So, since it wasn’t very proper to enter a guarded room without announcing yourself, all eyes got on me right as the doors opened.

Inside, the king and the queen were in the same position as when I arrived, and the same noble-looking people and knights were around too. The only real differences were the very old man standing in the middle (right on top of the magical circle) and the table-like device with two guys in robes working at it.

This device was some sort of metallic table encrusted with a collection of multicolored gems, four of which were much bigger than the others. A huge white crystal right in the middle and three others half this size in red, blue, and yellow colors around it.

As I was looking at it, though, a lot of eyes were still on me, some from behind even. The whispers were a bad addon too, so it was for the best if I did something before the ‘silence’ got too bad.

“Hello, there," I spoke out by reflex, only noticing that, again, what I was doing shouldn’t be exactly the most proper. “I mean… Greetings, your Highness? And a curtsy…?”

I knew the moves from one of my weirdest teachers (a fun and nice person but a little too fond of tea), but my hurry made it turn botched. Not a perfect start if I could say so myself.

Weirdly enough, I could swear that I saw the king’s mouth twitching and his stone-serious wife raising an eyebrow in reaction, even if only a little.

Could I call it a success then? They either found it interesting or funny, both of which wouldn’t be that bad, so... Of the important three I could see, only the old mage didn’t seem pleased at all, but that was fine, right? Right?!

“Aham!” The king broke the silence by clearing his throat and then smiled. “Good morning, Ms. Illia. Have you managed to rest well?”

“As well as possible, your Highness…”

“Good, good… And I see Mr. Hayato has also arrived, with my daughter in tow.”

“Your Highness…”

“Good morning, Father.”

They both greeted the king, and the nobles of the entourage did the same soon after as they took positions around the room. The protagonist stood by my side, the nobles went around, and the princess stood by her parents at the back. The maids obviously didn’t enter the room, and it seemed that the mage and knights from that group joined the other guards outside.

Either way, that was what I call a proper curtsy, princess, and our Mr. Hero could bow properly too, even if more in the Eastern style. And just to let it be noted, the big boy got a princess at his party right away, didn’t he? Well done. That’s what I call efficiency.

I kinda don’t want to join this kind of thing if possible, though… Not much of a candle holder, you see?

“Well then, it’s a little earlier than expected, but we can start.” The king called out after, supposedly, being sure that everyone that should be around was there. There was a moment I thought he was expecting someone else still, but I’m not so sure. “All ready, Randoul?”

The old mage reacted to the king’s words and turned to the gem table with a pensive look for a moment, so I took the chance to get a better look at him even if there was little to say.

He seemed like some mix between a bishop and archmage, with a wrinkled but harsh face without much of a beard and his white hair thinning on top. His robes were, like the other robbed guys, colored in pure blue, but he had golden stripes and a collection of small trinkets hanging from his. One of them was a huge collar with a heavy golden eye too. Made me wonder if he could turn back time with it, and if the other ones were also magical tools of some kind...

In summary, nothing interesting other than killing time while, by my side, Mr. Hero kept peeking at me from time to time. Was he looking for vengeance now that laws are looser? I don’t even know you, so don’t fault me for things of the past, okay? This Illia has never met you, so go grab your princess and leave me alone!

“It seems we need a little more time, my king.” Randoul, the supposed archmage, finally answered after checking the tool that was sure to be the legendary Magic-O-Meter (name created by me right now), or something of the kind. “The calibrations are taking a little longer than expected due to how long this device was stored. Gem boards with such high output are not the standard for a reason…”

“Understandable. Since it’s so, could you explain to our guests what we will be doing then? It seems one of them is very interested in it…”

Is he looking at me or is it about the hero by my side? Am I making it too obvious? I mean, this thing is some magic-reading thingy for sure, but I can’t pinpoint how it works. The fact it only has three colors is somehow tricking my trope-inclined mind, but... I’m not thaaaaat curious still! Probably.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

The king was still looking at me, though, so I straightened my posture and tried to look cool instead.

Cool, calm, and collected is the game. And stop smiling, you cheeky king, you’re making Hayato look at me too, and it’s very uncomfortable.

“As you wish, your Highness...” The mage nodded in answer to the question and stole all attention away before moving to the table, which I almost thanked him for. “As you heard before, we are here to measure and, if possible, define the powers of the summoned heroes. This gem table was made specifically for the purpose of doing so, and its usage is very easy…”

“Excuse me,” Hayato called out in the middle of the old man’s explanation. “I understand that the people here have magic or whatnot, but that isn’t something we could do in our world. I said the same before, but I don’t think I have any special power like this.”

Randoul didn’t seem very pleased by the interruption, but his displeasure appeared for but a moment. He was back to a more teacherly expression right after. Weird, but, for now, my view of him wasn’t that bad, although it was hard to know with this kind of character. The old archmage/bishop was the big bad evil guy half the time…

By the way, I was trying to not draw any more attention for me right now, so I took a step away from the designed main character and watched in silence. That was the plan, at least, since, for some reason, the king kept on looking at me from time to time. I could also feel another pair of eyes on me, but I couldn’t pinpoint the ‘where’.

I couldn’t show my displeasure just like that, so I sucked it up and listened.

“The records say summoned heroes are beings with powers beyond what is usual in this world, and as such, the elemental system won't apply well. Their, ‘powers’ as you call it, are more complex and capable than magic but they need to be awoken to be used.“

“So this table is for that? Awakening whatever powers you say we have?”

“Yes, and no. This is but an upscaled measurement tool for magical capabilities. Any child of learning age ends in contact with one of the normal ones. This one is very impractical due to its bulk and complexity, but it’s the only way to work with heroes. The only advantage is that heroes don’t deal with affinities, so a few crystals are enough.” The mage went on while looking at the shining tool. “Either way, after measuring, you only need to awaken the first spell, but again, it’s a simple process. In fact, it shouldn't take more than a few minutes."

“I see…” The burly guy held his chin while he was thinking about everything Randoul told him, and then put on a serious expression on his face. “Got it. Let’s try it out at least. There’s no problem to me as long as I’m able to help and properly paid for it…”

Hayato's answer was what I expected. He wouldn’t be a legendary busybody and a do-it-all who could sustain himself alone if he did everything for free. Even if he was known to help whoever needed it, and even if he took as little as he needed, he was still someone who hardly worked for free.

I couldn’t claim to know everything about it, of course, but I at least knew this much for sure.

“Hahahah! That much you don’t have to worry, my boy.” The king laughed as he answered Hayato’s worries, even if I could see some faces that don’t feel that pleased with the hero’s answer. “Payment is easy to come by.”

The next thing the hero said was more worrying right now either way. And it was so for the simple fact that the two people who had just exchanged words were now looking at the one person trying to hide.

“That is, I’m willing to help as long as you’re being reasonable…”

“Reasonable, eh? That much I can do, young hero, but I hope you know this will be dangerous either way.” The king answered after raising his eyebrow at how Hayato’s request was worded. “We know it’s asking a lot. Even very powerful magic won’t make it safe, but we will do as much as possible to lower this danger. In fact, I’m even willing to send you back to your world right away if you wish to... Not that I would be against letting you live here forever too. Either of you.”

This king was good. I’m not too shabby at hiding what I’m thinking, but he still managed to see me twitch when he implied sending us back. More even, he gave me a good way out right away, and I’m sure he could see that I was now both impressed and annoyed by him.

All I could do was smile and glare his smiling face back, though.

I was also thinking that being able to talk with this guy in a less intense situation would be interesting, or even fun. More fun than almost every single family member I ever me, at least.

Only one exception there, but he wouldn’t be topping her.

“Is that fine by you, Illia?” Mr. Protagonist called me from the middle of my internal monologue, forcing me to go back to prim and proper for a moment. “I’m not that interested in staying, but for me, a job is a job.”

“It… It’s fine by me, of course.” I answered with my hands moving to give that extra weight and my posture perfected as a rich lady. “Unless we both are not fit for a fight, there is no reason to force something as costly as sending someone back too. If needed, we can always leave after you finish helping them, right?”

Nailed it! A small hiccup at the start, but it should be fine. This much should convince the big guy here and give me enough time to make him not want to go back after his work’s done.

It’s already weird enough that this guy wants to leave a freaking fantasy world, so why the hell should I too?! Heck, if all they need to summon is enough money, then I bet we could even negotiate to get some extra amenities later on.

The only possible drawback of staying here was the fact that, without a hero, this place is kinda doomed. I’m sure Hayato will deal with it, though. He’s the protagonist for a reason, no?

“Your Highness.” The old mage called before the conversation between the two foreigners and the king could continue. “The calibrations are ready. I would like to start the procedures right away to be on the safe side.”

“Good. Then, if both of you could go closer to the device, please.” The king turned to the archmage and then asked us to start whatever procedure was necessary. “Randoul will guide you through the specifics.”

We both nodded at the orders and walked to the magical circle in the middle of the room where the mages were. The circle itself wasn’t shining like the last time I was here, though, so it seemed it didn’t have much to do with the Magic-O-Meter itself.

It still made me wonder if the lines and words around the runes or whatever meant anything or if that was simply how this thing was done. It seemed like a bad machine translation being used as a spell if you asked me.

Maybe something to ask another day. Getting some magic was more important right now.