have to do it for him. His bag was floating nearby... but it was too far away for him to reach. Just like the core. The only thing he had on him to use was his phone.

Gray pulled it out without hesitation. After being submerged in acid, it was nothing but dead weight. A few tests showed that it moved through the fluid like there was nothing there. Confirming that fact, Gray faced the black core and threw his phone.

The moment that Gray tossed his phone, he realized that it was launched in an arc that would cause it to fly over the core.

A cold chill ran through Gray's heart. His gamble had failed.

But lady luck smiled upon him. At that time, the slime decided to move, lurching up in a bound. The core moved with its action, and in that way lined up perfectly with the phone's trajectory.

There was no dramatic change. The phone collided with the core and kept going, pushing both itself and the core out of the green expanse.

All of a sudden, it was like a downpour. The green fluid keeping Gray suspended in midair gave out. In but a few seconds, he was standing back on the grass while green fluid splashed down all around him. By the fact that it wasn't acidic, he could tell that the slime was dead.

A strange calm. Either due to the near death experience or something else, Gray had nothing in his mind but tranquility.

He saw that his phone was lying on the ground in front of him next to that black core. Gray walked over, picking up his bag along the way, and looked down.

The core was cracked... but his phone was fine. Picking both up, he saw that his phone was undamaged. It was even dry, as if the slime's fluids hadn't touched it. Odd... but considering that his clothes and body were fine as well, Gray wrote it off as another strange occurrence in this world.

As for the core, Gray could only see it as an ordinary black rock. A cool lump about the size of his palm. The type that you could find walking by the riverside.

Except that those didn't start dissolving the longer you hold them.

Before Gray could react, the black rock was gone, leaving only a cool sensation on his hand as a sign that it was once there.

Gray frowned, but couldn't dwell on the fact too long.

"I have returned, Gray. I trust there has not been much trouble in my absence?"

Eliza's voice.

Gray turned to see the white-haired beauty walking towards him. Behind her was a makeshift sled, filled to the brim with rabbits and boars.

"..."

He wanted to be angry. He wanted to curse her for leaving him alone when he was so weak. He wanted to scold her for making him think she had left him to die.

But the only thing in his mind was... a blank. A sort of calm... acceptance if anything. The reason for that was... It's meaningless to get mad at her.

Right. What happened had happened. All that mattered was the moment and the future.

"...Gray?" She must have seen his expression. Eliza's smile faltered and she froze, staring into his eyes. "You... did anything happen?"

Gray laughed. "No, nothing happened. I'm just hungry. You kept me waiting for a long time, you know?"

"...Yes. I apologize for that. I will immediately begin preparing our food."

Was it because she realized her fault, or something else? Either way, Eliza quickly went to work on preparing the food.

In the meanwhile, Gray sat down nearby, watching her act.

Eliza was extremely gifted with magic. Even as a complete novice to the concept, Gray could tell that fact.

She molded the ground with ease to form a pit to roast the boars. At the same time, she made earthen cookware, summoned water, conjured fire... completely replacing the need for camping supplies.

It was a calm silence, the only sounds caused by Eliza making preparations.

"...You're really good at that, aren't you, Eliza?"

While he knew that it was magic and that she was powerful because of her display earlier, he was fascinated at how exceptional her control was.

To put it into perspective, the pots she made were embroidered with floral patterns, and the ice knives she summoned to butcher the meat were adorned with snowflake designs.

"It must take a lot of effort to make those designs," Gray said.

"Ah." Eliza paused for a moment. "It is... a hobby of mine. Pay it no mind."

"A hobby huh? I suppose everyone has their own quirk."

It was quiet again. Gray had exhausted his thoughts and Eliza seemed intent on cooking.

But after a while, Eliza spoke up. "Gray. Do you have any plans on what to do next?"

"Plans?"

Eliza nodded. "Yes. Did you intend to explore more of the ruins in this area?"

Gray laughed. "Me? Explore the ruins here?"

He couldn't help it. Someone like him who almost died to slimes exploring ancient ruins that would no doubt have monsters far stronger? Laughable.

"No. I think I'll just try to head home."

"...I see."

Quiet again. Eliza placed some meat in a pot of boiling water and tended to a roast.

"...If you do not mind me asking, where is 'home'?"

Gray didn't respond. He thought about Eliza's question.

He couldn't say where he was from. He didn't know how far it was either. His home planet, his home dimension. ...Just how did I get myself into this situation anyway?

In most cases, to get home would require him killing the demon lord or something like that. But that option was immediately out of the game.

"Hey Eliza. You wouldn't happen to know if there's any magic about traveling to different dimension or time and space, do you?"

"Hm? ...Ah. Is that what you are studying?"

Gray nodded. "You could say that. It's one of the reasons why I'm out here."

If not for suddenly being transported to a different world, he would still be at home, working on his schoolwork... but Gray left that part unsaid.

Eliza placed a finger on her lips and tilted her head. "...I do not know much about the theory, but yes, there is magic of that nature. Unfortunately, using it requires vast amounts of magical prowess as well as a body strong enough to endure it. To be able to use it... I believe you would need to be on the level of at least an entry Braveheart both in your magical prowess and physique."

"Braveheart?"

"Ah..." Eliza frowned and said, "...Think of it on the level of being able to erase a small country with a spell and shattering a mountain with a punch."

Gray was silent.

Eliza looked at Gray and said, "For you... well, your physique and magical prowess have improved? From a Failure, you seemed to have at least reached the Entrant level... still, it would be at least a decade before you would be capable of wielding that magic. And that is under the ideal conditions with constant study and practice."

A decade...

Gray had expected that type of answer... and to be honest, it was better than he anticipated. Ten years was better than never. But even so, he couldn't just wait around that long. When he returned at that point, over a third of his life would have been over. His plans, goals, past actions... they would have all been for nothing.

Silence. Faced with the sudden news, Gray had nothing to say.

Eliza turned her attention back to cooking. The food had finished being prepared by the end of their talk, and so she began serving it. Pouring a bit of some stew into a bowl, Eliza handed it to Gray, along with a spoon.

He took the bowl with a slight nod. He ate the food with mechanical actions, his mind still on his future actions.

A decade. Ten years of nothing but studying magic. A time where most people would have started a family by then and the rest of their lives. But for him, it would be a time of becoming a magician... one where even after he returned home, what would be the point?

If he returned home, he would be at the level Eliza described. Being able to blow up a mountain with a punch, erasing a country with a spell... wouldn't the entire world see him as an enemy at that point? Nothing would be able to stop him, and no one could understand him. Even if he hid his powers... could he really live out his life like that?

But staying in this world... something like that didn't appeal to him. For anyone else, maybe they would be fine. Being transported to a fantasy world, playing out the role of an adventurer or hero... they would have enjoyed that. A carefree life with nothing to worry about, indulging in their greatest delusions.

But he wasn't like that. Obligations. Commitments. Dreams left unfinished, sacrifices that would become worthless... he had come too far to simply give all that up.

But then, what could he do?

"...Is the food not to your liking, Gray?"

Eliza's voice cut through his thoughts.

Gray looked up to see her crimson eyes staring into his own. A hint of worry and doubt? He shook his head and said, "It's not that. The food is good."

And it was. A simple stew, but one that brought out the flavor of the meat to its fullest extent.

"Then... what is troubling you? And is there anything I may help with?"

Gray frowned. "...It's nothing. I'm just... thinking about what to do now. Ten years... is too long."

"I see. You urgently require learning Spatial magic?"

A decision point. Even if he learned it, he would no longer be the same. Returning home to that world with his new powers... it wouldn't be exaggerating to say that he could be considered a 'god' if he did.

...Of course, that was assuming that he was the only one with superpowers when he returned. ...There's a thought.

The possibility that others could have been sent here and returned. It had slipped his mind, but that could be the case. Records of others who had been summoned here and returned. The reason why he of all people was called to this world.

That's right. His gloomy attitude started to fade. So what if he was different? He wanted to become great, didn't he? To pave the way with his own efforts. To achieve 'that' dream, he even gave up his friendships. This would be no different.

Gray nodded. "Yes. Ten years is too long for me. A year at most."

That was the maximum amount of time he could allot. And it was under the assumption that the time difference was one to one.

"A year... to reach the level of a Braveheart in both physique and magical prowess?" Eliza's face looked troubled. She pursed her lips and tilted her head.

"...It's impossible, huh?"

Eliza shook her head. "No, not impossible, but... must you learn it so quickly? Do you... really need to return home so soon?"

Gray nodded. "I have obligations. Commitments I can't give up."

"...Are you certain? There is a way, but..." Eliza bit her lip. "Would it not be better for you to settle down somewhere instead? I am not sure what you are studying, but I believe you could do so with more ease in a peaceful village, could you not?"

"No." Gray shook his head. "If there's a way to learn it quicker... you don't understand. I have to... I MUST return."

Before all his sacrifices become meaningless. Before that dream becomes nothing more than a wish, and his commitments break to become lies.

"...Is there no way to persuade you otherwise? That path... it will be painful. For someone like you who cannot even protect yourself... death is more likely than success. While you have improved somehow, reaching the level of a Braveheart, those who are relied upon by countries is-"

"I don't care."

Eliza looked into Gray's eyes and sighed. "...Very well. Then, we will be on the move once you are finished."

Gray nodded.