After four exhausting hours of travel, the band of heroes finally arrived on the outskirts of a dense forest. There, hidden among the towering trees, lay the dark and ominous entrance to the dungeon. As we approached, the gallant and authoritative leader of the knights began to divide us into several groups.
The experienced knights and soldiers would oversee and guide us as we ventured into the dangerous dungeon. Tension hung in the air as the groups were divided based on each individual's level of skill. The group consisting of students with extraordinary talent in mastering their jobs looked very strong and confident, while the other groups—including mine—appeared more mixed and less coordinated.
"This doesn't seem fair," whispered one student beside me. "Why do all the talented ones have to be grouped together?"
I just smiled thinly, feeling unruffled by this injustice. Although in a group composed of students considered "outcasts," I felt there was nothing to worry about. The three people beside me—Yamamoto Hiroshi, a young and inexperienced wizard; Tanaka Yumi, an archer who often missed her target; and Suzuki Takeshi, a fighter who preferred to avoid battles—might not be the best, but I was sure they had untapped potential.
The three of them looked at me as if seeing a stranger, and of course, I could understand their feelings. My transformation over the past week had been so drastic, coupled with my slightly more modern clothing than the others.
I cleared my throat to get their attention. "Ahem... Well, I suppose I should introduce myself again. For those of you who don't know, I'm Johan Anderson."
"Hah!?" exclaimed Hiroshi, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"No way, you perverted swine!!" Yumi exclaimed angrily and incredulously.
Takeshi just stood there silently, looking confused and unsure how to respond.
I raised my hand calmly, trying to reassure them. "I understand your disbelief, but that's the fact of the matter. And please, don't call me a perverted swine. The incident on the train was purely accidental, and I was framed."
Although I tried to explain, their expressions showed that they were still doubtful.
"But... your change is too drastic," Hiroshi shook his head. "You look like a completely different person."
I nodded, acknowledging the truth of his words. "I know, it's a big change indeed. But I promise, I'm still the same person inside. I'm just trying to become better and prepare myself."
Yumi looked at me sharply, skepticism still evident in her eyes. "How can we trust you? Everyone knows about that incident."
I took a deep breath, trying to explain further. "I know that incident tarnished my reputation. But believe me, I'm not guilty. It was a setup. And look at our situation now, the four of us gathered without army supervision. You must know why. We're not as strong as Touya's group or the others. It's like they want to dispose of us quickly."
Hiroshi furrowed his brow, pondering my words. "So, you think we're being made scapegoats?"
I nodded. "Yes, I believe so. We're placed in this position because they consider us weak, actually from the beginning I didn't believe in this kingdom even though we were considered heroes it feels like we're nothing more than pawns ready to be disposed of at any time"
Yumi shuddered at my opinion, and even Takeshi, who was usually silent, looked uneasy. We may still be vulnerable teenagers, but that doesn't mean we're stupid. We could sense that something was wrong with this situation.
"Even though you're right, I don't have the confidence to live in an unknown world without support," Yumi said with a trembling voice. "Also, what do you want to do? Take us away from the group? Are you willing to take responsibility, Johan?"
Her words made me pause for a moment. I racked my brain, trying to find the right answer. Takeshi and Hiroshi stared at me with hopeful eyes, awaiting my response. The atmosphere in the dark and mysterious forest around us added pressure to the situation.
"I'm not telling you to run away," I finally said, my voice softer. "But I hope you won't be easily swayed by their sweet talk. We have to stay vigilant. As fellow sufferers, I just want to warn you. After that, it's up to you whether to believe it or not."
Yumi nodded slowly, although her face still hinted at uncertainty. Takeshi and Hiroshi exchanged glances, then nodded in agreement.
"By the way, are you seriously just armed with that small knife?" Yumi asked doubtfully as she saw me fastening a knife belt around my waist.
I glanced at her for a moment before answering, trying to hide my unease. "Yes, this knife is enough for now. I prefer lightweight and fast weapons," I replied, trying to sound convincing. "Besides, we don't know what we'll face in the dungeon, so it's better to have a weapon that I can handle well."
Takeshi raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat unconvinced. "In that case, you should be behind us who have stronger weapons. I have a sword, and Hiroshi has a magic. We can protect each other."
I smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Takeshi. I'll do my best to support you from behind."
...
As we ventured deeper into the dungeon, we found ourselves trailing behind without supervision. It was clear that the four of us had been cast aside from the main group for not meeting their expectations. This situation made me realize that I had to take charge and organize a formation to confront the small green monsters now lurking around us.
If I'm not mistaken, they were goblins.
The dungeon was dark and damp, with walls of moss-covered stone. The sound of water droplets falling from the ceiling created an increasingly eerie atmosphere. The four of us—Hiroshi, Yumi, Takeshi, and I—exchanged nervous glances but showed determination.
"Alright, listen," I whispered while scanning our surroundings, making sure no other creatures were approaching. "We have to work together to face these goblins. They may be small, but do not underestimate them. They are cunning and can attack suddenly."
Hiroshi nodded, although his eyes still showed some uncertainty. He was a young wizard with little experience, but I knew he had great potential. Yumi, an archer who often missed her target, gripped her bow nervously. Takeshi, a fighter who preferred to avoid battles, stood beside me hesitantly.
"Yumi, you're behind us with your bow. Try to stay calm and focused. Takeshi, you're in front as the first line of defense. Don't worry, we'll support you. Hiroshi, you're in the middle to support with your spells and protect Yumi. I'll be behind Takeshi, ready to assist with this knife and keep an eye on their movements."
We moved slowly, with Takeshi and Hiroshi in the lead, their steps steady and cautious. The torchlight we carried danced on the walls, creating shifting shadows as we walked. The air in the dungeon felt heavy, with a strong, musty odor.
As we ventured deeper, the sound of rustling came from the shadows. Several goblins emerged from the darkness, their eyes gleaming with malicious intent. They growled, baring their sharp teeth.
"Takeshi, get ready!" I shouted.
Takeshi raised his sword hesitantly, eyeing the goblins with a hint of fear. "Let's do this, we can take them on!" he exclaimed, though his voice sounded less than confident.
The goblins surged towards us, their movements quick and agile. Takeshi swung his sword hard, parrying the first attack nervously. Hiroshi attempted to cast a spell, but I could see his hand trembling. Yumi, in the back, drew her bow, but the first arrow missed the mark by far.
I joined the fight, using my small knife to stab at the goblin trying to attack from the side. Every strike had to be precise and swift, avoiding their sharp teeth and claws. We fought in synchrony, protecting and attacking each other with full coordination.
"Hiroshi, magic now!" I yelled.
Hiroshi, his face full of concentration, unleashed a small fireball that hit one of the goblins, burning it instantly. The light from the fire illuminated the dark dungeon, boosting our morale. Yumi took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, and released the next arrow, hitting one of the goblins accurately.
After a few minutes of intense fighting, we managed to defeat the goblins. We were panting, but there was a sense of pride flowing among us. We had fought as a team, protecting and supporting each other.
"Great job, everyone," I said with a smile, despite feeling tired. "We did it."
They all smiled, exhausted but filled with satisfaction. We had proven that despite being considered weak, we had the strength and courage to face whatever came our way.
After the battle ended and the goblins lay lifeless around us, I felt a heavy wave of mental exhaustion wash over me. Although adrenaline still coursed through my veins, the sight of those small bodies began to haunt my mind. The goblins, with their small bodies and horrifying faces, made me feel like I had just killed children.
The breath that was initially heavy from the fight now turned into a suffocating feeling. I could feel nausea rising from my stomach, guilt and horror mixing into one. I tried to avert my gaze from the bodies, but their shadows continued to haunt me.
"Hiroshi, Yumi, Takeshi... I... I need... a moment," I said, my voice trembling, as I stepped away from the battlefield.
Yumi looked at me with concern. "Johan, are you okay?" she asked, but her voice sounded distant, as if muffled by the chaotic fog in her mind.
I couldn't answer. Cold sweat began to dampen my face, and my vision began to blur. Hurriedly, I walked to a darker corner of the dungeon, trying to distance myself from the horrifying sight. Finally, I couldn't hold back anymore. A strong wave of nausea forced my body to kneel, and I vomited in the corner of the room, my body shaking violently.
The sound of my retching echoed off the cold stone walls, and I could hear footsteps approaching. Hiroshi, with a worried look, stood beside me, his trembling hands trying to gently pat my back.
"Johan, calm down... Take deep breaths," Hiroshi said softly.
I tried to take deep breaths, but the heavy, humid air of the dungeon only made me feel more suffocated. Takeshi and Yumi stood a little further away, unsure of what to do. They, too, looked shaken by the battle just now, but they tried to remain steadfast.
"I... I never thought it would be like this," I muttered between interrupted breaths. "This... this feels heavy." I turned to them with tired and confused eyes. "And it's strange, this is your first murder but why don't you feel anything?" I asked, bewildered, looking at them, who also looked confused.
Hiroshi, who was usually quiet, seemed to ponder for a moment before answering. "Now that you mention it, that's true. I don't know why this is happening." His eyes looked restless, as if trying to understand the feelings that should be there but weren't.
Yumi shook her head softly, her arrow still trembling in her hand. "I feel a little uneasy, but... not as I imagined. Maybe I'm too focused on survival." Her voice trembled, showing the uncertainty she felt.
Takeshi posed a question that made me pause for a moment, letting his words sink into my mind. "Maybe we haven't really realized what's happening. Or maybe, there's some force that makes the three of us not like you?"
I pondered for a moment, trying to understand the implications of his words. Was there indeed a force behind the difference in our reactions to this situation? Or was it just because of differences in our personalities and experiences before?
However, I didn't have a definite answer to that question. What I knew was that I had to rise from this exhaustion, both physically and mentally. With effort, I lifted myself from the ground, my body feeling so heavy, yet my determination stronger. I stretched my stiff muscles, clasped my knees, and took deep breaths to calm myself.
"Anyway, we have to move before the group ahead leaves us too far behind," I said, my voice hoarse from exhaustion but filled with determination.