The golden light that had enveloped them gradually faded, leaving behind 22 figures now sprawled across the cold floor. The air felt heavier than usual, filled with an unfamiliar scent—a mixture of burning candles and sothing akin to damp earth. As their consciousness returned, a low rumble echoed throughout the room, accompanied by the steady footsteps of robed n standing in a circle around them.
Ren blinked a few tis, still feeling the lingering dizziness from the sudden transfer. With so effort, he pushed himself up and clutched his throbbing head. "Haah... damn it," he muttered under his breath before quickly turning to the side. "Kiriya-chan, you okay?" he asked, checking on his friend, who was now slumped weakly beside him.
Kiriya raised a hand as if trying to reassure himself. "Yeah... shit, my stomach feels awful," he groaned hoarsely, his face pale.
Ren sighed, glancing at the robed figures who remained motionless around them. "Don't puke here," he whispered sharply. "If you do, your sanity will be questioned later."
"I know..." Kiriya tried to steady himself, but his expression remained strained. "Urgh..." He covered his mouth and clutched his stomach, desperately trying to hold back the nausea.
anwhile, Ren ignored his friend for the mont and began analyzing the situation. A supernatural phenonon like this... how did it work? From the very start, he had sensed sothing off about the voice that called itself "God." Her deanor was far too childish, completely lacking the presence of an almighty entity.
But for now, analyzing that so-called deity wasn't his top priority. What mattered more was understanding where they had ended up. Ren's eyes scanned the massive chamber—its walls adorned with mysterious carvings, towering stone pillars supporting a high ceiling, and a grand altar at the center that resembled an ancient ritual site. The dim glow of torches lining the walls cast eerie shadows, reinforcing the notion that they had indeed been transported to another world.
The robed n surrounding them observed in silence, so whispering to each other in serious tones. One of them, standing before the altar and distinguishable from the rest by his more elaborate robe embroidered with gold, finally stepped forward.
"Honored Heroes," his voice echoed through the chamber, deep and authoritative. "Welco to the Kingdom of Eldoria. We have summoned you to this world for a noble purpose—to defeat the Demon King and save humanity from destruction!"
The previously silent room imdiately erupted with murmurs and whispers from the students. So looked panicked, while others were still struggling to grasp the situation. Among them, only Ren remained quiet, narrowing his eyes in thought.
'Defeat the Demon King, huh...' he mused. 'How cliché.'
The tension in the room steadily grew. So students, still grounded in logic, reacted with disbelief and concern. Their horoom teacher, a woman in her early thirties, stepped forward with a firm expression, attempting to speak on behalf of her students.
"What is the aning of this? You can't just take us to another world and expect us to fight in a war!" her voice rang out, echoing off the castle's grand stone walls. "We're just regular high school students! You have to send us back ho!"
So students voiced their agreent—so panicked, so angry, while others could only stand frozen in confusion. However, before the tension could escalate further, the sound of approaching footsteps reverberated from the main entrance. The robed n imdiately bowed in respect, making way for the figure who had just entered the chamber.
A young woman stepped forward gracefully, dressed in a resplendent white gown adorned with golden embroidery that shimred under the torchlight. Her long, wavy silver-gold hair cascaded down her back, and her sapphire-blue eyes glowed softly like precious gems. The aura she exuded was enchanting, radiating both authority and warmth—like a princess straight out of a fairy tale.
Nearly every male student held their breath, captivated by her beauty. Even Kiriya, who had barely recovered, was imdiately enthralled.
"Dear god... she's really a princess..." he whispered, eyes sparkling with admiration.
However, unlike most of his classmates, Ren maintained his usual cold, unreadable expression. His gaze wasn't focused on her beauty, but on her every movent, every subtle change in expression.
(Her posture, her deanor, her tone... this isn't the first ti she's done sothing like this. She's too well-trained for soone rely giving an introduction.)
The princess stopped just before them and spoke in a gentle yet commanding voice. "Honored Heroes, welco to the Kingdom of Eldoria. I am Princess Anastasia Eldoria, first princess of this kingdom."
She lowered her head slightly in a formal gesture of respect. "On behalf of my people and all living beings in this world, we humbly seek your aid. The Demon King has returned, and only you can save us."
So students swallowed nervously, whether out of anxiety or because they were simply too srized. But to Ren, this was nothing more than a well-rehearsed script from a typical hero summoning scenario.
(This is strange. If their world is truly on the brink of destruction, why do they seem so composed? If the situation were that dire, they should be far more desperate.)
Ren remained silent, his gaze locked onto the princess, who continued to speak with grace and eloquence. With carefully chosen words, she managed to soothe the fears of the majority, subtly turning their uncertainty into a sense of duty.
Among them, a tall young man suddenly stepped forward, his chest puffed out with determination. With a confident expression, he raised his hand and declared boldly, "I can't just stand by! If the people of this world need help, then I will fight for them!" His tone was filled with conviction, as if he had been born to be a hero.
Ren glanced at him briefly, suppressing the urge to sigh. (Look at him... brave on the surface, but deep down, just another attention seeker.) His face remained blank, but his mind was already analyzing. (He's probably thinking this is his chance to be the protagonist, a hero worshiped by all... but, wait.)
(A hero?)
A long-forgotten mory suddenly resurfaced in his mind. His childhood, where he spent hours watching high-tech superheroes—Iron Man, Super Sentai, Kan Rider. Back then, his heart had burned with passion, his dream crystal clear: to be soone greater, soone who protected the weak with cutting-edge technology. Once upon a ti, he, too, had wanted to be a hero.
But as the years passed, reality taught him that the world had no need for heroes like those in fiction.
Ren shifted his gaze back to the princess, who smiled gently at the enthusiastic response of one of his classmates. (But what if... this world was different? What if, in this place, I could truly beco the hero I once dread of being?)
His thoughts raced. Unlike his classmates, who would rely on whatever power this world granted them, he had sothing different—sothing no one else possessed. Technology.
Unconsciously, the corner of his lips lifted slightly. Not a smile of happiness, but the grin of soone who had just discovered a challenge worth pursuing.
(Alright... let's see just how far I can push this world with my own hands.)
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