95. Hero Summoning 1
On this day, the Oxsdonia Supreme Faculty convened an emergency meeting to debate the activation of a hero summoning ritual recently discovered by one of their professors.
After the summoning array was found, specialists in summoning magic attempted to decipher it, but the text was written in an unknown language and symbols, rendering it incomprehensible. Still, certain inscriptions bore resemblance to existing summoning arrays, confirming it was indeed some kind of summoning magic circle.
"Some of us are doubtful whether the man's account can truly be trusted," several professors voiced.
"He is widely known at this university as a long-standing, dedicated researcher with substantial accomplishments. His conduct has been impeccable. Multiple professors who know him personally have confirmed he is not someone prone to baseless lies. Thus, there is no reason to question the authenticity of the array itself," reported the professor in charge of psychology.
As a formality, his character and behavior were verified. After all, those who understand magic know that activating an array recklessly is dangerous.
"The technique was sent by the gods for the purpose of slaying the Demon King—an artifact in every sense. We should absolutely summon a hero," voices grew louder.
"Considering the urgent situation surrounding the academy, and given the high possibility that this array was divinely bestowed at this very moment, we hereby approve its activation."
With a majority vote, the faculty council agreed.
In the 1332nd year of the Sacred Era, January, the world witnessed its first use of a hero summoning spell.
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"Ah! What're you doing, sis? Mizuki-san, come on, hurry up!"
"Hey, Makoto? Mizuki and I’re looking into something—just checking the scarf pattern, you know? What about you, what’re you up to? Need something from the library?"
"Long time no see, Makoto-kun. You’ve grown, haven’t you?" Mizuki said, smiling.
"Heh. Gotta be the growth spurt!" Makoto laughed.
Kotone Inazaki, seventeen and in her second year of high school, had come to the library with her best friend, Fuyumiya Mizuki, to research knitting patterns for the scarves they’d recently gotten into.
She wore her soft black hair loosely tied behind her, falling to about waist level. Her face was delicate, a blend of gentle and bright expressions—a beauty with a quiet depth, and a rare, blossoming smile that made her popular among male students.
In contrast, Mizuki had a bright, energetic, older-sister vibe—also a beauty. Her curly brown hair fell past her shoulders.
Kotone and Mizuki had met in high school. They’d ended up sitting next to each other in class and hit it off instantly. Both loved knitting—Mizuki enjoyed drawing art, Kotone liked 3D modeling. Their hobbies matched. Kotone was quiet and reserved, Mizuki outgoing and cheerful. Their differences worked well together. Mizuki had taken a liking to Kotone, like an older sister.
Makoto Inazaki, Kotone’s younger brother, was sixteen. Though his name sounds masculine in pronunciation, the kanji used gives it a feminine feel—so people often misgender him. Their grandmother had been a renowned pianist, and she’d chosen both names. But Makoto didn’t care about that, nor did it matter to him—only that his grandmother was the one thing he’d ever felt slightly annoyed by. Still, he was a devoted grandson.
Masaki was Makoto’s childhood friend. In contrast to Makoto’s sporty, slightly childish demeanor, Masaki was the indoors type—bookish, a walking encyclopedia of trivia, and the kind of glasses-wearing overachiever who secretly lived for otaku culture. The two had been inseparable since youth, or perhaps more accurately, bound by a deeply entrenched, rotten kind of connection. Their differences somehow meshed in a way that made sense—something Kotone and Mizuki suspected, though neither Makoto nor Masaki was aware of it.
“Hello, Kotone-san,” Masaki said.
“Hello, Masaki-kun. Makoto’s always been such a bother to you,” Kotone replied.
“Yes, always a bother,” Masaki said.
“Hey! What the hell are you saying?! When did I ever need you to take care of me?!” Makoto shouted.
“Every time you’re reading light novels in the library,” Masaki said, completely ignoring Makoto’s outburst.
“Huh? Light novels that interesting?”
“Yes, really fun—especially isekai stuff. Magic, magical devices, all that?” Masaki said.
As the four chatted, suddenly a magic circle flared to life on the floor.
“Eh?! Could this be…” Masaki gasped in surprise.
“Ah, a magic circle. Looks like we finally get a chance to shine…” Makoto muttered, smirking.
“What are you talking about, idiot? There’s a difference between reading about it and living it!” Masaki shot back, surprisingly calm.
“Huh… I can’t move my body…” Kotone murmured.
“Me neither…” Mizuki added.
As the four heard a voice in their heads—like an automated announcement—they lost consciousness.
――‘Soul I/O connection severed. Recognized DNA-based physical form. Equipment check confirmed. Entity conversion process initiated. Commencing interplanetary transfer between Earth and Filidia…’
◇
This was the usual white control room of Filidia. Firumia was, as always, performing her routine world checks.
A red alert message flickers across the screen with a sharp beep.
“Huh? What…?”
Firumia peers at the display.
— Anomalous mana consumption detected.
— Large-scale spell activation confirmed: unregistered, initiated by a mortal from the mortal realm.
— Spell matrix creator: Goddess Isanamia. Intervention required before full activation.
“What… Isanamia? Who even is she?” Firumia’s thoughts scramble. This has never happened before.
“Best to contact Isanamia straight away,” she decides, initiating an emergency summon.
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