“Oh gallant heroes, welcome to Astlan Kingdom.”

Such grand speech was made in front of me with these strangers. I am currently dumbfounded with the circumstances. I perceive the situation very similar to novels and manga that he always read. I never thought such unrealistic event would occur to me.

“First, please let me convey our sincerest apology for summoning you in our world.”

Once again, the voice of the old man rang. I can’t take a peek at him because right now, there are a lot of people in front of me. Huh? Body? I have a body that I can control on my own?

I touch my head and immediately felt the sensation of the smooth cuticle with my fingertips. The sensation of brushing this hair that was never mine felt so good. Breathing air with this body that was never mine feels realistic.

“Please follow me, O Gallant Heroes. I shall brief you on the situation.”

These people in front of me…aside from the weirdly garbed soldiers or knight, everyone seems to have come from the same place and same era as me. I should carefully watch my surrounding as I don’t know what lies beyond this place.

Counting the people in front of me including me, myself who has regained the control over this body, we count up to fourteen people.

The place we right now seem to be a Medieval Style underground with walls decorated with flashy engravings made of marble. One that would make you think you came back to an old era of the world. With sword and magic, I’m guessing. The old man led us to a hallway with soldiers escorting him in his back followed by us.

Why do I feel empty? It’s like a huge part of myself is missing…

No…I am not even a standalone consciousness to begin with. I am an imaginative defense mechanism for him, for that boy who cannot handle the harshness of the world.

What happened to us?

“Oh?! There’s someone here!”

“Ah, hi there…”

A girl notices me as she turns her head in hostility. Her eye seems to sparkles as she laid her eyes upon me.

The girl stands a half head shorter than me but she has a good rack and fine curve if one look past at her ridiculously thick clothes. Her hair is a usual tone of black but her eyes are a sparkling blue that got me staring at it.

“What do you think would happen to us? The old man called us hero but…it feels all…unrealistic. It doesn’t sit well with me.”

“Are you some kind of an idiot?”

“Nice first impression being a jerk…”

“No, why even bother asking me about those kinds of questions when you know we are clueless about anything. Don’t be lazy using your head.”

“Wow…you’re not just a jerk but also rude.”

“Heh, might as well make it my trademark, right?”

“Ahahaha! What a fun person you are, kind of made the mood a little lighter.”

The girl smiled at me and the people who are walking in front glances at me. Thinking that it is bothersome, I shifted my eyes sideways to avoid attention. It’s not that I am alike with the original owner of this body but when it comes to this awkward situation, sidelong glances is one appropriate reply.

If the one in my place right now is him, he would definitely make his presence as small and hidden as possible. For sure he will shy away from such crowd, as for me, my strides are firm and steady that shows calmness.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Um, my name is Vische. As you may have noticed, I have an oriental feature but an out of place set of eyes.”

“A half huh, it is not really a rare combination but it is uncommon to our world. So I assume you get a lot of men flocking to you.”

“Nah, on the contrary, only a few got the chance to approach me.”

“You must be a real bitch.”

“That’s taking it too far. I’m just a little evil, that’s all.”

“Then, call me Nil.”

“Nil it is. Nice meeting you.”

It’s the kind of a girl he wouldn’t approach, really…

As we got busy talking with each other before we know it, it seems we arrived now at the throne room decorated with an exquisite gold frame, but on the throne, there is no king. The throne room is what you would expect, elegant and adorned with beautiful Baroque era decoration with swirls and cross designs as a motif. There are also weapons such as a sword, spear, battleax and even shield hanging everywhere as elegant decoration. It was really astounding.

The ceiling is high and all were supported by large pillars that its width is two times thicker than me.

“Heroes, I deeply apologize too for the absence of his Majesty right now”

Really now!? How lazy.

Shouldn't he be the one who has to brief us?

I imagined this king or his majesty is an old man in his late sixties who looks like ready to fall anytime and ask us to defeat a demon lord or a legendary dragon. That would be the common phrases or cliché scenario that may happen.

Is…what he would think in this situation, as for me, I really don’t give one or two shit. Since I have the full control of this body, for now, I might as well enjoy it.

Well, this body, since he doesn’t exercise much, it looks frail and thin, as if it is androgynous as long as I am not speaking. The height isn’t anything praiseworthy but it is better than being short as it is a great inconvenient.

It seems that I am still wearing the formal clothes he has when he got shot. I am at least glad that I got something decent on. I remember him wearing nothing but a shirt and underwear when he sleeps. It’s kind of retarded but if he is comfortable with it, I’ll deal with it.

“We’re here now, what the hell are we waiting for? Tell us something already geezer.”

Whoa…

Vische suddenly voices her impatience. I wish I could have said that first but she beats me to it. I am a little frustrated but because of her, I can still stay on the low ground.

“I see, but it would be better for us to introduce ourselves to each other. My name is Ishtal, I am his Majesty 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 replied as he bows down. I kind of remind of that old geezer back at the orphanage. He is kind of cranky for me but he loved that old geezer nonetheless like a father.

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

So one by one, everyone introduces themselves. He is a little lazy to remember names so I do it for him for socializing purposes but hey, I won’t bother myself with their names now. It is not that it’s hard for me to remember, it’s just a little hassle for me.

After quite a while, they have finished with the introductions. I might as well call them trash no. one up to trash no. twelve. I will give Vische a little exception.

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

Better to be late than never. At least, that’s good slogan for this king.

The tension grew heavier but it really doesn’t affect me. Like me, Vische is also calm and collected as she looks at everything with keen eyes. I kind of like people like her who think things through before acting.

“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.

Hahaha! I want to badmouth their king as well.

.

.

.

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

Not bad at all.

But what caught my attention the most are the girls with the king. I kind of hope it is not his harem or anything. Let’s see, a knight, a fencer, and a magician.

That’s a little unbalance when you take on a dungeon quest or something.

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

“Oh? What the hell…among these people…someone…has a really strong power…”

The magician girl muttered to herself but I was able to catch the words.

“Stop muttering by your own! You gave us quite a trouble here and so, we demand an explanation.”

Vische bravely said it towards the king who sat on the throne. The girls with the king have their eyes widening as Vische bravely speaks out her thought.

The king was rather intrigued and entertained by what Vische said as he slowly stands from his throne.

“You are rather a feisty one.”

“Fon…calm down.”

“It’s alright Violetta, let me handle it.”

The king completely rose from his throne and started descending towards us or rather, to Vische. Trash no. one to twelve got scared of the king’s presence so they started backing down.

The king stares at Vische with his blue eyes that seem to observe her whole being. It really has nothing to do with me, however, I don’t like this king as soon as I laid my eyes on him.

From the king’s hand, a vorpal of dark miasma appears and not long after, a sword of magnificent and intricate design forms. Feeling that this won’t end well with Vische, I made my move.

“Pardon me, king, she is just quite shocked of the circumstances.”

Before the king could say or do anything, I pulled Vische to my arm and face the king myself and look at him eye to eye. His raises his left brow because of my intervention and as for me, I didn’t show any emotions that could spell my defeat in this staring contest.

Vische herself was in shock from my move but nevertheless, didn’t try to struggle from my embrace.

“Who could you be, dark one?”

“I am Nil. Now white one, it’s high time you say something right?”

“You are making quite an impression.”

“Being rude is my trademark from this moment on.”

“Oh?”

It’s decided.

I hate this king and I don’t think I can change my mind about it. One day, I am going to wipe the floor using that stupid face of yours.