Chapter 3

【Jae POV】

An hour after I had left the banquet.

Okay. It’s done.

I had finished his preparations. Ah, the "preparations" is what I had been doing for almost the entire latter half of the day.

And that was, mapping out the layout of the palace on some paper-like parchment I had asked for. Or at least, all of the areas I was allowed access to.

But it was then that something rather surprising occurred.

Conditions met. Skill「Mapping [Lv.1]」has been acquired

I had started doing it just in case something happened, but it resulted in this?

It seems that acquiring skills is possible just by doing the necessary actions.

Who would've guessed?

From this, could I assume that skills will rise by doing those same actions continuously?

I will make sure to test that out at a later date.

Anyway, I can take a guess of what this newly-acquired skill does, since, as soon as I acquired it, I felt a noticeable change within me.

Namely, it seems that the map of the palace I had scribbled down on the parchment has been engraved directly into my mind.

Since I had spent such a long while doing it, I'm glad my efforts weren't wasted, even if the map of the palace itself turns out to be useless.

I should burn it when I get the opportunity, so that no evidence is left behind.

The current time is… about 19:20-ish.

It's good that I still retained my watch after being summoned.

Indeed, the situation is that all articles of clothing, accessories, etc, that we were wearing at the time were summoned with us.

Just not our bags, which is a shame, but it can't be helped.

Nevertheless, this alone is still quite handy.

Mentally, I am tired from everything that had happened today, but it's still too early to sleep.

Unfortunately, tiredness doesn't count as a 'mental abnormal status effect', so my trait doesn't work against it.

And plus, my work isn't even over yet.

No, it is now time to search around.

To look for any potential exits that I can escape from.

There were a few obvious places, such as the windows at the end of the hallways, but of course, there are guards frequenting the halls, so it would be extremely risky.

Not to mention the existence of patrolling guards outside the palace.

By the way, our rooms are located in the deep, inner sections of the palace, and so there are no windows there.

Otherwise, I might've been able to get out at night from my room.

Aside from that though, I've found a few other places I hadn’t been to yet that could possibly be a way out.

These places include a main backdoor that seemed to go directly to the areas belonging to the knights, such as the training grounds and barracks.

There is also a large entrance hall located at the front of the palace, which leads to I think the outside garden.

The final place, although small and quite out of the way, is a strange locked door near the centre of palace.

Where that leads is unknown yet, so it's off the list.

I've never seen anyone go there, but it's always heavily guarded and secured behind many locks.

Yep, definitely off the list of options.

So, the former two are the options currently available.

Unfortunately, us 'Summoned Heroes' are not allowed into any of these areas yet, which is the reason why I hadn’t already checked them out.

If I planned to visit any one of them, I would need an excuse in case I get caught, and unfortunately, saying "I got lost." wouldn’t work more than twice at most.

…Well, it wouldn’t hurt to check out at least one of those areas.

It’s still our first day, so they won’t be too suspicious of anything, if I say I happened to get lost.

This place is really big, after all.

I decided to examine the closest place to my current location―the entrance.

As well as this, the entrance seemed the only viable option.

Of course, the knights’ area had, well, knights, and the door was completely out of the question.

I can't do anything aboutt either of those right now, so I went with the entrance.

I was amazed when entering the main entrance hall.

It was grandiose and quite ostentatious.

It really reminded me that this place is indeed a royal palace―something I don't seem to have quite realised yet.

This then brings another thought: Is there any valuables I can take before I escape?

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find anything small enough to pocket that would be worth the hassle, so I gave up searching.

After looking around the entrance for a while, without going outside, I heard a noise from behind.

“!?”

Turning around, I notice the door I'd entered through had opened, and someone came through.

It's someone I've seen before, though only once.

The knight captain from earlier.

I didn’t get a good look before because of the sudden turn of events, but now that I'm thinking straight, I feel stunned.

The knight captain, someone that any person would normally think is a big, buff dude, was in reality, an astonishingly beautiful, scarlet-haired woman.

Her body, not to mention athletic, was way more fit than any adult I'd ever seen, including all our previous P.E. teachers and sport captains.

Well, I suppose you would have to be physically fit to become a knight captain, but still.

It's really impressive.

She instantly noticed me.

“Oh, you… You are one of the newly-summoned Heroes, yes…? Were you not informed that nobody is allowed here?”

I replied in a composed manner, as I had already thought about what to say in this situation beforehand.

Of course, I tried not to give away my composure though.

“Ah… Is that so? I'm sorry; I wasn’t aware of that… I’ll go back to my room now.”

“It is alright. As long as you know now, it's fine. You do know the way back, right? So you don’t get… "Lost", again. Do you require assisstance? I can show you the way back, if need be. Although I may be young, I've worked as Knight Captain for a few months now.”

…She is a little strange.

Perhaps, does this lady have a little brother?

She seems overprotective, what with her concerned tone of voice and clearly worried expressions.

“No, I remember the way I came. Thank you though, Miss.”

I then briskly walked past her and went back to my room.

...

.....

The knight captain stared at Jae’s back until he disappeared down the corridor.

She tilted her head slightly and mumbled to herself.

“That’s strange...”

That boy... Why do I get a bad feeling about him...? ...Well, he seems innocent, and I don't feel anything dangerous, so it’s probably nothing serious.

She then shrugged and continued her patrol.

I woke up in my room at the palace and my watch showed that the time was 05:40.

“…About 9 hours sleep, is it.... Fuwhaa, it’s all real, huh...”

It was a much earlier sleep than what I normally get, and so seeing the time was before six, I initally thought something was wrong.

I lay still in the fantastic bed that was fluffy like a cloud.

Really high quality stuff, this.

"...Too comfy."

Fearing I'd get carried away back to dream land otherwise, I got out of the bed, got dressed, ate something I took from the banquet yesterday for a quick breakfast, and left the room.

I walked around for a bit, thinking about my situation, when suddenly, the noise of a bell ringing resounded throughout the palace.

I first wondered what was going on, but when I glanced at my watch that read 06:00, I realised.

It appears that everyone wakes up at 6 here, and that bell has the role of ‘alarm clock’.

It was the same with the bell yesterday at half-six.

By the time I walked back to the students’ rooms, everyone was coming out while yawning and complaining―apparently, everyone else was too excited to sleep, so they stayed up late and were consequently tired.

Wish I didn't have to worry so much like these guys.

It's too exhausting for my brain.

Soon, knights appeared.

They said they were to guide us ‘Heroes’ to the royal throne room.

"Heroes".

What a funny word.

It was at this moment that I had a bad premonition.

'Something bad will happen if I go with everyone else'.

That type of feeling.

But, do I even have a choice in the matter?

Anyway, I should try at least.

―Plan failed.

I tried sneaking away, but one of the knights quickly caught me and kept his eye on me for the rest of the trip, as we were escorted to the 'great hall' which was the royal throne room.

Teacher is here as well, though he looks a bit... Ehm, anyway, there are just, way too many knights.

I underestimated their meticulousness.

There's no way I can find an opportunity to escape when it's like this.

God, this is annoying.

Shit, now that I think about it, this could actually be really bad.

It didn’t take long for us to arrive at one of the only places I hadn’t been to before.

This is definitely the throne room.

I probably don’t need to describe what it looks like―it is literally just a big-ass room with a raised throne at one end―apparently, it's usually used for banquets, balls and social gatherings, I've heard.

Also just called the 'great hall'.

After entering, I glanced around to find something, anything that could be used as an excuse to get out of here…

Alas, the attempt was in vain.

Fairly obvious, that result, wasn't it?

After all, it's not like this is an anime where I am the protagonist.

Things won't just go my way that easily.

At one end of the room stood an intelligent-looking, yet old man.

This is my first time seeing him.

In this hall, there were also many important-looking people to one side.

Probably them, right?

Yeah, it's definitely them.

'Nobles'.

In other words, the Nobility: Counts, Marquesses, Dukes, you get the idea.

They look like right dickheads though.

Oh, there's the nice lady, I mean, the Knight Captain that I met last evening.

Another knight―one who also appears to be a high-ranking official, whispered something to the Knight Captain.

In response, she nodded, bowed her head slightly, and left the hall.

Seems like that person’s authority is higher than even a knight captain.

A commander, perhaps?

He looked to be middle-aged and wore a crest on his armour.

Bordering the room were the typical knights―the ones behind us even blocked the door we entered through.

....Strange.

Well, not strange, just straight up annoying.

Obviously, my vigilance grew even further from seeing this.

Finally, there stood the Princess, Eleanor, and to her side, a robed middle-aged man.

At first glance, a thought popped into my head―that person is most likely a ‘mage’.

He held in his hands a flat, transparent plate.

It wasn’t long before the Princess began to speak.

“On behalf of my father, King Gaius II of Seronia, I, Second Princess Eleanor of Seronia, will begin the 'Hero Status Appraisal Ceremony’.”

.....Huh?

My classmates began to whisper amongst themselves while the Nobility in the room applauded.

Things like, “But I already know my status”, and, “What if I don’t want anyone else to know my status?”, were heard from the class.

The Princess quickly began to speak as if to answer these questions.

“There must be those of you that have already discovered the ‘Status’, and to those of you that have, congratulations."

No no no, this isn't good.

"Figuring that out is alone proof of your potential. However, do not worry; if you don’t wish to disclose your status to the other Heroes, then I swear on my title as Princess that it will be kept secret."

No no, please, stop talking.

Shut up.

I beg.

Despite my wishes, the Princess continued.

“In addition, you will all be granted the minimum of a rare-grade weapon that befits your style and status, in order to hasten your growth. They shall be prepared by the time the training program and schedule is confirmed and put into place.”

A weapon?

That sounds good, but…

I’d need to show my Status for that.

And from the sound of it, we don’t even get them straight away.

Seems I’ll have to run bare-handed, then.

Well, not like it matters.

My initial plan didn’t incorporate me having a weapon anyway.

While all I wanted right now was to run away, the Princess then called someone up to the front.

“Okay, then. First of all, can Teacher come up? I would like the sole adult here, to be a leading example.”

Example...?

Our confused and bruised teacher complied, walking up to the Princess and the supposed mage, though it was at a snail's pace.

Looking at his trembling legs, I can see why.

I'd be scared shitless too mate, if I were in your shoes.

Or is it that he's shaking in anger?

“Please stretch out your hand above the ranking plate.”

Teacher followed along and held out his right hand.

Princess then pricked his finger with a small, ceremonial knife and let but a single droplet of blood fall onto what she called the ‘ranking plate’ in the mage’s hands.

The plate emitted a dim, almost unnoticeable light before rapidly fading―a moment hadn't even passed in total.

...What was that?

That was real magic right, I get it, but...

That was really pathetic, huh.

Seriously.

That was just embarrassing.

......But why do I have this sinister feeling?

The Princess and the mage both stared at the ranking plate for a few seconds, before glancing at Teacher.

Princess seemed to mutter something under her breath, although no one was close enough to hear it.

“The rank... is E.”

My body shuddered.

And before anyone noticed it...

*cut*

*splatter*

*thud*

'It' caused me to subconsciously let out a small voice.

“.....Eh?”

*Badump Badump Badump Badump*

My heart repeatedly throbbed in similar emotions to panic, surprise and confusion.

Of course, the surroundings all had a similar response to the incident.

Well, actually, they were much more severe reactions.

―Teacher’s head was rolling along the floor as blood sprayed all over.

A knight stood by the collapsed body wielding a terrifying, blood-drenched sword.

There were, of course, various kinds of reactions from my classmates:

People gasping in horror and shock, people who hadn’t even yet realised what had happened, as well as people with simply wide eyes and gaping mouths, as if they couldn’t believe that such a thing had just occurred.

Although, that goes for pretty much everyone here.

Some even cried tears like a burst dam.

I, however, belonged to the group of people who had a fourth type of reaction―the people who expected something bad to happen from the beginning, and so were much less shocked.

Of course, none of us probably expected someone to die, but…

Aside from myself, it seems there are only 4 people who belong to this group.

―Ryan, Ashley, Yamato, and one other classmate: Amy.

Most likely, their Status’ have something to do with it.

Although, if I'm honest, I kinda feel like Ryan is the type of guy where this isn't his first time witnessing such a thing.

Like me, they all wear grim expressions on their faces, but, that is nothing compared to the rest of the class―some of them were now even throwing up the contents of yesterday's dinner.

Those who were squeamish are probably wanting to die right now.

I then realised why this event was happening before we ate breakfast.

Fortunately, my mental constitution has always been quite good, so I was alright.

Strangely enough, although I feel startled because of the sudden beheading of my teacher in front of my eyes, I do not feel 'afraid' in the slightest.

You'd think oneself would be subjected to what is known as 'fear' in this situation, but nevertheless...

My trait「Steadfast Mind」grants me the skill「Mental Abnormal State Nullification [Lv.MAX]」.

....Yes. For better or for worse...

It seems that 'fear' is an 'abnormal status effect', although 'surprise' is not.

Evidently, neither is 'panic', 'anxiousness' or 'tiredness'.

Either way, this is no time for messing around.

These fuckers―this isn't a joke.

Unhesitatingly, I made my decision.

If they are willing to kill so easily...

All I can do is run.

Yeah, I need to get out of here.

Asap.