The light finally finished its overdramatic showcase, leaving me blinking against the sudden stillness. "About damned time," I muttered, thoroughly annoyed by the non-consensual transportation. "Guess I can mark 'summoning circle' off my list now…" My annoyance boiled over, fueled by a cocktail of confusion and indignation.
"Congrats! You've been attacked by EVERY method of transportation known to mankind, including but not limited at: Roller skates, UFOs, and now… Summoning Circles!" chirped the unhelpful voice of my intrusive thoughts. It felt like the world's shittiest game of bingo, and somehow, I had the full card.
As my frustration simmered, I took a deep breath and inspected my surroundings. Yep, this was exactly what I’d expected: a new world where I’d probably have a miserable time finding decent coffee—let alone any energy drinks worth a damn.
The scene that greeted me was… well, it ticked all the boxes for a summoning. A grand hall stretched before me, lined with towering columns and adorned with intricate carvings. But something was off. This wasn’t the pristine, golden elegance of a hero’s welcome in the gallant kingdom of humans. This was darker. Elegant, sure, but in a way that made my skin crawl. The walls, instead of gleaming stone, were an oppressive obsidian black, highlighted by crimson accents that glowed faintly in the low light. A long red carpet stretched ahead, stark against the shadowy floor, drawing my eyes toward the throne at the far end of the hall.
It was empty. Yet somehow, it exuded an aura that screamed danger. My gaze flicked upward to the chandelier overhead, a massive construct of dark crystal. Unlike the radiant light magic I’d envisioned, this one seemed to absorb the very darkness around it, pulsing faintly like a living thing.
“I’m not a celebrity, y’know?” I muttered, trying to break the oppressive silence. It didn’t help.
Then, from the shadows, a figure emerged, her voice triumphant as she declared the success of their secondary summoning attempt. My eyes widened as I took her in.
Now, let’s get something straight: I’m no short guy. At 183 centimeters, I’ve never had a complex about my height. But this woman? She made me feel small. Towering at least three meters tall, she loomed over me with an otherworldly grace. Her long, meaty legs and hourglass figure were enough to make me gulp. Climbing up with my vision, I eyed her chest. Very generous and plump, leaving little to the imagination-however, mine was already working overtime... Maybe if that's the reward...
Taking back control from my desires, I continue my climb and reach her face. Flawless dark skin accessorized with pearly, blue eyes that seemed to shimmer under the faint ruby light. Her dark-scarlet hair cascaded down her back in loose waves, like liquid fire-this, one of the few reminders of her demonic origin, but at this point I didn't care no more. Her beauty could only be described as… divine. Or infernal. Take your pick.
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For a moment, I forgot to breathe. Then, a nasty little word crept back into my brain: Hero.
Right. That’s why I was here. That cursed summoning circle had called me to this place, and judging by her appearance and the ominous atmosphere, I would probably be right to say that I was in some kind of Demon Realm. And if they thought I was some golden-boy savior here to help… well, they had another thing coming.
“Hmmm, a demon?” I said aloud, my voice carefully neutral as I tore my gaze away from her and continued scanning the room.
Her lips curved into a smile, “Seems like my job of unfolding the situation will be brief, hero.”
There it is again… That word. My stomach churned.
“Rai,” I snapped. “Call me Rai." That title? Makes me want to puke.
Her expression flickered with what can be described only as 'surprisedly offended'—but she recovered quickly. Bowing her head slightly, she replied, “My apologies, Rai. I did not mean to cause anger.”
More figures emerged from the shadows, stepping into the crimson glow. They were her comrades, apparently, but thankfully, none of them shared her skyscraper-like height. My relief was short-lived as I got a good look at them: a menagerie of creatures pulled straight from fantasy lore. Beastkin with sharp claws and furred ears. Succubi with leathery wings and hypnotic eyes. Winged Sirens whose melodic voices seemed to hum just beneath the surface of the silence. Minotaurs and centaurs… It was a bestiary brought to life.
A succubus wife... My brain went again in overtime mode, drooling at the fantasy crafting inside my mind. STILL! I'm being called a hero, an insult! I can't let the beautiful, meaty girl floating behind the group of demons distract me! I wiped the drool while the not-so-short lady that stood in front of me continued her speech.
“We used the summoning circle to call upon otherworldly powers to aid us,” the towering woman continued, her voice calm but resolute. “The human kingdom's hero has proven too powerful. You witnessed it yourself when you first opened your eyes—the empty throne where our beloved Demon King used to bless us with her wisdom! She..." A moment of hesitation formed between her lines. It was adorned in a sad expression, almost ready to cry, but she continued nonetheless: "She was defeated by the hero, so we summoned a similar strength to get back at him.”
I blinked. “Wait, hold on. The demons used a hero summoning circle… to summon a hero?” I let out a low whistle. “Well, that’s one hell of a plot twist.”
I wasn't participating in a dialogue with that remark, but she joined it anyway: “Not just any hero. You are not bound by their ideals. That is why you were chosen.”
Oh, great. So they didn’t want a hero—they wanted a loophole. Someone who could fight the humans without being tied to their nauseating morality. Someone who could be… themselves.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair, forming a delicious smile made of pure joy and malice. “Well, Demon Lady,” I said dryly, earning a raised eyebrow from her, “you might have summoned the extra-wrong guy. I’m not exactly hero material, nor do I like them.”