The Elf woman was still pinning me down with her gaze.

  “Pray tell, young Ryuji, what is it about your blessing that captivates the heart and stirs the imagination?”

  "You know my name?" I snapped.

  “I was granted but a fleeting glimpse into the tapestry of your souls. Fear not, for my intentions are woven with threads of reverence.”

  "It is nothing, I just didn't expect becoming a musician with magical prowess." I tried to sound disappointed and confused.

  If as everyone else who looked at my system screen said, I was a bard, then my Charisma would give me an advantage on deception- on second thought, why am i unconsciously treating everything as a game? Maybe i should, though. We have little to no real information about this world and it's laws.

  The king and his court were growing increasingly impatient, their eyes fixed upon us, anticipating an answer—or perhaps a pledge of our allegiance to their realm. Clearly no being present in the throne room saw this question coming: "And what would happen if we refuse to partake in this, let's say, mission?"

  Okaya snapped. i should have warned him about his temper and tone. He was clearly annoyed, so were we. but what good would it do to start acting arrogant? I was worried for nothing it turned out, as one of the dukes gave us a clear answer:

  "Regrettably, we are powerless to intervene should you choose to shy away from this sacred quest. However, such a refusal would surely bar your passage back to your own realm.”

  "What does that mean?!" we gasped in union, all of us were taken aback!

  “So you summoned us to this realm, yet you would not allow our return until we vanquish the demon lord?" Mr. Taka accused.

  The Apostle, sensing the king’s growing displeasure at the sudden uproar, stepped forward to restore calm. “Please, noble heroes! Do not fret! It is not that we would refuse to send you back; rather, we cannot. The boon to return to your world will only be granted upon your success in vanquishing the villain! We are truly sorry for this predicament.”

  “That is utterly ridiculous! How can you justify such a selfish course of action? Who will take responsibility for the consequences of your decisions?” we nodded to Mr. Taka's statement.

  But this was only the beginning of a tide of human emotions.

  “We had our own lives and loved ones back home! You have taken everything from us!” Aira cried out.

  A few girls also started to cry and shed tears as big as pearls. I thought to myself, maybe instead of being summoned, If we had died and reincarnated, it would have been a bit less of a toll. We all had things we held dear to us back in home. Not to mention the future that laid before us as the young generation. it is going to definitely take months, if not years, to be done with this 'demon lord crisis'. If they decided to act with such selfishness, even if there was not much of a choice, then we were allowed to also do the same.

  “Couldn’t you appoint heroes from your own world and give this weird blessing or system or whatever to them instead? Why go through the trouble of summoning people from another world to confront the demon lord in the first place?”

  It was Akiyo, breathing heavily out of a suppressed fire of rage inside him. The king, deciding to handle the uproar himself, banged his fist on the stone throne, the sound echoing through the grand hall like a thunderclap. “Order!” he commanded, his voice cutting through the murmurs and cries of discontent.

  “It was indeed a desperate measure we had no choice but to take. The divine blessing required individuals not originating from our universe. Even if we tried, our heroes wouldn’t gather enough power to confront that demon! So we prayed and researched day and night, seeking a solution. Finally, we discovered a way to summon you—those who, with this ‘system,’ can transcend our limits and bring hope to our people.”

  With the king's show of authority and reason, all of us calmed down and went quiet. after a moment:

  “Come on, everybody! These people had no choice either, just like us! Believe me, I’m upset too! But if we don’t take action, we won’t have a chance to go back! Sure, it’s going to take some months, maybe even a few years. But if we help each other and put in the effort, we will succeed sooner than ever!” Mako said, his voice rising with determination, trying to rally everyone around a shared purpose. His passion was infectious, igniting a flicker of hope in the hearts of those around him.

  I mean, that was just logical at this point. The only thing we could manage to do, was starting as soon as possible to get on with it and return to our homes. And this time, this 'Isekai story' wasn't going to take that long. With Mako and I, and everyone's will and passion to achieve our freedom and take back our previous lives, we definitely could make it.

  But, wow! This guy was really trying to cope! Putting on that brave face and all! if i remember correctly, He was a Fighter class. good, he would know the ways with swords and martial arts. I glanced at everyone's reactions. eventually most nodded. Time to lock in and have my mind click! then, I cleared my throat:

  “The least you could do is provide us with adequate support in every way possible, for those who wish to undertake this journey and for those who do not.”

  I only hoped i was using that Charisma stat to my advantage in persuading the court. it would be so grim if it wasn't doing anything.

  “Indeed,” Mr. Taka supported, his tone resolute. “We agree to take on this mission and dedicate ourselves to saving the realm. However, we request the support of the kingdom in return—justice and recognition of our sacrifices. This is not a journey we can undertake alone. We need resources, training, and protection as we prepare to face the wicked demon lord."

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  His gaze swept across the assembly, searching for understanding and commitment. “Let us build a bridge of trust between our worlds, for only together can we hope to prevail.”

  Then, out of nowhere, the rows of silver armored knights kneeled.

  "This is our royal knights’ way to recognize and appreciate noble souls,” the voice of the kingdom’s patriarch echoed through the hall, filled with gravitas. "And thus, seals our mutual agreement and understanding. Let us unite in this pact of alliance!”

  The crowd of regal figures murmured in agreement, a sense of purpose washing over us.

  “We would require of you to kneel, dear saviors,” the Apostle once again gracefully implored, her voice resonating with a blend of authority and reverence. The weight of her words hung in the air, urging us to acknowledge the solemnity of the moment. As we knelt, the atmosphere shifted, filled with a sense of unity and shared purpose. The Apostle stepped forward, her presence stern yet gentle.

  “By kneeling, you accept the responsibility of this pact,” she continued, her eyes glimmering with conviction. “You bind yourselves not just to this alliance but to the people who look to you for hope and strength. Together, we shall forge a new path, one that honors our sacrifices and dreams of a brighter future.”

  moments of shared silence, originating from responsibility passed. then, we stood up.

  “As agreed, we will provide any support available,” the king proclaimed with conviction. “You will be granted rooms to stay in the castle, a sanctuary where you can rest and prepare for the challenges that lie ahead, or continue the rest of your lives safe from any danger. Each of you will receive ten silver coins to assist with your needs, and we will provide tools, weapons and armor suited to your skills and proficiency, free of charge.”

  He paused, allowing the weight of his words to resonate with everyone present, as our anxiety or excitements went up visibly.

  “In return, we ask that all of you partake in a trial training of combat. This training will not only help you gain valuable experience but also allow you to grow stronger and determine if you are truly ready for the journey that awaits you. It is imperative that we do not rush into this battle unprepared.”

  And so they literally gave us a tutorial mission. The room buzzed with anticipation, a mix of excitement and apprehension rippling through our ranks. After all the remaining discussions and formalities had concluded, the atmosphere shifted, a sense of finality settling over the assembly. The king raised his hand, signaling the end of the meeting.

  “You are dismissed,” he announced, “May you take this time to rest and reflect upon the path that lies before you. The trials we face will not be easy, but together we shall stand strong.”

  Now i really understood the weight of all the words. before going out after everybody else, i asked for an additional crossbow and arrows suited beside the Musical Instrument they would provide for me.

  Then, while walking the grand halls, conversations sparked among our group. Excitement mingling with apprehension. We exchanged glances, each of us contemplating the challenges ahead, our hearts racing with anticipation. As the cool evening air breezed, the sun began to set, casting a warm golden glow over the kingdom. It was a moment to breathe, to gather our thoughts, and to prepare for the journey that awaited us. With newfound resolve, we headed towards our 'sanctuary'.

  And yet...

  Something was vexing me, an unsettling feeling that nagged at the back of my mind. I opened my system screen, and my brows went up at what I saw. A message flickered to life, pulsing with an enigmatic energy:

  “You have successfully completed the hidden objective: Ways of Charisma, and kept the ?? class a secret from the royal court. From now on, as you level up, extra points will be added to this stat.”

  I glanced around, ensuring that no one else could see what I had discovered. My two close friends, standing beside me, noticed my sudden change in demeanor. Their expressions shifted from curiosity to concern as I leaned closer to my screen.

  "Something going on?" asked Okaya.

  My relationship with these two was so close we eventually had little to no secrets from each other, perhaps i could trust them with this matter? Our triad was a particular one in the 2 and half years of university that we got close. it had evolved to something very dear to us all. eventually i decided to show the screen, wondering what they would witness.

  Akiyo also leaned in closer, coming out of his own little world in his head.

  Yet to my further surprise, my two friends had no visible reaction upon seeing my screen. They exchanged glances but remained eerily silent, their expressions unreadable. I felt a knot tighten in my stomach, a sense of unease settling over me.

  "do you see this?"

  they both blinked twice: "see what? your character profile?"

  And then it all crashed down on me like a heavy stone. My different screen, the one displaying the hidden objective and the secrets of my unknown class, which now i was sure wasn't a bard or anything else at all, was disguised from their sight—perhaps from everyone’s sight in this world. A cold wave of realization washed over me.

  they simply couldn’t see what I could see. The system I was connected to, the hidden messages and bonuses, were only visible, and different to me. This meant I was not only carrying a secret but also potentially standing alone in my experience.

  Their expressions shifted from confusion to suspicion and worry.

  "what is it Ryuji?" Okaya inquired worriedly, like how he always would when he saw me lost in thoughts. My old habits were getting the best of me, which made me gather myself and shake my head casually. "probably my mistake, thought something changed on my profile."

  "you sure?"

  "yeah, totally." then i shrugged. And i knew those two would look at each other behind my back. I shouldn't worry them further. Today we all had to get along with hard truths. Let's leave it for another time to discuss. But my screen didn’t go away; instead, another message flickered on it, almost as if the system had been waiting for the right moment to communicate with me:

  “From now on, unless you want to, no one else can see your screen. Further, we advise you to maintain this secret act even with those close to you. Additionally, please be prepared for the upcoming tutorial training tomorrow. Aim to reach at least level 3.”

  A chill ran down my spine as I absorbed the implications of this message. This was more than just a warning; it was a directive. The notion that I needed to keep my abilities hidden from even my closest friends weighed heavily on me. I could feel the pressure building, the burden of secrecy growing more intense with each passing moment. I quickly closed the screen, repeatedly commanding the urge to share the secret to subside.

  The idea of having to act normal, to pretend I wasn’t experiencing something extraordinary, felt like walking a tightrope. what dirty play could be going on in this world? And why was i the only one thrown into this mess further? I felt the weight of isolation creeping in. What if I needed other's help, and I couldn’t share the full truth? how would they trust me? and the goal of reaching level 3 felt both achievable and daunting.

  Strategizing it was the only way as of present. not just for my own advancement but also for how I would navigate the unknown path in front of me, of us all. The stakes could be higher than we may all imagine.

  I wasn't looking forward to any of it, and had little time to accept new responsibilities within this new reality.