The newly summoned group of students was led through the grand corridors of the castle, their walls adorned with golden tapestries and intricate carvings that spoke of the kingdom's glory. Fully armed knights stood guard along the route, their expressions neutral yet clearly vigilant. Though the atmosphere resembled a ceremony of honor, Ren couldn't shake the feeling that they were being observed with an underlying sense of caution.
After several minutes of walking, they finally arrived at the royal hall—a vast chamber supported by towering pillars, its high-domed ceiling exuding an air of majesty. At the far end of the hall, two magnificent thrones rested atop a marble platform, occupied by the king and queen of the Eldoria Kingdom.
The king, a man in his fifties with a thick beard and a heavy golden crown, gazed at them with a firm, commanding presence. Beside him, the queen—an elegant woman with silver-blonde hair—offered a gentle smile, as if trying to ease their nerves.
Once all the students had gathered in the center of the hall, the king finally rose from his throne and began to speak.
"Honored Heroes, we welcome you to the land of Eldoria!" His deep, authoritative voice echoed throughout the chamber. "We have summoned you from another world for a noble purpose—to defeat the Demon King and save this world from destruction!"
A classic speech, one that was all too predictable.
While most of the students listened intently, Ren remained silent, his eyes scanning the room, searching for anything out of place. Beside him, Kiriya leaned in slightly and whispered, "Psst... What should we do now?"
Ren kept his gaze fixed on the platform, answering in a low voice only Kiriya could hear. "Just wait. Let's see what they offer us first."
Kiriya gave a small nod, though his eyes still held traces of unease. Meanwhile, the king continued his speech, reiterating the same grand tale of the Demon King's evil and how they, the Summoned Heroes, were the world's last hope.
But to Ren, one crucial question remained unanswered.
What was the kingdom's true motive?
They had forcibly summoned 22 strangers without consent, thrust them into a dangerous mission without asking for their willingness. Without even verifying if they were truly capable, they were immediately granted the title of "Hero" and expected to save the world. Something about this didn't add up.
After the lengthy speech filled with grand rhetoric, the atmosphere in the hall finally settled. An elderly man in a long purple robe embroidered with silver stepped forward, holding a staff adorned with a glowing blue crystal. His sharp eyes and the deep wrinkles on his face suggested years of wisdom and experience.
"Heroes, before you can fight for this world, we must determine your strengths," he declared in a steady, authoritative tone. With a wave of his hand, several knights entered the hall, carrying a large crystal that emitted a soft, pulsating light. They placed it upon a small altar at the center of the hall, and an unseen energy radiated from within it.
"This is the Crystal of Appraisal, a sacred artifact capable of identifying one's job and magical potential," the mage continued. His gaze swept over the students before he spoke again. "Each of you will touch it, and this crystal will reveal the true power you possess in this world."
Murmurs spread among the students, many of them still looking unsure and hesitant. However, some—particularly those who had been excited about this summons from the start—seemed eager. Kiriya swallowed hard, then turned to Ren.
"Hey, this is just like in games, right? There's gotta be rare or overpowered jobs!" he whispered, attempting to mask his nerves with humor.
Ren didn't immediately respond, his gaze locked onto the crystal. (A structured job system… so this world has an organized power hierarchy.) he mused. (Interesting. But what's even more intriguing is how this system functions on a scientific level.)
A knight stepped forward and gestured for one of the students to go first. A young man with neatly cut hair—the same one who had boldly declared his desire to be a hero—stepped forward with confidence. With hopeful eyes, he placed his hand on the crystal.
The crystal began to glow, swirling with blue light before projecting glowing text into the air.
[Holy Knight – Sacred Hero]
A few students cheered, while the young man beamed with pride. As if eager to prove he was destined for greatness, he clenched his fist and declared, "See? I was meant for this!"
Ren raised an eyebrow slightly, unimpressed. (As expected, there are jobs directly tied to the hero role. But the real question is… what about me?)
One by one, the students stepped forward to touch the crystal, each receiving different jobs—Mage, Archer, Rogue, Paladin. Some even acquired rare jobs such as Elemental Lord or Spirit Summoner, immediately earning admiration from their peers.
Eventually, it was Kiriya's turn. He gulped before placing his hand on the crystal. Moments later, a bright green light shone from within.
[Assassin – Shadow Blade]
"Whoa... Assassin?!" Kiriya stared at the floating text, eyes wide with disbelief. "Cool! I got a fast and stealthy job!"
A few students glanced at him with envy, but Ren simply crossed his arms and waited for his turn. He stepped forward without any change in expression, standing before the crystal that still radiated its mysterious energy. The mage overseeing the process observed him with a hint of curiosity.
"Go ahead. Touch the crystal and let this world reveal your true power."
Ren placed his hand on the crystal—and immediately, something strange happened.
Unlike the others, whose results appeared almost instantly, the crystal began to tremble violently. The light inside swirled chaotically, cycling through blue, red, green, and gold as if unable to determine a result.
The once-enthusiastic atmosphere was replaced by an eerie silence. Every eye in the room was now fixated on the crystal, their expressions shifting from curiosity to unease. The mage narrowed his eyes and gripped his staff tightly.
"What is… happening?" he muttered, his voice laced with tension.
Then, without warning, the crystal cracked.
A sharp cracking sound echoed through the hall, sending a wave of shock through everyone present. Before anyone could react, glowing text finally appeared in the air—but unlike the others, it was different.
[Job: Unidentified]
Silence deepened. All eyes turned to Ren, who remained standing with the same neutral expression.
But in his mind, only one thought echoed.
(…Just as I expected. I'm different.)