The room fell silent for a moment before the priestess raised her voice.
"Everyone, the spirits have gathered to bless these heroes. Do not fear for they are the ones who will help this world."
She placed a gentle hand on Logan's shoulder, giving a light tap as if to reassure him that all would be well. The boy quietly returned to the others and took a seat in an empty chair.
"Welcome them, King, Queen, and honored delegates. As you have seen, we shall gain unprecedented strength through our new heroes. I have gathered you all here under the power of the Temple of the Seven Spirits so that you may meet them and offer your support."
The king looked around the hall, cleared his throat, and continued.
"Now, heroes… we know it was our greed that tore you from your world to aid ours. For that, we offer our deepest apologies. But you must understand—it was not without reason. While you are here, you will be given all the resources, manpower, and wealth you require. We will support you until the demons are vanquished."
"Hura! Hura!"
As his speech concluded, the hall erupted into celebration.
Cups were raised high, and guests turned to the feast before them, eagerly partaking in the rich spread of delicacies prepared for the occasion.
The class seemed more eager to eat than to seek answers, for now.
Plates were soon filled with meats, stews, and sweets, laid out in generous portions.
Logan grabbed a massive drumstick, using a fork and knife to cut into it, then began adding what looked like rice and beans to his plate.
He felt a bit awkward holding the golden spoon, its handle adorned with jewels, but his hunger won out. The aroma alone was enough to silence any hesitation.
Alongside the food, waiters brought an assortment of drinks, both alcoholic and carbonated.
Logan chose one that smelled of berries and, with renewed motivation, cleared the rest of his plate.
Within half an hour, everyone was full, and the soft background music shifted to a more upbeat melody.
Some students stood to use the restroom, while others gathered in small groups to chat.
The "idiot trio," always seen together, quickly became easy targets for those seeking out the strongest students.
They attracted not only the most formidable-looking representatives but also noble and royal daughters hoping to form alliances.
Meanwhile, charming young men attempted to woo the teacher and various girls from the class, each trying to win favor in their own way.
Logan didn't know why, but he was glad that Lisa was too busy speaking with the oracle—someone no one else seemed eager to bother.
As for him, something about his presence seemed to put off the representatives. Maybe it was the quiet, brooding energy he gave off.
Whatever the reason, no one approached him.
He busied himself by pretending the drink in his hand was the most important thing at the party. Still, the pressure in his stomach reminded him that he'd eventually need to use the restroom.
The rising noise in the room didn't sit well with him either. But the last thing he wanted was to walk around and get pulled into some forced conversation with a stranger.
It wasn't until nature called with more urgency that he finally stood and made his way to the rest area to relieve himself.
Afterward, he had two options: return to his seat—or find somewhere quiet.
He chose the latter.
Wandering a bit, he found the perfect spot: a balcony where few guests lingered due to the cold.
Before leaving, he grabbed a glass from a nearby waiter and stepped outside.
Almost instantly, he felt better.
The sounds of the banquet faded behind him, replaced by the stillness of the terrace.
Above, the night sky stretched wide, painted with stars and three bright glowing moons.
Each of the moons radiated a different hue. The smallest glowed red, the largest was a pale gray surrounded by a faint blue halo, and the third—just beginning to set—shimmered in yellow, marked with a trail of visible craters.
But what caught Logan's attention even more was how clear everything appeared.
It wasn't just the sky—when he focused, it felt like his vision could stretch farther than it should.
He looked down at his hand.
There, around his ring finger, was a faint tattoo—the same one that had formed after his blood touched Lisa's. It looked like a ring etched in light, fading in and out of view. One moment it was perfectly clear, and the next, it flickered and vanished, like a computer glitch.
"Good evening, Hero… it seems the cold doesn't faze you."
Logan jumped slightly at the sweet voice beside him.
Without his noticing, a striking figure had stepped into the moonlight.
She was a tall beauty with long red hair that draped over her bare shoulders. Her skin was pale, almost luminous beneath the glow of the three moons, and like many otherworlders, she radiated a faint red hue aura that warmed the air around her.
Logan couldn't help but notice the confidence in her eyes—eyes that sparkled like rubies caught in firelight. He felt a brief sense of awe, especially when she moved closer and stood beside him, gazing up at the stars.
"I hope my presence makes things better, Hero. I am blessed by the Spirit of Fire—it should at least make the cold night bearable, especially while you're next to me."
"Ahem, yes. Well, thank you. My name is Logan," he replied, his voice tinged with shyness. He turned his gaze back to the sky, taking a sip from the glass he'd brought, waiting to see what the young woman wanted.
"Nice to meet you, Hero Logan. I am Rubina Rosengard. As you know, nobles are permitted to invest in your growth. This typically means forming an alliance with a kingdom or noble house, which in turn provides you with benefits—monetary or otherwise."
She tucked a strand of her silky red hair behind her ear in a deliberately graceful, almost flirtatious motion.
"My father, Earl Rosengard, believes endorsing you would be the best choice. As you're probably aware, in this world, to grow stronger, you must slay monsters and overload your core..."
Logan, who had been listening with only mild attention, reacted at those final words.
"Cores?"
The young woman tilted her head, realizing they weren't quite on the same page. So, she decided to clarify with a few questions of her own.
"Yes, cores. They're what gives us power. Mine, for instance, requires the aid of the Great Spirit of Fire to be refined. I formed a pact with it to enhance my fire affinity."
She paused for a moment, then gave him a thoughtful look.
"Now that I think about it… Aren't you linked to the Great Darkness Spirit and the Great Light Spirit? You do know those two are the hardest to form contracts with, right?"
Logan stood there, visibly confused and unable to answer.
Ruby nodded in understanding before continuing.
"I see… you're a man of few words. And clearly, your world is very different from ours."
"Yes, very different. For one, we don't have any magic... I was just a student. At a normal school."
Logan suddenly felt strange. He realized the last drink he'd taken from the waiter had done something to him.
"Also… we only have one moon. The sky is dirtier, and we have huge cities with skyscrapers—buildings with a hundred or more floors. Cars and airplanes... animals without powers, and they only come in natural colors. We don't have spirits either..."
As he spoke, Logan scratched at his hair, his ears growing hot. His legs began to feel weak, like gelatin, forcing him to grip the balcony's handrail for balance.
"Are you alright, Hero?" Rubina asked, stepping closer. "It seems the drink they gave you was particularly strong... it might've been Ghostbrew from the northerners. It's usually tasteless."
"I… I'm fine, thank you. About the endorsement thing—that's fine. I'll see you about it tomorrow? I think I'll need your help with a few questions about this world, you see…"
Rubina, seeing that Logan could barely remain standing, motioned for a nearby waiter to take his glass. Then, with graceful ease, she slipped an arm around his back and used her shoulder to support the drunken hero as they walked.
She had already achieved her goal—securing at least one hero to her side, one her family particularly needed. Now, she only needed to make it appear to the others as though she had grown close to him, just enough to keep competitors at bay.
Her gaze wandered toward the far side of the hall, where her father stood in conversation with a few prominent royals from other nations. It was a smart move—networking that could strengthen their standing.
After all, the Rosengards were not among the most respected houses in the Kingdom of Elisya.
With practiced ease, Rubina overcharged her core, enhancing her physical strength just enough to support Logan's weight.
As she helped the hero toward the banquet's exit, Rubina noticed one particular stare directed at her.
Someone was watching her, or was it glaring?
She turned slightly and met the eyes of another hero—the one chosen as the Saintess.