Chapter 1
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Stella POV
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“Uuugh!” I groaned as I tried to wake up. When I opened my eyes, there was a ceiling I did not recognize, a bed that I did not know, and a door that I did not remember. Everything here is something I did not recognize. Where were my bed, my home, and even my clothes? This smooth sensation of fabric is different than what my body remembered.
“She is awake! The second hero awake!” the nurse screamed and called another nurse. I was quickly stripped and clothed in some fancy white dress.
“You have been asleep for 3 days. You woke at just the right time for an audience with the king. Please follow us.” The oldest maid bowed with a lot of respect toward me.
I was dragged along the castle corridor towards the audience hall. None of the scenery here is something I recognize. Something is weird. Why is there nothing that I recognize here? What do I know? I cannot remember. Eh? Why?
“Urgh.” I moaned. My head hurts.
“She seems unwell. Is it okay for her to meet our majesty?” one of the maids whispered among themselves in a slightly loud tone that I could hear.
“The majesty is very eager to have an audience with the heroes. He will surely forgive a few circumstances.” The head maid replied, “It is not as formal as you think.”
After that, I was taken to a spacious and luxurious room with tables and sofas. There are 3 young men on the right couch. 2 girls sitting on the left couch, and an older man with a crown sitting on his sofa. Several people are standing behind that man with a crown. Why are they not seated? I instinctively chose to ignore that and sit on the left one with other girls.
“Thank you for coming. Second hero. I am King Gray Fulldragon. The king of the human country. And we here actually did not speak the same language. But your earrings are imbued with magic to translate speech. As there might be some differences between our culture and fundamental language, please speak if there is any confusion.” I nodded silently
“Well, we screamed like shit when coming here. But we have calmed down. Sorry if we are making any fuss King Gray.” A boy with a muscular body spoke
“Mister Hart. Please speak with our king more politely.”
“Relax, Minister Darius, they are not my subject. They do not have to respect me that much in this informal meeting.” Except for King Gray and that minister, every eye behind him looked very cautious.
“Sorry for our Rudeness, Your Majesty Darius. Even if we are not your subject, it is not a reason to act with a disrespectful tone. As you said, we have a different culture, so please tell us if we behave unaccordingly, High Minister Darius.”
“I also apologize for my strict scolding earlier, Mister Parker Hasegawa. “
“Well, I am glad that we all can understand each other! Hahaha! But the formality here is a bit stifling, so let us enjoy ourselves.”
“Stop it! I do not need flatteries. When will you send us home?!” the girl on my left suddenly let out a scream while slamming the table with her hands. “All the maids said that we will get an explanation now!!” her behavior surprised everyone. But another girl calmed her down, and the king signaled his guard to lower the grip on their sword.
“Well, if you want, we can return you anytime. To your worlds. At the very same time, at the same place before we summoned you.” King Gray let out a sigh. “But, please hear my plea. This world is currently overrun by demons. We have lost more than 60 percent of our territories. Not only humans but elves have also lost a considerable amount. Half-human and dwarves are annihilated with only 10% of their territories. And thus, we asked you to help our world.”
“If we don’t, we can’t return?” the second girl beside the one that screamed replied
“No, as I said, you can return now if you want. We will return you at the same place and time as before.”
“Then returned us! I have a promise to my father! He is currently in a hospital!” she went crying.
“Wait, Chloe, don’t be hasty.” Parker warned, “Your Highness. You mentioned the same time and the same place before you summoned us. But did you know what it meant to us?”
At that moment, everyone went silent. The girl’s face that went crying earlier changed into fear filled with despair. All the boys’ and the second girl’s face was filled with fear. In contrast, the king’s subjects had a light mood, and some even smiled. What the hell happened here? Why am I the only one left out? I do not understand anything they said.
“Well, I do not know the specifics. But I know it was a life-threatening situation, is it not?”
“Then, you must also know what it means to return us at the same time and place, right?”
“Yes, I do.” The king gave his affirmation.
“This is a threat!” Hart and the third boy screamed while Chloe cried even louder on the second girl’s lap.
“Haaah,” the king gave a long sigh. “If I told you I have no intention of doing such a thing, you would never believe me. But rather than calling it a threat, how about we call it a business proposal? I have no intention of coercing you to help us.”
“Yeah, right,” Hart let out a dissatisfied voice while the third boy turned silent.
“Just to make sure that the language is translated correctly, a business is when 2 parties both profit, right? What do we get from this? We can’t go back to our world now.”
“We can adjust the time and place.”
“Is it true?” Parker said while narrowing his eye
“There are restrictions, of course. For a time, we cannot send you to the past, but we can send you into the future a bit. For example, appearing at that place 1 day or 1 week later, the danger has surely passed, right? Or we can change the place. But since we do not know your world, you have to specify how many meters from that place to the north, east, or south. That’s the specifics.”
In that voice, everyone’s mood lightened up.
“Really, you are not lying?”
“I swear by my soul to whatever god there is in this world. I do not hold any malice towards you,” he said while raising his hand.
“Well, as we cannot refuse him, let’s agree. “The first said while stretching his hands towards the king. The king looked at his hand, confused. “Ahh, sorry, this is our culture when a business has been set. You hold out your hand, and we shake hands.”
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“Ahh, sorry, we do not have such a culture. “The king apologized while grasping Parker’s hand, and both laughed. Everyone’s mood lightened. I just tilted my head in confusion.
“Sorry, second hero. You just woke up, and we brought you to this serious talk. I apologized. And by the way, we do not have your name yet. May I know your name?”
“Yeah. You were pretty silent all the way. We knew which school you were attending by your school uniform. But we do not know your name yet.” Hart said while smiling.
“My name....” I can’t remember. My head hurts.
“Are you okay?” Parker gave us a worried look. The relaxing atmosphere turned bleak once more.
“I... don’t know...’
“Hold on a second. Miss, please look at me. Do you know your name, your birthday, and your address? Your mom?” Parker quickly raised from his seat to examine me
“No... I can’t remember anything... Arrgh!!! It hurts!!” I grabbed my own head. It really hurts
“Stop thinking for a bit. Miss...Y..o..u.. n.....e...e....d” my view went blank, and I fainted.
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King POV
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“Whew, that went well. I am glad. They are more understanding and composed than I thought.” I said while walking toward my office with my aide.
“Thank goodness they are very rational. It seems that the last sentence just meant this. I am glad we prepared a lot. As expected of our wise king. Your insight is wonderful as always.” Darius spoke while being supported by other ministers and other high nobles with glee.
“Not yet. We can’t relax our guard yet. There are still others, right?”
“Yes, sir! Currently, we have located another 4 people in the other towns. They are currently being transported here. The elves have located 6 people so far. The angels 3, and the half-human 2. And in some villages, there are some eyewitnesses of a pink meteor dropped into some forest. We are currently looking into it right now.”
“So many.....”
“So there are at least 21 heroes found. Marlon, do you think any other species lied about the numbers?”
“Well, I do not think so. They have no reason to. Maybe they will just hide one or two people as their trump card. But that’s the most they will do. “
“That collapsed girl is suspicious. What do you think, Minister Darius?” Serge said with disdain. His skills in monetary were praised. But I can’t really like his attitude of accusing others.
“No, the others testify that her clothing is from their world. Therefore I think she is the same as them. She just suffered memory loss. Maybe her head crashed into something before we summoned her.” Darius replied with a very logical tone. He is worthy of being the next king already if I retire early.
“You have quite an insight, Darius.” The king smiled
“Don’t joke, my king. I merely observed. Your majesty was even more insightful by preparing a summoning circle that saves people from accidents.”
“Think in your opponent’s shoes, Darius. If you were the summoned one, what would you do? Even if we give them gold and title, their home might have more. No stranger will bet their life on those things. In that case, we must put the same bet into their pool. A life for a life. We saved them, and in turn, they saved us.”
“Thank you for your wisdom. Your wisdom has opened my eyes.”
“Well, to be truthful, in my days ruling this kingdom. This hero summoning scares me the most. The more I thought about that last sentence prophecy, the more I feared. What if the hero is a traitor? What if the hero is a non-sensible tyrant that destroys everything? What if the hero is a race that loves to kill or is barbaric?”
“Glad none of that happened,” Darius said while astonished.
“Well, we have enough for this day. Let us rest. Return back to your post, gentlemen.” I said while heading toward my bedroom. That collapsed girl needs a little work to be done. But I can’t do anything about it. Her companions will surely bring her to our cause. If she can’t be convinced, we can still use another method. But let’s put the threat, harm, and violence into a corner. Those are the very last way. I have no intention of subduing them with force or threat. It is much better if they help us willingly.
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Parker POV
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“I can’t believe we are thrown into another world like this.”
“Yeah. It is like we were at the popular light novel 40 years ago. About reincarnation and summoning and stuff.” Hart replies
“So, are we really in another world, or are we kidnapped by some mysterious organization and locked within a diving capsule?” I asked Will
“A Virtual reality game must have a status menu. Not just a VR game, any VR software must have a menu. But our eyes see a completely normal view. And any gesture, even the emergency ones, didn’t work. So there is a very small possibility this is a VR.” Will the nerd replied
“Besides that accident with the bus, we do not even have a scar. Even with our latest medical facilities, it should take about a month at least for the scar to disappear.”
“Let’s talk to Chloe and Nana about this in the evening. And that amnesiac girl, too, if she wakes up.”
“Why the hurry?”
“I am a politician’s son. I knew some politics. Those guys’ behavior is definitely wary or suspicious towards us. The king hides it well, but his subjects’ faces show it all.”
“I do not quite understand.” Hart gives a questionable look “do you think gray will lie to us.”
“Watch your voice, Hart. No, I do not suspect the king’s reply. I think he does not lie when I see his face. But nevertheless, we need to check that summoning spell discreetly. But that is a matter in the far future. What concern me is their behavior.”
“Alright, I am now confused.”
“This is my sense as a politician. I am still inexperienced, so I might be wrong. But those henchmen don’t seem to like us. That is very contrast with the king who tried his very best to gain favor from us. “
“I still do not understand.”
“Let’s go to the women’s room. Hart and Will, call Chloe and Nana. We will meet at the collapsed girl’s room if she wakes up or in my room.” After giving out orders, they did it so obediently. And we gathered in the second hero’s room.
“So you are saying that we create our own faction?” Chloe said
“More or less,” I replied. “But we must not show any hostility to them. This faction is just to prevent nobles from gaining favors from us. We should only obey King Gray.”
“Politician sure has it hard, huh? I don’t really like it, but I guess I have no other choice.” Hart complained.
“We do not know anything here. It is best to gain favors from the officials on the matter of things. “
“Could you be more specific? I still do not quite understand what you are saying.”
“He basically told us to form an organization like a student council and act as a team. We should not act based on our own interests from now on. Everything should be discussed among us other worlders.” Will said.
“You have some brains to back up that nerd appearance. That is basically it. For the best of all, that is what we should do.”
“As long as I can go home. I am fine with it.” Chloe said. This girl is too much fragile. Well, that is to be expected from standard high schoolers from the earth.
“Umm, did you get any of our conversations, miss?” I asked the amnesiac girl.
“Yes. I do. Do not cause trouble, discuss any problem with the group, and follow the orders from the group in priority.” She said with a blank look. Despite a face like that, her brain is on that nerd level or more. She might be pretty intelligent.
“Is there any of you who recognize me or this face?”
“I do not. You Will? Hart?”
“I see her before that accident. She is not alone. She has 4 friends if I remember right.” Will replied
“Bus? What is it? You said before we are otherworlders. Does that mean we do not originate here?”
“Anyone care to explain?” I looked at Nana and Chloe.
“Basically, on the other side, we were riding a bus. A bus is some sort of vehicle used for transporting people. That bus was hit by a truck containing gasoline. Umm, gasoline is a flammable material. And we were brought here at that time. That is our situation. Umm, miss... Second hero?”
“Why am I riding that bus?” she looked at Will.
“No idea. You should ask your friend that came with you if we meet them.”
“I see. By the way, do you know what Stella is?”
“Huh?” we let out an awkward sound.
“It is a name that’s been popping into my head.”
“It might be your name. Alright, it is settled. From now on, we will call you Stella. Nice to meet you. I am Parker Hasegawa. My father is a politician. I went to Oswald private school.”
“I am Hart Tristan. My father is a soccer player on a local team. I went to the same school as Parker’s”
“Will Stanford. My father is a programmer. I went to Origin National School. “
“Chloe Ignis. My father is just a normal employee in Nana’s company. I also went to Origin school.”
“Nana Kaoru. I went to Oswald just like Parker. My father is a shareholder in several companies. Nice to meet you.”
“My name is Stella. I do not remember anything aside from that. Please treat me well.”
“Well. If I am not mistaken, that uniform is from Triss Private School. It is quite prestigious. You must be quite rich on that side.” Hart added my introduction
“I see. Then let me repeat my introduction, my name is Stella, and I am from Triss High School. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, Stella.”
After that, we began chatting a little bit and went to rest in our own designated room. I feel a little relieved. Although my memory needs to be clarified. If we survived this together, we would surely prevail.