Chapter 4 First Contact
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Are you saying we were summoned to another world? Come on! What kind of joke is this?” Gotanba was the first to break the uneasy silence, his voice devoid of tension.
His disbelief wasn’t unique—snickers and murmured agreement spread among the other students.
”There’s others here, so this must be that class teleportation thing, right? This situation…” one boy muttered, scratching his head.
”I wish it was just me who got teleported,” another sighed, leaning back against a stone column.
”I agree,” a third said. “Ah! But wouldn’t it be enticing to add the girls from our class to a harem or something?” he added with a grin.
”Well, no way!” another boy barked. “If we’re in another world, I’d prefer elves or catgirls!”
Their carefree chatter bounced around the chamber like pebbles hitting stone. Clack, clack, clack.
Even with their lives potentially at risk, most of them remained oddly unfazed.
Ayumu, standing slightly apart, shifted his gaze to the girls in their class, tuning in to their reactions.
”This is impossible! It must be a prank! What’s this?!” one girl cried, her voice on the verge of cracking.
”Where is this place? It looks like Europe, but…” another murmured, eyes scanning the ancient architecture.
”Could it be… we died…?” a third whispered, hugging herself tightly.
”Wait?! My smartphone isn’t getting any signal! Why?!” someone shouted, waving their phone in the air.
”My stuff isn’t here! What about my makeup and clothes?! What am I supposed to do?!” another girl wailed, clutching her empty bag.
Though the severity of their concerns varied, it was clear none of them had yet grasped the full weight of their situation.
Mineyama, the ever-dutiful vice class rep, seemed to be trying to calm the more frantic girls, speaking gently and holding their shoulders.
Then, as if unable to stand by any longer, Kiritani—the class president—stepped forward and addressed them all.
”Everyone, listen!” he called out, projecting his voice with measured urgency. “I don’t understand this situation either! I know you’re all anxious! But isn’t it better to hear what these people in front of us have to say before we jump to conclusions?!”
Whether due to his natural charisma, his position as class president, or simply his handsome face, Kiritani’s words quickly spread calm.
”That’s true…” one girl murmured.
”As expected of Kiritani♡,” another sighed with a dreamy look.
A few boys wore sour expressions—unhappy that Kiritani was taking the lead even here—but no one voiced any objection. In truth, it was convenient. Arguing would’ve wasted valuable time.
Kiritani turned to face the robed figures standing ahead.
”I’m Takuya Kiritani, the leader,” he said. “First, let me ask—can we return to our original world?”
As Ayumu had predicted, that was the first question. The desire to return home outweighed everything else.
(Since they were forcibly brought here, it was inevitable. The other side must’ve expected this, too… Now, what kind of answer will they give?)
A gaunt old man, who resembled a high-ranking cleric, stepped forward from beside the throne. His robes shimmered faintly with age-worn embroidery as he addressed the group.
”Of course,” the man said, his voice calm and solemn. “However, even if you—the brave ones—demand to be sent back immediately, we have no means to do so.”
Kiritani frowned, suspicion flickering in his eyes. “What does that mean?” he asked, his tone sharp.
The cleric’s expression remained impassive as he elaborated.
”There are two ways to return to the original world. The first is to absorb the energy released when the dark curse—granted upon defeating the Demon Lord—vanishes, and channel it into the Holy Engraved Pendant, creating a passage home. The second method is to retrieve the Tome of Return to the Otherworld. Unfortunately, the locations of both remain unknown to us.”
Kiritani narrowed his eyes but eventually gave a short nod. “Fine. So, there’s a way to return, then.”
But could that claim be trusted?
Ayumu’s thoughts darkened. It was possible the entire explanation had been carefully crafted—a carrot on a stick to drive them into fighting the Demon Lord on this world’s behalf. It wasn’t hard to imagine. After all, they were just high school students, far from home and powerless to verify anything they were told.
If this suspicion held any truth, then the old cleric wasn’t just a passive observer—he was a skilled manipulator. Rather than demanding compliance, he offered just enough information to make it feel like Kiritani had taken control. A calculated move. Subtle, but effective.
Too early to say for sure. Still, Ayumu’s instincts whispered a quiet warning. It would be wise not to trust too easily—not just these mysterious figures, but even his classmates.
Especially now.
Notes:
• Gotanba – Leader of a delinquent group sprinting toward the school store. A student who first breaks the silence upon being teleported.
• Mineyama – Vice class rep, serious and disciplined.
• Kiritani – The class president who takes leadership and questions their situation. A smooth operator, laid-back and calm. The handsome one.
• Takuya – The class president who takes leadership and questions their situation. A smooth operator, laid-back and calm. The handsome one.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply