2 Status

"Welcome to Laturey, brave heroes. I am Lerres Laturey, the king of this country. I know all of you have a question in mind but please listen to us first." (King)

This was the first thing the others and I heard after being forcefully summoned. At first, I really wanted to say "After forcefully summoning us, don't you have to apologize first? " but didn't say it and started looking around. It was a big and pointlessly luxurious chamber, almost everything was golden in color the door, chandelier, window, and statue, all the statues were previous kings from the looks of it, a big red carpet was spread from the door to the king's chair and the king's chair was silver in color with diamonds placed all over it and besides it was the queen's chair with the same color but less diamonds. From the arrangement of the room, I deduced that this was the throne room.

For me, this chamber was way too grand, the definition of gaudy. I mean, almost everything was gold, maybe they wanted to make this place grand to overwhelm and to prove the wealth they possessed to others but instead, the room came out as tasteless and that's it. In the room, there were many people, but I noticed only seven people that looked pretty important. The first four were the king and his family, the queen and two princesses, a young knight with the best equipment, a bald and old priest and lastly, a maid.

Hm? The bald priest and king somehow looked surprised and started to whisper to each other while looking at me. I had a bad feeling about this but listening to the king's explanation was more important. Noticing my gaze the king recomposed himself and looked at Naoki and the others who still couldn't understand the situation and started talking. Was it my imagination? I felt that the king targeted me for a split second.

"Heroes, please excuse me for the delay, but let me introduce you all to my family and retainers." (King)

"My name is Cessia Laturey, the queen of this country. It is an honor to meet all of you." (Queen)

The Queen was wearing a red dress with many jewels on her person, but such a color only highlight the wrinkles on her face, which was obviously covered with thick powder. Her natural red hair already Faded and changed to a shade of white.

"I am the first princess of Laturey kingdom, Reshia Laturey. Pleased to meet you all." (Reshia)

Reshia smiled arrogantly, her red hair, buxom body, coupled with her arrogance, truly matched the description of villain noble girl. I think she and Shina could become a good friend if they could tolerate each other, which was impossible.

"The second princess of Laturey kingdom, Anna Laturey. Please call me, Anna, let us get along from now on." (Anna)

Anna inherited her father, the king, blonde hair. Her body loses out a little compared to her sister, but in terms of intelligence, I could tell she was way above Reshia. The faint smile and the disdain hidden deep in her eyes proved that she was good at hiding her intention.

The queen and the two princesses introduced themselves with a majestic dignity and beautiful bow, discounting their disposition, the royal families were filled with beauties. While Naoki was still confused, Reki already got his heart taken by the princesses. You just summoned here, forcefully, and beautiful women were all it took to calm you? I was speechless. After that, the young knight, the old priest, and the maid stepped forward and introduced themselves.

"Everyone, I am the head commander of the Laturey kingdom knights, Zerra Ortros. Even though I am still inexperience I will be the hero's trainer from here on out, I am pleased to work with you." (Zerra)

If Naoki was a bishounen then this guy was an ikemen. He had a sharp look with a confident demeanor and the way he acted was like royalty. I guess that much was expected from the head knight of the kingdom. Oi, Shina why do you look like you've found a new love? Didn't you only like Naoki? Damn, I should have known a bitch was this close to me.

"Hero-sama and his party, I am the high priest of the church of God of Creation, a church committed to Hero-sama and his party, Jukes Eor. Please know that your will is our command." (Jukes)

The priest was a bald person with a gentle feeling, but somehow it felt faked and his fashion sense was as bad as this room, all gold with diamond decorations. Priest-san, was it okay to throw a line like that out so easily? "Your will is our command." That was quite the statement, you better not regret that.

With Jukes's line and the fact that they summoned us here means that we were the hero's party and one of us was the hero, but if that's the case why did they looked surprised when they saw me? I hope they don't say something like the hero's party was only four people or something along that line. With the lack of information, I guess it's pointless to think about it for now.

"Heroes-sama, I am Clarisa Eor, the head maid. I will be responsible for Heroes-sama well being and will take care of Heroes-sama in every way possible. Please ask me anything." (Clarisa)

Clarisa ended her introduction with a graceful bow. A beautiful maid with a very voluptuous body was saying " please ask me anything " damn, never have I been more grateful that my emotions never show on my face and my mind's strong resistance to woman, if not I would be like Reki in front of me with a face that clearly showed that he was thinking something indecent. Wait, Eor? Was she a relative of the head priest?  

"Now that my family and also my retainers have introduced themselves, can we ask the hero and his party their names?" (King)

With the king's lines, the others and I stood and tidied ourselves so we looked presentable as we introduced ourselves one-by-one.

"My name is Shiraha Naoki, it is an honor to meet all of you." (Naoki)

"The name Nakagawa Reki! Pleased to meet you all!" (Reki)

"I'm Kurokami Shina, please be nice to me." (Shina)

"My name is Hanashaki Saya, pleased to meet your acquaintance." (Saya)

"Kogami Kagero, nice to meet you… " (Kagero)

While I just sluggishly said my name and bowed, the others were doing it seriously. Especially Naoki who introduced himself like a noble, who bowed with his right hand at his chest and left hand at the back, thus the king and the others were convinced that Naoki was the hero. I was able to confirm this by the looks on their faces. It would be very funny if the hero wasn't him though, I would laugh my ass off if it turned out like that.

"Now then we all have known each other names and although I know hero-sama and his party have questions in mind, please listen to me first. I will tell you all what and where this place is and the reason we summoned hero-sama and his party." (Jukes)

Naoki and the others just nodded and entered listening mode, oi was that really okay? I wanted to say something to the way they prioritize themselves after they forcefully summoned us, but the information about this place was much more important and I know they wouldn't return us to our world if we didn't solve their problem first; I even doubted they knew a way to return us. So many stories I've read was like that. So, in the event, it became the worst case the more information we knew about this world the better our odds to survive.

..........Damn, in just the short moment I had been summoned I already in a bad situation, why? Because there was something in Jukes's explanation that threatened my situation in this world, Jukes's explanation basically went like this.

 @@@

This world was called Regrest, it has 5 races lived in it but that was only for the sake of convenience because if we counted the whole sentient species in this world it would easily exceed thousands of species so the species were divided into 5 races: Humans, Demi-humans, Dwarfs, Elves and Horrors.

Humans were the weakest of the four races. In exchange they had jobs that enabled them to stand equal to other races, even hero was one of the many jobs existing. Some of the basic jobs could be earned by using a weapon or magic belonged to the corresponding job or given by the guild but the rare and unusual jobs had conditions while the unique jobs were destined only to one person, hero job was one of the unique jobs. Because of the overwhelming population of humans, thirty-five percent of the world's regions were filled and belonged to humans. The Laturey kingdom was one of many human kingdoms, but also one of the biggest.

Demi-humans were a race of human mixed with animals, some of the species included in the demi-humans race were completely human-like but had ears and tails of an animal, while others were complete animal-like with furs but still in a humanoid shape. The demi-humans had magic power but they couldn't turn their magic power to attack or healing magic, instead, they used their magic power to strengthen their bodies, giving them the strongest body of the four races that could stand against magic. They were the second most populated race and owned twenty-five percent of the world's regions.

Elves were a race that lives side by side with nature like demi-humans, but unlike demi-humans, elves were a natural-born magic caster race. Their magic power quantity was often the best of the four races, but they were weak physically and they rarely went outside of their domain, they were a recluse race. Because of that they only owned fifteen percent of the world's region.

The Dwarfs were stouts short hardy race, they didn't hold any prejudice against any other race. They were innovative and advance race, they were like a ball of curiosity and they have the mind and body to realize their ideas. Their talent with magic was even lower than human, but their robust body and sharp mind make up for it. They were technologically more advanced than any other race, that was why other races targeted them, for their technical knowledge. With these circumstances, the Dwarfs make their home hidden from the world, either it was underground or inside a mountain. Their race was scattered around the globe, hence there was never an actual number about them or their territory.

Last but not least were the horrors, they were a race consisting of monster-like species; vampires, mummies, and even demons. They were an aggressive race with fearsome strength and some of them even said to be immortals. Their fighting abilities were identical to humans but far stronger, a strong body and unique magic, these two reasons were why the other races never attacked them. A strong body rivaling that of the demi-humans and unique magic to them alone, some were far stronger than other races magic, but they still have access to normal magic. Because they were small in number they only owned ten percent of the world's region.

Jukes said the reason they never attacked other races because they were waiting for the right time, but was it really the case? That aside their problem lied in the uncharted fifteen percent of the world's region, the region which became the base of the previous demon lord and also called the land of monsters. After the long era of peace, 50 years to be exact, after the defeat of the demon lord, Noir, by the former hero party, twisted beasts emerged. The twisted beasts were the product of an uncontrollable magic influx in the body turning the body to that of a monster be it an animal, human or even inanimate object, overflowed from the uncharted region and began attacking anything on sight.

Many lives had been lost from this incident. First, the humans and other races sent many of their best knights, magicians, and adventures to solve this problem but none of them return alive and the twisted beast still flooding from the uncharted region. In light of this situation, the humans started to lose hope and they then turned to the Heroes, meaning us. They summoned us here to save them from this predicament of theirs, to risk our lives to save peoples who we didn't even know….. I almost lost my head when I heard this but because of the next bomb Jukes dropped, I literally froze.

Jukes said that the hero party was supposed to be made up of four people, the hero, martial artist, magician, and cleric but they summoned five people. That means one of us was an outsider. Naoki and the other didn't doubt each other, they only saw me as the outsider; they were certain that the outsider was me. Well, rather than doubting their friends, they would doubt someone they barely knew or hated first, that's the nature of people. If I was in their place I would have done the same thing, but still, it felt very vexing to be doubted.

Realizing what was going on Saya grabbed my clothes firmly. Even I thought something was wrong about me being here, but mind you, I have no intention to help them. To risk my life for the sake of people I don't even know was stupid, but if I really was the outsider my situation was pretty bad. In the worst case, I could be killed and no one would mind, except Saya. I was deep in thought when the king dropped the next bomb.

".....heroes please forgive us for doubting you, but with this unprecedented situation we ask of you to open your status screen and see your job to prove yourself as the hero party."

Zerra then explained how to open the status screen. We only need to say status then it would appear in front of us. Fortunately, no one would be able to see your status except yourself, But wouldn't appraisal magic enabled one to peek on another's status? I thought. Because if it was like so, even if I lied, wouldn't people would still figure out my identity? I just steeled myself and looked at Naoki and the others, then at the same time me and the others said "status". My greatest fear was proved right.

Naoki was the hero, Reki was the martial artist, Shina was the magician and Saya was the cleric and I was .... a villager. The king and the priest were smiling and the other was showing many reactions but most of them were happy that Naoki was the hero and Saya was trembling, she knew I was in a bad spot, but all I could do was just stand there. Although in the worst case they would kill me, they won't be able to do it so soon, I hope. For now, I just need to ready when the time comes and hope it wouldn't come to that.

"....Naoki-sama and his party, will you please help us? We need your help to save our kingdom and world from this predicament." (king)

"We beg of you!" (everyone in the room)

As if the smiling face just now were a lie, the king said that with a solemn face with his head slightly bowed while still seated and everyone in the room also bowed and begged to Naoki and the others to save them. Naoki and the others looked at everyone bowing to them while asking for their help with surprised looks on their face. But suddenly a smug expression floated on their face, except Saya and they casually said.

"Please raise your head, everyone, I still don't know what I can do. But I promise I will help your kingdom and this world to the best of my abilities." (Naoki)

"If Naoki said he will do it, I will help him and since it's Naoki who said it then this world is as good as saved!" (Reki)

"I will help too, I can't let those twisted things kill the people in this world any more than this." (Shina)

Everyone cheers and said thank you to them after their grand "we will save the world " statement. When Naoki saw the reaction of the people in the room, thinking he said something hero-like, felt satisfied by what he said. But I only here a death flag declaration from him and the others. You lightly said you would save this world without knowing what and who you face and didn't even ask for something in return or set some condition to guarantee your own personal safety. Naoki, you are either a fool or a justice freak.

And Reki, what are you, the leader of Naoki sect? "Since it's Naoki who said it then this world is as good as saved"? Come on man, wake up! Even if Naoki was the hero, he was still a human! Small damage to his heart and brain was all that needed to kill him! The same as you and everyone in this room, he ain't an immortal. Shina,........... I didn't even know what to say.

These guys, I thought they would think a little about this situation but they just casually said they would save the world, even Saya was speechless. Saya wanted to say something but the die has been cast and even if she said something her voice would only be swallowed by the cheers around her.

Looking very satisfied the king stand and said in a happy tone "The hero is here! Start the banquet! ", Oi your problem wasn't even solved yet and you already have a banquet? The king, his family, and his retainer then escorted Naoki and the other while cheering while ignoring me. At that time Saya released her grip from my clothes and pleaded to the king to allow me to join them but the king refused Saya softly, said he couldn't allow me, an outsider, to the banquet for the hero and his party, then Naoki and Reki started to comfort Saya saying "It can't be helped." while Shina was talking happily with Zerra and the other knights.

I wanted to retort to that but making a commotion now would only make my situation far worse than it already was, so I urged Saya to go with Naoki and the king. At first, Saya refuses but gave up after a while then the king ordered one of the maids to lead me to an open room then I parted with Saya.

The room was a simple room with one wardrobe, a bed, and a writing desk. I looked around the room and started thinking about how to escape in case of an unwanted event. After a while I dropped my body into the bed, with my eyes facing the ceiling, finally feeling the softness of the bed I closed my eyes.

......I lied.

The job that appeared in my status screen was not a villager, because my job was just so unbelievable, I lied. It was not even a human's or any other race's job, my real job was written with one word...

Tentacle Lord.