“Another hot summer day!”

“Yeah” [Sure it is the same hot summer day for her but for me this is too irregular summer since it is my first time that I'm not hearing any cicadas]

She looked at me with her amazed expression. “The heat ain't bothering you isn't it?”

After a short silence I replied with my usual low-pitched voice. “...I'm used to it. Since it's almost as hot as this from where I used to live.”

“Hmm. And where do you supposed to live before you came here?”

“A place in Japan, it is called Kyoto...”

“What? —Marley looked at me when I cut my words, then she seems to remember something and say— “Oh, if you're worrying about being a hero of the demons don't worry Paul did tell me last night. Hehe, though I wasn't really convinced but when you appeared before me earlier and flashed those crimson-violet eyes to me I'm sure, you're a demon”

“What?? My eyes were crimson? Moreover, you're not bothered that I'm a demon? Scared or angry?”

“Yeah. Earlier it was blood-like but it reverted back to normal cyan now. But I think you're hotter that way, sheesh if you only got here decades earlier, I might go out with you. Well only if you ask me first though. Hehe... Anddd no, I don't mind you being a demon and their hero.”

“...You're an odd one” I said with my low-pitched voice.

[Literally an odd one, because it is usually that all the 8 races here hate the demons.]

[And it is pretty ironic since she is working in a Guild who supposedly first goal is to exterminate demons]

“Maybe, maybe it's on my blood, I don’t really know about the most complex stuffs. But dwarves did participate at countless holy wars and did sell their self-forged weapons to humans, and also demons alike. It doesn't matter on how or what they will use it for as long as there is profit a dwarf will sell. So, you could say that demons and dwarves have some sort of you know brotherly-connection or more specifically a client and server bond.”

“I see... This maybe out of blue but why did you choose to work as a receptionist?”

“I know you'll ask that, everyone does anyways, given that my brothers and sisters were renowned as foreman, weapon or armor smith or the likes, adventurers, and builders. Well, that is because I love to see those young adventurers come and go, guide them to their victories, how they're promoted and earn achievements that come with titles.”

“...”

“Well, my dwarven blood still draws my attention for precious ores and stones but for me those things are equivalent to a smile of an adventurer which you helped to grow. Their joy when their long journey and hard work paid off. So yeah, I love being a receptionist.” —She smiled at me and somehow I felt its warmth, then she continued—“Now my turn, what were you like before you got here? I mean your world, your appearance. I heard and read many folklores and myths about previous heroes that they are not the same as when they were in their original world after they are summoned.”

“... My world is a complete opposite of this one. No magic, single race on the surface, and others that make it full of boring shits. I'm a grown-up man who used to live alone until—.”

[Huh?]

“What's the matter?” she asked when I suddenly paused.

[Again, something has been forcibly engraved in my mind.]

“Ryuji? Are you okay?"

Suddenly, in the midst of the confusion this thought appeared or got in my mind drawing all of my scattered thoughts to itself.

The battle style of spear and rapier from the Mytennheims, magic knowledge and adventure guidance from the Chiyo, Paul, Christina, Ichiro and even Cazius, the history of this world and how it repeated itself, the power and knowledge from Erabella, and finally the love, care, and support from Liliana.

All of it has met the conditions.

[Tutorial Finished]

I looked back at the destroyed city only to see nothing but plain grasslands and replied faintly to the dwarf. “...Yes... Sorry”

As I began recalling the contract that I made with Bel earlier when I absorbed her gem, words come out of my mouth. “Putting past aside, I have a resolution. And that is to…”

It was back when I was held captive in the Imperial Army camp.

~~~~FLASHBACK~~~~

"I just left you not an hour ago, but look at you now."

My eyes were shot opened out of surprise. Upon hearing the voice, I immediately looked inside the tent but it was just me inside. "Huh? Who are you? Show yourself coward…"

"Who are—. That kinda hurts me and I believe I can't show myself to you."

I suddenly remembered the familiar voice sounded like the female demon summoner that I fought and killed earlier. "Bel?? You're Bel right! You're still alive?" I said still unsure of where is the person I’m talking to.

“Oh, here I thought you already forgotten me, hero. But anyway, back to the topic, right now I am no longer in this world. I'm just communicating you through that ring on you hand. But I believe those foolish humans call this soul."

"..." I looked my handcuffed hand in my back and witnessed that a ring that mysteriously appeared at my hand glows violet.

"I'll tell it all to you later. First, I’ll explain the current situation you're in, that man, Cazius is trying to frame you for all of the mistakes he had made on the Imperial Army's rout—"

[I already figured it out but...]

"Hold it! And why do you think I'll believe in those shits?" I said with my usual low-pitched voice.

"I may be your former enemy but please listen to me. Stop acting like a spoiled brat, you good-for-nothing 25 years old salaryman!"

"Get out of my mind!" I was very surprise when I hear her say that. But that is enough to prove me that she is not deceiving me. Now that she knew everything about me, I already lost the battle of thoughts.

She giggled softly and said “Listen, if you let them do as they please it may cause you to be exiled at very least. Because I don't think they can kill you... But if you listen to me carefully there is another way than letting them play their pieces...and more importantly, you want to avenge Lily, right?"

"..." By hearing her word through my mind it made me look to the ground and grieve once more.

I suddenly imagined Bel having a sarcastic smile. “You want to return to Kasumi? then all you had to do is listen."

Once again, I was surprise by her words. It made look up and replied wholeheartedly. "Fine. Tell me everything you know."

I decided to not interfere to what she’s going to say and give all my ears to her. Suddenly before she even began, I feel her emit serious aura.

“Okay where do I begin… First, I need you to know that I am the one who summoned you here. Me along with my 12 commanders but unfortunately even with our combined magics it is still not nearly enough, that’s the reason why you landed in the cursed forest and not in the altar we made. The prize of your summoning also took out two of them while the seven got captured by the alliance, the remaining three fled somewhere. The toll that it took to me is the continuous declining of my power, you noticed it right? When we crossed blades on top of the wall. The only thing I can do now is to give you all my remaining strength and entrust you all my wishes, assemble my remaining commander they will plead their loyalty to you, just show them the magic you will get from the gem and I’m sure they will help you find a way to return to your world, after this I will trade my soul for the ranger that I killed earlier… My only wish is… is to stop the game of those puny gods, we are sick of being their pieces. It’s just a shame that because of my own weakness I relied to you in the end. Please accept my contract.”

It was a long silence. She didn’t cast any further words and neither do I. I almost thought that the one who said those words is different person.

After a long silence I put my resolution into words. “No. I won’t do it… I will not carry the weight of your wishes, not alone. I will restore your body, every single inch of it. And together we will bring down those scums up there. You really think that after you summoned a demon you can escape that easily? You and I shall hold onto each other’s soul. I accept your contract! Give me your curse.”

~~~~END OF FLASHBACK~~~~

Somehow, I think back then I felt her warm tears flowing out even though I’m just talking to her in my brain.

By the time Marley and I reached the canyon it was nearly dusk.

And from the view on top of the canyon all that I see is bloodshed caused by those adventurers. Adventurers that we evacuated on the night of the fall, the only one that noticed me was the incapacitated Kobold leader. It raised its hand onto my direction hundreds of feet on top of the cliff clearly seeking for help. That’s the last thing he could do before a sharp blade carved his neck.

I looked at Marley who’s catching up to me. And with my usual low-pitched voice I said “Stay there. No matter what happens don’t look below.”

“Wha?... Why?” the dwarf forcibly replied while still catching her breath.

“Just do it” my originally cyan colored eyes turned crimson red that it made the dwarf obey my words.

I jumped from the top of the canyon not paying attention to the fact that it was at least a hundred-foot drop, completely blinded by rage and hatred.