The doors to the throne room opened in unison, allowing the group to enter.

The interior was even more ostentatious than all the corridors that had passed before, which, if Zack had not seen this place, he would think that it was impossible.

The room was huge. Inside there were about thirty people on the sides and even so, the room seemed empty.

Everywhere you looked there were extremely garish decorations, the borders of the walls were inlaid with gold, and all the occupants of the room were dressed in gaudy clothes that looked equally uncomfortable.

The occupants, presumably the nobles of the kingdom that had summoned them, looked at them coldly trying to analyze them completely. Some looked at them with interest others with derision and a few simply seemed indifferent, but if there is something that they all had in common it was something that Zack recognized, that air of superiority that enveloped them.

Due to the work and influence of his parents, Zack has met many important people in his life, which is why his parents forced him to go to the prestigious institute that he has been attending for three years.

Influence, contacts, power.

Most of the powerful people he has come to know always had that air of superiority that enveloped everyone in the room as if they were above the rest of living beings.

It is difficult to identify it in adults, but in young people, it is easier.

If there's one thing Zack has learned in the time he's been at parties, social gatherings, and even in his own class, it's to identify people.

What he was seeing was not good.

All the people in the room were looking at them as if they were exotic animals.

The comparison could not be more precise.

Normally when you go to the zoo and see gorillas, you are impressed with their strength and appearance, but what if a gorilla throws a banana skin at you?

Obviously, you would be angry.

After all, how dare a mere animal stain your clothes?

Even if you are in awe of them, you are still a human, a superior species. And as a human being, you feel superior to an animal that is at the mercy of other people.

These are the looks that the supposed nobles of the kingdom are directing at them, monkeys trained to entertain them and then forget about.

Zack can guess that his stay here will not be pleasant.

They are just mere tools to them. What do you think would happen if a tool doesn't serve its purpose?

While Zack was beginning to hyperventilate imagining his future, the old wizard approached the throne, bowed his head, and said:

"Your majesty here I present to you the heroes of another world who have offered their help to aid us against the enemies of the world, the demons"

"These are the heroes?"

"They don't seem very strong"

"Look at their clothes, what a curious outfit"

The moment the archmage finished his words the room erupted in whispers and murmurs among the nobles who continued to watch them.

"Hmm, good job"

All voices ceased as the king began to speak. If the students had been more observant, they might have seen fear on the faces of the younger members of the nobility. Only a couple of keen observers noticed, Zack included.

"Thank you, your majesty" the archmage said, after which he walked to an empty alcove in the room and fell silent.

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Contrary to the image that Zack and the rest had of what the king would be like, his true appearance is quite shocking.

The king had long hair that reached his shoulders and penetrating eyes that did not tolerate disrespect. Even though he was sitting down, it could be seen that he had a strong and tall body, with large muscles that could be glimpsed under his clothes.

"Oh heroes, I am sorry for all the inconveniences that may have caused you. I begged for your help. Thousands of lives are lost every day. Please help us defeat the Demon Lord."

Despite his emotional words, neither the tone nor the expression of the king changed during your speech. It was as if those lives for which he asked for help meant nothing to him.

Without giving his spectators time to react, the king continued with his speech.

"Now we will begin with the ceremony of-"

"Your majesty, if you allow me, I will perform the awakening ceremony. I'm sure the gods would have wanted it that way."

The nobles in the room tensed when they saw that someone had interrupted the king, but when they saw who it was, they relaxed.

The king stared at the person who had come forward.

The person in question was an old man in white and gold robes, very expensive for sure, but in contrast to the colorful clothes of the people in the room, his seemed almost plain.

The king looked into the eyes of the one who dared to interrupt him when he was speaking.

After a while, King Terence II said:

"Mmm, if that's what you want Pontiff" answered the king without much expression in his eyes.

"Thank you very much, your majesty" replied the Pontiff, bowing slightly in the same way that the old wizard had done before.

One of the palace attendants approached the Pontiff and handed him a white sphere, then he looked towards the heroes in the same way that a grandfather would look at his grandchildren.

"Please heroes come closer to be able to perform the ceremony"

Neither took a step forward.

Seeing this the Pontiff did not seem angry, he came a little closer and said slowly:

"Don't worry, nothing will happen. We just want to see what your class is"

Zack and a few others were alarmed when they heard this.

(Classes? As in the novels? But it is impossible. Although what has happened to us is also impossible)

As the students were reacting to the news, a figure slowly separated from the group.

"Excuse me, but before any ceremony, I would like you to answer a few questions for us" Professor Kaede said in a tone neither humble nor arrogant, yet one could see that she was nervous.

"Of course. It's normal to be confused," replied the Pontiff, still smiling.

Seeing that the old man was willing to clarify her questions, Miss Kaede seemed to have calmed down enough.

"I'm afraid there has been some kind of misunderstanding" she said before continuing, "We've heard that we've been summoned to fight an army, but none of us are fighters. None of my students know enough to face an armed opponent, much less an army"

Hearing the teacher's concerns, the Pontiff looked at them with an expression of understanding and said:

"Do not worry about it. There has been no error. The gods have chosen you for this quest because you know you are qualified. I understand that you are scared, and it is understandable, but you should not fear because the god of light has blessed you and will give you the strength to save us"

Upon hearing this, Zack's face sank, just by hearing the words that came out of his mouth he knew what kind of person the Pontiff was: a religious fanatic.

Zack had already dealt with this kind of person before.

On rare occasions, he had to accompany his parents to his office due to problem clients whose cases were taking longer than expected due to the circumstances of the case or the client himself.

Once his parents' clients was a religious fanatic like the pontiff. He was accused of burning down a place of worship of another religion and causing the death of several people.

The problem that his parents had in this particular case was that this guy wanted to testify the truth about what he had done as if they were going to give him an award for it.

Zack stared for almost four hours as his parents tried to change his testimony while this asshole yelled at them and called them enemies of God.

But the reason Zack remembers him so well was because of what happened next.

After hours of discussions, his parents decided to take a break. At that moment that scumbag hit his father from behind with a chair and tried to attack his mother.

Fortunately, the firm's security prevented something worse from happening.

Basically, they can tie you up and torture you in a room with cameras while half the world watches and it will still be somehow your fault!

It is useless to argue with this kind of people, their arguments are based on the 'will of God'. If you don't do what you are told you are disobeying god's will, but if you do what 'god' commands you to do, you will be rewarded... in another life.

People like him will never listen to arguments that harm them, even if you take the time to listen to how impossible and irrational their intentions are, it only will get you branded as blasphemous.

As for what happened to that guy, Zack's parents did something he didn't expect.

They apologized and agreed to do what the fool wanted, letting him proclaim his actions in court.

He was sentenced to the death penalty.

The teacher tried to ask more questions, but she was interrupted by the Pontiff.

"Child. I understand that you are confused, but I assure you that you have nothing to fear. Please, let's continue with the awakening ceremony. I'm sure it will solve any doubts you have."

Miss Kaede was silent for a moment, after which she nodded.

The old man in a white and golden robe smiled and said:

"Just put your hand on the sphere I'm holding"

Kaede did as she said. The moment her hand touched the sphere, light began to pour out gently as her radiance gradually increased. Once the sphere stopped shining more the Pontiff said:

"Status"