Chapter 1

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I, Shiroishi Ryo, am being held captive in a room about the size of a one-room apartment, with a window that won't open, a door locked from the outside, a bed that isn't too shabby, and some decent furniture. I can understand that my situation is far from good.

I sigh deeply. I walk around the small room aimlessly.

The reality of the situation is so unreasonable that my mind can't keep up. To put it simply, the situation is as follows:

- I was summoned to this world as a hero.

- But my abilities are far from what is expected of a hero.

- To decide my future, I was first asked to leave the room, and then I was put under house arrest.

- The impression of this country is very bad, and there is no hope for the future.

To be honest, I would rather not go through hellish training to become a hero. What could they possibly expect from me, a regular citizen? The idea of becoming a hero and saving the world in another world is somewhat appealing, but unfortunately, I am a grown-up (twenty-seven years old) who is aware of reality. If it had been five years earlier, it might have been a different story, but the people who summoned me are the kind who kidnap and imprison others without hesitation. It doesn't seem like they will respond reasonably... What should I do?

---

The last day I spent in Japan was hot. It was a dry rainy season, and it was early summer, so my body hadn't adapted to the heat yet. It would have been cooler if it had rained as usual, but the humid rainy season weather wasn't pleasant either. Both options were undesirable.

Under the scorching blue sky, I walked to the nearest station in my suit, wiping sweat with a hand towel. That's when it happened. My vision turned white, and I lost the sensation in my feet. After a few seconds of floating, I landed. I lost my balance and fell to the cold floor on both knees and hands. It was clearly artificial, not concrete. It was probably stone or something, not metal.

When I stood up and looked around, four men in robes were nodding satisfactorily at me. The room, lit by candlelight, had no windows and looked like a basement. I was standing in the center of a magical array drawn on the floor.

I was confused. Of course, I was. I was suddenly in an unfamiliar room with suspicious people. I was shocked and confused.

I asked the men if this was some kind of prank, but they didn't respond. The man closest to me was handed a box by one of the others, and he brought it over and opened it, offering it to me. I tensed up for a moment but realized they wanted to give me something inside. I avoided eye contact and reached for the contents of the box.

It was a beautiful ring with a gemstone.

I froze. It looked exactly like the ring on the finger of the man in front of me.

I put my hand to my forehead and looked down, thinking.

...Why am I being proposed to?

Moreover, by a middle-aged man, who looks to be in his forties.

I looked at him. He pointed to the ring and then to me.

"Is this for me?" I asked, using gestures. He nodded twice with a smile.

My game brain whispered that I must have been summoned, but why would I be in a gay situation with an old man?

I'm a hero, right? Why would they summon a gay buddy? I'm straight. I firmly declined. I pulled back my extended hand and kept my distance. Why would I have to be in a paired relationship with such an old man?

Noticing my caution, he tried to communicate desperately. Occasionally, he spoke, but it wasn't Japanese or English. Even if it were English, I wouldn't have understood it. It was a completely incomprehensible language.

It seemed they wanted me to put on the ring... but even if I gave in, I would be paired with an old man. Reluctantly, I put on the ring, hoping it would lead to the next step. I hoped for a rosy outcome...

"Now, we can understand each other. Please follow me to a different place."

A translation ring instead of an engagement ring.

It's a sudden fantasy turn, but I'm not sure if it's real. They might have just pretended they couldn't speak. I took off the ring while they were talking, and their words became incomprehensible again.

"Do you want to listen to me?"

"Sorry, I've never seen something like this before."

Interrupting their explanation, I realized it wasn't a prank, but I was scolded. I understand they have their reasons, but I need more information to judge the situation.

"Anyway, you have been summoned to this country as a hero to save this world."

This is bad. I didn't listen to the explanation, so I don't know why I was summoned. I wanted them to explain again, but their hurried pace suggested they wouldn't.

We climbed a long staircase, walked for a while, turned a corner, and entered a large hall. We turned right in the hall, and a door as large as a gate was visible at the end of another large hall.

"There are many things to explain, but the king is waiting. Please follow me."

Two guards opened the heavy door, and a red carpet was laid out straight ahead. "From here, you will go alone. Please proceed," the robed man whispered and bid farewell. There was no other way but to go forward. I started walking on the red carpet.

---

I stopped when I could clearly see the large, throne-like object and the men standing on either side of it.

One looked like a "general" in armor, with a prominent beard and a shaved head. The other looked like a "villainous minister" with a potbelly and a bald head. Is this a country where people have thin hair?

In any case, I didn't want to get too close, so I stopped at a reasonable distance.

"Welcome. Hero."

I was startled by a voice that suddenly came from nowhere when I stopped. When I focused on where the voice came from, I finally realized that the "thing" in front of me was human.

It was far too large to be called human. It was big, thick, heavy, and greasy. It was a mass of flesh.

The fat man in front of me was indeed a mass of flesh. He had a crown on his head, so this mass of flesh must be the king.

Usually, when you think of a king, you imagine someone sitting on a throne. But the king in front of me was sitting on a large, ornate chair—no, a large bench. "Welcome" sounded more like "kidnapped" to me.

I decided not to comment, as it would only complicate things. In front of this greasy pig, I could only observe his next move. Having no options is confining.

"You! How dare you be so disrespectful!"

While I was standing there, a sudden angry voice echoed.

In a fantasy setting, it wouldn't be strange if my thoughts were read. Regretting my carelessness, I noticed the large, bald, bearded man in armor approaching me, his bald head gleaming.

"In the presence of the king! Kneel!"

The bald man was saying something incomprehensible. It seemed my concerns were unfounded. After all, they brought me here without my consent and now expect me to kneel?

Ah, the king. When I looked at the king with pity, the bald man seemed to take offense and became even more confrontational.

"What's that look for... Don't think that being summoned as a hero gives you the right to be disrespectful."

As he got close enough to reach out, he started complaining about something else. This bald man is a pain. Do kidnappers really talk about etiquette? I can't let this attitude slide, even if I'm usually mild-mannered.

"Ah, I was just admiring your impressive beard."

While saying this, my gaze was fixed on his head. Just because you don't have hair on your head doesn't mean you should grow so much on your chin. Even a bald head should be enough to understand that beards don't grow there.

Noticing my gaze, the bald man turned red like a boiled lobster. He was slightly taller, so my gaze was easily caught.

"Enough, Harold. We're not getting anywhere."

Harold, the bald man, spat audibly and returned to his place. As he left, he muttered, "That's why country bumpkins are so annoying," but in a place without electricity, they are the ones who seem more rural. I silently rebutted in my mind.

"I am Vantekus Ludor Laurenthus Laurenaria, ruler of the Kingdom of Laurenthia."

Indeed, this mass of flesh seems to be the king. Is this really okay?

"Um... I'm Shiroishi Ryo. I work as a salaryman."

Worrying about another country's problems is secondary to my own. I introduced myself and tried to move the conversation forward.

"Um, before we proceed, I have one question."

"Permission granted. Speak."

As expected of a king, he sounds important. He is important, but there's no dignity in this appearance.

"How can I return to my original world?"

"There is no way."

He said it bluntly. I still have doubts about this being another world, but I can't avoid reality. Just as I was adjusting my thoughts, a new reality I wanted to avoid appeared. Why would they summon someone without a way to send them back?

"However, in the territory of the magic race, which has many books and tools related to magic, there might be a way. Or perhaps among the treasures of the Demon King."

I see, so they want me to fight the Demon King.

Of course, I have no intention of saying, "Sure, I understand." But I can guess what will happen if I refuse... So, negotiation is necessary. I need to create a situation that is at least somewhat favorable to me. Without the basic guarantees of safety, food, clothing, and shelter, I can't proceed.

Even though I'm used to unreasonable requests, it's sad to have such adaptability, I thought to myself.

"However, I have never been in a fight in my life, and I have no power. Most of all, being separated from my family and friends is painful..."

"Rest assured."

The mass of flesh interrupted me mid-sentence.

"You can serve me. Parting with your family is a trivial matter."

"Ah, I see..."

I see, that's the kind of person he is. I was only speechless. It seems that in this world or country, there is no concept of human rights. Moreover, the nobles seem to be corrupt.

"Besides, as a hero, you already have 'power.'"

The mass of flesh lifted its chin and called out "Icarus" to the other man standing beside him. Icarus, the minister (presumed), pointed a round crystal-like object at me.

Icarus? I almost laughed at the name.

"Reveal the blessing."

Is this a magic item? If so, the words he just spoke were probably a spell. The round crystal emitted light. However, "reveal" is a rather negative-sounding spell.

"Hmm... 'Gacha' came up. It's a gift I've never heard of."

And, unfortunately, there is no magic power. Icarus, the minister (tentative), continued. Does this mean I have no magic power because I grew up on Earth?

Maybe this is a fantasy world where I can't use magic? Or do I need to remain a virgin until I'm thirty?

In any case, I heard a word I couldn't ignore.

"What does 'Gacha' have to do with 'Gift'?"

Does 'Gacha' refer to the social game feature?

That doesn't make sense.

"Sir Hero, are you familiar with the word 'Gacha'?"

While thinking, the questions started. I wish they would consider my feelings a bit.

"Yes, I am."

"What is it?"

"Well... it's something where you use money to randomly get items, right?"

"How much does it cost?"

"Probably around 500 yen..."

"How much is that worth?"

I thought for a moment. Should I be honest or not? Of course, I won't be. Assuming this is a country without electricity, I imagined the price difference between Japan and this place. If I convert it to Earth currency, what kind of country should I aim for? My impression of this country is bad, so the value should be lower. However, I have a conscience. From the fundraising slogan I saw online, "Your one click can save a life," I assumed one click is worth 5 yen and decided to go with the price that could save a hundred lives.

I'm so kind. I can save a hundred lives.

"Let's see... roughly speaking, the price of saving a hundred lives, perhaps?"

When I said that, I heard a loud tongue-clicking from the mass of flesh. Was it too high?

A bit of unease passed through me, but I hadn't lied, so I ignored it. The mass of flesh, the pig king, made a gesture as if lifting its chin to signal something. With his neck buried in the flesh, it looked like the flesh was wriggling. How can they communicate like this? Is Icarus a capable person?

If he is a close aide to the king, he must be capable and able to read the room. The way he laughed through his nose, clearly thinking, "You don't even know this?" made it clear that they are of the same kind. My evaluation of this country keeps dropping.

"...Alright."

I gathered my resolve, closed my eyes, and imagined. The image of pulling a gacha... no, before that, putting in money... wait, money needs to be converted to points for legal reasons, right?

(Money to points... money to points)

I kept chanting it.

(Huh? Do you buy points?)

Distracting thoughts crept in, but suddenly, the gold coins in my hand disappeared, and a message-like thought flashed in my mind.

10 gold coins converted to 1,000,000P.

I was a bit startled by the sudden change, but I successfully converted the gold coins to points. Next, I needed to imagine pulling the gacha.

(Hmm? In this case, should the image be 'pulling'?)

While I was wondering, a brown ball about the size of a fist fell into my open hands from nowhere. Voices came from around me, but I was too surprised to pay attention. The metallic color suggested it might be copper.

If it's copper, the contents probably aren't great. In gacha, copper is never a good sign.

I tried to open the ball by willing it, but it didn't budge. Then, I tried to "use" it. If using the gacha ball as an item would release the contents, it should work. As I willed it to "use," the gacha ball split open, and the contents flew out.

"This is..."

I couldn't help but speak aloud. I picked up the item that fell to the ground. It was a pink piece of cloth with two large holes for the legs. Yes, it was a pair of women's underwear. If I can get women's underwear, I can probably get men's underwear too. Maybe I can have a normal life in terms of clothing.

"Take him away!"

As I was thinking about the future, the king suddenly let out a strange, angry cry. Well, if they summoned a hero and got a pervert who pulls out women's underwear, I can understand their reaction, even if I don't agree. But now I'm worried about the future. I don't want to live as a hero or a pervert.

Two soldiers grabbed me by the arms and dragged me away. Being summoned without my consent and then treated this way is completely unreasonable.

While being dragged, I gave a light protest glance to the bald minister, who sighed and looked exasperated. The bald man in armor didn't even bother to react. They are truly unpleasant people.

I lost the will to resist and was dragged by the soldiers for about three minutes to a door.

"Really... of all people, to summon a dud like you... Get in there!"

The soldier pulled my arm forcefully and pushed me into the room. Calling me a dud, this soldier has some nerve. If I had been called a pervert, I would have been crushed.

Alright, I can forgive being called a dud.

"Behave yourself. Don't cause any trouble."

The soldier glared at me threateningly and slammed the door shut. Do they think I'm hiding my power? I don't have any power to hide.

With this, the story returns to the beginning, and my life in another world begins... but it's already full of challenges. Moreover, the people in this country are all unpleasant.

What should I really do?

I acted on impulse.

The first chapter feels a bit long, so I plan to adjust the length in the future.

I aim to post twice a week, but the settings are still a bit loose, so it will depend on the time I can take.