Chapter 7 - Leaving
This Chapter is already engaging, but I can refine it for smoother readability, better emotional depth, and stronger tension without altering its essence. Here's the revised version:
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Chapter 7: Leaving (1)
"Y-YOU—YOU'RE A MISTAKE!!" The holy servant's voice trembled with shock, her already pale skin turning even whiter.
"A mistake? That's impossible! We've summoned countless Mages before!" The king's voice wavered, as if refusing to accept the reality before him.
"Can someone explain what's going on?" Kenji asked, his confusion growing. The way they spoke about him made it seem like he was some kind of failed experiment.
"Yeah, what's wrong with Kenji-san?" Miyuki chimed in, her brows furrowed. She wasn't particularly fond of Kenji, but among their group, she had the most respect for him.
The king turned to her, then pointed at Kenji. "He has a class, sure. But his class is that of an Animal Tamer." His tone was laced with disgust.
"So what? He can tame beasts. Isn't that still useful?" Haru interjected, trying to make sense of the situation.
The king shook his head slightly. "You don't understand. He's not a Beast Tamer—he's an Animal Tamer. That means he can't tame anything with a rank. At best, he can control a dog, a cat, maybe some birds or wild animals. But not beasts. He's essentially useless in battle. A liability." His gaze hardened. "He wasn't meant to be here. He must've been caught in the summoning spell by accident—he's here through dumb luck."
Kenji's expression darkened. "So... what you're saying is that I can't be part of the mission to defeat the Demon King?"
"Yes!" The holy servant cut in sharply. "Not only can you not be part of their quest, but you cannot remain in the palace. It would damage the reputation of the Nine Kingdoms. If word spread that we failed to properly execute a summoning spell, our credibility would crumble." Her eyes gleamed with disdain.
Kenji felt his chest tighten. The way they looked at him—like he was some defect, something lesser—made his stomach churn.
Their auras bore down on him, suffocating in their intensity. Just a simple stare from them could crush someone weak-willed. And Kenji... Kenji had never been strong. That's why he remained stuck in an endless cycle of corporate work, unable to resist the demands of his superiors.
"I... If I can't stay here, then where am I supposed to go? I can't return to my world," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
The king sighed. "He's right. It was partially our fault for bringing him here."
"There's only one solution," the holy servant said coldly. "We provide him with enough supplies and resources to survive, then send him away. Immediately. He must not stay in the capital—if he does, he might spread rumors. We'll transport him to one of the lesser towns."
With a flick of her wrist, she cast a short-range spell, ensuring that no one outside their small group could hear their conversation.
The king turned back to Kenji, forcing himself to suppress his distaste. "Come with me."
Without a word, Kenji followed.
They walked through the palace halls until they reached a massive door guarded by thirty knights.
The king ignored them and stepped inside. Kenji followed, and as he entered, his breath hitched.
Gold. Diamonds. Artifacts of strange origins. Glowing crystals. Weapons of unimaginable craftsmanship.
"This is the royal treasury," the king said, his voice indifferent. He handed Kenji a small ring engraved with mysterious runes. "Take as much gold as this ring can hold."
Kenji stared at it. "What is this?"
"A spatial ring. It uses spatial magic and beast cores to store items. It has a limit, but it should be more than enough for your needs. Take what you want, then I'll take you somewhere else."
Kenji clenched the ring in his fist.
It was unsettling how quickly human nature shifted. Just minutes ago, the king had welcomed him and the others with joy and hope. But the moment he saw that Kenji was "useless," he discarded him like trash.
(A/N: Oi, you naughty readers, don't even think about roasting this paragraph!)
The treasury was enormous—practically a world of riches on its own. Kenji slipped the ring onto his finger and willed it to [Intake!].
Instantly, the ring activated, pulling in heaps of gold, weapons, and shimmering crystals.
One particular crystal caught his eye—a deep crimson gem, almost like a flickering flame, with a feather symbol etched onto its surface.
"What is this?" he asked, holding it up.
The king barely spared it a glance. "Oh, that? A beast core. Probably from a Flame Bird. Nothing special."
Kenji frowned. Nothing special?
Something about this crystal felt different.
Instead of storing it in the ring, he slipped it into his pocket.
Minutes later, the ring had reached its limit.
"Alright, I'm done," he said.
"Then let's go." The king turned, leaving the treasury without another word. Kenji followed, clutching the ring tightly.
He wasn't sure where he was going next.
But one thing was certain.
He was no longer welcome here.