People should always know the etiquette of listening to others when they are speaking, especially when the one doing the talking is elderly. There are a lot of instances where misunderstanding ensues when one does not convey their words clearly or the one listening doesn’t pay attention.

The man in front of us started to voice out his protests that it promptly grabs my attention and of course, this is a matter of us being forcefully taken from our own world to here against our will. I mean, we were taken away from people who care for us.

Well, in my case though, it’s fine, albeit I have some lingering regrets such as not even giving back any gratitude to the orphanage headmaster. Maybe there, I’m dead...

If that’s so…then maybe this is my new body…

“We don't want to wait any longer! Couldn’t you just tell us everything you know right now, old man?”

A man in front asked with a courteous voice. His voice sounded fairly young but the tone is tinged with a little bit maturity to it. Since I haven’t moved from my position at the back, I had no way of locating whose voice was it.

I am still cowering in the back and this must be a conditioned response of mine because of my shy nature. I don’t think I can be bold enough to speak upfront here in the first place as I myself is filled with anxiousness. Not only that, the tension suddenly tightens that it made it more difficult for me to announce my presence.

“I see, but it would be better for us to introduce ourselves to each other first. My name is Ishtal, I am his Majesty’s Councilor. I am also the one who proposed the plan of summoning you, the Gallant Heroes, into our world. Once again, please accept my humble apology.”

The old man said all of it with such apologetic tone and the bow down to all of us. I feel bad for his old age because of his back but this is a world where anything can happen so we may not know if he is actually an old man with declining health or not.

I’ve read a lot of novels and stories to know that there are unnatural circumstances that occur in this kind of world. That’s what I’d like to think.

I remember that the old orphanage headmaster would often complain about his aching back due to the brittleness of his bones but I digress as he can still unleash a fury to us when he is mad. He can still run for a mile while carrying a wooden cane in his hand while shouting.

Returning my thoughts in front of me…

Even though he, Councilor Ishtal, said that there is still unrest in the people in front of me but in the end, they decided to go with the flow.

“Fine, I am…”

So on and so forth…

Sorry...

I am actually bad at remembering people’s names, especially at this moment because of the confusion incurred by the event. I easily lose my focus too when it comes to these kinds of formality. Maybe it’s due to my lack of socializing skills that even a chain of introductions bore me.

Hm…? No…I think that’s not the case right now.

I think that impulse of inattentiveness is much prevalent. My eyes are just wandering around the room and I find it hard to pay attention to their serious talk. I don’t know due to my anxiety or fright but I can’t just leave my mind off to my surrounding.

I feel like someone is staring at me with malicious eyes full of putrid intent…

Is it because of this body?

After quite a while, they finished with the introductions. I think I’ll just call them based on their appearance…like the guy in front me…

He is taller than one hundred and ninety-five centimeters I guess with a brawny build and astounding stature that made me quite envious considering how I look like a wimp in my previous body. I’ll just call him muscle man or something like that.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

After the lengthy introduction, by the Gods will, the old man speaks in haste.

“Oh! It seems his Majesty has arrived! Heroes, thank you for your patience.”

I feel like the tension grows heavier as some people in front of me tense up even more. Some of them are gripping their knuckles like they are ready to jump on the gun but I feel like there are still some of them retains their calm or doesn’t even entirely care that much.

Scary, it's too scary to be in the middle of the exchange. This made me shrink more erasing my existence. I am a little scared. 

Suddenly, faint voices come out from somewhere that made everyone attentive.

“That’s what you get from overworking and stressing yourself, stupid king”

“You reap what you sow, you basically handled a stockpile of documents worth 4 months in one night. Are you an idiot?”

“Your health, it gives me trouble to take care of you every time.”

Those are voices of girls who seem, even though faint, is dignified and refined.

Hey!

Aren’t you girls badmouthing your king too much?

Somehow, I feel like the tension slightly lessened as the people in front of me relieve themselves of their stiffness. What effect was it when the mood was passed around?

Ah. Forget it.

Though, I must say…I am disappointed.

I stick my head from the side just to get a good look at them since curiosity got the best out of me.

The King is a young man in his mid-twenties. With a beautiful lustrous white hair, blue eyes clear as the skies and a body that seemed to be trained enough even though slender. And to boot, he is tall standing at a height about one hundred and eighty-five centimeters. 

I am quite envious…really envious!

The other girls with the king are real beauties. There is a blond girl with white armor and pleated skirt with rear and front guards.

She has a lovely black ribbon on the back of her head.

The other girl is wearing breasts armor with seriously cool engravings. Her hips are in full view. Yes, her slender hips are attractive because it gives a good outline to her rear. She is wearing black short pants and a metal plated boots that reach under her knee.

The feature of her face is contrary to her dignified voice, is doll-like. She has pretty long eyelashes and round eyes and with pretty blond hair with red streaks.

Cute.

The last one seems to be a magician. She is a wearing a violet shawl reaching past her hips. It’s quite erotic since it defines her body outline. Her hair is violet, and it is tied in low twin tails that it is made to stick out from the shawl. She is taller than the other two.

She has a refined voice and the feature of her face is what you call sharp and cold beauty.

The old man spoke again abruptly disrupting my discernment.

“Your Majesty, these are the thirteen summoned gallant heroes! They are seeking knowledge now, so if you will.”

“Thirteen? Ishtal, you are such a scatterbrain or you just simply forgotten how to count properly due to old age?”

Uwah… The magician girl is merciless.

“There are fourteen presences, you know?”

“Huh? I apologize for this mistake Lady Violetta! But who is the remaining hero? I don’t see anyone else”

“In the back, Heroes, please make way”

Ah, they split like the sea of Moses and they saw my face dazing off dumbfounded as my figure is beheld in front of everyone. My social phobia is striking now as I feel goosebumps spreading all over my body.

 The mouths of the other heroes were gaping wide as they saw the tiny existence behind them.  I don’t have any slightest idea about my current appearance right now other than being small or short. I don’t know, maybe my white hair is because I am old in appearance but surely that doesn’t seem to be the case.

“A little girl?!”

Exclaimed by all of the people in the hall, only the king kept a hardened face. They were shocked at my tiny existence that some people had their mouth gaping wide.

I am kind of relieved that I am not actually an old woman or anything else deformed…

“KYAAAAA SO CUTE!!”

Who was that?

No one knows.

It seems like one of the girls squealed just now, right beside the king. Some of them were looking at the little girl, me, like I am their prey.

Scary!

Really Scary!

The old man cleared his throat to get the attention of everyone again.

Oh…!

Just now, he looked so capable. You got plus one respect points… For elderly that is.

“Little Girl, please step forward and state your name.”

Ahahaha, it really didn’t help me to clear away my anxiousness, huh? Rather, it made my heart pound louder and faster as he uttered those words.

However, I want to keep in mind that from now on, this body is mine. I step forward with shaky gait and trembling shoulder as all eyes are on me now.

But, I want to start a new life here. I want to live an easy uneventful life where I don’t get hurt. I really don’t mind my current appearance right now. I might actually have no problem with it.

The attachment with my previous body is still strong, however, even if I try to remember it, the only sensation that I get is that gunshot to my flank and it hurts…

It’s unsightly for a man, however, with my current gender and even appearance, there’s nothing much I can do.

But thinking of a new name is troublesome so I just wanted to plainly say “Nil.” But since this is a new life we are talking about and I already know that my appearance has such an impact, I want a name close to Nil but still aimed for girls.

Ipomoea Nil is troublesome to say. I already have an idea, as for my last name, I will use my orphanage name which should really be my official last name but it sounds really foreign.

“My name is…”

Everyone suddenly stiffens in their place upon my first words. My voice rang like the calling of an angel that even I got a pang in my chest while getting a little flustered. It’s my own voice now so I should get used to it.

I tried to still my pounding heart as I heaved a deep sigh. I formed a fleeting curve in my lips upward and directed my sight to the king in front of me.

Then, I announce my new name in this new world I was thrown in.

“…Asagao Lionheart.”

Even under the gaze of the king in front of me, I was able to introduce myself. Even under the gaze of everyone from my back, I was able to straighten my body.

That’s right.

From now on, I am Asagao Lionheart.