Ethan woke up drowsily. The unfamiliar ceiling vanquished all his sleep as he jolted awake before recalling last night's events.
It seems it really wasn't a dream. Now that he was here in this world, he'd have to work even harder, starting from scratch.
Stretching his muscles, he reluctantly crawled out of the softness of the bed. He had barely gotten ready when a series of knocks from the door caught his attention.
'Apologies for the disturbance sir but the king has requested your presence,' a maid relayed the instructions. Acknowledging to be there in a few minutes, he mused if the king was calling to order them to start levelling up. After all, there wasn't anything such as a free meal.
Quickly changing into the attire which had been readied for him, he left with the guard tasked to guide him to the palace hall. Walking in the palace, Ethan couldn't help but notice the extravagance covering every inch of the walls.
Massive paintings and hunted beast heads with gold covering the entire head were hung all over the wall. Without the darkness of the night, the gold glittered blindingly, rendering Ethan surprised at how he had missed all this last night. It was so disgustingly extravagant that he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable as he walked along the gaudily decorated wall.
Reaching the hall, Ethan entered, only to see that everyone was already there and waiting for him as they sat and chatted amongst themselves. There was also another girl standing beside the king. She had long blonde hair, unlike the king's which was dark, and haughty brown eyes which seemed to view everything with disgust.
'Definitely a royal, perhaps the princess?' judged Ethan. He was spot on. The princess, Sinem, seemed to notice him enter the hall and after a sweep of her eyes, went back to disregarding his presence. She was already aware of his status and the fact that he was going to be expelled thus found it beneath herself to acknowledge his presence.
Ethan on the other hand wasn't surprised by this disregard and further solidified his thought that surviving in the palace was going to be difficult with the princess's disfavor. With these thoughts, he took a seat, unaware of the plans they had already made for him.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, the king signaled to the guards. 2 of the guards who immediately left soon returned with a servant carrying a tray of various sizes of pouches. The guards guided the servant to the king before bowing and retreating.
Taking a fist-sized pouch in his hand, the king explained. 'This is a storage pouch, and has a space magic enchanted onto it which increases the space inside the pouch. I've prepared some basic combat equipment for all of you, along with 200 gold coins which you'd receive monthly. This is to support your training and increase your ranks quickly.'
Saying so, the king took 2 storage pouches and asked James to take it. 'One of them has your equipment and the other is for storing beasts. You'll need to get the carcasses back to the palace and we'll sell them as monster parts are valuable.' Giving the same to Lenne, he turned to Kelsey.
'Priests don't have combat related abilities and can't hunt alone so I'm only giving you gold and a priest staff. You and Lenne Mork would be learning magic from the arch priest and court mage respectively, as for James Wilson, he'd be learning close combat from the Knights.'
The king then turned to Ethan. A brief look of hesitation appeared on his face but was gone just as soon. 'Ethan Oswald, I thought about it but frankly there's no way a commoner with such stats can survive fighting. Therefore I rescind your right to stay at the palace. If there's anything you need before leaving do say so,' the king announced, wasting no words for formalities. He just wanted to get this over with quickly.
A sharp sound left Lenne's mouth. If one could read her mind, they'd know she was fuming with anger at the kings words. She felt disgusted and slowly started to understand that they were nothing more than tools for him.
Ethan on the other hand was surprised. He'd imagined the king lowering the money or treatment he'd received but he hadn't really expected to be banished from the castle! Feeling a sharp gaze upon him from the side, he looked to the left, only to see the unsurprised but excited faces of James and Kelsey. He instantly understood what happened.
At this moment, he was filled with rage. He had just come to this world and knew next to nothing about the life here. Getting him banished was as good as sentencing him to death. He knew they didn't like him because of the history but he never thought they'd want him dead!
The last drops of compassion vanished from him then. He wished he was strong enough to take revenge and kill them himself but recognizing reality he just grit his teeth in anger.
'Very well Your Majesty, I'd like sufficient money as compensation for you bringing me to this world and removing me from the palace. Once I get it, I'll leave.' Ethan replied icily.
The king looked at the princess and she left along with a guard, only to return carrying a storage pouch. She handed it to him carelessly. Ethan opened the pouch and looked inside.
'30 silvers and a few copper coins, I wonder how his Majesty thinks this is sufficient,' Ethan spoke sarcastically but his voice was filled with anger.
'30 silvers is enough for a commoner in the village to last for several months, for your status this is more than enough. Guards, take this trash out of the palace.'
The one who said this wasn't the king but the haughty looking princess. The king merely looked on, saying nothing in counter.
Before Ethan could retort, two guards appeared silently behind him and caught hold of his arms. He was angry beyond measure upon this injustice but before he could say anything, he was being forced to walk away.
'Wait Your Majesty, I think this isn't fair,' Lenne blurted out. Seeing the King still ignore her, her anger rose. In a flash, she shifted half of her gold coins to the equipment storage pouch and rushed to Ethan.
'Take this,' she said pushing the pouch with the gold coins to Ethan. Ethan stared at her. He was sure he didn't know her well enough for her to help him and even give him some money, so why was she doing this? He shook his head at the offer but Lenne forcefully pushed it into his hands.
'Why are you helping that trash, that money is just going to go waste,' James spoke up this moment, displeased. He had been eyeing Lenne since yesterday and had planned to take her for himself but seeing he speak for Ethan left a bad taste in his mouth.
Lenne merely ignored him, making sure Ethan had held the pouch, albeit reluctantly, before silently warning the guards escorting him outside. The greedy look in their eyes would bring nothing good.
And so with 2 pouches with a total of 90 gold and 20 silver, Ethan stepped out of the palace grounds and onto the street. He was still angry but he buried the feeling in his heart, deciding to take revenge some way or the other someday. However, fist things came first, and right now he needed a place to stay.
And so Ethan started walking around in search for an inn. After walking for a long time in the city, he seemed to reach the less wealthier parts. He had decided to stay in such an area to save upon money before he could figure out how to earn a steady income. Seeing an inn signboard nearby he walked towards it, glad that he was proficient in the language here even though it wasn't a language of his world.
Walking into the inn he looked for the receptionist. 'I'd like to stay for 3 days here,' he said upon seeing her.
'Alright, it's 4 coppers a night, that would be 12 coppers please.'
Paying 12 coppers to the lady, he took the room key for her and followed her directions to reach it. Opening the room on the third floor, he entered and fell upon the bed.
'I wonder what I should do now.'
Suddenly his vision went dark. A familiar grey spirit appeared in his view.
'The summoner, Saykut Slunait, disregarded the summoning and did not provide for the person summoned. The resistance of the world would increase upon him. Ethan Oswald, the summoned, is needed to be compensated.'
The melodious voice was unnaturally monotone as if reading a judgement. Then the voice changed. Or more accurately, there was no voice, just a string of information entering his mind.
Reading the summoned's memory. Deciding compensation. Calculation complete. Creating compensation. Giving compensation.
'The summoned has received the compensation.' said the grey spirit, before the darkness faded away.
The ceiling of the inn appeared back in his sight. A blue screen flashed in front of his eyes. A voice resounded in his head.
'Ding!'
'Initiating the helper system.'
'Greetings, Host.'