First summer in Kyukei Island was always the hottest time of year. Heat shimmered through the windows of Yudaichi Hall, and my uniform collar stuck to my neck with sweat. Outside, I could see the forest line where real challenges waited. Where monsters prowled. Where my training was finally paying off. My fingers drummed against the desk—a rhythm matching my restless heartbeat.
"Hooii, dreamy prince!" Akira's whisper cut through my thoughts. "What're ya dreaming about?"
"Shut up, muscle-brain," I muttered back.
Akira grinned, his scarred knuckles flexing. "Haha, that's my forte! But I hit bullseye, huh? You're thinking about the hunt."
"Yes, my training's wasted sitting here. All those years preparing to reclaim our kingdom, and now..."
I gestured at the classroom. "This."
"That's life, princ—"
"Please. Silence." Professor Takemi's voice cut our talk, though he didn't stop writing.
Akira smirked and leaned closer. "Hey, how about diving at the usual place after class? We could hunt like usual."
My pulse quickened. "I've got time."
"Let's make it a race! I'll beat your record today!" His grin was infectious.
Despite myself, I smiled. "Thanks."
"For what?"
"For the invite."
"Oh, we've got a mellow prince here~"
"Geez, sh—"
"Akira! Yuzuki!" Professor Takemi's voice cracked like a whip. "Your attention. Now."
The classroom fell silent. He finally blew up.
"Akira, your grades are abysmal in this subject. I know this bores you to death, but focus. This knowledge could save your life in battle." He paused, his face looked like searching for the right words. "At least, it might save you in the midterm exam."
The class erupted in laughter. Akira's face flushed as he gritted his teeth, but he nodded.
Professor Takemi turned to me. "And you, Your Highness. I know your grades excel in nearly every subject, including this one. But set an example for your people. Focus is essential in any battle, am i correct?"
Only Akira dared to snicker. The others held their breath.
"Thank you for your concern, sir." I kept my voice neutral.
"Good. Now, let's continue with this phenomenon's explanation."
I let the professor's words fade into background noise. My mind turned inward, cataloging my abilities like I'd done a thousand times before. My physical strength was quite stronger than a Mad-honey Bear—the kind that made even our Patrolling Rangers nervous. Meanwhile I already had all four basic-elemental magics mastered. Space magic and spellbreaker was still...incomplete. I urgently needed spatial storage and warp ability. As for spellbreaker, despite my void attribute potential, the technique remained frustratingly out of reach.
My fingers traced the edge of my desk. If only I could—
ZOOONG
The sound resonated through my bones before I heard it. White light flooded the classroom, washing out color and shadow.
My head instinctively snapped toward the window.
Everything had stopped.
The birds hung frozen mid-flight. Professor Takemi's chalk hovered an inch from the board.
Akira's smirk was locked in place, his eyes unseeing.
WHOOOSH
White wind swirled through the room, but nothing moved. Not even the papers on the desks. Nor the hair on my classmates' heads.
Dammit. Why now? When I still haven't mastered those spells!
WAAAAMM!
Reality shattered. The classroom dissolved into an endless white void. My chair shifted beneath me—no, transformed.
I looked down. A wheelchair?
"Hellooo... ah, sorry! I summoned you backward!"
As I heard that young and cute voice, I turned slowly. Behind me stood a woman in her thirties, wearing a comfortable jacket that looked more suited to a shut-in teenager than an entity who could freeze time and reshape reality. Before I could move my mouth, she immediately bowed.
"I'm so sorry for the trouble. Summoning you without notice was terribly rude. Please accept my apologies."
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Despite the insanity of the situation, habit took control, stifling the panic that might have risen seconds later. I rose and matched her bow—half-gesture, with proper etiquette. "Please, I don't deserve such formality, miss."
Her head shot up, eyes sparkling. "Wha—thank you, Prince! You're exactly like the rumors said! Kyaa, I've always fantasized about meeting you~"
A chill ran down my spine. "May I ask who you are and what's happening?"
"Eeehh~ That's not the reaction I expected, you know~"
"What did you expect then?"
"You know—panic, questions about where you are, excitement about arriving in a magical world!" She pouted. "And of course, no one else gave me a proper greeting. Just groans and curses!"
I just quietly waited.
"Hmmph~ What's with that flat expression?" She huffed. "Fine. I am Freya, guardian of a dimension called Nirs. I need your help to save a world called Aerium."
"How? And why?"
"Heee~ You're maintaining that handsome flat face despite everything, huh?" She looked genuinely frustrated.
I said nothing.
She sighed. "How can you be so calm? Um, mister...?"
"Call me Yuki."
"Okay, Yuki. First, you need to understand—there are many guardians who serve the Absolute One. You know how some religions worship multiple gods? Those gods are us, but we don't dare claim equality with Him." Her expression darkened. "Some guardians forgot that. The worship went to their heads, and they earned His wrath."
Interesting, but not relevant. "So you're a guardian. Where am I, and what exactly do you need?"
"This is my private room within the Nirs dimension. No one can enter or leave without my permission or God's. So relax—our conversation is secret." She winked.
I kept my expression neutral. Still no relevant answers.
"You're not dead. I wouldn't dare decide that. Your world is under His direct watch. I borrowed you with His permission to help develop Aerium."
Finally. The actual answer.
"Please help me, Yuki. I need your assistance so badly!" She bowed again.
My mind raced through the implications. My world had magic too, so dimensional travel wasn't conceptually shocking. But why me specifically? And was that sparkle in her eyes some kind of charm ability?
"Brief me about this world and what you need 'specifically'."
"You're my hero~" She brightened immediately. "My world, Aerium, is a magical realm. But its arcana—that's magic particles, like mana in your world—isn't being used enough. This creates Rotting Arcana, which devours the overflow. If this continues, it'll consume all arcana. When that happens, Aerium will die."
Her face fell. "But here's the problem: arcana used with evil intent also creates Rotting Arcana. And evil can come from any being in Aerium, there're not even demon race or Demon King."
"Then, what do you suggest?"
"Find the sources of evil and eliminate them. Fix any broken systems. And please—share your world's knowledge with us!"
"In short, you want me to clean up your mess."
"Oh, my hero~"
"And you want my world's technology?"
"Pleeeease..." The sparkle returned.
"It won't affect me." I kept my voice flat.
Tears welled in her eyes.
I sighed. "Fine. How long, and what support do you provide?"
"It's not about time—it's about places. I'll send you to specific locations. Finish each task quickly, and it'll go faster. I'll grant you all knowledge of Aerium, including its history, plus any assistance I can provide!"
"I'll do it then. How should I proceed?"
She smiled brightly, as if a massive weight had lifted. "I'll trust your judgment completely. I've heard about your good deeds. It's all yours, Yuki."
"You're really shoving all your troubles onto me."
She paused, then nodded rapidly with that pleading expression again.
"Let's start, Miss Freya."
"Perfect! I'll teach you Aerium's basic system in ten minutes. It's game-like with stats—a safety measure for my people. You can check details yourself on your status plate. I hate spoilers."
A digital board materialized in the air, listing abilities:
- Insight (grayed out)
- Clairvoyant (grayed out)
- Appraisal
- Transformation (crossed out)
- Charm Aura (crossed out)
- Mind Ears (crossed out)
- Magicless Float (crossed out)
- Multicast (crossed out)
- Flash Jump (crossed out)
- Dying Breath (crossed out)
- Flame Organ
- Water Body
- Earth Skin
- Wind Touch
"Why are some grayed and others crossed out?"
Her expression crumbled. "I've summoned others before. The first three were idiotic perverts. The next three were good kids but shut-ins from their world. The reincarnated one was reliable but easily distracted. Another idiot."
"The grayed ones were gifts to people I cared about—people who earned my attention through their efforts and...sufferings." She's darkened for a moment before gestured back to the list. "These are what remain. I really hoped someone would pick the elemental ones. I put so much creativity into them, but no one wanted them."
I clicked on the details. Each had significant drawbacks. "The disadvantages are severe. Of course no one chose them."
"What do I do?" Fresh tears formed.
"Convert them to blessings. Fire Blessing instead of Flame Organ. Remove the disabilities, keep the advantages."
"Will you pick them all if I change them?"
"No."
"What? But—"
"Let me grant them to companions I choose. If they amplify my allies' abilities, I'll use them strategically."
"Really? Then... okay! Finally, someone appreciates my creations!" She grinned.
"I'll take Appraisal ability and transfer my current stats exactly. Start immediately."
"O-okay. So: Appraisal ability, Aerium knowledge, current stats, and Elemental Blessings in storage. That's all?" She looked disappointed.
"Yes."
"Alright. Simple is best, I suppose." She sighed. "Oh! Say 'board' softly to open your status plate. Only you can see your own, even in public. But your chosen ability, Appraisal, will be able to look at others. You'll understand when you arrive safely at the city."
Arrive safely? What happened to the previous heroes?
"I'll start your journey now! Contact me anytime—I'll be on standby~" She struck a cute pose. She immediately chanted something, hands weaving through complex patterns. A portal materialized behind me.
"All set. Safe journey, Yuki~"
I didn't respond. My mind was already racing ahead, anticipation thrumming through my veins like before a hunt. In a mere second reality blinked. When my eyes opened, I stood in a dark forest. Ancient trees towered overhead, their canopy blocking most of the sky. The air smelled of moss and earth and something else—something electric. Magic.
A translucent screen materialized before my eyes:
[New Objective: Begin]
I smiled. Finally, an adventure worth having.