Another bright morning dawned upon the holy capital of Ethelas. However, this morning was different. For the first time, the summoned heroes from another world woke up in the Kingdom of Yarum. The news of their arrival was unbelievable, and witnessing them at last night's celebration felt surreal, leaving the entire kingdom in shock.
The citizens of the capital were joyful this morning, confident that the demons would be eradicated and peace would return to the kingdom. Everyone wore a smile—adults, children, and even the elderly. Meanwhile, inside the palace, in one of the chambers, the eight heroes gathered to discuss an important matter.
"We need to go back to our world," Linda declared firmly, addressing her friends.
"Go back? Ha! Don't make me laugh, Linda," Tom retorted.
"She's right. They distracted us with that grand celebration, and we forgot the most important thing—returning to our world," John added.
"Haven't you noticed they didn't mention going back at all?! They plan to keep us trapped in this world until we die!" Linda's voice grew louder with frustration.
"Well, there must be a way back, but we need to save this kingdom first," Kevin interjected, joining the conversation.
"That's what I told you last night, Linda. We need to help this kingdom before we think about going home," Susan added.
"But what if we die? What if we can't stand against the demons and end up dead?!" Stephanie suddenly shouted, breaking her silence.
"God! You're so pessimistic!" Malin scoffed.
"It doesn't matter. Anyone who wants to return to Earth, raise your hand," Susan said decisively.
At this moment, everyone raised their hands except for three—Sebastian, Tom, and Susan. The rest shot their hands up as if under threat, making it clear that most of the teenagers couldn't abandon their world, even after all the hospitality and attention they'd received.
"Majority wins!" Stephanie exclaimed triumphantly.
"Do whatever you want. I swear, I'm not leaving this world!" Sebastian declared.
"But what about Laos?" Malin asked.
"That damned NPC? You still remember him? Just thinking about how the goddess gave him the NPC class makes me laugh until I pass out! What a comedic scene, especially when he turned to us. Oh my, it was hilarious!" Sebastian replied with a wide grin.
"For real! That was insanely funny!" Tom added, laughing.
"Well, regarding Laos, if they decide to send us back to our world, we'll consult him about his opinion," Linda stated.
"So, what do we do now?" John asked.
"We'll ask the king to send us back," Linda replied.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Malin rushed to open it. Standing there was a tall servant with a white, spotted tail and silver ears matching his hair. He stood upright and announced:
"The king calls you."
"The king is calling us. Let's go," Malin informed his friends.
"Alright, let's execute the plan," Linda said as she headed toward the room's exit.
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Linda's POV
The morning air was warm, filled with pleasant aromas wafting across the floor, alongside the sight of numerous servants. But why were some of the servants sporting animal ears? This world was strange. My first impression upon arriving here, coupled with yesterday's grand reception, made me feel like a protagonist in Tolkien world. It was unbelievable—utterly unbelievable.
As much as I was a big fan of Tolkien's novels and fantasy books in general, I couldn't leave behind the technology of my own world. Most importantly, I couldn't abandon my family. Oh God, what must they think of me now? I'm sure they're searching tirelessly for me. It's truly heartbreaking.
After some time walking, we finally arrived at the king's throne. We stood in a line directly before him, looking at him as he sat on his throne. Beside him were his wife and that old bishop. Oh my God, this is Middle-earth brought to life! If only that bishop wasn't wearing a monocle, it would have completed the medieval fantasy aesthetic perfectly.
"Good morning, my dear heroes. I trust you all slept well," said the king, his eyes locking onto mine. Oh God, this is so nerve-wracking.
"Today, as I mentioned yesterday, we will discuss the upcoming battles in which each of you will participate," the king added.
What should I do? Should I raise my hand and ask him to send us back? Oh God, this is so embarrassing... What do I do? This hesitation—I hate it so much. Be brave, Linda. Go on, raise your hand.
"Before that, Bishop August would like to present something to yo—"
At this moment, I raised my hand, cutting off the king mid-sentence. Shit, how rude! What have you done, you idiot?!
"What is it, Hero?" he asked me.
"We want to return to our world," I said firmly.
A chilling silence enveloped the entire hall. No one spoke, no one whispered—only silence. It made me feel like a criminal who had committed a grave offense. Oh God, how unsettling this is. I wish a magical circle would open beneath me, like the one that brought me here, and transport me back to my room.
"Return to your world? There is only one way to do that," said the king as he stroked his revolting beard.
"And what is it?" John asked.
"The only way for the heroes to return to their world is... to complete the mission for which they were summoned," the king explained.
"So... we have to save this kingdom?" I asked.
"Yes, upon saving the Kingdom of Yarum, you will have the chance to meet the Moon Goddess again, and she will return you to your world," he added.
"No way! That's outright exploitation. We didn't come here willingly. Send us back to our world!!" screamed Stephanie, tears welling up in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, but that's impossible," replied the repugnant king.
I approached Stephanie and embraced her to comfort her. I whispered a few soothing words in her ear to calm her down. Stephanie is dear to me, and having her in this world with me feels like having my sister by my side.
"Well, if you're done talking, I'd like to present something to you," said the old bishop.
Two knights in silver armor stepped forward, carrying a wooden box painted blue. They placed it gently on a tall table and then left the hall. The bishop approached the table and slowly opened the box.
Suddenly, a brilliant white light burst from the box, forcing all of us to close our eyes.
When the glow faded, a crystal-clear orb lay inside the box. Within it swirled ethereal blue streams of magical energy, resembling the spheres witches use to predict your future. Are they about to show us our futures? That would be the ultimate fantasy!
"Here it is—the orb, the greatest invention of our kingdom's cathedral, The Blessed Domiar Cathedral," declared the old bishop with a tone of pride. "I oversaw its creation myself, with the help of countless alchemists and mages," he added, clearly boasting.
"This orb reveals the stats of heroes summoned from another world and grants them permanent access to their stats for examination. This was the most challenging invention we could conceive, but through our faith in the goddess and ourselves, we managed to create such an incredible artifact," the bishop continued with a self-satisfied grin.
"Bishop August was granted eternal recognition for this invention. It's one of the kingdom's greatest achievements. Now, dear heroes, please step forward one by one to see your stats," added the king.
We formed a line, and Sebastian went first. As he approached the orb, the bishop instructed him to place his hand gently on it, take a deep breath, and exhale before closing his eyes.
Suddenly, a dark aura erupted from Sebastian's body, enveloping him completely until he was no longer visible. What in the name of the Moon Goddess is happening?! The aura grew more intense, expanding beyond just covering him and spreading toward us. The bishop quickly pulled Sebastian's hand away from the orb.
"My goddess, such terrifying magic power!" exclaimed the king, his eyes wide in shock as he stared at Sebastian.
"It seems you are a powerful Dark Mage. This is truly extraordinary!" the bishop added, clearly impressed.
Each of us took turns touching the orb. Unlike Sebastian, no one else emitted such an overwhelming aura. Instead, faint power briefly surrounded them before fading away. Then it was my turn. I stepped forward, my heart pounding. Slowly, I approached the orb and placed my hand on its cool, refreshing surface.
A gentle warmth rose from my hand, traveling to my chest and filling me with an odd sensation of power.
Then it happened.
A golden aura exploded around me, fierce and uncontrollable. Its sound roared like a tempest, and the sheer force made it hard to stand. It completely engulfed me, even more violently than Sebastian's aura. The pressure grew unbearable, and I pulled my hand away instinctively.
Then the golden aura vanished as suddenly as it appeared.
When my vision returned, I saw the king staring at me, his crown on the floor, his face frozen in disbelief. The queen had retreated several steps, and the bishop was sprawled on the ground, supported by knights as he struggled to rise. I felt like a monster, utterly bewildered. What is happening in this world?
"Oh my goddess, that was incredible!" the king bellowed, his wide grin returning as he clapped his hands in delight.
"Unbelievable. I didn't think the heroes' powers could reach such heights," the bishop muttered, still shaky.
"You are the one with the hero class, correct?" asked the queen, her voice tinged with awe.
"Yes," I replied, still shaken.
"It seems you're the strongest among them," the king declared.
I couldn't help but feel a flicker of pride. To be the strongest hero was a great honor and would surely elevate my status. But more importantly, I knew what I could do with this power. I could protect my friends—especially Stephanie.