The Founder's POV

Chapter 6: Hell

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My watch, which I placed on the side table, vibrated with an annoying beep. I hated waking up early. I did in both worlds, but I could do nothing. I sighed, then went to take a shower in the bathroom. It might be my last shower. Who knows?

I stretched out a little, gathering some clothes first. While under the warm water, I started to think. I reviewed all my decisions since I came into this world. I realized I had used my time poorly. Should I have turned into a protagonist and trained hard from day one?

Would that make a difference anyway? I got out of the bathroom after 20 minutes. I wanted to spend more time since it might be my last, but the constant knocking on the door from five minutes ago was starting to bother me.

I agreed with Loana to leave at seven o'clock. She offered me, with 'good' intentions, that I move using a portal, and I did not refuse. The person from yesterday, the shadow, is probably waiting for me now.

As I expected, I saw him when I opened the door. He came early. Are they so eager for my death?I noticed his emotionless eyes staring into my soul, and the items I requested were in his hand.

Storage ring and Mana Stone. Using the storage ring required a minimal amount of mana, but I wasn't lucky enough to have that. So, I will rely on this mana stone, which is also engraved into a ring.

I put the two rings on the same finger and ensured they were connected. This way, I will be able to remove anything quickly.

"The items you requested are available; you can check-"

"There is no need." I interrupted the shadow; I didn't have to worry about being scammed right now since We signed a contract. No one can survive breaking a soul contract, no one. This rule was currently in my favor.

The shadow took me to the gates room at the far end of the palace.

"Mountain of fog, which section?" The shadow looked at me, and I didn't hesitate.

"On the opposite side of the goblins' domain. I'd prefer you get me as close to the north of the mountain as possible."I thought about it a lot before I went to sleep. Undoubtedly, the north is the best and most accessible area to pass.

The next few minutes passed very slowly. I was nervous, and my irregular breathing clearly showed that.

"You can come in."

The shadow spoke in the same emotionless tone, but his eyes were filled with killing intent. If I don't go in now, he'll have the right to kill me. I sighed and walked towards the gate at a steady pace.

"There is a map in the ring. If you exit the mountain successfully, it will lead you to the nearest human city."

That was the last thing I heard before the magical waves of the portal swallowed me.

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Portals are said to affect those who use them the first few times negatively, and that theory has now been confirmed. I looked at the ground, where I vomited for a few minutes, and I couldn't help but feel a little disgusted.

"I still haven't had breakfast and don't remember eating dinner yesterday. So, where the heck did this come from?" I took a deep breath and pushed all unnecessary thoughts to the back of my mind. Focusing on the ring in my hand, I took out some food.

I asked the shadow to pack a lot of meat and vegetables, firewood, and tools to start a fire. I'm still on the mountain's edge, and there aren't many dangers, so I decided to eat something now. I was careful not to overeat since running with a full stomach was equivalent to death in such a place.