As the blinding light fades, I gain a clearer view of my surroundings: a spacious, enclosed chamber with walls of bare stone, adorned with dimly lit torches. Beneath me, a large summoning circle pulses faintly.
Looking around, I realize I'm not the only one here. Around twenty mysterious individuals, dressed in black hooded cloaks, stand surrounding me, holding wooden staves and chanting mystical words I cannot understand. It seems that they are the magicians who summoned me.
Three other souls have also arrived.
"Eh? Where am I?"
That voice belongs to a young girl with a high black ponytail, wearing a typical Japanese high school sailor suit. She is from Sakura Senior High School, a public high school located only a few streets away from where I used to live, so I recognize its badge immediately.
The others are two boys. The first one has rebellious spiky red hair and a white T-shirt, while the second one has messy black hair, tan skin, and is wearing a pizza delivery uniform. Judging by their looks, they are all around the same age as the girl.
"What the heck!? You must be kidding me… Is this real?" the red-haired boy gasps.
"I'm still alive!" The pizza boy trembles, frantically inspecting his body as his face drains of color, pale as a ghost.
The three youngsters are absolutely terrified. After all, traveling between worlds is far from a pleasant experience.
However, I am the total opposite. My heart is pounding, hammering inside my chest, not with fear, but with exhilaration and joy.
Because I have made it, after so many years…
"Anna…"
Her name has always been precious in my heart.
—-----------------------------
20 years ago, 2065, Tokyo.
Akihabara was indeed the biggest shopping hub for otakus all over the world. That morning, I, a twenty years old Canadian man, and Anna, my twelve years old little sister, went there as a part of our summer vacation. We had so much fun and visited so many interesting places. From the charm of maid cafes to the thrill of arcades, we played our hearts out, bought so many things, tried so many new foods. There was no doubt that It had been one of the happiest days of my life so far.
However, as we made our way home, things changed.
The once vibrant streets suddenly fell into an eerie silence, disrupted only by the sudden onslaught of a fierce gust of wind that tore through the air like a raging tempest. I glanced upward, my breath catching in my throat as the sky twisted into ominous shades of gray.
"Huh? It's… cold?" I muttered, my words lost amidst the chilling air that enveloped us. It was midsummer, but it felt like a Canadian winter all of a sudden. My breath turned into icy mist, and snowflakes began to fall from the sky.
As I was still confused, wondering what the heck was happening…
"Jack! Help!!!" Anna's voice echoed through the desolate streets, sending a shiver down my spine.
My heart pounded. I spun around, only to be met with a sight that defied all logic and reason. Beneath Anna's feet, a circle of intricate runes and symbols materialized, its light so bright that it nearly blinded my eyes!
"Anna!!!! ANNAAA!" I shouted back, dropped all the bags, and rushed in immediately to save her.
But an invisible barrier had sprung up between us.
I lunged forward, every ounce of my being yearning to rescue my sister.
"Anna!"
I hammered into the barrier with my fists.
"NOOO!"
I kicked it with all my strength.
"ANNAAAA!"
But that damn barrier stood like an iron wall.
"DAMN IT!"
I roared, my frustration boiling over into a primal scream of rage and despair. No matter how much I slammed my body against the barrier, no matter how much I tried, I couldn't get through.
Reality crushed me like a damn landslide.
My heart was torn to pieces.
And in the end, all I could do was watch. I watched as Anna's frightened, confused eyes locked onto mine, her mouth uttering silent screams. Then, the light surrounding her intensified, coiling around her fragile form like serpentine tendrils of golden fire, and soon, she began to fade, becoming more and more transparent before my very eyes.
And then, in a final, blinding flash of light,
It took her.
Anna and that damned circle disappeared like they were never there to begin with.
---------------------
As the ritual ends, the door swings open and many people walk in. Leading the group is an old King with silver hair, dressed in a crimson, gold-embroidered robe and wearing a golden crown. Beside him walks a woman of ethereal beauty and grace, much younger than him. She is dressed in a sparkling silver gown adorned with crystals and gems, a silver tiara resting on her head. A queen, or a princess? I can't really tell.
Following them is a diverse assembly of individuals. Judging by their medieval-like attire, they consist of nobles, warriors, knights, and scholars, similar to those I have seen in video games and fantasy movies. In just minutes, the room is filled with over a hundred of these individuals, yet everyone maintains their silence.
As the King approaches us, I notice his eagle-sharp eyes scanning us, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Welcome to the Kingdom of Valeria, Noble heroes. You have been summoned to our world in its most perilous time to assist us in our struggle against the advancing evil that seeks to engulf everything! I am King Alaric, the sovereign ruler of this kingdom," the king says.
He isn't speaking in Japanese, nor English or French, and yet, for some reason, I can understand him clearly.
"Ermm… is… is this a mistake?" The high school girl is the first of us to speak. "I'm so sorry, but I don't think we are noble heroes at all… Eh? Wait… What… is this language? Why am I speaking it like it's now my mother tongue?"
I notice this as well. It seems like the ability to speak this new language has been mysteriously bestowed upon all of us. Hearing it, understanding it, and speaking it has now become as natural as how a fish instinctively knows how to swim, or a bird can freely fly without thinking. It is fascinating, but it is indeed a weird feeling that takes me a moment to get used to.
"Eh, I think you've got the wrong guys," says the pizza delivery guy. "You see, we are not heroes or anything."
"Yeah, and even if we are," the red-haired boy adds, "why should we help you? We didn't even ask to come here! You just kidnapped us!"
I choose to remain silent for the time being. The red-haired boy is right. Whether they are kings, queens, or magicians, they are all just kidnappers, kidnapping people from Earth against their will.
Yet, King Alaric listens patiently, then tries to calm us down. "I understand your confusion and fears. But it was not our intention to bring you here against your will. Our kingdom, our world, is facing a catastrophe of unimaginable proportions. There was no mistake. You are the Chosen Heroes. Please, only you can save us from the Demon God!"
"Eh? Chosen… heroes?" the high school girl murmurs.
"Demon… God?" echoes the red-haired teenager, his voice overlapping with the girl's.
"Yes. So please forgive us, because we had no other choice…" the King bows slightly, placing his hands on his chest.
We stay quiet for a moment to gather our thoughts.
"Wait!" the pizza delivery guy suddenly speaks out. "Guys! Is this like some sort of light novel scenario?" he speculates. "You know, the isekai stories and anime?"
"Ah! I read those stories too!" the girl exclaims. "They are quite popular. Typically, individuals from Earth are summoned or reincarnated in another world to become heroes!"
True to her words, "isekai" is a really big genre in the anime and manga industry at the moment, with hundreds of new stories being published every month. The Japanese term "isekai" roughly translates to "another world," so they are basically stories that involve individuals being transported into another world by one means or another. Over the years, I too have seen countless literature with a similar setting and plot.
But to reduce this situation to a mere light novel or game scenario is such a foolish idea, underestimating the dire matters at hand. After all, fiction is just that—fiction, filled with unrealistic characters and events. However, this is real life, with real consequences. There is no such thing as plot armor in reality; here, one's survival depends solely on their skills and choices.
While dispatching monsters in video games might be entertaining, confronting the harsh realities of life-and-death battles against the forces of evil, witnessing atrocities of war, could overwhelm even the strongest. Not everyone is equipped to handle acts of violence and bloodshed, particularly young people like them. If they are to stand a chance at survival, they need not only remarkable abilities but also the unwavering mental resilience akin to that of a seasoned soldier.
And it seems like the girl is the first among the kids to realize that.
"Ermmm… but… can we really do that? Save the world? I mean… I don't know how to fight at all," she voices her concern.
"Ah… you are right," the pizza boy agrees.
With this realization, their initial excitement quickly fades.
"Your Majesty, is there no one in your world capable of fighting the demons here?" the red-haired guy asks the King. "As you can see, we are just teenagers; there's no way we can kill monsters! None of us have even held a sword before in our lives!"
And he is absolutely right.
Except for me, the other summoned individuals are just mere children. Their bodies are weak, like mere twigs in comparison to the knights standing next to the King. And now, they are expected to go against the Demon King? How does that make any sense?
"Please, there's no need for concern; we will provide all the required training and support," the king insists. "And you may not be aware, but your presence here is no coincidence. Being chosen means that you all have hidden talents and powers. After all, you are the legendary heroes! You may not look strong right now, but that will definitely change in just a few years. You all have the potential to become the strongest in the world!"
"Wait!" the pizza delivery guy exclaims. "By hidden powers, do you mean something like cheat skills and abilities? Or perhaps there's a hidden system or something?"
In most Isekai stories, the protagonist often has a "cheat ability." It could be something very, very absurd like getting stronger by walking, devouring other people's skills, or even the ability to kill with a single thought. So, depending on the type of cheat skills they could acquire, this entire situation would change drastically.
But the king looks confused for a moment. "Sorry, but I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with your terminology."
"Ah, I mean... are you suggesting we possess abilities that make us extremely strong, abilities exclusive to us compared to ordinary individuals?"
"Hmmm, there is indeed something like that," the king nods. "What you termed 'cheat skills' are what we refer to as 'blood talents,' representing the hidden potential within your body. Each of you has unique talents, allowing your power to grow ten times, or even a hundred times faster than normal people. If you wish, we can help you awaken your talents right away!"
"Yes, please!" the pizza delivery guy responds instantly.
"But what if we don't want any of that? What if we just want to go home? Is it possible to go back?" I voice my first question.
"Absolutely," the king assures without any hesitation. "We fully understand the magnitude of the task we're asking you to undertake—fighting demons and even gods—and we pledge to provide all possible support and privileges to you. However, if you still find our support insufficient, we can reverse the summoning spell and send you back at any time. But please consider it; your unique talents are desperately needed in our predicament."
"Oh, thank you," I say. "That's very reassuring to hear."
The king then proceeds to detail the array of privileges and benefits that the kingdom intends to bestow upon the heroes. He promises titles, power, wealth, status—every conceivable luxury and advantage, everything a person could ever dream of. It doesn't take long for the other boy and the teenage girl to be swayed by these offerings, and they readily agree to assume their roles as heroes.
As for me, yes, of course, I am going to stay too. I need to find my sister, after all. But to reverse the summoning spells to send us back home?
That's bullshit.