A hand slammed onto the table.
"Gerghh!" the face of Demon Lord Dylas was visibly angry.
"Who would have thought that Vishnal could die at the hands of a Hero who was just summoned to this world!" Demon Lord Leon said.
"He's so foolish! Completely brainless!" Demon Lord Dylas exclaimed.
"It seems we can't underestimate the Hero." Demon Lord Dolce bit her lip.
"Pico, didn't you send a giant to Forest X?" Demon Lord Dylas asked.
"Tehee! Pico did send an S-rank giant to Forest X, but it's dead now." Demon Lord Pico replied.
"So, you don't know who killed the giant?" Demon Lord Leon inquired.
"No! Everything happened so quickly, Pico's sent minotaur died in the blink of an eye!" Demon Lord Pico answered.
"Gerghh!" Demon Lord Dylas clenched his fist.
"We need to act swiftly, Your Majesty!" Demon Lord Dolce looked towards the Demon King.
°°°°°°°°
One year later after the Elves left the Human country.
*For the first time, me, Raqnid, and Fat are on the same mission.* Sora exclaimed.
*Time flies so fast, it feels like it was just yesterday that I was summoned to this world. Parting ways with my best friend, being alone in the Hero group.*
Sora smiled.
*But it's not as bad as I expected. The Hero group treats me well. I don't know if they're genuinely treating me well or because of the power I gained. Ahh! Whatever! What's most important is that I still have friends I trust.*
Sora's past memories...
*Today is my first day at the new school. Hah! I hate school! I'm scared! If the same thing happens at this school.*
Slapping his face repeatedly.
*Garghh! I need to change this!*
Sora walked, searching for his classroom.
Then Sora entered his classroom, seeing other students busy chatting. Sora scanned the room, looking for an empty desk and chair.
Seeing a vacant desk and chair in the middle of the classroom by the window.
Sora then asked the person in front of him if the desk was indeed empty.
"Ermm! Sorry! Is this seat taken?"
The guy who was talking to his friend at the neighboring desk then turned to Sora.
"Don't worry, it's free! It's free!"
"Thank you!"
The guy looked at Sora with curiosity, as did his big-built friend.
*Ahh! Why are they looking at me? Did I do something wrong? Are they going to bully me?*
"Uhmm! Are you new here?" the guy asked.
"Yes...yes...yes," Sora stuttered in his response.
"Oh! No wonder I haven't seen your face before! Hahaha!"
Then the guy extended his hand.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Raqnid!"
Another one also greeted Sora.
"I'm Fat!"
*Ehh! They're not bullying me? Are they trying to befriend me?*
Sora then introduced himself.
"I'm Sora! Nice to meet you!"
Since that day, Sora began to enjoy school. Raqnid and Fat became his friends. He wasn't bullied like at his previous school.
"Ugh! It's so hot today!" Fat wiped his sweat.
The three of them sought refuge under a shelter from the scorching sunlight.
After buying food from the cafeteria, this shelter became their place to hang out and eat.
*Since I came to this school, I haven't been bullied at all. I don't know why. Since I started being friends with them, I've felt something strange! Troublemakers at this school seem to ignore me.*
"Hey, Fat, why weren't you online in the game yesterday?" Raqnid asked.
"Ahh! Sorry! I forgot! I fell asleep early yesterday." Fat answered.
"Ugh! Luckily there is Sora! Pro player!"
"Hahaha!" Sora laughed.
…
"Um, thanks!" Sora said.
"Huh?" Raqnid and Fat were puzzled by Sora suddenly expressing gratitude.
"What's up with you, Sora?" Fat asked.
"Do you guys want to know why I changed schools?"
"Why?" both of them asked.
"Before, at my previous school, I was always the main suspect for bullying. But ever since I came to this school, I haven't been bullied at all. If you want to talk about bullies, our class has its own bully leader. The only difference I found between my old school and this one is that I became friends with you guys. I can feel that being friends with you two makes the bullies stay away!"
"Heh! It's not that we're making the bullies stay away from us, but we're staying away from the bullies!" Fat answered.
"We're not staying away from the bullies! The more appropriate phrase is staying away from all kinds of trouble!" Raqnid added.
"Staying away from trouble?" Sora didn't understand what Raqnid meant.
"Yes, trouble! It means avoiding anything that could lead to problems. The hot guys, the cool guys, the nerds, the troublemakers, the loners. All those groups draw attention, and where there's attention, there's dissatisfaction. Eventually, it causes problems for us." Raqnid answered seriously.
"So, which group should we be?" Sora asked.
"Heh!" Fat grinned.
"In a story, every character has a certain role. Every person in this world thinks they are the main character. Regardless of whether they're good or bad, they think they're the main character. Challenges and problems will always find the main character. We need to be the unimportant character in that story. The one who appears briefly." Raqnid answered Sora's question.
"The unimportant character who appears briefly?" Sora was still confused.
"Yes! We need to be EXTRAS!" Fat said enthusiastically.
"But aren't extras also facing their own problems?"
"Yes, that's true! People can't escape problems. But people can minimize those problems. The problems that the main character faces are heavier than the problems of extras."
"But how do we do that?"
"Heh! (grinning), we just need to let them think that we're just extras. Not important and just a waste of their time. With this, we can avoid attention and prevent problems from arising."
"Wow! Nice!"
"Hehehe!" Fat chuckled.
"Listen, Sora! I'll teach you how to be an extra. This way, you won't be bullied anymore. Are you ready?" Raqnid said.
"I am ready, sir!"
Since that day, Raqnid and Fat taught me how to not draw too much attention. The people I should approach and those I should avoid. The dos and don'ts of approaching someone. The methods they taught were really effective.
At the present time...
"Heh (smiles), Fire Rain!"
"Nice timing, Sora!" Jilk shouts.
"Let's finish this now! Get ready for the final attack!" Ray and the other heroes prepare to launch an attack on King Orc.
"Ready!"
"READY!"
All the other heroes wait for Ray's command for the final attack. Ray carefully observes the timing for all of them to strike.
"Just a little longer! Almost there!" Ray thinks to himself.
"NOW!!!" Ray shouts.
"GARGHH!!"
"ARGHH"
All the heroes launch their attack on King Orc simultaneously.
"Shooshh!"
"Booommm!"
As soon as the attack is over, they all look toward King Orc. They all appear exhausted.
Ray, who is near King Orc, raises his hand in the air, signifying their victory.
"Yeahhh!"
"We did it!"
"Wohooo!"
*So, this is the power of the Hero group!* Kiel is amazed by their prowess.
*Their power is so different from ours! AHH!* Doug clenches his fists.
*Raqnid! Fat! Did you see my magic earlier? It's impressive, right!* Sora excitedly wants to show his newfound strength to his dear friends.
*Yeah, Sora, we saw it! You're amazing!* Raqnid responds in his mind.
*Huh! (grinning) That kid's become quite impressive!* Fat looks proud of his friend.
°°°°°°°°
They all return to the village near the Orc camp after successfully destroying it.
"Thank you so much, Heroes!" the village leader says, shaking Ray's hand.
"Don't worry, it's our duty!" Ray replies, shaking the leader's hand in return.
"Wow, Ray, you look so cool!" a few women from the Hero and Guardian groups excitedly comment on Ray's appearance.
"Ah, they must be tired. Let's quickly arrange a place for them to rest!" the village leader instructs his people.
"Haha, no need to rush!" Ray replies.
*Gerrgh!* Jilk is annoyed.
Rooms are provided for them free of charge.
"Knock, knock!"
"Fat, who's knocking on the door?" Raqnid asks.
"I don't know?" Fat goes to open the door.
Someone's figure is visible through the door's frosted glass.
"Hey!"
"Is that you, Sora?"
Fat places his arm around Sora's neck.
"You were awesome earlier!"
"Haha, nothing special, really."
Raqnid also goes to welcome his friend.
Sora enters their room.
"You're sleeping here, okay!" Fat is delighted.
"Can I?"
"Why are you suddenly so shy? Like you're not used to it." Fat playfully tugs Sora by the neck.
"That's right. Plus, we haven't chatted in a while!" Raqnid answers.
Raqnid then whispers in Sora's ear. "Did you know Fat has a girlfriend now!"
"EHHhh!" Sora is shocked and looks toward Fat.
"What are you staring at? What did you whisper to Sora, Raqnid?" Fat says.
"Hehehe!"
That night, they chat for a long time, catching up after not seeing each other for a while. They share about their lives in the new world.
"When will we have another chance to chat like this?" Raqnid says.
"Sigh! You're right!"
"Ah!" Fat looks up, covering his eyes with his hand.
"Let's make a promise," Raqnid extends his hand.
"No matter what happens in the future, we'll keep living! We'll be able to chat like this again once all these things are settled," Raqnid says.
"Yeah, we'll definitely live until the end in this world," Sora places his hand on Raqnid's.
"We need to get stronger. I'll support you no matter what!" Fat places his hand on both of his friends.
"Absolutely!" Raqnid smiles.
"Heh!" Sora smiles too.
"Alright! We need to get stronger to keep living in this world! PROMISE!" Fat says.
"YEAHH!!!" they all shout, raising their hands in the air.
Knowing the challenges they face now and in the future, they'll trust each other completely. Their strong friendship becomes a driving force for them to keep living in this world.
The next day, they return to the capital city in a horse-drawn carriage. The journey takes 8 hours due to the long distance.
They start to live their lives as usual. Sora with the Hero group, Raqnid, and Fat performing tasks in the guild.
A week passes...
"Hey there!" Kiel greets Raqnid and Fat.
"Oh, Kiel! How's it going?" Raqnid replies.
"Good! Have you heard the latest news from Jones?" Kiel asks.
"Latest news?" Fat wonders.
"Don't you know? We're going to the Elf country next week with the Hero and Support groups."
"Elf country!" Raqnid is surprised to hear that.
"Yeah!"
Hearing this, Raqnid can't help but think of his training partner from a year ago, Sara.
*Looks like we'll meet again, Sara! A year has passed, how are you? You must have become stronger than before!* Raqnid thinks with a smile on his face.