What gives?

I was the only one with a unique, title. [*] was my additional title.

…

I feel like crying.

What the heck is [*] even?

I was gobsmacked. I felt my face twitch uncomfortably.

I could help but take several takes on to the oracle ball that the oldie used for the identification process.

Even the oldie checking us went blank by it.

It was quite the ridiculous situation.

The same expression mirrored by everyone else for quite a while.

Another one of the oldies came up close and tapped on the oracle thinking it was broken or the like.

I felt so humiliated right then. I wish to find a hole to crawl into and never come out, as much as that would forever remain my delusion.

In the midst of my inner turmoil, I could hear the snickering from some of the group behind me and few others from the dudes surrounding us.

This was disheartening to say the very least and I felt like cursing out loud. It wouldn’t have helped at all, so I stayed quiet.

The only plus side was that I had some relatively good basic status. Even better than the [Hero].

While most had 150 to 250 stamina and magic powers, the [Hero] had 200 and 500, and I had 800 and 1500 respectively.

Apparently, other stats such as strength, reflex, speed, and such could not be assessed right now and would be done in a proper evaluation later, or so we were told.

Even so, they said that all of us have the strength that is more than this world’s higher average.

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Of course, they expected those with better titles to fair better there. Meaning, I am not included in the hopeful list.

Still, I was fine knowing I trumped the [Hero] in two important stats.

But… the surrounding gazes still hurt, as they looked at me contemptuously.

After everyone had been ‘identified’ albeit on a preliminary basis, we were greeted by the gaudy, potbellied king and was told a very elaborate story of ‘impending doom’.

The king’s words were super suspicious, as according to the king,

1. The many non-human races were attacking his country.

2. They were hell bent on conquering and subjugating this country and wanted to enslave or exterminate them.

3. They were somehow, able to hold off for a very long time, but their strength has started to wane severely as of late.

4. With things as is, the country is suffering with massive shortages and stuff.

5. Therefore, with utter desperation, they have summoned us here at their convenience.

The underline of these points is that, knowing full well of the utter selfishness for doing at their own convenience, ‘please help save our country’ was what they wanted us to understand.

The oldie next to the king added to the explanation that, they do not have the knowledge of retuning us back to our world. However, he offered a solution to it.

He added at there was a ‘Magus Tower’ in the enemy territory that was to the far-far north. It was said that the most likely place to have the knowledge of a way to return us to our original world would it. And this so happened to be at the heart of enemy territory, at a place called [Vine Heart Basin].

But, I’m not worried. Since I don’t want or plan to return after all. I don’t want to return to being normal.

But leaving my personal feeling aside for now, the explanation of these two were super suspicious.

Quite obviously so, I would say.

From how the king spoke, this country should be in a dangerous situation, but the people in here doesn’t have tragic feelings, you know.

I mean, like the king is super gaudy, the throne room lack nothing, the soldiers seem unperturbed and what’s more very relax and even sneering at us. The Oldie too was equal to or even more gaudy that the king.

A sane person would wonder ‘How the heck does one pay for that, if it was such troubling time?’.

If it was truly as they say it is in the country, how can they flaunt such riches and extravagance, in the presence of those they are trying to convince to help them.

But it seems, those around me don’t seem to notice, or may not care either way.

From the way I see it, most of them, who are schoolmates from the same senior high, seem to have the [Hero Syndrome] as most of them had twinkling eyes as if imagining their own adventure already.

I decided not to bother with anyone of them. It not in my personal nature to care. I only need to worry about myself after all.

Therefore, based on my little close to otaku level of general knowledge, including otherworld fiction, and the comprehensive evaluation of such various things, I concluded that this is a ‘bad’ type of different world summoning.

I can pretty much see the crux of everything leading up to now.

Even though they are like ‘Hero-sama!’ with us, in the end, we would only be thrown into a war for the benefit of these people or something.

Anyways, we would only be used by this country as they wanted.

In other words, disposal pawns.

On top of that, I’m not a Hero or whatsoever, so I probably won’t get treated well, at worst, there’s even the possibility of getting executed. I mean, the title I have is the least appreciable from amongst everyone. I maybe first on the list of disposables.

I decided that I should leave this castle right away.

That’s why, for the meantime, I assumed a humble attitude, to reach for their better nature. I gain permission from the king and stood up to great him and the audience and after, said this.

“Your majesty, though it is an honour to have been called here, it is with great regret that I am unable to offer true assistance for the cause.

I do not have the honour or ability of a Hero, nor do I have anything suited to being helpful while being in this place.

As I am now, I may only be a nuisance for everyone in the pursuit for the cause.

I am most saddened by it, so if I were to be allowed to receive money to live 2-3 months until I gain a job, I think that I can do something about myself.”

My words were unexpected to some, shameless for others and best preferred by most (among the high heads of the country).

From there I came to my current situation of receiving a torrent of discontent.