Where am I? One moment I was in class… the next, stone walls towered around me, flickering torchlight casting long shadows. My classmates and the teacher were here too—but none of it made sense.
Every pair of eyes in the hall was on me.
I froze. Why the hell were they staring at me?
"Okay… why is Raze here?"
"Who?"
"Raze! The culprit from that incident!"
Whispers spread through the room like wildfire. My classmates muttered nervously, eyes darting between me and the throne.
"And then… why is there an extra hero here?!" the king bellowed. "There were only supposed to be eight!"
"I-I don't know, Your Majesty," stammered Archmage Eldric Thalor, gripping his staff. "The summoning crystal should only have limited power…" His eyes darted nervously around the hall, confusion etched on his face.
"Forget it," the king said sharply, his voice echoing through the hall. "It's not the first time this has happened. Explain everything to them."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Eldric bowed slightly, then turned toward us. His voice carried through the hall, calm but heavy.
"Let me tell you why you've been summoned. You are the chosen heroes, called from another world to fight against the Demon King and his army. The fate of this kingdom—and perhaps the entire continent—rests on your shoulders."
I listened quietly, trying to make sense of the situation I was suddenly thrown into. Fight the Demon King? Save the world? The words sounded distant, unreal—like something out of a game or a story.
The fate of the world rests on your shoulders.
That line echoed in my head, over and over, until it felt like a weight pressing down on my chest. But why me? I wasn't a hero. I wasn't even supposed to be here. Is it because of that fucking necklace of that women, that light that came from it? let's think about that later.
My classmates began to react—some scared, others confused. Their whispers filled the hall like restless wind.
Eldric raised a hand. "Let me finish the explanation," he said firmly. "You're probably wondering how you're supposed to fight. But worry not. When you were summoned by the crystal, it granted each of you unique skills and abilities." He paused, his gaze shifting toward me. "However…" His voice lowered slightly. "I'm not sure about the extra."
He looked at me with an unpleasant expression, as if I were something that didn't belong.
Our homeroom teacher, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. Her voice trembled slightly, though she tried to keep it firm.
"Why us? And how can we return?" she asked. "We don't want to be part of this fight. Please… send us back to our world."
The king rose from his throne, his heavy cloak brushing against the marble steps as he spoke.
"I know you are all shocked," he said, his deep voice echoing through the hall. "And I understand your desire to return home. But the power of the summoning crystal is nearly depleted. We cannot send you back—at least, not for now."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across us.
"Defeat the Demon King, and only then will the crystal regain enough power to return you to your world."
The moment the king's words ended, panic rippled through the group.
"What do you mean we can't go back?"
"Defeat the Demon King? Are you serious?"
"This has to be a dream!"
Some shouted in fear, others clung to each other, trembling. My classmates' faces twisted with confusion, terror, and denial. Even the teacher looked pale, biting her lip to hold back her fear.
I stood apart, arms crossed, watching. Their cries barely reached me. Calm. Detached. Invisible in the chaos—just the way I liked it.
"But fear not," the princess said, her voice gentle, trying to calm us. "You are not alone. Including you, there are eight of you here, but in total, the summoning crystal has called one hundred heroes from other worlds.
"Among them are twelve guardians, who guide and support the heroes—including your teacher. We will train you to fight against the Demon King and his army. There is an academy where all summoned heroes study, learn to use their abilities, and prepare for the battles ahead."
"But… but—" the teacher began, her voice trembling, but she was cut off by a voice that carried effortlessly across the hall.
"I say we fight," said Leon, the most popular boy in our class. "Now… I can feel some kind of energy in me. With this power, I can fight!"
"Me too!" some classmates muttered.
"Yeah… me as well," others added.
I stayed silent. Of course, I felt nothing unusual—until I realized I could sense the energy in them. It was… strange. Drawn toward it. Hungry.
A ripple of cheers spread among the students. Nods, murmurs of agreement, and even laughter echoed through the hall. One by one, they voiced their determination.
The king and princess exchanged pleased glances. The king's lips curved into a rare smile as he said, "Yes… you are the glory of our kingdom."
Eldric cleared his throat, stepping forward. "Now that you have decided," he said, voice steady, "please each speak your status aloud. Tell us your class and abilities, so we may know the powers you possess."
One by one, my classmates called out their statuses. Blue screens shimmered before their eyes, glowing with words like Hero, Mage, Holy Knight, and Archer. Each announcement was followed by gasps and admiration.
Then it was my turn. I hesitated for a moment, whispering the word, "Status."
A faint light appeared before me—then flickered, distorted, and vanished. The screen flashed a single word before fading entirely: Error.
My heart sank. Just as I expected.
If I said anything now, they'd know something was wrong. They'd think I was useless. I forced a calm expression and stayed silent, pretending nothing had happened.
One by one, the remaining students announced their classes.
"Leon—Holy Knight!" The popular boy stepped forward confidently. Gasps echoed through the hall. Everyone's eyes widened in awe. A Holy Knight was rare, a symbol of extraordinary power. Murmurs of admiration and envy rippled among the students.
The others followed, each declaring their skills—their voices carrying pride and anticipation.
But as I watched, something strange caught my attention. None of them could see the others' screens—not even the other heroes. Only I could. Every detail, every ability, laid bare before me like a map.
Now it was my turn. My lips moved, forcing the words carefully to avoid suspicion.
"Body Enlightenment," I said, keeping my tone calm.
A flicker of light appeared above me, faint and unassuming. From the reactions around the hall, it was clear they were disappointed. My classmates whispered and shook their heads.
Eldric studied me for a moment, then nodded slowly. "It is rare," he said. "But it is not a powerful class. It can aid in fighting low-level demons, nothing more."
A ripple of snickers spread through my classmates. Some mockingly mimicked the words. "Body Enlightenment? Really?"
"Pathetic," someone muttered under their breath.
I let them laugh. Let them think I was weak. Let them underestimate me.
Then I noticed someone staring at me. Mia—my ex-girlfriend, her class was Archer. Beside her, Kail, her boyfriend, an Ice Mage ranked second only below Leon.
I pushed them from my mind. Useless sentiment. Still… they might come in handy later.
More importantly… I think I know why I'm here.
If my guess is right, then it's because of her necklace. The moment I arrived, I could feel it—an energy pulsing inside everyone. Some faint, some stronger, but it was there.
And that was what bothered me the most.
Back in our world, I could only sense energy from two beings—my mother… and myself. Never from another human. Never from an animal.
But here… everyone had it.
And one man's energy felt completely different—darker, twisted, almost alive.
That old man… the Archmage.
Why does he have a different kind of energy?
There's some possibility that this world is somehow connected to my mother and me.
At first, I thought I'd separate from my useless classmates and find a way back to my world on my own—even if it killed me.
But now… I think I'll stick with them.
At least for now.
To stay safe.
To learn more about this world.
And to gain more power.