Forcing My Way Into a Hero Summoning

"Ahh, finally done for the day."

My name is Ron, aged 55, and working at a soul crushing, dead-end corporation. Day after day it is the same boring work all while sucking up to my superiors and getting recognized for none of it. More than once I've wished for it all to just end, or at least change for the better, but alas, I've long since realized that those wishes will never come true.

At least it was past 5 o'clock and on a Friday no less. I can finally take some time to help me forget about just how trash my life really is. With a newfound determination to go buy junk food and watch some movies at home, I quickly gathered my things and made my way towards the exit.

Yet, as soon as I walked out of my office, I saw my superior walking in my direction. It felt as if I was just punched in the gut, but let's be optimistic for once. Maybe she just needed to make some last-minute copies and didn't need to talk to me at all. I put on a confident smile and tried to walk right passed her.

However, she saw me and smiled back. I knew this wasn't a good day.

"Ron, what a pleasant surprise. I'm glad that you didn't leave yet."

I maintained my smile to keep up appearances, but I couldn't help but think, 'Yeah, I'm sure you're glad, but I'm sure not.'

"Ah, Miss Susan, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Please, you're too kind. You see I was hoping to ask a favor of you. I have a prior arrangement after work today that I have to head out for, but I need 1000 copies of this document for tomorrow. Could I entrust this task to you? I'd be sure to return the favor sometime later."

What a load of complete horseshit. How many times have I helped her out now? 10 times? 100? I had long lost count at this point, but she had never once returned the favor. In fact, I'm pretty sure she is the reason I can't even get promoted despite my seniority. I doubt this 'prior arrangement' is even important. In fact, I think I heard gossip earlier that she had some sort of date lined up.

Nothing about this scenario seemed beneficial to me, but what could I do? Helping out a superior will surely give me benefits in the long run, right? Well, I'm not even sure that I believe that anymore. But despite that, I suppose I'll help out like I always do.

"Sure, leave it to me."

She had a bright smile, but I swear I could see the ridicule in her eyes.

"Thanks so much! You are an actual life saver."

She then handed me a stack of documents and promptly left. Well, let's get this over with, I guess. I turned around and got back to work; my weekend seemed to be getting further away.

After an entire hour of working with the copy machine, finding out there wasn't enough paper, trying to track down more, and finally finishing the copying, I was completely spent. With the rest of the office building quiet except for the whine of the vacuum cleaner the janitor was using, I made my way out and finally headed towards home.

I took a step outside and breathed in some fresh air, well as fresh as it gets in the middle of a city. I saw that the sun was starting to get pretty low in the sky so maybe my original plan of buying a bunch of junk food will have to be put on hold. Instead, I think I'll just get some fast food, then go home and sleep.

There was a burger place sort of close by, so I didn't even have to call a cab. After a bit of walking, I finally arrived. The line was a bit long, which I suppose is normal around dinner time, so I decided to just wait. After what felt like an eternity to my empty stomach, I finally sat down to take a bite of my favorite burger which came straight off the grill. Or not, I spat out the disgustingly cold food.

I looked around at the other customers to see a bunch of happy faces and happy conversations. Was it really just my food that seemed like it wasn't prepared at all? Did they see me and just say, "Fuck it, it doesn't matter if we screw him over anyway"?

Well, whatever, I'll be sure to give the employee's a piece of my mind. It's not like I want to be 'that guy', but I'm pissed off and I want others to know it.

After another hour had passed the whole fast-food fiasco was finally done. I stepped back out to see the sun approaching the horizon.

"This really is a fucked-up day huh?"

I wanted nothing more than to just call a cab and then go home and rest. I decided to do just that, but before I could walk forward another man came from behind and jabbed something metal into my back. My heartrate picked up a bit as I realized the object was a gun.

"Yeah, I guess it is old man. Come with me for a bit and nobody has to get hurt."

I let out a long sigh and just weakly nodded. After following his instructions, we ended up in a quiet alleyway. A perfect place to end my miserable life, if I do say so myself.

"Alright, no fast movements. I want all of your money, then I'll be on my way."

"Sure thing, I don't really care anymore anyway. I'd almost want you to shoot me, ha ha ha."

He didn't seem to enjoy my joke, but was it really a joke at this point?

"Shut up, just give me your money."

I handed over my wallet and that was that. He looked inside, nodded and just ran away. And there I was, absolutely alone, left with no money, and completely exhausted from going through the worst day of my entire life.

I always thought it would get better when I was younger, but look at where everything got me. All my relationships became strained until finally breaking apart. All my career options narrowed down until I became stuck at a dead end. Everyone I still cared about moved on to do bigger and better things. Truly, I was left completely alone.

"Well, there's nothing I can do is there? I guess I'll just walk home, even if it is 5 miles."

I began my walk home in a daze, completely lost in my thoughts.

Yet, as I was approaching a busy intersection, I noticed a strange anomaly. I had been walking a little bit behind a group of what I assumed to be high school students when I noticed that the ground beneath their feet starting glowing. The sun was halfway down the horizon, so the slightly dark atmosphere helped emphasize this strange glow. As of now, the group of students didn't seem to notice anything amiss.

I tilted my head trying to figure out how the concrete could just start glowing and how that weird light was able to move with the group of students, when I noticed that the light seemed to become more sophisticated by turning into strange runes. It reminded me of some of the shows that I watched or books that I read, something that you would expect to see in a world of magic right before a spell is cast.

Wait, my eyes widened and my heartrate skyrocketed. As time went on, more and more runes began to appear which in turn created more light on the ground. Eventually some of the students noticed the strange phenomenon and looked towards the ground. Some looked confused, others seemed horrified, but none of that mattered to me. As soon as I realized what those runes might mean, I broke into a sprint towards the students.

How long had it been since I last exercised? I wasn't sure, but my heart was thundering in my chest and my legs somehow already felt weak and powerless despite only going a couple of meters. However, there was a madness in my eyes. If I was right about the situation, then I could kiss this garbage life goodbye. And if I was wrong? I'd just brush it off like nothing happened, people do strange things all the time after all.

I quickly approached and noticed that no new runes were appearing anymore. That had to mean that I was running out of time. After judging the remaining distance, I summoned every ounce of power that my pathetic body could muster and jumped headfirst towards the group. Everything seemed to work in slow motion as I soared through the air.

The completed rune circle continued to glow brighter until it eventually emitted a flash that drowned out my vision entirely. I couldn't see anything, and on account of being in the air still, I couldn't feel anything either. I could only pray that my plan had worked, until my body hit the ground.

I fell down on a very uneven surface, and something like a jutting out rock hit my mouth knocking one of my teeth completely out. Even with the pain, I felt nothing but excitement. An uneven surface with various rocks means that the floor wasn't concrete like it should have been.

With overflowing excitement, I looked up and saw knights pointing spears at me and the group of students. I let out a laugh that seemed to come from my very soul. I had forced my way into being summoned to another world.