What are you thinking about right now? It's a famous phrase on social media, you know? I feel like I should ask everyone here that question.
The king stares at me with his clear blue eyes and an empty expression on his face. The young blonde female knight looks at me with curiosity and, at the same time, a cheerful expression. The girl wearing armored boots looks at me affectionately.
The mage, Violetta-san, looks at me as if she has just discovered a new species. Not only that, but her eyes are fixed on me without looking away.
The councilor? I thought he had fallen over.
I don't understand why they reacted like that. Although I find it a little funny, it's still inappropriate for the situation. But for someone shy, becoming the center of attention is far too overwhelming and stressful.
For now, since the heroes have turned their attention toward me, I can obviously see what they look like as well.
The one with the determined gaze, brown hair, and eyes burning with passion! His body is fairly slender, but not thin. He seems to be the one who spoke with the councilor earlier. His facial features are very Oriental, but he's handsome, which I find rather ridiculous, since I don't understand why there's another one like him here.
Let's call him Hero Number One for now.
There's also a woman with glasses and straight black hair. She looked rather melancholic, dressed in business attire with a somewhat disheveled appearance. At least she has a well-proportioned, slender body, as well as a good height. She'd look nice if she put in a little effort.
Let's call her C-slave.
Ah… the typical guy with terrible fashion sense. He seems to be the one under the most tension right now. Black, disheveled hair and ordinary-looking features… that's what I would say, but his body looks somewhat muscular, and his well-defined jaw is attractive.
But well, he seems like an otaku, so his name would be Otaku, right?
That guy in the back smelled like ramen whenever you got close to him. With hair as messy as an otaku's and such prominent eyebrows, his face would be wonderful if he took better care of himself.
Oh… "You lose if you work."
That's what's written on his shirt. I'll call him NEET.
Great! A girl wearing thigh-high stockings and a long-sleeved shirt underneath a coat. She seems to be a teacher or something, perhaps a university student taking a teaching course. The buttons on her outfit look as though they're crying out, "Release me!" while she wears striking red lipstick.
Well, let's call her Ribbons.
Why? Because she has ribbons on her chest.
Ah… a really lethargic-looking guy, with a vacant stare, who looks like he's about to collapse at any moment. His face is pale, and he has a slender build. He's quite tall, but he seems to lose all motivation in an instant.
Let's call him Carefree.
A girl with long, curly brown hair, a beautiful face, cute red glasses, and cherry-colored lips seems to be the most innocent of them all. She has an expression of astonishment on her face, as if saying, "Huh?", and an adorable little face that seems to invite someone to either intimidate or tease her.
She's wearing a sports shirt.
Let's call her Jersey-chan.
There's also a maid here.
I remembered those days when I was forced to wear a maid outfit. With a refined expression, she tries to maintain an impassive face. Although I can see beads of sweat on her forehead, she has long black hair that reaches past her waist and a piercing gaze.
She looks like a mage.
Of course, I'll call her Maid-san.
Oh! Miko!
Yes, there are two of them—they're twins!
They look so beautiful and elegant in their miko outfits. Both have black hair with straight-cut bangs. One wears her hair in a high ponytail, so I'll call her Miko No. 1, while the other has a low ponytail, so she'll be Miko No. 2.
Eh… another handsome guy.
With his red-dyed spiky hair, he seems to be imitating a visual-kei punk style. He has an ear piercing. He's wearing an open black coat with a red shirt underneath. His gaze is trying to look aggressive.
I know this type of guy.
Let's call him Punk-kun.
Uwaah… a petite girl.
Although I think she's taller than me, she still looks small among the crowd.
She's really cute!
With her twin tails and adorable little face. Although she's not my fetish, I'd like to see her wearing a different kind of outfit.
Let's call her Petite-chan.
The last one is the guy whose back is all I've seen so far. As I said before, he's gigantic. He's about one hundred and ninety-five centimeters tall, has a muscular build, and an intimidating gaze.
I think I come to somewhere below his waist.
He's scary…
With his fists clenched, I can see that his knuckles are as big as my face, or perhaps even bigger, I think.
Well, I called him Macho-kun.
Overall, they're all handsome.
I think that's one of the requirements for becoming a hero in this world.
What about me?
They've been staring at me.
Although I already know my current condition, is there something wrong?
Now that I think about it, I look remarkably similar to the king, at least when it comes to the shine of our hair. The truth is, I don't really know what I look like overall.
"Ah-hem!"
The old man broke the silence, drawing everyone's attention toward him. That relieved some of the accumulated stress from the several minutes during which I had felt like some kind of freak.
The old man did a good job.
"You said your name is Asagao Lionheart, right, Ojō-chan?"
Is he trying to emphasize that part now?
Can't you just leave me alone?
Even the king isn't taking his eyes off me. I have no idea what he's thinking right now. I reflexively returned his gaze…
He smiles at me.
…Huh?!
What?!
What am I supposed to do?
I tried to hide in the back, but of course, there's nowhere to hide, so all I can do is look down. I feel like my face is burning from being stared at so much.
"Yes, just as I said… Asagao Lionheart."
Uwaah!!
I'm getting really nervous!
Making my heart race like this over and over can't possibly be healthy!
How embarrassing! I even stuttered. I feel like some of my words came out with a lisp. I have no idea what expressions they're making right now because I'm looking down like an idiot!
I know my face is as red as a tomato from ear to ear, and imagining them staring at me like this makes me even more uncomfortable.
"Let me continue from here, Ishtal. I have to introduce myself as well, you know?"
A clear voice spoke, carrying an imposing presence.
The king himself said it.
He stood up and struck a grandiose pose while looking at me and the heroes.
Hey! Are you kidding me? Are you a middle schooler?
As I continued my monologue, everyone's attention turned toward him. At this point, I suppose those gazes will eventually return to me, so I'd better prepare myself.
"First, I shall introduce my Royal Guards! This woman in heavy armor, with rigid movements and a chest as magnificent as the plains! Her name is Edelweiss!"
You're starting with that?
Besides, why would you say that? And in front of us?
Is this country built around insulting people? Is it normal to say hurtful things here?
I saw the blonde girl looking furious. Her face was red.
Just like mine, I suppose, but hers was from sheer anger.
Her cheeks twitch…
"…and this girl here, with a magnificent rear and a firm personality, wearing that skimpy outfit and armor to cover herself, as magnificent as her flat chest as well! Her name is Lily!"
Why the hell are you going so far with their introductions?
Are you sexually harassing them, making fun of them, or insulting them?
Which one is it?
The girl in armor maintains a serious expression as she stands there…
Uwaah… is this it?
I can feel something gathering in her palm.
Magic?
Do you really want to have this king's face erased that badly?
"This mage here is Violetta-san."
You address this girl so formally and haven't made a single negative comment about her.
Are you afraid of this mage?
She mentioned your health earlier. I wonder if she's the one treating your wounds or illness.
"As for me, I am the first king of the Kingdom of Astra, the one who founded it, also known as the Knight King. I reunited all the nations under a single banner, and also…"
"Despicable man with no sense of direction."
"Idiot king who can't get a single woman."
And such comments were whispered through the air…
The king interrupted his introduction for a moment. The retort seems to have hurt him as he stared off into the distance.
That's what you deserve…
Hey! Aren't you the king?
Show some more composure and confidence!
Get yourself together!
Even we, the audience, wanted to laugh!
I think we've been summoned to a comedy bar!
While I was thinking that… the king continued, and to my surprise, this would drastically change my encounter with him.
"I am Ashfon Astra Lionheart, the first king of the Kingdom of Astra!"
This was an absolute roller coaster of surprises.
What the hell is this?
I think I've done something irreversible.
What?!
Now he's looking at me with an expressionless face.
Did I choose the wrong name in the wrong situation, in the wrong world?
Suddenly, several thoughts flood my mind as the King's gaze suggests all sorts of implications…