The guy who stumbled out of the ring was a plan-looking man in his early twenties. He looked up once, observed the other presences in the room, and asked with a cheery voice, "Am I in heaven?"

He looked so hopeful that Arsen felt a little bad for answering honestly, "No, you’re not."

"Oh." His shoulder dropped, his earlier cheerfulness evaporated so quickly it was almost like it was never there. Arsen was a little concerned. She had guided lost souls for a thousand years, and this was the first time anyone reacted with anything other than confusion and fear. She glanced at her Master uneasily. Master was grinning.

Arsen was very concerned.

"O, Hero," Master began. She didn't kneel. She never had to, but Arsen was getting the impression that if it weren't for the unspoken rule from the higher-ups, she would have done so in a heartbeat. "I humbly welcome your great presence."

The man, Tobias-as his profile stated-raised an eyebrow. He looked around then pointed at himself, "Hero? Me?" He laughed. When Arsen and Master didn't laugh with him, his laughter died down. "Fuck me."

Arsen frowned. "The crude language is unbecoming for a hero."

"Why don't we sit down and talk?" Master clapped her hand, conjuring a tea table in front of the guest. Tobias crossed his arm, an unimpressed frown on his face. 

Master clapped again. This time, a set of fried potatoes and chicken nuggets appeared with two glasses of chocolate. Tobias uncrossed his arm. "If you want to talk, you should just say so. My name is Tobias, by the way. My loved ones call me Toby, though." He smiled easily and winked. 

Arsen squinted at him. The sudden change of personality was kind of dizzying.

"Nice to meet you, Tobias. My name is Archella," Master responded smoothly. 

Arsen followed her suit. "I am Arsen, Deity of The Lost Soul."

"Just call me Toby," Tobias said, already gorging on the fried potatoes like a starved pig. "It's nice. Do you guys buy this from WcDonald's?"

Master was supposed to talk about the Hero summoning and Demon King slaying from here, but that question somehow led to a completely unrelated discussion about their favorite music, stripping off her majestic image in the process. If the higher-ups saw this, they'd faint for sure.

After a long talk about Backstreet Girls and Two Directions, Toby revealed that he was into K-Pop. His profile never mentioned that. Arsen made a mental note to scold the recruiting department later.

"I listen to BehindTheScene's music too," Master said seriously. "But, I am more of a Whitepink person myself, if you know what I mean."

"I don't support any particular group," Tobias shrugged. "I just follow whatever's trending."

It would have been convincing if he didn't just gush about the girl band SNSB for the whole five minutes. In Arsen's personal opinion, Super Senior was the best, but who cares about that, honestly. She took advantage of the lull in the conversation to insert herself, "Master-"

"I know," Master cut in. Arsen couldn't see her face from the back, but she could tell Master was smirking. With just those two words, the atmosphere shifted. 

Tobias' fork paused mid-air. He put it down, sensing the mood. "I assume I am not here for free chicken nuggets?"

Arsen pitied him. Being a hero was as troublesome as it was glamorous. "No, you're not."

Master crossed her legs. She propped her chin with her elbow on the table, now facing Tobias appropriately for the first time since he arrived here. "I heard you died by saving a dog. That's a noble death."

"Thank you. I don't recommend it, though." He rubbed his shoulder. "Getting hit by a truck hurt like a bitch."

Arsen wanted to add there was no death that wasn't painful, but she doubted it would make him feel better.

"We give brave souls like yours a second chance to live their life to the fullest."

Tobias' eyebrows twitched. "What's the catch?"

"We ask them to fight for the greater good." Master was practically purring as she continued, "Of course, we also provide them with special skills and-"

"Sounds cool," Tobias cut in. "I refuse."

Arsen almost choked. "Why?! You don't even hear the end of the deal yet!"

"I don't care," He mirrored Master's stance lazily. "I appreciate the food, but just send me to Heaven or something."

"You seem awfully confident that you belong to Heaven."

"I saved the dog, didn't I?"

Master laughed. Arsen didn't feel like doing the same. This one was going to generate a lot of paperwork. She shifted in her seat timidly. "Is there any reason why you don't want to?"

"It's just life," Tobias said as if it should be obvious. "Been there, done that. It taught me one thing I already know: I am not fit to be a main character." He locked eyes with Arsen. "And the way you guys said it, you want me to be one."

"Main character," Master echoed. "Do you read books, Toby?"

The sudden change of topic caught Arsen off guard. She was glad she wasn't the only one. Tobias quickly recovered. "I did. After graduating college, I only read fanfictions, though. I read manhwa and manga too."

"What's your favorite genre?"

What does this have to do with anything? Arsen wondered.

Tobias seemed to consider the question carefully. "I am not picky. I'll read anything as long as it's interesting."

Arsen didn't know what was happening, but she didn't like where this was going. She approached the table. Tobias glanced at her once before his eyes slid back to Master. When she stopped beside her, Master was smirking, white teeth bared open.

"I like you, Toby," Master declared. "I am going to give you my blessing."

"I don't want it," Tobias said, clearly disturbed.

"Just accept it. Consider it payment for the food."

"I'll pay for the food. Just send me to Heaven already."

"How are you going to pay me? You don't have your wallet," Master pointed out.

Tobias dug his pocket. His hands came up empty. "I am not going to accept food from weird strangers next time."

"You're not supposed to accept food from strangers at all," Arsen chided, feeling increasingly worried. This guy was going to get poisoned in his sleep one day.

"How about this? You're not obligated to accept our quest."

Arsen stiffened. "Master-"

"But, you have to take my blessing," Master extended her arm, where she showed off the glowing insignia carved in her forearm. "It will give you luck, strength, and power beyond your imagination."

"Aren't you basically asking me the same thing?" He scoffed. Then, carefully, he inspected the insignia. "What's the catch?"

"That question again?" Master sounded amused. "You don't trust me?"

"Hell no," Tobias answered right away. "Equivalent exchange, an eye for an eye, and all those shits. Quick, spill to me what it is."

"This insignia will lead you to its Master," Master explained. "I want you to look for me."

Tobias glanced at Arsen. She did her best to keep her face neutral. He didn't seem convinced.

"I refu-"

Arsen couldn't hear the rest of the sentence because Tobias had disappeared from his seat. She silently wished him good luck. 

She was curious, though. "Master, why him?"

"Because I like him," Master answered matter-of-factly. Arsen swallowed. Very few people caught Master's eyes and those who did spell disaster for everyone involved.

Tobias was not their first guest, nor he would be the last, but it looked like Arsen had to keep an eye on this one.

"Do you think he can be a good hero?"

"He's not going to be a hero."

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Arsen figured as much. Brave he might be, he didn't particularly inspire heroism.

"But he's a good person, Arsen. He saved the dog, didn't he?" Master's smirk faded a little. "He can ignore a lot of things, but when it happens in front of his eyes, he can't turn his head away."

Oh, Arsen realized. She got it now why Master liked him. People like Tobias always burnt out too fast. 

People like Tobias always made a good story.

"Why don't you drink with me, Arsen?" Master clapped her hands. At the table, the empty plates were replaced by luxurious drinks. Arsen hesitated but ultimately decided to sit down. "Toby said he likes to read. He's going to be fine."

"Because his life is essentially fiction itself?"

Master tilted her head gracefully. "You can put it that way."

Arsen sighed.

----------------------------------------

When Toby opened his eyes to an unfamiliar dirty ceiling, he knew right away that it wasn't a dream. His body didn't hurt, but there was phantom pain all across his skin where the truck had body-slammed him. He had ignored it in front of the girls, and now it came back to him with a vengeance. Resolutely ignoring the pain, he got up and observed his surrounding.

The first thing he noticed was the piece of paper in the corner, pinned by a small rock. Toby went over to read it only to find it written in a language he didn't understand.

The second thing he noticed was his small-sized body. There wasn't any mirror in this sad excuse of a house, but he estimated that his current physical age was somewhere between four to five years old.

The third thing he noticed was the book left under a grass-filled plastic bag that he assumed to be his pillow. It was heavy and thick, written in his native language and neatly typed in Times New Roman. On top of the book, there was a note plastered, TEEHE :D.

"Teehe, my ass!" He crumpled the note and threw it into a big black plastic bag in the corner that he figured had to be a trashcan.

Toby wanted to burn the book, but he was angry, not insane. It might be his only clue to get out of this mess. He just stomped on it until the cover turned as dirty as the oversized cloak he woke up with.

When his rage finally calmed down a little, he checked its content. The first few pages were filled with basic information about this world. Toby didn't have the attention span to read everything-there was a reason he didn't read books anymore-so he just skimmed as quickly as possible.

He was about to close the book and throw it to the trashcan when the format pages suddenly changed from an encyclopedia into something resembling a diary. 

The words Summoned Hero and Demon King worshipper got thrown a lot, but other than it looked like utter nonsense.

"Well, you're not helpful at all," Toby murmured to himself, closing the book for good.

Now that he properly examined his surrounding, he had to see how the outside world looked like. Maybe, someone would take pity on an abandoned kid and decide to take him in. Hopeless optimism never failed to keep him going.

"I will definitely find you," he swore to the moss-covered wall. Frankly, he already forgot the lady's name, but at least he vaguely remembered her face. "Because I have the power of meme and TV Tropes by my side!"

Now that he said it out loud, he felt embarrassed. Nobody was around to see it, though, so he shouted the words once more with confidence.

Now that his motivation was established appropriately, Toby had no excuse not to go outside. He stepped out of the house and was immediately greeted by too many greens and trees swaying as far as he could see.

The house he woke up into was apparently located in the deep part of a forest. It took Toby twenty minutes to find his way out and feel the sunlight washing him without the green leaves in the way. 

It took him another twenty minutes to find a human civilization. It was a small town with a dense population, and his first instinct when he'd found it was to turn around and run back to the sad building he called home.

He suppressed the instinct and started walking around, suddenly very aware of the dirt sticking to his nails and all across his skin.

Some people, the rich-looking ones especially, showered him a look of disgust as if he was a cockroach. With his current situation, it was probably a fair assessment, but even cockroaches had feelings too.

"Why am I here again?" he muttered to himself. This was why he preferred Heaven than... whatever this was. 

Toby sighed. First thing first, he needed to figure out the message left for him.

----------------------------------------

"Excuse me, sir."

Hayden looked down to see a blonde kid dressed in a dirty oversized cloak tugging at his shirt. The kid couldn't possibly be older than five. He dug his pocket and gave the kid some coins.

The kid looked somewhat offended, but he pocketed them nonetheless. Then he let out a piece of paper and handed it to Hayden with his tiny hands. "Can you please read this? I think it's for me."

Hayden took the paper. Written in shaky handwriting, he could make the words, 'Whoever found this note, due to some circumstance, I have to leave my kid. Please take care of him. His name is Zoin'.

Oh, another abandoned kid. It had become increasingly common nowadays, but Hayden's heart still hurt when he read it.

The kid stared at him expectantly. Hayden swallowed. He glanced helplessly at his partner Delia who pointedly avoided his eyes. "It said your name is Zoin."

The kid's face scrunched up. "What kind of demented person named their kid Zoin? My name is Tobias."

Hayden doubted the mother gave her kid the note just so he could change his name as soon as she left him. As if reading his mind, the kid quickly said, "I was wrong, Mister. This note is not meant for me."

He said with the conviction of a scholar who found their life call. Hayden couldn't help but wonder if all street kids had this attitude.

The kid, Tobias, rubbed his chin with calculative eyes, a gesture that struck Hayden as particularly adult-like. It was honestly kind of disturbing to look at.

Delia, on the other hand, looked thoroughly amused. Hayden never did understand her sense of humor. "Tobias, was it?"

Tobias whipped his head in surprise, having noticed Delia's presence just now. Hayden didn't blame him. Delia was a retired high-level spy. Nobody could find her unless she wanted to be found.

"Why don't you sit down with us?" Delia patted the empty seat beside her.

The kid glanced between them warily before his gaze settled at the seat with strange intensity as if it would jump out and beat him. "If the owner sees me, I will be kicked out."

Hayden frowned in confusion before it clicked to him that the kid was talking about the pub's owner. Delia laughed. "I am the owner, kid. The guy behind the counter is my husband."

Tobias stared some more before he finally padded over and started climbing the seat. Since his body was small, he had to tiptoe and put his weight on his upper body before he could lift up his legs one by one. The whole process took an entire minute, and the entire time, Hayden was trying very hard not to coo. Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see Delia attempting the same with less success.

Once Tobias properly sat down, he straightened his back. The simple act brought an involuntary smile to Hayden's face. Since the kid wanted to be treated like an adult, Hayden supposed there was no harm in humoring his wish.

"My name is Delia," she introduced herself. Tobias acknowledged it with a tilt of his head. Then he turned toward Hayden.

"The name's Hayden."

"I am not Zoin," Tobias said, his voice carrying a stubborn note.

Hayden nodded. "Got it."

The kid relaxed. "It's nice to meet you."

"Here," Delia slid her food toward the kid. "After you eat this, get a shower in the back. You smell like shit."

"Delia!" Hayden exclaimed in horror. "Watch your language in front of a kid!"

"You smell like trash," she amended.

The kid stared at the food with the same wariness he had when Delia had told her to sit down. "I've been told not to accept food from strangers."

"You know my name, and I know yours. We're not stranger anymore, are we?"

The kid looked up in suspicion. "You're not going to ask for payment?" He grabbed the fork on the table, and Hayden suddenly had a vivid imagination where he stabbed them with it.

"I am not," Delia said, lifting her hands up in a gesture of peace.

It was apparently enough to convince Tobias. He scooped the food and ate hurriedly in big bites, leaving crumbs at the side of his mouth.

"Slow down, Tobias," Hayden pulled out a tissue and wiped his mouth with it. "The food's not going anywhere."

Tobias didn't slow down, but he did eat with more grace. Hayden watched in content. Honestly, if Delia hadn't offered her food, he would've given the kid his. Tobias looked like he had been starved for months.

When he was done, he mumbled shyly, "Thank you."

Delia's smirk was affectionate as she said, "Go take a shower. Ask my husband for the direction."

The kid obeyed, running up to the counter as quickly as his short legs could carry him. Delia's husband was an affectionate man with a soft spot on children. When he saw Tobias, his eyes practically sparkled. 

He was a big man with a big build, but it was hard to take his size seriously when he squealed every time cute things passed his eyesight.

"An interesting kid, isn't he?" Delia said, waving at her husband.

"He is."

Delia turned back at him, her eyes sharp. "When you first saw him, you gave him your money without question as if it was the most natural thing to do."

Hayden flinched. He had his fair share of dealing with street kids. Most of them were pranksters and deadset on stealing your wallet. Those who didn't resort to thievery loitered between roads, begging for money with their saddest face. Capital had a lot of those. It was a terrible sight, but one that he had grown accustomed to.

"Forget it," Delia said dismissively. She didn't live in the Capital. She wouldn't understand.

Hayden tried his best to smile, but it still came out bitter. "What are you going to do with him?"

"I am going to give him a job and a space to live," she answered without hesitation. "He seems smart. I am sure he knows how to carry a tray, at least."

"I'll visit often."

"Don't be stupid," Delia snorted. "I know you're busy because of the prophecy."

"Even so, I'll visit."

Delia stared at him. When he didn't back down, she smiled softly. "I am sure he'll love seeing a familiar face around."

----------------------------------------

When Delia told him about the job, Toby smiled and accepted the offer as gracefully as possible. The truth was he wanted to jump all the way to Mars and perform belly-dancing to express his gratitude, but he didn't want to give his employer the impression he was mentally unhinged.

Delia also offered him a place to stay, a small decent room at the back of the pub, which Toby accepted with less enthusiasm. He hated burdening them more than he already was.

Delia's husband-Gregory-provided him with clothes and toys and refused the coins Toby gave him. He made a mental note to buy Gregory clothes and weapons when he got his first salary. 

They were good people, Toby noted. He'd come across a lot of those in his past life, and each of them never failed to make him uncomfortable with their selfless display of kindness. He refused to acknowledge the complex feeling and beamed at Delia. She smiled back with the kind of gentleness she didn't show openly in public. It almost made him falter.

When the night came, Toby went back to the forest with the excuse to pack his stuff. It was technically not a lie. He had to bring back the book with him. Regardless of whether it was helpful or not, it was still the only clue the lady had left behind for him.

Delia insisted on walking him home, but he stubbornly refused. He regretted it now when it looked like ghosts would jump out from the bushes and drag him down to the shadow.

The house was exactly where he left it, old and rotting away. The book was exactly where he left it too. Except for the increasing amount of cockroaches and mice, nothing changed in the past hours he left.

Toby leaned against the wall and hugged his knees, keeping the book close. Now that he'd settled the immediate issues, the questions he didn't want to ask slowly come back.

Why him? Why such a tiny feeble body? Why out of all names, it had to be Zoin? 

Back then, everything he said to the strange girls was true. But here was the truth he didn't get to say: he hated his family.

He hated his parents who placed expectations on him and his siblings who pressured him with said expectations. 

He hated himself for not being able to fulfill those expectations.

Here was the truth that stayed true today and would stay true in the future: he missed his family.

He missed laughing at the dinner table. His sister liked to spew more bullshits to lighten up the atmosphere. His mother always laughed the loudest. His father would shake his head helplessly before snickering with them.

Toby couldn't remember the joke he made, but he did remember how proud he felt at each laugh he got.

When his oldest brother died, he prayed to God he was next. He didn't want to experience those cruciating feelings of loss ever again. It didn't quite feel like being body-slammed by a truck, but the pain was there, reminding him that he'd never get his brother back.

Why was it that even though his prayer was answered, he was still the one who lost everything in the end?

Toby buried his face in his arms. Here was the ultimate truth that everybody already knew: life was so fucking unfair.