The stone corridors spiral downwards, leading us ever deeper into the castle’s bowels. The air grows cold and dank as we descend. Sconces with flickering torches line the walls, revealing dark patches of mold growing between the bricks. Drops of water drip from the ceiling, and the sound echoes eerily in the narrow passages.

Despite the grim surroundings, Yumi seems surprisingly unperturbed. I, however, cannot shake the feeling of unease. Every step I take, every shadow I pass, I am always on high alert, ready to react at the slightest hint of danger.

“I’m sorry, but where are we going?” I ask the knights. “Isn’t the summoning chamber on the higher floors?”

The bearded knight in front of us glances back briefly, his tone gruff but measured. “Ah, that chamber’s only for bringing you folks into this world,” he replies. “For reverse-summoning, a different magic circle is needed. It’s prepared in another room.”

His explanation comes easily enough, but something about it feels off. My mind churns through the details. When we first arrived in this world, the summoning ritual was a grand and elaborate affair. It required significant resources, manpower, and preparation—something evident from the sheer number of people involved and the intricate setup. Logic dictates that reverse-summoning magic should demand just as much effort, if not more.

Yet, how much time has passed since we were summoned? Just a few hours at most. Setting up a reverse-summoning circle in such a short time seems implausible, especially since it would likely require resources they couldn’t have spared in advance. Preparing it beforehand doesn’t make sense either. What if we had all awakened extraordinary blood talents and decided to stay? The effort and resources would have been wasted.

I can’t help but notice other inconsistencies as well. For a task as significant as reverse-summoning, wouldn’t mages or other magical experts accompany us? Instead, we’re being escorted by just two knights—hardly the personnel I’d expect for such an important process.

Still, I remind myself that I don’t truly understand how magic works in this world. For all I know, the knights could be telling the truth. I have no way of verifying their claims, and pressing them for more answers would likely yield nothing but irritation—or worse. For now, the safest course of action is to follow their lead, while keeping my guard up and staying alert for anything unusual.

As we continue our descent, the shadows seem to deepen. I tighten my grip on my own sense of control, preparing myself for whatever might come next.

————————

Eventually, we come to a halt before a colossal iron door. One of the knights steps forward and delivers two resounding knocks. The echoes reverberate through the corridor, and moments later, the door groans open with a slow, ominous creak.

A woman emerges

“Good evening,” she greets us, her voice smooth and confident. “My name is Sophia. I will be overseeing the reverse summoning spell.”

For a brief moment, I am frozen in place, utterly taken aback.

Sophia is breathtakingly beautiful, almost unnaturally so, as if she were crafted by the hands of a deity. Her beauty is disarming, striking me with an intensity I wasn’t prepared for. It feels as though the Goddess of Beauty herself is standing before me, incapacitating me with her charm.

As she speaks, her voice carries a seductive sweetness, like honey dripping into my ears. Though her mage’s robe conceals much, it only seems to enhance the allure of her presence. Raven-black hair spills from beneath her hood, cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall of midnight. Her piercing blue eyes meet mine briefly, and in that fleeting moment, it feels as if she’s peering straight into my soul. The air around her is heavy with a rich, intoxicating perfume, so sweet it borders on cloying.

“Wow, you are beautiful! And your perfume is amazing!” Yumi exclaims.

Even she isn’t immune to the woman’s otherworldly allure.

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Sophia smiles graciously, the corners of her lips curving just enough to deepen her charm. “Thank you, dear,” she replies warmly. “So, you’re here to return to your world?”

“Yes, please,” I respond.

“Very well,” she says, gesturing toward the open doorway. “Come in. Everything is ready for your return.”

And so, I’m about to walk into the room.

Suddenly —

The alert comes from Sapphire, the artificial intelligence assistant embedded in my brain.

Before stepping into this world, I prepared for every possible scenario, and Sapphire is the pinnacle of my preparations. Designed and developed by me, it’s the most advanced AI on Earth—a cornerstone of my power.

I freeze mid-step, my instincts kicking into overdrive as the warning registers. My senses sharpen, adrenaline coursing through me.

“What’s wrong?” Sophia asks, tilting her head.

“Ah, nothing,” I reply, quickly masking my unease with a neutral expression.

That was close. Too close.

I don’t know what just happened, but for some reason, I found myself completely dropping my guard around this woman. That’s not like me at all. I’m always cautious, always aware of my surroundings—especially here, where I already suspect something isn’t right.

How could I let myself be so easily disarmed? Is it because of her beauty?

Sure, she’s one of the most stunning women I’ve ever seen, but I’m not the kind of person who loses his mind in the presence of the opposite sex. Especially not someone I’ve just met.

No, this isn’t normal.

My mind races, searching for an explanation.

Could it be… magic?

If so, this world is far more dangerous than I anticipated. Magic introduces a realm of possibilities I can’t yet comprehend nor predict, making it nearly impossible to prepare for every contingency. I thought I’d steeled myself for the unknown before coming here, but this moment proves that no amount of preparation is enough.

What just happened feels like a warning—sharp, clear, and impossible to ignore.

But thanks to Sapphire, I already have part of the answer. There’s something in the air—some kind of substance. It must be the perfume I noticed earlier.

“Sapphire,” I murmur inwardly, keeping my expression neutral, “do you recognize what substance it is?”

“Then block it from entering my system.”

A subtle shift runs through my senses as Sapphire filters the substance from my body, clearing my mind. My thoughts sharpen again, the haze lifting.

But I can’t let on that I’ve noticed anything unusual. If she’s using this substance to manipulate us, I need to know why. Acting like I’ve fallen for her trap is the only way to uncover what’s really going on.

For now, I keep my movements steady, my expression calm, and my senses on high alert. Whatever Sophia is planning, I’ll be ready.

And with that, I step into the room.

———————-

As soon as we step through the door, a palpable shift in the atmosphere takes hold.

Yumi freezes mid-step, her entire body going unnaturally rigid. Her arms hang limply at her sides, her head tilts slightly forward, and her eyes lose their spark, turning glassy and lifeless. She looks like a puppet whose strings have been abruptly cut.

The moment I notice this, I mimic her actions. My body stiffens, and I force myself to remain still, feigning the same eerie state. If I’m right, whatever spell or substance has taken hold of Yumi is meant to incapacitate us both. Pretending to be under its influence is my only option right now.

Two critical questions flood my mind, demanding immediate answers:

What does Sophia want from us?

And what should I do next?

The two knights, standing silently by the door, are likely formidable opponents. But Sophia is an even greater unknown. A mage working directly under the King is unlikely to be weak—her slender frame and composed demeanor are no indication of her true power. In this world, where magic alters every calculation, judging someone’s combat potential by their physical appearance is a dangerous mistake.

Still, there’s one thing working in my favor: Sophia seems convinced her trick has worked on me. She believes I’m fully under the effects of her mind-control magic or the hallucinogenic substance lingering in the air. That gives me a sliver of advantage.

So, I choose to stand still, watching and waiting. Whatever she’s planning, I need to understand her intentions before making a move.

Sophia strides confidently across the room, the faint clinking of her heels echoing in the otherwise silent chamber. She approaches an ornate wooden cabinet and pulls open its intricately carved doors. From within, she retrieves two large iron collars, their surface engraved with strange runes that glows ghostly white.

And then, her movements are deliberate, almost mechanical. She pricks her finger on the tip of a small blade, drawing a bead of crimson blood. As it drips onto the collars, the runes blaze to life, their glow intensifying into a searing white light that momentarily engulfs the room, blinding everything in its radiance.

And then, as the brilliance fades, Sophia turns to face us. Her expression is cold, detached, and tinged with something that might resemble pity. Shaking her head slowly, she lets out a soft sigh.

“Poor things,” she says. “You should have told the King that you wanted to stay. It would have been easier that way. Now, your only choice is to become our slaves. Please don’t resent me. I’m just following orders, after all.”