Chapter 1 – Summoning Misfire

“Yawn… Why does reality feel so boring? Is nothing good ever going to happen?”

I stretched and walked out of the bookstore, my black hair swaying a little in the breeze. My tracksuit made me look like someone going for a morning jog rather than a destined hero.

“There must be some kind of mistake,” I muttered. “Maybe the princess who was supposed to summon me forgot her job… or maybe she summoned someone else.”

I sighed and raised my voice to the heavens.
“Hey! Are you listening, human princess? Summon me already! If not, I’ll switch sides and join the demons!”

People on the street stared at me like I’d lost my mind. Realizing how ridiculous I sounded, I rubbed the back of my neck and quickly crossed the road, embarrassed.

That’s when I saw it—
A truck.
Speeding straight toward me.

“Arre—”

Slam!

But when I opened my eyes, I was fine. The truck had swerved and smashed into an electric pole instead.

Shocked, I chuckled nervously.
“Maybe they really heard me. Looks like I’m lucky. Being summoned through a ritual is way more my style than dying and reincarnating.”

As I laughed and walked on, screams erupted behind me. I turned—

Slam!

The pole toppled, crashing down right on me. Darkness swallowed me instantly.

“Hmm…”

When I opened my eyes again, I wasn’t under a truck or a pole. I was staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.

“Maybe… just maybe…” My heart raced. “I’ve really been summoned to another world! Wait—where’s the beautiful princess? Where’s my future waifu?”

I looked around, but there was no one. Only dark, eerie corridors stretched out before me.

“Why would a human princess live in such a creepy place? Maybe they’re hiding from demon attacks… so they turned the castle into a haunted house?”

Eventually, I came to a massive black door.
“So this is the hall. I shouldn’t keep them waiting any longer.”

I slammed it open, confidence in every step.
“Don’t worry, everyone! I’m here—your hero, summoned and ready to serve!”

But then I froze.
The hall wasn’t filled with humans.

It was filled with demons. Skeletons, horned monsters, lizard-like dragons—every nightmare you could imagine stared at me.

“Arreee… Maybe I opened the wrong door. Sorry!”

I tried to back out, but a voice echoed from the rear.

The demons parted, revealing a small girl with blazing red hair and horns.

“So, you’re finally awake,” she said firmly. “It’s true—a hero can be summoned if the right circle and chants are used.”

“…A kid?” I muttered.

Her crimson eyes narrowed.
“Watch your words! I am the Demon Queen now. My name is Verixa Bloodveil. My mother passed away last night, and I won’t tolerate any disrespect!”

Some demons chuckled despite themselves, and Verixa’s face crumpled as tears welled up in her eyes. Before she could break down completely, a terrifying woman with an aura of pure menace stepped forward.

“Did I hear someone laughing at our queen?” Her voice was sharp as a blade.

Instant silence. Everyone bowed lower.

Her cold eyes shifted to me.
“And you… Our queen summoned you for aid. If you dare insult her again—”

She swung her sword. A wave of purple energy tore past me, close enough that I almost lost my head.

“Whaaa—You’re destroying the castle again, Valkira!” Verixa scolded.

“Shouldn’t you be more worried about me than your castle?” I muttered.

Verixa turned back to me, wiping her eyes.
“Right. As I was saying—I summoned you to help us in our war against humans and gods!”

I pointed at myself. “Are you sure about that?”

“What do you mean?”

After a pause, realization seemed to dawn on her face.
“Ah… You want an advance before joining? Clever demonic hero!”

“That’s not it!” I shouted. “Don’t you see? You summoned the wrong person! If you’re fighting humans, you should’ve summoned a legendary dragon or a demon lord—not another human!”

Verixa blinked, then turned to Valkira.
“Is he… human?”

Valkira sighed. “Didn’t you notice, My Queen?”

Laughter rippled through the crowd again, and Verixa’s cheeks burned red.
“Of course I knew! I was just… testing you. Yes, testing.”

I sighed. “So… now that your little comedy act is over, can you send me back? Maybe the real human princess can summon me.”

“About that…” Verixa lowered her head, then forced a sheepish smile.
“I don’t actually know how to send someone back.”

“What?! Are you stupid? First you summon the wrong person, and now you can’t send me back?”

My voice rose louder and louder, until Verixa finally burst into tears.

Immediately, every demon pointed their weapon at me.
“You fool! How dare you make our queen cry!” Valkira roared. “Guards—take him to the dungeon. Once she calms down, we’ll decide how to end his life.”

“Wait! I apologize! Please listen to meeeee!”

Two demons grabbed me and dragged me off.

They shoved me into a cell and left.
“Geez… How did I end up here?”

I thought back to my words earlier, about joining the demon side.
“So… you’re messing with me. But how do I escape? If I don’t…”

I imagined my head rolling off a guillotine.

“I need to find a way. But first—Status.”

Nothing.

“Status!”

Still nothing.

“So… status doesn’t work here. Maybe this world doesn’t have that function.”

I sighed.
“I thought being summoned meant I’d have some unique skill—like in anime or manga. Maybe this world’s more realistic…”

Still, I refused to give up. I tried chanting random spells from anime.
“Abra ka Dabra!”

Still nothing.

“Hey, human. What are you doing?”

I spun around. Valkira stood there, watching me.

“Valkira—no, Miss Valkira—how long have you been standing there?”

“Since you started shouting nonsense.”

Embarrassed, I sank to my knees.

To my surprise, she unlocked the cell.
“Queen Verixa said you’re free to go.”

“Really? That kid—I mean, Queen Verixa—said that?”

“I’m against it,” Valkira admitted. “But she says it was her fault you were summoned. She doesn’t want to force you to fight if you don’t want to. So she ordered me to release you.”

She handed me a few items.
“This knife is enchanted with Queen Verixa’s power. This cloak hides your presence. And here are some coins to help you settle.”

I accepted them gratefully.
“This is a huge help, Miss Valkira.” Then a thought struck me. “Her mother passed away… Does that mean the demon army lost?”

Her expression darkened.
“Unfortunately, yes. With the fall of our previous queen, the war ended. But since Verixa is her only daughter, the title of Demon Queen passed to her. Now humans—helped by the gods—are hunting the remaining demons. They’ve already destroyed many villages. Soon, they’ll reach here and…”

I leaned forward. “And?”

Her voice lowered.
“Verixa will be publicly executed… as a symbol of the end of the demon race.”