1-2. 「Decision」

The concept of 『Level』 exists in this world where magic also exists.

To put it bluntly, a person’s worth is evaluated through his or her level. That’s how this world works. If your level is low, you’re weak, if your level is high enough, you can become something like that of a heroic figure. A simple rule, yet cruel at the same time, at least to those with a small number as their level.

For example, me.

As I looked at my left chest, a single digit number was there as if it was tattoo’d onto my skin with black ink. Though I would’ve appreciated it if there are two more zeros behind it, but it just stood their gloriously on my chest as 『1』.

That’s my level. I’m Level One. Not one hundred, heck, not even ten. It’s a single number 『1』.

I glanced over to Yui, my little sister, who’s also shyly tugging her shirt to the side, just enough to reveal the number printed on her left chest. It was a double-digit number, way bigger than mine. Just looking at it through the rule of this world would make a person flinch.

『80』. That’s my little sister’s level in this world. Fufufu, boy am I proud of my Yui. Wait a minute, I don’t think I have time for that right now, in fact, I think I’m in a pretty tight pinch.

A few minutes ago, the Knight-dude told us to put our hands on our left chests and chant 『Show Level』 in our heads. They’re checking our levels to make sure we’re all worthy heroes, the chosen ones that would lead humans out of calamity brought forth by demons. It was a sound argument that they need strong people in whose hands they will leave their lives.

But then what about those guys like me…wait, not those, there was only me that has a single digit number on my chest. Everybody else was chatting happily as they showed their high levels to each other, which were around 62 to 87.

Incidentally, the guy with number 『87』 on his left chest was, in fact, Takigawa Hiroshi, supposedly my friend of some sort. It’s the guy who is the male basketball team captain, he’s quite popular with the girls. That’s also the exact reason why a bunch of students, despite first, second or third year, are flocking around him, showering him with praises and flattery, also admiration.

While I was feeling quite confused about myself, my eyes met the Knight-dude’s.

How do I put this, the way he’s looking at me right now…is exactly how you would look at a piece of tissue someone used to wiped their ass lying in the middle of your room. I received hostile gazes everyday at school, but this must be the most scornful look I’ve ever taken so far.

「…」

「…hm」

He turned away from me and raised his voice to get everyone’s attention:

「So everyone confirmed their own level. The results are very satisfying, I must say」

Hearing so, everyone’s faces brightened up greatly, it was as if they found a definite way home already. Especially the first year students, they just came out of middle school so their mentality is still quite weak to dire situations like this. Smiling to the crowd of 「Heroes」, the Knight-dude turned towards me again:

「Though we have a defective here, I believe everything will go smoothly with the rest of you」

「Hm? What do you mean by defective?」

The class rep. of the most elite class asked, tilting her head. This class consists of only girls, and their academic achievements are heavenly high compared to a common student. The chicks in there are all heirs of wealthy families, or some kind of big shots. With the exception of Kusanagi Yui, which is my little sister, she’s in class 1-A, while the girl that spoke just now is in 2-A. Though there’s also 3-A, but they aren’t as successful as 2-A.

「It seems like this person over here is level 1」

He stressed his voice on the word 「person」 as if to ridicule my existence as some kind of trash. Hm…he’s quite buffed, he has armor, and he carries a sword too. Yup, there’s no way I can use my secret technique 「Ten thousand lovely kicks」 on him and get out alive.

Hm…I guess that’s my fate. No use trying to think about flowery things for the sake of escapism right now. This is how this world works, I need to cope with it or I’ll lose my mind.

As the class rep. of 2-A turned her gaze towards me, whom the Knight-dude directed his eyes at, her expression changed from brilliantly happy to complete disgusts. Hey, at least look at me like I’m a human, bitch!

「Oh that? I’m surprised that thing even has a number for its level」

「Allow me to make things clear…」

Clearing his throat, the Knight-dude began his speech about Heroes’ treatment.

Basically, it takes a person 20 years to level up to 35 manually. The Knight-dude himself is level 45 and he’s one of the strongest people in this country. Then those that posses level 60+ at a young age like my schoolmates are all heroes. They’ll receive special treatments and training in order to stand by side humans and fight against the evil forces of demons.

That said, there is no point for them to keep me when it would take a lifetime for me to catch up with others, in terms of Level. There’s also the fact that some equipment prepared for Heroes cannot be equipped by people with low level. Even if they give me things I can equip, I still don’t have the strength on par with others, that means…

「Then even a girl like me can kill him easily, too?」

A question that froze everyone there was voiced by that bitch, with a straight face of course, she never treated people lower than her humans after all.

As the Knight-dude nodded casually, she smiled and began to walk towards me, but Yui instantly cut her path. The bitch frowned and was about to say something when she noticed their differences printed on their chest.

Yui: LV.80

Bitch-ass: LV.71

「Uwaa」

No, that wasn’t her flinching, it was me, though the bitch also jumped back slightly. The sole reason behind this, was the super murderous colors spreading inside Yui’s eyes. If this look couldn’t kill, I don’t even know what could.

I was a little surprised because I’ve never seen this expression on Yui’s face. We only began living under the same roof around 2 years ago. Before that, due to our father’s death, Yui came to live with my grandparents, and we parted for 8 straight years. When I saw her off, she was this cute little girl, then when we met again at the station after 8 years I thought there were problems with my eyes.

As the bitch retreated a few steps, the Knight-dude spoke again, with the same casual tone as if it was the most natural thing in the world:

「Then, please leave, there’s no room for you here. You’re just a waste of food if we keep you here without you being able to fight or help us」

That’s to be expected, I was already prepared for it the moment I saw that number 1 on my left chest. But I honestly didn’t expect Hiroshi to cut in:

「Please wait a moment…why don’t you just return him to our world?」

「The ritual costs a lot, we only intend to send everyone home all at once when the Demon Lord is defeated. Sending just him home now would make the rest of you unable to return for quite a long time」

There goes my last salvation hahahaha!!

Of course, hearing that, all the other students looked at me with eyes that said 「get the fuck out of this place, you piece of shit」. Hiroshi also got his mouth blocked dead frozen due to what the Knight-dude said. By the way, I don’t know if it was just me, or the air around Yui is getting hotter and hotter…

Hiroshi was looking at me with conflicted eyes, clearly stuck between a rock and a hard place. So I shot him a forced smile and a few words for the sake of looking cool…even though they’re looking at me like shit at the moment:

「Well, that’s fine. Don’t worry, just live and fight, I’ll manage something」

「Hah? Don’t manage anything, just go out there and suicide to a monster. You should pick a dragon so that your corpse would be burnt, that way it wouldn’t contaminate nature」

The 2-A bitch laughed at me. Hiroshi cast his gaze downwards and Yui stared at me with blank eyes, she seemed to be trying to say something but the words didn’t come out. Well, that’s fine though, I’ll go and try being some kind of beggars if nothing works out.

「Here, take this and try surviving with that level of yours」

「Whoa there」

The Knight-dude threw me a sword. As I caught it, I noticed how well refined the blade was. So he’s trying to show some humanity in front of kids? Is this guy a fucking dumbass? He saw that bitch right there attempted to kill me just because and now he’s trying to show some pity? But oh well.

「Thanks, this would help, and one more thing…」

I walked to the doors while saying a few words:

「…fuck ya, slut!」

I middle finger-ed the 2-A bitch and went out of the door. I heard she raised a 「WHAT?!」 voice and tried to run towards me, but somebody grabbed her. Phew…I thought I was dead already…thank you bud’ whoever you are that stopped the crazy bitch. I did that on the spur of moment without thinking much so…yeah…thanks.

I asked the people working inside the palace and finally left the castle, into the busy streets of this country.

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Author's Note: Yup. I did edit the Description of the Fiction page, 'cause apparently I didn't know Tate no Yuusha well enough.

What I tried to say is that I won't hurt your heart as much as Shieldbre did, in the manga at least.

Also, I'm really inexperienced in writing, so I hope you don't expect any amazing plot planning or explosive story line. I am in fact a novice writer, trying to make a story of his own.

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