I Was Summoned As A Hero, But I Became The Demon Lord Instead

Again, this Kenji kid was acting way too familiar with me, but I still looked over to the three people he pointed at. One had a bulky build, the other wore glasses and gave off an intellectual feeling, while the last was a chubby fellow with scraggly hair who you would feel depressed just from looking at him.

Again, I didn't remember any of them. It's been far too long for me. I was also too young back then and I was only in the second grade at the time. What? Does he expect me to remember every single person I've ever met before? How many people would I need to remember when I think about all the worlds I've traveled to?

I could only shake my head to indicate I couldn't remember them.

"Really? Not even them huh? Well I guess introductions are necessary then. The big guy with the broad build is named Otoko Subarashi, he's really a great man I'll have you know."

"..."

"That was supposed to be a joke."

"It really wasn't funny."

"Hahaha, you used to laugh at it all the time in the past though."

"Whoever it was that found that funny must have had a really crappy sense of humour back then."

"Anyways, the four eyes over there is Doku Tatsujin, he's basically a villain, you should be careful of him you never know when he'll poison you to death when you least expect it."

"Was that supposed to be another lame joke?"

"Geez, tough crowd."

When I looked at the last person he pointed out I realized there was something bizarre about him. It was like the mana in this world was avoiding him completely. A perfect sphere with a diameter of two meters formed perfectly around him where no magic would enter.

"Well, the last one, I won't make any jokes, his name is Muko Kukyo."

"Pfft."

Ah. I ended up laughing because the name fit him a bit too well. Would it be void or invalid? Then emptiness?

"That's what you laughed at?"

"Sorry that was a blunder on my part. Forget it happened."

Thanks to that little blunder, the shrine maidens surrounding me broke out into whispers and secret discussions amongst themselves.

"Girls, Miss Akua laughed!"

"I've never seen it before."

"Me neither."

"She can laugh?"

"Are you sure we're not seeing things?"

"Is this just a dream?"

"She's never laughed at any of our jokes before though."

"Is that chubby kid some kind of comedic genius?"

"No, maybe it was actually the weak looking, obnoxious, overly friendly loser talking to her."

Ah. Kenji accidentally took a critical hit from a stray shot.

"Haha, your friends are pretty interesting Akua."

"Yeah."

"Isn't he kind of like really annoying?"

""""""""Right?""""""""

Ah. Another unintentional critical blow.

"Hahaha, Akua we'll catch up later, I'm going to gather the guys to discuss a few things off to the side."

Ah. He ran away.

Really, what exactly was my relationship to the people he pointed out for him to introduce me to them out of nowhere like that?

But thirty people really is way too large to be considered a hero party. It would be far too difficult for thirty people to coordinate as one cohesive unit. What are the humans of this kingdom really thinking? Even my group was pushing it at ten people in our party for fights, the only reason it worked out in the end was because each shrine maiden was specialized in one element alone. They were masters of their craft so to speak.

Water, fire, wind, earth, wood, lightning, metal, darkness, and lastly light. Those were the nine elements these nine shrine maidens were specialized in. Respectively they were named Umi, Moeru, Tatsumaki, Tsuchi, Ki, Chidori, Hagane, Yami, and finally Hikari. They both complemented one another and neutralized each other. They were in a perfect equilibrium when the nine joined together in a fight. However, as strong as they may be, it was a shame they were completely unnecessary to actually defeat the demon emperor at the very end back then.

"Well, since it looks like some of you have gotten to know each other, we will begin recording your information."

When the king said that, a few guards stepped out from the side with several different weapons, there was a half elf holding a crystal ball off to one side.

"To save on time, each of you will grab a hold of a weapon to have your affinities with each weapon tested. That half elf over there with the crystal ball will be recording your affinities with the elements."

The moment he said that, that kid, Kenji, rested his arm around Muko's neck and dragged him over to the half elf. I felt his intentions were pretty obvious, he wanted to hit it off with the half elf and try to make himself look better in front of her. It was a really shallow plan, it's a shame it will probably work.

"My name is Rina, I will be assessing your affinity with elemental magic."

Perking up my ears I could make out the conversation they were having.

"Rina, huh, such a nice name. It really suits a beauty like you."

"Hahaha. You flatter me too much sir Kenji."

"Just Kenji is fine for such an angel."

The half elf blushed and looked to the side shyly like a docile little lamb. It didn't match her appearance as a seductive beauty at all, but it clearly hit Kenji' and Muko's strike zone. For some reason my gut instinct told me not associating myself with that half elf would be for the best.

Of course the half elf's next words made that impossible.

"The king has appointed me as an instructor to help train all of you summoned heroes so we will be seeing each other a lot K-K-Kenji."

Even I, a woman, had to admit that smile of hers was rather beautiful. Without a doubt she must be a honey trap set by the king to make heroes not wish to return at the end. Well, that's none of my business, if they're dumb enough to want to become tools for a kingdom in another world, that is their decision, not mine.

"To test your affinity with the elements please put your hand on this crystal orb."

I'm sure it was difficult for them to determine which orb she meant when her melons were resting on top of the crystal orb.

"My good man Muko, you should go first."

"Eh? Me? Why me?"

"Just go."

"O-o-okay."

Muko hesitantly stretched out his hand out and placed it onto the crystal orb, but even after several seconds passed by, there was no apparent change?

"Eh? This can't be right, can it? Everyone, even if not attuned to an element will light up the crystal ball based upon how much mana they have. It would at least change to clear and transparent if you were elementless. The only way this could possibly happen would be if you were without a single shred of mana. But there has never been such a case before, maybe you're not touching it right."

The half elf grabbed onto Muko's hand and pulled it and placed it more firmly on the orb. Of course, whether it was intentional or unintentional on her part that his hand was now nicely squished between the bottom of her c.h.e.s.t and the top of the crystal ball was unknown.

"Y-y-y-y-your b-b-b.o.o.b.s, t-t-they're t-t-touching my hand."

The half elf completely ignored his fl.u.s.tered state and stared intently at the crystal ball for a few more seconds, but it never changed in the slightest.

"Miss Rina, maybe the ball is just broken."

She showed an expression of struggle before she said, "maybe, but I checked it earlier to make sure it was working."

"Miss Rina maybe your power was so great the orb broke."

"Oh it breaking due to the level of power, I never considered that. What if it was actually Muko whose power was so great the orb broke instead?"

That was when Kenji extended his hand out and poked the orb. The moment he did, it lit up brightly with all sorts of colours swirling about. There were nine different distinct colours, each one was blindingly bright clearly showing his strong affinity with them.

"It looks like he didn't break it Miss Rina."

"I suppose so."

The half elf with a troubled look on her face raised her hand and placed it on Muko's chubby cheek and said gently with an angelic voice as if she were trying to soothe him. With her tranquil eyes she looked deep into his and said, "even if you don't have any apparent magical talent, that doesn't mean you aren't talented in other areas. You could turn out to be skilled with one of those weapons over there. Who knows, you may even have a talent unable to be evaluated by tests such as these."

Muko's clearly depressed face slightly eased a bit after hearing her words.

I could tell just by looking at him, he was already a goner who had easily fallen into the honey trap. The only thing that concerned me was, was that half elf actually already aware of Muko's hidden talent? If I'm correct, he should be able to neutralize magic. Maybe she understands that, but it doesn't make any sense why she wouldn't declare that possibility as it's actually a very strong ability.

Could she be hiding something? I was curious, so I walked over to their direction as Muko and Kenji moved over towards other guards to test their luck with weapons.

When I stood directly in front of the half elf, I lifted a hand and planted it firmly and squeezed down on that bountiful c.h.e.s.t of hers and said nothing more. I just looked directly in her eyes waiting for her to say something.

"Uhm, the crystal ball is a bit lower Miss Akua."

"Oh? It was? Sorry, I could tell when those s.l.u.tty knockers of yours are resting on top of them like that."

"Hahaha, sorry to cause any confusion Miss Akua."

"You can drop the act. There's no way someone that looks like she'd open her legs for any man could have such an innocent and caring personality."

"Bitch, you got a problem with me using my t.i.t.s to my advantage?"

"Not really. I just found that goody two shoes act a bit repulsive was all."

"If you even think of revealing me, I'll make sure to make things difficult for you. I am going to be your instructor after all."

"Not a problem, not a problem. Stay away from me and I'll leave you alone as well. What you do to others doesn't really matter to me. Just leave me and my girls out of it."

"Deal."

After finishing our girl talk I let go of those indescribably soft mounds protruding from her body and placed my hand onto the crystal orb. A blue with intensity so great appeared that the crystal ball actually cracked. The moment the crack appeared I pulled my hand away and fast as possible. Thankfully I was prepared beforehand. I had expected that to more or less happen. Of course, it was difficult to see due to the overwhelming blue, but there were other colours there that were drowned out. I could use other elemental magics, but water has always been my strongest area, so I don't use other elements too often.

"Ah! You skank! You almost broke it! You better compensate us for the repair fees!"

I activated my water magic and used it to turn the area around the crack into liquid form before solidifying it. Most objects will have some form of water content within it. This crystal ball was not an exception. I could of course repair it if it was just on the level of a crack.

"Tch. Shoo. Shoo."