Steel boots made a pleasant sound as they stepped across the pristine surface of the floor. The young woman wearing them was dressed in ceremonial garments as white as snow; her hair was beautifully adorned with what looked like an intricate fusion of multiple silver artifacts. Her eyes were kind and, at the same time, sharp like those of an adventurer.
She was climbing a set of steps toward an immense church. Its magnificent walls stretched dozens of meters into the sky, and the details carved into its structure and windows overflowed with wealth and artistry. At the entrance stood a statue plated in silver-gold of a woman of celestial beauty, her arms extended as if welcoming all who arrived.
The girl in steel boots paused for a moment to admire the beauty of her beloved goddess. She bowed, then entered the sublime place, walking through it as though it were the halls of her own home. People moved back and forth, making preparations for the important day. She greeted them one by one, and they returned her greetings with respectful bows.
Though she tried to conceal it behind a posture of slightly childish rigidity, the young woman was deeply happy. And how could she not be? She had dreamed of this since she was little. It was a special day because, as tradition dictated, today she would welcome a new hero. And, as the cherry on top, she was finally worthy of leading the summoning ritual, which meant she would be the one guiding the new hero through the first steps of his journey.
"By the goddess Erézmia! I can hardly contain this excitement. Oh my goddess, please grant me strength and guide me today so that everything may be perfect."
With her whole being burning with emotion, she carried out every ritual alongside the retinue that followed her. Everything went perfectly—every small detail, painting, candle, and dance. Even the youngest members of her entourage, children no older than eight or nine, performed their roles splendidly.
When the ritual concluded, the summoning portal began to glow. Now they only had to wait a few minutes, and at last they would welcome their guest. But the minutes passed, and the platform continued shining without anyone appearing upon its reflective surface.
The young woman began to grow anxious. With nothing else left to do, she closed her eyes and pleaded with her great and perfect goddess that everything would unfold according to her glorious will. And, as if the goddess had heard her prayers, the portal's glow faded, revealing the figure of a confused young man.
With her steel boots, she stepped forward, leaving her retinue behind, and bowed slightly.
"Chosen of Erézmia, we welcome you to the Human Kingdom of Roariz. I would be most grateful if you would grant this servant of yours, Fleria Borzlany, the honor of knowing your name."
The summoned young man stood with his mouth slightly open, still frozen, unable to believe what had just happened.
Damn it, damn it… seriously? That woman actually sent me to an isekai. And what did this other one just say? "Borzlany." What an ugly last name. No, wait, don't focus on that. Think about what matters.
Teo brought a hand to his mouth and frowned faintly.
I've seen this scene a thousand times. I can skip the dumb questions about arriving in a new world and get straight to what matters.
"It's a pleasure, miss… My name is Teo. And to be honest, I shouldn't be here. So I would truly appreciate it if you could help me return to my world."
Teo's words struck Fleria like arrows, one after another, making her falter.
Since childhood, she had witnessed the arrival of many chosen heroes, and precisely because of that, she knew this one's attitude differed greatly from the norm. Never had she heard a chosen one claim that their summoning was a mistake. None had asked how to return to their original world—at least not on the day of their arrival. Fortunately, thanks to the countless hero tales she had read, she knew how to answer such an abnormal question.
Recovering as quickly as she could, she put on a gentle, reassuring smile, vaguely recalling the proper response.
"If returning to your world is what you desire, there is no problem at all, Hero Teo. You must embark on a journey to the Celestial Auroras. From there, you must venture to the Ends of Time. Then, you must prove your worth before the Eternal Dragon. And if the Eternal Dragon is satisfied—and I am certain that with you, chosen of Erézmia, he will be—you shall be allowed to return to your world."
Teo listened in silence. With each word she spoke, it felt as though his entire world was crumbling. His eyes seemed to sink deeper and deeper as their light faded away.
Calm down, calm down, Teo. You should be happy. At least there's a way back. Weren't you just terrified that there might be no way at all? Well, here it is. There's a way… But damn it, the Ends of Time? What the hell is that? How long would it even take to reach a place like that? Could I even reach it?
He was supposed to see the girl he liked today—the girl he hadn't seen in years. The abrupt change was too much. Something inside his mind cracked. Before him, he imagined the faces of his loved ones fading one by one. His eyes grew glassy as he realized he might never see them again.
He clenched his teeth and felt a surge of anger rise in his chest, but the pain overwhelmed him so completely that the anger dissolved into tears.
No… are you stupid? Why am I crying? Why am I giving up so fast? There has to be another way, right? Right? I mean, this is a fantasy world, isn't it? There's got to be some convenient solution.
But even those thoughts meant to steady him weren't enough. Like a puppet whose strings had been cut, he collapsed to his knees, staring at his own reflection on the glassy floor. Powerless, the only thing that escaped him was a whisper.
"Could you… leave me alone?"
Fleria had never seen mere words shatter a man's spirit like that. She truly did not understand how she had hurt him so deeply. What she had said was not so terrible… was it? None of the other chosen had ever reacted remotely like this.
She took a cautious step forward, intending to object to his request, but through the strands of his hair she saw his eyes—and in that moment, she understood. This would not be a perfect day. Her goddess had willed it so.
A flurry of thoughts crossed her mind. She should call the guards and remain alert. Things could escalate from zero to a hundred in an instant, and confronting a young hero blessed by the heavens—possessor of great, unknown powers—was extremely dangerous.
But before she could think further, she saw a small glimmer fall from the young man's face and strike the surface of the portal. That sight shattered her darker thoughts.
She decided to show mercy to the crying hero. She ordered everyone to leave, and soon only the two of them remained in the vast hall. Then she turned away from him and sat on the floor.
Turning her back on a potential enemy was unwise, so she activated one of her abilities to observe him without his knowledge, remaining alert in case he tried to attack. The hero certainly needed privacy—but she could not leave him entirely alone.
Teo noticed she had stayed and frowned.
"I see that in this world you don't really understand the meaning of the word 'privacy.'"
"As I told you, I will be your guide. Since you know nothing of this world, it is of vital importance—for your own good—that I do not leave you alone. But rest assured, I will not look at you. I will wait as long as you need."
Fleria had woven truth together with lies. She was slightly irritated that the day had gone so poorly. In her mind, she apologized to her goddess for lying within her church on such an important day.
Teo decided to ignore the annoying girl and said nothing more.
Seconds passed. Seconds turned into minutes. During all that time, only the sound of tears striking the reflective floor echoed through the hall. Gradually, those sounds diminished until they ceased.
A few minutes later, through her ability, she saw the young man stand up. She tensed her muscles but remained seated when he showed no signs of aggression.
Teo took a deep breath and, in a tone that tried to sound cheerful, said,
"You can turn around now… I'm fine."
When she turned, Fleria searched for his eyes. They were slightly red, but a faint light seemed to be returning to them. Most importantly, she understood she was not in danger, and she slowly rose to her feet. She looked somewhat shy, unsure how to resume the conversation. Noticing this, Teo glanced around.
"So this is the new world… it's impressive. What did you say this kingdom was called?"
Fleria hesitated, falling silent for a few seconds. Realizing her own reaction, she coughed awkwardly.
"As I mentioned before, we are in the Kingdom of Roariz."
The hero nodded, as if asking her to continue. That seemed to restore some of her confidence, and a small spark of emotion threatened to reignite in her eyes.
"And we are pleased to receive you with open arms. Here, you chosen ones are very special to us. You may rest assured that we will treat you most generously."
As she spoke, Teo examined the room again, this time truly noticing its beauty—from its two magnificent windows to its ornate walls.
When he looked back at his reflection in the platform, he realized the glass emanated a special aura. Then he turned his gaze to the young woman before him.
"That sounds great!"
He stepped down from the platform and sat on the last stair. Overwhelmed by his grim fate, all he wanted now was to stop thinking about it. Ironically, he was trying to escape his reality in a fantasy world.
"Hey, girl, who are you really? And I don't mean my guide—or your weird last name."
Fleria frowned at the rude mention of her surname and looked slightly confused.
"Well… the most important thing about me is that I am a member of the great hero Elías's party."
She placed a finger to her lips, thought for a moment, and added,
"I am also seventeen years old, and I like sweets."
So they really will treat me well. She didn't get angry about the last name comment. I was already preparing to play dumb… Wait, what did she just say?
Teo raised an eyebrow.
"Sorry, did you say a hero? Are there others like me who come from my world?"
Noticing that when he said those last words, the hero's eyes dimmed again, Fleria brightened her tone.
"That's right. There are many. Chosen ones like you usually possess great powers and live thrilling adventures. They go about slaying dreadful monsters and fighting the Demon King's hordes to defend humanity."
Fleria was convinced that would excite him and lift his spirits. But to her surprise, he remained indifferent—almost mildly annoyed, as though she were telling him something he already expected.
Growing nervous, she tried to shift tactics in a desperate attempt to cheer him up.
"Yes, ah… they also tend to be very wealthy. They live in grand mansions, and most of them have harems of beautiful women."
It was well known—and she had witnessed it herself—that chosen heroes loved that last part. But the hero's gaze did not light up. Instead, he looked faintly disgusted, his mouth slightly open, as though he disapproved of what he had just heard.
Fleria truly believed she was in trouble. She did not understand this young hero's reactions at all. But before she could say anything else to worsen the situation, Teo seemed to realize something he had overlooked and spoke with genuine interest.
"You mentioned great powers. I'm supposed to have them too, right?"
As if coming back to life, the hero's eyes ignited. He stood abruptly and stepped toward her.
It was common for chosen ones to grow excited about their powers, but she had already mentioned them earlier and he had not reacted. His sudden enthusiasm startled her.
"That is correct. Chosen ones like you always receive incredible abilities and powers from the goddesses. In your case, it was my lady Erézmia."
Teo grimaced.
There's that woman again. Well, if I got something from her, I doubt it's a good hand.
Fleria noticed him frown at the goddess's name.
Everything was strange. The summoning had lasted far longer than usual, and the hero had implied it was a mistake. What could have happened in the heavens at that moment? A thought crossed her mind, but she dismissed it immediately.
No. The goddess is perfect. She would never make a mistake. This boy must simply be an ingrate incapable of appreciating her.
Yet she remembered the sadness in Teo's eyes and pushed that thought aside, focusing on him once more.
"My powers allow me to understand the abilities of others. So, if you permit me."
She raised her hands and opened her palms for him to take. He seemed slightly embarrassed, which made her smile—his reaction vaguely reminded her of her companion.
"It will only take a few seconds, so remain calm."
Teo nodded.
The girl concentrated, her eyes glowing as she looked directly at him. He avoided her gaze and instead focused on the intricate silver details woven into her hair.
A power to know others' powers. How convenient that she's the first person I meet.
A few seconds later, surprise spread across her face. Teo tensed.
"A transformation ability."
A hesitant smile appeared on Teo's face. Judging by her reaction, it had to be something incredible. Of course it was. He had been sent to an isekai. This was how those stories always went. And as she had said, the powers came from the gods. When he remembered that last part, his smile faltered.
"What can I transform into? A powerful beast? A dragon? Something giant?"
It mattered greatly—his chance of ever returning home might depend on it.
Fleria considered her answer for a moment, making Teo hold his breath. She touched her face thoughtfully.
"I could not see it. Though it is very unusual for it to be only a single ability."
"Maybe that means it's incredibly powerful. Do you have any idea how I can transform?"
Teo glanced around.
"Is it okay if I try here? I wouldn't want to destroy this place by accident. It looks very beautiful."
After saying that, he realized this was likely a place dedicated to that woman—the goddess responsible for his misfortune. The idea of destroying it was tempting. But when he looked at the girl before him and remembered how kindly she had treated him, he reconsidered.
That woman… pray I don't turn into something huge. Because if I do, I'll burn this place to the ground once Fleria's gone.
Then he remembered that such beings truly existed—and that the one he was cursing was indeed a goddess—so the thought left him feeling uneasy.
"You are right, Hero Teo. I greatly appreciate your consideration. We have had… similar accidents before. It would be best to move somewhere more open. But before that… I saw something else when I observed you."
Fleria narrowed her eyes, as if trying to decipher something.
Curious about that "something else," Teo asked,
"Another power?"
She shook her head.
"Another ability?"
He asked despite not knowing whether there was any real difference between the two.
She shook her head again. Then realization dawned on her, and she looked at him with confusion and surprise.
"It seems… you have a title."
Teo raised an eyebrow.
A title? I haven't even gone to college. Though I doubt she means that.
"Care to explain?"
Fleria's expression turned uncertain.
—We don't know for certain, but we believe titles are granted by the universe as a form of recognition for special events or great feats.
She looked at him with curiosity and added,
—I have a feeling yours was given to you because of something you went through or did before arriving here, which is both rare and surprising at the same time.
That definitely sparks my curiosity… though I have a feeling I'm not going to like this at all.
—By any chance, don't those titles come with terrible consequences?
—It's not that simple. A title can be about anything, and each one influences the world in an esoteric way.
Why does this remind me of tarot cards? Or is this just my defense mechanism preparing me for what's coming?
—Could you tell me what my title says?
Teo asked, uneasily.
The young woman hesitated and, a few seconds later, said shyly,
—I believe it's something like… "Unfortunate Fortune."
Teo's face twisted.
And there you have it. The universe just literally called me miserable. How lovely of you, universe. And how ironic that you dare call that a kind of fortune. I'm pretty sure I know what situation earned me that title—clearly, my encounter with that damned goddess.
The young man slowly shook his head.
Tarot cards, tarot cards. I didn't believe in them in my world, and I'm not about to start believing in them here.
He let out a deep sigh and, feigning indifference, said,
—Forget it. Let's just test my transformation already.
The girl wisely said nothing more about the matter, while Teo deliberately avoided thinking about the part where a title influenced the world in some esoteric way.
Fleria turned around, gestured for him to follow, and the two left the immense room.
The place was enormous, and they spent several minutes walking through empty corridors. Fleria used that time to fully embrace her role as a guide. She told Teo everything a hero needed to know: powers, abilities, techniques, celestial weapons, titles, chariotts, inner seals, mana, mana ranks, elemental affinities, types of creatures, corruption, zero zones, continents, kingdoms, and many other things. She even spoke about magic, despite not being particularly knowledgeable on the subject.
Fleria had gotten carried away by her excitement. She walked almost with little hops, barely containing herself. The torrent of information would have overwhelmed anyone, and when she realized that, a deep terror flooded her. However, upon seeing Teo's calm, completely unbothered expression, she relaxed, believing the hero had absorbed everything perfectly.
According to her, she had done a splendid job.
At some point, Teo—who had listened to her entire monologue in silence—grew curious and asked about the incident she had mentioned earlier. She told him that when she was little, she had witnessed one of the chosen transform inside a room into a powerful winged creature, similar to a three-headed mandrake, and that afterward they had to spend a great deal on repairs.
As she recounted it in a composed tone, Teo noticed how the young woman struggled to suppress her emotions every time she spoke about heroes.
A few minutes later, Teo and Fleria arrived at an open area. In the blue sky, despite it being daytime, a few stars were visible, along with a moon similar to Earth's and several other prominent celestial bodies. The ground was covered in beautiful green grass dotted with flowers that filled the field with color. At the center stood the statue of a beautiful woman with a halo ending in prisms. Strangely, no one was in sight—not even near the pagoda visible in the distance.
—I think this will do.
Fleria said as she stepped away from Teo. On the way there, she had already explained how he should activate his ability—one of the only two things Teo had actually paid attention to out of everything she had told him. Teo closed his eyes and tried to concentrate.
—Okay, here goes.
He breathed slowly and calmly. He mentally prepared himself to transform into a powerful beast, a dragon, a giant—whatever it might be. He searched within himself and felt something different. Then he grasped it and pulled.
With that, he began to feel his entire being start to change.
Fleria watched expectantly. A faint glimmer almost escaped her eyes. It was extremely unusual for a hero to possess only a single ability, which suggested it must be immensely powerful—especially since it had been granted by her great goddess, Erézmia. Still, she sensed something strange in that transformation, something she couldn't quite describe. She assumed that was normal; her powers were not absolute, though her curiosity was killing her.
She stared fixedly at the hero, and in the blink of an eye, the person before her changed completely.
Fleria blinked several times, incredulous at the unexpected transformation.
Teo felt different—but not nearly as much as he had expected. Something had changed, that was obvious, yet his limbs were still human, though there was something distinct about them.
Confused, he had no idea what had just happened. When he opened his eyes, he found Fleria's stunned face and noticed that she now seemed to be at his same height—or perhaps even slightly taller.
Curious, he looked down at his own body. He wasn't surprised to see that he was still human.
Did I do something wrong?
Before that thought could lead him to try again, he looked more closely and noticed his limbs were slimmer. His clothes hung loosely on him, as if they weren't his size, and he felt strands of hair he hadn't had before.
Teo narrowed his eyes and, with a bad feeling, tried to focus on sensing something that had always been there.
He froze in complete terror when he realized it was gone—and that he had no way to describe what now occupied its place.
What the hell? Where's my powerful transformation? No… no, more importantly, where's my…?
He grabbed his pants and pulled them open to look inside. His fears were confirmed. There was nothing there.
He quickly slipped a hand inside to search for it—maybe it had fallen off—but pulled it out immediately upon feeling something unfamiliar. He would have panicked entirely if he hadn't remembered this was only a transformation ability and that he could return to his original body at any moment.
Teo lifted his gaze and met Fleria's eyes. Stammering, in a higher-pitched voice, he said,
—No… don't tell me…
—You transformed into a woman.
Fleria finished the sentence, confirming what was already obvious.
That wretched woman… you're an absolute wretch, Erézmia.
Teo turned toward the statue of the beautiful woman and, with a murderous glare, clenched his fists.
Noticing this, Fleria approached and gave him a couple of pats on the shoulder. In a cheerful, playful tone, she said,
—Hello there, miss. By any chance, have you seen a handsome guy? He was around here just a moment ago.
Teo slowly turned his head and looked at her in silence. Fleria smiled, but as the seconds passed, the awkwardness grew.
—Haha, of course I know it's you. Just a joke.
Teo did not seem to share her sudden mood. Fleria patted his back again and added,
—Don't feel bad. I'm sure this is one of those abilities that grows exponentially, and you'll end up incredibly powerful.
Surely it was. Her perfect goddess would never grant something as simple as merely becoming a woman… right? No, that couldn't be it. At least, that's what she believed.
Teo cast one last murderous glance at the statue of that woman and then shrugged.
—Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. But then… what exactly am I supposed to do now?
They spent quite some time trying to uncover the secrets of Teo's ability—if it even had any. As the hours passed without discovering anything, both looked visibly disappointed. The novice woman seemed to handle it better, as if she were slowly starting to accept what was happening. On the other hand, Fleria looked as though she were on the verge of collapsing at the idea that this might truly be all there was.
—This makes no sense. Your limbs are slimmer, your height is shorter, your muscles weaker. Even… this body of yours isn't even suitable for seduction.
Fleria averted her gaze from the other girl's chest and, with a hint of irritation and a trace of something else, added,
—So what exactly is your ability supposed to be? Becoming weaker?
Teo frowned. He had already accepted his useless ability, but that unexpected tone of contempt irritated him.
—Hey, that's offensive, you know? You don't look much stronger than me.
Fleria met her eyes and straightened her posture.
—I suggest you do not compare my body to yours. I have trained since childhood; you would be surprised what I can do. You, on the other hand—how long have you been a woman? An hour?
Teo kept his more aggressive thoughts to himself and sighed, dejected. There was no point in fighting. She was just as affected—if not more.
—Let's just assume there's a great hidden power I haven't unlocked yet.
Fleria nodded. Those words seemed to give her some conviction, as if something so vague could uphold all her beliefs.
—Yes, you're right. You are very wise, Hero Teo. Besides, from another angle, you look cuter with those flowers in the background.
Distracted, Teo nodded while staring at his transformed chest, lamenting how flat it was.
Great goddess, they said. Not a single thing you can do right.
Teo felt a chill and stopped looking at himself. He raised his gaze to Fleria. The young woman was clenching her fists energetically, her eyes fixed on him. A small flame intensified within them.
I'm not going to like what's coming.
—You can still become a hero… or heroine. You just need to train. You'll grow stronger, go on adventures, unlock your hidden powers, and become a wonderful heroine.
And yes—he did not like what he had just heard.
—I have no intention of doing that.
Fleria staggered. How many more times would this boy's words catch her off guard? At this rate, she might start believing something she had eaten was making her ill.
—What do you mean? You don't want to become a hero?
Teo looked down at his body again, straightened his posture, and lifted his chin with a faint smile.
—Well, look at me. I'm a woman now… can't I just start living off men instead?
At the shameless remark, Fleria's eye twitched.
—You… how dare you…?
—Relax, relax. Just kidding. Honestly, I'm pretty disappointed. I needed something more powerful, you know?
Teo remembered how, in his world, many treated what lay between a woman's legs as the most powerful thing in existence. He doubted that would help him here—and he certainly wasn't willing to rely on such a questionable power.
Fleria noticed his tone dim.
She remained silent, but before she could say anything, Teo looked up at the sky and spoke again, his voice almost devoid of hope.
—Hey… about going back to my world. Isn't there some less impossible way you might have accidentally forgotten to mention?
Fleria clenched her teeth, bracing herself for the damage her words would cause.
—The one I told you about is the only known way.
She lowered her head. She wanted to say it wasn't that impossible—but for him, it was. Not even the most powerful heroes could guarantee success.
Fleria remembered how sad Teo had looked earlier and, when she raised her eyes again, she found something unexpected.
Teo was no longer staring at the sky. He was stretching his now smaller body, and he didn't seem sad at all. On the contrary, a faint smile adorned his lips.
—Well, that's a real shame. Blessed be my luck, huh?
His tone was almost cheerful, in stark contrast to the cruelty of his words. Fleria blinked in surprise and then smiled, relieved.
—I'm glad you're feeling better.
Teo looked at her, puzzled.
—What did you expect? That I'd start crying? Oh, please. It just caught me off guard at the time.
He placed a hand on his chest, and his gaze deepened.
—Though now that I'm a woman, I do feel more sensitive. So maybe I could cry a bit more.
For some reason, the comment irritated Fleria.
—What exactly are you implying…?
—Don't misunderstand me. I wasn't joking. I'm just saying the change feels too profound.
Fleria understood, though a trace of resentment lingered.
—I see… but did you have to phrase it like that?
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Teo held her gaze, then smiled playfully.
—I didn't mean to.
At the blatant lie, Fleria sighed and dropped the subject, refocusing.
—From what I've read, it's normal for the senses to be enhanced when imitating beasts. But transformations are not absolute; they always retain something of the original user.
As she thought, Fleria's eyes lit up, as if recalling something she had studied since childhood.
—For example, some heroes transform into great dragons, but that doesn't mean they… you know… produce large droppings. In fact, from what I understand, they don't even—well—do that at all.
At the mention of that word, Teo let out an involuntary laugh.
No way. I know I'm the one acting childish now, but what kind of book was she reading? Worse yet, what kind of lunatic dared to write that in a book?
Fleria frowned at his laughter. She believed they were discussing a serious matter.
—Are you laughing just because I said…?
—Sorry. I just never thought I'd hear those words coming from a cute girl.
Fleria scowled.
—Cute girls also poop, you know.
Teo blinked twice and continued as if he hadn't heard her.
—And out of all possible examples, that's the one you went with? Seriously?
Another laugh escaped him. Fleria looked annoyed, then smiled in a slightly mischievous way.
—Depending on how deep your transformation is—and I have the impression it's very deep—you might also go through what girls suffer once a month.
Teo fell into solemn silence. He considered it seriously—and went pale.
Fleria's smile widened, but Teo quickly returned to normal, as if the idea were so terrible he had erased it from his mind.
—Let's forget this topic.
Fleria nodded with a serious expression.
—I'm not bleeding anything anymore… I mean, I don't remember anything. Yes. I don't remember anything at all.
Blinking twice, Teo seemed to delete that last part from his mind as well. He undid the transformation and returned to the comfort of his original body.
—Well, I definitely don't think this day can get any worse.
He placed a hand on his stomach, feeling the emptiness.
On top of everything, I haven't eaten properly all day.
Fleria returned to her serene guide tone.
—Would you like to go eat something?
Teo nodded.
—I couldn't eat properly this morning, and today's been especially long.
With a small smile, Fleria turned around.
—Then let us see what they have prepared to celebrate your arrival, Hero Teo. I have no doubt it will be to your liking.