Chapter 5

I was summoned, and it has probably been about a year, hasn't it?

In this year, the only thing that has changed is that I can't become a "Hero," and the 69th Hero was summoned. Surely, many things must be happening outside. The only information I receive is that a new Hero has been summoned.

If a new Hero has been summoned, then I am no longer needed. Even if I were to leave this room, I can't do much because of my illness...

Will I die of illness in this room, or will I be killed because I am no longer needed? Either way, I will die.

I think I will probably be killed soon. This country is not kind enough to keep someone who is no longer useful.

Besides, I had already given up on living a long time ago. Even if I were to leave this place, I couldn't survive in an unknown world with my illness. It's impossible with this body.

I look out the window from my bed. It must be the moon, like on Earth. A blue moon shines on me, looking lonely. I wish it were yellow...

Suddenly, a voice calls out to me in the quiet room.

"Hey, aren't you the Hero?"

The door to the room didn't open, but I heard a voice. I shift my gaze from the window to the door, and there stands a young man with brown hair and light green eyes.

Without answering, I feel impatient, and the young man approaches my bed.

"Hey, answer my question."

"Who are you?"

For a moment, I thought he might be an assassin, but even if he were, I have no way to resist. I have no confidence in escaping with this body. My fate is already decided, so I decide to satisfy my curiosity a little.

Besides, if he kills me, I would gladly give up my life.

"Answer my question first. Aren't you the Hero?"

"I am officially the 68th Hero."

When I answer, he looks thoughtful.

"68th? Wasn't the 69th Hero summoned?"

"I was summoned a year ago."

"Hmm..."

"Who are you? Do you have something to say to me?"

"Yeah... I was the 23rd Hero summoned. Before being summoned, I was in Japan. I was summoned around 2005, I think."

I am speechless. If I am the 68th, then 67 people were summoned before me, but I never thought another Japanese person would be summoned...

"You?"

"I was summoned in 2010..."

"Hmm... Stay still for a moment."

Saying this, the 23rd Hero places his hand on my chest. I feel a shock like an electric current, but that's all.

"I see, that's what it is."

He looks satisfied, and I watch him curiously.

"I just took a look at your memories," he says casually, without any remorse. I don't have any embarrassing memories, but I think he should have asked first.

"You know, you'll be killed if you stay like this."

He tells me this with a serious expression, looking at my face intently.

"Will I be killed, then? Even if I am, there's nothing I can do."

When I tell him I have no intention of doing anything, he looks into the depths of my heart and asks:

"If your illness were cured, what would you want to do in this world?"

I answer the 23rd Hero's question without hesitation.

"I want to die like a camellia."

I tell him that I am willing to be killed. The time spent in this white room, slowly dying, is unbearable. I want to die with dignity.

"You don't really want that, do you?"

He smiles wryly at my almost immediate answer.

"I'm asking what you want to do."

What I want to do... When asked, only one thing comes to mind.

"Is there nothing you want to do?"

"I... If my illness is cured, I want to travel the world. And I want to die in a place I choose."

He listens to me calmly, without changing his expression.

"Then, I'll give you what you need to do that. Since you have no reason to live in this world... I'll give you my life."

He says this lightly, and for a moment, I doubt my ears. Seeing his serious expression, I raise my voice.

"I don't want to travel at the cost of someone else's life!"

He looks at me, trying to calm me down.

"Alright, I admit I phrased it badly. Let me explain step by step. Listen to my story, and then you can make a decision, okay?"

Saying this, he pulls a chair from somewhere and places it next to my bed, sitting down.

"...Where did you get that chair?"

There are no chairs in this room. He didn't have anything before, and there's no place to hide a chair.

He smiles and dismisses my question without answering.

"First, let's start with introductions. I am the 23rd person summoned. My name in Japan is Kanae Tokito. Here, I am called Kyle. I've abandoned my real name, so just call me Kyle."

Kyle looks at me. He has seen my memories, so he might not need this, but...

"I am Sakamoto Setsuna..."

"What's wrong?"

Seeing me fall silent after saying my name, Kyle looks at me suspiciously.

"I just realized this is the first time I've given my name in this world."

"Weren't you asked your name when you were summoned?"

"I fainted before I could be asked. They probably decided it wasn't necessary to ask."

"I see..."

He falls silent for a moment, as if thinking, but that's all I can tell.

After the introductions, Kyle starts telling me his story.

About being summoned, what happened after being summoned, and about this country. The people summoned as Heroes are essentially slaves to the country.

Only a few people in the country, like Gardel and Elana, know that the Heroes are "Summoners."

And in this world, life is valued very low...

As Kyle tells me these things, his face is filled with deep suffering. I have only been lying in this room for a year, but Kyle must have gone through a lot.

Kyle's face, which had been filled with bitterness, suddenly brightens.

"But, I was saved by the 5th Hero who was summoned."

"The 5th Hero?"

"Yeah."

While talking with Kyle, I realize something. This is the first time someone has talked to me as Sakamoto Setsuna in this world.

For a year in this world, the only people I've known are the maids who only talk to me about the bare minimum.

No one visited my room, and no one tried to interact with me. I was treated like an object.

As we talk, these feelings overflow, and even though I should be listening to Kyle, tears stream down my face uncontrollably...

He calls me by my name and talks to me. He listens to me and responds.

This time with him feels incredibly precious and happy.

I realize I was starving for human interaction.

"Don't cry, I won't comfort a crying man."

Kyle teases me, but his words are filled with kindness and care. I smile for the first time since coming to this world.

My first true friend. We just met, but I'm sure Kyle would allow me to call him that.

The time I spent with him was very short, but he gave me a future... a precious friend...

Thank you for reading.