"No, no, wait a second."
"Of course, Adept. What is it?"
"You pull me from my home world without my consent..."
"Yes."
How can he say it with such an innocent face?!
"And I don't even get to be the chosen hero..."
"Yes."
I mean, not as if I wanted, but... really now?!
"And I do not get any privilege, like an overpowered ability or whatever..."
"Yes."
And here I was complaining about characters who get them!
"And you do not even know how to send me back?!"
"Yes."
Is it karma for trash talking the genre? If so, whoever is up there, some deity, perhaps an eldritch one... very funny! You have a wonderful sense of humor! I had a ton of fun! Ha-ha-ha! Can this spectacle end now? No?
"Can I... finish reading the prophecy now?", asks the "sage".
"Can I at least learn who you all people are? I mean, I can put 2 and 2 together, you, guys in white cloaks, are some form of church fodder..."
As I say it, people in the church – except the old man I was talking to – start to nervously look at each other.
"...and these 3 generic fantasy low level characters are supposedly the 'chosen hero's party'?"
The old man laughs a bit, and replies:
"That would be correct! My name is-"
"Actually, do not bother. I am pretty sure I will never see you again, as it is how it usually goes. You are an 'old, wise mentor' of the 'hero', meaning you will die in act 2."
The dwarf Rogue makes a few steps towards me and says:
"Please, be a little more respectful... that's the Archbishop, effectively the leader of Mother of Origin Church."
Oh... that complicates manners. The guy is right, I probably shall not pick a fight with de-facto leader of religion. In a medieval world, no less. However...
"Am I wrong tho?"
The robed figures tense up, and Alaric – I think Archbishop called him Alaric – puts a hand on his sword. Is he stupid? Does he not know that pulling a sword from a back scabbard is practically impossible? Why even use back scabbards?... oh, right, bad fantasy. At this moment, I think my mind clears just enough to process all that happened... finally, I can talk back normally.
"Oh, and what are you going to do to me? Kill me? Imprison me? But am I not 'legendary Harmony Adept'? From what I've seen, it took you a lot of power to summon me. I do not think you will get another legendary healer, now will you?"
People at the crowd start to look at each other and whispers start anew. I hit the mark. They need me. In that case, I can bargain.
"Fine then. I will 'Mighty Hero's' personal Cure Wounds dispenser. All I ask in exchange is too look into sending me back. But, like, look into it really well."
"How can you-", starts the elvish witch, but Alaric stops her.
"Elaina, let it go. It is clear that this person has no honor."
"Honor doesn't exactly pay the rent."
They are stunned again. Finally, the Archbishop opens his mouth again.
"I... see. I think an answer that will satisfy you is in my possession."
The "Hero's party" shifts its sight to the old man. Unlike them, he understands how to speak with someone who is not interested, I will give him that.
"It is evident that the lord of demons has some sort of... artifact that allows them to traverse the worlds. It is how they came to our innocent lands, after all. Not unlikely that you will find a way to return to your home after you help Lord Alaric to slay the fiend."
Smooth talker. Even if the old man lies, I have no ways to disprove it, nor do I have any other options. And if he doesn't... can it be that the "Demonlord" is also a transmigrator? Perhaps even my compatriot? Nah, the chances are too low. If there are multiple worlds, there are countless universes where Demonlord could come from, and even if they came from my home world, chance that it is someone from my country are infinitesimal. However, it is not like I have a choice here.
"I see. In that case, my partnership with Sir Glorious Swordface would be beneficial to both sides. I am sorry if my words and rude behavior insulted you, wise Archbishop."
I am not sorry, but even I know where it's time to step back.
"There are no grudges held, young man. After one appears in world unfamiliar, it is natural that they are confused. May the Goddess bless you on your journey."
I can feel how anger builds up in Alaric and... how did he call the elf again? Elaina? Well, they are stuck with me now, and considering I am just a support, it is their role to carry me, not the other way around. Quite a reasonable development. I'd rather take a back seat and let the "big and mighty heroes" play their fetch quests... if they don't take too long, that is.
I, as well as the 3 adventurers, leave the church and stop in an alley to the side of it. It is obvious how followers of... what was the name again? Origin Mother? Well, it is obvious that the followers of this religion really wanted to push me away faster. I didn't mind. I am, however, forced to socialize with these people...
"Well, what's done is done. When are we moving out?"
"You... you are just going to pretend like nothing happened?!", yelled the hero.
"And pray tell me, what happened? Being rude to whatever place the Archbishop takes in your kingdom's hierarchy? Well, I do not exactly care, and the old man himself doesn't seem to care either. So why does it bother you so much?"
"Because... he raised me! When I lost everyone, he picked me up, and raised as his own son!"
Ouch. Of course he is an orphan. All of them are. However, I really didn't want to embarrass him in front of his own father. I feel like an asshole now. I mean, I was an asshole to people in the church, but... that makes it awkward.
"In that case, I am sorry. This time, sincerely."
"Ugh... as long as you just do your job and don't do stuff like that again..."
I will do stuff like that again. Just not in front of Alaric's father.
"In that case, when do we move out, mister Alaric, miss Elaina, minster...", I start, suddenly realizing that I still don't know how to call the dwarf.
"Ha! Name's Boldwyn! I mean, not really, but the full name is too long and unnecessary. Everyone calls me Boldwyn. Or Bald-win!"
Unlike Alaric and Elaina, Baldie seems to be in high spirit, despite the farce that I started in the church. I like him.
"I see. Well, name's Kyle, it is nice to meet you."
The awkward silence hang in the air. Starting from Boldwyn, then Alaric, and then Elaina started to laugh. Even though, differently – Boldwyn was almost rolling on the ground in laughter, Alaric was just continuously chuckling, and Elaina was hihi-ing. And here I thought I am the one to roast everyone here.
"What is wrong with my name, exactly?"
"Ah, it's... it's nothing, really!", said Alaric.
"It just sounds so... weird! Yeah, that's all! You really are from another world!", said Elaina.
"Kyle is the name of Emperor Rahanor's pet dog!", said Boldwyn, as he was literally rolling on the ground and hitting the pavement with his fist. Pavement was starting to crack.
Yikes. What a way to kick a man when he's down. From a happy salaryman, to a rude deputy, to a dog. That's quite an evolution. Just backwards. What makes it even worse is that swordsman and the witch started to laugh even more when Boldwyn said it out loud. It seems like they were not going to tell me that. What a wonderful party I got into.
"You... you may want to pick a pseudonym! Seriously, nobody will take your seriously with a name like that!", said Alaric, finally stopping laughing and wiping a tear on his eye.
I doubt anyone would take us seriously with attitudes like this! Although, some animosity is still present in his voice.
"How about... Kai?", suggested Elaina, "Pronounced as Ky, which is first half of your name, but sounds more native to the world, and... not as a dog name."
I already feel "dog name" becoming a running gag in our journey. God, whoever you are, Mother of Origin or whatever... if you hear me, do not let this become a running gag. I am an atheist, but, if you truly exist... please? But "Kai"... not half bad. Funny. Even when I literally get to another world, I am still "role playing". I guess you can remove a player from D&D, but can't remove D&D from a player. Maybe this journey won't be that unbearable. However, I need to ask the real question. I lean against a wall of the church and say:
"So... what's the 'Legendary Harmony Adept'?"
3 adventurers look at each other in disbelief.
"You... do not know?", asks Elaina.
"Of course I don't know! I just got into this world, what, 5 minutes ago?"
"No, but... are you not the Harmony Adept?"
"Yeah, well, in the Isekai genre, commonly a person gets powers when they teleport to another world. In my home world, I was just a normal guy."
They start to whisper among each other, but I can clearly hear "Are we sure we got the right guy?" and "We shall ask His Benediction to attempt the ritual again". Can't blame them. They can't be less sure than I am. From the very moment I was summoned, I didn't feel any incredible power in my body, I didn't hear some unknown voices to talk to me, and I sure didn't see game UI appear in front of my face... although, the last part is good, "system" novels are the worst.
"Like, what is that Harmony Adept guy even supposed to do? Do I have some spellbook where I can look at all my spells?"
Alaric, who seems to be the most prophecy brainrot spreader, answers me:
"We... don't know? The only thing the prophecy says is the following: 'The legendary Harmony Adept will be summoned from the world of lightning and symbols, and with their summon, the victory of the Chosen Hero is unavoidable'."
Vague as always. That's the shitty fantasy prophecies for ya. Jeez, what is even my skillset? I did shit on "system" subgenre, but... I would not mind getting a UI telling me what spells do I have. Pretty please? Maybe some providence will tell me what I can even do?
It seems like "some providence" did, in fact, happen, as muscular, scarred and sunburnt hand appeared from the darkness and put a knife to Elaina's hand, while also pressing her against a body of whoever was the assailant. The girl yeep'ed and seemingly lost consciousness. Great. We lost one of our damage dealers. If we also lose Sir Glorious Swordface and Baldie, I sure won't be able to repel whoever it is.
"Just look at you! The 'Chosen Hero'? Heh! Perhaps such a rich boy will have enough money to share with us?", said a crude male voice.
It wasn't some assault on the hero. It was basic muggers. Alaric put a hand on his sword and tried to pull it out. To no avail.
"Do not even try it! Do as much as move a muscle, and the girl is dead!"
Despite the warning, Alaric still, after a few attempts, managed to pull out the sword from the scabbard. And that's why nobody ever used back scabbards in actual history! How did he even manage to do that?! Some stupid "chosen hero" buff? Boldwyn, however, was already ready to fight, holding his daggers in reverse grip in front of himself.
"Tsk... boys, let's just kill them all! If they will die to us, no way these idiots would save the world!"
The bandit slashes Elaina's throat, and she collapses, lifeless. Damn it! I may not care about these idiots, but... seeing them die is even worse than seeing them be alive! But we still need to think rationally! We are in a narrow alley. Terrible place for a Rogue to fight, so, despite Boldwyn seems to be competent... there isn't much he can do. Let's just hope that the hero is not bad at his jo-
Alaric scream so loudly that he is probably heard on the other side of the world and starts... spinning attack?! N-no! Why?! Why would anyone ever-
The very moment his back turned to the enemy, the muscular man did a singular thrust forward, piercing Alaric's body with a one-handed sword. The sword was plunged deep, probably, to the heart, considering the place of entry. Despite all the rich clothes, the hero had no armor... and even less skill and IQ. Yeah. We are dead. What a great day to start an adventure! Hell, no, I can't spend time on complaining, I just saw my 2 party members die in front of me, and I am about to die as well! Think Kyle, think!
"Hey, you! Dog boy! You are a healer, right?! So heal!"
"They are dead! I am probably a low-level healer, no way I can-"
"Just try, god damn it! I will keep the enemy away!"
Boldwyn rushed forward. Despite area was terrible for him, his agility and mastery over daggers was amazing. However, the mugger easily deflected all his blows... but wasn't be able to get on offensive. That being said, the murderer previously said about "boys", so he is not alone... god damn it! If I am not getting these 2 guys up, no matter how bad they are, the fight is as good as lost! The situation is desperate! I may as well try!
What healing spells even exist in D&D?! I can't think straight! The only thing I can remember now is...
"Cure Wounds!"
Boldwyn and his opponent stopped as the green light engulfed near-dead body of Alaric. Cure Wounds is the weakest healing spell, it is only good for minor damage. Alaric can as well be at death door, I knew it can't do much, but nothing else came to mind, so-
Suddenly, Alaric, still lying on the ground, swung his sword. He may not have finesse, but... holy shit, his strength! The bandit's body was slammed onto a wall of the church, leaving the wall with a big dent. Scarred mugger cried in pain... and then his life was no more. However, it was no all. From the shadows, another blade appeared and our Rogue dwarf barely managed to reflect it. We couldn't even see the enemy; how can we fight?! Wait, but what if...
"Cure Wounds!"
Now, I use it on Boldwyn. His body was perfectly fine, but... yes! The glowing in the jade color started radiating from his body, lightening up the alleyway, revealing 2 more enemies in front of us, for 3 total, if we include the dead guy. I couldn't make out their faces, but it didn't matter. What did matter is that Alaric – who already was on his knees, with his back wound being completely healed – and Baldie now saw them, so these 2 rushed straight in!... leaving me behind! Great!
I run towards them so that I will be in range... wait, range? That just made me remember that "Cure Wounds" is applied on touch, but... not only I managed to completely cure a mortal wound... but I did it from a distance! That... that's not right! This realization also made my mind work better: the "Harmony Adept" title doesn't specify that I'm a healer, right? What if... I am just a utility support? Well, no way to test it better than...
"Haste!"
In my mind, I targeted Boldwyn with the Haste spell... and it worked! Orange glow started to flow around the dwarf, as his movements got 2 times faster!... wait, really? That is not how Haste works! In this world... do spells work in more literal way? And incredibly more powerful, too!
"Wh-what's going on?! We had no intel on the buffer on his team!", said one of the bandits in a grumpy male voice, as Boldwyn slices his neck wide open dashing right past him.
"Intel"? So they did have an intel on us?... were they not just some random muggers?
Unfortunately, I couldn't think about it more in my mind, as I suddenly realized that we lost the sight of the 3rd enemy... because they were right behind me right now, with his sword piercing body through the spine. I didn't even feel the pain. Just life leaving my body. The sight became hazy. I heard Alaric and Boldwyn screaming to me, but I couldn't make out what they said. I had strength for one thing only...
"Spare... the Dying..."
Suddenly, all the dizziness was gone. I was perfectly fine... if not for the blade in my body, but it was of a less concern. I grabbed the sword that was sticking out from my stomach, not letting the enemy to pull it off. When they realized they can't get it out, they left the sword and started to run, but...
"Haste! Haste!"
I tried to apply Haste to both Alaric and Boldwyn, but realized that Boldwyn already had Haste applied to him... and yet, the orange light was glowing bright, and the gears of time were spinning faster and faster. Oh my god. My Haste stacks. Boldwyn got even faster. I didn't even see his movements. But I was certain: he was moving that fast, that his body started burning, like a meteor going through the atmosphere. Without me even processing that, body of the third, and last enemy, has fallen down to the ground. In the next moment, seemingly slow and clumsy dwarf was already in my face.
"You alright kid?!"
"As much as one can be alright after being pierced through... can you guys, like... remove that sword? Since my mind is no longer in haze, it hurts like crazy."
In an instant, Baldie was already behind me, pulling out the blade with incredible strength... it was even more painful than being stabbed!
"Cure Wounds!"
As expected, the obviously mortal wound on my body, alongside damaged intestines and stomach... regenerated in a second, or probably even less. What kind of power do I even have?
"Elaina!"
Alaric rushes to Elaina's dead body and falls on his knees in front of it. I... understand, really. It was hard even for me, to see her like this. But to Alaric, who was her childhood friend, understanding that she is dead...
"You are the healer! So heal her!", he screams.
"She is already dead. And it has been more than a minute since her death, Revivify won't work. And I doubt I have stronger spells. I do not think I can..."
"We won't know if we won't try!", he responded.
He... is right. He may be incompetent swordsman, stupid adventurer and rude receptionist, but... he is right about one thing. We won't know if we won't try. And that is especially the case for me. Let's thing straight. She is dead. I come closer and touch her neck and arm. No pulse. She is completely dead. It is... a perfect way to test just what kind of monster I am.
"Cure Wounds."
It shall not work. It can't work. It is the weakest spell. This spell is barely good enough to heal minor cut. The spell that could resurrect her right now would be Raise Dead, or even True Resurrection. It can't be possible that the weakest healing spell-
The wound on her neck seals shut, and the elf's eyes flutter open, dazed and confused. But the one who doesn't understand what just happened is me! Me! Since when does Cure Wounds resurrect the dead?! I may not be a professional in playing the support, but I know very well it is not how it works! Long distance Cure Wounds, Spare the Dying that just prevents people from dying at all, and stackable Haste! Just what the hell am I?!
"You... you really did it!", says Alaric, looking at me with an awed smile.
Do not look at me like this. Out of all people, not you. And not now.
"I... but how?! That... that was literally the weakest healing spell I had!"
"Does it matter?! You brought her back! That... that's incredible! I am almost ready for forgive you for your behavior in the church!"
Yeah, thanks for nothing, got it.
"What... happened?", asked Elaina.
"Nothing! You just were unconscious as we dealt with the-", started Alaric, but I interrupted him.
"You died. One of the bandits sliced your throat. Death was, most likely, instant."
Elaina looked at me with dread. But the one who was truly afraid was me.
"I was... dead?"
"Yes. And I brought you back to life... even though I was not supposed to be able to!"
The girl was not okay. Her hands were shaking, and her eyesight was focused at one point... I can't blame her. I wouldn't know how it feels to die.
"Hey, Dog Boy. It's all well that ends well...", said Boldwyn, but then smiled, laughed and shrugged, "But in Seven Heavens, you are something special!"
I am "something special"? "Something special" doesn't even start to explain it! I would understand if I used Revivify and it would be more powerful to extend duration to 10 minutes, or an hour... but a basic, weakest healing spell resurrecting someone from the dead after being dead for more than a minute?! That is an outrage! Nonsense! Bullshit!... but perhaps...
"You truly are, the legendary Harmony Adept then, aren't you?", said Elaina.
Despite her previous condition... she smiled. She smiled as if the gaping wound on her throat had never existed. As if she didn't die. As if none of it happened. Yes, maybe it is exactly what the "cheat ability" I got on being summoned was, but... if that's the case, what else can I do? And more importantly... what do my other spells, that are much more powerful than this, can do? Suddenly, the idea of the adventure doesn't seem that bad.
"So... when are we moving out on the journey?", I say, with a smile being on my face for the first time since I stepped into my apartment.
Wait... does it mean I became exactly what I hate so much?! God damn it!