On The Other Side: I Quit Being Human

Upon coming out of the summoning chamber, I am greeted by the sight of an empty hallway. It perfectly looks like a more sophisticated version of a medieval castle’s hallway.𝚘𝑣𝔩xt.𝒸𝑜𝚖

There is a window right in front of me, and I can only see a blue sky—a normal sky.

“You seem surprised.”

At Valeria’s word, I turn my head to her. “Well… Since I am apparently in a Demon King’s Castle, I was expecting a dark sky littered with cursed flying creatures.” I can notice immediately the ‘what is this retard talking about?’ look on her face, but I wisely ignore it.

“Didn’t you hear from Lord Ilschevar that we are living in the same world as humans?” Valeria quirks her eyebrow. Gesturing at the window, she says, “We are sharing the same sky, but a different land. Of course, you won’t see anything you mentioned earlier.”

‘So, does that mean I might see them on the land?’ Valeria specifically talked about the sky, not the land. She even said that Demons lived in a different land from humans. From that, I can conclude that while the sky is pretty normal, the land is not.

Since my thought has been breached so many times, I don’t even bother to spill my thought out as I just turn my head to Valeria for confirmation. “You are not wrong. However, I can guarantee you will see many weirder creatures in the land of human.”

As I expected, she can read my mind. ‘This is not good. How can I curse her, if she can read my mind?!’ I have already an inkling that she will do many things I don’t like to me in the future. Therefore, I feel the need to be able to curse her in my mind to keep my sanity.

“You can curse me openly.” Valeria smirks. “But, I’ll beat the soul out of you whenever you do so.” And there goes my hope.

“Can you read my mind?”

“Unless they are illiterate, everyone can read an open book.”

If it was in my previous world, I would think my facial expression is too easy to read. Upon coming into this magical world however, I don’t think my facial expression is the one that gives away my thought. “Are you saying that my mind is unguarded?”

Valeria slightly quirks her eyebrow in surprise, then smiles slightly. “You are a bright one, aren’t you?”

Still, I am not really proud of the fact that I managed to discover such a trivial thing. “How can I protect my mind?” This is the more important part.

“We will talk about it tomorrow.” Valeria smiles graciously. “Today, I will guide you around the castle, and explain a general knowledge regarding this world.”

The way she gazes me makes me feel … Like a child. ‘Why does she have to be so tall? Isn’t it cheating being a woman and 6’5″ tall?’ Still though, I am not that insecure about my height. As long as I have enough power, people will still fear me even if I’m short.

“Alright, let’s follow me.”

By the time I register her voice, Valeria is already ten steps away from me. I quickly catch up to her, then walk in haste just to maintain my position besides her.

Valeria turns her head to me, and lightly shakes her head. “You really have many things to learn.” Even without her saying it, I am already aware.

“Very well. Before I start my explanation about this world, I will give you three chances to ask me a question of your own. Use it well, for I will not give you any chance to ask me a question after I finish my explanation.”

I hum to myself. ‘Isn’t normally the opposite? How should I know what I am confused about if I don’t even know what she will talk about yet?!’ Luckily, I can always stay calm in almost every situation; I just have to be witty with my question so I don’t just waste it.

After deciding what I want to ask, I clear my throat to add a dramatic effect. “Kuhum! My first question is, what is the name of this Kingdom?”

Valeria turns to me, and looks at me with ‘Is this retard serious?’ look. I honestly don’t think there is something wrong with my question, but I guess it is too trivial for Valeria’s taste.

“Do you know what is Lord Ilschevar’s last name?”

“Yes. What are—”

Upon coming to a realization, I really want to punch myself right in the gut. ‘Why would a king have a different last name from his Kingdom’s, Layland?!’ Like I said though, I am someone who can stay calm in almost every situation. Therefore, I regain my composure quickly.

“You have wasted one of your chances; there is no refund.”

“I am aware of that, Miss Valeria.” I sigh, then come up with another question. “What is the reason of the Heroes Summoning?”

“That is a good question.” Valeria nods her head lightly. “Demons and humans have been at each other’s throat for a long time. Though Demons never sparked conflict with humans first, they seem to naturally hate Demons.”

She is talking about this matter as if she isn’t a Demon herself. But considering that she doesn’t have horns on her forehead, there is a high chance that she is really not a Demon.

“Countless of war against Demons has dealt a heavy damage to their side. They realized it late that Demons are, in fact, stronger than them. Praying to whatever deity they believe, they were ‘bestowed’ with a Summoning Magic. There you have your answer.”

In other words, Heroes are summoned to this world to help humanity to win the war against Demons. Since it is apparently already a custom, it means may Heroes have failed in their endeavor to help humanity win against Demons.

‘Well, what do you expect? Who in their right mind summon a mentally handicapped Otaku to be a Hero?’ It reminds me about another important part of the summoning. ‘Since all of the summoned people are supposed to be ordinary people, how can they help in the war?’

“How does the summoning affect them—the Heroes?”

‘This kid is a genius despite looking like a retard, isn’t he?’ is what I can read from Valeria’s face. I am not hurt in the slightest; I am used to getting looked down upon by many kinds of people to the point I don’t care about what they think about me. Furthermore, the gaze Valeria is giving is not really insulting.

“That is what makes your summoning, and their summoning different,” Valeria starts explaining. “Your summoning gives you nothing but the right to be in this world—to be not getting expelled from this world.”

It must have something to do with the law of this world. “By getting a right to be in this world, you are allowed to be alive, and keep your form upon your arrival in this world.” By her explanation, I can conclude that without a right, I would’ve come here as a dead body.

“The Heroes Summoning however, not only it gives them the right, but also the privilege to access every resources this world has to offer.” I feel the need to stop Valeria speaking, as her word is already making me uncomfortable. However, she keeps talking while ignoring my reaction.

“Their growth rate is monstrous, and they don’t even need a certain talent to master anything. As long as they want to, they can be good at everything. Even a few years back, there were some Heroes who managed to kill a Demon King.”

‘Valeria, stop! Stop making me regret ever being summoned to this world! How can you call that a privilege? That’s a fucking cheat! I want to be a Hero too!’ I am close to shed my tears. I am once again having the urge to break Ilschevar’s horns. ‘If not because of him, I would have been able to enjoy that privilege!’

“In other words, the Heroes are given something called System by the humans’ ‘deity.’ I don’t actually understand how it works, but that is what the System does to the Heroes.” Valeria might not know it, but I know very well what kind of “equipment” System is. Therefore, I am close to tears once again.

I know the world is very fond of screwing me over; it hates me. But still, ‘Why does even this new world hate me too?!’ This is just too much. Valeria seems to notice my inner turmoil as she stops walking.

“We’re here.” Or not. “Relax, you are overthinking about it.” I would have believed her, if she had said I had something else too.

“Although they are great, you can be greater. Demons are naturally superior; as long as you work hard enough, you can even stomp down their ‘deity,’ our future Demon King.” Valeria winks playfully.

Her word is pretty much carrot and stick; she just wants me to not lose hope. I am not losing hope, but I worry about the result. Still, I can’t do anything about it. Like she said, I just have to overwork myself to win the game.

I look to the ominous looking 7 feet tall door in front of me, and wonder about what lays behind it. Judging from how sturdy the structure looks, it should be a door to a storage room … Or a torture chamber.

‘Now that I think about it, why is there no one in the castle?’

Creak.

I can’t muse over the thought any longer as the door is already opened. “Welcome to the hostage room,” Valeria mutters. Without waiting for me, she steps inside the room. Due to the aura the room is giving off, I gulp dryly before following suit.

Looking around, I can see cells filled with people on both side of the room … All of them are humans, just like me. Valeria stops walking, and faces my direction. Gesturing her hand at the cells, she says, “Introduce yourself to your soon to be former kin, Layland.”

I slowly turn my head to the cell Valeria is pointing to, and I am greeted with the burning gaze of the people in it.

“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Layland Kleinhaus.” With a smirk, I introduced myself.