Prologue
"I'm sorry, Ethan, but I like someone else."
Those words struck Ethan Flynn like lightning. Leonore Madrigal, the woman he had loved most since college, rejected him. He had been courting her for years and never expected that her heart belonged to someone else.
Without another word, Leonore stood up, picked up her handbag, and walked out of the restaurant—the place where Ethan always brought her. Ethan wondered how she could act so cold and carefree, as if nothing had happened, while he fought to keep the tears from falling.
Ethan Flynn. Twenty-nine years old. Single. And now, his last hope was gone. He clenched his fist and slammed it onto the table. The glasses of wine rattled, toppling over and rolling onto the floor. Nearby customers were startled by the outburst, quickly paid and left.
"Seems like you're in a bad mood, Ethan," Martin Gogh said, stepping over. A tall guy with short blonde hair, Martin was Ethan's best friend since high school and the owner of the restaurant.
"Tch!" Ethan stood up, outraged—not at Leonore, but at himself for expecting so much when deep down he knew it was hopeless. "She rejected me like it was nothing, after all the effort I've put in all these years. I'm so foolish. I was the only one who thought we could be together."
"Calm down, bro." Martin placed a hand on Ethan's shoulder, guiding him back into his seat. "There are plenty of other women out there who are better than Leonore. You're still young. I'm sure you'll find someone else."
Ethan agreed with the sentiment, but he knew Martin's second point wasn't true at all. Sure, there were other girls out there, but Ethan wasn't getting any younger. He couldn't help but sigh.
"Come on, you've scared the hell out of my customers tonight. You owe me a drink for that." Martin walked over to the fridge, grabbed a few cans of beer, and set them on the table. "Let's just drink..."
The two men drowned their sorrows in beer and grilled meat until Martin eventually passed out at the table. Ready to head home, Ethan stood up and tried to walk, but his surroundings spun like a carousel. He stumbled his way out of the restaurant, his legs weaving unsteadily beneath him as he hit the pavement.
It was already pitch black outside. Ethan stepped out to cross the street, completely unaware to the speeding vehicle heading his way.
A loud, sickening thud echoed through the empty street. Soon after, the flashing red and blue lights of an ambulance broke the silence of the night.
Ethan was declared dead on the spot.
Chapter One: The Weakest Healer
When Ethan opened his eyes, he was already kneeling on the scarlet-carpeted floor in front of the king of Bemboria. He was surrounded by servants, the monarch, armored knights, and summoners who resembled hooded priests.
Ethan rubbed his eyelids, wondering if he was just dreaming. He was still a bit hungover and confused after a night of heavy drinking. Blurry images of what had happened earlier flashed through his mind. He had been hit by a car and died. His head had been bleeding—there was so much blood. Now, he was confused as to why he didn't feel any pain at all.
The king rose from his throne and descended the stairs, the servants bowing their heads as he passed. An old man with a long white beard, known as Merlin the Great Sage, walked alongside him.
"I am Barney Burke, king of Bemboria. We summoned you here for one reason: to defeat the demon lord, a threat to this kingdom, and save us from the prophesied disaster. Please lend us your power, heroes," the king said.
Summoned? Heroes? Demon lord?
Whispers of surprise and disbelief made Ethan realize he wasn't alone. Five strangers, completely unfamiliar to him, had been summoned alongside him.
"Now then, we'll evaluate your power to see if you are truly capable of defeating the demon lord," the king said, gesturing for the sage to begin.
"Please stand up and touch this orb. It will reveal how much power you possess," the sage said.
Although it was sudden, as a fan of manga and Isekai anime, Ethan had a pretty good idea of where this plot twist was going. A confident, blonde-haired lad stood up and approached the sage. As he touched the orb, it emitted a bright yellow glow, displaying his status as a B-rank lightning swordsman.
"As expected, you are a potent swordsman. With some training, you'll gain experience and become even more formidable," the king said, quite pleased.
"Hmph!" The blonde ignored the king's words and stepped back.
"Next," the sage called out.
The next few people were a C-rank mage, a C-rank assassin, a B-rank paladin, and a C-rank archer. Lastly, Ethan stepped up. As he touched the orb, it emitted a faint green glow, and the room burst into laughter. That meant he barely had any magic power; he was the weakest among the hero party.
"This is unexpected," the king said, rubbing his chin, deep in thought. "You must have been accidentally caught up in the summoning circle."
The king's words made them laugh even more. Ethan, still processing the shock of everything, rubbed the back of his head and forced a smile. He had thought he could finally escape his old life—the looming shadow of growing old alone with no one to rely on. That would have been true suffering. It looked like his new life wasn't going to be perfect either. But despite the rocky start, he only wished for one thing: a peaceful, slow-paced life. Unfortunately, it seemed the king had other plans for him.
"The summoners have never made a mistake before," Merlin noted. "If he was summoned, then he belongs with the hero party. Fate brought him here for a reason. He should do his part as their healer. Besides, with further training, he might grow stronger."
"I see. You make a good point, Merlin," the king agreed. "Alright, for now, everyone should stay in the palace and rest. I know you're all tired and confused. We will discuss the details tomorrow and answer all of your questions."
The servants accompanied the heroes to their assigned rooms. The king dismissed the rest of the court, remaining alone in the grand hall with Merlin.
"That man..." the king started. "I know you just didn't want to embarrass us, Merlin. You've never summoned a hero below C-rank before. It would be a failure on our part if the public found out. Even our ordinary guards are stronger than that man. I wonder how he'll ever be able to help the others."
"It is still too early to judge, my king," Merlin said. "There must be a reason why fate brought him here."
"I hope so..." the king sighed. "I'll heed your opinion for now, Merlin. We'll keep a close eye on him."