Chapter 6

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

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Amidst the cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

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After recovering useful items from the carriage that had been attacked by monsters, we came to the edge of the road to move back into the forest when I found a black bracelet.

It was stained with blood, probably belonging to its owner, but after being identified by the "Eye of Crystal," it looked the same as the ones everyone had been wearing.

"It's a slave bracelet, I suppose the carriage also had slaves on it."

"Huh, what did you just say? Reinhardt."

"Yes, Lord Kent, you didn't know about slave bracelets?"

"Well, I've seen something like this bracelet before, but what is it for?"

"Lord Kent, it's a magical item that binds slaves and prevents them from disobeying..."

"No way, that wicked princess, she really did it!"

I told Reinhardt and the others that all the classmates who were summoned with us were made to wear these bracelets.

Naturally, Reinhardt and the others' expressions darkened, and I could easily read their changes in expression.

Yeah, they must all be expressive skeletons, right?

"Lord Kent, it seems everyone has been deceived."

"Yeah, there's no other way to think about it... Wait, what?"

"What's the matter, Lord Kent?"

"Hey, is there a spell to send the summoned people back to their original world?"

"Well, I'm not sure. The summoning of heroes is a secret of the royal family, so we can't be certain."

Not only Reinhardt, but Bastien and Fred also tilted their heads.

I started to feel that the situation was very awkward.

If we've been deceived this much, it seems there might not be a way to return to our original world.

"What happened to the heroes who were summoned before? Did they return to their original world?"

"Well, I only know about the summoning of heroes from fairy tales, and most of the stories end with the hero marrying a royal beauty and living happily ever after."

"Does that mean they couldn't return, or they chose not to?"

"I'm not sure about that."

"I see, but it seems better to be suspicious."

"Yes, from what we've heard, the third princess, Camilla, seems to have a clear ambition."

"This makes it even more clear that we shouldn't return to the military."

"Yes, if we return, it won't end well. Fortunately, we have enough money to live for a while, so it's better to observe from the outside for now."

"Right, and we should look for a way to help everyone... But can we even do that?"

I thought that if we had Reinhardt and the others as guards and explored the forest, we would be treated well, but if everyone summoned was made into slaves, the situation is different.

I suddenly felt uncertain about the future.

Bastien must have sensed this and spoke up.

"Lord Kent, it's difficult to say you shouldn't be anxious in the current situation, but it's better not to fall into negative thinking."

"But, Bastien, while we're here, our friends are being held as slaves."

"Yes, that's true, but the third princess must have summoned everyone for a specific purpose, and as long as that purpose isn't achieved, the risk of harm is low."

"I see, she wouldn't dispose of what she summoned... Wait, but I was disposed of, right?"

"Yes, at that time, Lord Kent was considered... well, a dud."

"I see, so there's no need to worry about everyone who is considered useful, unlike me, a dud... Why do I feel tears streaming down my face?"

"Lord Kent, at the time, it might have been different, but now, there's no one in the kingdom who can match Lord Kent's magical abilities. Also..."

"Also?"

"The slave bracelet is made using dark magic, and Lord Kent might be able to remove it."

Hearing Bastien's words, I focused my mind on the bracelet in my hand.

The bracelet had a special magical formula embedded in it, and it usually required a specific formula to remove it.

Additionally, it was designed to register the magic pattern of a specific person, probably the one who put it on, and if the wearer tried to disobey, their movements and magic would be hindered.

The material seemed to be clay mixed with monster blood, inscribed with magical formulas and baked.

When I tried to interfere with the formula locking the bracelet, it split into two parts.

"What, how...?"

"Huh? What's wrong, Bastien said you could remove it..."

"I said you could remove it, but using an improper method should take hours."

"Really? But when I imagined interfering with the formula, it came off."

"While that's the procedure, to remove it so easily..."

It seems I used another unconventional magic, and Reinhardt and the others were wide-eyed.

Wide-eyed skeletons, quite surreal, isn't it?

"Hey, if I put this bracelet on the wicked princess, can I make her my slave?"

"Probably not. The creation and removal of slave bracelets are managed by those authorized by the royal family, and the royal family is not allowed to become slaves, so they know the removal formula."

"Che, then it's useless to have it..."

Still, I thought I could return triumphantly with my cheat magic, but now that I know they treat everyone summoned as slaves, returning would only mean being used.

Fortunately, I can use dark magic, so the chance of me becoming a slave is almost zero, but it's better to avoid risks.

So, we decided to infiltrate the fortress city of Volzard as travelers, not as summoned people.

However, if we said we came through the forest alone, we would definitely be suspected, so we dirtied our beautiful clothes to make it look like we had escaped for our lives.

I claimed to be an apprentice healer from a caravan from the western country, and that I had lost all my identification when attacked by monsters.

"But, it would be awkward to be completely penniless."

"Yes, Lord Kent, as a healer, you can earn money quickly, but it's better to have some money on hand."

"Well, if necessary, I can take it out from the shadow space..."

I stored all suspicious items in the shadow space, and if anything was needed, I could have Reinhardt and the others get it.

Thanks to the continuous strengthening of the three of them while we were in the forest, they have become incredibly powerful skeletons.

Even without me summoning them, they can now move freely in the shadow space.

So, Reinhardt would guard me, while Bastien and Fred would gather information freely.

"Alright, let's go..."

"Yes, Lord Kent."

Through the gaps in the trees, we could already see part of the fortress of Volzard.

To enter the fortress city of Volzard, we had to pass through the gate of the fortress.

While we could use shadow travel to enter, it would be troublesome if we were caught without permission, so we decided to enter officially.

With the safety of the surroundings secured by the three of them, we emerged from the forest, pretending to be staggering, and headed for the gate of Volzard.

We were soon discovered from the lookout tower on the fortress, and people could be seen moving on the upper part of the gate.

We added a performance of tripping and falling as we approached the gate.

After all, with three cheat skeletons guarding me in the shadows, there was no worry of being attacked by monsters, and we had the luxury to act.

"Hey! Are you okay, come over here quickly... Ah, someone, help him!"

A sturdy door next to the large gate opened, and a strong soldier rushed out.

I stumbled and reached out my hand, tripped again, and fell.

Heavy footsteps approached, and as I tried to get up, I was lifted and carried.

Wow, the position I was carried in felt unusually high.

"Good job, you're safe now, let's get you out of here!"

"Water... wa..."

"Just a little more, we'll be in town soon, and you can drink as much as you want."

I was carried with my head facing the forest, so I couldn't see the city as we approached, but we passed through the thick walls and entered the city.

Yes, we successfully infiltrated.

"Someone, bring water, are you okay, hold on."

"Y-yes... wa... water..."

"Alright, wait a moment, here's the water."

"Ah..."

I greedily drank the water from the cup offered to me.

Then, I prostrated myself and thanked them repeatedly.

"Thank you, thank you... thank you... th..."

"Are you okay?"

"Y-yes... but everyone... everyone is... gone..."

"I see, it's okay now, the monsters can't enter here, so you can rest easy."

"Thank you... thank you..."

Despite the guilt of deceiving the people who helped me, I continued to act as someone who had narrowly escaped with my life.

Moreover, I had brought three dangerous skeletons with me, not just escaped from monsters.

After that, we were led to the guardhouse and I was laid on a bed.

Although today's escape was an act, the fatigue from the past few days of an entirely different life caught up with me, and I fell into a deep sleep.

When I woke up, it took me a while to realize where I was.

I must have been in a deep sleep.

"Hey, you're awake, yeah, you looked like a corpse yesterday, but you look a bit better now."

"Ah... where am I..."

"Yes, this is the guardhouse of the fortress city of Volzard, you did well to make it here alive."

"Thank you..."

The voice belonged to the soldier who had carried me yesterday.

As my sleepy mind finally grasped the situation, I wondered how to respond and looked down in thought.

But my posture seemed to be interpreted as mourning lost companions.

"It's a shame about your companions, but it's not your fault, and it's a good thing you survived."

"Y-yes... thank you..."

"When you're ready, I'd like to hear your story, is that okay?"

"Yes, to be honest, I'm still shaken and may not answer well..."

At that moment, my stomach loudly announced its hunger.

"Alright, let's have some food first."

"Thank you, I'm sorry..."

The meal was simple, just bread, cheese, and soup, but it was the first elaborate meal in a long time, and I shed tears without acting.

The tears seemed to be interpreted well.

After breakfast, the questioning began.

The soldier was the third captain of the guard, named Karlz.

He was nearly 190 cm tall, broad-shouldered, and had a square jaw.

His dark brown, curly hair and dark green eyes, along with his stubble, gave him a rugged look.

I introduced myself as Kent, without using a fake name.

Of course, there are no kanji in this world, but the name Kent is not uncommon.

Only nobles who govern territories can use surnames.

During the questioning, a shocking fact came to light.

"What are you talking about, this is not the Kingdom of Reisenburg, what era are you talking about, this is the Republic of Lanzhelt."

"Huh...?"

While Reinhardt and the others wandered as skeletons, time had passed, and the Kingdom of Reisenburg had split into two countries, separated by the forest.

The current Kingdom of Reisenburg is only on the western side of the forest, while the eastern side is the Republic of Lanzhelt.

What! I almost shouted.

The forest had prevented the royal family's effective control, and the eastern side had become a republic governed by a council of seven major city lords.

"Sorry, I'm still confused, wait, I left Reisenburg, wait?"

"Hmm, no need to rush, take your time and think it through."

While I was inwardly panicking, I pretended to be confused by tilting my head.

Actually, I was in a state of confusion.

"By the way, Kent, what did you do?"

"I joined a caravan from the western country as an apprentice healer..."

I told Karlz, as planned, that I had lost everything except for a little money, and he genuinely sympathized with me.

"I see, that must have been a tough experience, but Kent, to be an apprentice healer at your age is impressive."

"N-no, I only did odd jobs for my master, and I haven't actually treated anyone yet."

"That's understandable, I've heard that healing magic requires experience and intuition, so it's not surprising that you can't treat people at your age."

If I said I could heal even internal injuries, what kind of reaction would I get?

"So, Kent, are you looking for a job or a place to stay?"

"Yes, I'm looking for a job or a place to stay."

"In that case, I'll take you to the guild."

"Guild? Does that mean I'll become an adventurer?"

"Yes, some countries do that, but our guild is a place where anyone looking for work can register, regardless of their profession."

"Regardless of profession?"

"Yes, from specialized crafts to jobs for beginners, we have everything except illegal activities."

"Is that so, then there might be something I can do."

While earning money as a healer is good, the idea of taking on quests from a guild in a different world is appealing.

I can have Reinhardt and the others take care of the monsters, and maybe explore dungeons.

"How about it, Kent, if you're feeling better, shall we go now?"

"Yes, please."

And so, I found myself heading to the guild of my dream different world.