The metal gate towered above me, easily twice the height of the skull I had called home for the past two weeks. Up close, it looked even larger, its surface made of thick, glossy steel.
For a moment, I just stood there.
Beyond this very gate were people.
My throat felt strangely tight and sore.
Before I could gather the courage to knock or shout, a sharp voice rang out from above.
"Who are you?" the voice said coldly. "Identify yourself!"
I blinked and looked up. Standing at the top of the massive gate were silhouettes of people.
They were armored with bows, spears, javelins, and something that looked like a cannon mounted on the rampart, its barrel already angled in my direction.
'Right. Of course they wouldn't just open the gate for some half-burned kid falling from the sky.'
I let out a sigh and raised both of my hands slowly. "I come in peace!"
A brief silence followed. I couldn't deny that my introduction was the least thing from being unsuspicious, but this was the best I could do.
I didn't know the risk of revealing I wasn't from this world or where I came from.
The silence lasted a moment longer before another voice, calmer but sharp, spoke. "Step forward slowly. If you do anything suspicious, you will be killed on the spot."
I did as told, my feet scraping against the stone in front of the gate. The heat from my earlier flight still clung to my clothes, and I could smell burnt fabric.
A circular rune lit up beneath my feet. I flinched at the sight of it, but sensing the gazes and tension from those above, I knew I had to step on it.
The moment I did, the air hummed and a pulse of mana ran through me. The tension in the air seemed to reduce.
Whispers soon erupted from above. I raised my gaze to the sky. The sun blocked most things I could make out, but I could still see a faint blue screen, like a system window, in front of one of the guards.
A moment passed before the figure spoke again.
"A… level three?" She paused as if confused about something. "Are you perhaps a summoned hero from another world?"
'Summoned hero? Is that what hunters are called in this world?'
I didn't understand what was going on, but if they thought I was a summoned hero, then I had to take on the mantle for now. I couldn't exactly go back to where I came from.
"And what if I am?"
No word came for a moment before the first loud voice rang out again. "How dare you question the commander?!"
'A commander, huh?'
Whoosh!
The sound of wind cutting against someone's body rang in my ear, and the silhouette that had been far from me began descending.
With a loud boom, a figure landed in front of me. I shut my eyes to shield them from the smoke.
"So you're actually a pretty boy, huh?"
When I opened my eyes, they widened instantly. The person in front of me wasn't actually human. It was a female goblin, her smooth green skin glowing under the sunlight. Her chest was full, and even without touching them, they looked soft as hell.
I had seen some crazy things in this world, but I was definitely not ready for a goblin baddie.
The female goblin placed one hand on her hip, the other holding the spear.
She let out a smirk. "Now answer me, pretty boy. Before I smash your face, are you from this world or not?"
I tried to feign a smirk too but failed hopelessly.
[Equalization has failed to activate.]
'She's strong.'
I let out a nonchalant breath. "As I said earlier, what if I am?"
The goblin leader let out a scoff. "Well," she shrugged, "if you are indeed a hero, we will welcome you with open arms, give you meals and women, and make your life that of a king, as long as you can fight. So I ask again, are you a…"
Before she could finish her sentence, I cut her off. "Yes, I am."
The goblin lady raised her lips toward her nose. "Hmmm. I don't know if I should believe you or not at this point."
She tilted her head slightly. "If you are a hero, where do you hail from?"
I raised my finger, my lips parted, but the words caught in my throat.
'Should I tell the truth?'
Even though I was acting calm, I had no way of knowing whether they would end me for being a Meltonian or not. Hell, they could just be playing a game of cat and rat with me.
My gaze darkened ever so slightly, and the goblin lady flinched instantly. "What?"
I shook my head. "Nothing. And for the earlier question, I'm from Meltonia."
The goblin smirked. "So you are a hero?!"
The figures murmuring at the top of the gates suddenly went still.
"He's actually a hero?"
"What's a hero doing here?"
"So our lady's prayer came true!"
"A hero has appeared!!"
The massive gate opened with a loud creaking sound, and hot air spilled from its depths. The gate that had been shut tight revealed a row of chanting guards standing inside.
Elves, demons, goblins, orcs, humans, and different species stood tall. At their center was a beautiful elf with white hair and a blindfold over her eyes.
She took a step forward with the aid of a maid by her side. When she spoke, her voice was melodious, like it could strip all my pain and suffering away.
"Welcome, great hero. We, the people of Avalon, have been awaiting your arrival."
All the guards chorused at the same time:
"We greet the great hero who will fight for our nation in the battlefield of heroes."
"Battlefield of what…?" I muttered under my breath, only for the goblin lady to nudge me with her shoulder.
"Don't you think you should reply, great hero?" she said with a grin so wide it could probably contain my head.
'Shit.'
One thing I knew about overexcited people was that they were trouble.
And these fanatics?
They were the worst of them.