Silence descended upon a dark, barren place devoid of life except for a humanoid figure bathed in blood standing among countless corpses of monsters more generally known as demon beasts. The atmosphere surrounding him was calm and yet there is a tinge of both regret and anger on his face.
He walked seemingly without aim but then stopped near the corpse of a gigantic bird-like demon beast before forcefully plucking off a big portion of the demon beast’s wing without caring that more blood was splattered onto his body.
“Another day of eating demon beasts… how did things turn out to be like this?”
His coarse, almost inaudible voice barely pushed away the looming silence.
“After what we have done… AFTER WE RESOLVED OURSELVES TO BECOME KILLERS, TO KILL YOUR ENEMIES FOR YOU ALL! AND THIS IS WHAT WE GET AS THANKS?”
Suddenly raising his voice he stabbed his dagger again and again into the lifeless demon beast’s body in front of him.
“Not good, I have to cool down… I can’t go insane before I get my revenge.”
Closing his eyes, he let out a long sigh.
“Must be because I’ve only been seeing nightmare about that day lately.”
As much as it was agonizing for him, just by having the thought vivid images of the event that led him to his current situation began to re-emerge in his mind against his will.
A red carpet was laid out from the entrance of a spacious room, which was big enough to cram at least several hundreds of people in, towards the imposing throne. The room would be majestic if not for the cracks and crater-like depressions scattered around the floor, walls and ceiling. Everything was painted red with blood.
It was the aftermath of an intense battle.
On one side, a dark-scarlet haired man that sported two horns on his head, of which one was broken in half. His figure and demeanor were imposing and left the impression of an important and powerful figure. And he was that, as he had stood atop the demon race itself. The demon lord clad in the blackest of armors swayed and stumbled until he finally fell down. A pool of blood formed under his body before it stopped expanding, signifying the stillness of his heart.
The bloody image finally managed to pull his consciousness deeper into the memory he would never forget.
“Brother, did... we do it?” My little brother, still holding his bloodied sword in a stance, Reza looked at me with a blank exhausted look. I hesitated as I looked at the fallen body near my feet and then at everyone else, next to Reza was Mira, on the opposite side of us, behind the collapsed body were Surya and Bagus, everyone including me was covered in wounds.
“Yeah” I said weakly, however I couldn’t suppress the urge to smile. My exhausted body regained a bit of its strength as I raised my fist and I said “YEAH” this time with vigor.
Everyone then shouted in unison “We really did it !”
Surya dropped his bow and fell down on his bottom while letting a sigh of relief, Bagus couldn’t hold back his tears while sobbing softly, smiling.
Mira threw her wand and jumped onto Reza’s chest, hugging him while crying. Flustered, his arms were in the air. Reza looked at her and then at me a few times with a reddened face.
I approached him, knocked his head lighly, and whispered,
“Just hug her back, idiot”
Although hesitant, he finally wrapped his arms around her and smiled gently.
Yep, I know the two of you just started going out before we raided the demon lord’s castle but there should be no reason to hold back right there my bro.
If there’s a mirror in front of me I think I will see an old man with a lax face as if he was looking at his grandchildren playing around happily in his backyard.... wait, what did I just think? Oh well...
I looked at the fallen body in black armor once again, the Demon Lord “Orcus”. Even though it took hours, we finally defeated him.
The war between the humans and the demon race which has been raging for tens of years, almost ended up with the human side losing, if not for the hero summoning two years ago.
Reza, Mira, Surya, Bagus and I were summoned from our clubroom one fateful evening and although reluctant, we finally joined the war and managed to turn the tide of war due to our special status as otherworlders. If this was a game our stats will have some extra points by 100 on almost each stats even at level 1 which equal that of a level 50 of the average human of this world. And thanks to the harsh training and dungeon exploration, we surely have gotten far stronger compared to the first time we came here.
If somebody got a scouter maybe they will shout “Their power level is over 9.000!!” or something like that, not that I think it will really be over 9.000 though. Heck, I don’t even know the standard.
By the way there really was something we could use to see somebody’s stats in certain values, although such artifact is considered a rare item even in this world. In fact some of the kingdom’s higher ups used that on us but they didn’t tell us the details of our stats other than saying that they were otherworldly. Well duh, we were from another world.
Still, the demon lord was even stronger. We could only reach him after the kingdom launched a full scale attack on one of the demon’s base in the frontline as a decoy while we, accompanied by several elite knights launched a sneak attack right into his castle when its defense is at the worst. With the sacrifice of the knights we finally got to face him in a fierce battle. Honestly, I felt like giving up several times in the fight myself.
“Shall we get back? It will be bad if this commotion reached the ones in other bases and they send reinforcements here. In our current condition I doubt we can take them on.”
Everyone nodded to my proposal and we began to move out. In our tattered condition we could only walk in a little quicker pace so it might take some time until we can get out of this castle. However when we got past a room I saw something moving.
“Wait” I told everyone to stop and they look at me with question marks above their heads.
“I saw something”
“There’s still some demon left? Then we should run ! We can’t fight in our current state.” Surya looked as if he’s just seen a demon... well, we were in a demon lord’s castle.
But true, everyone looked like they might collapse anytime.
“You’re right, but I don’t want to be chased from behind while we can only run at the speed of jogging at most like this. You guys wait here, my condition isn’t as bad as yours I’ll check it out. If something happens, just run ahead and I will follow after buying some time.”
Wait, what the heck was I saying? I don’t want to play a cool but stupid hero at a time like this...
“What are you saying big bro? We won’t leave you behind !” Reza shouted at me.
“Yes we won’t let you fight alone.” Mira added.
Surya hesitated but he nodded to their words. Bagus was just looking at me worriedly.
I knew they will say that, why did I even propose such a thing anyway?
However, when I see that Reza and Mira were holding hands I finally understood.
I see it’s not that I just want to play hero but,
“Nggghhh, Okay if something happens just back me up then. But, you guys wait here.”
Reza just nodded weakly to my words.
I looked around the room in caution and readied my trusty weapons, the pure white ’Azanthys’ on my right and the jet black ‘Mareritter’ on my left, which basic form was close to a katar which was heavily modified with ornaments and side blades that reach the elbows.
The first thing that came to mind after looking at the interior was... ‘cute’, what a cutely decorated room this was. Stuffed dolls can be found almost on every corner of the room. I think this was a kid’s room, a girl. I couldn’t imagine such a room to exist within the demon lord’s castle except if....
*Thud*
I heard something and I look toward the source, a wooden closet
I gulped my saliva and approached it slowly. It sounded like something just bumped into the cabinet from the inside.
“Uuu”
A groan could be heard from the closet.
Okay, now I’m sure somebody was inside the closet and judging by the situation it would be...
I opened the closet slowly to find a girl about 12 or 13 years old, I looked at her elongated ears, blackish scarlet hair, and the horns albeit small protruding out from her head... don’t tell me.
Tears were flowing down her cheeks but she was looking at me with sharp resolute eyes, the same eyes of the one we had just fought...
Great, this girl must be related to the demon lord, she might even be his daughter. Okay, what to do here…
If I leave her be she might become the next demon lord…
“Oi, did you find anything ? “ Surya peeked out from the door and called out to me.
The girl, now trembling, closed her eyes, crying soundlessly. Aww damn, you just need to touch my soft part, you lass.
“No, nothing, sorry I guess it was just my imagination, let’s go.”
Letting out a soft “Eh?” the demon girl looked at me with a surprised expression.
I put a finger to my lips, signalling her to not let out a sound, ignoring her blank stare I closed the closet then ran outside the room.
It has been three weeks since we killed the demon lord.
The death of the demon lord has spread throughout the continent. With their morale reaching its peak the mankind army raced through the frontline to re-seize their once lost territory, while the demons retreated and focused on defense.
However, the war wasn’t over yet. The death of Demon Lord Orcus just brought it to a stalemate. I guess a nation couldn’t just appoint a new leader when one was lost. Apparently the reason mankind was able to push them back was also the dispute between their higher ups on the right to the throne.
To my surprise I hadn’t even heard any rumour of Orcus having an heir, so who was that girl I saw in the castle?
We were currently in a carriage returning to Rifsten, the capital of Rifst kingdom, one of the 3 largest nations of mankind which was also the bastion of mankind due to its location that bordered the demon territory. If we looked at a map of the continent, the demons occupy a third of the continent at the western part while, except for a small part at the middle-eastern part that belongs to the elves, the rest was humans’ territory. There were also islands nations north of the continent that belongs to the beastmen.
There are quite a number of humans’ nations, however the three largest were: the Merchants Republic of Valis; Zagrant Empire which, bordered the Demons territory at the northern part of the continent; and Rifst, which also bordered the demons territory at the southern part of the continent.
Rifst was also the nation which summoned us. I still remember the day 2 years ago. Surya, Bagus and I were hanging out in our clubroom afterschool when Reza, my little brother, and Mira, who is our childhood friend just came to pick me up. A magic circle suddenly appeared on the floor and we were enveloped in bright light. When we came to we were in a big hall, the summoning hall, and were surrounded by the kingdom’s best mages.
Ah, nevermind that, now we could ask the king to finally return us to our world. What we promised wasn’t to bring victory in this war, but to defeat the demon lord and we have fulfilled our share. Now it was time to go home.
As our carriage passed through the capital, we were welcomed with cheers from the townsfolk. There were many people whom we have come to know calling us by our names while shouting things like
“You did it, as expected of the heroes. Please continue to protect our country.”
“I’ve asked this before, but won’t you really consider marrying to our family?”
“I hope you will still be my customer from now on”
“I want to be big bro’s bride !”
And so on.
Sorry folks, but we were going home.
“I am very sorry, however our kingdom does not have the means to send you back to your home world.”
Is what the King just said to us in the audience hall.
“Say what?” I shouted reflexively.
“The ancient magic used to summon you was a one way portal, thus we cannot use it to send anything from this side.”
Surya just double facepalmed himself with a loud slap sound while Bagus was muttering things in a language I don’t understand.
“Please wait a minute your majesty, the promise was that you will send us back to our world once we have defeated the demon lord.” Reza, drenched in cold sweat protested while Mira was just holding his hand, looking at her own feet blankly.
“Yes, that was indeed our promise, however it seems our kingdom would not be able to fulfill the promise by ourselves.”
“Are you kidding me ?” Reza was agitated, as could be heard from his tone.
This was shit. So we were deceived? This kingdom didn’t have any means to send us back home since the very beginning?
Wait… ‘this kingdom’… ‘by ourselves’…
I looked at the King and he returned my gaze with a grin.
You bastard…
I laughed and everyone from our group looked at me, confused.
The King also laughed and said.
“I’m sorry. I just wanted to see your reaction. True, we don’t have any means to send you all back but that doesn’t mean that a way to send you back is nonexistent. Our scholars couldn’t find a way to send you back in time but the empire sent their envoy a few months ago telling us they had finally found the necessary magic thus we have arranged a way to send you all back with the Empire.”
““““Eh?””””
“There is a place in Zagrant Empire that was said to be the closest place in this world to dimensional rift. The Empire had also sent a formal invitation to you heroes. Their side will arrange everything from taking you there and use their imperial secret magic repertoire to help send you back home. The preparation will be finished around 4 or 5 days from now and the place is located about a week from here by carriage so you may depart tomorrow if you wish. How is it?”
The heroes group other than me just stared at the King, dumbfounded, then they breathed out sigh of relief.
“You really got us there your majesty. However, that is a very bad joke if I have to say. Your words also implied that at the start the kingdom didn’t even think of a way to send us home.”
“Urg, as expected, you were the first to realize it eh? I don’t have enough words to apologize but as we have found the way now I hope you will let it be bygones.”
I sighed then smiled at the king.
“Yeah, I guess it doesn’t matter anymore now.”
“I’ve also said this many times but how’s it, would you like to stay and join the knights? I’ll even arrange your own squad.” The king answered me calmly.
Reza looked at me, I’m sure he’s thinking ‘No, don’t!’ or ‘If you’re going to stay then I will too!’
Well, don’t worry I do want to go back too my bro.
“I am sorry your majesty, but going back to our world was our goal since the very beginning. We only agreed to help because you promised to send us back if we helped.” The way I said it sounded like if the King forced us to fight… Wait, half of it was true, we truly felt like helping them only after we have seen the condition of the people in the frontlines.
The King sighed and said “I see, it can’t be helped then…”
I just shrugged, and at that moment I saw someone who was looking at me with a rather sad expression. I chose to ignore her for now though so I averted my gaze.
“Erik!”
Someone called my name while I was on the way to my room. I looked back to the source of the voice. It was a girl the same age as mine, 17 years old. She’s wearing a gorgeous blue and white colored dress with some yellow on the hems. She is the first princess of Rifst, Lavinia Vie Rifst.
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I suddenly felt some warm gazes from the others behind me.
“Ah, I’m so tired. I’m going back to my room and get some sleep.” Reza just spoke in an exaggerated manner and walk away.
“Good idea, I’m beat…” Mira follows.
Bagus dragged the clueless Surya away while giving me a sympathetic gaze.
“Your highness princess Lavinia, how are you feeling today?” I greeted her with practiced gesture, right hand on the chest, left leg a step to the back, and a slight bow. Hmm, perfect if I do say so myself.
“Why did you ignore me?”
“…” I didn’t answer.
“And didn’t I tell you to stop with the formalities when it’s just you and me.”
“…” I didn’t answer.
“You’re… not going to stay?”
I sighed
Okay, I’m not being over confident or anything here but, she, the princess was in love with me. In fact she told me before I went to raid the demon lord’s castle. It’s just… I didn’t answer her feelings. No, it’s more like I couldn’t.
“Yeah” I answered weakly.
“No matter what?”
“Yeah, we have families on the other side and if I don’t go back, then I’m sure Reza and Mira will also choose to stay. I also don’t know what that li’l brother of mine will do on the other side if I just sneak away during the transfer process. He might never forgive me if that were to happen. Also…”
The next sentence won’t come out. It’s something I couldn’t accept myself.
“It’s hard to move on?”
“So you know eh?” I smiled wryly.
“You were always looking at a certain someone the same way I look at you from the distance.” Lavinia asserted.
“Can’t I have the chance to wait until you are ready to move on?” She added.
I scratched my head.
“Listen o’ young lady, there are also times when a man’s heart get so delicate to the point where it will take forever until he can understand himself.” It might be pointless to wait is what I wanted to say, but as expected I couldn’t just say it like that
“And you shouldn’t underestimate a maiden’s heart either, it can be so tough that a small drop of feelings can last forever you know.”
Ugh, she returned that well…
True, I couldn’t even bury this feeling of mine which has grown for more than three years even after I found out that it is unrequited. And, Lavinia is a really beautiful girl. It might be stupid of me to hold on to my unrequited yearning any longer but…
Heh, I’m stupid aren’t I?
“Yeah, I think with time I might be able to come to answer your feelings with mine. However, I don’t know how long it will take and I, no, we also want to return to our previous life. Frankly speaking, we are tired of all this fighting. We were just some ordinary students with ordinary families and ordinary dreams like simply becoming a civil servant while leading an ordinarily happy life.” Ugh, maybe I added too much ‘ordinary’ there, the back of my neck is itchy…
Lavinia casted her gaze downwards.
If this was a novel or TV drama she might say “Then take me along to your world” but Lavinia was a smart and responsible girl. She knew that she was the first princess of this kingdom with her own rights and obligations and that she couldn’t be selfish, she was such a girl, no, a princess.
She finally raised her face and smiled at me.
“Do you remember when we first talked to each other?”
“Yeah, it was the 7th day after the summoning. You suddenly approached me while I was resting alone in the palace garden after training. You even told your maids to leave us together. I was so nervous at that time you know.”
“I, I was nervous as well, I couldn’t say anything other than ‘how was the training sir Erik?’ even you only answered ‘It went smoothly your highness.’”
“And after that we only stood there in silence for minutes.” I added.
“If only you didn’t crack a joke right there we might even continue to stand there doing nothing all day.”
“I couldn’t help it, it was kind of a reflexive action. I thought I was going to get a death penalty because you just kept standing there while glaring at me, you didn’t even giggle.”
“That was… the very moment when I first realized that…*sigh* nevermind. But you know, you were the only one to tell me jokes, there were also some unfunny ones though.”
“Ahaha… hah… Now I feel embarrassed.”
“And, the more we talked to each other, the more my feelings grow as well. It was… fulfilling for me. Too bad it was one sided.”
Tears begun to fill her eyes and that struck me in the chest. It hurts me to see her cry. I don’t know if I have the right to say this but, she’s my closest friend in this world.
“Lavinia…”
“Erik, I want you to have this.”
Before I could say anything else Lavinia approached me and handed me a pendant, adorned with an almost transparent azure gemstone ornamented with silver carvings. Wait, this is one of Rifst royal treasure, the amulet of Praesia.
“H, hey, is it okay to give me something like this? Didn’t you say this was the only thing you’ll never let go?” I faltered.
“Please accept it, I’ve held onto this for ever since I was little. It might be a little selfish of me but I hope with this you will always remember me.” She said as she wiped her tears.
“I won’t be able to forget you no matter how hard I try even without this you know.”
“Are you saying that you will try to forget me?”
“Who knows...”
“Then I will give you something else to make sure you won’t forget me.”
“Eh?”
Lavinia approached me even closer, leans forward and...
“Wha, eh, what?”
A kiss, she kissed me... on the cheek though.
“Hmm, do you want it on the lips?” She asked me while blushing, well I must be blushing furiously as well now.
We only stood there while averting our gazes until Lavinia broke the silence.
“It’s a goodbye then. I don’t think I can send you off tomorrow. I don’t want you to see me cry anymore.” She smiled apologetically then turned around.
“Bye, Erik.” She said as she walked away.
I know she was crying from her trembling shoulders so I didn’t say anything else, not even a goodbye.
“She really didn’t come eh?” I muttered.
I was standing before the carriage prepared by the empire. The others except for me were already inside.
We have returned our weapons and armors to the palace, although some were loots from dungeon raids. We were currently in our original attire, our school uniform. I thought I would have grown out of it after two years but the king had arranged for high class tailors to have them adjusted to our current size.
We had to go in the morning to avoid commotion from the townspeople whom most are uninformed about us going home. The sun hasn’t even showed itself. The sending off party were the King and his personal knights as the crown prince and the second prince are still in the frontlines pushing the attack on the demon race. I see one of our coach in the arts of battle there, general Razak, some maids, and some other palace servants. However I didn’t see Lavinia.
“Ymi” I called the name of a maid, she is one of Lavinia’s personal maids. We get along quite well and she is also one of few individuals who knows about our relationship.
“Yes, master Erik.” She bowed then approached me swiftly. She wasn’t crying but her expression showed a hint of sadness.
I took my, kind of worn out, student handbook from my bag and gave it to Ymi.
“Please give this to the Princess, just tell her that this is my return gift.”
“Yes, uuu.I’m sorry, the princess couldn’t come to *sob* see you off .” She nodded strongly, accepted the book, bowed again and cried. It seems that she knows about Lavinia’s feelings towards me.
Haha... I made two girls cry within 24 hours... I’m the worst.
I got into the carriage and everyone said their goodbyes. Soon we’ll return to our world.
The carriage departed slowly and little by little the speed was raised. Not long after we left we could no longer hear the voices saying goodbyes. Several minutes passed by in silence until I noticed her. Riding a horse near the gate leading out of the royal capital was Lavinia. She must have sneaked out of the castle by herself. As she signaled to the driver to continue on, she made her horse run along our carriage.
“Erik! And everyone.”
I poked my head out of the carriage’s window. Following me, starting with Mira, the others also looked at Lavinia.
“As the princess of Rifst, I can only offer you all words of gratitude. Even thought we forcefully summoned all of you and threw you all into the maelstrom of war. You have gallantly fought and brought victory against the demon lord, brought the victory of mankind closer than anyone could have imagined. Once again, thank you.”
After she said that she lowered her head. As she raised it back she looked directly at my eyes.
“Erik, you don’t have to answer me. Not as a princess, as a girl called Lavinia, I…”
Everyone else nodded at each other and returned to their seat while smiling, leaving me “alone” with Lavinia. Thanking them for their consideration in my heart I returned Lavinia’s gaze on me and she continued.
“I LOVE YOU!”
Lavinia shouted with tears down her cheeks and as not to allow me to answer she abruptly stopped her horse. I could only see her faint smile fades out into expression of sorrow as the distance between us increases.
“Idiot, how could I answer that if you didn’t allow me to …You didn’t even let me say goodbye.”
I muttered so but what I felt was only self mockery. Surya and Bagus pretended to be asleep but Mira and Reza patted me on my shoulders.
In the trip, we passed some area where demon beasts are known to roam around but even without her magic staff, Mira’s magic could annihilate them easily so it didn’t slow us down.
Actually, I was anxious. It’s been two years since we were summoned. Many things must have changed. What about our parents? Maybe they already thought that we were gone forever, dead or something... I guess they will be surprised if we just appear before them. Wait, it wouldn’t be a surprise if time flows differently on the other side. What should I do if more than two years has passed over there?
It’s useless to think too much for now. Let’s just go and see…
Now I feel like eating mom’s special fried rice. How many times have I thought so in this world. I wonder...
We reached the Zagrant Empire before noon of the seventh day. We have been to the Empire several times in the past for an audience with the Emperor and dungeon conquest but we have never been to this area.
It seems we have to meet the noble who governs the said area where our destination is first, so now we are in a mansion. Right after we arrived we were greeted by the servants, they said their master was currently still on the way from the capital and was scheduled to arrive in about an hour bell. They led us to the dining hall, told us they were going to prepare lunch then left. It seems we arrived here before our scheduled arrival. Right after that we just chatted to kill some time.
The five of us couldn’t hide our excitement. We talked about what we will do after we get back. But me, Surya, and Bagus mostly just teased Reza and Mira about their relationship. Well I got teased about Lavinia as well although just a little. At least they’re trying to be considerate.
After a while we heard a knock on the door and a middle aged man in gaudy clothing entered.
“Greetings heroes, I am Daunte Kohl Amarkus, please just call me Daunte. I am the governor of this region, ‘Amark’ I apologize for being late.”
This smiling man must be the mentioned noble. Realizing this the five of us stood from the chair and returned the greetings.
“No, it appears that we also arrived quite ahead of schedule as well.”
Reza was the first to answer.
The Daunte guy urged us to sit and he took a seat across of us.
“Umm, Sir Daunte, I’m sorry but I have a question.” Unexpected even to us Mira raised her hand.
“Yes, please continue”
“Do the empire really possess a magic to send us back to our world?”
After our talk with King of Rifst, Mira the only magic expert in our group seemed to have thought a lot about the magic.
“If I have to say, the answer is no.” Daunte answered it right away.
“What? Then...” Surya stood up in surprise.
“However, there is a way.” Daunte continued.
“I’m sure you have been told about the dimensional rift bordering this world and your world. Right?”
We nodded. But hey, wait...
“How do you know that it leads to our world?”
Daunte squinted his eyes to my question and smiled.
“Because the summoning magic uses the same kind of rift then force open a one way target specified portal at the site of ritual.”
“Then how will you send us back?”
“We can’t prove it yet, however we are sure if we can enlarge the opening of the rift we should be able to send things from this side as well. The drawback is that we can’t choose where to send them.”
Whoa whoa, then what if we were sent somewhere like underground or deep in the sea? Or high in the air? I hope we won’t be sent to an entirely different planet.
“But worry not, if the rift opens under water or ground then water or soil would flow from the other side. Also... no, nothing.”
Daunte continued while looking at me, smiling.
Did he just read my mind? Is this guy an esper? And didn’t he just omit something? Maybe the high in the air one?
“So can I ask a question myself? No, a request.” Daunte’s expression showed that he is in serious mode now.
Everyone looked at each other then nod in unison.
“Now that you have secured the mean to go home will you consider staying for a bit longer in this world?”
“““““Eh?”””””
“The war has been progressing in our favor after the death of demon lord Orcus, however it might not continue to be so when they appoint a new powerful demon lord.” As if ignoring our ‘Eh’ Daunte continued.
“The demons are so powerful to the point that even our combined force of three nations were losing until Rifst decided to summon heroes from another world, you. And as the ones who have faced several of the 12 demon generals and even the demon lord himself I am sure you know that they are far stronger than the humans of this world. Within the three nations there are currently only 7 individuals other than you heroes who can hold themselves against a demon general. The only reason we humans weren’t wiped out was that we have far higher overall quantity on our side.”
This old man is really trying to hold us here eh...
“And, if you choose to stay and be affiliated with Zagrant Empire, the Emperor will grant each of you nobility and lands to rule. As for the lands to be given, you may choose any of the land we conquer from the filthy demons after we wipe them out completely.”
Aaand he is starting to say some pretty dangerous things, wipe the demons out? We, ruling our own lands? When will we go home then? Somebody stop him please.
Everyone looked downwards in silence which continued for a while.
Can’t be helped then, I’ll speak...
“I’m sorry… I, I want to go home. I’m tired of all the fighting and killing. After fighting them for almost 2 years I understand that they are basically similar to us human, they have families, important person, and more importantly they also have feelings.”
Mira spoke before I could. Casting her gaze downwards she then hold Reza’s hand and continued.
“I want to see my family again. I miss the peaceful life over there where we go to school and have some fun with all our friends.”
“I am the same, moreover, if Mira is going home then of course I will too. “ Reza said resolutely as he looks at Mira who in turn blushed while looking back at him. Then the two of them looked at me.
The scenery struck me a little but I managed to make a wry smile and give my answer.
“Yeah, I miss mother’s special fried rice. Besides, if I don’t go back with you guys, then who will stop you two from flirting too much in public?”
“W, we won’t! At least not in public…. What did you just made me say big bro?”
Reza retorted while Mira is fidgeting, trying to hide her embarrassment.
When I looked at Daunte, he was simply watching us with an unreadable expression.
“What about you two?” I asked the remaining Surya and Bagus.
“I’m basically the same. I especially miss my DSP and DSV. It has been two years so I’m wondering if Monster Buster has got a new release. We have to play together again over there, Erik.” Surya answered while smiling at me.
“My mother is a single parent so I have to help her take care of my little brother and sister.” And Bagus just told us a sentence that touched my weak spot.
I looked at Daunte who in turn sighed.
“So that’s how it is, we’re going home. What else do you expect from brats like us? To begin with we don’t even have the obligation to fight for this world. We were summoned without any regards to our own will after all.”
“I see, it can’t be helped then.” Daunte smiled but it seemed to be forced to me.
“Besides if you want the war to end more quickly why didn’t you summon more heroes? It would also be better if you summoned somebody like someone from the army in our world.”
This time it was Surya who asked a question, or more like a suggestion.
Daunte stroked his short beard and answered.
“It is not that we don’t want to. We can’t. Looking at historical records of hero summoning for the past 5 hundred years and which also recorded some trials, we have found out that there can only be five otherworlders to be present at the same time. You are the fourth group of hero this world had summoned so far. We can’t even prepare the summoning ritual which take at least a year to do when all five already present. Furthermore, we can’t choose who we will summon.”
“I see, so after we go home you can only do the summoning after at least a year.” Reza concluded.
“Hmm, ah yes. That is why I personally think that it is too bad to have you go home now. Luckily it is the empire’s turn to do the next hero summoning per the agreement of the council.”
The atmosphere is a bit awkward but then a knock was heard and the maids came in bringing our meal. Thanks maids.
“Well for now let us have a feast, for the glory of you heroes, the mankind, and also to celebrate your return.” Daunte spread his hands and urged us to eat which we just do.
Daunte, accompanied by several of his servants and 3 knights in armor was leading us through a rocky path.
We took the carriage from Daunte’s mansion for about an hour and now we are walking up a mountain since we can’t use the carriage on such a rocky path.
“We’re almost there, there should be an open area right ahead.”
Daunte’s words just made me hold the urge to rest. We just walked up the mountain for barely twenty minutes but I feel so tired already. It seemed I’m not the only one who feel tired though. Reza and the rest were wearing their dull faces as well. I could race through a battlefield for hours so this is strange . Could it be we’re losing our gained stats so far because we’re getting closer to the rift to our world? Or...
Now I’m starting to feel anxious.
When we reached the mentioned place, there are at least twenty people wearing robes with small imperial crest embroided on the chest and a bigger one on the back circling a wide area about 15 meters in diameter which is elevated a bit higher than its surrounding. They must be the mages since they are reciting some incantation continuously.
“It seems the preparation is almost finished. Then Heroes, if you would please stand in the middle.”
I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was strange but I just do as Daunte instructed and stood at the said place anyway.
“Strange.”
“Huh?” I looked at Mira who just said the same thing on my mind.
“I don’t know exactly about the summoning magic, but I don’t think their incantations are related to summoning at all.”
Mira is frowning as she said this.
Now that you mentioned it, didn’t Daunte said something about using the same magic that summoned us to open the rift? Didn’t he say that the preparation would take at least a year and that it can’t be done when 5 otherworlders already present?
“Sir Daunte! What is the me...”
I couldn’t finish my words. My strength suddenly left my body. I saw Reza, Mira, Surya, and Bagus collapsed one by one.
“It finally worked. Really, you heroes are monster. The poison in your food is indeed a slow acting one but for it to take more than an hour bell to show some effect... Also, the amount should be more than enough to kill a juggernaut class demon beast. Astounding yes? That is why I didn’t choose to make you work for the Empire by force. We don’t need an uncontrollable double-edged sword. ”
“You!” Reza glared at Daunte whose expression is giving me the urge to punch it with all my might.
“Since I personally think it would be a waste of national resources to do another hero summoning I would have preferred for you all to choose to side with the Empire… is what I had wanted to say but after our small talk I concluded that this is the best course of action. Who said that those filthy demons are basically the same with human? Preposterous!
…This is the will of his imperial highness as well. I could only think his imperial highness has predicted how you guys will answer.”
Erasing the previous agitation in his words, Daunte stroked his beard with a smirk and continued calmly.
“You are strong, however it is too bad it was Rifst that summoned you. If it was us, we would have arranged it so you will have the motivation to fight until at least we eradicate those filthy demons. Although it is also good for us that they didn’t do so. Thanks to your deeds Rifst has gained too much of a better standing in the council. So this is a chance for the Empire to stand at the top once again.”
“Why do you go so far? If you don’t need us then just send us back to our world you bastard!”
Surya shouted as he raised his face and look at Daunte with scorn.
“Khekhekhe” Daunte just giggled in response. This is the first time in my life that I felt so furious just by looking at someone giggling
“No, Surya... There’s never been a way to send us back home.”
I tried to stand but my body is weaker than I thought. Come on my body, let me punch the bastard at least once in the face.
“KHAKHAKHAH, Oh, no… I can’t hold back any longer. I purposedly gave some hint but you just realized it now?”
The bastard slapped his thigh then held his stomach while laughing loudly. I also saw some of the mages who tried to hold back their laughter and keep the incantation up. One with more distinguishable luxurious black robe even clearly jeered at us.
I know what this bastard is going to do. After killing us he will then summon another group of heroes whom he will try to make so that they will do as his, or the empire’s wish.
“Okay heroes as thanks for killing the demon lord I will tell you the future plans of our Holy Empire Zagrant.”
The bastard spread his hands and with the face of a zealot began his speech. This is a chance, I’ll gather all the power I can muster right now and when the chance comes I’ll release it to get him and do something about this situation.
“Ah, before that, mages, you can begin the next stage.”
As he said so my body just got heavier and I can feel something like electric charge rushing through my whole body. A magic circle appeared on the ground and started to emit a dim red light.
“This… Highest class non elemental annihilation magic… The world of Void –Orla Tes Escent-” Mira, who just realized the identity of the magic showed a surprised, no, terrified look on her face.
“Oho, so you knew eh? As expected of the genius hero who mastered advanced class magic in a week. The only weakness of this magic is that it needs a huge crystallization of pure mana which can only be obtained by conquering a dungeon as catalyst and that it takes quite a lot of time and manpower so using it in real battle is difficult. However we need to use it no matter what. You see, simply killing you all might not be enough to fulfill the requirements to do another summoning. Our research hasn’t progressed that far because there weren’t any chance to do a trial. So to make sure that everything will go as planned, we will erase your whole existence.”
Looking at Mira’s look of despair, everyone else realized that it wasn’t a lie and started to fall into despair as well.
“You should be thankful you know, with your existence erased nobody will remember you, I think it should also include those in the other world as well. I mean, nobody will be sad when you all gone, don’t worry though, the caster and those who witnessed the event will retain their memories of this event. Do you see that guy writing in a book over there? I am also making a written record about everything that happened today as insurance. Well, we need it to report to his imperial highness the emperor as well but don’t mind it. Ah… we are nice aren’t we?
Nice my ass! Damn, I couldn’t even let my voice out.
“We will do all five of hero summoning separately to lower the probability of summoning those who know each other so that their bonds with each other won’t be as strong as yours. Then we will gently teach them our belief that all those filthy demons must be completely eradicated from this world.”
Teach? More like indoctrinate…
“After that we will proceed to take control of this continent. The Empire must reign at the top so that much is obvious isn’t it?”
“GAAAHHHHH”
At that moment I heard somebody just roared, then I see Bagus dashed towards the bastard Daunte. As expected of our tanker, entitled ‘The Silent Guy Who is Scariest When Angry’.
However, the bastard was just smiling calmly at Bagus and raised his hand forward.
“Do it.”
Bagus was enveloped in a darkish red light, then I saw it. His body literally disintegrated into thin air.
Before I could express my surprise, then the same light enveloped the remaining four of us. The next to disappear was Surya, then Mira, who looked at Reza with a blank expression before she disintegrated completely. Following is Reza who grabbed my hand while crying and whispered something which I couldn’t hear completely. Soon after, everything just went blank.
—Daunte’s perspective—
Hooo, even the heroes are nothing against this spell. If only this spell can be used easily we won’t need to summon heroes to win against the demons.
Khekhekhe, this is hilarious. They are disintegrating. So this is the pleasure you feel when you are looking down at somebody who is stronger than you. I will have to thank his imperial highness again for giving me the task of disposing the heroes.
Hm? That one is surrounded in a blue light instead?
I was about to ask the mages but the guy disappeared as well so I guess it doesn’t matter.
Somehow I can’t remember those heroes’ names. It seems the spell affect even the witness to some extent. Oh well, their names should be in the record but what good does remembering their names will do now anyway.