Chapter 02: Classmates
A few questions arose. He realized that his level was one. If this was a RPG-like world, this was only natural, since he hadn’t fought with anyone yet.
By the way, HP referred to endurance, MP was magic power, EXP experience and NEXT indicated the necessary experience points for the next level. ATK, DEF, AGL, HIT and INT respectively symbolized attack strength, defence, agility, hit chance and intelligence. These were expressions often used in games.
≪Innocent Bystander≫
While he was in thought, Rudolph asked them.
Taishi was the first to answer.
He uttered with a somewhat excited voice.
The one answering Taishi’s question was Suzumiya Chika. She was a talkative and popular girl in class. Her open and direct attitude in dealing with people gained her their goodwill.
“Yeah, I have it too, Taishi.”
He called out to the other two girls. Minamoto Shuri had pretty, glossy and long black hair.
The other girl, Akamori Shinobu was brimming with curiosity. Active in the newspaper club, she also planned to find employment in that field in the future. She was talkative as well and smart on top, so everyone often asked her for tips on the exams.
As for what these three girls had in common: They were all eye-catching beauties. And as members of Taishi’s harem, they were always around him.
“What about you?”
He answered with a single word. Upon that, the others made a ruckus.
It annoyed him how was talked down to, but answered honestly nevertheless. But only one of them.
Now his four classmates changed their attitude on these words. They frowned and left their mouths gaping open in disbelief.
“Eh, uhm… Yes. Most likely…”
“I’m just an ordinary person. I just happened to be in the classroom back then and got mixed up with these guys. Right?”
“Hey, wait! Okamura! What‘s with that tone!”
“Originally four people should’ve been summoned here. And that’s these four here. I’m an irregular so to speak. What’re you going to do about it?”
“Well, it’s not just about me. These guys were brought here at your conveniences too. I’m sure our families are worried about us.”
“You are right. I can only ask for your pardon on this matter.”
“We were left we no other choice.”
“Huh?”
“I have no connections whatsoever to these four.”
Taishi yelled enraged.
“Th- That’s going too far…”
Shuri and Shinobu stated their opinions too.
It was a fact. Hiiro basically liked being alone, so he kept his distance from everyone, not just these four. Sleep, eat and read. That was Hiiro’s custom.
“Okay, as I said just now, I’ve no connection to these four. You guys want the four Heroes, right? Then I seem useless?”
Rudolph groaned with a difficult expression. He was perplexed about what to do.
“…Then let me ask you: What do you want to do?”
“Th- The documents speak of the Demon Lord knowing a magic to send you home.”
“S- So we just have to defeat the Demon Lord quickly!”
“In- Indeed. Besides, our country is wonderful, so you will surely come to like it. You are all basically part of my family now.”
“Ah, if I may add, I‘m worried about my family.”
“Th- There is no need to worry about that. Right?”
“Ah, y- yes! As a matter of fact, you all have been forgotten now!”
It was quite a shocking statement.
(That’s… a lie.)
(Everything they said is surely a lie. Likely just a made-up reason to somehow convince us. A return magic, in other words a method to send us back… doesn’t exist. At least not right now. And I’m dubious about the forgotten part too…)
(Well, I don’t care about them. As for myself… I can make do anywhere.)
Then he was handed over to an orphanage. He made some friends there, but more than that, he loved books, so he read nothing but books all day. The books were more a friend to him than humans.
Lilith, knowing that there was no way to return, had clouded her expression for a while now. She might feel guilty about the lie.
“Like Okamura said, you selfishly called us here. I think that’s really rich of you.”
“But…”
“We’ll do it!”
Rudolph raised a voice.
“Yeah! We four are playing an online game together too!”
Right before they were summoned here, they were just talking about their desire to venture a world like this.
“Yes, but in exchange…”
“From what I can see in the ≪Status≫, we still seem to be level 1. In other words, beginners.”
“We can’t fight the Demon Lord like this. So… I want you to teach us in fighting.”
At that time, a person clad in armour showed up.
He kneeled down and lowered his head while he said that.
“Incidentally, he is the captain of the second division of our army.”
Naturally the gazes of the females focused on him. Only Chika looked at him inexpressively, as she had no interest.
“Yes. Right now, matters have quieted down at the borders. I want you to grow stronger before it becomes turbulent again.”
“We have prepared rooms for you here in the castle. Lilith will show you around later.”
“Sorry, but I’m going to act on my own.”
“You see, I’ve no obligation, nor reason to fight for this country. Neither am I a hero like you guys. So there’s no point in staying here any longer.”
“Sorry, I’m not as sensible as these four. Well, since I’m already here, I just want to do as I want. You won’t mind, will you?”
His only charming point were his glasses. In terms of looks, he was inferior to Taishi.
“Mh- Mhm, I am feeling really sorry about your case. Is there anything I can do…”
“N- Nothing, you say?”
Hiiro was a guy as well. Of course he admired adventures. It didn’t need to be a great adventure like for the protagonists of his books, but he certainly wanted to travel this world.
Saying that, he was about to leave, but Taishi grabbed his arm.
“Huuh?”
“They’re lowering their heads here! Don’t you feel like helping them out even a bit?”
“Why!”
“Wha… Bullet trap…?”
“Forget about this guy, Taishi.”
“Don’t you two agree?”
Shuri cast her look down bewildered. Shinobu stared at Hiiro, then snickered.
Shinobu’s words shut up the other three. Because she made a sound argument. This wasn’t a game. As a matter of fact, people died in the attempt to summon them. They were this serious about it.
Taishi consented. Hiiro gave them a glance and tried to leave. At that time,
The voice belonged to Lilith. Hiiro stopped and looked over his shoulder.
She looked at him worried. Hiiro said as he turned his head back.
Then he left the place for sure.