Cap. 2

I think I'm beginning to understand those voices a bit... How long have I been listening to them? This has been the longest bad trip I've had in my life... if I don't die I'm going to make Eve unable to walk for a month, Hahaha hahaha.

The voices got louder and louder over time, they got more and more consistent and more understandable... those voices were prayers and prayers... I could understand some language after a while, but it was a pain in the ass. Head.

--Yes, if I'm listening to you, stop fucking around, you want this, you want that, I'm not your mom, I'm not a god, so stop complaining!

I yelled or tried to yell, but my voice wouldn't come out, and I could only hear myself in my own thoughts.

A light separated me from the darkness in an instant and the voices stopped.

I opened my eyes and little by little I regained my vision, my feet were firm on the ground and my body was slowly thawing.

A bearded old man in rabbi's clothes, knelt before me while muttering some prayers, I looked around, and I was in what I guess would be a public square, sadly I'm on a raised platform... The scaffold? I'm not ready for the orca just got here, damn it!... two to three story buildings made of stone and wood with an ancient and renaissance look.

--Hero!... I am the Viceroy Orlando Bloom of the Free Duchy of Mills, I thank the new and old gods for your arrival, on behalf of all the inhabitants of the entire Duchy I beg you to lend us your help and protection and defeat our enemies... Oh! Great Hero!!!

Ok... I got it, not even though the floating oval was a summoning portal, it wasn't to be the pet/ husband of a cute pink-haired girl, but to be a Hero of a Renaissance Duchy...please spare me this volunteer work shit.

"Inhale deeply," I replied calmly to the Viceroy.

--If I understand Mr. Viceroy, they called me to be a hero but...

Sorry! I DON'T WORK FOR CHARITY!!!

I quickly grabbed the viceroy by the throat, both the viceroy, the old rabbi and the guards were astonished and shocked. I lightly tightened my grip on the Viceroy's neck and moved closer to the rabbi.

"Old man, I guess you're a priest or something, right?

The old man quickly introduced himself.

--I am the high priest of the church of the Eclipse, Patrick Ferrer... Hero I understand that you are upset, but you could let go of the viceroy.

--No... Tell me more about the summoning, I was frozen in the dark for a long time listening to your insufferable whining for a fucking eternity, all the fucking time, you're a pain in the ass.

--I, I apologize I think that was due to our incompetence, I beg your forgiveness.

--Ok, I see that you are aware of the situation, I am a foreigner, I was kidnapped and called here against my will, I have no problem helping you but...

I put a little force in my grip on the viceroy's neck and pushed him towards one of the guards.

--I will not work for charity, nor for free, offer a reward, I will only tell you that I am not interested in returning to my world so that old blackmail will not work with me, now High Priest Patrick Ferrer, what do you offer me?

My body felt light and full of strength after thawing, I picked up the viceroy on impulse, but he was a big man about two hundred or three hundred pounds, but I picked him up like he was just a little kitten ha haha haha... that guy got the ability to wield any weapon masterfully, I think I've gotten much stronger...but how strong have I gotten? A cruel smile spread across my face.

I was never a pacifist, in fact I am quite a violent person, I was fired from several places and expelled from others for fighting although it was only in self-defense or to avoid some crime but since the thieves, rapists and abusers ended up on an express trip to the nearest hospital emergency room, ended up with several marks on my police file, now I'm in another world, in a seeming world at war with this invigorated body, I can't help but want to hit something.

I wandered in my thoughts the high priest speaks to me with the tone of a merchant.

--I don't know what kind of reward the Hero can be satisfied with but if it can serve as a first payment or rather see it as an indemnity for his time in the Frozen Void...

The High Priest handed me a necklace with a matte black gem, and a bunch of keys.

--That necklace is a sign that you are a noble, more specifically a viscount, and those keys are the keys of a small vineyard in the outskirts of the city, don't worry about the maintenance costs, they will be paid by me.

Smart old man, a noble title and a residence, quickly tying me up, so I can't escape, nice move...

--Since you offer them to me, I will take them with pleasure... by the way I feel sorry for the viceroy, but I think he should review his arts of persuasion, no one who is summoned, or kidnapped will feel comfortable if they harshly arrive and shout Hero at all times. The face, it's kind of annoying.

"Um, His Majesty the Hero is right, I think he should have taken it a bit slow…

--Yes I know, Patrick, I was moved... I beg your pardon.

--Okay, calm down tell the guard with the bow on the roof in the building on the left to stop aiming at me it's annoying.

Everyone was surprised at my observation, and quickly the Viceroy made a sign with his hand and the pressure on my neck vanished. I've been targeted and shot several times in my life so feeling the pressure of a shooter is not new.

Viceroy, since everything is fine, you shouldn't calm the people, although we are in a high place, and not many people can see us, some can hear us, talk to your people quickly and make them shut up, they are whispering because I complained about the noise, but it's only a matter of time before they break out into a riotous mob and scream all over the place...which is annoying.

I stomped on the wooden floor and the entire structure of the scaffold shook, scaring everyone present...

How strong have I gotten?!

The Viceroy bowed in apology along with his guards, and quickly went out to calm the civilians, as it was not my problem I did not pay much attention to his speech, and focused on extracting information from the High Priest.

--High Priest, give me a summary of the situation, I suppose they are at war or something, but I want to hear how bad the situation is...

To my question the High Priest paled a bit and searched for the answer slowly.

--About the situation, we are indeed at war with three other human nations and the Demon Lord army, basically a four-front war...

"Hmm, I see...that's pretty bad...what is the root cause of the war?"

If they started it, and they're losing I'm going to make a quick getaway... I don't want to be the scapegoat for a kidnapping from Germany after losing the raid on Russia.

--The Gallic Empire declared war declaring that its emperor was the legitimate son of god on earth and that all should prostrate before him. They basically declared a crusade.

Of all the reasons to go to war, it had to be a religious and ideological reason... I want to escape...

--And the Demons, how did they enter the war?

--With the birth of a new Demon Lord, the demons will naturally unite under one banner and go to war against humanity and everyone who opposes them is that kind of organism.

--Fight to fight, correct?

--Basically.

--Are there other heroes besides me?

-- Two others, the White Hero of the Empire and the Marching Maiden in the Kingdom of Veritas.

Four armies, two other heroes... one is missing.

--How is the other nation, the nation without a hero?

--The Principality of Amun, is a neutral nation, focused on defense, they will not attack anyone, they will only wait until the end.

--Dangerous... High Priest, I don't know if my opinion counts, but do they share borders with the Principality?

--Yes, the northwest border.

--You should send a non-aggression treaty with the principality, make any concessions or whatever but don't let the principality attack you.

--Don't worry, I had already thought about that scenario and the discussions will start in a few days.

--That gives a bit of peace of mind, one less enemy is one less at the end.

--I see that the Hero has good tactical knowledge...

--Something like that, I just remembered some things from the history books and leave the Hero, my name is Edward D. Zenit.

--I understand, now Mr. Zenit, come with us to a small act for the people.

--Calm down the masses with a little show?

--He is also versed in politics, wonderful.

"Stop licking my boots, it's disgusting, and help the viceroy...let's get this over with quickly."

--Right away, war waits for no one.

--Indeed.

After finishing my exchange with the High Priest, I joined a parade to calm down the population, I just had to wave to people and smile. The inhabitants wore cheap clothes of canvas and leather, the smell made clear the hygienic situation of this country, certainly a period of time similar to the early years of the Renaissance.

I will teach you how to make an irrigation system at least and some drainage.

Continued to salute while enduring the acrid smell of rebirth.