(“Shit is he for real?”)

An indescribable feeling washed over Tibaut as he looked at the gate. The gate was larger than he could hope to open but he couldn't help but feel it was worth a shot.

He grabbed a handle and started pulling.

It was no dice. That throne felt more movable than this.

He gave up and stepped back. “I guess it wasn't going to be that easy.”

But a strange optimism filled him. It had been 16 years but he was positive his brother would still be alive. She was another matter, however. With her habits, who knows what kind of trouble she could get into in those years? It wouldn't surprise him if she died or became a kingpin.

But if he entered that door, he'd know the answer.

(“I can actually go back. I just have to figure out how to ge-”)

(“HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA!!!!!”)

The voice in his head boisterously laughed. The laughing continued, mildly annoying Tibaut. But who cared?

(“You may find my dreams of returning back to my world funny but I'll do it. You can laugh all you want but I'm not gonna lie, you're just making me eager to prove you wrong. I'll see her again and give my brother a better send-off.”)

The laughing continued, this time increasing in volume.

Tibaut scoffed at the attempt to unnerve him. (“Stop it already it's annoying as hell hearing you cackle like a hyena, you battleaxe.”)

Tibaut had no problem imagining this voice as a vindictive old woman, who couldn't hold a man for more than a month and enjoyed making people miserable.

The laughing soon became lower and lower until it became an innocent-sounding giggle.

(“Oh, man, you really took what I said and created your own fiction. Could you please repeat your goal again, I don't think I've laughed that good in years.”)

(“You miserable old hag, I said I'm gonna get back to my world. There has to be someone in this world who knows how to operate this thing.”)

The laughing intensified more and left Tibaut almost nauseous, as it rang through his head.

(“Laugh all you want-”)

(“Oh, Tibaut, you really have made up for this disappointment I've found. This alone has been worth the trip down here. You're a true comedian, hehe.”)

They took some breaths to catch their breath.

(“Disappointment? Isn't this what you wanted? A gate to another sounds pretty important.”)

(“I can go to most worlds with little hassle, experiment. Besides, I was looking for something else. It seems this has retained a sizable amount of her presence in these last few centuries. Oh well, at least I've confidently confirmed it isn't her here…. Wait a moment.”)

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

A strange sensation came over Tibaut and his head turned around without him doing so.

“(Huh!?) Be quiet.” He stated.

He looked at the women and Agnes had joined them in holding back the one that looked particularly irritated. The others began loosening their grip when they looked at Tibaut.

Tibaut quickly regained control of his body and the other three monster women calmed down.

(“That's odd. That's certainly her presence within them. But if she's not here then who would… ah that priest did have her presence on him but I assumed he was a fool she deceived. This is quite strange. Oh well.”) They said with the same level of concern as if they noticed their favourite flavour of milk was sold out.

(“Can I leave now?”) Tibaut asked.

(“Sure go ahead.”) The voice responded nonchalantly.

(“Still it was good I found this. Whether ten years or a hundred I'll-”)

(“I suppose I should clarify something about this gate.”) The voice said, sounding absolutely bubbly. Well, whatever they said would not deter Tibaut so he decided not to pay any more attention to them. He just had to drown out their chatter like he would during a class on a boring subject he didn't care about like music or English language.

(“That gate doesn't lead to your earth.”)

….

…

..

.

He wasn't going to react.

(“In fact I'm not sure something not on my level of existence could even travel worlds.”)

They were saying this to get a reaction out of him. If he opened that gate he'd go home.

(“But I wasn't wrong about it leading to other worlds.”)

Please just shut up, you fuc-

(“Based on the iconography here I'm surprised you didn't realise. It doesn't lead to your world. It leads to-”)

Tibaut tried to cover his ears but it was useless for a voice in his head.

(“Hell.”)

Tibaut fell to his knees with tears in his eyes. He breathed a sigh as he wiped his eyes.

(“Is…

is.. that true?”) He weakly asked. He could almost sense the voice wearing a grin.

(“True, true. Want me to give a demonstration? This might be a creation of hers but I sh-”)

He finished wiping his tears away and stood up. (“I suppose it was unrealistic.”)

(“... Are you not devastated?”) The voice asked.

(“I never expected to go back there in the first place. Besides I'm sure they've already gotten over me. I'm not sure they'd find it pleasant to have some red-haired jackass show up and say I'm the reincarnation of some guy who died.”)

He shrugged and turned around.

He had given up that dream the moment he gained a family in this world. And as much as he loved the last world he wouldn't consider leaving this one until he gave his family peace in the afterlife.

And even that desire died a little after living with his new family friends.

He walked over to the girls and given the drake’s silence they had calmed down. Agnes looked traumatised, but that sour expression quickly disappeared when Tibaut walked over.

“Hey, Agnes, we can leave now.”