Okay, so I’m going to make a prediction:
We got to see the view of the inside of the old man’s mouth, but as far as I’m aware the only time we’ve seen a similar view it’s been while the MC was talking.
I’m guessing that the “evil spirit” the old man was talking about was Inky (the same spirit helping the MC) and that when we get that view of looking out from the mouth it’s actually Inky’s POV.
All the way back in the 2nd chapter we see that the MC performed a magic ritual where he met Inky and was transferred to the other world so I don’t really think that the MC was killed by the old man and THEN transferred to the other world.
Instead I think that the MC will destroy the skin drum right before he’s attacked, and by destroying the drum it will release Inky who will then protect the MC.
And then the MC will later on do the ritual and the first thing to respond will be Inky (who has either latched on to the MC already or had been keeping a close eye on him).