Chapter 1

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"Your mood seems quite good?"

I am asked by the prince, who sits across from me.

The man with short blue hair and sharp, elongated red eyes, whose face is sharp, is clearly taller than me even when seated.

His brows are furrowed, and at first glance, his expression seems unpleasant, but his voice is unexpectedly calm.

"It was because the last face of the crown prince was amusing."

I take a cookie from the handkerchief spread on my lap.

I gaze at the delicious-looking cookie with jam in the center, and I recall.

With a full smile on my face, he lets out a small breath.

He eats the cookie while watching me.

Since being summoned to this world, many things have happened, but it is thanks to him that I can spend my days peacefully.

"Disaac"

When I call his name, he looks at me.

"What is it?"

"Thank you for saving me that day."

"…It was nothing, just what I should have done."

His brows furrow.

I know it's just him being shy.

I smile and look up at the sky, "I see."

The sunlight filtering through the leaves feels pleasant.

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* * * * *

Wednesday after school.

I sigh, thinking it's finally the middle of the week, and start writing in the diary.

The other class monitor is carefully arranging the desks, and I glance at her sideways.

She is a classmate and the girl who sits in front of me.

She seems happy, probably because she has club activities after this.

Her hair, dyed a soft pink-brown, is cut to a fluffy length at her shoulders, and her eyes, likely colored contacts, match the color. Her face, lightly made up, is very cute.

She is good at both academics and sports, serious, kind, and attractive. She is popular and well-known throughout the school, not just the class.

I bring my gaze back to my hands.

A strand of black hair falls onto the diary, and I brush it off my shoulder.

Compared to her, I have long, undyed black hair, dull eyes that are almost black, and a rather plain appearance.

Average in academics, average in sports, average in appearance.

Just an ordinary high school girl.

That's who I am.

I was fine with that.

...Until that moment.

As I write in the diary casually, footsteps approach.

I look up to see a classmate—Ayana Kagetsuki—standing there, tilting her head and asking,

"Shiroyama, I'm done with my part. Have you finished writing the diary?"

Shiroyama Saya. That's my name.

"Yeah, I'll be done soon, so Ayana can go to her club if she wants."

"No, no, that's not right! I'm also a class monitor, so let's go to the staff room together after we finish?"

Ayana waves her hands frantically, looking cute.

Even as a girl, I find her cute, so I imagine she would look even cuter to boys.

"Okay, I'll finish soon...?"

Suddenly, my feet are bathed in a bright light.

I don't know if it was me or Ayana who muttered, "Huh?"

The moment we both looked down, the light at our feet shone even more brightly.

"Ah! What's this!?"

Ayana's scream echoes as we are enveloped in light.

A slight floating sensation, like being in an elevator, hits me, and the chair I was sitting on disappears.

As a result, I hit my bottom hard.

"Ouch"

...What just happened?

As if in response to my thoughts, a voice rings out.

"Oh, it's the Holy Maiden!"

"The Holy Maiden has arrived!!"

Murmurs can be heard.

I look up to see Ayana, like me, rubbing her bottom and looking around.

When I follow her gaze, I see that we are surrounded by unfamiliar people, and we are at the center of a strange pattern.

People rush over, and I am pushed away.

"Hey, wait, uh?"

They surround Ayana.

I can't hear everything, but I understand that they are talking about the "Holy Maiden," "summoning," and "success."

Stunned, I watch as a young man with golden hair approaches, his heels clicking.

The man, with an unusually handsome face, kneels.

"Holy Maiden, may I please know your name?"

Ayana blinks, "Eh?"

"Ah, me...?"

"Yes, I am Victor Eric Duesdan, the crown prince of the Kingdom of Dunié, Holy Maiden."

The man gently takes Ayana's hand.

Ayana, confused, answers the question.

"Um, I'm Ayana Kagetsuki. Kagetsuki is my family name, and Ayana is my given name...?"

"Ah, so you are Lady Yuna. Thank you for responding to our summoning magic this time."

"Summoning...?"

"Yes, this is a different world from the one you were in. I understand this must be sudden—"

I stand there, dumbfounded.

Holy Maiden, summoning magic, different world...?

...Wait, this is like a popular fantasy novel for women these days!!

As I stand there, stunned, a person in armor-like attire grabs my arm.

"Your Highness, what should we do with this one?"

The man, who is the crown prince of this country, turns around.

His beautiful green eyes narrow coldly as he looks at me.

"Who are you?"

Ayana hurriedly speaks up.

"Ah, Shiroyama is my classmate...!"

"What is a 'classmate'?"

"Um, a friend who has studied together in the same room..."

The man nods thoughtfully.

"Take her to a guest room."

The tone of his voice is much colder than when he was talking to Ayana.

The person holding my arm replies, "Yes, sir," and pulls me up, dragging me away without a word.

"Wait, stop...!"

I try to resist, but I am dragged along the corridor.

Looking back, I see Ayana, the crown prince, and many people behind the closing door.

But no one is looking at me.

"Let go, hey, a little!!"

My voice is ignored, and the grip on my arm only tightens.

Moreover, the person walking in front of me is moving fast, and I can barely keep up.

After a while, I trip and bump into the person's back when they suddenly stop.

Holding my nose, which I hit, I am pointed to a door that the person opens.

"Please stay here."

I am pushed inside.

The door slams shut behind me.

The room is large and beautiful, but that's all.

No one is there to explain anything to me.

Approaching the window, I look outside to see a dense cluster of red and orange roofs forming a town.

Nothing like the towns in Japan.

A shadow passes by.

Following it with my eyes, I see a small dragon-like creature flying, and upon closer inspection, it seems to be carrying a person on its back.

"...It really is a different world..."

A dry laugh escapes my lips.

I recall what happened earlier.

If I believe what those people said, this is a different world, and Ayana was summoned as the Holy Maiden.

Everyone called Ayana the Holy Maiden.

...If Ayana is the Holy Maiden, what about me, who is not?

In a story, the Holy Maiden is summoned to a different world, loved and respected by everyone.

But what about someone who is not the Holy Maiden?

...Should I try to escape?

But even if I escape, where can I go?

I know nothing about this world.

Leaning against the wall, I slide down to the floor.

...What should I do...?

No solutions come to mind.

Time passes endlessly.

Before I know it, the room has grown dim.

There is a knock on the door.

I stand up hurriedly, and the door opens.

A maid stands there.

"From today, I will be taking care of you. My name is Marie Lual..."

She looks like a new maid.

Her soft brown hair is parted and braided, and her droopy, tired golden eyes are behind round glasses. She looks to be around my age or a bit older.

She seems nervous and timid.

"I'm Shiroyama Saya. Saya is my name, but since we seem to be around the same age, can you call me Saya? And can you talk to me casually, Marie?"

"Yes, you can call me anything you like! And, um, you don't need to be so polite to me, a servant...!"

I chuckle at her flustered response.

"Okay, I understand. Then I'll call you Marie. Can you talk to me casually, Marie?"

"No, I can't treat the Holy Maiden from the same hometown like that...! I'll get in trouble...!!"

"I see..."

I feel disappointed at her shaking head and hands.

But I can't force her.

"From today, I will do my best to take care of you...!"

I nod in response to Marie's words.

"Thanks. I might cause you a lot of trouble since I don't understand anything, but please take care of me."

"Yes! Um, are you tired? Would you like to have a meal or take a bath?"

I think for a moment.

I'm not hungry due to the situation.

...I want to know more about my situation.

"Marie, can we talk together? I was brought to this room right after I arrived, so I don't really understand what's happening."

Marie looks surprised.

"Is that so...? Then, may I explain, even though it might be presumptuous?"

"Yes, that would really help."

Marie suggests I sit on the sofa, and I do so.

But she remains standing.

Servants don't sit with their guests, and she refuses even when I suggest it.

Anyway, I learn about the situation from Marie.

In this world, there are creatures called monsters.

They are essentially magical beasts or humanoid creatures with magical abilities.

They are aggressive, attack humans, and are generally stronger than humans.

Monsters exist everywhere, and humans can be attacked while going about their daily lives.

To prevent this, villages and towns are protected by barriers created by special magical artifacts.

However, these barriers must be powered by holy magic.

There are few people with holy magic, and even fewer who can power the artifacts.

Each country has a holy person or holy maiden who provides the necessary magic to protect their people.

"But, the Holy Maiden of the Kingdom of Dunié passed away a few months ago. After searching the entire country, no one with enough holy magic to power the artifacts was found..."

Without the holy magic, the artifacts will stop functioning, and the villages and towns will be attacked by monsters.

To prevent this, the Kingdom of Dunié sent envoys to neighboring countries, but none of them agreed to help.

Holy people and holy maidens are essential for protecting their countries and people, and no country would give them up.

"Thus, our country decided to use summoning magic as a last resort. In the history of the Kingdom of Dunié, there have been instances where holy people and holy maidens were summoned. This time, we hoped for their mercy."

"I see."

So, Ayana has holy magic and was summoned as the Holy Maiden, and I was just caught up in it.

"Then, I was really just caught up in it, huh?"

Marie shudders slightly.

"I'm so sorry..."

"Why are you apologizing, Marie?"

"Because, um, you were brought to this world even though you had nothing to do with it..."

Marie's voice trembles, like a child who has done something wrong and is being scolded.

Without thinking, I stand up and take her hand.

"True, I was caught up in it, but it's not your fault. ...It was just bad luck."

Marie's eyes are moist as she looks up.

"Has anyone who was summoned ever returned to their original world?"

"No, that has never happened..."

I chuckle, feeling a bit sad.

...I see.

It's common in these stories that summoning someone is easy, but sending them back is difficult.

If I can't return, I won't be able to see my family, friends, or anyone else again.

I understand this intellectually, but my heart hasn't caught up yet.

It feels unreal, and I can only sense a vague unease.

"What should I do?"

I'm just an extra, not the Holy Maiden.

I'm probably not needed in this country.

"You should take your time and enjoy yourself! If you find something you like, you should do it...!"

I nod at Marie's words, "That's a good idea."

But I remember the cold gaze of the crown prince from a few hours ago.

...I can't be too optimistic.

That cold gaze clearly said, "You are not needed."

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