The two princesses from before didn't seem out of place now that everyone was back together, especially since the other women were wearing similar clothing. The gems on their crowns now seemed to sparkle even more, perhaps in an effort to counterbalance this, and the eldest sister, Vianell, even appeared to act more haughtily. Like the other males, Logan sensed that some rivalry had been awakened but chose to remain silent and carry on.
As soon as everyone was prepared, they began to descend the spiral staircase until they reached the bottom floor, where they followed a few guards who were posted there. Being last in line, Logan was constantly having to straighten his hat, particularly the feather that stuck out and annoyed him.
After passing through a few more hallways, they arrived at a large chamber with its doors wide open, revealing a room that was completely packed.
Everyone, including Logan, felt anxious as they prepared to be introduced to the king. They were never asked whether this was what they wanted, but they all understood that they couldn't go against the flow at this time, as they were unaware of their circumstances or what had brought them here.
What could they do against a kingdom where heavily armored individuals were always present? Even the maid who had previously taken care of Logan displayed an unsettling adoration that gave him chills. It wasn't just the presence of swords and metal armor that unnerved him, but the way these individuals looked upon the class with a gaze full of expectation. He even believed the young maid from before would sacrifice her life for him, if necessary, as she seemed so grateful for the opportunity to assist him.
According to the chats they had earlier, the guys appreciated the kindness and enjoyed the attention the maids offered. As for the women, Logan remembered Alma caressing the rings she had been given, and how she, along with the others, seemed to love their newfound wealth.
This all simply meant that they were being bought off, their future likely determined by what would happen next, and that half of the students had already experienced the pleasures of this world.
They didn't take long to arrive at the throne room's door, where those present began to applaud as they entered the opulent and enormous hall. The two princesses were the first to enter, followed by the girls, all guided by a red carpet that led them to an area where a few stairs ascended to two lavishly built thrones, red with gold trim, which stood out prominently.
A man who appeared to be in his fifties and a woman in her mid-to-late thirties were seated in front of them. The man, or rather the king of this country, was obese and bald, but he still retained some of the good looks that probably attracted many women in his younger days. He wore stylish red and gold attire that complemented the tones of his throne. His face, height, and choice of spouse were arguably his best qualities.
In contrast, the woman was naturally beautiful, with long golden hair perfectly braided. She wore a long gold garment with red trims, and, like her daughters, she had a gorgeous face that appeared to be painted to resemble a Greek or Roman deity.
Once the heroes entered, they stood without bowing; instead, they watched until everyone had formed a neat line in front of them. The princesses assisted each student in forming up, and Logan observed that of the two, the younger girl was more aware when someone needed help. She also made an effort to allay any anxiety the students displayed, speaking the right words while smiling sweetly and innocently.
Being last in line, there were a few brief seconds where all the attention was placed on him. He noticed not only the king's gaze on each student but also the queen's expression as she seemed to carefully size up everyone based on their attitude. Her gaze wandered toward him for a while as he was fixing his hat for the tenth time. He didn't mean to, but during that moment, he couldn't look away from her eyes. This lasted only until her husband made a deep cough and raised his hand to silence everyone in the room.
"His Royal Majesty, our King Holven Elstin the Third, and Her Majesty, Queen Olvidia Madrin, are assembled here on this day of prophecy to present the heroes called by the Temple of the Seven Spirits," a man shouted from his position a few steps below the king.
The room fell silent for a while before the king spoke.
"Heroes, I thank you on behalf of all humanity of this world for answering our call and responding to our summon to assist us in the desperate crisis we are all facing now. We required strength, but what we received was so much more. This time, numerous youthful individuals have been sent to us, which gives me optimism." A few seconds of stillness followed his coughs before he resumed speaking.
"I swear right here and now to help each and every one of our warriors become strong enough to handle the risks we face because I have high hopes for each of you." After speaking loudly enough for everyone to hear, the monarch paused for a moment, looking at each student in the class individually before continuing.
"Our enemies are the treacherous demons who once held humanity captive. Thanks to the assistance of our first hero, we reclaimed our freedom. These demons have returned in large numbers and are now gradually infesting every piece of land they can get their hands on. They had taken over half of this continent, yet a few months ago, the spirits delivered the news that we would be able to call upon a hero. Thus, I humbly beg you to aid us, save us, and exterminate these demons."
The king stood up with even more zeal, his voice roaring with passion, which caused everyone to cheerily applaud.
People who were standing behind Logan and his team began to hail the heroes with declarations of adoration, faith, and goodwill. As the center of attention, the class turned to face the crowd and saw how everyone clung to the belief that they would save them.
Aware of the armored guards positioned throughout the hall, Brian took a few tentative steps forward before speaking.
"If I may ask, how are we supposed to assist you? We're simply teens; in fact, some of these men don't even take their sports classes seriously." His reprimanding remark seemed to be directed at some of the boys in the class, yet Logan knew Brian's words were definitely aimed at him, spoken with a voice that held the complicated feelings everyone had experienced from the beginning.
But the king didn't appear to care and simply called one of the knights who were closest to him.
"You there!" he motioned for the man to approach. "Surely, you will set a good example for everyone to see. You will fight the hero bare-handed in order to test the strength only mentioned in legends."
The knight, who didn't appear to comprehend why he was chosen, removed his helmet and the sections of his armor that protected his upper body. Underneath all of that was a very muscular man with short red hair, probably in his late twenties. With a solemn attitude, he asked another knight to assist him in holding his equipment as he made his way toward the monarch. He stopped a short distance from the throne's steps and performed a graceful bow.
"Hero, it's up to you if you want to take on this knight." The king calmly invited Brian to come forward, as if he already knew what would happen.
At first, Brian didn't seem to want to accept the challenge, but he was curious as to why they were calling him a hero. In actuality, he felt hardly different from when he was on Earth. From the minute they were summoned until they entered this area, he felt a strength inside him that he couldn't quite describe. It resembled a never-ending sugar rush or the rush of adrenaline when facing a formidable foe.
When the monarch gave his next instruction, Brian moved forward and stopped about a meter or so from the knight.
"This demonstration will only be for show, so please refrain from hurting each other. Now, I take it both of you are prepared?" The king, clearly excited, cried out to both parties before raising his hand to signal the start of the fight.
Everyone in the room, even the students, leaned forward in silence to clearly watch what would happen. Finally, the monarch lowered his arm like a referee, and the two competitors rushed toward one another.
Being the first to approach his opponent suggested that Brian had the advantage in movement. The young boy took three steps to land a punch with an outstretched hand onto the sturdy man's torso. The knight parried the blow at the last second to avoid injury and attempted to counter with a strike of his own, but Brian quickly reacted with a counter. Brian repeated the previous attack with his right hand extended towards the knight's chest, this time with a whip-like speed faster than the first punch, using his left hand to deflect the jab.
The knight could only back off this time and try to reclaim his position; the massive man didn't appear to be faring well against the teenager's quickness but didn't want to show any weakness. Especially when considering that he was a member of the royal guard who had spent years training, killed many monsters, and participated in multiple battles. He had anticipated a struggle from the young man, but he had not imagined being pushed back so much in such a short period of time.
Brian, growing more confident in his agility, managed to keep the knight at bay. He had no idea how, but his body skillfully utilized the limited fighting experience he had to identify weaknesses in the knight. He didn't get worn out as his barrage of mild punches continued. As the fight went on, the power he had felt earlier seemed to grow even stronger; in bliss, his mind searched for more of this pleasure as he added more movements.
Brian stepped back and prepared his leg for a kick after observing the knight's attempt to block his subsequent strike. Unaware of how he was able to extend his foot that high, the youngster delivered a roundhouse kick that inspired shouts from some onlookers. As the fight grew more one-sided, several students even joined in the cheers. The unfortunate knight, unable to keep up, simply took a defensive stance in an effort to avoid significant harm.
Watching the duel in front of him, Logan couldn't believe his eyes. Brian, who didn't appear to know martial arts, effortlessly defeated a tall, strong, and well-trained knight without breaking a sweat. The young man kept performing other challenging kicks, likely inspired by movies, and he didn't appear to want to stop. After the knight had taken so much damage that he could no longer keep his hands raised, Brian leaped forward.
"Stop! That's enough!" The king, who was observing everything in astonishment, recalled the warning he had given to both parties and lifted his hands, yelling to try and prevent Brian from connecting the blow.
With the king's remarks, Brian, who was hovering, came to his senses and tilted his foot just enough to avoid the knight's face. The tall soldier breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the kick would have probably knocked him out cold. With what little effort he could muster, he managed to stay upright, bow to the boy and then the monarch, before quietly retiring to his position with the knights. Brian, triumphantly, lifted his hand and turned to face the monarch, nodding.
"Oh, so this is a hero's strength... Perhaps that will be possible. What will we receive in return, then? You know you can't expect us to do all of this for free, right?" The king appeared to appreciate the young man's ambition as the child glanced up at him with a self-assured grin.
"Of course, we will do our share to give you all the assistance you require. Not only will this kingdom back you all, but so will everyone who wants to restore peace to this continent. Our heroes will receive all that you ask for, including land and wealth." The king, addressing the boy who displayed signs of greed, replied calmly with a smile.
The king once more lifted his hand and coughed a few times before speaking, having concluded that enough time had passed. "All right, let me add one minor detail before you all start walking in the parade we have organized specifically for this event. We'll be throwing a large feast tonight where all of you can select patrons, whether it's the support of a kingdom or a powerful trader, due to the large number of heroes who came. You will all be able to obtain all you require and desire to live happily while residing in our world. Enjoy the remainder of your day until this evening, when we shall all gather."
The king waved to the guards stationed on the left side of the throne room. The knights there opened the entrance, and music started playing. Without saying a word more or taking the time to hear any comments from the class, drums, trumpets, and other instruments began to play a tune that the audience could follow along with singing.
Similar to earlier, their tour guides, the two princesses, led the group outside and started walking toward a garden that lay beyond two magnificently constructed wooden doors. Before leaving, Logan turned around to survey the festive mood within the castle, but the faces of happiness from everyone made him feel uneasy rather than glad. Since his arrival, he had felt under pressure, never having had the chance to speak with anyone or ask about his concerns. Instead, he had to follow the crowd and wait for the right opportunity to find someone who would listen to him.