Haru's eyes fluttered open, the blinding light replaced by the sight of a grand hall filled with a sea of confused faces. He blinked, his vision adjusting to the sight of people in ordinary civilian clothes, business attire, and school uniforms. His gaze dropped to his own attire, a set of patterned cat pajamas that had been his staple set of clothes back in his own world. His hair was a mess, sticking out in every direction, and his tired eyes were enough to scare little children. Though one might incorrectly guess he had been summoned while he was at home, the truth was that before coming to this world, he had been buying some food at the corner convenience store. This was the day he and the 99 others were summoned from their world. The hall was filled with murmurs and nervous mutters, the air thick with confusion.

A middle-aged man in a business suit was rubbing his temples, muttering about a meeting he was supposed to attend. A group of teenage girls in school uniforms huddled together, their eyes wide with fear. A woman in a nurse's uniform was checking on an elderly man, her brow furrowed with concern.

Haru's lips curled into a smirk as he observed the scene. Everything was going exactly as it had before. He knew what was coming next. He had no intention of falling into their trap this time around.

'My second life starts here!'

Suddenly, the hall fell silent as the doors swayed open, and a man with regal bearing strode in, his royal garb and presence commanding attention. He was followed by a beautiful young woman with flowing blonde hair and crystal blue eyes, as well as a wise-looking man holding a staff.

"Welcome, heroes," the King began, his voice resonating through the grand hall. "I am Cornelius, King of Crown Almighty. As some of you may have already guessed, you are no longer in your own world. You have been summoned to the land of Kladin, a realm in desperate need of your aid."

The king's expression turned grave. "Our people face a dire threat. Demons have invaded the realm of man, wreaking havoc across our lands. Our towns lie in ruins, our people ravaged by their presence. Wherever they appear, only death and devastation follow."

He paused, letting the gravity of the situation sink in.

Haru rolled his eyes, stifling a yawn. He had heard this speech before and was already making his way through the crowd.

"We have exhausted all other options," King Cornelius continued, his voice heavy with emotion. "In our darkest hour, we turned to an ancient and powerful ritual to summon you, heroes from across time and space. You are our last hope, the light that can drive back the darkness threatening to consume our world."

The king's eyes scanned the room, meeting the gazes of the bewildered and apprehensive summoned. "We know this is a great burden to place upon you, and we deeply regret the pain and confusion this summoning has caused. But we had no choice. Our very survival depends on your strength and bravery." He took a deep breath, his voice trembling with sincerity. "Will you stand with us, noble heroes? Will you lend us your strength to defeat the Demons and save the world of Kladin from certain doom?"

Glancing around, the expressions of the summoned were mixed. Some faces were etched with surprise, others with general concern for the king's plight, but a lingering uncertainty hung in the air like a thick fog.

As if on cue, the princess stepped forward. Her beauty and ethereal presence immediately captured the attention of the young summoned, both male and female, their eyes drawn to her like moths to a flame. With a graceful bow, she addressed the summoned.

"I am Princess Reina," she said, her voice melodic and captivating. "I implore you, brave heroes, to join us in our fight against the demons. Our people are suffering, and we desperately seek your aid." Her tearful expression and heartfelt words tugged at the heartstrings of the summoned, some of who already looked ready to do anything for her.

"Heroes, we ask for your aid in this desperate hour. Our full support will be yours!" the king proclaimed. "We understand if you choose not to fight, but know this: we cannot return you to your world until the demons have been vanquished."

Stolen story; please report.

"So we're trapped here until all the demons are defeated, is that it?" one of the summoned asked with frustration. "What other choice do we have?"

A figure stepped out from behind the king, his staff tapping a measured rhythm against the polished floor. "I am Chancellor Nuel, advisor to His Majesty." His voice was gruff and gravelly. "Unfortunately, the summoning ritual has depleted our magical reserves. The demons' taint has poisoned the very essence of this land, forcing us to filter it at a painfully slow rate. Sending you back would require an immense amount of pure mana, more than we can currently muster."

Nuel paused briefly before continuing. "Furthermore, the ritual itself is ancient and unpredictable. The tremors that shook the Seven Kingdoms upon your arrival... we cannot risk repeating such a volatile act." He met the gaze of each summoned hero, his eyes filled with a heavy sincerity. "Defeating the demons is the only safe path to restoring the land's mana and ensuring your return."

A wave of murmurs rippled through the hall, uncertainty giving way to palpable fear. Some faces hardened grimly, while others blanched, the reality of their situation sinking in.

King Cornelius raised a hand, silencing the growing unease. "Know this, heroes," he projected loudly. "Your bravery will be rewarded. In addition to our eternal gratitude, the kingdom will grant any wish within its power. Your names will be etched in the Hall of Heroes, ensuring your deeds are forever remembered by the people of Kladin."

For a moment, the promise of reward seemed to soothe the anxieties of the summoned. Some shoulders relaxed, eyes gleaming with the allure of potential riches and glory. They could justify staying here; after all, there wasn't a way back for now, so why not make do with their current situation?

Suddenly, a sharp laugh sliced through the tense atmosphere. All eyes turned to Haru, who stood with a manic grin plastered across his face. "You're joking, right?" he drawled. "This whole 'summoned hero' gig… it's all one big joke, isn't it?"

The king frowned at Haru. "What joke do you speak of, young hero?"

Haru's grin widened as he surveyed the room. "You call us heroes? Look around. We're a random assortment of people you kidnapped." He gestured to the crowd, highlighting the elderly, the out-of-shape, the teenagers, the office workers. "Maybe a third of us look capable of actual 'hero work'."

His gaze sharpened on the king and princess. "You're just trying to manipulate us into staying!"

Princess Reina stepped forward, her eyes earnest. "That's not true! We desperately need your help. We had no control over who the ritual summoned - we took whatever we could get."

A tall, handsome man with tousled dirty blonde hair stepped forward and pointed at Haru. "You're out of line. Can't you see how desperate these people are? You're just a coward. Admit it. Why don't you hide until it's over? We don't need you dragging us down. I will join to fight the demons!"

Haru smiled, silently thanking Lance for the perfect out. "You're right. I'm not going to risk my life for strangers." He turned towards the door which was guarded by two imposing guards.

He paused, glancing back at the king and princess. "Why are the doors guarded? I can leave, can't I?"

The king's brow furrowed. "You're actually leaving?" he asked, incredulous. "Young hero. The sooner we defeat the demons, the sooner we can send everyone back. Will you not join your fellow heroes?"

Haru smirked. "Thanks, but no thanks."

The king persisted. "At least stay for the skill awakening ceremony."

Haru shook his head. "I'll decline."

Frustration flickered across Princess Reina's face. "You'll miss out on training with a mentor and the resources we provide," she said, her voice tight.

Haru laughed harshly. "I'm not even fighting. What use are those to me? I'll just stay in the city."

Her anger reached a boiling point and the princess suddenly snapped. "Fine! Leave! Don't come crawling back! No support, no equipment, no resources. No glory. We won't waste our time sending someone ungrateful like you back!"

Her sudden outburst caught everyone by surprise.

The king placed a hand on her shoulder. "Forgive her," he said apologetically. "We understand your decision."

Haru's eyes glinted with amusement as he watched the princess struggle for composure. The tension in the room was palpable.

"Let him go," the king said. The guards stepped aside.

As Haru walked away, the king called out, "Sir Summon, when the demons are defeated, I will arrange for your return as well. Please remain within Crown City." Though his words sounded courteous, Haru understood the underlying threat.

'You might as well tell me you're going to send someone to kill me,' he chuckled to himself.

He turned to the other summoned heroes, his gaze settling on a woman with shoulder length hazelnut hair. She wore a slightly rumpled blouse, the top button undone, and a black pencil skirt. "Last chance to leave," he said, his voice ringing out.

No one moved. With a shrug, Haru exited, the doors closing behind him.