Chapter 2: The fall from a hero
*Despite the small word count, thank you for evaluating and bookmarking.
“Oh, Hero Sama!
How wonderful to have received you coming!”
“… … … … wa?”
Reiji unintentionally let out a foolish voice to a delighted voice thrown suddenly from the front without being able to grasp the situation entirely.
Before he knew it, he was standing in the middle of a s.p.a.cious room.
In an uncomprehended state, Reiji looks restlessly at the surrounding trying to catch some kind of understanding.
A bonfire was lit in a seemingly underground room without window, and a gigantic pattern drawn on the floor is faintly emitting light.
4 young girls were on the pattern in equal intervals, and while 3 of them were kneeling as it is, one person has stood up. It seems like the other party who greeted Reiji not long ago was the young girl standing up.
“Uwa!?”
Reiji who had turned his attention to the young girl direction involuntarily averted his sight. The young girl’s figure was very close, and because of that one would hesitate to look directly at it.
The young girl with light blue waist length hair was wearing a white gown, but the material was thin enough for her skin be seen completely. Moreover, she does not seem to be wearing undergarments, and everything was exposed. That thoughtlessly thin and transparent look was an even more bewitching appearance than being nude.
The girl seemed to be about the same age as Reiji, but seeing her abundant chest inappropriate for her age, Reiji’s face redden.
Although it was courtesy to look away, turning his sight unconsciously to glance was unavoidable for a healthy boy.
“Eh? Ah….!”
Upon seeing the state of Reiji and recalling the figure of her own body, she covered her body with both hands while shyness colored her face red. However, it seems even more tempting with such a gesture.
Additionally, this appearance of the young girl is the official clothes for the summoning ceremony.
It is also part of the plan that 4 people involved in the summoning ceremony are all good looking young girls.
“……”
“……”
A throat clearing sound was heard coming from behind those young girls while an awkward atmosphere surrounds the 2 blushing person who are averting each others eyes and keeping silent.
[Kohon!] (TN: Ahem! / coughing slightly)
“Ah!? Ex, excuse me!
The summoning ceremony has been completed safely. Pope holiness, Cardinal holiness.”
The young girl came to her sense suddenly with the sound of throat clearing, and turned around behind in a panic to give her report while kneeling.
As a result, Reiji noticed at last that there were people other than the girls in this place.
An old man in a regal priest robe sat in a spot that is one step higher, and people wearing similar robes stood around him. Besides, several muscular men holding long bishop’s staff waited near those people.
Although the cough previously was from a standing man in his prime who was wearing a robe, the young girl reported to the old man sitting on the throne.
Reiji who wasn’t able to understand the situation was able to tell the old man held the highest social status in this place.
“Well, you have been troubled. (TN: I have put your through trouble.)
Well then, please accompany hero-dono here.”
“Yes.”
Receiving the old man’s instruction, the young girl turn back and held out a hand to Reiji.
“Hero-sama, this way please.”
Reiji was invited by instinctively joining hands and lead towards the direction of the old man by the young girl.
Reiji was averting his eyes from the young girl’s body, although he walked without disobeying.
When guided to 3 meters away from the old man’s throne, she release Reiji’s hands and stepped back. Naturally, Reiji stayed at the spot.
Being brought before someone who seemed to have a high social position, Reiji was at a loss about what sort of stance would be good to take, and in the end remained standing for a talk with that figure.
“First time seeing you, hero of another world.
I am Artorius the IV (4th), the current pope of the Church of the Sacred Light.”
“Hero of another world? Church of the Sacred Light? Pope?”
Reiji revealed his bewilderment due to numerous words flying at him suddenly.
From the young girl previously, he understood he was called a hero, but he does not know why. Reiji neither holds a special bloodline, nor memories from previous lives.
In addition, this unfamiliar word “Church of the Sacred Light”. He could imagine that it was some kind of religion from it’s written words, but that was a name he have never heard having lived up till now. Although he can still understand the job t.i.tle Pope and also it being said as the top management of a religion, there is no sense of reality.
In the confusion of this abnormal situation, Reiji failed to notice the obvious sense of discomfort which should have been noticed by right. That is, having a conversation in j.a.panese with the old man in front and young girl previously who are obviously not j.a.panese.
“Well, It is understandable to not know too.”
Here is a different world from the one Hero-dono has been staying in till now.
“A different world……”
Upon hearing those words, a ‘voice’ is recalled within Reiji’s mind.
『It’s a summoning from another world.』
The ‘voice’ during that time said so. The exchange with the ‘voice’ that was lacking in reality like a dream was rapidly becoming clear in Reiji’s head.
Summon from another word, in another word to be summoned from another world. That is, someone summoned Reiji, and as a result he was brought along to this place, this kind of meaning.
“Did you guys bring me here?”
“Indeed, that’s right.
To summon hero dono who will save us from our dilemma, we held the summoning ceremony.
“Then, that ‘voice’ too?”
“‘Voice’…?”
To the Pope with a curious expression, Reiji talked about the event that happened before coming here.
“Hmm, you never know, there is a chance that is the voice of Sacred G.o.ddess”
“Sacred G.o.ddess?”
“Yes, this world’s great creation song , the deeply benevolent G.o.ddess-sama.”
Reiji felt a doubt in the words of the Pope. Although the ‘voice’ appearance was not seen in the end and has merely heard, it did not seem like a sacred kind existence at all.
However, Reiji was able to understand that stating that kind of words here would make things complicated. Hence, lets return to the conversation.
“So, what is the reason for summoning me?”
“As already mentioned just now, we are caught in a dilemma now.
2 years ago, an evil G.o.d was revived and demons race have moved actively.
The heart of people is disturbed, and going along among them to the extent of countries.”
“Well, Evil G.o.d? In addition, demons……”
Reiji flinches from hearing words that are advancing towards a threatening direction, but the Pope did not respond to that despite noticing. Intoxicated, he continues to speak.
“Evil people must be stopped, the world must be managed with right teachings.
With hero-dono as the leader, I want to suppress the evil G.o.d and their underling, the demon king!
“Plea, please wait a minute!
For me, such power…”
Noticing he was about to be appointed to do an impossible thing, Reiji frantically tried to stop the Pope’s words by pushing both palms forward.
At this moment, something happened.
A huge flame was suddenly shot from the 2 palms Reiji held out.
“UWAAAaaaa!?”
“NoWAAAaaaa!?”
As a result of holding it out before, flames went straight as it is, flitting overhead the Pope and burning the walls and throne.
In shock, the Pope screamed while tumbling down the throne. Surrounding aide and escorts of religious soldiers rushed over to the frantic Pope and helped him up.
“Eh? Ah? Eh? Wha, what on earth…….?”
Reiji confused by this sudden event is unable to do anything but to stand around and watch over the development.
Hair roasted as a result of the flame pa.s.sing his head, the Pope who was helped up has certain aspect resembling a Kappa (river child, j.a.panese folklore) or a fleeing soldier.
“….get…”
“What?”
The Pope announced something, but people nearby was not able to catch it due to the low volume.
“Capture him! Arrest that person! That is no hero!
He is an underling of the Evil G.o.d who impersonate and interfered with the summoning ceremony!”
Although the surrounding people were not able to react to the sudden cry initially, soon the imperial command from the pope was received and several escort of religious soldiers stepped forward and surrounded Reiji.
“Eh? Wa, wait please… … its different, what I did just now ……!”
Those religious soldiers did not possess a listening ear to hear my explanation, preparing to use the bishop’s staff held in their hands to knock Reiji down.
“d.a.m.n!? This is not a joke!”
Though the situation can’t be grasped, just as it is then, Reiji only understood that this can’t be a good experience. Witch hunting in medieval Europe and inquisition crossed his mind. To be named an Evil G.o.d’s underling by the top of a religion, only an unchanging end could be imagined.
“Nu, Wait!”
Reiji dodge a downwards swinging staff at the last moment by twisting his body and started escaping from that place.
However, in a situation surrounded by several people and would be caught immediately, he was half desperate.
However, unlike the expectation of Reiji himself and his surrounding, Reiji displayed astounding physical ability by breaking through the encircle and sending the religious soldiers flying.
“What? My body is…. light!?”
Bewildered by this unimaginable speed and power shown, Reiji immediately recalled a voice.
『Oh, be at ease okay? Because I will boost your physical abilities to maintain the status quo.』
The ‘voice’ that time said my physical ability will be boosted. Is it this?
“Anyway, now I’m saved!”
Running in the opposite direction from the throne, Reiji stuck the door from the top of his shoulders with that force. He had thoughts of forcing open the door even if it was locked, but contrary to his imagination, it was blown away.
“Oi oi, are you serious…”
Reiji was surprised that the boost to his physical ability was more than expected that it’s a little creepy, but now is not the time for that.
Running up the stairway before the door, there was a peaceful hallway of the cathedral.
People who were coming and going turned towards Reiji’s direction with strange looks, but Reiji who could not afford to care about such a thing ran towards a direction that seems to be an exit.
Pope “M, My hair~!?”However, don’t worry about that point as as misfortune is a plan to obtain a peace of mind.