Hero, What Hero??

The knight—who introduced himself as Sir Reginald—dragged me through the dusty streets of the medieval-looking town. I tried to slow down, but his grip on my arm was unrelenting. It was like he had mistaken me for someone who was willingly participating in this chaotic adventure.

The town was bustling, full of people in all sorts of odd, colorful clothes. Some wore armor, while others carried strange weapons or bags of goods. They gave us curious glances as we passed. I wasn't sure whether it was because of Sir Reginald's heroic presence or because I was being pulled along like a ragdoll, but either way, I felt like I was on display.

"Are we almost there?" I asked, hoping to speed this up. "I'm kind of in a hurry. I really need to get back home."

Sir Reginald glanced at me, his eyes filled with an almost reverent admiration. "Patience, my lord. We are almost to the palace. Once we arrive, you will see—everything will make sense."

Yeah, right. Everything was already a confusing mess, and I hadn't even been here for a day.

We finally reached a large building, or rather, a huge castle that loomed over the town. It looked like something out of an old fantasy novel, complete with towering stone walls, flags hanging from the battlements, and a giant wooden door. People seemed to move out of the way as we approached, and by the time we entered, I was starting to feel like I was in the middle of some parade, except it was a parade I never asked to join.

Inside, it was even grander—thick tapestries hung from the walls, and the air smelled like polished wood and incense. Guards lined the walls, and there was a sense of serious business, which only made me more uncomfortable.

"Ah, Lord Kaito! You've arrived!" A voice boomed from the grand staircase that led up to a large throne room.

I froze. It wasn't the first time someone had called me that, but it was the first time I felt like they might actually mean it. A regal figure descended the stairs. She wore an elegant gown, and her platinum blonde hair cascaded down her back. Her eyes, an almost unnatural shade of violet, locked onto me as she walked toward us.

"Greetings, my lord!" she said, stopping right in front of me. "I am Princess Elara. It's an honor to finally meet you."

I looked at her in disbelief. "Princess? What? I'm not your lord, and I'm certainly not some hero. I'm just a regular guy who got stuck here by… mistake?"

The princess didn't seem fazed by my words. Instead, she smiled like she'd just met an old friend. "Nonsense, my lord. We've been waiting for you! The prophecy speaks of a hero who will bring peace to this land, and surely, that hero is you."

I stared at her, completely lost. "Look, I'm not—"

Before I could finish, Sir Reginald suddenly dropped to one knee, causing a ripple of surprise among the nearby attendants. "The chosen one has arrived, your highness," he said, voice full of pride. "This is the hero who will save us all."

"I told you, I'm not a hero!" I groaned, facepalming. This was getting out of hand. "I'm just trying to figure out how to go back home. I didn't ask for any of this!"

Elara's eyes softened, and she put a hand on my shoulder. "There's no need to be modest, my lord. You've been chosen by the gods themselves. It is fate that has brought you here."

I looked around the room, desperately searching for an exit. There had to be a way out of this bizarre situation. But as I scanned the room, something caught my eye—at the far end, a group of what appeared to be royal advisors and some very nervous-looking nobles were whispering to each other. They shot me sidelong glances and hastily scribbled notes on parchment. I had a bad feeling that they were already discussing me like I was some sort of… figurehead.

I sighed, resigning myself to the madness. There was no way I was getting out of this now.

Before I could try to figure out an excuse to leave, Princess Elara continued. "You must come to the royal dining hall. A feast is being prepared in your honor."

I raised an eyebrow. "A feast? Look, I didn't sign up for a banquet. I just want to get out of here."

The princess shook her head gently. "You must eat, my lord. You need your strength. And we can't let you face the trials ahead on an empty stomach."

I blinked. "Trials? What trials? I don't even know what's going on here. You're all getting the wrong idea."

But once again, my protests fell on deaf ears. The princess and Sir Reginald seemed convinced that I was some kind of legendary hero, and no matter what I said, they weren't going to believe me.

A few minutes later, I was seated at a massive table, surrounded by fine china, silverware, and enough food to feed an army. It smelled amazing, but all I could focus on was how awkward this whole situation had become. The room was filled with people bowing and curtsying, all offering me platitudes I couldn't care less about.

I picked up a piece of bread and took a bite, trying to process what had happened. But before I could even chew, an elf with long silver hair appeared at my side, her eyes shining with excitement.

"You must be Lord Kaito," she said, her voice musical. "I've heard so much about you. Your bravery precedes you!"

Bravery? I hadn't done anything. What were they talking about?

"I—uh—don't know what you're talking about," I muttered, trying to avoid eye contact. "I'm just here for the food."

"Oh, I'm sure you're being humble," the elf replied, grinning. "Everyone says you single-handedly saved that village from the dragon."

I nearly choked on my bread. "What? A dragon? I didn't do anything like that! I didn't even see a dragon!"

But before I could clarify, a group of royals entered the dining hall, clapping and shouting my name like I was some kind of celebrity.

I could feel my face heat up in embarrassment. This was ridiculous. I didn't even know how to fight, let alone save anyone. But I was quickly becoming the most popular person in the room, and there was no way to escape the mess I'd stumbled into.

This chapter escalates Kaito's "heroism" as he continues to be dragged deeper into a world where everyone's convinced he's destined for greatness, despite his complete cluelessness. It's filled with misunderstandings, awkwardness, and the first hints of the chaos that will unfold. How does this one feel for the story so far?Here's Chapter 2, where Kaito's accidental heroism continues to escalate, and he begins to meet more characters while still being completely oblivious to his growing reputation.

Chapter 2: Hero, What Hero?