*CLANG*
[...]
[You begin with raw ore.]
*CLANG*
[Brittle.
Full of impurities.
Unusable… A blank slate.]
*CLANG*
[You strip away what doesn't belong.
You melt what remains.
You give it shape while it's still weak enough to change...
Then comes the dangerous part.]
"HYA!"
*CLANG*
[The forging process.]
*CLANG*
[You heat it again.
You strike it while it resists.
You push it close to failure,
knowing most materials fail here.]
*CLANG*
[Too much heat, and it loses its form.]
[Too little, and it never becomes anything at all.]
[Most swords fail.]
*CLANG*
[But if it survives,
what you're left with isn't just metal...]
——————————————————————————————————————
'Huh?' I blinked, my legs unsteady on the cold marble floor.
The summoning circle still glowed faintly beneath us, intricate runes fading like dying embers.
Thirty-two classmates stood in a loose semicircle ahead of me, their voices already rising in chaos. I stayed at the back. Where I always stayed.
"Heroes!" The booming voice cracked through the hall again. The man on the throne leaned forward, velvet robes pooling like blood.
"I, King Aldric the Fourteenth of Aurelia, welcome you from another world! A goddess has chosen you to be our saviors against the coming darkness!"
"What the fuck is this?" Kazuya's voice cut through first.
He stood near the front, arms crossed, his head held high. "Some kind of prank? Cosplay convention?"
"Holy shit, this is like, crazy as hell~" Kiriko giggled nervously, flipping her dyed hair. "We got isekai'd for real? That's kinda lit, right?"
"Hey, Makoto," came a lazy voice from my left. Takeshi, one of Kazuya's regulars, smirked over his shoulder at me. "This is like one of your retarded anime, right? You probably prayed for this, huh, cabbage head?"
Snickers rippled through the group.
'My stomach is already knotting... how can this bastard snicker? How can any of them snicker? They... Processed it already? Maybe this is all a dream?'
To the side of the king sat a younger man, our age, approximately. He shared his blonde-hair and elegant demeanor. His legs folded as he leaned on his elbow.
'Royalty. King... And that one's probably a prince... Just where are we..!?'
A girl near the front—Rina—turned slightly, her long black hair shifting. Her eyes found mine for a second. She looked away just as fast.
"Silence!" The king slammed a jeweled staff against the throne dais. The sound echoed like a gunshot.
"You are in the Kingdom of Aurelia! The Demon Lord's forces grow bolder each moon. The Goddess Herself selected your souls for transmigration to our world with gifts—classes and skills—to fight as heroes!"
"Wait, wait, wait!" A timid boy near the middle—Sato—raised a trembling hand. "W-we didn't agree to this! I have entrance exams next month! S-send us back!"
"Yeah!" a girl cried, voice cracking. "This is kidnapping!"
"Take us home!" another shouted.
Panic spread like fire. Someone started crying. Two girls clutched each other. Even Kiriko's smile faltered.
"What unsophisticated brats, father." The boy near the king let out. His skin was so smooth I could've sworn he was a woman.
"Can't we just let our gruntly captain handle this riff-raff? Maybe beat them into shape?"
"Enough, Magus," He let out, "Such are heroes from another world. They have customs of their own. You know of this. You should learn from your sister some restraint." The king stated firmly.
"Pfsh," The prince scoffed as he looked to the side.
For just a moment... I felt hope in my heart. That somehow this king, the knights surrounding us, the prince sitting beside him might listen to our panic and send us back.
Despite how much I love these types of novels... I had a mom I needed to return to.
But the king didn't leave room for argument...
"Enough!" The king rose. Royal guards in silver plate stepped forward, spears glinting. The crying stopped instantly.
He didn't even try to explain, or calm us down.
As I looked at the spears pointing at us, I was just reminded of a truth I always knew; as my gaze flickered from the spears to Kazuya at the vanguard.
'Power... Domination... Really does mean everything, doesn't it?' My frown deepened as I looked at his arm... Wrapped around Rina's waist.
"You will receive your divine blessings now. Step forward one by one when the Oracle calls your name. Your class and unique skill will be revealed. Rejoice, for most heroes of legend began at C-rank or higher!"
"S... Skill and rank...?" Sato muttered, "T... This really is like... an Isekai novel..!" Sato eventually got over his initial reservations. The exams and whatnot. It's like he never even protested to begin with. Like they didn't just point their spears in our faces.
"Say, cabbage. Fuck's skill and rank even mean?" Takeshi, Kazuya's best friend asked me.
And I did what I always did.
Comply.
"I... Uhm... I guess it's like... How much you're worth... And how strong you are. S... Is the strongest..."
"Pfft," Kazuya interrupted, "Don't bother, Takeshi. He might just cum all over ya. This is like, his wet dream come true for—"
"First: Kazuya Kurogane!" A woman shouted, interrupting.
A hooded woman in black—the Oracle—lifted a crystal orb that floated above her palms. It pulsed with soft light.
"S, right? Watch me score a T." Kazuya said, confidently.
Kazuya swaggered forward like he owned the hall. The orb flared gold.
"Class: Hero (S-Rank)"
"Unique Skill: Divine Blade – SSS-Rank – A sword of pure light that requires no mana to activate… With properties yet unknown that evolves with its bearer. The Goddess's chosen champion!"
The hall erupted. The only ones who kept quiet were the king and prince as they looked at Kazuya...
And me.
"No way... HERO!? Isn't that like the MAIN CLASS?!"
"SSS-rank?!"
"That's literally broken!"
They all cheered, while I felt dizzy... Watching him bathe in that golden light, as if he were the messiah.
'N... No way... Are you... Serious...?' I thought.
Kazuya grinned wide, turning to bask in it. He flexed, and golden light actually flickered around his hand like a blade forming. Girls squealed. Kiriko clapped like it was a concert.
Takeshi draped his arm over my shoulder, grinning, "That's such a killer... Your bully is the main character. Guess you can't do shit to him even in another world, hahaha."
As if he were the messiah... No, that's not accurate.
'As of now... As of today... He IS the chosen messiah. And you're... Clapping for him.' A bile climbed up my stomach as I looked at Rina... So cheerful for him.
"Next! Kiriko Fujimori!"
"Class: Saintess (A-Rank) Skill: Heavenly Grace – S-Rank – Mass healing and purification!"
More cheers.
Even the reluctant students who cried not a minute ago got hyped.
One by one they went.
"Takeshi Sousuke!"
"Ah, my turn, Cabbage... Wish me luck!" He let out as he powerfully slapped my back. So hard, I let out a cough as I bent over from the force.
Takeshi:
CLASS: Dark Knight (A-Rank),
Skill: Blood Reaper (S-Rank).
"Psche. Watch me turn to SUPER S and pass your hero ass, Kazuya." Takeshi let out confidently.
"Whatever makes you feel good about yourself lol." He replied.
Mika: Arcane Archer (A-Rank), Starshot (S-Rank).
At some point, looking at my classmates getting those amazing skills... I thought... Maybe I'd be one of them too.
Even the timid, nonviolent Sato got something nice... Sage (B-Rank)—he nearly fainted from relief and joy.
'I won't be able to defend myself against Kazuya... Fine. But maybe I'll also get something amazing. So far, not a single student got a D even. All Cs and beyond...!' I felt a sliver of hope.
My fist tightening as I also began to feel it. The anticipation. The excitement... The 'I want it too!' feeling.
I wasn't as immune to that excitement as I initially thought. Like them all... I felt like them all. Forgetting that I'm unable to see my mom. That I'm in a foreign world.
And for an instant, I truly... Truly envisioned a future Kazuya would acknowledge me. And even rely on me... A future where we'd be friends, even.
Rina stepped up quietly.
"Class: High Priestess (S-Rank) Skill: Sanctuary – SS-Rank – Creates absolute protective barriers."
"RINA IS ALSO S-RANK!!?" The class chimed.
"Ohh... A High Priestess. That will be useful..." the king hummed.
Kazuya whistled loudly. "That's my girlfriend~ Perfect match for the Hero, right babe?"
Rina gave a small, strained smile and stepped back beside him. His arm slid possessively around her waist.
I knew it would happen. I accepted it... But it never stops hurting. Seeing it every time. We were even in each other's home... And almost kissed several times. But since Kazuya hit on her, she stopped replying to my messages. We stopped meeting for over a year now.
But that didn't matter at that moment.
Names kept being called. B-ranks, a few more As. Eventually a few C's but no one below that. The king nodded approvingly each time.
Then... I was the last name he called.
"Makoto Tanaka."
Dead silence.
I felt every stare like needles. My legs moved on their own. The marble was ice under my shoes... I knew someone talked about me, mocked me as I walked toward the crystal.
As I simply prayed while squinting my eyes shut as I walked, replaying my life as if using those painful memories to justify what I'm about to pray for.
'Please... Goddess of this world, if you're real... I've never asked for anything. Just... Please... Give me a good skill. I don't want much. Just... Just something I can live with. Just let me survive. Please...'
The orb glowed as I placed my hands on it, my eyes slowly opening to see the result.
Then the orb dimmed.
Then turned pitch black.
The Oracle's voice faltered.
"Class... Grunt. F-Rank." A pause. "Unique Skill: Gear Maintenance – F-Rank – Equipped/Used gear and weapon very, very slowly repairs itself over time."
'Ah.'
'I guess Kazuya was right all along.'
'I really am trash.'
Someone snorted. Then laughter—sharp, mean, exploding across the hall.
"Grunt?!"
"He's literally a repair bot?"
"That's the worst class I've ever heard of!"
The king's face twisted in disgust.
"Makoto-kun..." Rina whispered to herself. Sato, too, looked away with a frown; unable to laugh along with the rest.
"And... there is more." The oracle added with a deep frown. "The boy bears the mark of a curse. I... Cannot read its effects at all, your majesty!"
Gasps now. Real fear.
"Curse!?" Kiriko whispered. "That sounds... bad."
"N-no way! Makoto...? Cursed!? That can't be right...!" Rina murmured, about to walk forward, only to be stopped by Kiriko's firm grip.
"You might get cursed too by that, Rinacchi!" Kiriko let out, holding her in place.
"You might dai or somthan'!"
'I'm cursed to boot...!? What... What kinda sick joke is this..!?' I thought, my eye twitching.
Rina's eyes widened as she heeded her words and listened. Stopping in her tracks, looking down in shame.
"Silence!" the king roared.
"This one is no hero, unfortunately. Our kingdom has dealt with curses and curse bearers before. They've brought nothing but harm and pain to our lands."
The prince yawned as he looked at me.
'Does he know what's going to happen to me?'
Kazuya's laugh rang out loudest.
"Holy shit, cabbage head got F-rank? And a curse? Even the Goddess thinks you're garbage!"
"KAZUYA!" Rina yelled once, with Kazuya ignoring her completely, maintaining his grin.
"Chillax," He let out, lax, "They'll probably send him to a remote village or something."
More laughter. Someone mimicked my skill in a whiny voice: "Ooh, my socks repair themselves~"
Rina's hand covered her mouth. Her eyes were wide, worried—but she didn't move. Didn't speak.
And even though my back was still turned to the rest of our classmates... I could tell. You have a very distinct and sweet voice. Even in a sea of a thousands screams, I could tell if you whisper.
That's why I knew when you didn't press further or try to defend me in some way, despite not looking.
The king raised his hand.
"Therefore, to protect our land, the cursed one shall be banished to the Abyss Dungeon—the strongest dungeon in the world. None return. It is mercy. The curse dies with him far from our lands."
"Oh, shit... They're actually gonna kill cabbage-head? Ain't that a bit much...?" Takeshi let out mostly to himself, eyes widening in surprise.
"W... What...? M... Makoto dies..?!" Rina muttered, her breath shortening. "NO..!! NO!! KAZUYA! You're the Hero! Even you can see this is insane, right!!?"
"Tsk, keep it down..!"
"KAZUYA!!!" She screamed at him.
"Tsk," He sighed, rolling his eyes, "Hey, your majesty, isn't that like, too much?"
"No. It is for your safety. Leaving him here could potentially infect you all with whatever curse he bears. The longer he stays on our lands, the more it has a chance of spreading." The king let out coldly.
"... And..." Kazuya took a deep breath, "there you have it, babe." He rolled eyes, shrugging, "Nothin' to do about it. We have our own lives to worry about."
"N... No...! No... This is wrong..."
"Oh, for fuck's sake just run to him if you wanna protect that guy so much. C'mon. C'MON!" Kazuya glared at her with annoyance.
Rina then froze in her steps, eyes widened as she looked down.
"... Just stop makin' a scene. It'll be over, and I'll comfort you later." He murmured as he looked away. "... I promise."
Guards seized my arms. Rough. Immediate... Taking me away from the crystal ball.
I didn't resist. I was just frozen.
Just then, the prince yawned again with a sigh, "I'm bored, father. I'm leaving." He got up from his seat and left.
I guess my execution is just that uneventful.
"Wait!" Sato yelled suddenly. "You can't just—!"
"Be silent, Sage," the king snapped. "You are heroes. He is not. His presence may harm you all. We can't have that. This is for our safety, and yours. We do not have the luxury nor resources to see if we're wrong."
They dragged me toward a smaller circle at the side of the hall, black runes already glowing.
Memories flooded in as they pulled me...
My life flashing before my eyes.
Kazuya's voice from two years ago, bright and cheerful: "C'mon, keep the bag up! I need to punch something!" My arms trembling as I held my school bag in front of my face.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
"Keep it steady, cabbage head. If you drop it before I'm done... I'll hit you next. You don't want that, do you?" His smile never reached his eyes.
Another memory—Rina laughing at something Kazuya whispered in the hallway, her hand in his now. The same girl who once shared her umbrella with me in middle school... Who talked for hours with me from night till morning...
'Both worlds...' I stared at Kazuya as the guards forced me into the circle, arm around Rina as she looked away. Some classmates looked away uncomfortably, but no one—no one—spoke.
'In both worlds, he gets the hero role. The girl. The power. The future.'
'And I get... this.'
The black runes flared. Teleportation in seconds.
'So this is the law of the universe. Scum rises. Trash sinks.' I thought, looking up at the window. Taking in the view of the sunlight piercing through the glass.
'...Fine.'
The king's voice boomed one last time: "Any last words, cursed one?"
I opened my mouth.
Kazuya cut in lazily: "Your Majesty, no need to give that guy such a big stage. He's always been quiet anyway—"
"...If I get the chance..." My voice came out hoarse. Everyone froze.
"If I live..."
I met Kazuya's eyes.
"I'll kill you a—"
BAM.
Pain exploded across my cheek. I staggered, tasting blood. A fist-sized rock clattered on the marble.
Kazuya stood with his arm still extended, that same mean, gleeful smirk.
"Just shut the fuck up, lol." His voice dripped venom. "Threatening to kill us like some edgelord? If you finish that sentence, I'll come to the dungeon to make sure you're dead."
Fear flooded me all over again. My knees shook. That smirk—it was the same one from every beating.
"See, Rina? The king was right. That bastard was ready just now to kill you too."
'S-still... even now when I'm about to die... I can't... Grow a fucking spine...?'
The runes surged. Light swallowed everything.
'I deserve this.'
My final words—stolen.
Again.
————
*Tsss...*
[The process is brutal,
Indifferent,
and isolating.]
[But an ore that endures the strain,
that endures the pain...]
*SHIN*
[Becomes steel.]