Issac opened his eyes. Despite seeing, as Ray said, an actual magic circle underneath their feet, what he wanted to see the most now was the white ceiling of a hospital, feel the comfort of a hospital bed, and smell the sterile medical equipment. But what greeted him was an assortment of colors, all moving around and creating patterns like a kaleidoscope.

He was hearing things he could not explain, seeing sights he could not understand, and smelling something he could not identify. However, whatever it was, it felt otherworldly. He looked around. None of his friends were around. He was all alone in this place that seemed to overload his senses.

Overcome with a fear that seemed to seep into his bones, he shut his eyes and hoped that once he opened them, everything would return back to normal. He would go back to his small but cozy flat. He would once again eat his mother’s cooking. He would visit his sister at the hospital and spend time with her.

And after what felt like an eternity, he opened his eyes. And despite his wishes, what greeted him was a magnificent room with a red and gold color scheme. It was a big room, more than 450 square meters. A red carpet with golden borders covered the floor from the massive doors to the back of the room. At the back, the floor was elevated by nine steps upon which rested a throne. Lanterns were placed periodically on the walls, and the three chandeliers hanging from the ceiling lit the room.

Issac shakily got up from the floor and looked ahead. A woman in regalia sat on the throne with one leg on top of the other. She had clear-blue eyes and long wavy imperial-red hair; her hair color felt natural, unlike Janet’s. However, he couldn’t bother with her. He immediately looked around to see if his friends were beside him. Fortunately, they were all there. But just like him, they were disoriented and dazed.

Ray was the fastest one to regain composure. Once he saw where he was and who was on the throne, his eyes quickly brightened. Unlike the others, he already had an inkling of what was going to happen.

Once the woman on the throne saw that they had more or less steadied themselves, a man dressed in an elegant suit spoke with a booming voice.

“Presenting her highness, Queen Veronica dé Rasmodéus, the Dawn Sword, the Lioness of Rasmodéus, rightful ruler of the Rasmodéus Kingdom and daughter of the Former King- Verguff dé Rasmodéus!”

After the man stopped introducing her, she addressed Issac and his friends with a voice full of charisma and majesty, “Otherworlders!” With this one call, she managed to get all the people in the throne room to focus on her. She continued, “You have been summoned here to aid our human race in the fight against demonkind and their Lords!” With each of her words, Ray’s eyes became brighter and brighter, and it seemed as though he was having trouble suppressing his excitement.

The woman got up from her throne and looked at all the nobles present in the room, “With the help of our kingdom’s mages, we have summoned the saviors of our world!” The room erupted in cheers as her words fell.

But regardless of the happy atmosphere, Issac and his friends(except Ray) looked confused. This was natural, considering they had just gone through something that overloaded their senses and were now being fed information they could not process.

Issac sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He raised his hand and interrupted Queen Veronica, “Wait, stop. So, you mean to say you summoned us to this world to battle presumably very blood-thirsty demons?”

“Yes, that is what I said.”

“So, let’s ask the first question that’s on all five of our minds- can we go back? Can you send us back?”

“Ah,” the Queen put on a regretful expression, “we only know how to summon Otherworlders, but we do not have the means to send them back. Perhaps the 『Demon Lords』 will have the means to send you back.”

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“Are you sure about that, or are you guessing?” Ethan’s voice made Issac heave a sigh of relief. It seems that the others had gotten a hold of their bearings.

“The latter.”

“So, you can’t send us back. Okay, second question, why did you even summon us? Is this world’s human race so weak as to require civilians’ help to fight?”

The Queen’s cheek flushed, “It’s stated in the legends that only the 『Seven Heroes』 have the required power to contend against the 『Seven Demon Lords』. It was necessary to-”

“Third question,” June interrupted her this time, “can only Otherworlders be 『Heroes』?”

“No, 『Heroes』 appear within the people of this world as well.”

“Then did your majesty check for 『Heroes』 in this country?”

“We did,” the Queen nodded.

“Then why did you summon us here?”

“Because we only found three 『Heroes』 here.”

“Next question, is the Rasmodéus Kingdom- the only kingdom or place ruled by humans?” Ethan questioned.

“No, there’s also the Segunn Dynasty and Libera Empire.”

“And…there weren’t any 『Heroes』 in any of those countries?”

“No,” The Queen denied. However, seeing the apparent disbelief on Issac’s and the others’ faces, she decided to explain further, “『Heroes』 from birth have an attraction towards each other. They will unconsciously begin to come closer to one another. That is why adult 『Heroes』 will usually be found close to one another.” Finishing her explanation, Issac massaged his temples and frowned. The Queen started walking down the steps, “Otherworlder, are you feeling unwell?”

“Issac,” the Queen turned around and looked at the displeased June, “His name is Issac. And no, he’s not the only one feeling unwell. We all are. We’re all wondering why we were separated from our peaceful lives to fight for a place we have no feelings for?”

“Also,” Janet asked again, “why are we fighting demonkind?”

“They aim to destroy the world.”

“Answer without exaggerating it.”

“…you know, your predecessors seem to understand the sense of majesty and oppression that comes with the position of Queen,” Queen Veronica came forward and cupped Issac’s face, staring straight into his eyes. A pair of deep ocean-blue eyes and clear sky-blue eyes stared at one another, “So, I wonder why you bunch seem to be completely oblivious to my aura.” She looked up at the others and her pupils constricted. The nobles’ sudden unsteadiness and shortness of breath made the five think that she did something, but they remained oblivious.

“That’s because the position of ‘Queen’ is nothing but an empty title in the future.” Issac swallowed his words.

“Your majesty,” Ray finally spoke, admiring the medieval scenery around him. The Queen stared at him, and her eyes lit up. She gestured for him to continue speaking. He put a hand on his chest and bowed slightly, “I believe my friends are simply tired from the inter-world travel. And thus, we would like to retreat back to the rooms you’ve assigned to us. Please tell us what we need to do more comprehensively after our rest.”

“Wha- bitch!” Ethan cussed and grabbed his collar. “Is this the fucking time for your delusions?” However, this slight act of aggression prompted the guards nearby to point their spears at them.

Issac frowned while the others looked afraid of the spears.

“Stand down!” with the Queen’s order, the guards retracted their spears. She smiled warmly at Ray. “I understand; I’ll ask the servants to take you to your rooms.”

“I thank your majesty!” Ray bowed again. The Queen’s smile deepened, and she clapped twice. Immediately, the huge doors behind them opened, and three maids and two manservants came in. Queen Veronica ordered, “Take the 『Heroes』 to their rooms and give them the best treatment.”

“By your majesty’s command!” the five servants kneeled and took Issac and his four friends out of the throne room. Upon Ethan’s request, they were told where each others’ rooms were.

The maid leading to Issac opened the door to his room and stepped aside to let him in first. Having never experienced such treatment, Issac smiled awkwardly and stiffly walked inside. The room was grand. Beige carpets, white walls with golden designs on them, a large joined bathroom, and a flower pot full of Rhododendrons and Black Dahlias.

Seeing Issac admire the flowers, the maid standing in the doorway said in surprise, “Those are flowers found on the Diadhacd peak. These flowers have no fixed color or shape. They change their size and shape in response to the room’s inhabitants. But in all my time serving in the castle, I’ve never seen such beautiful black flowers.”

“R-Really?” Issac’s raised his eyebrows, “you’ve never seen Black Dahlias?”

“Uh, is that what it’s called in my lord’s world?”

“Yes, and those-” he pointed at the Rhododendrons, “are called Rhododendrons.”

“Ro…duh…den…drens,” the maid carefully pronounced each syllable with a look of curiosity. “Why pick such a hard word for it, my lord?”

“Uh…I can’t really answer that.”

The maid hurriedly bowed, “I’m sorry for asking such a stupid question.”

“Wait, don’t do that!” Issac rushed forward and stopped her from bowing. He sighed helplessly, “What’s your name?”

“It’s Cheryl, my lord.”

Issac grinned, “Thanks for bringing me here, Cheryl. I’ll be in your care.” in your care.”