Akiha woke to the smell of incense and the chill of cold marble pressing against his back.
For a few disoriented seconds, his mind scrambled—chains, moonlight, crimson eyes, Carmen's voice lingering like an afterimage burned into his thoughts. Then reality asserted itself through noise.
Voices. Too many of them.
He pushed himself upright and found himself lying on the polished floor of a vast, regal hall. Towering pillars rose on both sides, carved with reliefs of armored figures slaying horned beasts. Sunlight streamed through stained-glass windows high above, painting the marble in holy gold and crimson.
Around him, students groaned, sat up, and called out to one another.
"…Where are we?!"
"…Is this a set?!"
"…What the hell is going on?!"
"…Hell yeah! Isekai'd, dude!"
Akiha scanned the room.
They were all here.
fifteen of his classmates presence during the appearances of the magic circle—some familiar, some barely remembered—were scattered across the hall in various states of panic. Fumika sat a few meters away, clutching her cardigan tightly around herself, eyes wide behind her glasses. Shaken, but unharmed.
At least no one's hurt, Akiha thought grimly.
"What's happening to us, Aki-kun?" Fumika asked quietly, her voice wavering.
"I think it's exactly what you think it is," he replied flatly as he stood up.
She sighed. "I didn't even get to try the new game… and now this. I hope we're not supposed to fight a Demon King or something."
"…Yeah," Akiha muttered knowingly. "Let's hope so."
At the far end of the hall stood an elderly man in elaborate priestly robes, leaning on a staff topped with a softly glowing crystal. His long white beard flowed down his chest, his solemn expression practiced and heavy with authority.
"Attention!"
When he raised his staff, the noise died instantly.
"Heroes from another world," the old man intoned, his voice echoing unnaturally through the hall. "Welcome to the light temple of Luminaryx."
Akiha's jaw tightened.
Heroes, huh…
"I am High Priest Eldran," the man continued. "You have been summoned by divine providence to this sacred temple, at the edge of our kingdom. The world you now stand in faces an imminent calamity."
Several students stiffened.
"The Demon King," Eldran said, letting the words sink in, "will soon arise. Should he complete his awakening, this world will drown in blood and despair."
Of course it's the Demon King, Akiha thought.
Murmurs rippled through the hall.
"You have been chosen," the priest went on smoothly, "to prevent this cruel fate. To grow strong. To slay the Demon King. To save this world."
A bitter laugh rose in Akiha's chest.
Save the world?
I couldn't even save myself from Renji.
A younger priest stepped forward, carrying a translucent crystal sphere, and placed it atop a raised platform before the High Priest.
"Through divine appraisal," Eldran declared, "your roles shall be determined."
Chatter broke out again—fear, confusion, excitement, all mixed together.
"I wanna go home… hiks."
"This has to be staged, right? There must be a camera around here."
"Holy shit, dude! That's some genuine isekai shit right there!"
"Quite!"
Eldran slammed down his staff, resulted in immediate silence.
"When your name is called," he continued calmly, "step forward and place your hand upon the Appraisal Crystal."
The first name rang out.
How do they know our names? Akiha thought.
A broad-shouldered boy with dark-green hair stepped forward.
Light burst from the crystal. A massive translucent window appeared above it.
—————————————————
Name: Tanaka Shuu
Class: Knight
Rank: A
Lv: 1
———
[Vitality: A] [Strength: B] [Endurance: A]
[Agility: C] [Mana: B]
———
Skills: Steady Stance | Shield Mastery (Lv1) | Swordsmanship (Lv1) | Light Magic (Mastery — 1)
—————————
"Tananka Shuu—A-Rank Knight." Eldran announced.
The priests burst into cheers.
"An A-Rank!"
"I bet he could become a paladin in the future!"
Then came the next.
"Ishikawa Mei—B-Rank Mage."
A girl with dyed brown hair gasped as glowing sigils circled her hands. She squealed in delight.
Names followed one after another.
"Sakurai Toma—C-Rank Assassin."
"Kobayashi Ryo—C-Rank Archer."
"Fujimoto Kana—B-Rank Priest."
"Sato Daichi—B-Rank Warrior."
Classes. Ranks. Skills.
Each announcement was met with applause and excited chatter from the priests.
"The quality of this summoning is exceptional."
"The Demon King won't stand a chance."
Even the appraised students began to boast among themselves.
Then the air shifted.
"Miyamoto Renji."
Akiha's fingers dug into his palm.
Renji stepped forward, hands in his pockets, wearing that same lazy grin—as if the world existed solely to entertain him. Then—
The crystal erupted in blinding light.
—————————————————
Name: Miyamoto Renji
Class: Hero
Rank: S
Lv: 1
———
[Vitality: SS] [Strength: S] [Endurance: A]
[Agility: A] [Mana: SS]
———
Skills: Hero of Light | The Bane of Demons | Solar Blade (Lv1) | Swordsmanship (Lv4) | Light Magic (Mastery — 1) |
—————————
"Chosen Hero of Light," Eldran proclaimed. "S-Rank. Hero Class."
The hall exploded.
"S-Rank?!"
"He has a level four skill already!"
"The Hero of Light hasn't appeared in centuries!"
Golden radiance poured down on Renji like a divine spotlight. A radiant sword formed at his side, humming with holy power.
Renji laughed as he grabbed it.
"Guess even the gods know talent when they see it," he said, then glanced straight at Akiha. "Looks like I'll outrank you in every world, Kageyama."
Akiha's jaw clenched until it hurt.
You don't even need to say it out loud.
You just want to hear yourself, aren't you?
"Nakamura Fumika."
She flinched and stepped forward. The crystal flickered weakly.
"E-Rank. Courier Class," Eldran said without interest. "Skills: Thread Manipulation magic and Minor Storage. Capacity… limited."
A pause.
Snickers rippled through the hall.
"A delivery girl?"
"That's barely a combat class—I think..."
Renji snorted openly. "A courrier girl with tailor skill? Just wow."
Fumika shrank under the laughter.
"Kageyama Akiha."
Akiha walks forward, each step felt heavier than the last.
He placed his hand on the crystal. It glowed faintly. Reluctantly. Then the the massive translucent window appeared above it.
—————————————————
Name: Kageyam Akiha
Class: Mage
Rank: F
Lv: 1
———
[Vitality: F] [Strength: F] [Endurance: F]
[Agility: F] [Mana: G]
———
Skills: Blood Magic (Mastery — 1)
—————————
"F-Rank, Mage Class," Eldran announced, visibly unimpressed. "Skill: Blood Magic."
A hush.
"Limitation," the priest added coldly. "may only manipulate one's own blood. Excessive use will result in severe anemia. Potentially fatal."
Silence.
Then laughter from priests and students alike.
"So he hurts himself to fight?"
"That's worse than useless!"
"G-Rank mana? I thought F was the lowest."
"Why does he even a mage?"
Renji laughed loudest. "Man, Kageyama Chibi'ha… you really were born just to suffer."
Something inside Akiha twisted—hot, sharp, suffocating.
Like I asked for it.
Like I wanted any of this.
Why does he get the best treatment even when he's the worst kind of scumbag?
"Just how unfair can the world get?" he whispered to himself
"Attention!" Eldran's voice boomed. "Representatives of the kingdoms will now recruit those they deem worthy. You will be offered protection and resources during your leveling progress, in exchange of your loyalty to them."
The massive doors opened.
"You may freely choose to accept or refuse their offers," Eldran continued. "That's at least our way of saying sorry for bringing you here from your home world without your consent."
Nobles and knights entered, banners fluttering. They flocked to the strongest students.
Renji was surrounded instantly.
"We would be honored to host the Hero of Light."
"Our kingdom will spare no expense."
"You shall be treated as royalty."
The words piled onto him, lavish and eager.
Others followed soon after—A-Ranks, B-Ranks, even the C-Ranks were claimed without issues. One by one, students were escorted out of the hall by their chosen sponsors, cloaks and banners trailing behind them like victory parades.
Until only two remained.
Akiha and Fumika stood near the entrance, forgotten.
No one approached them.
Not a glance. Not a whisper.
Except—
"It looks like no one wants you two," Renji said casually as he passed, stopping just long enough to twist his new sword. "But hey, you'd make a cute couple. I almost feel bad for your future kids."
He waved mockingly and turned away, joining the delegation of the Stradam Kingdom—the largest and most powerful nation on the continent. At its center walked a young royal looking girl—probably its royal princess—surrounded by knights, her attention fixed entirely on her new Hero.
I almost feel sorry for that princess, Akiha thought bitterly.
One by one, the representatives departed, boarding ornate carriages with their chosen recruits. Hooves clattered against stone. Wheels rolled away into the night.
Then—
Nothing.
Until a voice spoke from behind them.
"Since no representatives have extended offers to you," High Priest Eldran said flatly, "you are now free."
Akiha turned. "Um… free?"
"Yes," Eldran replied. "You may leave this temple. Now."
He made a dismissive gesture, as if shooing out stray animals.
Fumika hesitated, glancing past them—toward the massive doors, beyond which only darkness waited. "You mean… out there? At night? In a completely different world… without any guide, or even a single cent in our pocket?"
"Yes," Eldran said curtly.
The temple's metal gates began to close, pushed shut by armored knights from the inside. The sound echoed heavily through the hall.
When the gates finally sealed, only the two of them left, the silence was deafening.
"…Well," Fumika said weakly, adjusting her glasses. "That went… exactly as expected. They not even bother of giving us direction or anything."
Akiha let out a hollow chuckle. "Yeah. For a second there, I thought the universe might surprise me."
He exhaled slowly. "So… this is our life now. Any ideas?"
"...I think we should stick together," Fumika said, shrugging. "We should had better chance of surviving that way."
She sighed. "It's good it were you and me who had the waekest class, honestly. We're a good friends, after all."
They stepped down the stone stairs together.
The temple loomed behind them at the edge of a dense forest. No city lights. No paved roads. Just towering trees and a narrow dirt path disappearing into darkness.
"So," Fumika said, forcing a smile, "an E-Rank courier and an F-Rank suicidal mage. Dream team."
"Hey," Akiha replied dryly, "at least you won't die delivering packages."
She giggled softly. "True. And at least they didn't collar us and turn us into slaves like in half of cheap isekai stories."
Akiha glanced back at the sealed temple. "Yeah. Low bar… but I'll take it."
And here I am, promised Carmen that I'd free her, he thought.
How am I even supposed to do that, considering how weak I am?
Am I weak? How does the balancing in this world even work?
Guided by the moonlight, they started down the path toward the unknown.
From behind, deep within the forest—
Something moved.