Strange, isn’t it? A person who says he’s not a person is offering me a chance to live another life in a completely different world. That’s right—I’m not losing my mind like I thought.

How do I know? It’s because I can see my mother’s eyes piercing through the muddy dirt as I’m holding the shovel that’s burying her.

If I had to be honest with myself, I have nothing to live for anymore.

The only person who ever gave me any thought is dead, and this world considers me to be the devil reincarnated in a boy’s body.

My only home is this broken-down cabin, and my only source of food is the groceries I bought today, which will last me at most two months.

I have no friends, no family, and no one who will remember me if I were to die tomorrow. Getting an opportunity to live in another world doesn’t seem like a bad idea at all.

Maybe this time, I could have the life I’ve always wanted.

“You do know that I can still hear your thoughts, right? Great, so you’ve agreed to my offer. I promise you, you won’t be disappointed.”

“Yeah, I hope not. There, I’ve signed your papers. Now take me away from here already.”

“I see. Let’s get going then. Kin, Kin, Tento.”

“Yes, sir. Where would you like to go?”

“Ah, Kin, I need you to take us to the Other World, please.”

“Your wish is my command, sir.”

________________________________________

If I were to tell this moment to anyone, they would say that I’m crazy and that I need to see a doctor, but I’m not crazy.

“What’s going on? What is that thing? Where are we?”

“Did he just call me a thing! Watch your tongue boy before Kin takes it from you”

“Be nice, kid, and Kin please, control yourself.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

The place we’re in is known as the grey zone. It’s the place you reside in when transporting from one world to another.

Most people find it to be a scary experience because you can’t see where you’re going until you get there, and only someone like me can find the exit to this place. If you were to get lost, you would surely die a miserable death.

Ha ha, but don’t worry. That’s why you have me. And this is Kin Tento. He’s what you humans would call—ah, yes—a magic book. He can transport anyone anywhere they wish to be.”

A magic book, huh? I wonder—

“Don’t get your hopes up, kid. Kin Tento is just a transport book. He doesn’t go back in time or to the future. He can only transport you to places that exist in their own present time.”

“So, what time is the Other World in then?”

“Interesting question. Now, how do I explain this in a way that you won’t be entirely confused? Hmmm, ah.

The Other World is a place where, if you desire something strongly enough, it can become a reality, but it won’t be as easy as it sounds.

You see, there are many rules, laws, and strange compositions that make up the Other World. The people there aren’t all people, and time isn’t the same as it is back in your world.

Everyone in the Other World is gifted an ability to help them live their lives the way they’ve always wanted, and some are gifted abilities as punishment by God.

When you get there, you will be gifted an ability, but even I cannot tell you what it will be. That’s decided only by God Himself.

The rest you’ll just have to figure out on your own. But trust me, you won’t have to worry about the way you look in the Other World because everyone there is already so different. You’ll know what I mean when you get there.”

“How did you—”

“Kid, how many times do I have to say it? I hear everything that you’re thinking. Since I told you about the Other World, you’ve been worried about whether people will be scared of you because of the way you look. As I said, you won’t have to worry about that in the Other World.”

“I see, a place where I won’t be the only strange person there. I find it to be unreal that a place like that even exists, oh and didn’t you say that there were twelve people chosen to go to the other world? I don’t see them here, so where are they?”

“So, you remember that little bit. Yes, that’s right. Twelve humans from your world were selected to go to the Other World. And that’s all that I can say.”

“That’s’ all huh. I see.”

“Alright, look, we’re here. This is the door to the other world and it’s also the exit out of the grey zone. I am not allowed to go any further, so, you’re on your own from here on. Once you pass through this door you will learn all that you need to be able to survive in this world, but things that aren’t known to the civilians you won’t know about, unless you learn of them for yourself.”

"But how will I learn ----"

"Just walk through the door, and all your questions will be answered, and if you ever need me kid, you’ll have to come see me in my domain. My name is The Jester, be sure not to forget it.”

“I won’t, and thank you, see you, Jester."

I didn’t know exactly what I was getting myself into, nor did I know what my life would be like from then on, but to me, it was better than being called the devil for the rest of my life.