fics I read

"Wow, there sure are a lot of people around..." Scary people too, since they're all dressed as fantasy knights. Naturally I'm a bit intimidated, seeing as I'm in the middle of them too, even if I'm trying not to show that.

Al chuckles. "Don't worry, your legendary powers will kick in at any minute now." He's mocking me because whatever quest line I have been given hasn't started yet. Cocky dude, he didn't say anything around Priscilla.

Speaking of the woman who redefines what it means to be hot. "Hey, where did Priscilla go anyways?" Me and Al just kinda split off from her, then the gladiator took me to this scary room. And not just any scary room either, this is clearly an important scary room!

In one side there is me, Al and the probably knights. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that there are probably more than a hundred of them either. To the other side there is a equal number of people to the knights, but they're dressed more like Harry Potter wizards to be honest... And in the front there are a bunch of old dudes who look like councilman...? It goes without saying that this room is huge.

Al takes a moment to respond. "Don't worry, she's gonna appear eventually. Just stay where you are, imitate what you see, and only speak up if someone orders you too do it..." Got it, it's like school then. "I would tell what's going on, but I bet Princess wants to see your shocked face." Dick move.

Honestly he has just made me even more worried, specially if this turns into a betrayal isekai. Will Priscilla and everyone else here jump me? Will I then get revived by my cheat ability that actually turned out to be useful, and then I will swear eternal vengeance? Oh wait a minute, I don't even know if I have a cheat... Lazy goddesses.

Al suddenly sighs. "But I guess I don't mind giving you some information..." He slightly looks towards one of the red haired knights. "You see him? The red haired guy?" I focus on where he's motioning towards, and just like he said I can see a Ikeman looking red haired knight.

I nod. "Yeah, I see him." He looks important, it wouldn't surprise me if he turns out to be my Sasuke or something. Oh, who am I kidding? If this is really an Isekai then he will secretly be an asshole so the audience doesn't feel threatened. I will miss my bros... Well, thankfully Al escapes the curse since his face is never shown.

The gladiator sounds serious. "His name is Reinhard Van Astrea... He's what you wish you could be. He's here, which means this is serious, and if you ever see him in another place, put your best smile on and act polite." He's giving me tips, cool.

I smile, but I do raise an eyebrow. "Is he from Earth like us?" His name sounds foreign... Maybe German? Either way, Al said he's what I wish I was, which makes me think of broken hero. Well, this Reinhard better not be surprised once my plotline starts.

Al shakes his head. "No, he was born here... It's just that he's invincible, this world's Super Man. Which is why you should always watch out for him, if he's in a conversation, than that conversation is way too important for losers like us, if he's in a battlefield, then there's probably a monster there who we really shouldn't face." So the fact that he's here means... Well, it's obvious.

By Al's logic I'm too unimportant to be here, but it can't be helped. Still when my eventual powers awaken I'll remember this Reinhard guy, maybe I can add him to my party? As long as he turns out to be nice of course.

Suddenly one of the old guys raises his hands, immediately all knights and mage looking dudes stop talking and stand still. I follow their example just like Al said, even if I still look like an outsider for obvious reasons...

The old dude fakes a cough. "Knight commander, if you would." He motions to a knight with green hair, this one is different from the others, mostly because he's wearing what looks to be super heavy armor.

The man stands in the front of the room. "As you all know, approximately six months ago the royal family has tragically passed away..." Is this going where I think it's going? "Due to our current circumstances, and due to the need of maintaining the Dragon Covenant, five candidates for the seat of the king have been found..." He goes on to blabber about prophecies or whatever, my name is never cited so I don't move. "This matter is specially important, seeing as the last time the Divine Dragon Volcanica showed himself was around seventeen years ago..." Funny, that's one year before I was born.

I can see where this is going though! I'm obviously a candidate for king! And considering about what Al said about surprises... Either he knows that, or Priscilla is in the running too. I'm guessing the latter is more likely.

After the dude is done talking, the massive door leading to this place opens, four people enter... and my heart immediately skips a beat. Because I now see four incredibly hot women!

The old dude motions at one of the women. "Introducing Duchess Crusch Karsten." The supposed Duchess is a strong looking woman in militaristic uniform, her hair and eye colors are unusual, being green and yellow respectively. Most importantly though, I can tell she's strong just by looking at her.

He continues, now looking at another candidate. "Lady Anastasia Hoshin." This one doesn't get a mention of rank, which is definitely weird. She's just as cute as the last one though, even if her body type is completely different. She's young looking, definitely the youngest here, even as her clothes hug her body surprisingly tighly, showing even more surprising curves.

With long purple hair and soft blue eyes I can't help, but imagine her as weaker than the last, but I guess strength doesn't matter when one runs to be king. Besides, she could be a kickass mage for all I know.

"Baroness Priscilla Barielle." This time the old man motions to the only women here I already know, she's wearing a cocky smile, as expected of someone like her. It's good to see that she's a noble just like I expected, though her rank feels surprisingly low... Baron's aren't that important, right?

A grimace appears at the man's face. "Lady Emilia..." I don't get why he looks like that, because the girl genuinely looks as cute as a button. However... she does look supernatural, I guess, her eyes are amethyst, and pupils are green... Her hair is silver too. I have seen inhuman combinations of course, but there is something uncanny about someone with colored pupils.

I can understand why she looks like that of course, she's an elf after all, or at least something close to it. Her pointy ears make that clear enough, establishing her as the most... exotic of the candidates.

The old guy smiles. "Now, about the fifth candidate..." That's me! My bones are screaming that! I mean, four girls and one guy summoned from another world? It's clear the path that this will take... I will love you always Priscilla, you may not look like a main girl, but I will treat you like one! "Report your findings Reinhard Van Astrea." It's the super important guy!

He steps forth as ordered. "I have located the fifth candidate... One Lady Felt!" No last name? Like the Emilia chick. "She's also the woman I support for the seat of Lugunica's King...!" The room seems shocked at his declaration, probably because he's the designated ikeman.

I'm shocked for other reasons though, I mean who's Felt!? Weren't you supposed to exclaim Lord Iori Ishida!? Don't tell me I'm not actually the protagonist... Konosuba construct work here I go! This sucks... I'm begging Priscilla for a job for sure!

As Reinhard is announcing his support of the fifth candidate, the girl in question enters, she's even wearing a pretty dress and everything... She's also way, way too young, I don't know if a sixteen year old can all someone a loli, but she definitely qualifies for the position!

She's like a weird version of Priscilla, because she also has blonde hair, but one with a much, much lighter tone, and she also happens to have red eyes... The small tits basically make her anti-Priscilla here.

She stands right besides elf girl, her eye twitching for some reason, she definitely looks ma- I'm feeling sick for some reason. It's like I'm suddenly feeling lightheaded, and my vision is whitening... I recognize this symptoms.

It's something I have experienced before, because a few years ago I got close to developing diabetes. Thankfully I managed to get back in shape, and my sugar levels returned to normal, and since then I didn't have any issues...

But what I'm feeling now is definitely reminiscent of it, it makes me want to sit down and rest, because that's what my doctors told me I should do in cases like this... Have I been eating too much sugar recently? No way, I carefully control my diet nowadays...

I want to sit down, but I can't since I'm supposed to not make a commotion. So I can only watch as the candidates make their little speeches... A Duchess who wants to end a dragon, a rich lady who wants to get richer, a Baroness who claims everything is already hers, an elf who wishes for equality...

The room is growing colder, I can't say why, I don't even know how the hell I'm standing right now. Or maybe I'm not? I can't see or hear anymore... Am I dying? This is definitely not pre-diabetes making it's malignant return, that's for sure...

What a weird and confusing way to go, but it feels weirdly peaceful. I much prefer going out this way over being swallowed by all my debts... It's definitely faster and less painful than whatever the Yakuza where going to do to me at least.

I can't even hear whatever the blond girl said, but my nose, my last sense to disappear, smells smoke... And time keeps passing, with me wondering if I'm dying... Has anyone noticed me right now? Surely I'm on the floor with a pale fac-

I see a white haired woman, she's different from the one from before. She's... cold? No, she should be cold, her eyes should make me throw up, I understand that, I comprehend that, but instead what's reflected on her eyes is...

Love. "Giving birth really does change someone." She declares with a smile, and a tired red face. She reminds me of a mot-.

"Ah...!" It's like I just came, even though I feel nothing sexual. My body suddenly feels okay again, and the sense of relief is euphorical, not what I would expect from my previous horrible situation... Is this what eurotic auto-asphyxiation feels like? I kind of hate it.

Nonetheless with my newly reclaimed senses I scan the surroundings... I'm still standing, kinda badass. Also, Al isn't besides me anymore, he's standing next to Priscilla. Though all candidates have someone standing besides them right now, besides Felt that is.

I still smell smoke, though it feels... cleaner now. What a weird almost death experience, seriously what just happened...? I'm definitely asking Al later, because maybe this is something that happens to all Isekai'd dudes.

Well, I might not get to ask though, since important red haired dude standing right in front of me. Sword draw, and ready to fall down onto my head like a guillotine. From the fire, into the frying pan, I guess...

I stutter my next words out. "P-please don't...?" It's less because I'm scared and more because I'm confused. One moment I was fine, the next I was dying, and now everyone in this room is glaring at me like I'm satan... Even a flying cat of all things! Where did he even come from!?

The red haired man smiles. "I'm glad you surrender, but please undo whatever you did to the candidates..." I didn't do anything though! I was having a maybe sugar induced attack, so have mercy damn it!

I'm smiling back, it's a shaky one though. "I... um... didn't do anything...? I was actually almost passing out..." I legitimately thought I was about to die, and I even accepted that, I was okay with that. So please don't kill me after I didn't die! That's way too mean!

The swordsman tilts his head. "Well, that isn't a lie..." I'm glad you see that, even if I can't tell how you can be so confident about it. Still, one shouldn't look at a gift horse's teeth and all that, this little Iori here just doesn't want to die a gruesome way! People should at least die calmly and painlessly damn it!

Marcus speaks up. "Reinhard, ignore this madman's ramblings and either capture him or strike him down... Perhaps whatever he did will be undone with his demise." Please don't say that, at least give me a trial!

Reinhard's hand is shaking. "I can't Knight Commander... Even though my sword allowed itself to be drawn against him, it refuses to actually hit him with intent to kill." The room is filled with shocked muttering.

That muttering is made silent by a now giggling Priscilla. "Hero of legend indeed! Look at him Al, I told you he was going to embarrass himself! I did, didn't I!?" I want to tell her the situation is too serious for jokes, but... Priscilla's way of handling the situation is actually calming the room down.

Al sighs. "Princess, not the time... Seriously weird dragon stuff entered inside of you, are you okay?" Don't say it like that! It sounds like some dragon just came from the skies and did some perverted stuff!

Priscilla waves him out. "I'm perfectly fine Al, surprisingly enough..." She then points at Reinhard. "Now, release my exotic, cute puppy at once Sword Saint, that's an order from your king." Did you win the election when I wasn't looking!? Right, delusional villainess.

Reinhard doesn't respond, though he does look reluctant. Marcus does for him though. "Lady Barielle, are you affiliated with this man? If so, please explain the situation." Please explain it to me too, because I'm super lost!

Priscilla chuckles. "He's a man I met today." And now the room is back into unrest mode, thanks. "He claims to be from beyond the Great Waterfall, and that a white haired goddess has summoned him. Well, it's probably no goddess of course, instead it was most likely a magician... a white haired magician. Put your mind to work." I can hear a click of the tongue, it comes from a weird man dressed as a clown.

This time the old sage looking interjects. "You aren't suggesting what I think you are, are you...? No, that you even believe whatever this man claimed is insane." Oops, I might be throwing Priscilla's candidacy into the drain, my bad.

Still, I remember the weird Reinhard not lying thing from before. "I really did! A white haired woman probably did summon me, I saw her, but then she disappeared soon after! I'm from another world! You have to believe me, I have documents and stuff!" Also an Iphone, which none of this guys should know about.

Reinhard eyes widen. "Not a lie...! Could this be...!" There's excitement in those very same eyes, the same excitement he had from back when he declared about Felt. I feel like my protagonist story is about to start, which is good! If I don't die that is.

Another old looking man speaks up. "He's insane, don't blindly trust what this Gustekian says!" Why did you suddenly talk like I'm about to fuse with my green skinned brethren!? I'll have you know that I have no plans of killing a monkey boy!

Emilia raises her voice, even as she's stuttering. "H-hey, wait a minute...! We shouldn't judge him from his appearance! Up until now everything he has said is true according to Miss Reinhard, even the fact that he didn't do anything!" An elf girl is defending me... Thanks, I'll stop memeing on your race online!

The old skeleton glares at her. "Shut it half-dev-" And he's immediately silenced by the flying cat, since he raises his arm, creates giant spikes and then points at him. I feel like a bloodbath is about to happen, and it may be my fault.

Okay, it's time to put a stop to this. "Okay, Everyone! I did it...!" I start fake laughing. "I did the bad thing, so arrest me, for my craven self cannot fight the mighty Reinhard Van Astrea!" I'll be smart and sacrifice myself, I know when to take a blow after all. It's better that I get thrown into the slammer over... this. Over the bloodshed that's about to happen.

The Sword Saint smiles. "A lie... besides the part where you said you can't fight me. That's the truth." No need to say it damn it! "And... That's enough of that!" He shouts outloud like it's a catchphrase, and then... puts his sword back onto its sheat.

The first old man raises an eyebrow. "Sir Reinhard...? Just what are you doing?" He still sounds surprisingly calm, all things considered. I feel like he's definitely the wisest old dude here... Man, I need to stop referring to them as that.

Still, with Reinhard's declaration the room has fallen yet again in silence, besides the old man of course. The flying cat has even dismissed his ice magic, meaning my plan to stop him has worked, someway or another.

The living flame that is Reinhard Van Astrea responds. "Stopping myself from striking down the Child of Prophecy. It is as the Great Sage Echidna and the Divine Dragon foretold... a age of chaos falls upon us." He looks at the candidates. "It is strange that two prophecies would intersect, but..." He's cut short.

And the person who did so is the Knight Commander. "Reinhard, though you may have that Divine Protection... He could be just genuinely insane." He sighs. "Though we are indeed moving with too much haste..." He looks at me. "What did you do sir...? What even is your name?"

Okay, I got myself a good position to defend my honesty. "My name is Iori Ishida, Lord Knight Commander..." It goes without saying that I have no idea how to address him. "And I have no idea what happened, around the time Lady Barielle was giving her speech, I started to feel ill... After that I remained in pain until now, I couldn't even see..." I think I saw someone, but I can't quite remember.

Priscilla chuckles again. "A Child of Prophecy bumbling around...! Hilarious!" I'm just glad to be a Child of Prophecy at all to be honest! "But if you are wondering what happened, a white glow came forth from your body, it hit our insignias... And then they fused with our bodies." I have no idea what those are...

Anastasia crosses her arms. "It certainly felt weird, I can say that... And terrifyin' too, though I don't feel exactly sick right now." Sorry for my protagonist powers...! I really was feeling sick and dying!

The sage looking old dude raises a hand. "This is enough for today, the selection is sadly... postponed yet again, though such may be different after a private meeting of the Council of Wise Men." He nods towards Reinhard. "For now, keep a watch on Sir Iori, Reinhard... If he truly is what we think, than the witch is yet again active. Be ready" Reinhard nods back.

The annoying old dude raises his voice again. "This is absurd...! If this Iori really is the Child of Prophecy, then what is it with his priestesses!?" She glares at the candidates. "Can Lady Hoshin even fight? Can Lady... Felt!? Or Lady Barielle!?" Oh boy, stop adding more confusing stuff.

Felt crosses her arms. "I can fight...!" Then a red blush appears on her face. "I don't want to think about the rest of the prophecy though...!" So this prophecy is something known by the general public? And it's bad apparently.

Anastasia nods. "I don't want to think about it either... I mean, ain't this kid way too young? I'm on my twenties ya know? And not lookin' for love either." She sighs. "My body isn't a fighter's body too..."

Priscilla laughs. "When it comes to battle, it is rare to find someone who can match me..." She turns her gaze towards me. "As for the rest... I have been married many times, this shall be no different." She nods to herself. "At least this one is not a pervert." I am though, also what's this about marriage!?

The annoying sage sighs. "See...! No offense towards Lady Hoshin, but she cannot hold a blade!" She then glares at Felt. "And this slum rat... is the least concerning part!" His gaze shifts towards Emilia. "Am I supposed to accepted a half-devil as-" Yet again he's made silent by the cat.

I'm feeling like I didn't fix anything at all, though at least this time the cat quickly dismisses his magic. Emilia doesn't even notice that though, she's busy looking at me with a red face.

Crusch Karsten stomps the ground. "Enough! This is what I meant when I said the dragon made us weak! The sage already gave his orders, we are to leave Iori Ishida with Reinhard Van Astrea for now and that's final!" The room falls onto silence yet another time.

I sigh. "Sorry about this mess..." Please don't let another one start...

The Sword Saint simply pats my shoulder, I feel like he's on the same boat as me.

AN: In some ways, I kind of wish I had put this chapter together with the first one, since it's the hook of the story and all that, but... Writing long chapters is painful, writing like 3k chapters isn't. I can't ever go back to Dragonman length, for real.

Anyways, I finally decided to settle on the protagonist looks. I was a bit undecided at first, but this is what I'm going with:

That's right baby, even when there isn't JJK, I'm gonna sneak JJK back in! Well, it makes sense, since Iori has problematic parents like Yuji. Heh.