Kiriya collapsed onto his bed with an exhausted expression, though his wary gaze remained fixed on Ren. "I knew it... That smile of yours is terrifying."
Ren, still examining the mineral in his hand, turned with a neutral expression. "Hooh?" he muttered, as if he didn't understand what his friend was implying.
Kiriya let out a sigh and shuddered slightly. "You're never this scary when talking about your discoveries. I still remember being your test subject back in the day..." His voice carried a hint of trauma, as if recalling something far from pleasant.
Ren smirked slightly, balancing the crystal shard between his fingers. "Of course. I needed more data back then." He resumed his observation of the magic stone in his hand, his eyes gleaming like a scientist who had just discovered a rare specimen. "By the way, this is a nice gift. I like it. This is a magic stone formed from the crystallized blood of a monster's heart… Hmm, I see."
Kiriya sighed, unsurprised by Ren's tendency to focus more on raw materials than the situation they were in. "Yeah, yeah… Well, if you like it, that's good." Then, his expression grew more serious, and his tone shifted. "Also, I know you haven't just been sitting around doing nothing. While everyone else has been progressing with their jobs, you must have your own plan, right?"
Ren remained silent for a moment before nodding slightly. "Umm… I understand the situation. I need to make myself appear useless so they remove me from their watchful eye. That means I need to be expelled from this group… in other words, banished."
He placed the magic stone on the table and looked at Kiriya with calculating eyes. "Tomorrow, they're taking us to meet the king again, right? I'm certain that's when they'll decide to get rid of those they consider worthless… and I have a strong feeling they've already made plans to expel me."
Kiriya grinned at the analysis, as if he had already expected Ren to take matters into his own hands. "Hoo… Mind if I tag along?" he asked casually, but there was a seriousness in his eyes.
Ren shook his head slightly, his expression calm as ever. "You can… but not yet. I need you to stay here because I'll need information later."
Kiriya clicked his tongue but eventually shrugged. "Fine, fine… But when you're ready, don't forget to come get me, got it?" he said in a joking tone, though there was a hint of sincerity behind his words.
Ren closed his eyes for a moment before looking at him with a small smile. "I understand."
As the night deepened, in the dimly lit room illuminated by flickering candlelight, the two friends had already made a major decision—a decision that would set them on a path far different from the other summoned heroes.
By the time Kiriya had fallen asleep, his steady breathing was the only sound breaking the silence of the night.
Ren sat at the wooden desk near the window, the soft candlelight illuminating his hands as he held a small knife and the mineral fragments Kiriya had given him. His eyes studied the stone with sharp focus, analyzing every detail before carefully placing it on the table's surface.
Without hesitation, he pressed his fingers against the mineral's surface. And in that moment, the power he had always known he possessed—ever since his time in Japan—began to activate.
Material Transmutation.
That was the name he had given to his ability. A power that allowed him to alter the structure of any material he touched, as long as he fully understood its composition. He couldn't create something from nothing like magic, but he could manipulate existing substances, reshaping them to fit his needs.
Tonight marked his thirty-second experiment since he began conducting research in secret. Every success and failure had been meticulously documented in a small notebook made from parchment. He had recorded every test in detail, ensuring he gathered enough data to understand this world through a scientific lens.
(The minerals in this world are far more unique than those on Earth. If I can fully grasp their composition, I can create something even beyond this world's imagination.)
He picked up the small knife and carefully scraped the surface of the magic stone. A faint glow flickered from the crack he made, as if the stone was reacting to his touch. Ren narrowed his eyes, closely observing how the mineral responded.
(I need more data… And once I have enough, I can start crafting something truly useful for my escape plan.)
A small, confident smile formed on his lips.
They might see him as worthless… but they had no idea who they were really dealing with.
###
Just as Ren had predicted, the following day, he was summoned back to the royal hall along with the other students. The atmosphere in the room felt far more tense than before, and this time, neither the king nor the princess displayed the same warmth they had during their first meeting.
After Princess Anastasia delivered a hopeful speech about the role of the Heroes, the king finally rose from his throne. His expression was far more serious than before, and his voice echoed throughout the grand hall.
"After careful consideration, we have come to a decision." His gaze briefly shifted toward Ren, his expression heavy, though his tone remained firm. "Takamura Ren, as your job remains unidentified and you have shown no progress in training, we must regretfully remove you from the Hero party."
A heavy silence filled the room. Some students immediately reacted, while others remained quiet, as if they had already expected this outcome.
"What?!" Kiriya stepped forward, his eyes wide with fury. "You've got to be kidding! You're just throwing him away because you can't understand his job? That's completely unfair!"
A few other students also voiced their disagreement.
"It's true he hasn't trained like us, but that's no reason to just abandon him like this!" said a girl who seemed genuinely concerned. However, the majority either stayed silent or simply nodded in agreement with the king's decision.
On the other hand, some students felt this was the logical outcome.
"Isn't this obvious? If he stays, he'll just be dead weight."
"We're talking about saving the world. There's no room for someone useless."
"He never took training seriously in the first place. This is his own fault."
Through it all, Ren stood motionless, his expression devoid of surprise or anger. Everything was proceeding exactly as he had anticipated, and the reactions around him were nothing more than a script playing out as expected.
However, their homeroom teacher, who had always been uncomfortable with this summoning, finally stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, even if Ren must be removed from the Hero party, I ask that he not be cast out without any form of support." Her voice was firm, though she remained formal in addressing the king. "He is still one of my students, and I cannot accept him being abandoned without any means to survive."
The king fell silent for a moment before turning to one of his ministers. After a brief discussion, he finally gave a slow nod.
"Very well. As compensation, we will provide financial support to ensure he can sustain himself in this world."
Still visibly upset, Kiriya took the small pouch that a royal attendant had prepared. He peeked inside and saw its contents—ten gold coins, enough to live comfortably for several months, perhaps even to indulge in some luxuries in the city.
"Well… at least it's better than nothing," he muttered before handing the pouch to Ren.
Ren accepted the coins without a change in expression, then looked at the king and princess one last time. "Thank you for your generosity." His voice was flat, yet there was a subtle trace of sarcasm that only those who were perceptive enough would notice.
Without lingering any further, he turned and walked toward the grand doors, leaving everyone behind.
However, just before he stepped through, he paused for a brief moment and spoke in a hushed tone—just loud enough for Kiriya to hear, yet quiet enough to avoid drawing attention from the others.
"Just as we planned… I'll go first. Don't forget—keep an eye on everything for me."
Kiriya didn't respond, but his fists clenched at his sides, suppressing the urge to follow. For now, his role was to remain within the castle, gathering as much information as possible for their future plans.
As Ren finally stepped out of the castle, he lifted his head and gazed at the vast blue sky above.
(Now… everything begins.)