The summon

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the bustling marketplace of Eastville. The air was thick with the mingling scents of spices, fresh produce, and the occasional whiff of livestock. Merchants called out to passersby, hawking their wares, while customers haggled over prices. Amid the chaos, I stood by my cart, overseeing the final preparations for the day's shipment.

"Hey, Felix, the goods have been packed into the cart. It's ready to go," a demi-human said, his voice tinged with exhaustion. His fur, a patchy mix of brown and gray, was matted with sweat, and his ears twitched nervously as he glanced around the marketplace. In my world, demi-humans were treated as abominations, forced into slavery and stripped of their dignity. But I had never seen them as anything less than people.

"Here's your pay," I said with a smile, handing him a small pouch of coins. His eyes widened in disbelief, and he hesitated before reaching out to take it.

"He's paying a demi-human?" I overheard two merchants gossiping behind me, their voices dripping with disdain. I didn't bother to respond. Let them talk.

"But, sir—" the demi-human began, his voice trembling.

I cut him off gently. "You did your job well, so you should get paid. That's how it works."

"When Felix says something, it's hard to change his mind," my assistant, Juniper, chimed in as she approached from the other store, a paybook clutched in her hands. Her auburn hair was tied back in a loose braid, and her green eyes sparkled with amusement. She had been with me for years, and her sharp wit and efficiency were invaluable.

"Oh, hey, Juniper. Are you done already?" I asked, turning to her.

"Yes, sir," she replied, flipping through the paybook. "Accept the pay, sir. Use it to feed your workmates."

The demi-human hesitated for a moment longer before nodding. "If you insist, then… thank you so much." He gestured with gratitude, his tail swishing slightly.

"Hey, guys!" he called out to the other demi-humans loading the cart. "Sir Felix has paid for our food tonight. Say thank you to him before we head to the ramen shop!"

"Thank you, Sir Felix!" they chorused in unison, their faces lighting up with genuine smiles. It was a rare sight in a world that treated them as less than human.

"Hypocrite," one of the merchants muttered to another, shaking his head before walking away.

I sighed inwardly. Why did they care so much? Demi-human or human, we all bled the same. But I knew better than to voice such thoughts aloud. The world wasn't ready for that kind of change—not yet, at least.

"That was so noble of you, Sir Felix," Juniper said, her tone warm with admiration.

"I just felt like it was the right thing to do," I replied, shrugging. "So, how are the goods coming along? And how's the market?"

"Well, sir," she began, flipping through her paybook, "the market seems to be going down this week, but it should bounce back by next week. We'll be in profits soon enough—"

Her words were cut off as a sudden, faint glow began to emanate from my body. I froze, staring at my hands in confusion. The light grew brighter, pulsing with an otherworldly energy.

"Huh? What's happening?" I said, my voice tinged with fear.

The glow intensified, enveloping me completely. I could feel a strange pulling sensation, as though the very fabric of reality was being torn apart. The last thing I saw was Juniper's wide-eyed expression before everything went white.

---

When I opened my eyes, I was no longer in Eastville. The familiar sights and sounds of the marketplace were gone, replaced by an ornate chamber lit by flickering torches. The air was thick with the scent of incense, and the walls were adorned with intricate tapestries depicting scenes of battle and triumph.

"Did it work? Was he summoned?" a distant voice asked, echoing through the chamber.

I sat up, my head spinning. "Huh? Where am I? What is this place?" I muttered, looking around in confusion.

A group of robed figures approached me, their faces a mix of hope and apprehension. One of them, an elderly man with a long white beard, stepped forward.

"You are the 199th hero candidate," he declared, his voice solemn. "You have been summoned according to the prophecy to save us all from the Dark One."

"What? What do you mean?" I said, trying to process his words. "My name is Felix. I'm a merchant. I have no hero powers. You must be mistaken."

"I hope not, Mr. Felix," the man replied, his expression grave. "You are our only hope."

Before I could protest further, another man spoke up. "Please bring forth the orb. We need to check if he has the divine blessings of the gods."

A servant maid hurried forward, carrying a glowing orb. She placed it before me and gestured for me to place my hands on it.

"Why? What's this divine blessing you speak of?" I asked, my confusion mounting.

Without waiting for an answer, she took my hands and placed them on the orb. It pulsed with light, and strange symbols began to appear in the air above it.

**Orb System**

Healing: 8

Speed: 7

Strength: 16

Appraisal: 3

Divine Blessings: None.

"Oh my!" the maid screamed, her voice filled with shock.

"What? What do you see?" the elderly man asked, his voice tense.

"These are the skills of an ordinary man," she said, her voice trembling. "There are no divine blessings bestowed on him by the gods."

"What? Did we fail again? Or is there something wrong?" the second man exclaimed, his frustration evident.

"I told you," I said, trying to keep my voice calm. "I'm just an ordinary merchant from a city named Eastville."

Before anyone could respond, a sudden scream echoed through the chamber. Everyone turned to see another maid standing beside a man dressed in golden knight's armor. His presence was commanding, and his eyes gleamed with confidence.

"His skills are off the charts!" the maid exclaimed. "It's like he's been blessed by the gods!"

**Orb System**

Healing: 999

Speed: 999

Strength: 999

Appraisal: 999

Divine Blessings: None.

The knight smirked as he looked at me, his expression one of superiority. "We must inform the king at once!" the robed figures declared, rushing out of the chamber.

"At least take me back to my world," I called after them, but no one listened.

---

After the inauguration of the new hero, I was sent to a forest far from the city and castle to live out the rest of my days. The king's words echoed in my mind as I sat in the back of a creaky cart, jostling along a dirt road.

"Sorry, but we can't send you back to your world," the king had said during our brief meeting. "As it is our mistake, I am sending you to a forest to live out your life there. Take these treasures and weapons with you."

A guard had handed me a magic bag, its interior seemingly bottomless. It was filled with supplies, weapons, and enough gold to last a lifetime. But none of it mattered. I was alone in a strange world, with no way home.

"Can't believe he casually said that," I muttered to myself as the cart rolled on. I tried to inquire about the forest from the rider, but he remained silent, his face stoic. He had been given strict orders not to speak to me.

The journey took approximately a week. When we finally arrived at the edge of the forest, the rider turned to me, his expression grim.

"Here's some advice," he said. "Do what you must and leave this place at once. It's filled with monsters and magical beasts lurking around every corner."

With that, he rode off, leaving me standing at the edge of the dense, foreboding forest. The trees loomed tall and dark, their branches twisting like skeletal fingers. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves.

"Well, it's not like I have a choice," I thought, slinging the magic bag over my shoulder. "Got to find some shelter soon before nightfall."

As I stepped into the forest, the shadows seemed to close in around me. Somewhere in the distance, a howl echoed through the trees. I took a deep breath and pressed on, determined to survive in this strange, dangerous world.