Author's note:

This is my bane~

The Dialog of pain~

This message again:

I'm just a newbie author writing for fun~

Help me by pointing out mistakes you see in the chapter as it will help me improve~

Thank you and enjoy the chapter~ I made this for you guys~ I needed the practice anyway~

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Volume 1 Chapter 12: News from another world

~Nero’s PoV~

Slightly shifting my gaze towards the crowd, I froze as soon as I saw a certain group.

By the far side of the restaurant, I could see four humans seated on a single table. One of them is male while the rest are female.

Among the four of them, I solely focused my attention on a certain yellow hair… which caught my attention. That person is my friend.

Of course I'll be shocked, my friend, who is supposed to be on earth is here on another world.

Finally noticing the others, the three girls were wearing the same kind of light armor. Are they knights?

How do I grab the attention of my best friend? Surely, how would one treats his best friend? I'll just throw something at him~

"Is something the matter?" [Feru]

"Ah! No… Everything's fine~ don't mind me~" [Nero]

As sharp as always, Feru notices what I was doing and glances at the direction I was looking at.

I took the small unused spoon on our table and immediately threw it at my friend to get his attention.

No need to worry, the spoon is clean and I obviously held back… The spoon flies and knocked my friend unconscious…

To which made the remaining three stood up in a panic… One of the three female knights seemed to have noticed me.

Opps~ My bad~ Sorry about that~

"You bastard!" She shouts while her pointing her finger towards me… Ugh, did she use Identify on me?

The other two also looks at my direction. Looks like it's inevitable to create a scene here, I hope we won't break anything.

While I was having a useless thought, the female knight had already closed in with her swords already drawn, ready to strike.

"I shall end you assassin!"

A sound of metal hitting each other rang out. I even saw some sparks on that!

Fortunately, her sword was stopped by a nearby customer, presumably he was an adventurer.

The female knight was shocked to see her attacked was blocked by the adventurer sitting nearby.

To be honest, I was also shocked. I wasn't expecting someone to save me.

I was already prepared to catch the female knight's Swords Strike.

"What're you doing!? Can't you see that brat is an assassin?"

"I would like to ask you as well, what’re you doing!?"

Oh~ This seems really interesting. Also, not to worry, since this is my fault, I'll pay for all the damages and injuries.

By the way, why is this guy protecting me? I think he's a regular here, maybe he knows me?

Looking over them, the other two knights set my unconscious friend on the nearby chair. Really, I'm sorry about that.

After helping him sit on the chair, the two also took out their swords out of their scabbard and surveyed the area.

While other knight was being kept at bay by the adventurer, other customers began talking towards her.

"Missy… I think you've got the wrong person there"

"Odd is odd, so this is quite understandable but I do think you're mistaken about this"

"This brat maybe an assassin but he can't even kill"

"Just look how weak and puny he is"

"Are your eyes rotten or something?"

"The only skill he has is cooking y'know?"

[…]

The other nearby customers continued to speak about me… Are these guys really protecting me? Feels more like an insult though

Well, it was quite understandable though. All the things I've done were really odd, either in my eyes or the eyes of others. I was never really secretive about my fake stats, because of that, I was able to make others trust me more.

“Are you guys seriously saying those in front of me!?” [Nero]

When I've said that, few of the people around have began laughing and/or trying to hold their laughter in…

Maybe it was because of this, the three knights finally calmed down and lowered their guard towards me.

While me on the other hand, have began to think about my reputation… Should I feel sorry for myself?

“I-It, it maybe so… but I saw him attacked”

“He's fine~ He's Fine~ I’ll explain later. But for now, I think we should take him somewhere else” [Nero]

With little resistance left, they reluctantly accepted my suggestion.

Luckily, Clara provided us some spare room when I asked her.

I also thanked the adventurers that helped me and promised that I'll give them something tasty next time.

Wait, is this food bribery?

●●●●●

“The atmosphere is quite heavy…” [Nero]

“Y-Yeah…” [Clara]

Unable to control her shaking body, Clara spoke out and agrees with me.

Well~ It's not like I don't understand why she's shaking like that, I mean…

I would shake in fear too if I didn’t have Calm Mind or Resistance…

“You don’t have to be here you know” [Nero]

In the room, a deadly staring contest has begun!

The three knights are glaring at me from afar with eyes that are filled with blood lust. And Feru, who is beside me is… angry? I lack the vocabulary to describe her… I'm feeling some kind of scary energy coming from her. No, Let's call it killing intent for now…

She's emitting some kind of killing intent as her gaze is locked on the three knights… I pray for safety of those three…

"E, Excuse me!" [Clara]

Clara was unable to withstand the powerful pressure any longer, so she had left the room.

This only leaves us with only six people inside the room:

My unconscious friend that seems to have a very sweet dream at the moment.

Me, who is quietly humming to himself as he sat on the wooden floor.

And Feru and the three knights with their staring contest.

When will he wake up~?

I want to talk to him already!

The lingering animosity inside the room finally disappears as the staring contest ended.

The three knights ignored us and began talking to one another to pass the time.

Feru looks sad, so I gave her an Ice cream from my inventory to cheer her up.

After a little while more, my friend finally woke up. I ran towards him while ignoring the three knights.

Feru stayed behind, she seems to be enjoying her ice cream.

"Yo~ Tyler, finally awake and alive?" [Nero]

"Hmm? Nero? weren't you wearing a dress just a second ago?" [Tyler]

"…" [Everyone]

Is he still asleep? Even though he said that in a low tone, everyone clearly heard it.

The three knights gave me looks of disgust. Those painful leers! It hurts! Stop!

Feru on the other hand is… Why does she look like she wants to hug me!?

Is she sympathetic towards me!? I don't want that kind of pity!

Also, note to self: throwing a spoon at someone might cause hallucinations…

"Huwah!" [Tyler]

"Yo~ Finally awake?" [Nero]

Using Water Magic, I threw a waterball on his face. I hope that'll wake him up.

Well~ If that didn't work, I'll be sure to use fireball next~

"N-Nero!? Is, Is that really you!?" [Tyler]

"You've seem surprised? What's wrong?" [Nero]

He seems genuinely shocked as he stared at me wide ey- Wha- wait! What the hell!? Are you crying!?

Moving quickly that makes him look like a blur, he jumped towards me and hugged me…

Did… Did I over do it? It was normal for me to annoy him like this but…

"This! This is a dream isn't it!? That's right, this is a dream!" [Tyler]

No good, he's delusional!

Using Fire Magic I created a fireball behind me and threw it at his face. Maybe He'll finally snap out it.

No need to worry about it as his face was still wet from the waterball and my fireball is weakened. I can also heal him if he's too injured.

"HOT!" [Tyler]

"Calm down will ya!" [Nero]

He finally calmed down after receiving the fireball… Looks like he's finally awake?

And no, I'm not mad at him because of what he said earlier… maybe…

"Although you look a bit different, is that really you Nero?" [Tyler]

"Yup~ Also, before we continue, could I ask your harem to leave us for a sec?" [Nero]

"Ha- I wonder what are you talking about…" [Tyler]

He avoided eye contact as soon as he said that. Guilty as charge?

The three knights seems to be confused at my words, do they not know harem?

But it looks like that they somewhat understand that I'm referring to them and reacted.

"Bastard, what're you planning?

"I'm just gonna talk to my friend about something~" [Nero]

"Right… Emy, please leave us for a moment" [Tyler]

"Feru, follow them and make sure they don't listen to our talk" [Nero]

"Alright" [Feru]

The three knights reluctantly left the room, Feru followed them as I asked her.

Leaving the two of us alone in the room. The atmosphere around Tyler seems a kinda heavy.

"So~ How's life?" [Nero]

"Hahaha… Seriously, you still have that carefree attitude even here?" [Tyler]

"I happy go lucky~ remember?" [Nero]

"Haha, how could I forget?" [Tyler]

Well, it has been a while since I last saw him and I never thought of seeing my friends and family again. It's kinda sad…

We continued our idle chat, using our old lines, talking about old stuff, saying the same old jokes, simple banter…

After the atmosphere had lightened up a bit, I decided to advance our conversation.

"By the way, Tyler, how did you get here?" [Nero]

"Haha, you won't believe it… but seeing you here, I think you'll do" [Tyler]

"You don't say~" [Nero]

Both of us laughed at the same time.

"Remember those stories that you've recommended me? The ones about Being summoned to another world." [Tyler]

"Yup~ It was all the rage these days~ and they were nice stories right?" [Nero]

"Yeah, they were… You don't seem to be surprised" [Tyler]

"Meh, I stopped caring" [Nero]

I nonchalantly answered while shrugging. Tyler laughed at me.

But when that laugh ended, Tyler kept glancing at me with a sympathetic look…

"Back on earth, it has been a week since you were hospitalized… After that, I was summoned as a Hero" [Tyler]

"What're you talking about… hospitalized? Please explain…" [Nero]

Something… Doesn't feel right…

"Your classmates found you collapsed in the middle on the road…

Thankfully it wasn't a hit and run case as you weren't injured…

but the doctors said that you are in a comatose state" [Tyler]

Wait… was it that time? When I came here to Veran…

I don't really get it… Am I on some hospital bed right now?

This sounds like some bad creepy pasta or something…

"Are you sure about that…?" [Nero]

"We got a call from your mother the following day… Everyone was worried about you…" [Tyler]

"…" [Nero & Tyler]

Tyler only looked down and stopped talking… He's really serious… isn't he…

I don't know what to think here…

“… Is mom alright?" [Nero]

"… Your mother was really worried about you, she sounded depress when she talked to us…" [Tyler]

"… My siblings?" [Nero]

"… The same, though they try to smile to cheer up your mother" [Tyler]

"… Haha… They're doing good… huh… " [Nero]

"Sorry for… you know…" [Tyler]

"Nah, its fine… its fine…" [Nero]

Depress… that is… sigh

There were some thoughts about this that came to mind. The moment I arrived here, I wonder what my family thinks.

Suddenly disappearing like that, of course my family would worry about me… Every time I thought of this, I dismiss them…

But… What do I… Hearing it like this… It doesn't make me happy… but should I? I don't know anymore…

Time passed as we continued to sit there, staring at the wall, neither of us said anything the whole time…

Not good, Tyler is here too right? He might be in the same situation as me, so let's not think about this too much

Let's push this depressing matter later, think happy thoughts~

"By the way… is your situation the same as in the stories?" [Nero]

"Hmm? uh, I think so" [Tyler]

"So you have a harem huh" [Nero]

"yeah I- Wait! That's not it!" [Tyler]

"hoho~ So, is there a princess? Some maids perhaps? Maybe those knight from earlier are also a part of it?" [Nero]

"Stop it already… Th-there's nothing like that! I swear!" [Tyler]

"Hahaha~ Sorry Tyler, be my sacrifice to improve my mood~" [Nero]

Tyler gave a dry laughter…

"Continue your story, I want to hear more~" [Nero]

"R-Really now… You sure are happy go lucky" [Tyler]

"Hahaha~ who do you think I am!?" [Nero]

While Ignoring the heavy feeling on my chest, I decided to move on for now and continue our idle talk~