2.1
I was still confused, but this unreasonable situation... This is definitely one of those stories, right? 'It' must've been meaning to send me to a freaking isek---
My train of thought is interrupted as one of the soldiers approaches.
It was a woman with a cold expression and terribly sharp dark blue eyes… Except for the fact she looked like she wanted to murder the heck out of me, she was very pretty. In contrast to her expression, she had a very relaxing dark blue hair, combed in a bun, similarly to a certain famous character with origins in an old eroge. On a whole, she gave the impression of looking at a tempest in the ocean, in the middle of the night.
Her armor seemed to be more elaborate than those of the other soldiers, with a mostly discreet blue cape covering her back. That lead me to think that maybe she was someone in a higher position, assuming they're soldiers of an organized institution.
She looks just a little older than me... Definitely my Onee-san type…
Ufufu...
Damnit, me! I shouldn't lose focus right now!
As she approaches, I'm able to snap out of my distracted state by focusing on her, and her beautiful face and… Her chest and legs are covered by heavy armor---?
Holy shit! An actual armor!!!
It shines so brightly! The metal by itself is already shinny enough, but I think they must also use some sort of oil or something in order to avoid rust, right? Or do they have stainless metal or something around here…? Wait, I'm in an isekai, aren't I? Then maybe even magic---!
Wait! Wait Wait!!! Right now I'm losing focus again, right!? W-well, don't blame me! They say men are idiots, so it can`t be just me, right!?
I'm at a fragile state right now, so it's inevitable I would start to think about stupid, simple things, ok!?
"Hey! What are you doing over here!?"
Guah!!! She raises her voice out of nowhere!
I'm the one who wants to know what the heck I'm even doing here… But I think she is specifically referring as to why I got out of that huge room where everyone else was…
She looks very angry for some reason. But I would still like to try and get some info out of her… In truth I just need one simple answer to know whether or not this actually is what I think it is… Hehe, watch and see guys, the power of educated speech I was trying to teach Tsubaki before!
"I apologize for any potential offense I might have caused, but I'm also very confused right now. I currently have no idea of how I might have ended up here… My name is Kanade Aki, and if it' not too much trouble, would you be kind enough to tell me what I am doing here? Where is this place?"
Nailed it! Haha how was it? I'm not someone who gets easily impressed, but I must say even I was moved by the politeness of my own words. See, Tsubaki? This is how you do it from the get go!
"If you want answers, it's best you return to--- Are you seriously trying to see your own reflection in my armor?
Busted!? H-How did she even notice? Was it that obvious? Am I that easy to read? Is that the reason why Tsubaki always manages to destroy me in our discussions!?
"*Sigh…* Look, pay attention this time. I'll be very clear; this is not your own world anymore."
...
It's come to this after all...
"You've been summoned in order to accomplish a mission. So get back into the throne room, you'll receive your answers in there."
Yup, this is what 'it' was talking about... A hero summoned from another world... And those goddamn cliché phrases totally describing an overused setting... Is it really okay to write another one of these books…?
Look, it's not that I'm not into isekais, very much the opposite actually. In truth, there is nothing I would want more than to escape from my own world… But not when I was forced to leave Tsubaki behind. When will I even be able to see her again…?
Damn!!! This is a really exciting situation for anyone who likes such stories!!! But I couldn't help thinking about Tsubaki... When will I be able to see her again?
'Hurry up, don't make the Goddess wait!"
For now let's just go to get a better grasp on the situation.
"Thank you for your time, I'll do as you say..."
I return to the previous room…
…
…
…
And so, I went back to that huge--- throne room, while that captain(?) stayed in the corridor with the other soldiers.
I find all of those people again, seemingly waiting for me.
"Look, he is back."
Said a blonde guy, a normie if I've ever seen one.
Now that I'm paying close attention, there are some more soldiers close to the walls, and ten people in front of the throne. Plus one person sitting in it.
In front of the throne, from left to right, there`s a girl with sharp eyes and waist-length red hair, calmly analyzing the situation; one small girl with twin tails, who`s uncharacteristically holding a huge shield – or maybe not that huge, but very big in her hands – while staring everyone down with a closed face, like a delinquent… One plain looking boy, who seems to be very intimidated; the normie, with a sword strapped at his waist; and there`s also a perverted boy who is staring at the girls bottoms while everyone else is distracted by my arrival... Seriously...?
There's also one short guy with a bow; a girl who's clearly on the verge of tears, and holding a flower--- no, looking closely it seems more like a wand decorated as a flower… Then there's this one girl with scary eyes, you can almost see a dark aura emanating from her… Not that I'm one to say anything... By her side, a girl with a blunt bob cut hair and a calm look – without any hint of the surprise present in everyone else's faces, if only slightly – she was holding an odd book…
And lastly, a pretty girl, holding an war axe. She only casts a quick glance at my direction, before losing her interest. She then turns back to focusing her attention on the others, watching them silently, and putting up a simple smile whenever someone would turn to look in her direction… Heh…
Of course, there's also this guy who looks like a NEET, walking across the entrance with disheveled clothes and hair, sweaty, and holding a biodegradable (in theory) bag, with a delicious cake inside… Wait, that's me! Not only I'm a proper university student, I also work, ok? I'm not a NEET yet, despite my future plans, ok!? Though my appearance is not very presentable right now…
Anyways…
Sitting on the throne is... Wow... The most beautiful woman I've ever seen... Not that I have much experience with 3D women... Seriously, why do I keep on thinking things that hurt my own self-confidence…?
She has golden hair that goes all the way to her waist and blue eyes that even from far away can make you feel lost in a clear summer sky… She has perfect proportions and unblemished skin, it even makes you wonder whether she's actually human. Her overall impression imposes such respect, that not even I am having any perverted thoughts…
But there's something odd about her… It's almost as if she's emitting some sort of shinning aura whenever she enters my field of vision… No… Wait, what??? She actually is shining! Her skin is emitting a pale white light!!! Just what is she!? Only now do the words of that captain(?) return to my thoughts…
…
It's best to think about this later. Back to reality…
After the normie's comment, everyone turned to stare at me. While the shining woman had a calm expression, mostly everyone else seemed to be nervous and confused. Ah, that girl with a wand that looks like a flower started to cry for real, is she okay? The girl with an axe went to comfort her…
These people must obviously be in the same situation as me…
Well, their clothing already answers my question... Most of them are wearing common brand clothes, just like me, instead of some fantasy world outfit.
Wait isn't there someone wearing some really expensive brand – and so famous even I know it – among them? O-of course… The normie is also rich...
Anyways, I was smiling wryly, almost breaking from everyone's intense staring, when that shinny woman finally broke the heavy mood.
"Welcome heroes! I'm repeating myself, but the summoning art has ended. Now, there should be no new arrivals… Then, I shall begin to explain the current situation."
Well, I'm sure that if they all came from the same place as me, then they should already have a general notion of what's happening. But it's still important to hear the details.
Like this, we all stay calm in order to listen her most likely cliché request, for our help in order to vanquish some sort of great evil, after being summoned as heroes…