I, the Weakest Traveler, Start by Taming the gods of the Old World.

Chapter 111: The illusion

"Who are you to decide what I need?"

Dong froze, his gaze solely fixed on Ha Joon before he looked at Rachael, who seemed like she was already panicking.

"Joony!" she called out to him, but Ha Joon paid no attention.

Not only was his head pounding seriously, something about the whole family dinner didn't sit right with him.

"You are probably tired, you'll come back to your senses tomorrow," Dong spoke, focusing back on his food. "I'll let the commander know you'll be joining—"

"I don't want to do that either."

They all paused again.

"Why are you always trying to take control of my life like I can't make decisions for myself?" Ha Joon was not looking at his father. "I don't remember much of what happened, but I'd like to think you all changed for the better, and that's why I stayed."

"You stayed because you understood the way the world works. You could not survive without us," Dong retorted.

"And whose fault is that?!" Ha Joon yelled, standing abruptly from his chair. "All my life you've restricted me from doing anything, all for what?! So I could always depend on you like some weak crybaby?"

"I did that because you are my son! The world is not a trusting place! Get that through your thick skull!" Dong slammed his hand on the table.

"All... all right, let's all calm d—"

"Just because your life was miserable doesn't give you any right to mess with mine! I am not your save point in a freaking game that you feel you can control! Stop deflecting your failures on me! Ha Joon, don't go to school? Why not? What's so bad about being in a friend group?

Ha Joon shouldn't be having friends? Who the fuck decided that? Do you realize how hard it was for me to communicate with anyone?! Don't make a fuss about dinner! Don't run too much! Don't stare too long!

Give me a fucking break!!!"

They were quiet, mostly in shock.

"I can't do anything, so how the hell am I supposed to grow?! No! You don't fucking care about that. All you want is a mini-you to take up your failed ambitions!!! I was just a freaking child..." Ha Joon paused, the tears slowly dripping down his eyes, "And no one, no one knew jack about what I went through, 'cause dear old dad didn't like me opening up! Did you even know I had a mental illness?

I wanted to burn everything to the ground. I hated everyone, including you, and your half-ass hypocrite wife!" He pointed at his mother, his expression even sadder.

His fingers trembled as he uttered with a soft voice, "Why did you even give birth to me? Why bring me to life if you're not going to be in it? Was I really that bad of a human being? Am I that disgusting? I can't be loved—"

Ha Joon felt a sharp pain hit him in the head, his body falling to the side, but he quickly regained his footing.

— Artoria ~

His eyes widened.

He remembered her.

Ha Joon immediately looked to the side where he could see his parents and Rachael.

Something was off about them.

Their faces… they were glitching.

"Joony, you're probably stressed. Just sit back down and eat," Rachael spoke, her voice sounding almost animated.

"Yeah, honey, just sit down," his mother spoke too.

Ha Joon's face softened, his tears slowing for a moment as he looked to the ground.

Once he had cried to his heart's content, he gently stood up and looked them in the eye.

Bowing his head, he yelled, "Thank you for everything!!! Regardless of how you raised me, I won't be able to live this life without your influence, so I'm grateful. But I don't need you anymore. I am my own man now... free to make decisions," he looked at them. "I hope I was able to make you proud… father."

As soon as he said this, he sprinted out of the room, charging towards the main door, while his parents and Rachael kept glitching in their chairs.

Bursting outside the door, Ha Joon kept running, panting heavily, until eventually, he found himself in the same spot he had miraculously appeared after trying to exit the forest — the middle of the road.

Observing the area for a while, he noticed everyone was looking at him, even the cars that were speeding by had halted.

'This must be some kind of illusion. I don't know why I can't reach out to Ciel... regardless, I'm leaving this place!'

Ha Joon made his way to the middle of the road, and he stretched his hand out, grazing the air only for his body to suddenly get sucked in.

It happened so quickly.

One second he was in the middle of the road, the next he was in the forest, standing still with Sinex in front of him. He could also feel the touch of the child pulling on his clothes.

Eyes widened in shock, Ha Joon could barely utter a word. He simply looked down to see the child looking up at him.

[Welcome back.]

Just hearing his system's voice put a smile on his face.

'Ahh, good, you're back too! Do you know what just happened?'

[You lied.]

'Eh?'

"You lied," Sinex suddenly spoke.

That was when Ha Joon realized — he had not escaped the nightmare.

He placed his hand on his face, trying to calm himself as his breath grew ragged.

"Calm down, calm down, it's just an illusion... right? It's an illusion."

He looked at the child again. The creepy smile on the kid's face hinted at everything.

"Don't tell me... this kid…"

[W...a...]

[Wa...warning!]

'Ciel?'

[I...tassk! I have managed...taassk! To break through the barrier... please exit the forest, my influence is temporary.]

Ha Joon looked toward the exit of the forest. He knew better than to question any help he was getting at that point.

He forcefully freed himself from the child's grip and immediately sprinted out of the forest.

But when he finally got out of the forest...

Pure white!