Chapter 5: Enduring it All

Since I entered this city, which Alna would one day tell me was called Yonderdale, so many things kept happening. I was healed by a slime, a cute cat-girl would wash my clothes and I'd end up getting a katana which apparently was meant for me to have.  Honestly, as a fan of isekai stories I can now say this. They don't prepare you for what really is going to happen when you enter another world. Sure, some look at the horrors of being thrown into a dangerous world filled with monsters and others examine jealousy and cruelness in a world where second chances begin. Yet, they don't show the dizzying thoughts that begin to invade your existence. I keep learning new things, seeing new images and its overwhelming. Imagine this, I take you from a place you're familiar with and then blindfold you. When I undo said blindfold you blink and see yourself in a completely foreign land, no guide to help, no phone to look up information and nothing around in your native tongue. This is what I feel like right now and I'm sure a less calm man or woman would curl up into a ball and lie on the ground in fear. 

"What is a rightful heir?" I asked Tarn. Still trying to process what just happened.

"Well...how do I put it...I guess the simple answer is that particular weapon was made to be held by you and no one else. It doesn't mean someone else can't take hold of it but to utilize its abilities and powers only the rightful heir can do."

"That's how he explains it...interesting but I'll tell you the truth later." I almost responded outloud when I realized that wasn't Tarn or Alna, that was Mr. Voice. In my mind I said you better and he just chuckled at my demand. 

Tarn asked me for 3 gold pieces, he said it was really meant to be 5 but since it was made for me and he's only seen that a handful of times, he gave me a discount. I also brought some other items from the smith such as a set of armor that was light but had silver armor pieces added in vulnerable areas and a dark blue cloak that ended just past my knees. It cost me almost every gold piece I had in my little amount given by Mr. Voice but I still had some silver and one gold piece left. I presumed that would be enough to make do I hoped.

When I stepped out of the shop I won't lie, I felt like I had come straight out of a RPG shop in a fantasy game. The armor was heavy but not constricting. I could still move around and probably run if I had to.

"You look good, better in that then your other world gear." Alna said. I guess she thought my suit was gear in my world...if only she knew. 

"Thanks...now let's go back to your place really fast. Mr. Voice wants to talk to us it seems." Alna nodded and as fast as we had gone to the blacksmith, we were back at her home even faster. Mr. Voice wasted no time re-appearing in his strange mist form. 

"You look more like a hero now." Mr. Voice said with a hint of laughter. 

"Stop beating around the bush Mr. Voice. Tell me what the plan is, explain the rightful heir stuff...just give us more." I stood face to...mist and Mr. Voice I heard sigh but then told us both to sit down. 

"I told you before this world was created by Slain and SOULS but here's why you Mizuki are able to stop Slain with your own SOUL. Slain made these people of this world using his own devices and abilities but lacked what only God can grant, a SOUL. If any of them try to fight back, he could literally just destroy them with a snap of his fingers." 

"So why would I bring others with me to fight him then?" I asked. Alna stood quiet and was just listening intuitively. 

"As an owner of a SOUL, you can empower those around you to avoid instant destruction. Your SOUL can overwrite his abilities and allow you a chance at dealing a lethal blow. That sword right there...that sword is from a past hero that died and was put into this world. An ancestor of yours." 

"Wait...someone from my family?!" I stood up shocked. Is that what flooded my mind? Past memories of the original owner? Someone from my lineage...

"Yes. A rightful heir weapon is literally just a weapon from your world placed here. When someone from your world picks it up, they are flooded with memories. However, that should also warn you of what I'm about to say next." Mr. Voice didn't need to say anything more. I knew what he meant.

"I'm not the first hero to this world..."

"Bingo." Mr. Voice's misty form moved around a bit then came back in front.

"There were others like Mizuki?" Alna asked.

"Yes, not many but several and they all...failed. Some though...they didn't fail by just dying." 

"What do you mean?" 

"My next mission is for you to go to the north. There is a mountain far in the distance and near the base lies a hidden cave. In this cave...one of the heroes who has failed. He is to join you and I'll convince him to do so." 

"He's still alive...how old is he?"

"Your age. In this world a hero can last hundreds of years and be completely fine. He has been here for a long time and was too afraid to fight Slain. He hid away in a mountain and prayed he could live out his life away from me and his duties." 

"So why would he join us now?" Alna asked the question I was just about to shoot out. 

"Because I will give him an ultimatium, one he will not say no to. Now go and meet this next party member. I will not be able to see you until then. Slain is sensing something is amiss and that concerns even me." Mr. Voice didn't wait for me to answer anything else. It vanished leaving us in silence.

I won't deny...I was truly unable to process all of this new information. Many heroes were summoned here before, even one of my ancestors and they either failed or just didn't try. What luck would I have...I was just an office worker. Alna looked at me and then jumped up almost taking me by surprise. 

"Outside Mizuki...now." 

"Why?" I asked but she just opened the door and walked out. 

I followed her out and then saw she held her hands out as if ready to strike. I looked around but noticed her attack wasn't something around me or behind me...it was me?!

"Alna what are you doing?" 

"Observing." Suddenly Alna darted forward, her movement matching her cat-like form. I legit thought it was over, she'd slash me and end my life in this isekai world. I closed my eyes but death didn't come, instead I felt an impact and when my eyes opened I saw Alna's face shocked and me holding the katana I just purchased. 

"How did you do that?" Alna jumped back but was still in her ready stance.

"I don't know...I didn't even have the sword on me, it was on the chair when I left." I looked down at the katana, it looked as if it was just polished. I had studied kendo for a few years as a kid but that didn't explain how I blocked her attack and summoned it to my hand. Alna squinted her eyes and then pounced again, once more my hands moved quicker than my thought and I blocked her strikes as fast as she launched them. I wasn't aware of anything I was doing it was like the sword was guiding my hands and moving for me. I tried once to make a move for myself but the sword didn't respond only when I was attacked did it move. Alna finally stopped her onslaught and retracted her claws.

"Wonder if that is your power?" Alna said pondering my sword. I again tried to swing it in the air and this time it listened. 

"Maybe it's like some kind of auto defense." I put the sword back into the sheath and then watched as it vanished. 

"it vanished?" Alna stood shocked. I tried to summon it and it appeared in my hands again but then when I didn't do anything for a few seconds, it vanished once more. Just like a game...wow.

After a quick bath and some food, we both decided to wait a day before heading towards the former hero's hiding space. Alna went to sleep but I just laid down on the makeshift bed and then found myself heading outside for some fresh air. 

The night air was calm and while there was a cool breeze here and there, it reminded me of a Japan summer night, warm but not overbearing. My eyes looked around the city and I noticed most of the lights were off. Probably everyone was asleep. What dawned on me was I had only seen a handful of people since I've been in this city and yet it seemed like there should have been so many more people. Honestly though, I didn't dwell on that. My thoughts were just flooded with confusion and exhaustion. I was beginning to understand why the former hero just hid away...it wasn't cowardice...it was probably feeling overwhelmed. That sword fight earlier was proof alone. Maybe I could defend automatically like a pro swordsman but would that work on Slain? When it came time to attack would the sword obey and strike him? What could I do? Mind mind was racing...I was going to lead a party into a battle against a true evil entity and was supposed to win? Then what would happen next? Would I return back to my world, become a boring office worker again and be unable to tell my story to anyone? My mind was filling with thoughts...

"Can't sleep Mizuki?" the low but cute voice snapped me out of my thoughts. 

"No...sorry did I wake you Alna?" I said apologetically. 

"Nah, I'm part cat beast. I can differentiate between  sounds so I knew when the door opened earlier it was you. Still I expected it to close again and noticed its been a while since." Alna walked over to me and looked at me. 

"You look worried."

"I am..."I was honest. Part of me wanted to straight out lie and show bravado but I was worried.

"Don't be."

"How can I not be?" 

"Because you are the hero." Alna said smiling but that made me a bit upset.

"A hero? Me? I think the only heroic thing I've ever done in my world is hold the train for an old woman running to avoid missing it. There's nothing heroic about me." I sighed and looked up.

"I always wanted to be a hero...I played games, watched movies, anime, you name it and I thought wow...me being a hero would be amazing. I could fight the evil being, win the girl and save the day. Now that I have the title on me, I honestly am scared for the first time. How can I be a hero?" I felt a tear begin to form. Alna pondered for a minute then grabbed me from behind. I felt her warmth envelope me and while my mind began to race towards other lewd thoughts, it just felt nice to be held.

"Mizuki...I don't know what half of those things are that you mentioned but I do know a true hero isn't one that waves a sword and says I'm the hero. A hero in my mind is someone who just tries to do good and doesn't hide behind the title but shows they warranted it. I have only ever known one hero in my life but he...he was a hero even if he didn't become famous from it." 

"Who was that?"

"My father..."