the old king

"Yep, this is another world alright." It's kind of hard to think it's anything else, considering there are furries just wandering around, also giant lizards are a thing... I did consider time travel being a option for a second, but clearly that isn't the case here.

"Is it to your liking...?" I turn around to face the voice, and for but a second I see a beautiful petite woman, one with white hair, blue eyes and almost no clothing. Sadly, as soon as I see her, she's gone, almost as if she was never there in the first place.

I sigh. "We'll see, I guess... I better have a good cheat." I'm guessing this strange girl who appeared for one second just to say some strange stuff is the goddess who summoned me here? That's usually how these things go.

Well, I didn't die, so the setup is already very weird in the first place. Still, it's not like all Isekai's involve a truck in the first place, series like Shield Hero and Familiar of Zero come to mind... Hopefully this is more Familiar of Zero than Shield Hero.

I look up. "Okay, first of all, let's analyze my surroundings a bit more..." It's a sunny day, It might be morning, so I have a long time until it's night. That's good, a bunch of tropes always say things get dangerous while it's dark... should I start punching trees?

Next I look all around me, I didn't comment on it before, but the streets are filled with both normal humans, and the furry dudes... even the occasional furry human. Since there are so many people around either I'm in some big city like a capital, or this is a important day... it could be both too, I guess.

Now if I'm a recently summoned hero, what should I do...? The white haired, maybe a goddess girl didn't drop any hints whatsoever... I guess I better look for a adventurers guild? Those usually require money though, and I doubt any currency I have will work here.

Welp, time to use my worst skill... conversation! So I walk towards one of the furry guys and tap his shoulder. "Um... excuse me sir?" I didn't think about it until now, but maybe I can't speak the language of this place. If that's the case, then I'm completely and utterly fucked, seriously just having no idea where I am is already bad enough...

Thankfully the guy turns around and speaks a language I can understand. "What?" His answer is curt, and I can tell from his tone that he's angry. That makes sense, I guess, everyone seems to be in a rush and here I am, wasting his time.

I awkwardly scratch my head. "Sorry for wasting your time, I'm just kind of... lost. So I would like to know what's happening, if you don't mind." Maybe a bit of a vague question, but it's a genuine one. Hopefully this guy will take pity on my poor ass.

The furry man raises an eyebrow. "You a tourist?" I nod, hoping that he won't get mad at that. "I see... I don't really know what's going on either, apparently a bunch of nobles are meeting at the palace, and some huge announcement is gonna happen later." I feel like I should be at this palace then! "Not that any of this matters to some tourist..." He ends by muttering.

I smile. "Thanks for the help, sorry that I can't repay you...!" I turn around and start to walk away before he can say anything, because I now have a clear way to go... I can almost see a point in my imaginary map guiding me!

Except not really, this is a big town so I'll probably just wander around... Still it shouldn't be too hard to find a gigantic palace right? Well, maybe I should have asked furry man for directions, but I have a feeling he was already at the end of his patience.

Our talk was fruitful though, since I learned about a place of interest... I doubt people are just going to let a stranger enter into a royal palace or whatever of course, but since I'm clearly the hero something will happen? If it doesn't I guess I'll just leave.

Ah, hopefully I really am a legendary SSR summon, or I'm fucked... Maybe I can find construction work? They did that in Konosuba, which is probably not what I should be using to guide, but it's what I have currently.

After a few minutes of walking around, and asking random strangers for directions, I have to admit... "I am totally lost." Turns out I suck at following directions, please give me my Google Maps back. I guess I shouldn't complain though, even being lost here is way better than being back home.

Suddenly a red carriage stops right close to me, it's door is opened by a gladiator looking dude. "Hey... come here if you value your life." How convenient! Unless he wants to sell me to slavery or something, in which case this isn't convenient at all.

I smile as I walk towards the carriage. "The world really might work in my favor." I ignore the shudder from the gladiator at my words. Maybe my cheat ability is plot armor? That would certainly be super, duper convenient.

Getting into a carriage is surprisingly hard, but thankfully the gladiator helps me. I can't help, but notice that he's a muscular dude, and the fact that he doesn't even wear a shirt makes it even more obvious.

Now inside of the carriage, I realize that he is not the only person here, there's also a girl. She's insanely beautiful, with a darker shade of blonde, and red eyes... even though she's not albino at all. Also her tits are surprisingly huge, I feel like that's an important fact.

I wave at her as I sit down. "Hello there! Thanks for the ride, I think." I direct my gratitude towards and not the warrior, it takes only a look to see who the gladiator serves after all. This girl might be a important character...

It's strange though, she's wearing a super cocky smile, and with tits that big... She doesn't give me the aura of a main girl at all, not even a tsundere one. Maybe she's the type that will eventually betray me and send me on a quest for vengeance? That sounds rad.

She covers her mouth with a now open fan she took from her boobs... Definitely not main girl attitude. "Oh? You quickly realized I'm the superior here? Though I suppose it's not like Al is particularly impressive looking." Nope, he is, it's just that he's a different way of impressive.

Speaking of him, he sighs. "Taking stray dogs..." I have a feeling that's me. "And he's a weirdo too, reacting so calmly to this." Please stop muttering while calling me a weirdo. Though you are correct when you say I'm super calm... No, I'm actually kind of excited too.

The blonde girl ignores his mutterings and continues talking. "Still, why thank me for the ride? I just found a interesting dog and brought him here, I have no intention of helping you to go where you need." Yeah, I'll repeat... not main girl material.

I shrug. "I did say I think at the end of that sentence... Also what's with calling me a interesting dog?" I have no problems with her insulting me to be honest, it takes only one look at her to realize she does it casually and with no bad intent... I have a feeling she would make it very clear if she wanted to hurt me.

The blonde is smirking from ear to ear. "It's because you dress weird, you look weird, and my bodyguard flinched when he saw you. Those were enough to interest me... Now it's up for you to live to my expectations." She nods to herself. "Entertain me and I may see fit to help you, though I am short in time today." This woman...

She radiates massive villain energy doesn't she? From a otome game specifically. Is this one of those isekai's? Though normally in such situations I would be reincarnating as her in the first place.

I make a thinking pose. "Entertain you huh...? Well, if you want a crazy sounding story... I'm actually from another planet called Earth where magic doesn't exist." I assume it does here, even if I haven't seen it. "I was summoned here, probably. So I'm going to the palade because there's a bunch of people gathering there to announce something, and it might be my prophesied arrival."

Contrary to my expectations, the blonde doesn't seem surprised at all, even if she seems happy. "As I thought, another man from beyond the waterfall... and a delusional one at that!" Another!? I guess I'm not that special after all... "So what is your name exotic dog?" At least she didn't throw me out.

I smile. "My name is..." Should I use a cool fake heroic sounding one? Nah. "Iori Ishida." I extend my open hand towards her, I don't know if they shake hands over here, but I'm trying to be respectful.

The knight snorts and she ignores my invitation. "I see, a strange name, though such is expected from you... Be glad, you stand before Priscilla Barielle, and it just so happens that I am making my way towards the palace." Awesome, plot armor here we go. "Al, introduce yourself." She looks at the knight.

He nods. "Sure, my name is Aldebaran, but just call me Al." Weirdly enough he does extend a hand, just like I did before. "Nice to meet ya, weird ass anomaly." It's not my fault I got kidnapped by some weird goddess... and I may even not be her first victim, considering what Priscilla said before.

I shake his hand. "Nice to meet you too man." I mean that, Priscilla and him are only acting nice because they think I'm weird, but... I'm still grateful nonetheless. Specially since she kind of hinted at taking me to the palace too.

The gladiator has a stong grip, way stronger than mine, thankfully he doesn't do that asshole thing where they press to hard just to look cool. To be honest he already looks cool without any machismo anyways.

He release his grip and pulls his hand back. "By the way, I'm from another world too." And suddenly drops a very important piece of information in my lap. "Hey, no need to look so shocked, let me tell you something bro... any sort of expectation you have for this place, forge-" Suddenly he stops.

Most likely because Priscilla is glaring at him. "Why are you trying to make him more boring Al? I wanted him to make a fool of himself." she then mutters, a very light blush on her face. "Or prove that he is indeed a hero." Her reddened face looks out of place.

It's strange, but I can tell this is the type of woman who normally doesn't get embarrassed. She does look extremely cute though, so I'll appreciate the view... as expected villainesses are hot, I want to bend her over a table.

Al sigh. "Geez, what's with you princess? Normally you don't straight up lead people to their doom... you like when they hang themselves by their own efforts." Spooky. "Besides, I gotta lend a hand to my bro." Earthlings stick together...?

Priscilla's eyes twitches. "Do not assume for a second that you can predict my intentions Al, now stop being a fool before I kill you." I can tell she really means that. I was right before, a person does easily knows when she has evil intent.

Still, I gotta help my bro out! Earthlings stick together! "Hey, no need to scream at the dude! He's just being nice!" I send a thumps towards Al. "And thanks for sharing that info with me, did the goddess say anything important to you?" She just asked me if I liked this world...

Priscilla immediately clenches her first. "Do not try to... admonish me Iori! Know your place!" A chill runs down my spine, but thankfully the blonde woman doesn't say anything else. I better not forget that she's an all powerful noble and I'm a commoner here... I'd like to say that a Earthling should outrank her, but this is clearly not true, considering Al exists.

The gladiator tilts his head. "You're not killing him for that princess? Or at least throwing him out?" For his second round of questioning Priscilla's decisions, he receives a fiery glare. "Ah, sorry... You really are in a good mood today." Don't just casually she say she would kill me... is this a dark isekai? Please don't tell me it's a dark isekai.

Thankfully Priscilla's smile returns. "What can I say? The other day I met that interesting girl, and now I have met this interesting dog..." She laughs. "I like him, I might keep him! Now I just need to find a nice collar..." That does sound kind of hot.

Al just seems more and more confused. "I never seen you give this nice of a treatment to someone else..." Putting a collar on someone is considered nice!? Since when!? "Anyways..." He looks back at me. "What do you mean with the goddess thing?" Huh? Maybe she isn't a goddess and Al doesn't know I don't know that? Confusing.

Priscilla starts moving her fan to cool herself, another red blush on her face. "He clearly means me, this exotic dog has good eyes." You would be the type to call yourself a goddess.

I shake my head. "Nope, it was another girl..." Priscilla's right eyebrow twitches and she glares at me, Al however is now staring at her weirdly as if expecting something. "The girl I'm talking is some white haired chick, she also had blue eyes and was super cute... as soon as I appeared she said some mysterious stuff and disappeared." She's one of the reasons why magic is probably real.

Priscilla nods. "A strange woman? Perhaps she's the one who summoned you to this world?" Thankfully the blonde, probably noble woman quickly forgets her anger.

I nod back. "That's what I thought... It's why I think she's a goddess." That and also all the troped from my homeland. For all I know though she could be some homeless cutie who likes summoning Japanese guys. I won't judge.

Priscilla makes a thinking pose. "How strange, one would assume that a dragon would summon you." Glad to see that dragons are real, even if that makes the dinosaurs around less cool. "A mage perhaps? One would think that only the Margrave Matters would have such potent spells as to summon a being from beyond the waterfall." Being a goddess would so much cooler than just being a random mage...

Suddenly she bursts out laughing. "It doesn't matter however! It seems that yet again the world has spun to my favor... Perhaps your summoning was a goddess paying tribute to me?" She nods to herself. "I have decided you now belong to me dog, I find you a cute pet." I'm totally fine going down this route.

Al speaks up. "Hey princess, wait a sec... You didn't even let me talk. Seriously, I'm the guy summoned from another planet here." He's sending me a suspicious look, even if it's not my fault that his master likes to talk a bunch.

Priscilla blushes. "I... You are right for once Al, so I'll apologize." My eyes widen in shock, I definitely didn't think she was the type to do something like that. I guess I misjudged her, it seems Priscilla Barielle will admit to her mistakes. "It seems I got a bit too enthusiastic while playing with my new dog..." She puts a hand to her chest, as if to calm herself, then she mutters. "This..." Her face reminds me of a high school girl with a crush... Is my isekai protagonist swag that strong!?

Honestly I'm definitely down for this! She's hot as hell! I don't know how to feel about her confidence though, I mean I haven't even answered her request of being her pet... and yet she's already acting like I said yes. The more time I spend with her, the more I realize I was right before, she's a otome villainess for sure.

Al looks flabbergasted. "Is this a prank Princess?" Eh? Where the hell did this come from?

The blonde is so shocked by his comment that she doesn't even react for a few moments, eventually she does regain her bearings, glaring at Al. "Did you decide to be a fool today Al?" She summons a sword out of nowhere and points at him. "I have given you plenty of warmings already!" Okay, but don't actually kill him!

There's a tense feeling in the room, it reminds me of the few serious Yakuza fights I have been involved in. Not the ones where there's a bunch of drunk delinquents starting shit, but the ones where someone will seriously die by the end of the night. Priscilla is a girl who means what she says, be it by being happy that you're an exotic dog, or by being pissed because you disobeyed her orders. Scary. How the hell do I calm her down now?

Al carefully raises his hands to the air. "Sorry Princess! It's just that this is what I normally would expect from you...!" Priscilla's sword hasn't moved at all. "And since you're acting so chummy with this guy I thought you two knew each other and were pranking me." The blade slowly moves away from his neck, but then Al mutters. "And I definitely didn't flinch at seeing him, you're the one who blush-" And the blade is back!

Priscilla then sighs. "Don't be a fool Aldeberan" He definitely flinched now. "I just..." Her lips are trembling, a her face is scarlet. "Just what are your opinions on this goddess thing?" Her blade disappears, Al's life spared... I think this girl might have a crush on me, and I think that might be weird.

Al sighs of relief, probably glad that his head is still on contact with his shoulders. "I definitely didn't see anyone like he described. But you know that my memories are... scrambled." Oh? Amnesia? That might mean you're above the totem pole when it comes to protagonist powers.

Priscilla nods. "I suppose that's understandable." She then looks at me. "Get comfortable Iori, I'll be taking you to the palace. Pray that you're correct about being a summoned hero, because if not, you will be totally lost." Yet again her face becomes red. "Though I might lend a helping hand in that case." Awesome.

I give her a bright smile. "I definitely appreciate that Priscilla!" This villainess isn't the worst, sometimes, and her cute blushing face definitely proves me right. She might not be main girl material, but she would definitely have her own route.

Aldebaran looks to the roof of the carriage. "Man... wow." For some reason he still looks flabbergasted. I'm just glad everything is going so smoothly, not everyone has things go this smoothly.