I finally stand up slowly, brushing the accumulated dust off my clothes, and take a deep breath. My body still feels a little stiff from the fall, but at least nothing seems broken.
In the background, numerous adventurers and mages whisper among themselves, casting curious glances in my direction. Their voices blend into a low murmur, like the buzzing of insects in the distance. Some point subtly, while others stare, clearly wondering who I am and why I suddenly appeared here.
As I brush the dust from my outfit, trying to make myself look somewhat presentable, I can feel a pair of eyes fixed on me.
When I look up, I realize the King himself is gazing at me with a mixture of wonder and suspicion. His sharp eyes study me carefully, as if trying to understand what kind of person is standing before him.
"So, young man, why are you here?"
He asks softly, though his calm voice still carries enough authority that the surrounding whispers quiet down slightly.
For a moment, I remain silent.
I'm still focused on wiping the remaining dust from my sleeves, oddly absorbed in the simple action, until a sudden realization hits me.
I haven't responded to his question yet.
My hands freeze mid-motion.
Wait… he asked me something.
Slowly, I lift my head again, suddenly aware that dozens—maybe hundreds—of eyes are now watching me.
"Oh, I'm here to..."
My voice trails off before I can finish the sentence.
I hesitate, struggling to form the words, my mind suddenly going blank as I try to recall what I was about to say. For a moment, I just stand there, staring at the King like an idiot while my thoughts scramble around uselessly inside my head.
Wait… I was so focused on dusting myself off that I completely forgot my reason for being here…
A brief wave of panic washes over me. Of all the moments to forget something important, it had to be right now—while standing in front of the King and half the gathered army.
Just as my mind threatens to shut down completely, the familiar voice of the 'System' echoes calmly inside my head, like a silent savior arriving at the perfect moment.
«Didn't you come here to help them in the monster raid?»
It prompts.
My eyes widen slightly.
"Oh, that!"
I exclaim quietly, a flicker of realization finally lighting up my mind.
«You must have forgotten about it after the fall.»
The 'System' remarks flatly.
"No, I haven't."
I reply firmly under my breath, trying to sound confident even though the truth is painfully obvious.
The King, however, notices my strange behavior immediately. His brows knit together as he watches me seemingly talking to myself.
He tilts his head slightly.
"Are you okay?"
He asks, genuine concern in his voice.
"Ah, I... I'm fine."
I straighten a little, clearing my throat as I try to regain some composure.
"I'm here to tell you something important."
I assure him.
The King's expression shifts slightly. His brows furrow as he leans forward just a little, clearly intrigued now.
The murmurs among the adventurers and mages quiet down as well, curiosity spreading through the crowd.
"So, what is it, young man?"
He prompts, waiting patiently for my answer.
Gathering my courage, I seize the moment before my confidence disappears again.
"There's something dangerous coming. I don't know exactly what it is, but it's more dangerous than the monsters in this raid."
I announce, my voice steadier than I expected, even though my heart is still beating nervously in my chest.
For a brief moment, everything becomes quiet.
Then everyone falls silent, all eyes turning toward me at once.
The sudden attention makes the air feel heavy. I can feel dozens of gazes pressing down on me—some curious, some doubtful, and others openly hostile.
Still, I force myself to remain calm and meet the King's gaze directly. There's a chance he might dismiss me immediately, or worse, think I'm just a foolish child causing trouble.
But even so, I know I have to say it.
The silence doesn't last long.
Soon, murmurs begin to ripple through the gathered crowd. The adventurers and mages exchange glances, whispering among themselves. Some look confused, while others immediately scoff at the idea.
"What is this kid talking about? Impossible."
One man jeers loudly from somewhere in the crowd.
"He's just seeking attention."
Another mutters with clear annoyance.
"A child making wild claims before the King? Ridiculous."
A third voice adds with a mocking tone.
Several people shake their heads dismissively, clearly convinced that my words are nothing more than nonsense.
Yet not everyone reacts the same way.
Some remain silent, watching me with cautious interest, their expressions thoughtful as they try to decide whether there might be some truth behind what I just said.
Among the adventurers, Alice stares at me with a mixture of surprise and concern. Her eyes narrow slightly as she listens to what I just said, clearly trying to make sense of it.
What is he talking about?
She thought. Her gaze lingered on me longer than she realized.
Standing nearby, Vaelira notices where Alice is looking. Curious, she shifts a step closer and follows her line of sight until she spots me standing before the King.
Tilting her head slightly, she asks in a quiet voice,
"Is that the guy living with you?"
On Alice's other side, Seraphine also turns her attention toward the scene. She watches silently for a moment, her calm eyes studying the situation unfolding in front of them.
After a short pause, she speaks in her usual composed tone.
"I think he might be in trouble."
Alice lets out a small sigh, rubbing the back of her neck as if already feeling secondhand embarrassment.
"Yeah... I know."
She admits softly, her eyes still fixed on me as the tension around the crowd continues to build.
The King frowns, contemplating the scene, then suddenly raises his voice sharply to command attention.
"SILENCE!"
He shouted.
His commanding voice halts the whispers in an instant. Some people freeze mid-breath, others lower their voices, and a few even stop talking altogether.
Even I, caught off guard, cover my ears briefly at the intensity of his shout.
He then turns his gaze toward me, a note of seriousness in his eyes.
"Young man..."
He begins, his tone both cautious and curious.
I stop fidgeting, lowering my hands from my ears, and meet his steady gaze.
"I don't know if your claim is true or not."
He admits.
"But I will listen to you. Thank you for bringing this to my attention."
Surprised by his willingness to hear me out, I see the confusion on others' faces. They know the King is usually cautious, rarely trusting strangers, especially ones he's only just met. Yet he's giving me the chance to speak.
The King looks at me intently, sensing my thoughts.
"I trust because I have my reasons. Do you have any plans to help us?"
He asks curiously.
His question catches me off guard, but I quickly gather myself. After a brief moment, a smirk creeps across my face, my dark brown eyes glowing like the moonlight tonight with a mysterious, intense light as I feel a surge of confidence.
"I have a plan..."
The King's eyes brighten with interest, but then he seems surprised by my next words.
"But may I have permission to use your army?"
I request boldly.
The King studies me silently for a moment, his sharp eyes carefully examining my expression as if trying to measure the seriousness behind my words.
However, before he can respond, the people around him react first.
Several advisors and soldiers exchange shocked glances, their expressions quickly turning into clear disapproval. Murmurs rise again among them, this time louder and far less friendly than before.
"Who do you think you are?"
One of the advisors snaps sharply, glaring at me as if I had just committed a serious offense.
"How dare you speak to our King like that?"
Another man shouts angrily.
"You think you can control us like that?"
A third voice protests loudly, clearly offended by my request.
The complaints pile up quickly, their voices overlapping as more people begin criticizing my boldness.
Their loud objections echo around the gathering, making my head start to throb. With a sigh of annoyance, I raise my hands and cover my ears again, my face showing a mixture of boredom and frustration.
What a frustrating situation…
I sigh.
Man... All I want is to run away from here… but the reward…
I think to myself, feeling a small wave of anxiety creeping in as the crowd continues to grumble around me.
For a few moments, the King remains silent, as if weighing the situation carefully. Then he finally speaks, his tone firm and decisive.
"If you believe we will win, then I grant you permission."
His words catch me slightly off guard.
I hesitate for a brief moment, unsure whether I should feel relieved or even more nervous. After all, victory isn't something I can guarantee with absolute certainty.
Before I can respond, however, a figure suddenly steps forward from among the adventurers.
"Your Majesty, forgive my boldness, but I believe we shouldn't proceed."
The man's voice is steady but firm.
I turn my head slightly and see a tall warrior standing there—Kael Draven, the leader of WolfCrest. His sharp eyes move from the King to me, clearly filled with concern.
"He's just a kid, and this is very dangerous. Letting a child lead us could be disastrous."
He continues, his tone respectful but clearly opposed to the idea.
The crowd murmurs again, some people nodding slightly as if they agree with him.
The King exhales slowly, clearly understanding the challenge being presented.
"Kael, my warrior."
He says calmly.
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
Kael replies immediately, standing straighter.
The King looks at him with a gentle smile, though his gaze remains steady and confident.
"Do you trust me, Kael?"
For a moment, Kael seems surprised by the question. Still, he answers without hesitation.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
He says earnestly.
The King nods slightly.
"If you trust me that much... then surely you can trust the young man I've chosen."
He says, his voice calm but firm enough that no one dares interrupt.
Kael's expression tightens slightly as he struggles with the King's words. For a brief moment, it seems like he wants to say something more.
But in the end, resignation slowly appears on his face.
He lowers his head respectfully.
"I understand, Your Majesty."
He says at last.
Without another word, Kael turns and quietly walks away, leaving the crowd to absorb the King's decision.
I watch the scene unfold, still a little surprised that the King places so much trust in me so easily.
Why does he believe in me so readily?
The thought lingers in my mind, but before I can think about it any further, the King turns his head toward me again and gives me a bright, encouraging smile.
"So, young man... Zin, is it? What's your plan?"
He asks.
His question snaps me out of my thoughts.
"Ah, yes. I have a plan, but I need to understand everyone's strengths first."
I reply while scratching the back of my head nervously.
The King stares at me for a brief moment. Then he suddenly chuckles to himself before bursting into hearty laughter.
"Haha, what a clever and cautious boy!"
He exclaims while laughing.
A few people nearby glance at him in surprise, but the King doesn't seem to care. He casually waves a hand as if brushing aside the tension that had been building earlier.
"Yes, you're right—we need to know our army's capabilities before we fight..."
He briefly looks toward the gathered soldiers and adventurers before turning back to me.
"Good luck discovering everyone's abilities, genius boy."
He says with a wide grin.
Hearing that only makes me feel more nervous.
I can already feel dozens of eyes staring at me. My naturally introverted self struggles with situations like this. Standing here in front of so many people and asking them to speak up… It's honestly embarrassing.
Still, I don't really have a choice.
I clear my throat awkwardly.
"Ahem… um… everyone."
I begin hesitantly.
Several heads turn toward me again.
"Can you tell me your abilities so I can come up with a plan?"
For a moment, nothing happens.
Then the whispers begin again.
The crowd starts murmuring among themselves. Some people lean closer to their companions, clearly amused by the situation, while others simply stare at me with doubtful expressions.
"Haha, this is so funny."
Someone sneers from somewhere in the crowd.
"What is this brat blabbering about?"
Another voice ridicules loudly.
"Is it even okay to let him lead us?"
Someone else questions with clear suspicion.
Their voices overlap as the murmuring spreads through the crowd again. Some laugh openly, others shake their heads as if they've already decided this whole situation is ridiculous.
Standing there, listening to them talk about me like I'm not even present, I can feel my patience slowly wearing thin.
You idiots… I'm standing right here... and I can hear every word you're saying…
I think bitterly while forcing myself not to react.
The King, noticing the rising chaos among the crowd, raises his voice once again.
"Everyone, quiet down! We don't have much time for childish games. Listen to this boy if we want to win!"
He commands firmly.
His words immediately cut through the noise.
The murmuring stops almost at once, and the crowd slowly settles down. One by one, the soldiers and adventurers fall silent, their attention turning back toward us.
Suddenly, everyone is paying close attention again.
Thank God, the King is on my side right now…
I thought, feeling a small sense of relief.
But time is running out… and asking everyone's abilities one by one will take far longer than I expected…
I mentally sigh, trying to think of a faster way to gather the information I need.
As if noticing the problem written on my face, the King seems to understand what I'm struggling with.
After a brief moment of thought, he raises his voice again.
"Listen up, everyone. Let's form groups based on similar powers."
He proposes.
His suggestion immediately spreads through the crowd.
Without hesitation, the soldiers, adventurers, and mages begin moving. People start organizing themselves quickly, stepping into groups based on their abilities.
In less than a minute, five clear groups form in front of the King and me.
One group consists of master water magic users, standing calmly together.
Next to them are the master ice magic users, their expressions serious.
Another group gathers under the banner of master light magic users.
Behind them stand the low-rank magic users, noticeably less confident than the others.
And finally, a large group of physically strong adventurers without magic gathers to one side, many of them carrying heavy weapons.
While looking around, I notice Alice standing with the light magic users.
So she's a light magic user… just like I saw in the future...
She notices my glance, and I look away from her.
Huh? I feel so distant at that glance. Did he know that I was staring at him earlier?
Alice quickly looked away when our eyes met.
I stand there quietly, observing the groups while trying to organize the information in my head.
Let's see... Different powers… different strengths… There must be different ways to use them in battle…
My mind begins working rapidly, trying to craft a strategy that might actually lead us to victory.
Before I can dive too deeply into my thoughts, the King's voice interrupts me again.
"Hey boy, don't overthink it. Our army is strong, even at night."
He says proudly.
His words linger in my mind for a moment.
Even at night?!
Suddenly, something clicks.
Night…
My eyes widen slightly.
That's it.
A slow smirk spreads across my face as the idea finally forms in my mind. My dark brown eyes seem to shine faintly again as I lift my head and look at everyone standing before me.
"I have a plan..."
I say calmly.
Then my smile grows a little wider.
"A perfect plan."