"Ahhh, another overtime." Complained a single man tiringly walking through the city in the middle of the night. The glow of the billboards or the shuffle of many people smiling and going around with their families doing nothing to assuage the emptiness inside his heart.
The many ho-ho-ho's of the good old men in red and white clothes on the street served only to hammer home how much he didn't like this season—remembering that he still didn't have anyone to return to, nor anyone who truly cared for how he was feeling.
His bright blue eyes and his tight suit garnered a few double glances from some of the women around but nothing registered to him who only wanted to get home and sleep the night away.
"C'mon, overtime on the 25th of December, goddammit!" Grumbled the man, he grumbled to himself but wouldn't dare grumble in front of his boss, after all, he is close to being promoted again.
He works as a logistics manager for a multi-national company and was responsible for the logistics of 4 states already. There isn't something as holidays for him, Christmas was his most hated time of the year as all kinds of problems popped up and it was up to him to manage that.
Working to get promoted is all that was giving some semblance of excitement in his life, he didn't have any family members remaining, hadn't had a girlfriend for at least a decade already, his friends... The last time he met them in person was 2 years ago.
He spends his days going to work and going home. He reads some web novels and light novels because they're fast to read but even anime he has stopped watching because he doesn't want to invest the time needed to follow them.
Given his salary he could be considered is a successful man. Wealthy and with a high and important position in the company. But on the inside, there's just a broken man holding the pieces of what once was a promising life.
After an hour he finally got home, he lived in a penthouse downtown on an expensive side of the city, but to him, that was just an ice sculpture. Beautiful to look at, but empty of any warmth.
"What should I get to eat? Maybe pizza? But, there's no place selling pizza at this time... I think I will just eat some instant noodles and crash out..." He thought gulping down the sudden desire to cry before ending with a saying that his mother always told him when he was sad in his childhood, "Don't cry, tomorrow will always be a new day."
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Daniel P.O.V
'Look at that, Mom. Today is really going to be a new day.' I thought to myself.
After eating some noodles I sat down to read something, same usual, but right now, things are as far from normal as possible.
The moment I sat down, my vision went black. A few seconds later, the world lit up again, revealing a room with a medieval feel. I found myself standing in a glowing magical circle that was slowly fading beneath me. Surrounding me were a few armored knights holding spears at the ready—and I was pretty sure they weren't for practice.
Twelve people in full-body white robes with golden details are kneeling around the magic circle, I can't see their faces because they're bowing, and a 13th person is standing up outside the circle who seems to be conducting them.
'Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore'
"Wow" I couldn't help but mutter aloud. The 13th person is a red-haired woman, probably the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.
Her red hair flowed in a high ponytail, with loose strands framing a face that was both regal and alluring, and her violet eyes were shining with a supernatural intensity(maybe it was supernatural after all). She stood tall, wearing a sleek crimson outfit that fit her perfectly, decorated with golden designs that gave her an aura of power and elegance. It had a high collar and precise cut-outs that combined elegance with a bold touch. While the golden details caught the light, hinting at something magical.
In her hand, she held a golden staff with an intricate circular top, even I could tell that the staff was the real deal, a true magic weapon like in the RPGs. Everything about her presence radiated the vibe of a strong and charming mage.
The labored breaths and the sweat on her brows told me the story, whatever they did to get me here, wasn't an easy feat.
There's no denying it now. I was suddenly summoned to another world.
It happened when I was still getting my bearings, a grave male voice echoed in the chamber.
"Oh…! This is truly a miracle of the gods! Rejoice, priests! For you, have successfully recreated the miracle of our founding father!"
Amid my confusion, an old man, the same who just spoke, with a long white beard approached me, he was clothed like the Kings from fantasy histories, with a golden crown adorned with a few jewels that to me seemed to be shining, a red robe with white designs and he was also holding a golden scepter with many jewels who also were shinning.
'Is this world's fashion to wear RGB gamer gear all around?' My silly thoughts tried to cope with the situation.
Next to him stood a quite handsome young man who seemed to have just entered adulthood adorned with beautiful armor that while it looked like an ornamental piece, the scars and scratches on it proved otherwise. And together with them was also the Red-haired woman.
"The ritual truly worked…"
The red-haired woman spoke, and just now I caught it, both the old man with the white beard and the woman's speech sounded like my own language to me.
However, this scene would likely be unheard of in my contemporary world. Soldiers in armor with weapons drawn, a handsome man carrying a sword that clearly isn't ceremonial, and even in the RPG games I used to play on weekends, sticking to the classics to this extent is rare these days.
"Um, excuse me…" I tried saying to make sure they could understand me.
"Hey, welcome... Welcome! Guest from another world!"
Guest, referring to me, perhaps. The old man with a white beard, smiling with a friendly expression, introduced himself as King Rofus Paran Garic III.
Standing beside him is his only daughter, Princess Anastasia Paran Garic, and her fiancée, Alex. Surprisingly, this handsome young man's profession is a hero.
"Woah, a hero…" I said a bit overwhelmed with the information.
"Indeed. Alex, Anastasia, and their companions recently returned to the country after annihilating the demon king in the eastern continent. He's a hero awarded the Order of the Holy Nebula, First Class, just recently."
I have no idea how amazing this Order of the Holy Nebula, First Class is, but it must be an extraordinary honor because the King is talking proudly about it.
Even in my country, receiving a high-ranking medal is quite a prestigious thing, so I could somewhat grasp that.
"That's impressive… considering, you still seem to be in your early twenties," I said.
"Indeed, I am honored by the discerning eyes of the guest from another world. I have just turned twenty this year."
Twelve years younger than me. I would pay to see the family sunday dinner with that aunt saying 'See, your cousin killed the Demon King and you're still there tilling the fields'.
Now thinking about it, be it defeating demons or even marrying a princess… I can't help but think, what are the responsible adults doing, leaving the fate of the world to such a young man? If you're over thirty, twenty years old is still a child. Not only that, this journey couldn't have been fast as the King spoke about an entire continent away. How many years was this guy fighting? I got a bit annoyed but it wasn't my place to say anything. Right now, I need information.
"So, um, while I do understand that I'm not in my world anymore... where exactly is this place…?" I crossed my arms and put a hand on my chin, seriously thinking.
"Th-This is the Kingdom of Paran… located to the west of the Mystare continent. And, um… as His Majesty and Sir Alex mentioned, the demons were successfully defeated recently." To my questioning gaze, Princess Anastasia answered talking a bit more about this country and the situation right now, she stuttered a little, probably because of how calm I was in this situation.
As it seems, this country repelled the demon invasion, and furthermore, there's a festival going on because the hero exterminated the Demon King.
Moreover, the princess and the hero's marriage is decided, making it even more lively.
"Hmm? Well... from what I just heard, it seems there's no need for me to be summoned here, right?" I asked aloud, but inside I was a bit sad, I thought that maybe I would be truly necessary somewhere.
Something like being summoned to another world or reincarnated into another world usually happens because there's a problem in the world of summoning or reincarnation. Well, at least that's my impression due to manga and anime, most of the time, the story revolves around such problems.
'After all, defeating the Demon King, and the princess and hero getting married… It's like a classic RPG, isn't this the famed happy ending?'
From what I heard, it seems that this country has a bright future, and I don't seem to have any necessary role.
However, to my relaxed demeanor, as I scratch my cheek with a wry smile, Princess Anastasia had an indescribable expression.
"Guest from another world, how about some tea first? In apology for this sudden summons, I'll prepare our country's specialty tea."
As the daughter fell silent, King Rofus cheerfully clapped his hands. With no foreseeable means to return home, I had no choice but to silently follow the king outside the chamber.
Actually, they've been quite polite this entire time. I do not have any marks on my hands or a collar around my neck, nobody shouted yet to 'kneel before the king you filthy mongrel' either. It seems for now, I lucked out. But man... who'd say that being summoned to another world could actually happen… I'm excited for the future for the first time in years.
Surprisingly, I'm amazed at how calm about this entire situation I am.
Probably because I was summoned to the world after the hero defeated the demon king. At least there's no imminent danger to my life, and if I could believe what Princess Anastasia told me, this country itself is peaceful.
"Please have some tea here. …Um, you don't seem to be too surprised, do you?"
After I was lad led to a room in one corner of the royal palace(Quite a subdued place, I think they don't want interruptions in our talk), Princess Anastasia asked me that. Inside the room with a white table, tea was already prepared. There was a luxurious set similar to some I remember seeing in some doramas(Yeah, I tried watching some, a few were based on novels I had read), and I couldn't help but be surprised. What's the proper etiquette in a situation like this?
"Well, no… I mean, I am surprised, you know? But, I have previous knowledge of situations like this, you could say…" I want them to think that I'm used to this topic, it enhances the mystery.
It isn't something that happens many times to a person, but if I think of it as an RPG-like situation, I can somehow stay calm. Or maybe somewhere in my head, I still think I'm asleep.
"Do people from another world have a way of knowing about different worlds?"
"Well, how should I put it? In my world, by what I'm aware of, we aren't able to summon people from another world. Someone being summoned to another world though? That sometimes happens. In that regard, those priests? the white-robed people from earlier? They are actually amazing."
I return a smile to Princess Anastasia, who has a somewhat anxious expression, making sure it doesn't come off as harassment, I think I caught her cheeks reddening a little.
As I approach the table, the maid who was waiting pours tea. A strange tension, like when your manager treats you to a meal permeated the room. To mask that, after breathing a bit of the tea's scent I start to drink the tea in the teacup. The hero sitting across from me then clears his throat.
"Person from another world." He spoke seriously.
"…My name's Daniel Carter, you can call me just Daniel. I'm not the kind of person who likes to be addressed too formally." I think the true talk is coming up.
"Then, Mr. Daniel."
I almost gulped involuntarily at the sight of the hero straightening his back. It seems that being a hero is really something special. There's a kind of aura that makes you take him seriously, like a unique charm.
"To be blunt, we would like you to have children with the princess—Princess Anastasia."
"… What?!"
I spat the tea in my mouth as my brain exploded.