Becoming The Strongest With The Crest Of Nothing

"Oh, brave heroes! Thank you for answering our call!"

The declaration, a line straight out of a cliché fantasy, left the boy, Hanasaki Uta, standing dumbfounded in silence. Before him sat an imposing older man upon a grand throne. Around him stood towering white walls and marble columns, the interior of what could only be described as a western-style castle. At his feet lay an intricate magic circle drawn on the floor.

The situation was impossible to misinterpret.

"Is this… another world summoning?"

The words weren't spoken by Uta but by one of the four friends who had been walking home with him just moments ago. Alongside Uta, four other students from his high school were present, all dressed in matching blazers, their expressions painted with confusion.

The Summoned Party:

Ryuya Nagumo: A handsome, charismatic boy and the de facto leader of their group. Top grades, star soccer player, and the object of every girl's admiration—a flawless existence.

Chika Kitagawa: A tall girl with long brown hair tied in a ponytail. The captain of the girls' basketball team and a magnetic personality, loved by everyone but especially adored by her female peers, like a princely figure.

Miko Higashiyama: A fashionable blonde with a short haircut and earrings. A part-time reader model, her uniform somehow looked more chic than the others, as though transformed by her very presence.

Kazuha Nishimiya: A serene beauty with jet-black hair cascading to her waist. The daughter of a prominent ikebana master, her refined movements and calm demeanor gave her an almost doll-like elegance.

And finally, Hanasaki Uta: average height, average looks, and entirely unremarkable in both academics and sports. Among the strikingly exceptional four, his presence felt like an anomaly. His unusual family name had been the subject of teasing in elementary school, but it had also served as the catalyst for his bond with the others. He had long since come to accept it as part of who he was.

"You have answered our summons, brave heroes! Please, save our kingdom!"

The elderly man on the throne, who could only be the king, spoke with gravity, ignoring the confusion etched across the faces of Uta and his friends.

The story unfolded swiftly:

This was the Kingdom of Fafnir, a moderately sized nation on the southern continent. To the north lay a land ruled by the Demon King, whose forces were waging a relentless war against neighboring human nations. For now, Fafnir remained unscathed, thanks to a buffer of allied territories. However, the king feared the Demon King's eventual advance and had resorted to an ancient summoning ritual to bring forth heroes capable of saving the land.

Ryuya stepped forward to speak, his leadership instincts taking over.

"So, you're saying we've been summoned to fight the Demon King? Is there a way for us to return home?"

The king hesitated. "If you defeat the Demon King, a way to return home will surely reveal itself."

The explanation made no sense. Uta frowned, and it was clear the others shared his skepticism. The idea that defeating the Demon King would somehow lead to their return seemed more like a convenient excuse to compel their cooperation than an actual promise.

Still, the situation demanded their compliance. Resistance would likely end badly.

"To determine your roles, please place your hand upon this crystal," a mage-like figure instructed, presenting a glowing orb.

Ryuya volunteered to go first. As his hand made contact with the orb, foreign characters appeared within its depths.

"Marvelous! This young man's job is 'Hero!'" the mage declared, his voice jubilant.

"Hero, huh…" Ryuya murmured, his expression conflicted. Being labeled as the Hero wasn't unwelcome, but the absurdity of the situation dampened any sense of pride.

One by one, the others followed:

Chika: Sword Saint

Miko: Sage

Kazuha: Saintess

The king beamed with approval, his confidence in the summoning clearly bolstered. But when it came to Uta's turn, the result was… different.

"Uh… 'Unemployed'?" the mage stammered.

A heavy silence fell over the room. The king's previously jubilant demeanor soured, his face contorting with visible disdain.

"Hmm… It seems this boy was an ordinary person who was accidentally caught in the summoning. My apologies," the king said, his tone dripping with insincerity.

Uta grimaced. The moment "Unemployed" appeared, the king's condescension became palpable.

"So, what am I supposed to do?" Uta asked. "I can't fight a Demon King without a job, right?"

"We shall provide you with some funds. You may live in the city below," the king said dismissively.

"Wait, what? You're kicking him out?" Chika protested, her voice sharp with indignation.

"That's absurd!" Miko added.

"Unacceptable!" Kazuha chimed in.

The three girls rallied to Uta's defense, while Ryuya watched silently, his expression complicated.

The king's response was calculated. "If this boy remains in the castle, he may be captured and used as a hostage by the enemy. Sending him away ensures his safety."

"Wait, it's fine," Uta interjected, forcing a smile. "I'll leave. I don't want to be a burden."

"Uta, no!" Chika exclaimed, aghast.

"I'll be fine," he assured them. "This way, I can explore other ways to return home. There's no guarantee defeating the Demon King will work, right?"

Though reluctant, the girls eventually relented. Their faces showed their unease, but they respected his decision. Uta gave them one final reassuring smile before accepting the coins and departing the castle.

The soldiers assigned to escort him out wore matching grim smiles.

They would soon draw their swords.

+

Surrounded by five soldiers, Hanasaki Uta walked down the path from the castle, supposedly toward the town below. The escort, however, felt strangely excessive for someone being "dismissed."

"What a great view," Uta said, attempting to lighten the mood.

The castle stood atop a high hill, offering a sweeping vista of a sprawling town surrounded by verdant plains. Beyond the horizon, the glimmering blue of the sea stretched endlessly. With no roads, wires, or signs of modern technology to clutter the scenery, the natural beauty was breathtaking. Uta thought to himself that the stars must be spectacular here at night.

"That's the town, right? How many people live there?" Uta asked, hoping to make conversation.

The soldiers remained silent, their expressions cold.

"And… why are there five of you escorting me? Isn't this a bit much for a simple guide job?"

"Shut up and walk," one of the soldiers ordered curtly.

Uta frowned but complied, following the stoic procession down the hill. He couldn't help but feel an undercurrent of hostility aimed at him, despite having done nothing to deserve it.

The group continued in tense silence until they reached a secluded area far from the castle. The soldiers abruptly stopped.

"This spot should do," one of them muttered.

"What do you mean?" Uta asked, his voice uncertain.

"Don't take it personally. Orders are orders," the soldier replied, unsheathing his sword.

"What—" Uta began, but the words caught in his throat as the blade slashed through his chest.

Blood sprayed, vivid and crimson, as Uta staggered back and collapsed onto the dirt, his eyes wide with shock.

"It's done," the soldier said, wiping his blade.

"Are we sure this was necessary?" another soldier asked, unease evident in his tone. "He wasn't fit to be a hero, sure, but killing him feels excessive…"

"It's the king's will," the leader replied flatly. "We'll claim the Demon King's forces did it. This will push the others into action."

The plan was simple: make Uta's death appear as a tragedy caused by enemy forces, thus motivating his companions—branded as heroes—to throw themselves into the fight against the Demon King. The king saw no use for someone labeled "Unemployed" and deemed him expendable.

"All for the king's orders. Accept it," the leader insisted.

"Understood…" the reluctant soldier said, though his voice carried doubt.

Another soldier sneered and kicked Uta's lifeless body. "Pathetic. Barely put up a fight. What else should we expect from an 'Unemployed' weakling?"

But just as the group began to relax, a voice, light and nonchalant, cut through the air.

"Oh, that stung a little. About as bad as a vaccination shot, I'd say. Next time, could you at least warn me before you try to kill me?"

The soldiers froze, their heads snapping toward Uta's body—only to see him standing, brushing dirt off his clothes as if nothing had happened.

"You… how are you alive?!" one soldier shouted, his voice trembling with disbelief.

"Oh, I could explain," Uta said, a faint smile on his lips. "But I don't feel like it."