Beneath the pouring rain, the smell of earth mixed with its waters filled the place where my trial was being held. Everyone present repeated only one word: "Execute him."
If it had been up to me to choose between coming to this world or staying in my previous boring life, I would have undoubtedly chosen the first life. But I was forced into this, also by people who think they are righteous.
"Come on, traitorous hero, what are your last words before you fall into the abyss?"
At the edge of the cliff, far above the ground hidden by the warm gray mist, a little smoke drifted upward along the cliff, slapping our soaked bodies with gentle warm bursts.
I had heard countless superstitions from the villagers living here about the abyss, which was either full of monsters and villains or death due to bad luck. And in my belief, fighting those monsters was worse than death.
"We will meet. If we meet, I will be the villain you will regret creating."
Gradually, I raised my voice as I threatened the crowd that only united in sound to see me destroyed.
"Now, by the decree of the greatest rulers, you shall be judged, Ashien, the hero, after the countdown: 3."
I felt drops of sweat crawling from the top of my body, passing over my shivering torso.
"2."
Do it already, without this stupid countdown. You're only increasing my tension.
"1."
The executioner, who had bound my arms and legs together, pushed me. Damn you, man, you know I would struggle to survive under this cliff, and now you judge me with the verdict of death and cast me off.
As I fell, my beautiful hair fluttered through the wind, increasingly rapid, and I felt the heat rising along my spine as I descended.
But… how did I come to this place after everything? Let's rewind and pinpoint.
After the evening classes, my three friends and I gathered in front of the high school gate to roam around the small town together.
"Finally, you're here, Lythar, Kayla, Darin."
"How are you, Ash?"
"I'm fine. The important thing is, where do you guys want to go?" I asked, intending to try new things that the others were unaware of. But Kayla answered that she wanted us to go with her to the grocery store to buy sweets for her little sister.
The others agreed, but I didn't really want to go, as if a suppressed instinct in my body whispered that something bad was about to happen in the next moments.
"What's wrong, distracted, Ash?"
Kayla patted my shoulder, reassuring me. I felt embarrassed with myself, which made me straighten my posture to appear confident. I was heavily influenced by fairy tales and novels about heroes who didn't want to show their emotions to others and remained in their cold shells, so I didn't want to worry Kayla.
"Nothing, Kayla. I was just thinking about how much fun we'll have on our tour."
She nodded and moved ahead of me, taking the lead in the group. We were nothing more than a silly bunch of 17-year-old high school teens.
Lythar and Darin stepped closer, cornering me between them as they whispered. Each took a turn, starting to pour out what they wanted to say.
"Since when does Kayla have a little sister?"
"Since forever."
"It's strange that Kayla is leading the group."
"That's normal."
We stayed that way until we reached the grocery store where she wanted to buy sweets. When the automatic door opened, it appeared less like a store entrance and more like a black hole.
We all froze, even wanting to flee, but unfortunately, that vortex pulled us in, leaving dust behind.
Inside the vortex, each of us began doing strange things. I cursed Kayla for crying while the others mocked the pitiful situation we were in.
It wasn't long before a light appeared at the end of the spiraling vortex, which toyed with us like a washing machine. We approached it until its brightness blinded us.
We all fell onto something solid. What now?
When we opened our eyes, we found ourselves on a red carpet. Following its path with our eyes, we finally saw an old man wearing a golden crown and a red robe, seated on a throne.
"Welcome, heroes. Without further ado, let the sorcerers step forward to measure the strength of our saviors." The man, who seemed to be an authority and a king to the sorcerers he summoned, waved.
Isn't it foolish to call boys heroes who haven't even reached the legal age?
Two men stepped forward, wearing robes resembling cloaks that covered their entire bodies, with hoods hiding their faces.
"Stand in your places, heroes, so we may measure your great power."
We all stood, tension tempered by fear. First, the sorcerers measured the powers of the other boys.
"Lythar, your power is fire. Darin, water."
The sorcerer approached us, raising his arms and muttering silly chants under his breath. A blue circle formed around Kayla and me. Moments later, the strange effect disappeared.
"Kayla, your power is healing. As for Ashien…"
"Come on, sorcerer. Am I a great hero?" I lowered my head. "Even though I was summoned to this strange world?"
The sorcerer patted my shoulder, slightly lowering his hood. A faint sparkle in his eyes made him look like a noble man torn by life.
"Ashien, you know the world has its fate, man. Life doesn't give us everything we want—"
"Just tell me."
The sorcerer sighed and looked down.
"You belong to the non-magic class."
"Huh?"
Lythar and Darin laughed for a while, mocking the class I was not drawn to.
"Why are you laughing, guys? Can't you help me or something?"
They didn't stop laughing until they wiped their tears after finishing. I looked at Kayla, pleading for her help too.
"Kayla, please stay by my side. These guys have let me down."
She brushed her hair back with a slight tremor in her eyes, seeming nervous as she formed a lie to soothe my desperate need for help.
"Sorry, Ash. Even though we're childhood friends, I can't help you in this matter. It's in your genes. So…"
"Yes, I know that."
I rolled my eyes toward the king, who had been listening to our conversation.
"So, Your Majesty, if the others have power or the like and I'm the only marginalized one, isn't there any compensation for what you've done… like returning me to my world, for example?"
The king bowed his head downward, then slowly lifted it.
"Sorry, currently we have no way for you to return to your world, but there is a difficult path for you."
I swallowed.
"What is it?"
"You must defeat the Kings of Destruction who threaten our land and world. But the problem is, you don't even have power in that pitiful form of yours."
I felt a knife pierce my small heart. If you summoned me here without my consent, you better fix what you've built, scoundrel.
Despair took hold as I fidgeted with my fingers, thinking of a way to defeat these Kings of Destruction.
"But I will compensate you by letting you live a modest life in a village near my kingdom."
What?
"Aren't you the king? It wouldn't be hard to give me a palace, a wife, and servants."
"You bastard."
The guards approached me, brandishing their long spears, intending to sever my neck.
"Alright, alright, I was wrong, guards. Just lower those sharp spears."
The guards lowered their spears and stepped back while maintaining their stance.
"I'll increase the salary you'll receive as a hero, and this bonus is because you're from another world," the king continued.
From afar, one of the servants approached, carrying a full sack. I took it from his hands and checked its contents.
"Wonderful!"
Inside were about 200 gold coins. I was filled with overwhelming joy.
"Your Majesty, could you ask one of your servants to take me home?"
The king nodded and ordered the servant with his eyes alone. What authority!
The servant walked ahead, motioning for me to follow. I did as he said, waving at my friends with mockery.
"Goodbye."
Before I could take my final step separating me from the outside world, the guards surrounded me.
"Hahaha, you think to joke with me because I'm the hero?"
"Silence, hero. You are accused of betraying the kingdom."
The guards grabbed me and locked me in prison. I spent a whole day in a cell beneath the city.
I begged them for mercy, not even knowing what they were talking about, until one of the guards finally answered me with difficulty.
"Every hero who enters this kingdom and does not fight for it is a traitor."
"But I don't have power, you fool."
"…"
They chose silence. After that day, the guards dragged me from my cell with all humiliation to my trial, known as the abyss.
At its edge, I lived that cursed scenario. After completing those events, I found myself at the bottom, falling onto blocks of solid ice, feeling my back split from the pain of that fall.
"Yeah."
Ding~
[Notification: You have been selected as a player.]
I heard the notification sound echo in my head, and I turned my eyes to find a black window welcoming me with glowing white runic letters.
"Yes?"
Another panel appeared, this time filled with my personal stats. Reading it, my lips twitched involuntarily.
[Player Stats:
Name: Ashien
Age: 17
Level: 1
Class: Phantom User
Lineage: Phantom Ruler]
I smiled happily, but the joy wouldn't last if I realized the predicament I would face after that notice. I heard heavy breathing behind me, carrying warm air.