Galloping through the plains, at my back was someone holding me and she was holding to tightly. I accidentally elbow her a bit but it seems she doesn’t mind about it. I wish she would go home already. By the way her appearance was quite beautiful also, with a Caucasian facial features she exhibit the typical beauty of European nobles and she has nice long wavy blond hair. Her figure was average to begin with, not as astounding as the other woman and her muscles seem weak not tone and tender like Bra’s. well I do heard that nobles were a lazy bunch so expecting them to exercise would be farfetched.

Our arrival on the courtyard was welcomed by a few people that look like nobles and knights wearing emblems that are not from the castle insignia. An old man seems surprised while looking at my direction and he then rush to my horse side while yelling Marion name. I guess he is the father of this clingy being then. Opening his arm wide, the daughter jump from the horse and caught by his arm. It was like a soap drama, father happy seeing daughter and daughter happy seeing father it was a typical scene. I guess that’s problem have been dealt with. Taking the horse back to the stable, a voiced from the back asked me to wait. Glancing at my back it was none other than Marion’s father.

‘wait young hero waittt’

I reluctantly turn back

‘yes what can I do for you’

‘I heard you save my daughter, im truly grateful for what you have done ‘

‘sure your welcome, do you have anything else’

‘ahh you mean gold or treasure?’

‘no that’s not what I meant, if you don’t have anything else to say I would like to bring this horse of mine to the stable’

‘then I will see you in the conference room then’

Strange, do I have a schedule after this? I felt a foreboding is coming. I just hope its my feeling only. After taking care of the horse, I went back into the castle heading to my room. Before heading back I invited Bra to come in first but she said;

‘I would love to Hero~ but something came up I’m quite busy you know hehe’

Never mind her I just wish I could treat her to a dinner or something, her training did save my life. While heading back I met both Aaron and Miranda on the way. Both of them look suspicious are they already in a relationship, that sly Aaron. Negative thinking was clouding my judgement of people but his attitude toward me was quite right with what I thought about him. As we pass by each other, Miranda breaks the silence;

‘hye Red, where are you going aren’t you going to the conference room’

‘eh no why would I go there?’

‘don’t mind him Miranda, he isn’t really useful even if he was there’

‘hey don’t say it like that, Red is good you shouldn’t talk to him like that’

‘a lousy “Assist” wouldn’t be much helpful in a battle isn’t it haha’

Aaron then left both of us while laughing intending to mock me, but then Miranda was still here beside me trying to explain something;

‘forget about him Red, he’s just have a bad attitude toward those we aren’t at his level’

‘yeah I can see that anyway what about the conference room?’

‘ouh that you need to come also we heroes are being summoned in the conference room along with nobles of the kingdom;

‘ahh I see you know anything on what the conference is all about?’

‘sorry I don’t know, we might better as well find out right now right’

She gave off a bright smile after saying that, she really knows how to melts a guy’s heart. Better teach her to not giving false signal it would break guy’s heart if they know she just being friendly. Wait isn’t she’s older than me, I think she is more experienced than me regarding this but I guess age is just number then.

Putting on hold of relaxing on my fluffy and comfy bed, I follow Miranda going toward the conference room. We then entered the conferenced room, pushing the enormous decorated door. What in front of me left me at awe, the conference room was huge its architectural aesthetic were overwhelming me. With its ceiling up high, each and every corner of it was decorated with fine drawing probably regarding their history. Supporting the ceiling were 4 pillars and each and one of them was carved like a human statue. Again it must be their great ancestor or something. The wall of the room was also heavily decorated with drawings of mens in armour riding the horse. It has a similar feel to the teleportation chamber that when we first came here and at the center there it was the highlight of the room. A large pentagonal table lies there, based on it looks itself the wood was definitely made from the highest quality. At the center of the table was the royal insignia, it truly show the majestic of the King’s lineage. Mesmerized by the fine art in this room I was then disturb by someone voice;

‘Red the hero, why aren’t you sitting we are going to begin our meeting’

It was none other than the benevolent King, after being told off I then sat at the prepare sitting provided by the King’s steward. The heroes are seated beside the King, while the other 4 side of the pentagon was seated by 4 old mens dressed in high quality clothing, their appearance were charismatic even with visible grey haired on their head. There were definitely the heads of nobles. I know this due to one of them was none other than the head of Cuzkach family, Marion’s father. After settling down, the king then started the meeting officially.

‘Nobles of Loredon I thank you for coming to the castle under short notice, let me introduced you to our heroes of Loredon’

Gesturing toward us one by one, we then introduced ourselves to the nobles;

‘im Aaron Underwood, Hero of the Claymore’

‘Miranda Sanchez, Zero Degree Magus’

Then it was my turn;

‘Im Red, The Assist’

Different from the other two their reaction towards me were demise, that was expected I guess. Since the revelation to the nobles from before, I guess news travelled fast even here in this non-modern world. Are they using magic or the nobles are just some kind of gossiping people. Nevermind that im already used to those looks, like I care. After our introduction, King Balin then introduce the nobles one by one. An angry looking noble with a heavy beard spotted on his face, he is the head of Volcrom, Don. Beside him was an elegant looking man, old but still maintain the classiness that was above the others, he is the head of Woldeform, Ilvan. The next one is the common noble looking, even with a common face he still exude that charismatic aura, he is the head of Thornwritter, Dunkel and the last one was Marion’s father the head of Cuzkach, his looks was gentle with the stylish thick moustache his name was William.

After the introduction, the King then directly stated the purpose of the meeting;

‘mithrandil our oracle have said that a war will engulf the world and the sign of the war starting was the arrival of the other world dwellers. By that prophecy, we will probably have a war in the near future’

Finishing his last words, someone inadvertently slam the table with a loud thump

‘THUM!!’

It was none other than the hot blooded man, Don Volcrom.

‘mind your words my king, war is not a child playthings, if the country is in war you know better how our military will fare in the battlefield’

‘even though im not always agreeable with Don, but the things he said has its rational’

Said the man that exude classiness, Ilvan

‘that is why we are here to discuss regarding the war’

Don could only grumble and silently sit to hear what the King have to say, looking at the nobles in front of him, their eyes were fixed to their one and only King. With a face full of confidence and charisma he deliver his words.

‘The continent of Aria is the continent our country resides in and in this continent houses more than 10 countries including us, Loredon. Out of all the countries, Loredon area of territory amount the least comparing to our neighboring countries. In other words our resource and manpower is limited. By that alone for us to go into war would be undeniably illogical. But the danger looms around the corner, even if we do not want to, war will come and if we are not prepared death will ravage these lands’

Silence took hold around the conference room not even Don could retort to that statement, after a few seconds King Balin continue;

‘After the summoning begun, I have already proposed an alliance towards the other nations but unfortunately there are no reply whatsoever with our messenger lost in those countries. Based on their action alone reflect their opinion toward the war. Some may regard it as an opportunity and some as a source of paranoia. Information from the garrison has said that other countries are hastily increasing their military assets. Even the lesser known country that has less involvement in war history has made their move. Those alone tell us that their confidence level came from their heroes, even we are astounded by our heroes remarkable strength and power. Heroes act as one of the assets of war and undeniable they are the factor that will influence the outcome. To that my dear nobles, I ask you do we go to war or we cowers ourselves in the shroud of doom?’

All the nobles head drop down with a solemn expression, in their mind some are thinking is it better to go to war and some have thought of killing their enemies in the name of glory. On the other hand, the three heroes are well composed even after hearing of the upcoming war, Aaron was looking as arrogant as he can be depicting the status as one of the elites while Miranda exude the cold airiness of an ice queen but Red on the other hand was drowsy, he tries his best to stay awake listening to the King’s speech regarding the war but nonetheless his laziness over power anything. In his mind, he thought of scenarios where he gallantly rode to the battlefield slaying his enemies but the thought of it disturb him even a little causing him to quickly changes his way of thought. It seems killing was out of the question for now. After a while one noble stood up, to everyone surprise it was William Cuzkach;

‘Yesterday I lost my daughter, I was in despair my heart ache knowing my baby girl was lost in the forest but this morning like a miracle shone upon me she returned back by the arms of none other than our heroes’

His hand was gesturing toward Red while spoken regarding the hero

‘I was skeptical at first hearing this heroes, even if they have remarkable abilities that itself doesn’t ensure the safety our country but he, Red the Assist open up my mind. Even though he save one of the nobles he doesn’t expect any reward at all, his attitude reflect the true characteristic of a hero’

Red monologue;

Wait what? What does he mean im a true hero, im just too lazy that I don’t want to deal with you snobbish nobles. Urgh these nobles and their ethical thinking it makin--- me—slee---

Even with all the praising toward Red, Aaron doesn’t show any difference in his expression. He knows himself that he was way above him in every sort of way that is why he wasn’t faze by those cheap praises by an old man’s mouth. Even then he was still attentively listening to the noble speech;

‘in that regard my fellow comrades and my dear king, I would propose the war would be led by our heroes. Their shines will bath our soldiers with invigorating will of determination boosting the morale of our overall soldier into battle.’

But then a remark came from the ruthless looking man, Don Volcrom

‘your words are full of fantasies my friend, you are putting too much hope and expectation from these called heroes, with their current state I don’t think they can withheld even my blade’s swing haha’

A snicker at the end describe the overall intention of those words, it was meant to mock the heroes. Then a voice rings through the air, Aaron start to speak up;

‘if you are that unconvinced by our power how about you taste it first’

His words was like a dagger through the heart, provoking the ruthless noble. Don who has a short temper burst into anger;

‘why you outlander, knows this in my time of glory I can kill a dozen men in mere second, come here if you want to taste my blade of death’

Before the fight escalated, Ilvan intervened releasing a shout deep within his stomach’s voice;

‘DON!!!’

Don look at the calm Ilvan who has release a sudden shout, he knows what that shout meant, not enticed by his petty anger, he disgruntledly sat back to his chair. Ilvan then continue to deliver his opinion regarding this matter;

‘in this situation I would agree with Don, even with them hosting those powers and abilities if they do not have the experience in the battlefield, the probability of us losing is on the higher side, in that regard how should we handle this my King’

All their attention was now fixed to King Balin after Ilvan last statement, expecting an answer that will quench their desires and their worries,the King spoke;

‘As a King of this country, I have made countless ways to resolve issues within this land and this is no less, I have known that this matter will be upheld during this meeting and I have therefore made up a plan to tackle the problem. Due to their inexperience in the battlefield, I have made arrangement for next week to start training them in the Dome’

Hearing the word Dome, every head of nobles and their attendant in the back express a shocked face, even Ilvan known to maintain his classiness in every situation shown a disbelief face.

‘it seems I have your attention then, during their training in the dome they will be continuously bombarded by waves of danger accompany by a group of knights and some of my Royal Guard, they will conquer the Dome while in the process of getting strong’

A silence could only be said after hearing the King’s plan, bother by the word Dome, Red couldn’t help it after seeing the nobles facial expression. Hesitating if its polite to ask the king right now regarding the Dome, another voice came from Aaron mouth questions the king regarding that fact;

‘My king, I apologize for being rude but could you elaborate about the Dome you have speak of’

With an eloquent way of speech, Aaron immediately asked the King.

‘Dear heroes, the Dome is an ancient ruin which house many type of monster that goes way above the danger level in the normal plains. The entrance of the door exist as a portal that teleport you into the dome, while it may sounds confusing the size of the inside space doesn’t match the outer appearance of the dome. You may see it yourself in the near future. Since discovering the Dome our country soldiers could only advanced up to the fourth dimension’

‘Dimension? My king?’

‘it must be confusing hearing these new words but in simplicity the dome have different levels which are called dimension, you could only travel to another dimension by completing the monster subjugation at the present dimension, we have tried to break through the fourth but to no avail we have no success, the monster are stronger after each dimension that is why the purpose of this plan is for the heroes to cooperate within themselves and a band of knights to pass this hurdle, it will act as a mock battle’

Red’s monologue

hmm where did I heard about this, it seems very familiar ………ah! That anime SAO… cheh is this world a ripoff or something but I cant be too sure about it can I might as well see it first

While Red was preoccupied with useless things, the nobles then agree towards the plan. Aaron and Miranda also gave their silent agreement with a nod to the king;

‘Since we have an agreement, I wish the best of luck to the heroes for their training and this meeting is now adjourned’