I GOT SUMMONED IN A PEACEFUL WORLD

PEACEFUL WORLD PART 2

Well, I’d done it again. My "focus mode" had struck at the worst possible moment, leaving me bowing apologetically to a magical princess in another world. The two high school girls, Kusunoki and Yuzuki, were looking at me with a mixture of pity and secondhand embarrassment. The robed entourage wore wry smiles. The other boy, Mitsunaga, was just muttering to himself, staring at the floor. Yeah, I could vibe with that guy.

[Do not trouble yourself,] Princess Lillianna said, her smile a masterclass in political grace. [Confusion is a natural response to such… unprecedented events. So, once again, welcome to the Kingdom of Symphonia.]

Symphonia. Of course. It sounded like every fantasy RPG I’d ever half-played. She was definitely royalty—the poise, the dress, the way everyone orbited her. It was all ticking the classic isekai boxes.

[I am Lillianna el Symphonia. I apologize for the abruptness of your summoning. Before we proceed, may I have your names?]

As the de facto adult, I went first. [Miyama Kaito.]

The others followed suit in a daze: [Kusunoki Hana.] [Yuzuki Miwa.] [Mitsunaga Fuga.]

Mitsunaga. A name that practically meant "Eternal Justice." It was the kind of name you gave to a protagonist. The kid himself, however, looked like he’d rather be solving math problems than slaying demons. Go figure.

[A pleasure to make your acquaintance,] Lillianna said, committing our names to memory with a nod. She then gestured to one of her robed attendants, who produced a crystal orb that hummed with a faint, internal light.

My body tensed on instinct. This was it—the appraisal scene.

[Please, be at ease. This will cause you no harm,] Lillianna assured us, her eyes lingering on me. She’d noticed my wariness. Good. Let her know I wasn't just going to blindly accept all this.

The robed man chanted, and the crystal glowed, a tendril of light brushing against each of us before settling over Mitsunaga, pulsing with a soft, golden radiance.

[…It is as we suspected. Lord Mitsunaga bears the Hero's blessing. The others were caught in the ritual's wake.]

[I see.] Lillianna’s response was crisp, devoid of surprise. Her gaze swept over the three of us—the extras—and a plan seemed to solidify behind her eyes. [Then we shall provide separate briefings. Luna, please escort the Hero and his companions to the Sunstone Hall. I will explain the situation to these three.]

Separate briefings. A classic move. Isolate the important one from the clutter. My otaku-alarms, which had been blaring since the magic circle, now shrieked a new warning. In the stories, this was where the "non-heroes" got sidelined, imprisoned, or worse.

Kusunoki and Yuzuki voiced weak protests, their voices trembling. Mitsunaga, the newly anointed Hero, just stood a little taller, a flicker of pride in his eyes. I stayed silent. Arguing without leverage was suicide.

[I understand your concerns,] Lillianna said, bowing her head deeply. A princess, bowing to commoners. It was a powerful gesture, but was it genuine, or just a well-practiced act? [I swear upon my crown and my life that no harm will come to you. This is merely for efficiency. Please, trust me.]

What choice did we have? The room was full of armed guards and people who could warp reality. Resistance was a fantasy.

We were led out of the summoning chamber—a dank, arcane basement—and into the opulent heart of a castle. Gilded frames, towering tapestries, the works. Mitsunaga was ushered into a grand hall with men in priestly vestments. The Chosen One was getting the VIP treatment.

Kusunoki, Yuzuki, and I were taken to a smaller, but still lavishly appointed, side chamber. It felt less like a magical otherworld and more like a very expensive museum replica. Lillianna took a seat at the head of a long oak table, gesturing for us to sit.

[Luna, some refreshments for our guests, please.]

[At once, Milady.]

Luna, the sharp-faced woman from before, had shed her robe to reveal a practical maid's uniform and hair the color of a winter sky. Now it felt like an isekai.

We sat. I positioned myself directly across from Lillianna, wanting to read every micro-expression. The two girls huddled together a few seats down.

[First, allow me to offer my sincerest apologies once more,] Lillianna began, her hands folded neatly on the table. [What was supposed to be a precise ritual to summon a single savior instead pulled three innocent bystanders across the veil between worlds. For that, you have my deepest regret.]

Her voice was soft, her eyes sincere. She was good. But my mind was racing through the tropes. The benevolent princess, the mistaken summoning, the useless extras…

[The Demon King's legions gather at our borders,] she continued, her voice gaining a steely edge.[Our people are desperate. The Hero, Mitsunaga Seiji, is our prophesied hope. He will be trained, equipped, and bestowed with the blessings of the kingdom to face this threat.]

She paused, letting the weight of it all sink in. Then, her gaze shifted, landing on me, then the two girls.

[But your presence… complicates the prophecy. The ritual was not meant for you. Your… spiritual signatures are inert. You possess no inherent magic, no heroic blessing.]

The unspoken words hung in the air, colder than any stone in this castle: You are mistakes. You are surplus.

[So,] I said, my voice calmer than I felt. It was time to ask the question that had been burning in my mind since the separation. [What happens to the complications?

Princess Lillianna offered a gentle, pitying smile. It was the most terrifying thing I’d seen since I arrived.

[We will, of course, ensure your well-being. You will be provided with room and board within the castle grounds. It is the least we can do.]

She made it sound like a charity. But I heard the subtext loud and clear: You will be kept out of the way. You will be controlled.

Just then, Luna returned, carrying a tray with three crystal goblets. She placed one in front of each of us. The liquid inside was a vibrant purple, fizzing slightly.

[A local cordial,] Lillianna explained, her smile unwavering. [It will help with the disorientation of world-crossing. Please, drink.]

Kusunoki and Yuzuki, looking relieved at the gesture of kindness, hesitantly reached for their glasses.

My hand didn't move. I stared at the fizzing purple liquid, then at Lillianna's perfectly composed face, and then at the door, where two armored guards had now silently taken position, blocking the exit.

The classic trope flashed in my mind: the pacification potion, the gilded cage, the disposal of inconvenient witnesses.

The two girls lifted the glasses to their lips.

[Wait,] I said, my voice cutting through the quiet room. ["Ensure our well-being"… does that mean we're prisoners?]