The most important part of a trick?
Making sure everyone sees what you want them to see.
Hikaru Kageyama had spent years mastering that art. Not because he wanted to be a magician, but because he had once thought sleight of hand would help him impress girls.
It didn't.
Instead, it led to him falling deep into the world of deception, misdirection, and cardistry. Over time, he realized that illusions weren't just tricks—they were weapons.
And right now, as his vision blurred and golden light surrounded him, he had a gut feeling that he'd need those weapons more than ever.
The blinding light faded, replaced by the towering grandeur of a medieval throne room.
Gleaming marble floors stretched out beneath him. Banners embroidered with golden lions hung from the tall stone walls. Armored knights stood at attention, their swords gleaming under the sunlight filtering through stained-glass windows.
At the far end of the hall sat a man on an extravagant throne, wearing a velvet cloak that looked way too heavy for comfort. His face was carved with authority, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group. This was definitely the king.
Beside him stood a knight with grizzled silver hair, his expression calm but unreadable. Even without an introduction, Hikaru could tell—that guy is dangerous.
A quick glance confirmed it—his entire class was here, standing in awkward silence. Some were whispering, some were panicking, and a few were trying to act cool.
The king finally spoke, his voice deep and commanding.
"Heroes of another world, I bid you welcome!"
The murmurs grew louder. Some excited. Some terrified.
Hikaru?
He was already analyzing the situation.
Summoning magic? Check.
King with an agenda? Check.
Bunch of classmates about to get overpowered abilities? Check.
Dangerous knight standing beside the king, secretly evaluating everyone? Big check.
This whole thing felt way too structured. The perfect royal setting, the perfect timing, the perfect speech.
This is rigged.
The king continued his address.
"Our world is in peril. The Demon Lord's forces grow stronger by the day, and only you, the chosen heroes, can stop them! Each of you has been blessed by the gods with a divine gift—a power beyond mortal means!"
A glowing blue interface appeared in front of everyone. Floating text, clean design, instant readability. Almost like a game system.
Excited gasps erupted across the hall.
"Whoa! I have Fire Manipulation!"
"Sword Mastery…? This is insane!"
"My rank is Gold!"
Hikaru exhaled and adjusted his glasses. He glanced at his own interface.
Name: Hikaru Kageyama
Title: Summoned Hero
Rank: Bronze
Ability: Deck of Deception
Of course.
The ranking system was as predictable as it was unfair. The strongest students were labeled Gold, the second-best got Silver, and the rest…
His gaze flicked across the room. The Gold ranks stood confidently, their abilities glowing with raw power. The Silver ranks still looked hopeful. But the ten or so students marked Bronze? They were already starting to panic.
The king's voice cut through the noise.
"Those of Gold rank will train under Sir Aldric Vaelmont himself, the strongest knight in Velmoria."
Hikaru's eyes lingered on Aldric. The knight remained emotionless, but there was something in his gaze, as if he had already decided which students were worthy and which ones weren't.
"Those of Silver rank will be given training under the royal court's finest mages and tacticians," the king continued.
A few students groaned that they weren't in Gold, but at least they still mattered.
Then the king's gaze shifted to the Bronze ranks.
"You shall be placed under the care of the Adventurer's Guild."
His tone was dismissive.
Murmurs of protest rose from the Bronze-ranked students. One guy even stepped forward. "Wait, that's it? You're just throwing us away?"
The king didn't even blink. "You are free to prove your worth through action. If you rise above your rank, the kingdom shall acknowledge you."
Hikaru flipped a card between his fingers.
Gold-ranked students would be trained as knights, turned into legends. Silver-ranked students would be refined, shaped into valuable assets.
And Bronze?
Expendable.
A divide. A rigged game.
Good.
That just meant he had to cheat.
The Gold and Silver ranks were escorted away to their respective training grounds, while the Bronze-ranked students were marched through the city toward the Adventurer's Guild.
Hikaru hung back, watching.
Some of his classmates were already panicking.
"We're screwed. We didn't even get proper weapons."
"I got some dumb 'navigation' skill. How's that supposed to help in a fight?"
Hikaru stayed quiet, idly flipping a card. His Deck of Deception felt different now. Lighter. Sharper. There was a faint energy pulsing through the cards.
Testing a theory, he flicked a card forward. It vanished mid-air—then reappeared in his other hand.
His grin widened.
So that's how it is.
Not just throwing cards. Manipulating them.
His classmates had raw power.
He had something better.
A trick.
And in the right hands, a trick could be more powerful than a sword.
The Adventurer's Guild was nothing like the palace.
The moment they stepped inside, they were hit with the scent of ale, the clatter of weapons, and the sound of rowdy laughter.
Rugged men and women sat at wooden tables, some polishing their blades, others arm-wrestling for coin. A bard played a lute in the corner while a half-orc mercenary downed an entire barrel of beer in one go.
It was chaotic, loud, and completely unrestrained.
Hikaru exhaled. Now this was more like it.
A tall, scarred woman stood behind the counter, arms crossed, watching them with an unimpressed look.
"Newbies, huh?" she said. "Lemme guess. You're the latest batch of 'Heroes' sent here to die?"
The group flinched at her bluntness.
Hikaru?
He grinned.
"Not die," he said, slipping a card between his fingers. "Just here to play the game."
A few nearby adventurers snorted. The woman, Elara, raised an eyebrow, but something flickered in her gaze—curiosity.
Maybe he'd just found his first audience.
And if there was one thing Hikaru knew how to do?
It was making people believe in a trick.