Chapter 4: Exile

After finishing my bath and changing clothes, I was guided by the butler to Marquis Karazuka’s office.

The butler knocked on the large double doors, and after hearing a voice from inside say “Enter,” I was led in.

Inside, it looked exactly like what you’d expect from a capable noble’s office.

It was bright, heavily furnished, and everything—from the desk to the sofas to the carpet—looked incredibly expensive.

With a large window behind him, Marquis Karazuka gestured for me to sit, so I took a seat on the sofa, and he sat down across from me.

The ever-capable butler quickly prepared tea for us, placing it in front of us with a speed that almost seemed like magic.

Actually, it might really have been magic.

This is a world where Skills exist, after all.

“Let’s get straight to the point.
…Ah, I realize I haven’t asked your name yet.
I am Lector Karazuka.
Tell me your name.”

“My name is Senba Gamon.”

“Hm.
Senba Gamon, is it?
An unfamiliar name.”

“Oh, right.
In this country’s style, it would be Gamon Senba.
My given name is Gamon.”

“I see.
Then, Gamon, I will be blunt.
We cannot keep you in this country, Telgen.
You will have to defect to the neighboring kingdom of Jordan.”

“…………What?”

Defect?

Why is this suddenly happening?

“I understand this must be confusing, but if you remain in this country, you will be killed.
In fact, I would be the one ordered to kill you.”

“Why…?”

“Because His Majesty and the Prime Minister see no value in you.
I do not know the full extent of your Skill, but to those who intend to use the Hero’s power for war, you are deemed useless.”

Hearing that, my immediate thought was, “Then just send me back to Japan.”

But based on all those light novels and manga tropes, I already have a rough idea that going back probably isn’t possible.

Honestly, I do miss Japan.

Especially now that I’ve experienced the bath and toilet situation in this world.

Japan, where you can take a bath anytime, really was an amazing place.

And toilet paper.

And bidet toilets.

Those were truly incredible inventions.

But at the same time, I can’t deny that part of me is actually enjoying this sudden life in another world.

Well, that might just be because I still haven’t fully grasped my situation yet.

“Of course, I will not simply cast you out.
Along with purchasing your belongings, I have prepared some money as a parting gift.
I will also assign someone I trust to escort you to the neighboring country.
Furthermore, I intend to introduce you to a local figure who can arrange housing for you there.”

…Money, an escort, and even housing arrangements?

That’s almost too generous—it’s kind of suspicious.

What exactly is he expecting from me?

“What do you want in return for going this far?”

“Hah, you ask quite directly.
As one of this nation’s senior officials, I cannot tolerate such lawlessness…
But perhaps that reason alone is not convincing enough?
Of course, I have my own motives as well, but I have no intention of explaining them to someone who has no choice in the matter.”

I see.

That’s fair.

…No choice, huh.

Well, he’s right.

If I stay here, I’ll be killed, and I have no power to escape on my own.

In a world where monsters apparently exist, I can’t survive alone.

It’s unsettling that Marquis Karazuka has his own agenda, but the fact that he’s being honest about it makes him seem less like a bad guy.

…Though if that’s a lie, then I’m completely screwed.

“…………Understood.
I don’t want to be killed, so for now, I’ll do as you say.”

“Good.
I appreciate it.
I would rather not bear the sin of ‘killing a Hero’ myself.”

“By the way, I should at least ask—
is there any way to return to my original world?”

“I’m afraid I do not know.
It would not be strange if such a method exists, but this is our first time performing a ‘Hero Summoning.’
At present, the one most knowledgeable in this country would be Cardinal Mamanga, who proposed this, but he is merely a cunning old man—I doubt he knows either.”

Apparently, what summoned me was a ritual called the “Hero Summoning Ceremony.”

It is said to be a secret technique of the Holy Etarsis Church, to which Cardinal Mamanga belongs.

The Telgen Kingdom, desiring a powerful force to invade other nations, piled up gold coins—equivalent to a significant portion of the national budget—under the pretense of donations to finally secure its use.

Then they gathered the powerful nobles of the country and performed the one-time-use “Hero Summoning Ceremony,” which resulted in summoning… me.

And the Skill I demonstrated as the expected Hero produced… Umaibo.

…Honestly, I can’t blame them for getting angry.

Still, is it really okay for Marquis Karazuka to casually reveal such top-secret information?

Well, I am directly involved, and maybe this is part of his plan too.

That said, it’s clear he’s been holding in a lot of frustration.

“Oh, and one more thing.
You may wish to learn how to return to your original world, but it would be wise to avoid getting involved with the Holy Etarsis Church.
As you can see from this incident, they are rather… suspicious.”

“I figured as much.
I’ve never heard of a religion that doesn’t smell like money.”

“Hah, it seems some things are the same even across worlds.
…For now, get some rest today.
However, you will depart early tomorrow morning.
These matters tend to worsen if delayed.
Also, understand that you will be treated as dead.”

“Understood.
…But just so you know, I can’t guarantee I’ll act according to your expectations.”

“That is fine.
To me, you are merely one move in a larger plan.
However, do refrain from spreading that you are a Hero summoned in this country.
It would put me in a very difficult position.”

“Got it.”

After finishing my meeting with Marquis Karazuka, I was guided back to my room by the butler.

“……………………Phew, it seems he accepted it somehow.”

In the now-empty office, Marquis Karazuka let out a sigh.

While he had not lied to Gamon, the number of things he had concealed weighed heavily on him.

The “Hero Summoning Ceremony” carried out this time had indeed been approved by the Holy Etarsis Church.

However, that approval had been given under the assumption that “a Hero would not actually be summoned.”

After all, this was the summoning of a Hero.

If such a thing were to succeed, it would mean that the world itself required a Hero.

Yet, at present, the world was at peace.

Under such circumstances, no one who knew the situation believed that a plan to “summon a Hero as a weapon to invade other nations” would succeed.

And yet, a Hero had been summoned.

This fact shocked Marquis Karazuka.

At the same time, it meant that a crisis was approaching the world.

Furthermore, the king and the Prime Minister, seeing no benefit in the Hero, immediately attempted to eliminate him to cover up the evidence.

This left Marquis Karazuka utterly stunned, and he hastily intervened to stop them.

It was not difficult to imagine why the king and the Prime Minister had taken such action.

Most likely, if a Hero were summoned, they had been strictly ordered by the Church to fully support and nurture that Hero.

Supporting and raising a powerless, useless Hero—how much effort and money would that require?

For the upper ranks, who cared only about invading other nations and gaining new territory, it would be an enormous burden.

In that case, it would be better if such a useless Hero did not exist at all.

They intended to kill the very Hero they had summoned and silence Cardinal Mamanga with money, erasing the incident altogether.

It was a despicable act, but considering the greed that consumed this nation, it was undoubtedly the truth.

“In any case, I have managed to arrange his escape, but I must determine why this Hero was summoned in the first place…”

Sensing that the situation was growing more troublesome by the moment, Marquis Karazuka placed paper and a pen before him to write a letter.

“The Church is not foolish.
They are likely keeping an eye on Cardinal Mamanga, who would keep quiet for money.
I must contact the Church discreetly.”

Muttering to himself, Marquis Karazuka dipped his pen into ink.