“Huh, what happened!?”

  My head was a chaotic mess. I knew something was coming, but the suddenness of it left me reeling. What was that? What was that voice? The sound was hauntingly familiar, yet I couldn't understand how I had forgotten it so easily.

  If the owner of that voice was still nearby, I was in serious danger. I tried to force myself to stay alert, and fortunately, despite the confusion, my thoughts felt sharper and cleaner than they had in weeks.

  Okay, calm down. I don’t know anything yet, I told myself. Yes, let's do it this tim—?

  I reached for the hilt of my sword, but my hand grasped only empty air. Wait, where is my sword?

  I looked around, and a cold shiver raced down my spine. The room I was in felt impossibly familiar—a place I knew by heart but never wanted to see again. Because if I was here, it meant…

  “No! Wait, wait, wait!!! No, it can’t be!”

  Even as I fought to deny it, the reality was unmistakable. No matter how much I tried to prove otherwise, it was happening. My memories of the forest, the village, and the party were already starting to fade, drifting away like the remnants of a fading dream.

  Panic surged through me. My mind raced at a terrifying speed, and for a fleeting, dark second, even suicide felt like a viable escape. I had woken up. Everything I thought I had achieved—the isekai, the power, the companions—all of it had been nothing more than a dream.

  “Sniff... sniff… Oh, man. Nooo-hoo-hooo!”

  I broke down. A grown man, sitting in his room, sobbing like a child. If Alice had seen me, she probably would have thought I was being "cute." If Sherry were here, she would have worried and likely started crying right along with me while asking what was wrong.

  “Man, I don’t want to admit it, but they weren’t even real,” I choked out. “Just thinking back on it now, everything progressed way too fast from start to finish. I should have noticed… but how can anybody notice they’re dreaming while they’re in it?”

  When I read novels, I was always the first to point out the slightest contradiction or a character’s nonsensical behavior. Yet I had lived in a world that was total nonsense and hadn't suspected a single thing. My judgment must have been clouded by how much I wanted it to be true. Even if it was a place with no logic, I still preferred it a thousand times over this reality. I felt like I was truly losing my mind.

  “No, no, no! I don’t want to admit it,” I lamented. “It hurts so much. It would have been better if I’d never had that dream at all. Sniff!”

  [But it was you.]

  As if in answer to my grief, a voice rang out. It was the same voice I had heard inside the dream.

  Huh!? What? Am I losing it totally right now? Since my sanity had returned, I couldn't just ignore a voice coming from nowhere like it was a normal occurrence.

  [No, you are sane. At least sane enough to understand what I am telling you.]

  “Who is it? Where is this voice coming from? Wait, aren't you the same voice from before?” I shouted into the empty space of my room, half-expecting a reply and half-believing I had finally snapped.

  [Yes, I am the same voice that was ridiculing you while you were enjoying that garbage world. And, of course, I am the one who made your wish come true.] the voice answered nonchalantly.

  “My wish? What are you talking about?” I asked, my confusion deepening. “Don’t you see the state I'm in? Does it look like any of my wishes came true? Who are you, anyway?”

  [What I speak is the truth. You wished, and I granted it. I will repeat it so you can understand: I am the one who made your wish come true.]

  I felt ridiculous. Whoever—or whatever—this was, they were clearly aware of my confusion but seemed to be deliberately phrasing things to make it worse.

  “Hahaha, I’m losing it, aren’t I?” I laughed desperately. “I’m speaking to the air. Oh, after learning the fantasy world was a lie, I guess it doesn’t really matter anymore. At least tell me which wish you’re talking about. I’m not crazy enough to wish for something that would make me suffer like this.”

  [Okay. Did you say, “I would want to experience something like that too. I really would. Even if it is an unreal thing like a dream,” or not?]

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  The voice rephrased my own words exactly as I had whispered them before falling asleep. It was impossible to deny.

  “Wait, wait. It doesn’t make sense at all,” I tried to protest. “Even if it is true, if I had known it would be like that—”

  [No,] the voice interrupted sharply. [Even if you knew it would be just a dream, you still would have chosen it. More likely, you would have been overjoyed to have a dream like that. Of course, until you woke up. Also, don’t talk to me about things making sense, you blind idiot. Did you really think the world you were living in was logical at all? You didn’t even question a single thing.]

  I fell silent. I couldn't even formulate a reply because the voice was completely right.

  [Were you satisfied with my gift?] the voice asked, its tone both curious and mocking.

  “How could I be?” I snapped without thinking. “I was about to enjoy the most important part, but you just had to cut it off right at that moment.”

  [The most important moment?] The voice suddenly sounded angry. [If the 'you' from before the dream were here, he would slap you right now. I knew you would enjoy playing with girls, but I am also pretty sure that is not the most important thing to you. Did you immerse yourself so deeply in the dream that you didn’t notice the world’s power system was contradictory to the point of being non-existent? Your 'romance' with those girls wasn't romance at all, either. There are a dozen other things that should have been criticized, but you didn’t. Why?]

  The sorrow was too much to bear. “Please, I would do anything,” I begged. “Just send me back. Please!”

  [How foolish. You are disappointing me. Do you really want to go back to that garbage, dream-based world?]

  “Right now, when you put it that way… yes, it wasn’t good if you look at it from the outside,” I admitted, trying to express my thoughts clearly. “I wouldn’t even read it if it were a book or play it if it were a game. But…”

  [But?]

  “It was a shitty isekai—but it was still better than this reality,” I said, starting to sniff again. “I’d choose it even if a perfect isekai were out of reach.”

  [Why not?] the voice asked, its mocking tone returning.

  “Huh? What is 'why not'?”

  [Why can’t you go to a perfect isekai world?]

  My heart skipped a beat. “Wait! Are you serious? Can you really do it?”

  [Who do you think sent you to that dream world?] the voice asked proudly. [Even if it was not a well-balanced or half-real world, it was still another world. Of course, I can’t completely promise you'll find it 'perfect,' because you might not like it and end up blaming the world for it. But I promise you, at worst, a decent experience. At most… your imagination can take over from there.]

  Hope flared up within me. As long as I satisfied whatever this being needed, I could leave this monotone life behind.

  “Really? Can you do it?” I asked desperately. “You're not tricking me like some evil trickster god, are you?”

  [So? What if I am?] the voice said nonchalantly.

  “...What?!”

  [I said, what if I am an evil god with ill intentions? What will you do? Will you reject my offer? Will you reject your last hope? Just before going to sleep, you were begging only for a dream. But what now? Do you think you even have a choice, Han?]

  The sinister edge to the voice made me shudder. They’re right. Who am I to even question them? The dream world had been weird, but after witnessing it, I knew I couldn't continue living like this.

  [Huhu. It is funny, really. Both of us know which choice you will make, even if I make unreasonable demands. Well, fine, let me help you make up your mind. If you want me to erase your suspicions, you must pay the price for your wish. Now… beg!]

  “What? I don’t understand,” I stammered.

  [Beg!] the voice commanded, sounding bored. [Even if your dreams are as messy as your desires, they’re still your own. I’ll see if I can polish them—if you beg properly. Beg me to send you to the world I mentioned. But I won’t force you, you know.]

  Are they being thoughtful now? I wondered. No, it must be a trick. But what does it matter? As the being said, I would give my soul to reach my dreams. There was no room for hesitation.

  “Okay, fine. Please… send me to the world you mentioned?”

  [What? Is that how you beg?] The voice was no longer lenient.

  “But wasn’t it just a formality to help me make up my mind?”

  [It was, but I have already spoken. You should at least show me some respect. Don’t you think so?]

  I prepared myself, trying to ignore the humiliation. If it's for another world…

  [I suggest you make some dog noises, too. Haha! Hurry, you think too much.]

  “Tch! Alright, alright!” I snapped.

  I dropped into a humiliating dog posture and started to beg. “Please, great one, I beg of you. Please grant my lowly self’s inappropriate wish. Woof, woof. Ha, ha, ha. Please, lord, I beg of you. Woof, woof.” I even panted with my tongue out.

  [Hahaha! That surprisingly suited you well.] The voice burst into laughter before gradually turning serious. [Good. The only thing you need to do now is accept. Han, before going to the other world, you will customize your character. Make sure you pay close attention to it.]

  Overjoyed, I waited for what was next.

  [Han! Do you accept this second chance?] The voice shifted into an emotionless, almost mechanical tone.

  “Yes, of course!” I accepted with a deep smile.

  [Good. Let me tell you something for free. I don’t like to associate myself with anything that is called 'good,' but I assure you that I am not evil. Nor a god? Nevertheless, have fun.]

  [Congratulations. Transmission is successful.]

  [Please, customize your character features.]

  A semi-transparent blue information window popped up in front of me as my sight began to fade into darkness.

  [Edited]