Author: Ren doesn't know that he or she is an alien, so the narrative doesn't include what the character is aware of.
The silence that had settled over the grand hall was abruptly shattered as the king rose from his throne, his previously dignified expression now replaced by one of shock. The knights around him exchanged glances, while the nobles and officials present began whispering among themselves. No one had expected that among the twenty-two summoned heroes, there would be one whose job could not be identified.
The king turned sharply toward the mage overseeing the ritual, his voice firm yet laced with confusion. "What does this mean? Why can't the crystal determine his job?"
The elderly mage, who appeared just as bewildered, swallowed hard before attempting to explain. "E-Erm... This has never happened before, Your Majesty." He glanced at the crystal, now bearing fine cracks on its surface, as if struggling to believe what had just transpired. "However, if I were to make a conclusion... I would say that this child possesses a job that does not exist in this world, making it impossible for the crystal to identify."
Ren, who had remained silent until now, raised an eyebrow with a blank expression. "Haah?" he muttered, his tone laced with skepticism.
The mage let out a slow breath, straightened his posture, and spoke more clearly. "What I mean is, this crystal functions by reading the magical information within a person's body and matching it to existing jobs in this world." He stroked his graying beard, his eyes filled with curiosity as he studied Ren. "But in your case, there was no data to match. In other words... you possess a job that is either unknown or has never existed before."
Whispers grew louder behind Ren.
"A job that has never existed before...?"
"What does that even mean? Does he have some kind of hidden power?"
"Could he actually be stronger than all of us?"
Ren could feel the sharp stares directed at him from various individuals. Some students looked anxious, while others gazed at him with envy, as if wishing they had been the ones to receive something "special." Even Kiriya, who was usually carefree, now looked at him with a mix of awe and concern.
Still, Ren remained motionless, allowing everyone to drown in their own speculations. His mind, however, focused on something far more important.
(An unidentified job? No, this isn't just about magic or jobs... this is about how this world perceives my existence.)
If this world's system couldn't recognize him, then there was a fundamental difference between himself and the rules governing this reality. It could be because he belonged to the Arclight race, something not native to this world, or perhaps something even greater—something even the so-called god who summoned them was unaware of.
Before he could think further, the king spoke again.
"Archmage, is this child dangerous?"
The atmosphere in the hall grew even heavier. Some students who had only been whispering now looked genuinely concerned, while the nobles exchanged glances filled with speculation. Even the knights stationed around the room appeared slightly more alert, though they made no overtly hostile moves.
The Archmage, who had been observing Ren with keen interest, finally let out a sigh and turned to the king. "Your Majesty, I believe it would be wise to observe first before concluding whether this is dangerous or not." He stroked his white beard, then added in a more serious tone, "Besides, it is unwise to speak of such things while the person in question stands right before you."
The king, who had initially looked hesitant, cleared his throat and straightened his posture on the throne. "Ahem... My apologies." His gaze swept over the students before nodding in a more composed manner. "Very well, now that everyone has learned their jobs, you will be allowed to rest. The attendants will escort you to the rooms we have prepared for you."
As soon as the king gave his command, a group of attendants dressed in elegant uniforms entered the hall, each carrying small lanterns emitting a soft glow. Though still overwhelmed by everything that had transpired, the students slowly began following them out of the hall one by one.
Ren walked leisurely, hands in his pockets, still observing his surroundings. Beside him, Kiriya wore an expression full of questions, occasionally glancing at him. Eventually, after walking far enough from the hall, he could no longer hold back.
"Hey, Ren... What exactly are you?" he whispered, making sure no one else could hear. "Why couldn't the crystal detect your job? Are you not human or something?"
Ren kept his eyes forward, his expression unchanged. "Who knows?" he replied flatly. "I don't have the answer myself."
Kiriya clicked his tongue in frustration. "Man, you're as cold as ever... If this were a game, I bet you'd be some hidden-job character or something."
Ren gave a faint smirk, but deep inside, he was wondering the same thing. (What exactly makes me different? And more importantly, how can I use it to my advantage?)
Unbeknownst to them, a figure clad in a dark robe stood in the dimly lit corridor, watching Ren with piercing eyes. Whoever they were, their gaze held an unmistakable sense of intrigue—and suspicion.
Fortunately for Ren and Kiriya, they were assigned the same room, allowing them to discuss things more freely without fear of eavesdroppers. The room was spacious enough for two, furnished with two canopy beds, a carved wooden desk, and a large window overlooking the castle's inner garden. Candles in the corners of the room cast a soft glow, adding a calm ambiance after the chaos of the day.
As soon as the door closed and they ensured no one was nearby, Kiriya collapsed onto his bed with a tired groan. "Haaah... I still can't believe we're actually in another world." He stared at the ceiling, trying to process everything that had happened. "It feels like a dream, but my stomach still feels awful, so I guess this is real."
Ren, meanwhile, simply sat on the edge of his bed, his fingers interlocked as he pondered. "Well, you could say it's interesting... but also dangerous." His gaze drifted toward the window, observing the castle courtyard, where armored knights patrolled in tight formations. "I've been analyzing the situation since we arrived, and there are a few things that don't make sense."
Kiriya turned his head, raising an eyebrow. "Like what?"
Ren took a short breath before explaining. "First, the reason for our summoning sounds cliché—defeat the Demon King. But the way they presented it... it felt like we were tools rather than honored guests." He tapped his finger against the wooden surface, carefully organizing his thoughts. "They didn't even ask if we were willing or not. That means they see us as something they can control."
Kiriya slowly nodded, realizing how right his friend was. "Hmm... Now that you mention it, we haven't been given any real details about this Demon King. Like, how strong is he? How close is he to destroying the world? Or... is this just an excuse for them to use us?"
Ren smirked slightly. "You're starting to get it." He folded his arms, leaning back against the bed. "There are two possibilities. One, they're truly desperate and have no other choice but to summon us. Or two..." He paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. "They have a much bigger plan, and we're just pawns in their game."
Kiriya swallowed hard, feeling a bit uneasy about the direction of this conversation. "So... are we in danger?"
Ren didn't answer immediately. He stared at the night sky outside the window, his mind working rapidly.
"For now, we should pretend to cooperate. But I won't let them control me so easily."