The Church of Dracarys stood tall, its golden spires glistening under the midday sun.
Inside, the grand cathedral was packed with nobles, priests, and scholars—all waiting for the Hero Summoning Ritual.
Ryle leaned back against a pillar, arms crossed, as he observed the intricate magic circle carved into the floor.
Beside him, Thea adjusted her old clothes, the same ones she wore before she met him.
"Are you sure you don't want to wear your new ones?" Ryle asked.
Thea shrugged. "These are easier to move in."
He smirked. "You just don't want to admit you like them."
Thea puffed out her cheeks but said nothing.
A moment later, the ritual began.
A pillar of light shot up from the circle, illuminating the entire church.
The priests chanted in unison, their voices blending with the hum of ancient magic.
Then, a silhouette appeared.
Slowly, a teenage boy materialized in the center of the spell.
His clothes were strange—
A black school uniform with silver buttons.
His eyes darted around in confusion. He stumbled back, muttering in a language no one understood.
"W-where am I? What's going on?!"
Thea blinked. "What language is that?"
Ryle sighed. "Japanese. The usual."
Thea tilted her head. "Usual?"
"Heroes are always summoned from another world," Ryle muttered, taking notes. "And more often than not, they're Japanese."
As the boy looked around in panic, a faint glow surrounded him—
The Blessing of Translation.
Suddenly, his voice shifted—
"Where… am I?"
The priests gasped. "The translation magic worked! He can understand us now!"
The crowd erupted into cheers.
A high-ranking priest stepped forward, holding an ornate sword.
"Hero," he said, voice filled with reverence. "Take this—the legendary Hero's Sword."
The boy hesitated, then reached out.
The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt—
A shockwave of golden light burst outward.
The cathedral shook, and the stained-glass windows rattled.
The priests fell to their knees, whispering prayers.
One of the scholars rushed forward with a crystal orb, placing it near the boy.
The numbers inside the orb skyrocketed.
"T-this can't be real!" the scholar stammered. "His power level is—off the charts!"
The cheers grew louder.
Ryle sighed, jotting down notes. "And just like that, they trust him completely."
Thea glanced at him. "You sound annoyed."
"Because I am."
Ryle stepped forward, clearing his throat. "Mind if I ask you a few questions?"
The boy blinked. "Huh? Who are you?"
Ryle pulled out his notebook. "Ryle Astoria. Journalist."
The Hero looked confused. "A journalist?"
"Someone who records the truth," Ryle explained. "Unlike these priests, I don't believe everything at first glance."
The boy hesitated, then nodded. "Okay, I'll answer."
Ryle flipped a page. "Name?"
"Ryo Takahashi."
"Age?"
"Sixteen."
"Last memory before arriving here?"
Ryo frowned. "I was… walking home from school when I saw a weird light. Then, I woke up here."
Ryle scribbled it down. "Did you feel anything strange before the light?"
Ryo thought for a moment. "Now that you mention it… I felt like something was pulling me."
Ryle narrowed his eyes. "Pulling you? Like a hand?"
"No, more like… my soul was being dragged."
Ryle write it down.
But before he could ask more—
A group of noblewomen rushed forward.
The noblewomen were elegantly dressed, each one more beautiful than the last.
"Oh, great Hero!" one of them gushed. "Allow me to serve as your knight!"
"No, pick me!" another cried. "I am an S-rank mage!"
A third stepped forward, her voice seductive. "I can offer more… personal training, if you wish."
Ryo's face turned red. "W-wait, what's going on?!"
Ryle sighed, pinching his nose.
"Right. You're new to this."
He gestured toward the noblewomen. "There's a tradition here. If the Hero is male, he's given a harem of strong women."
Ryo nearly choked. "WHAT?!."
"I'm really gonna get My own Harem?!"
The noblewomen surrounded him, bombarding him with praises.
Ryle took more notes. "Yep. Happens every time, nice to be you."
But then—
He noticed Thea sulking beside him.
Her arms were crossed, and she was pouting.
Ryle blinked. "What's wrong with you?"
Thea huffed, looking away. "Nothing."
Ryle tilted his head. "You sure? You look kinda mad."
Thea's face turned slightly red. "I said it's nothing!"
Ryle shrugged. "If you say so."
He had no idea why she was acting weird.
As Ryle left the Church.
Flying while carrying Thea.
Xander watches from distance. Smirked.
"Ryle. You're not a human, Are You?"