《Summoned Hero...But I'm Just an MTL'er?!》 Chp 0 - Prologue - Awakening I should have been at my desk. Lifting my head and seeing a bright white light, the first thing I thought was that I should be sitting in my desk right now. I was reading the latest release of Ryouriban by Konobuta when I became extremely sleepy and put my head down for a quick nap. But now I can feel my back is on a cold, hard floor and I can''t see anything but a blinding light. "He''s older than I imagined..." Voices? Being on a floor, bright lights - both can be explained by my unhealthy sleeping habits. Wouldn''t be the first time I woke up somewhere weird. But I should NOT be hearing voices. I live alone after all. Could it be an intruder? The light was starting to solidify into the fuzzy outlines of a room and some people. "Well, we shouldn''t make assumptions based on the other heroes, after all." "....he''s still older than expected, though?" The light finally started to fade as I pushed myself onto my elbows to look up. High marble ceilings...a church? And who were these people looking at me? They were wearing medieval-style clothing. Is this cosplay? If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "Excuse me, who are you? And where am I?" An older man looked at me with doubtful eyes, a grey beard falling across a majestic blue and white robe. Behind him were similarly, if not as impressively dressed, men. Beside the grumpy old man was a young girl, no more than fifteen. Her blonde hair was worn straight down her shoulders, a green silk robe completing the "fair maiden" look. She had kinder eyes than the bearded man, though they were more than a little confused. "Welcome to Asperia, Hero. I am the High Priest and King of the Lideralian Kingdom, Jonas the 13th." ...eh? He stopped speaking and looked at the girl next to him. She sighed and continued the explanation with a sad smile. "You have been summoned to our world as a Hero. A Hero to help prevent the Eternal Sunset as prophesied by my predecessor. It is impertinent of us but we beseech you..." ....this can''t be happening. "....please! Please save our world!!!" Chp 1 - A (Dumb) Gift From a God My name is Arthur Castro, 30 year old web and light novel enthusiast living in Philadelphia. I''ve lived a passionate but generally unremarkable 30 years on Earth. Right now, I''m sitting on a cold marble floor in my boxers and just heard a very remarkable thing. "I was summoned here? Wait...before that...WHO ARE YOU?" My question reverberated across the cathedral-like room I was currently in. I guess I spoke a little louder than I intended. "No need to yell, fellow Hero. We can hear you fine." I turn my head and saw that, besides the robed individuals in front of me, there was a small group of young-ish people in armor standing jauntily behind me. The one who spoke was an impressive young man wearing shiny, silver armor. He was in his late teens or early 20''s - tall, clear skin and dark hair. Japanese maybe? Beside him was another Asian boy, looking uncertainly at the speaker. Green tunic with leather armor.....what is this?! Don''t tell me... Where are you Vanadis-sama?! Finally, there was a silent young woman staring at me, a giant staff in hand and a purple witch''s hat on her head. She was older than the other two, but couldn''t be older than her mid-twenties. Now I understand why the King was confused about my age. Looking at me, I certainly did not fit the type. Because if my years of reading web novels tells me anything, I''m the last summoned hero and these three were my predecessors. I''m not really fitting the "type" here, but they ran the summoning not me. "Who might you be?", I ask Shiny Armor. "The name is Takeru, this one beside me is my best friend Hajime. The quiet one over there is Marie. As I''m sure you guessed...." "They are summoned Heroes, like you." The old man, King Jonas, who was silent to this point finally spoke up. He looked down at me, arms crossed over his chest. He was not happy with this development for some reason, though if anyone should be upset - it''s me. After all, I''m the one who''s half naked and being told he''s been summoned to a different world. Letting the initial shock settle down I appraised my surroundings. "I see." Now that I think about it clearly, I kind of can''t believe how calm I''m being. It always seemed weird how quickly transmigrators in novels adapted to their surroundings - one day you''re a Japanese salaryman the next you''re a sentient vending machine in a fantasy setting and you don''t bat an eye?! Not very realistic. But, if anyone should be prepared for this bizarre situation it''s me. No close friends with family in another state. We were never a close family so we keep to ourselves for the most part. I work an office job that I barely care about. All of my time and energy not reserved for sleeping, eating or working is spent doing two things - reading translated Japanese and Chinese web novels or machine translating said web novels online. It''s a strange hobby, but it''s my passion. The writing is pretty formulaic and sometimes barely rise above gibberish but the wish fulfillment kept me coming back. Like I said, I live an unremarkable life. At least when I read my light novels, for a little while I can pretend to be something I''m not. Who would have known that all of that time spent on those stories would actually be worthwhile. For example, I know exactly how this exchange will play out. Step 1: Learn you''ve been summoned as a hero. Step 2: Find out the reason for summoning and, if available, meet my companions. Now we are undeniably at step 3. "Assuming this isn''t a fever dream or the symptom of a very serious neurological disorder - I guess I''ll be in your care for a while." I stood up and dusted off my backside, trying to look as dignified as I can while wearing purple-striped Jockey underwear and an old Newtype t-shirt. "Could I bother you all for some clothes? Also, how do I find out what my status is?" Status, you ask? Well step three is finding out your status. It varies from novel to novel, but usually summoned heroes are blessed with some sort of bonus to help them achieve their mission. An enhanced constitution and of course some kind of cheat skill - like the ability to absorb other skills or learn skills in a magical room only accessible by me...that sort of thing. But the only way you can determine your "cheat" is by looking at your status, sort of like what you see in the character menu of RPG video games. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. "Status?" The girl in the green robe asked, her head slightly tilted in the adorable way that can only be expected of these magical priest girl types. "I don''t know what a ''status'' is....but I assume you mean your talents and Gift?" Ah, got it. I guess this world is going for a more true fantasy route than the RPG style in other books. "Yes! My talents and Gift. Since I''ve been summoned, I''d like to know if I''ve been granted any special abilities to help...uh...stop the Eternal Sunset? I think that''s what you called it." "You are well-informed." King Jonas said while nodding, a slight look of surprise spreading across his face. Hey now - I may look like this but I''m not as useless as you think! "Yes! That''s right. All summoned heroes, in addition to their bodies being slightly augmented to match the....different...environment of Asperia are granted one Gift by the god in whose name they were summoned. You were summoned through the god Jaxis, the bearer of the Scrolls of Light, Darkness and Meaning. The god who rules over the realm of knowledge." The green robed girl - I''m going to call her Lil Priestess for now - finished the explanation. Lil Priestess quickly walked forward and stood in front of me. She is looking down bashfully and now that I''m standing in front of her I realize how strange I must look, especially to a young, impressionable maiden. I cover myself sensitive bits the best I can, trying not to contribute to her embarrassment. "Pardon me" she whispers as she puts a cold, soft hand on my forehead. Warmth is instantly transmitted from her hand into my forehead and into my brain. It''s on odd feeling - few people know this but your brain doesn''t have nerves so technically speaking it can''t feel warm. needless to say, I''ve never felt this kind of warmth in my head before. I wouldn''t say it felt good, but it wasn''t uncomfortable. I stood there silently while a small jade-looking tablet appeared out of thin air in her left hand. Glowing symbols in gold slowly appeared across the iPhone sized tablet. This is it! The warmth dissipated and she looked down at the tablet. Her eyebrows instantly came together like two cute caterpillars, though that look on her face could only mean one thing. This setting keeps getting worse and worse for me. I closed my eyes as she read the report. "Hero, your Talents and Gift are as follows: Name: Arthur Castro Age: 30 Talent: Level 1 Affinities: Strength (Earth sign): Average Agility (Air sign): Below Average Vitality (Water sign): Above average Intelligence (Moon sign): Excellent Magic Power (Fire sign): Average Divine Gift (Jaxis sign): Machine Translation That is the summary of your talents, Hero Arthur." Little Priestess stepped away gracefully, holding the tablet behind her back. She looked apologetic while everyone else in the room was either shocked, annoyed or somehow demonstrated a mixture of both emotions on their faces upon hearing my status. I sighed audibly and looked up at the celing of the cathedral like room, ignoring the silent hostility emanated my way. Upon hearing the reading I confirmed three things. First: This was a magical world. I guess this should be obvious with of the existence of summoning magic, but we can never be too sure about what a particular world''s mechanics will be like. Second: I am the Good for Nothing Hero. Even I can tell, with only one "excellent" among my affinities and even a "below average" I am in the rear of the pack when it comes to natural abilities. Finally: I did have a gift, as expected, but a very mysterious one that I''m not sure how to use. Dammit Jaxis - would it kill you to give me something I''ve seen before?! What the heck is a Machine Translator?!!!!! Chp 2 - Of Gods and Men.... I sat on the bed wearing the blue and white robe I was given as a change of clothes. I wore it over my t-shirt and boxers since it was all they gave me. Don''t tell me those miserable old men are all going commando under their robes? The thought made me shiver slightly. No good. This isn''t the time for that. Aurora - formerly known as Lil Priestess - led me to my guestroom. She introduced herself as she guided me to where I will be staying. It was medium sized with a bed, desk, wall-sized book case and chest at the foot of the bed. While walking me here, Aurora also explained that the room I was previously in was not, in fact, a cathedral or any other kind of worship space. It was King Jonas'' throne room. He said he was a "High Priest" though? I''ll need to learn a lot about my new home, it seems. I was summoned there for expediency in meeting the King but also because this Newburg Castle, as it is named, and that room in particular is a nexus of powerful magical energy. It''s the only place in the kingdom of Lideralia where the summoning procedure could actually take place. "Please rest in here for tonight, Hero Arthur. The summoning will cause extreme fatigue as your body acclimates to the existense of magical energy in Asperia. You might be hungry, but eating is not advised during this adjustment period. Please feel free to drink the water that''s been provided and to sleep as soon as you can. I will come by tomorrow to explain the details of this world after which we will have your welcome feast!" Aurora looked at me kindly as she explained the situation before leaving. I guess there are some differences between real life and light novels. I don''t remember "adjustment periods" in any titles I''ve read, but I guess it only makes sense. I nodded silently as she turned and walked out the door, softly closing it behind her. She wasn''t kidding. As soon as I sat down I could feel a heavy weight pressing down on my shoulders and scalp. It felt like I could barely lift my limbs, much less a pitcher of water or a glass. I am thirsty, but the whole process of filling a cup of water and drinking it is inexplicably impossible for the current me. I leaned back and rolled my legs onto the bed as I felt the weight on my body increase with the newly added sensation of drowsiness. The sky beyond my bedroom window was dark. How long was I in the throne room? Oh well, I guess this is how I''ll end my first day in this new world of Asperia. --- My eyes snapped open. Sun streamed into my bedroom and directly onto my face as I looked around. For a second I thought everything to this point was a dream but I realized I was wearing the surprisingly comfortable robe in the room I was led to last night. I guess I really AM in a summoned world. I sat up and glanced around the room, finally dispelling any last thoughts that I was in one of my dreams. After all, I was never a lucid dreamer - to suddenly be this conscious and embodied in a dream with this much detail is hard to imagine. Somehow, it''s easier to imagine that I transmigrated instead of being stuck in a dream. Or maybe I died? I shivered thinking about that possibility, but there''s nothing I can do if it was true. All I know is I am here now - laying on a fluffy bed in some random room in a castle. One thing I will say is that the way I feel right now is..well...night and day compared to the heavy exhaustion of last night. I''ve never felt more refreshed, in fact. Since I''m the kind of person who normally falls asleep at a desk in front of a brightly lit computer, I rarely sleep well. Sitting in bed I felt energized. With my body completely acclimated to this new world, I felt like I could take on anything. I slept on top of the covers last night and was unencumbered as I swung my legs over the edge of the bed on the side next to the desk. The desk was bare except for some kind of lamp and small, smart phone sized green tablet. I took the tablet in hand, feeling its cold smoothness. It looked like jade but was actually incomparably light, like some sort of plastic. A mysterious object indeed. "This is your proofing card," Aurora explained as she guided me here last night. "It is bonded to you and will display your talents and Gift as was demonstrated last night. It will also record any <> you receive through your works and will serve as proof of identity across the allied states on this continent. To use it, hold it and channel your magical energy into the card. It will be impossible for you right now but I think it will come naturally once your body is adjusted. Just focus an intention into the proofing card and that should be enough to activate it." Aurora told me this as she handed the card over before guiding me to my room. Focus an intention? That''s about as vague an instriuction as you can give! But I think I understand what she means. Let''s try it out! I hold the proofing card and stare at its "face", imagining the information I want to see appearing on the tablet. I could feel warmth emanate from my hand and fingertips, slowly infusing the card as the symbols from last night appeared. I looked at the symbols and slightly sigh. It was the same as last night, though this time I could see the symbols - and somehow read them - more clearly. This must be the standard auto-translation trope. It''s a pretty standard ability for summoned heroes, so I didn''t think much of it. Instead, I focus on the report and a final row that I didn''t remember Aurora reading last night. Name: Arthur Castro Age: 30 Talent: Level 1 Affinities: Strength (Earth sign): Average Agility (Air sign): Below Average Vitality (Water sign): Above average Intelligence (Moon sign): Excellent Magic Power (Fire sign): Average Divine Gift (Jaxis sign): Machine Translation Titles: Summoned Hero, The Underwhelming One I try my hardest to ignore the titles at the end of the card, focusing on the information above it. In most fantasy settings, these kinds of stats affect different aspects of a character''s build. Strength is, as you would guess, related to physical power. Agility usually has to do with movement speed and mobility, though in some cases it also controls casting speed for mages. Vitality is how much health you have, whether that''s in the form of a counter like HP, how much damage you take from enemies and your susceptibility to status effects like illness or poison. Intelligence and Magic power are interesting. In a lot of settings they''re combined but they can also be separate like it is here. When they''re split like this, one - in this case Magic Power - shows your capacity for magic energy, sometimes called mana, to cast spells. Intelligence on the other hand determines your magical aptitude to learn spells and their strength when cast. Sitting on my bed, I let out another heavy sigh. My stats are really all over the place. If I was a character in a video game, they would tell you to delete my save and just start over. First of all, these ratings are really vague - what does average mean? Is above average the most you can get or are there higher levels, like excellent or superior? Regardless, my stats are really modest with only one stat being above average and one even being below. What''s worse is that my modest stats aren''t optimized well - having a high intelligence but only average magic power cancel each other out. I remember the disappointed looks on the faces of the people in the summoning chamber let night and I really can''t help but agree with them. My eye scans to the line below my stats. "Gift (Jaxis sign):Machine Translator." According to Aurora, Jaxis is the god of knowledge and magic in this world. He - she? they? - is also my benefactor of sorts. I was summoned in his name, after all. After seeing it last night, I wanted to see this again. I really couldn''t understand what this would mean in a fantasy world. On Earth, a machine translator is a simple enough concept. In fact, I used it all the time. Using Google, Bing, or other websites I copied and pasted the text from untranslated chapters of my favorite web novels into machine translators to get a sense of the events in the chapter. The translations have gotten better over the years, it used to be that resulting translations were jumbled and barely useful. Nowadays, they''re improved and read pretty smoothly but even then it''s still kind of rough. But my hunger for these stories were insatiable. In fact, I actually had a bit of a reputation as a reliable source of chapter summaries (a.k.a. spoilers) for those who, like me, couldn''t wait for the translation to be released. It actually makes sense that something that I was so familiar with on Earth is somehow related to my Gift here in Asperia. It''s a very web novel-like development. But what could Machine Translator possibly mean in this case? I can speak and read in whatever language is spoken here in Lideralia, an ability that was also demonstrated last night by the hero Takeru. Universal translation can''t be the extent of my gift. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Thinking won''t help, so there''s only one thing to do. I focus on the words "Machine Translator" on the card and brought up a desire to understand it. I try to focus an intention, the same way I activated my proofing card. Since I couldn''t visualize an action like I did with the card, I relied on sensations and memories. I brought up images of the machine translators I used on Earth. I thought of the text box on the machine translator on my computer. How with a click it would turn mysterious text into something I can understand. The words on the card filled my vision while I thought about the adventures I had using that text box. The joy and love it showed me through the characters and stories in my light novels. I couldn''t tell but a blue glow was starting to surround my body as I focused on the feeling I had when I used machine translators on earth. "I need to know." Know what the happened in those untranslated chapters. Know what the jumbled mess of words mean. Know what my Gift is in this strange, new world. I ignore everything else around me. I didn''t hear the knock on my door or Aurora''s voice on the other side asking if I was awake. I didn''t see the thin whisps of glowing smoke emanating from my shoulders and back, much less the blue glow emanating from my body. I didn''t notice that Aurora had come in and was looking at me with a concerned look. She was yelling now, though I couldn''t hear it. Then I felt a snap. Like a rubber band that was stretched too far, I felt it along the length of my torso. It didn''t hurt but I know it was an unnatural sensation. "Hero Arthur?! What are you doing?! Stop this at once!" "Ah, Aurora? When did you get here? Sorry, I must have been too focused on investigating my Gift...." "Gift....? Wait, did you try to activate your Gift just now? That''s impossible! A Gift is a form of ultimate magic, it''s impossible for someone who is newly summoned like you to activate it." I better not tell her about the snapping sensation. She walked over and drew something in the air with her hand. Glowing symbols, different from what I saw on the proofing card, were left in the tracks of her fingers. She pointed at my forehead and the glowing symbols flotated towards me. I felt a warmth in my head again, similar to last night though less intense. "I''m sorry but I must apply some recovery magic. It looks like you failed to activate your Gift after all, but I want to make sure you''re okay. Geez, Hero Arthur, don''t do things like this again!" I felt sorry and looked down at my feet as she continued pointing the recovery spell at my forehead. What else can I do while being disciplined by someone half my age? "I''m really sorry Aurora, it won''t happen again. Believe me. Also, please just call me ''Arthur'' or even ''Art'' from now on. ''Hero Arthur'' is a little long, isn''t it?" "That''s impossible! You were summoned here under the auspices of a god! You''re an agent of Jaxis! A lowly priesetess like me calling you by your name would be extremely rude!" "Ehhh....is that right? Well, just think of it as a favor to me. Being called ''hero'' makes me...itchy." I couldn''t help but feeling a little ticklish every time she referred to me as "Hero Arthur." "Mmmmmm, well, if it''s a request I certainly can''t deny it. I''ll call you Mr. Arthur then. How about that?" "That just makes me sound like your high-school principal!?" "High-school? I don''t know what the height of a school has to do with anything, but this is the closest compromise I can allow, Mr. Arthur. Please oblige this lowly servant." She said this while slightly bowing as she cast her spell. Ugh...I guess it can''t be helped. And at least she''s not calling me "Hero" anymore. We''ll just do this slowly, shall we? After all, we''re strangers - can''t expect her to go against her training as a priestess over the course of one night. "All right, I guess that''s fine." "Thank you, Mr. Arthur." "Could you actually do me another favor?" I was watching Aurora the entire time she cast the recovery spell. I was curious about the spell she''d been casting. She waved her fingers in the air, a glow weaving into letters and a word that float in the air. It was very magical. The letters kept floating into my forehead and now I could somehow understand the word she was writing with her fingers. I guess this is the nature of magic in this world - runes and air writing. Very cool! It was also a very effective spell, I felt much calmer and the memory of the snapping sensation had long faded away. "Yes?" "I''m curious about the spell you''re casting. ''Restia''? What does that mean? And you''re writing it with different symbols than the ones on my proofing card...." "Eh?" Aurora''s finger froze in the air above my head as I finished my question. The glowing letters disappeared abruptly as she stopped moving her hand. Sensing the weird silence I looked up at her face which for some reason was wracked with fear. "What''s the matter?! Are you okay, Aurora?" I stand up and try to put my arm on her shoulder but she quickly pulls away. ".....You could read it?" "Yes?" "The runes of my spell, you could read them?" "Well, since you''ve cast it several times since you came in I could read it pretty easily. ''Restia''. What does it mean?" "STOP!!" Aurora shrieked, a scared look in her eyes. She then started looking around nervously, keeping her voice to a whisper. "Don''t say it out loud....you must never pronounce the runes we use in our spells! Promise me this." "I promise. But why?" "It seems you were somehow able to activate your Gift after all - a surprising feat for a fledgling hero." She spoke was now looking down at the floor and her voice rose in volume to a quiet tremble. It seemed like she was trying to soothe herself. "It also seems like you have a very dangerous Gift. You wouldn''t know this, but all magic in this world is derived from the gods. We use the gods'' divine language that can never be written or heard to write what must never be known. The divine language can only be written in air, anything more permanent binds too much power than can be controlled onto our world. Even the vibrations created by speaking the runes is dangerous. That is why mages only ever learn the approximate movements to draw the runes in the air and rely on phenomena visualization to generate a spell''s desired effect." I listened to Aurora''s tense explanation, thinking about the remarkable magic system in Asperia. Magic systems are usually pretty standard - spells from mana, maybe spirit summons, maybe enchanted artifacts? I''ve never heard of a system like this though - using a god language? Being careful with spell mediums and such. I''m starting to realize that maybe I don''t know as much as I thought as a transmigrator. Aurora continued while I settled in my new sense of insecurity. "We do not know what the runes look like once written since we commit it to memory as finger patterns, much less how they are pronounced. That and we''re strictly forbidden from trying to recreate the divine language visibly, much less try to read it out loud like you just did." "I see, I''ll be more careful from now on. This IS a troublesome Gift..." I turn back to my bed, smoothing out wrinkles on the top sheet to relieve my nervous energy. "Let me finish Mr. Arthur..." I look back over at Aurora, who was lowering herself at the foot of my bed with a complex look in her eyes. "This is just concerning the divine language on its own - as simple letters they have unfathomable power. As I mentioned, all magic is derived from gods and spells are a kind of invocation of their power - a prayer if you will. What you just said out loud - which you promise not to repeat - is in fact a part of the the true name of the goddess of healing, Elimande." A god''s true name? This is getting more and more complicated. "Her true name hasn''t been spoken aloud in ove two millenia, since the end of the Age of Dark Gods and the First Dawn. That is, until now. A god''s true name must never be spoken aloud, Mr. Arthur. Thankfully, the spell I was casting is a relatively minor recovery spell, and invoked the goddess very weakly through a small portion of her true name. A more powerful spell spoken aloud could have been disastrous." "How so?" "Speaking a god''s name binds their personal power through the divine language onto our world. There are no forces more potent in this world than the ones derived from gods. It is deadly to the caster and for anyone nearby. The ultimate class spells that can affect an entire continent or - in some cases - the entire world are said to use the complete true names of particular gods. If you were to say that aloud it would be possible to bind gods themselves. Forcibly." "That is to say..." Standing up and straightening out her robe, Aurora walked towards the door. A silent unspoken command to follow her. "Mr. Arthur, your Gift used carelessly would make you the enemy of men. Used foolishly...." Stepping out of the door, I followed her quietly, the new found energy from waking slipping out of my fingers and toes after the explanation of my Gift. "Used foolishly, Mr. Arthur, and your Gift would make you an enemy of the Gods." Chp 3 - The Reason for the Summons I followed the young priestess Aurora silently down the stone hallway. Heavy wooden doors would sporadically appear beside me and metal candle holders punctuated the sides of the hall. We''ve been walking for some time; Castle Newburg must be huge. I didn''t know where we were going and after the serious conversation in my room, it didn''t seem like Aurora felt like telling me. . The mysterious name of my Gift kept repeating in my head. What the heck was this? Make me an enemy of the gods?! A power that could destroy the caster upon use?! I don''t need that kind of power!!!! I silently cursed my newfound ability. Certainly, it was powerful. In the forums and comments sections for my favorite web novels, readers would probably describe it as "OP" or "Over Powered". Thinking it over quickly, the application of is quite enticing. I can recreate a spell exactly upon seeing it by tracing the divine runes used for casting. I could also read the spells aloud, unlocking power that is impossible for conventional mages in Asperia. But it''s too powerful, darn it! Writing the runes permanently or saying them out loud could cause a magical disaster. Not to mention uttering the spells - essentially the names of Asperia''s gods - could bring the unwanted attention of this world''s divine beings. With these kinds of conditions, the Gift is practically useless! It''s like having a thermonuclear bomb in your back pocket. I try to breathe deeply, in my nose and out my mouth. It''s an old relaxation tip I read online. I have to calm down. I look at the back of Aurora''s blonde head. She was a whole head shorter than me, a tiny young woman. I''m not tall myself - 5''7" in shoes. She must barely be five feet tall. The flaxen hair coming down her tiny back, I can only think of the fear in her eyes when she heard me recite the spell ''Restia''. Something I did terrified this girl to that extent. It was a look that I never want to see again. I have to calm down. To this point, Aurora is the only who has looked at me with kindness and even she reacted that way when I used my Gift. How would King Jonas and his old man entourage react? Or the other summoned heroes? Or any of the other inhabitants of this world who know what I''m capable of? I''m a threat. A man with a bomb in his pocket. Based on my extensive readings, dangerous MC''s are treated harshly. I don''t want that kind of torturous development. I have to be calm and allay their fears. "We''re here, Mr. Arthur." I broke from my reverie to see Aurora looking at me. We were in front of a set of huge wooden doors, twice as large as the ones in the hallway and far more ornate. Scenes of men in armor and mages casting spells were carved on the dark, varnished wood. "Ah, sorry." "Not at all. Excuse me!" Aurora knocked on the door, announcing our arrival. "Who is it?" A gruff voice I didn''t recognize could be heard on the other side of the door. "It''s is Aurora Damande with Hero Arthur." Damande? Aurora had a last name? I guess it makes sense, the naming conventions in this world must be similar to Earth''s. "Come in!" Aurora quickly pushed open the doors, struggling a bit. This castle may be big but it doesn''t seem very user friendly. Or is the little pirestess just too small? I stepped in behind her and saw a large man in a blue robe like mine. He sat behind a desk, normal sized for most people but it looked a little undersized for its current user. The room was about the size of my apartment on earth, with floor to ceiling book shelves on either side of the desk. Behind the man was a stone wall with two large, arched windows. A corner office! This guy is a big shot. "Please have a seat, Hero Arthur." "Ah yes." I quickly sat down in a plush chair angled towards the man and his desk. Aurora walked to the his side, her eyes cast respectfully to the floor. I subconsciously straightened my back and folded my hands on my knees. First impressions with big shots are important, both on Earth and here in Asperia. "Thank you for joining me. My name is Roland Jaxis, chamberlain of King Jonas the 13th and Archbishop of the Lideralian High Church." Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Jaxis? Isn''t that a god''s name? And it seems like Lideralia is some kind of theocracy. Hmmm....that''s a bit worrisome. State churches aren''t always the most benevolent institutions in web novels. Right, Linley? "I''ve been tasked with giving you an explanation of why you were summoned and your role in this world." The bear-like Roland waved his hand quickly and a small screen appeared between us in the air. A brief light pattern could be seen in front of his hand - a rune. I did my best to ignore it. The screen he conjured showed a map - it looked old, like a pre-Columbian map of the New World. It showed two large bodies of land, separated by an ocean. The land to the left was grey while the one to the right of the ocean was separated into strangely shaped chunks. Countries. There were words inside of them, the largest one with the name of this country inside it. "Lideralia." "This is a map of the known world," Roland continued. "We are here in Lideralia, the seat of religion and commerce among the allied states of this continent, Asperia. The land beyond the sea is the demon continent of Thiraxist. It is the home of the demon and undead races, the natural enemies of Asperians." A steely look appeared on Roland''s face. "Your summons is intricately tied to the goings on in Thiraxist." The screen disappeared. Roland and I were now unobstructed. His large, shorn head and bushy eyebrows looked like they belonged to a general or elder warrior, not a priest. I gulped at the intensity of his gaze. "For the last five years, a dark energy has emanated from the demon lands and is being felt on our fair continent. The energy was at first an annoyance. Unseasonable storms, plagues, famine. That sort of thing." What the hell?! Those weren''t annoyances at all! "Over the last two years, however, the darkness has graduated from run of the mill disasters to more troubling developments. Deformities among newborns across the country, born with monstrous strength and demonic features. An unprecedented war among the heathen races in the forests of Alborbor. The elves of the Sky Mount have closed their gates and gone into hiding. Most disturbingly, there have been reports of mass disappearances across Asperia. Inhabitants of entire towns vanishing into thin air." ...Roland''s subdued reaction to plagues and famine aside, it certainly sounds like the continent of Asperia is in turmoil. "Finally, a year before the first hero summoning, there were reports of demon forces landing on the Asperian coast. They are concentrated in the northern lands, at the feet of the elven high lands. Demons haven''t been seen on our continent in two millennia, since the Age of Dark Gods." Age of Dark Gods again. The last time the divine language was spoken aloud according to Aurora. "It''s unknown what the demon forces are planning. But their unprecedented arrival and the strange occurrences happening across Asperia are signs. Signs recorded in a prophecy made by the last priestess of Damande. The prophecy of the Eternal Sunset." Roland closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. I leaned back into the chair, flopping my arms on the rests. This is definitely not a whimsical adventure. I''ve been summoned into a disturbing chapter of this world''s history. "Aurora will explain the specifics of the prophecy and your mission later, along with the other heroes. Suffice it to say, the summoned heroes are the key to the survival of this world. I know this is much to hear. So we''ll conclude your briefing after your welcome feast. Please retire to your room, preparations are being completed presently. Aurora will attend to you until then." The audience was completed and the old priest looked back to the papers on his small desk. I stood and walked out of the room, Aurora following me. "We''re your saviors, then?" I asked Aurora quietly. "I''m sorry." I heard the whispered apology behind me. I wonder if she could see the look on my face. Chp 4 Part 1 - A Feast for the Eyes Note: Working on a long-ish chapter here. Could only finish the first half/third of it tonight - but please hang in there! The pace is about to pick up! Aurora closed the door behind me. Roland has given me a lot to think about and a feast in the middle of the day is not exactly how I want to spend my time. I sit down on the bed and close my eyes while breathing deeply. When I was young, I was a hot headed kid. I was not a great talker or particularly impressive physically. When other kids would try to make a fool out of me, I''d give them a smack on the mouth. It was the cause for a lot of trouble for my parents, but I couldn''t help it. It took me a while to get that temper under control and even at my age I can just barely do it. I''m seething. I can feel my whole body heating up, the skin on my forehead collapsing into a frown. I''m a savior? Don''t mess with me! I''m supposed to save the world? How? With three kids and a Gift too powerful for me to use? I don''t know when it happened but my hands were balled up into fists on my knees. My entire life, there''s one thing I never liked and that''s being taken advantage of. In my favorite web novels, main characters in my position resign themselves to their roles relatively quickly. After my calm reaction at the summoning last night, I thought I would be the same. Like them, I don''t have much waiting for me back on Earth. I would miss my family, but I rarely see them as is. My co-workers are practically strangers, no friends to speak of. But after hearing Roland''s explanation, I could feel a lump rising in my throat. This isn''t a magical fantasy world that can be the setting to my adventure. It''s a war zone. Who willingly volunteers to fight a war on behalf of strangers? No good. I have to breathe. I relax my face and hands, letting it my body settle onto my bones. I have to be careful. I have to be smart. "Haaaaaaa..." I breathe out a lung full of air. This will be tricky now. I have been underestimating this world''s situation. Getting out of this alive will require my full concentration. Can''t let myself lapse into anger. I take this new moment of clarity and notice some clothes on my bed. They''re different from the robes everyone else is wearing, comprised of soft, woven pants and a formal tunic in coordinated shades of white and blue. "I guess this is for the party?" I ask myself out loud while going with the flow to examine the new clothes. They''re not bad! But wait.... "Eh?" I hold the clothes up to my body and realize they''re perfectly proportioned. "What the...." I quickly take my clothes off and put the new ones on. I should probably have taken a bath first but I needed to confirm. I was right. These clothes are perfectly tailored! When did they get the measurements, though? Is it some kind of magic? "Unless...." Shivers run down my spine as I imagine a large, mustachioed man groping my sleeping body while measuring my limbs with a ribbon. What the hell?! No, it must be a coincidence. There''s no proof, anyway. That''s right. This is a magical world. Magical. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Stay away, Alaindelon!!!! --- "Excuse me?" "You may come in." Some time passed and Aurora has returned, entering my room and closing the door behind her. She''s changed her outfit and styled her hair. Her earlier robe has been traded in for a dress which exposed her milky white shoulders and is fringed with ivory lace. It was conservative otherwise but was extremely charming for the little priestess. Her long blonde hair, flowing and beautiful, has been braided and worn up behind her head. It gave her a more mature look. She looked at me with slightly quavering eyes. "Hero Arthur, I...." "Aurora." I stop her with an upraised hand. "Y-yes?" "It''s Mr. Arthur, remember?" "Ah, that''s right! I''m sorry....Mr. Arthur." "That''s better. You were saying?" She stepped toward me and lowered her eyes to the ground. I could see the top of her scalp and the intricate swirling braid on the back of her head. "From earlier...I want to apologize again...." "It''s fine." "Eh?" I sigh and cross my arms, looking around the room to disperse my embarrassment. Honestly, a young girl shouldn''t be so wound up like this! Though, I guess this situation is partly my fault. "If anything, I should apologize. That was a rude and sarcastic question to ask someone like you, a priestess and spiritual leader of this country." "Mr. Arthur..." "You are only doing what you must and I....am unlucky. It''s not your fault." "...." Aurora finally looks up and I return my gaze to her face. She''s smiling but I can see the slight trail of tears running down her cheek. Good thing she''s not wearing mascara! It would have ruined her pretty cheeks. "Thank you, Mr. Arthur. You are exceedingly gentle and kind despite how you look." I can''t help how I look?!!! "I''ve come to bring you to the feast. It seems like you''re ready?" "Ah yes..." I guess I am, with the new clothes and a pair of leather boots I was given last night. Though I can''t help but feel a little sticky, wearing new clothes without having bathed. "I wish I could have bathed, though..." "Oh that''s no problem." "Eh?" I didn''t notice when she''d written the runes but a golden, billowing smoke wafted past me. It seemed illusory, without any kind of weight or scent. After it passed over me, however, I immediately felt...clean. What was that? "It''s a purification spell. It''s generally used to dispel slight status effects, ailments and any undead or demonic miasma. It''s also a perfect disinfectant! You''re now as clean as you would be stepping out of a bath." "Very convenient. Saves on the water bill, at least." "A water what?" I shook my head and patted Aurora''s bare shoulder, stepping out of the room. "Wait for me, Mr. Arthur!" I felt refreshed walking down the hall, a confused little priestess trotting behind me. I''m excited for this feast!