An Invitation

The driver-side door swung open, revealing a dark-skinned man dressed similarly to the woman. He wore a buttonless blue coat that exposed a neatly tucked white shirt and plain trousers. His shoulder-length, dark blue hair was partially tied into a messy bun, secured with a needle-like stick.

However, what caught the most attention were his long, abnormally pointed ears.

With deep blue eyes, he gazes in my direction, his face wearing a tired and emotionless expression. He presents a soda can formally and speaks, "I didn't know what kind you wanted, so I brought the one I thought you would like. If that's okay."

Oh my, what a considerate man! "Sure dude, thanks for the drink–"

"I wasn't talking to you."

She ecstatically leaps onto the man, hugging him tight in a warm embrace "You are a saviour!" Snatching the can into her hands, she opens it before taking a big, thirst-quenching gulp "Hah! life is amazing."

I stare at them, swallowing my spit. The heat of the sun makes me thirsty. I reach out my hands with a pleading look in my eyes

"May I have some too–"

The man starts a conversation with the woman, ignoring my cries "There was also a store which had apple flavor too, but the owner there kept hitting on me, so I left."

"Why did you leave? You could have bribed her to make you get the stuff for cheap!" She replied.

"It was not a 'her', it was a 'he'."

"Oh."

They are not even paying attention here, maybe if I try harder

"Um, excuse me, but can I have a drink too… please…"

Paying no heed, they keep discussing between themselves, leaving a mouth drooling me on the sidelines. Eventually, they finally stop as the man takes a quick look at me before making his way back into the car.

All I wanted was a drink…

…

"Catch."

Tossing a can and landing it straight into my arms, the man retreats into the car… he seems like a good guy.

"Don't mind him, he is just shy… probably." She comments, taking in another sip from the can "Anyways, it seems you have calmed down now. Any more questions?"

"Yeah, just one. Why was I summoned?" I ask, preparing to open the can.

She pauses "No idea. I wasn't even sure if I would meet you here. Most of us just believed that once the demon lord was defeated, no one would be summoned anymore."

"So then, who summoned me!?"

Shrugging her shoulders, it was clear. She, again, had no idea.

My jaw hangs wide open, but I quickly react, closing my mouth.

Yeah, I'm not going to be the isekai hero I hoped to be, but hey, at least I'm free now, and I do not need to work for anyone anymore…

"Don't feel down. Work with me, and I'm sure we will figure out the truth–"

"No!" I take a few steps back, leaning into a defensive stance. "Not again, I do not want to be a slave to someone again."

"Hey, chill out. It was just an invitation." She raises her hands up in the air as if to show she is not a threat. "Though I would like it if you could consider it." She slowly walks forward, closing in the distance between us. "I won't treat you like a slave, I promise."

I keep up the pace with her, taking a step back when she takes a step forward. A strange unnerving sense oozed from her, building up with each step… was it desperation?

"You know, you can't just keep walking away." She is right, I can't just keep walking. Turning around, I make a run for it.

"Tch."

Keeping up the speed, I run with the can unknowingly still in my hand. However, I quickly become conscious of it as the can begins to rumble vigorously in my hand. Thinking it is going to explode any moment, I throw the can away, only for it to stop in midair.

"Huh!?" Seemingly floating with no external support, I stop right in my tracks, observing the can freely rotating in the air.

Dumbfound, I stare as it quickly accelerates towards my face. Knocking me unconscious.

***

I slowly opened my eyes, for the second time. Feeling the environment around me moving, I look around. I was in a car.

"Hey you, finally awake?"

Hearing that voice, I kick my feet around in response. Seated right next to me, she tightly grabs hold of me, restricting my movement.

"Calm down, I ain't gonna make you a slave!"

Hugging me with her chest up against my face, she reassuringly pats me on the head. Although her body was cold, I could still feel a strange warmth, emanating from within me.

When was the last time I was hugged, like this?

Her breasts were almost flat, allowing me to breathe a little. She gave off a very familiar scent, the scent of blood that is. Even in another world, it was kind of comforting to know that blood smelled the same. It reminded me of the dungeons, even if I didn't like that place very much.

Moving away, she finally gave me space to breathe fully, but the warmth I felt disappeared in an instant. I look at her. She is smiling as usual.

Wanting more, my eyes drift towards the soda can below, situated upright in the middle of the seat.

"Can!"

"Can what?"

"It floats!"

Confused, she quickly picks up "Oh, that thing, It was Alberts doing." She says, pointing at the pointy-eared man in the front, who is now driving the car.

I remember now, that thing had knocked me unconscious "Was it magic?"

"Bingo!" She exclaims, holding up the soda can "The one you just saw was a result of spatial magic. The one where I burned the beast? That was elemental magic."

I see, so magic is real in this world, not that I'm surprised. However, unlike reading about it in a fantasy novel, seeing it happen in person is much cooler!

"Hehe, you seem intrigued. Don't worry, I will teach you everything… but before that, care to tell me your name?"

"It's Kade–" Suddenly, I'm reminded of the past world yet again, but not in a good way. The reason I was always alone, the reason I never talked to anyone much, was not because I was shy. It was because every time I got to know someone, they would, one way or another, die.

I still remember some of their names, I'm probably the only one who does. That is just how cruel the dungeon and our owners were. One moment, and it could all end. I'm just one of the few lucky ones to be alive.

I look back up at her as she reaches out her hand in a gesture of a handshake. Dismissing my thoughts, I hold hers, shaking our hands in the process.

"Although I can't say my real name, you can call me Luna. Leader of the 3rd highest ranked party 'Blind Eye', a pleasure to meet you."

Blind eye… that's a name.

"So then, Kade, is there anything you want in life, any goal?"

I ponder for a while, blurting out my thoughts "My goal up until now was to be free, so I never really had any other. But if I were to say now, then my goals would be…"

I take a deep breath.

"Having a hot shower, eating a three-course meal, wearing some new clothes, having a girlfriend, no– have a harem of girlfriends, being overpowered, getting rich, becoming famous, have se–"

"Hold up, that is a lot. Tell me one that is the most important."

I think back further, but my head starts to feel heavy. Probably because I haven't slept in a while. Pulling myself back up straight, I remember that one particular goal I had in the beginning: "To be a hero."

However, now that the demon lord is dead, I doubt it–

"Perfect!" She exclaims, clutching both my hands with a elated smile "Kade, join my party, and I will make you a hero!"