V1C1 Part1

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

Part 1

On the way to school, the bus that I was riding on got into an accident. To be exact, the whole bus was hanging in the air. This is a school road. There are no cliffs…

Am I hallucinating from being tired or…

I did work overnight yesterday.

They gave me 12 hours in my part-time just before my mid-terms, saying I needed to know the harshness of life, which isn’t a good reason to say the least. That was not a good reason to put me on a shift at all! The next thing I knew, I was given shifts for 3 consecutive days. I was given no choice at all as they threatened to call the school on me, working, if I didn’t accept.

Anyway, the bus continued to fall.

The moment just before death definitely feels long.

So, this is it huh? I’ve never really had anything good going for me, but I at least wanted experience what it felt like to be a respectable member of society after I graduated.

But oh well… there’s nothing I can do about it.

Just as I steeled myself, however… my vision faded into pure white.

When I came to, we were standing in a shimmering hall. There was a long carpet that stretched long through the hall, and at the end of it was a golden throne.

The bus was nowhere in sight. There wasn’t a disastrous impact. All the passengers, including me were standing in front of the throne.

What is this?

“Welcome, travelers from another world.”

“Our world is under threat of the Demon Lord’s invasion.”

“Which was why we summoned you.”

A kingly person that was seated on the throne and a robed magician took turns in speaking.

A summoning to another world… I’ve read about it in books, apparently it’s real… however, I wasn’t really all that impressed. I’ve often had to transfer schools because of the circumstances inside my house. I wonder if it’s because of that; getting used to the constant changes of my environment?

It could also be because of the expression the king and the magician held in their eyes. I could only get a bad feeling from it.

“Please, brave heroes from another world…”

“The chosen ones.”

“Could you please save our world that’s about to be wrapped in darkness. We have need of your powers.”

I knew I recognized their eyes. I know those kinds of eyes well. They have the same eyes as an employer from a shady company.

We were summoned without even asking and then we’ll be forced to work for them. To make matters worse, there wasn’t any concrete evidence supporting their claims.

A chill went down my spine. I need to run away.

All of a sudden, the king and the magician raised their voices and proceeded to move the conversation without letting us have an opportunity to get a word in.

This is bad, these people are dangerous.

“With the skills that are only bestowed to you other-worlders, defeat the Demon Lord and save this world.”

“Once the Demon Lord has been destroyed, we will open up a way that will lead back to your original world.”

“What’s the scale of the Demon Lord’s army? How’s the strength of the human army?” I started to talk without holding back.

“What’s our reward? You say you’ll give us 400 Arsha, but how much is it really worth in terms of this world? How many years can normal people live off of 400 Arsha? Is there a regular compensation? Are we to be compensated after the job is finished or do we get a fixed salary?

“Just now, you said that you would be using transfer magic to get us to the fortress, but isn’t that just weird? We don’t even know a single thing about this world. We don’t know a thing about their culture or how well their food situation is. In the first place, if we were sent into the front lines, we won’t be able to adapt to the general lifestyle. If we opposed and were thrown out, then we would have no choice but to follow that order. What do we about that?

“Moreover, why hasn’t there been talks about a contract to make sure that we return to our own world if we do defeat the Demon Lord? You didn’t even offer to provide us with weapons or equipment! What do you mean please just believe in our words?! It’s not a matter of us being the ‘chosen ones’ that’s the issue, but rather, I’m asking for an employment contract with its terms of services!”

Ah, I was kicked out.

“Excuse me, could you wait for a bit!”

The royal guards were ushering me out down the hallway of the royal palace in a rush, when suddenly a voice called out from behind us. When I turned to look back, two of the students that were summoned with me were standing there.

One of them was a boy with glasses and the other, a girl with a ponytail. The boy had a neatly straightened hair and looked all the more serious, the girl, on the other hand, had the same vibe as all those typical girl athletes had.

“His Majesty has given me permission, so could I just have a bit of a chat with him?” the one in the glasses said.

The guard glanced at the other end of the corridor that led to the throne room. He met the gaze of another guard who then nodded in affirmation. The guards lowered their spears and left me to the two students. Meanwhile, the aforementioned two approached me.

“What do you intend to do?” came the question from the boy with the glasses.

I’ve only thought of doing what I can do so far to quickly get away from this place but, now that I’ve accomplished that, I find myself wondering the same thing.

“As someone who’s been kicked out, I don’t think it’s a good idea to involve myself in their matters…”

“Before anything else, let me introduce myself, I’m Yamazoe, the student council president of our school. This here is Takimoto, a childhood friend of mine and also the vice president. What’s yours?”

“Souma, Souma Nagi.” I answered curtly.

I glance at the guards… as I thought, they were looking this way. Even though I tried so hard to keep any of my personal information to leak out to any of the people with relations to the king…

Was there anything else I could have done in this case? If I just ignored them and started running, well, the guards were already being vigilant against me… on the worst possible scenario, I could be stabbed.

“I came to stop you. Won’t you become a hero and save this world with us?” Yamazoe said with a gentle smile.

Wow the stu-co president really is amazing. He was even being nice to someone who was kicked out by the King. Well, I need to respond in kind to answer his determination, don’t I?

“No. There’s already some ill-will between me and the King.” I felt like the King’s request were too close to a shady company for my liking. Plus, the King probably didn’t want such a troublesome guy like me around, that’s why I let myself be kicked out. I felt that I had a better chance of survival if I did so. Every fiber of my being was saying that what the King was asking for was impossible.

It looks like everyone else thought otherwise though.

I mean, there’s no telling whether I was undoubtedly correct or not. Even in our original world, the King’s request might come across as a shady job but turn out to be a dream job in the end. Who knows? It’s possible that the ones who stayed back there are the lucky ones.

“If you guys want to play hero, then you guys do it. I won’t stop you or stand in your way.”

“Come on, don’t be so cold.” Yamazoe reached his hand out towards me. Meanwhile, Takimoto was staring at the president with enamored eyes. Ah, so it was that kind of relationship. “Everyone’s banding together with our group as it’s center. Aside from that, you’re the only one that’s left out.”

“If everyone’s banding together, then it should be fine as it is right? I won’t go.”

I looked at the guards’ direction. They were starting to surround the area from a distance. If I say something carelessly, they’ll probably regard me as an enemy huh? Alright, let’s say something safe.

“Like I said earlier, I need to know things like, both sides’ military force, their battle conditions. Also things such as the geography and the economy of the places from here to the frontier; even the terms of employment and the working conditions – anyway, my point is, I don’t see all the pieces on the board. I just can’t accept His Majesty’s request, or rather, it made me unable to judge whether I can accept it or not. So at the very least, I could be safe…”

“I know you’re not satisfied with the situation but…” Yamazoe’s initially outstretched hand stopped in its track then it clasped tightly, “but, we’re heroes destined by fate, trusted by the King, aren’t we? Aren’t we beings, bestowed with an important mission of saving this world? Do we just betray their hopes and trust?! Don’t you think that we have a duty to fulfill as people who are set apart from others and were chosen as heroes?!”

Yamazoe’s hand thrust towards the sky as his voice reverberated throughout the corridor. From behind him, Takimoto was nodding with a moved expression on her face.

Once again, a chill went down my spine. These guys… they’re dangerous.

One of my colleagues from my previous shady company did the same thing. He would parrot and go according to the boss’s wishes with great fervor, eventually he would go on to drag our other coworkers along to suicidal shifts with no breaks. His favorite saying was “Meet expectations!”, but after 2 weeks with that kind of lifestyle, they would look like zombies and quit immediately after.

Don’t these two understand the current situation?

The King summoned us, who don’t know a single thing about this world, and then tell us to go to the front-lines to fight the Demon Lord army, y’know? Even then, whether it be to me or to Yamazoe’s group, he didn’t even offer a single necessary information.

Still, Yamazoe, with a hopeful face said, “In the first place, wouldn’t it be rude to ask for terms of employment and working conditions would be rude before actually working? First you have to garner achievements and gain their trust, that’s why you have to listen right?”

…I’m sorry, I don’t get what you’re trying to say.

“What do you mean by achievements?”

“Well… unless I ask…”

“Go ask then! That’s an important thing to know!”

“That’s what I’m saying, we’ll know after we get some achievements!”

“So it’s a never-ending loop?!” My head hurt with their logic.

Meanwhile, Takimoto was staring at Yamazoe with a fevered look on her face.

For real? You listen to all that, and you don’t think it’s weird at all?

“Listen, Souma-kun. The King called us as the ‘chosen ones’.”

“Yeah, so?”

“The King is this country’s greatest figure, you know, in other words, he’s like the president of this country’s biggest company!”

“…Ok, and?”

“It’s absurd to doubt such a person! I’m sure he’s properly thinking about our well-being. After all, we are the ‘chosen ones’!”

…Ah, I somewhat get it now.

These two weren’t listening to my concerns at all huh?

It’s just… workplaces that move people around with only the expectations they have for them are dangerous, just saying. If only the King talked about the working conditions properly, and showed us a map that goes all the way to the front lines, then that would be it; end of story, but he didn’t even do that. That’s why I don’t trust him. That’s the only reason I need.

They’re slowly getting on my nerves. Why are they trying to get me in such a situation?

“I don’t understand why you’re so on your guard about this.”

“Because, the King’s request smells suspicious, hello?”

“Ah… I see… don’t you understand that you were summoned and that you’ve transformed…?” Yamazoe’s voice came to a whisper. He brought his face closer to me. Is he being vigilant against the guards?

The girl – Takimoto – moves to a position to block the guards’ line of sight.

“H-hey! What the-” Stop it! What are you trying to do?!

Do you understand how it looks when we, people from another world, talk about something that we don’t want the guards to hear? What will you do if you make them be on their guard against us?

“…hey, listen well.” However, Yamazoe, didn’t seem to realize my concerns.

Grinning ear to ear, with a face that seemed to say that he had a really good idea, he spoke to me, “…we’re not people of this world; it’s a matter of having special skills. If it comes down to it, with everyone’s help, we can control this world’s forces. See, there’s nothing at all to be afraid of, right?”

…what?

What… did he say… just now?

This guy- what- what did he just say?!

“S-stop screwing around!” I grabbed Yamazoe by the shirt without thinking.

This is bad. I can’t be associated with these people.

I don’t even want to be within a Kilometer radius, talking; even more so, if everyone from our world agrees with this guy, I don’t want to see them a second time even from a distance.

“You’re saying some real stupid shit right now, aren’t you? There’s no way I’ll ever join you guys! If you’re looking to die, don’t drag others down with you! Get lost! Don’t you ever go near me again!”

“Wha-?!” Were you really surprised by my menacing attitude? Yamazoe fell, bottom-first along the corridors of the royal palace, eyes wide open. Did you seriously not notice? Really, this guy…

What do you think you’re saying in this place, right now, of all times?!

The King already said the exact same thing, that we were summoned with special skills. And yes, the skill that we received might be more powerful than what’s in this world. If it wasn’t the case, then the King should have no reason to summon us here.

So yeah, it is possible.

Should all these skills, these cheat skills, be used together, this world’s armies would be brought under their control.

But did he really have to talk about it here and now?! Inside the royal palace, where it’s most heavily guarded, where said guards have us surrounded from a distance!

Why would you say things that would bring the whole country down on us if they happened to overhear?!

If the guards were far enough that they wouldn’t be able to overhear, then I would understand. But what if they were a race that had acute hearing? What if they can lip read? What if there were some kind of skill? We don’t know what kind of skills are out there!

Anyway, if it’s just the fact that we have cheat skills, then the King knows that. Surely, he’s wary of us. That’s why he most likely has counter-measures against us. It’s also why he’s preparing to send us to the front lines. His explanations had sent off warning signals, as if it’s happened before.

If one was to suppose that, even before us, there were other heroes that were summoned, then one would expect that they would have measures put in place should a time come that we would turn against them. Anyone can come to a similar conclusion if they put a little thought into the situation.

…this isn’t a joke.

I didn’t want to be regarded as a dangerous person by the people of this world, so I desperately held on to my “incompetent” aura. That was the best way that I thought I could be free and survive. That’s why – “I won’t be a hero. I can’t be one. I don’t have one of those strong skills! I felt that I was useless so I left. That should be enough, right!? So go back to those hero friends you have!” – That’s why, I can’t work with this guy.

If everyone else was in league with these guys, then I can’t work with them either.

“Wait, aren’t you being too harsh?” Takimoto’s voice rose from behind the stunned Yamazoe. With her ponytail swaying back and forth, she stood right between me and Yamazoe.

“The president was just being worried right? If you set-off on your own in this other world, you’ll die, you know?”

“Actually, I might have a better chance if I’m alone.” It’s better than if I go along with dangerous guys like you all, definitely.

“It’s better if we cooperate. Aren’t we all friends, along with everyone in the bus? Do you want me to introduce you? Everyone’s in the same boat , having been made into heroes, but they’re in agreement and all fired up.”

I see. They’re that set in their delusions of grandeur. Then no matter how much I try to persuade them, it won’t go through their heads. From all of my experiences of having worked in shady companies, the King’s request smelled fishy, but even if I say it to them…

“Hey, you student council people.”

“Hm?”

“Don’t you think that compared to us who have cheat skills, that they, who know about this world’s rules are stronger?” Can you understand what I’m getting at? Even if we are heroes, currently, we are at a weaker position because we don’t know a thing. Against people who are used to summoning heroes, and would most likely have measures put in place against them, we wouldn’t stand a chance.

“O-oh, is that so? Hmm…’ came Yamazoe’s half-hearted reply. As I thought, they weren’t listening to my words.

…these guys really want to be the “chosen heroes”.

“It’s time, Yuusha-sama.” There was a clang before the guards thrust a spear in-between me and the president. “I understand His Majesty the King’s and your sentiments, but this should be good enough.”

“There are just some heroes you cannot save.”

“The world’s crisis is of more import as of the moment. Please, return to His Majesty. The other heroes are waiting.” The guards started saying.

The two student council members came to understand, as if there was a lightning that struck them.

“You’re right… It’s unfortunate, but we need to save the world.”

“President…”

Yamazoe’s shoulders drooped down in disappointment and Takimoto goes to hug them.

It was like lines taken straight out of a drama.

Well, that’s fine too.

I’ve said what I had to say and gave them as much advice I could possibly give. Anything after that is their problem. If you really have cheat skills, you’ll survive.

“Well then, I’m gonna go now.” Even to the end, only I thought that the King’s request felt impossible.

The guards, with spears in hand, hurried me towards the exit. Even if they didn’t tell me, I don’t have any business in this place. In my mind, I get reminded of the King’s request.

Yeah. Definitely a shady company.

At the very least for me, it was impossible. It’s in my very instinct.

I belong to the world outside the palace walls. I need to collect information, decide on how to make a living – to survive. Those are my immediate goals.

<< Previous | ToC | Next >>

Like this:Like Loading...