Caleb wasn't sure what he was expecting when he walked back inside the castle. While he didn't expect for there to be fireworks or a large sign stating he was the new demon king, he was a bit disappointed that nothing happened when he stepped inside. He thought for sure something would happen since he was the only candidate left. Shouldn't the castle recognize him as the demon king?If this were like in the games he played, he would have been crowned the demon king after successfully beating everyone and arriving at the destination. Well, he had a few other ideas he could try. However, he really hoped he wouldn't have to go that far. The chances that they would work were slim, but it couldn't hurt to try. Well, besides his pride. If it failed, he would only look like a fool.As he internally mourned over the possibility of losing his dignity, he walked further into the castle with the others close behind him. There was a significant lack of poison. He assumed that the open gate caused
Caleb could barely believe what he was seeing. He had somehow jumped a ton of levels to reach the elusive level of one hundred. Of course, he wasn't complaining. It was a huge relief that he wouldn't have to do any more quests and be constantly worried that something would happen to keep him from being able to go home. As soon as he thought those words, they really struck him.After being in this world for so long, he could finally go home. He could go back to his world. He was immediately filled with glee at the thought of getting away from this horrible place. While he did manage to make it out on top, it didn't change the fact that this place simply wasn't for him. Being constantly on edge and worried about being killed would make anyone want to leave.Then his gaze met Grace's. The moment their eyes met, he remembered where he was right now and what he had just been doing. That was right. He had just become the new demon king. What was going to happen now? Caleb couldn't stay and
Caleb groaned as he regained awareness. It felt like he had been hit by a truck. After a few moments to gather his wits, he gasped as he sat up. His head spun from the sudden movement, but it wasn't enough to stop him from checking his surroundings. The familiar walls of his bedroom greeted him. He nearly teared up at the sight as his hands ran through the sheets.In a daze, he sat up to touch the walls. It felt real. A part of him wondered if this was just a dream or an illusion, and he would wake back up among the demons. Looking around the room, it really set in that he was home. After years in the other world, he had finally made it back home. Falling back on his bed, he tried to process the emotions he was feeling.There was happiness, relief, and exhaustion among them, but they were the ones that he felt the most. Caleb was happy that he was home and relieved that he wouldn't have to go through any more danger. He also felt like he had lived several lifetimes and needed a break
As Caleb's mind raced for a solution, he knew he was running out of time. If he didn't come out soon, it would be suspicious. Then his family would wonder why he hadn't listened the first time and come to investigate. Of course, they wouldn't be doing it because they were worried about it. They would only check to make sure it wouldn't cause them any grief.Looking around for what he could use, he froze when his eyes spotted a pair of earmuffs. It was an ugly thing and had been given to him as a joke, but it would definitely be his lifesaver. The earmuffs had animal ears on them, so he could hide his rat ears. Quickly picking them off the table, he settled them on his head. Since he didn't have a mirror, he couldn't be sure he put them on right.Caleb fiddled with it until he felt confident going out with them. However, to be safe, he was going to head for the bathroom to check himself in the mirror. Hopefully, no one would stop him on the way to the bathroom. Steeling himself, he ope
Fortunately, nothing outrageous happened. Caleb didn't suddenly have to deal with police or scientists banging on his door. His relatives continued to treat him more or less the same. It was almost like he had never left. In fact, he almost believed that it was just a figment of his imagination if it weren't for his current looks. So far, he has had no luck contacting the system.Caleb scowled as he glared at his laptop. He was trying to work on his only lead since the system refused to respond to him. Since the other world was based on a game he played, he suspected that the developers had a connection to that place. If he could somehow find a way to speak with them, then he could solve his current body issue.Unfortunately, they were unresponsive. All his attempts to contact them ended in failure. Granted, he should have probably done a better job phrasing it the first time he tried to get in contact with them. He probably came off as crazy based on what he first sent. No, it wasn't
"I'm so glad we got to meet like this. I really have a good feeling about you," the man said as he nodded his head frantically.Caleb smiled stiffly as he said, "Me too."The man proceeded to talk more about the game, but Caleb couldn't focus on the words. Something felt off. He couldn't put his finger on it. It was on the tip of his tongue. However, it felt like a haze was clouding his mind. How did he get here? He remembered seeing the name of the meeting place and leaving the house to meet one of the developers.There was nothing unusual about that. The problem was that he couldn't recall anything else. He couldn't remember how he got there or what they had been talking about. The former could have been excused as he was moving automatically. Since the chosen location was a place he was familiar with, he could have easily traveled the same way he normally did and not think about it.The latter could also be excused as him being worried about his current situation. He didn't really
"You're joking," Caleb blurted out. "What's going to happen to me while that happens? Is my body even here?"It would explain why he didn't look like his original self. However, it mentioned that this was some kind of limbo. Wasn't limbo the place between life and death? There was no way he would be able to survive years in this place in one piece. Also, it never mentioned if time moved differently between here and the other two worlds. What if time moved quickly?Wouldn't that mean that by the time he returned home, his relatives would have already passed away, leaving him all alone? He would be homeless and stuck without any way to live. It wasn't like he could go around saying he was Caleb. His age wouldn't match, and people would think he's someone crazy. No, he absolutely couldn't accept the system's suggestions."There has to be a third option," he said as he slammed a hand on the table."There is no third option. We've clearly stated that there are only two choices," it said.C
Caleb frowned as he glared at his desk. It had been days since his confrontation with the system, and he still hadn't been able to come to a conclusion. Both choices were just so final. He feared that if he picked one, he would regret not choosing the other option. If only there was someone he could talk to about his choices, then maybe he could come to a decision.Unfortunately, there was no one he could turn to. Everything here was just a fake move, based only on his memories. No, even if it wasn't fake, he wouldn't be able to talk to anyone about his problem. His relatives would certainly be of no help. They would just put him through more stress if he tried asking them. He had no friends to speak of, so he would have been on his own.He sighed as he rested his head on the table. If those demons and Grace were here, they might have been able to help him out. As soon as he thought of them, he chuckled. Why was he thinking about them at all times? He guessed they were the closest he