Chapter 1: The Fifth Mistake
The constant, rhythmic beep… beep… beep… of the heart monitor echoed steadily through the quiet hospital room, which no one has visited in a long time, each pulse reminding me that my fragile body was still barely holding on to life. The familiar sound had followed me days and nights for months until it became part of my existence, and it was the final thing I heard before everything suddenly fell into silence. When I closed my eyes, I was lying weakly in my hospital bed, surrounded by the sterile scent of disinfectant and medicine that had defined my life for many months. When I opened them again, however, the world around me had completely changed.
Instead of the white ceiling of the hospital room, a blinding light filled my vision so suddenly that my eyes struggled to adjust. For several moments, I could see nothing but brightness, but gradually the glare faded, revealing something impossible beneath my feet. A glowing circle covered with strange, intricate symbols stretched across a cold stone floor, and those symbols pulsed faintly with a mysterious energy that illuminated the enormous chamber around me. Even the air felt completely different from the stale hospital air I had grown used to, carrying a clean freshness that filled my lungs without pain.
For several seconds, I simply stood there, stunned by the realization that I could breathe normally again. The breaths filling my chest were no longer shallow and painful, but deep and steady, and the crushing weight that had once made every movement exhausting had disappeared completely. The illness that had trapped me in a hospital bed for months seemed to have vanished without leaving a trace, and the sudden absence of that constant weakness made my body feel lighter than it had ever felt before.
A quiet laugh nearly escaped my lips as disbelief washed over me, because for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt truly alive. Unfortunately, that moment of happiness faded quickly when I finally lifted my head and noticed the people surrounding the glowing circle.
Dozens of figures dressed in long ceremonial robes stood around the platform and stared at us with expressions that ranged from confusion to irritation. The chamber itself was enormous, with towering stone pillars rising toward a distant ceiling and stained-glass windows casting colored light across a polished marble floor. Ornate banners hung from the walls, each bearing unfamiliar symbols that suggested this place belonged to a powerful kingdom.
Only then did I realize that I was not alone inside the circle.
Four other people stood nearby, and each of them looked just as confused as I felt. They appeared to be around my age and wore ordinary modern clothing such as hoodies, jackets, jeans, and sneakers, as if they had been taken directly from their everyday lives. The moment I studied their faces more carefully, I realized something important: none of us knew each other. We were five complete strangers who had somehow been dragged into the same impossible situation.
When I glanced down at myself, the difference between us became painfully obvious. Unlike the others, I stood barefoot on the cold marble floor, wearing nothing but a thin hospital gown, which made me look even more out of place among the confused group of students.
Around us, whispers began spreading through the crowd of robed figures.
"There are five people in the circle."
"The ritual should only summon four heroes."
"One of them must be a mistake."
Those murmurs quickly grew louder as the realization spread across the chamber, and the uncomfortable truth slowly settled in my mind. The ritual had not been meant for me, which meant that I was an extra person who was never supposed to be here.
At the far end of the hall sat a man upon an elaborate golden throne. The crown resting on his head made it clear that he was the ruler of this kingdom, and his expression showed open irritation as his gaze moved slowly across the five of us before stopping on me.
His brow furrowed slightly.
"There are five," he said at last, his voice echoing through the chamber.
The words struck the room like a hammer. Murmurs immediately spread through the court as the nobles began whispering among themselves. The summoning ritual had been carefully prepared to call four heroes, and the magic circle beneath our feet had never been designed for anything more than that.
The King studied me for several seconds with open irritation before continuing. He explained to the court that once a summoning ritual was completed, there was no known way to reverse it or send someone back to their original world.
Because of that, he reluctantly declared that I would be allowed to remain in the kingdom for the time being, although his expression made it clear that my presence was nothing but an unexpected complication.
Unfortunately, once the ritual was completed, there was no known method to reverse it or return someone who had already crossed between worlds. Because of that limitation, the King reluctantly declared that I would be allowed to remain in the kingdom for the time being, though his expression made it clear that my presence was nothing but an inconvenience.
Soon afterward we were escorted to the Testing Room, where a glowing crystal sphere known as the Status Orb stood upon a pedestal. One by one, the other four stepped forward and placed their hands on the orb. Clara awakened as an S-Rank Crimson Blade Hero, a warrior whose sword techniques were strengthened by magical flames. Shira revealed herself as an S-Rank Divine Support Hero, capable of enhancing allies and protecting armies with holy magic. Collen shocked the entire court when the orb declared him an SS-Rank Elemental Archmage, someone who could command multiple elements. Finally, Liam awakened as an SS-Rank Legendary Sword Saint, a warrior whose swordsmanship and heroic aura made him the strongest among them.
Excitement filled the chamber as the nobles celebrated the arrival of such powerful heroes.
Then it was my turn.
The moment my hands touched the orb, the light turned completely black.
The words that appeared in the air felt like a cruel joke.
The chamber fell silent as the black light faded from the orb and the words appeared in the air.
Class: F-Rank Healer.
A ripple of laughter moved through the nobles.
The King leaned back slowly in his throne, disappointment written clearly across his face.
"So the fifth hero possesses nothing but the lowest class," he said.
His eyes settled on me like a judge passing sentence.
"In other words… useless."
As I was dragged away, I glanced back at the summoning circle and saw something that no one else seemed to notice. A tall figure made entirely of shadow stood silently in the circle, watching me with an unsettling smile before whispering a single sentence that only I could hear.
"My successor."
A chill ran down my spine as I was pulled into the darkness of the castle.