He had finally arrived!
The long-awaited magic device.
In reality, it didn't seem like anything extraordinary. It was simply a perfectly transparent crystal sphere, resting on a dark stone pedestal. It had been placed in a closed, windowless room, completely dark and empty. Only the pedestal and the sphere occupied the center of the space.
Violetta explained with her usual precise calm:
—This device will disperse the vacuum particles attached to your souls and absorb them completely. Simply enter alone, touch the sphere, and wait. This prevents the particles from being released. You may experience slight dizziness from the sudden release of magical power… or from the manifestation of a Soul Weapon. In some cases, physical mutations may occur. Once the particles are absorbed, the device will display information about your race, power classifications, blessings, and more. Are you ready?
—Yes! —we answered almost in unison.
The order was decided by lottery.
I never imagined that I would be the first.
While the others waited outside, Violetta came over and whispered in my ear, so softly that only I could hear her:
—Asagao… I haven't said a word to anyone about you using magic prematurely. Even I don't fully understand how you managed it. But as a precaution, I need you to go through this just like everyone else. Please accept it.
He handed me a small glass bottle with a clear liquid.
—It's a potion that gets rid of motion sickness instantly. Just for you, okay?
"Thank you, big sister Violetta!" I accepted with a smile and hid the bottle in the folds of my dress.
She returned my smile with a warm, almost maternal smile, before making way for me.
I entered the room.
The darkness was almost absolute, but the sphere glowed with a soft, steady light, as if it contained a piece of the starry sky. As I approached, the light reflected off the black walls, giving the impression of floating in the void. I reached out and touched the cold surface of the crystal.
The sphere lit up brightly. Inside, the light began to spin like a silent whirlpool. Then, suddenly, it stopped.
Words formed of pure light appeared floating in the air in front of me.
**Raza:**
Transcendental Being
**Power Rankings:**
Divine — Very High
Magic — Average
Spiritual — Under
Will — Under
Old — Low
Mystic — Under
**Soul Weapon:**
None
None
I blinked.
I didn't feel dizzy.
I didn't feel any explosion of magical power coursing through my body.
Actually… my magic was already there before.
Was that all?
I read the words a second time, trying to understand. But before I could fully memorize them, the light went out and the letters vanished.
My shift had ended.
I left the room still confused. Everyone crowded around me as if I'd just finished a final exam. Violetta and King Fon made their way to me.
—Asagao, how did it go? —Violetta asked—. Were you able to read what kind of power you possess?
—I'm sorry, big sister… I didn't understand almost anything that came out.
Violetta glanced sideways at the king. He nodded slightly, as if they were communicating without words.
"We don't have all day," she said aloud. "Next person, please."
One after another, the others entered.
And then the injustice began.
That's really unfair!
Why were they all so different from me?
Ichirou obtained five Soul Weapons. All swords. A double-edged sword with elegant inscriptions along the blade, a katana, a rapier, a giant two-handed sword, and an impressive shattering claymore. All shared the same heroic motive. His race remained human. His blessing: Blessed Hero.
Mana also remained human. She manifested three lethal-looking Soul Weapons: a retractable whip-sword, a pair of jagged chakrams, and a massive, bright red-bladed axe that looked like it came from a nightmare.
Shun remained human. He did not obtain a Soul Weapon, but his power ratings were balanced and high in almost every category, especially in composite magic.
Kouta remained human. His Soul Weapon was a pair of reinforced knuckles. He could use magic and a spirit weapon simultaneously, something Violetta had mentioned as a rare variant.
Baccara… changed. His race transformed into a demon. His skin grew paler, thin horns sprouted from either side of his head, and his pupils turned a hypnotic yellow. When he emerged, everyone fell silent. He possessed an enormous amount of magical power, but almost no aptitude for direct combat.
Mito became something… amazing. His race mutated into a dragon. Vertical pupils, reddish scales under his jaw and along his arms, membranous wings, and a tail. He specialized in ancient magic. Rose, upon seeing him, blushed slightly, causing him to stutter:
—D-don't think you're so important just because you're more... b-pretty now.
Rose transformed into a magical being. Translucent green wings sprouted from her back, and locks of the same color grew in her hair. She resembled a minor goddess. Her specialty: high-level healing magic.
Dreg grew even more imposing. His ears were slightly pointed, and his build even more robust. He turned out to be a dwarf of the large variety (Violetta clarified that the dwarf king was even taller). His magic focused almost exclusively on physical strengthening.
Ruri transformed into a beast. Black panther ears and tail. Sharp instincts, outstanding speed and physical strength. Body enhancement magic. New chapters come out on novelping.com first.
The twins transformed into elves. Long, pointed ears, emerald eyes. Shouta, despite originally being male, turned out to be even more attractive. Both specialized in spiritual magic.
They all received the **Blessed Hero** blessing.
Except for two.
Priscilla remained human… but the air around her grew thick, heavy, almost suffocating. She had awakened **Arcane Magic**. The quantity of her magical power didn't rival Baccara's, but the quality was something else entirely. Her blessing: **Battlefield Liberator**. Violetta smiled in a way I didn't like at all when she read it.
And then there was Susanoo.
According to him, his race was still human. But like Priscilla, the atmosphere around him became unsettling. He also possessed Arcane Magic, though to a lesser degree, and remarkably enhanced physical prowess. His blessings were two, and contradictory: Reaper and Protector.
Nobody knew what to think about that.
It seemed that those who cared least about the problems of this world had obtained the strangest results.
After all that, a party was held in the castle's great hall. We were all dressed in our finest. The purpose was to formally present the heroes to the nobility, the high-ranking merchants, and the high-ranking knights.
When my turn came, King Fon stepped forward and declared, in a clear and firm voice, that I was his long-lost younger sister. No one questioned the statement. The physical resemblance was too obvious.
The cheers I received were louder than those for any of the other heroes. I wanted to hide behind someone, but I had to stand tall and smile.
As soon as the official presentation ended, they surrounded me.
—Princess Asagao! Allow me to introduce you to my son…!
—It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness! I am the baron…
—Princess! Would you be interested in visiting our estate in…?
Greedy smiles. Calculating glances. Hands reaching too close. I began to feel cornered.
Then a hoarse and clearly angry voice cut through the air:
"Hey, you bastards! Stop coming in droves! You're blocking my way, you damn idiots!"
Myth.
With its new red scales gleaming in the candelabra light and those sharp dragon eyes, it was genuinely intimidating. The nobles immediately took a step back.
"Myth! Thank you!" I smiled at him with relief.
He turned red instantly and looked away.
—I-I just… don't like it when people like that get close to… you know… you.
—Hehe. Mito, shall we dance?
—Okay… Only because I need to exercise, alright?!
And so, one after another, the other heroes joined in. Even Edelweiss and Lily danced with me. Violetta politely declined, saying she didn't want to step on my feet "by accident."
The rest of the night passed amidst music, laughter, and the strange feeling that, for the first time since I came into this world, I was not completely alone.
The day, despite all the surprises and injustices, ended happily.