QualiA – Chapter 2: I have been dragged in β‘‘

TLN: Hey guys, Reigokai here!

Just here to tell you guys that I might actually stick to a schedule of 1 chapter every 3 days. Not gonna be a stable one just yet, so don’t get surprised if there are slight delays at times.

Welp, that’s all, enjoy the chapter! πŸ˜€

The curtains of the night had fallen, and the sky had been covered in darkness.

At a certain room of the royal castle, the owner of the room was looking out the window wearing a nightgown.

β€œThe hero summoning succeeding was a happy happening, but it has become slightly problematic.”

The owner of the room speaks this out to no one in particular with a grieving tone.

β€œWhere’s the guy in question?”

β€œLooks like he has been placed in the janitor’s room of the storehouse.”

β€œI see, that’s why that place… At any rate, they did quite the blunt action there. Those people really are hopeless.”

The room’s owner once again sighs, and the silver haired maid standing at the back of the room simply nodded silently.

β€œIf we mistake our way of dealing with this, this country might fall… How scary.”

But the room’s owner suddenly changed her tone and laughs as if having fun.

β€œIs he that big of a deal?”

β€œI have never seen a human with that much power.”

β€œIs that true?”

β€œYeah. To the point that the current heroes can’t even compare… even the knights of this country -no, even the past great warriors, or who knows, maybe even the Demon Lord wouldn’t be an opponent to him. He is the very definition of a monster.”

She answers the maid in a light tone, but she didn’t show any expression to the point of being scary. She simply looked outside the window, clenching her fists.

The place she was looking at was a place that’s not visible from where she is, at the storehouse where things like daily tools and tablewares are stored, the room’s owner simply continued to look.

β€œI will create a chance to meet him tomorrow.”

β€œThat’s…wouldn’t it be dangerous?”

β€œI want to avoid any sort of antagonism.”

She adds β€˜we also need to confirm what kind of person he is’, as she moves away from the window.

β€œAh…”

β€œ—Your Majesty.”

But her vision wavered and she was about to fall, and the maid managed to properly support her body.

β€œI am okay… I simply got a bit dizzy.”

β€œPlease rest for today.”

β€œ…Right.”

While being supported by the maid, the room’s owner -the Queen- recalls the sight from before as she heads to the bed with slow steps.

The queen has magic eyes that allow her to see the ability of someone as light. Since she can gauge the strength of someone by the color’s light and shade, she is a priceless treasure in a lot of places, but just this one time, she cursed her own magic eyes.

β€˜To think it would be on that level’.

What was reflected in those eyes of hers was a powerful colorless light. It was flickering in a rhythmic manner like a pulse, and lighted up the pitch black sky as if it were morning.

The queen watched this novel sight with fascination. And then, after realizing what this meant, her legs were trembling in fear.

β€˜It might be the return of the Calamity that is spoken of in past records’.

In order to investigate this, the queen had resolved herself to confront this monster tomorrow.

γ€€ β˜†β˜† β˜†β˜† β˜…β˜… β˜†β˜† β˜†β˜† Β 

One day after.

I rub my eyes at the light entering the place, and I was surprised for a second at the sight that was reflected right after waking up.

β€œ…Ah, right.”

I was summoned to a parallel world.

β€œHngh~”

To wake me up, I stretched once. I slowly get up from the bed and walk to the window.

As I listen to the creaking of the floor, I open the window.

My vision was mostly filled with stone walls, and a sky without a single cloud. I could hear the chirping of birds close by, and after inhaling the air of this comfortable morning, I headed to the closet to change, and that same creaking noise was made as I did so.

Well, it can’t be helped.

A six tatami run-down apartment. That’s my first impression of this room.

Yesterday, I came to a parallel world dragged in by the hero summoning, but I honestly thought I would be thrown out of the castle immediately. That’s how those kind of scenarios go, after all. The useless type of character would be treated unfairly and awaken to their power.

But their treatment was pretty normal which caught me off-guard, and I was pushed the difference between me and the heroes.

First of all, the heroes would have at least two personal maids, but I only get one, moreover, a maid in training. Well, I don’t really care if she is in training though.

From what I heard, that maid in training was the one who cleaned this room.

Her name is Erin. Age 15. A cute kobold girl.

By the way, droopy ears are justice.

Even I, who am more in the cat rather than the dog side and am a fox lover, had my heart stolen by those ears. And the fluffy tail that came out from the rear of the maid clothes was the best!

β€œ…Hm?”

While I was thinking that and had taken off my shirt, I heard someone running over here from outside.

This room is at the corner of this building’s first floor. And in the first floor, there’s no other person aside from me. Or more like, this is supposed to be a storehouse for daily tools and those kind of things, and the room I am staying in was originally the room the janitor lived in.

Last month, the previous janitor had retired from old age, and the new janitor had apparently died a few days ago from an unfortunate accident.

To think I would be staying at such a room… No, it is not because I am scared of ghosts, okay? I have met a lot of existences that are scarier than ghosts after all. And in reality, the scariest of them all are actually living humans.

There’s nothing as scary as human greed.

There’s no doubt the steps are approaching this room.

You could count the number of people who would come to this room. And there’s only one who would come this early in the morning.

The steps had slowed down slightly, but the doorknob was turned in a hurried manner.

β€œHngh~, it doesn’t ope—hyaa!”

I heard a dull sound, and then, the door was opened grandly with a *bang* and a single maid with ragged breath came into the room.

β€œI am sorry for being lat—”

The maid looked this way while rubbing her forehead, but she suddenly was at a loss for words and stiffened.

β€œAh, good morning. Erin, is your head okay?”

β€œ…”

*There’s no answer, it is just a corp*—wait, that’s not it. What’s the matter? She is looking at me all stiffened. Is there something… <DQ ref.>

Ah, I see.

My upper half is exposed.

β€œI see, Eris is already at that age huh. Onii-chan is happy.”

β€œEh? Ah, I-I’m truly sorry!!” (Erin)

Erin had come back to her senses, and with a bright red face that went all the way to her neck, she went rushing out of the room so fast it felt like she would make a *fwoosh* sound effect.

I could hear the groaning of Erin along with the sound of the door closing, but I suppose she is okay.

β€œMy name is Eris. My trait is having a hard head.”

Is what she said in her self-introduction after all.

In a lot of meanings, I was wondering if she is alright in the head.

β€œOkay, let’s change quickly.”

I used the groaning as BGM while changing into the clothes that were prepared for me.

β˜†β˜† β˜†β˜† β˜†β˜† β˜†β˜† β˜†β˜†

Leaving the storehouse I was staying in, I infiltrate the castle -I mean, step into the castle together with Erin, and head to the cafeteria.

β€œM-Makoto-sama… o-over here.” (Erin)

While watching the back of Erin who is guiding me, I check the state of the surroundings.

Since this is the corridor to head to the cafeteria, there were a lot of people coming and going. Knights, maids, and I even saw people that looked like civil officials, but they all slowed their walking pace when they saw me.

With interest, as if probing, as if ridiculing; there were many types of gazes directed at us, but the target was me.

Well, I don’t mind people talking behind my back, and I do think I don’t have such a weak mental strength that would make me flinch over something like this. But well, if real harm does come my way, I won’t hold back in bringing retribution though.

They do say β€˜an eye for an eye’ after all.

β€œErin.” (Makoto)

β€œY-Yes?” (Erin)

Erin straightened her back and turns around nervously.

It is most likely not my imagination that I see fear in her face. Her back figure as she walked ahead also had fear coming out after all.

β€œWhat’s your recommendation?” (Makoto)

β€œEh?” (Erin)

β€œI was wondering what cafeteria food you would recommend.” (Makoto)

I tried rephrasing my question to Erin who was dumbfounded, but Erin seemed to be acting weird.

β€œU-Uhm, my recommendation would be…Uhm…Ehm…” (Erin)

β€œFor now, just calm down.” (Makoto)

β€œWan…” (Erin)

She was so flustered that I ended up petting her head. Of course, I don’t forget touching her droopy ears. I can tell that she doesn’t dislike it after seeing her tail waving.

This is so refreshing. The best kind of healing is right here.

But this reaction, and the reaction of the surroundings…there’s probably some sort of circumstance with Erin.

She seems to have an air-headed element to her, so she might be a troublemaker. Well, there’s other possibilities too though.

β€œS-Sorry.” (Erin)

β€œWhy are you apologizing?” (Makoto)

β€œUhm…for making Makoto-sama experience such a displeasing thing.” (Erin)

While trying to choose her words, Erin lowers her head with a face as if she would cry at any moment.

β€œI think the reason we are being looked at is because of me, you know?” (Makoto)

β€œN-No…it is because I am a kobold. It is not Makoto-sama’s fault.” (Erin)

Because she is from the beastman race, huh.

Yesterday we had a bit of a talk after the self-introductions, but now that I think about it, the maid that seemed to be her senior and had guided Erin had left quickly.

She seemed to be somewhat cold-hearted towards Erin, so maybe there’s racism towards the beastmen in this country.

β€œMeaning that beastmen are being discriminated?” (Makoto)

That’s why I didn’t put it vaguely and asked straight.

β€œT-That’s not it!” (Erin)

β€œIt is not?” (Makoto)

Hm, this is unexpected.

β€œIt was only recently that Kobolds were acknowledged as beastmen.” (Erin)

β€œ…Acknowledged?” (Makoto)

β€œYes. Kobolds were originally considered demons.” (Erin)

This is indeed unexpected.

It is true that, because of games, Kobolds have a strong impression of being monsters, and I do remember fighting a number of them and they were mostly considered monsters in the parallel worlds I was in.

Well, there were types in the kobolds I met. The ones that were completely animal, and the ones like Erin that have dog ears.

The animal types can’t speak or understand words, so they were mostly hostile, but the beastmen type can speak and it is possible to communicate. Because of this, it is easier to make a friendly relationship.

Communication is truly important.

β€œ50 years ago, the Demon Lord of that time had a natural death, and conflicts to decide the new Demon Lord arose. In the middle of that strife, the patriarchs of the kobolds had decided to make an alliance with the Beastmen nation.” (Erin)

An alliance, huh. That’s quite the bold move there.

Anyways, the Demon Lord died a natural death. Then, it must be that disease…

It is impossible for Demon Lords to die from normal diseases after all.

β€œOf course, we received criticism from the demons, and the beastmen and humans were strongly opposed to it. In the past, there were apparently instances where we would kill each other no questions asked the moment we saw each other. B-But now, finally, the kobolds have been acknowledged as beastmen!”

β€œSo that’s how it is.” (Makoto)

β€œThere’s still a lot going on, but around 10 years ago, we managed to get residential rights, so I am able to work in the castle like this. It truly feels like a dream come true.” (Erin)

10 years ago. Meaning that the kobolds had to endure suffering in those 40 years. And in the surface, it looks like they have been acknowledged as beastmen, but the other side of it is that there’s still racism remaining.

It is silly, but in this world, it must be the common sense.

The β€˜views’ that are seeped deep in you after a long time won’t be going away so easily. If you want to change that, you need the resolve to make the whole world your enemy.

And that’s something that the Kobold patriarchs managed to do 50 years ago. They had the resolve to make the whole world their enemies, and the world acknowledged them. But there’s still people that don’t.

That’s what all these many gazes filled with animosity are.

β€œAre you having fun in your job?” (Makoto)

β€œYes.” (Erin)

That dazzling smile was proof that she truly was having fun in her job.

If she understands a variety of things and can still bring out a smile like this, it must mean that she is positively strong.

β€œWell then, please tell me your recommendations, Erin.” (Makoto)

β€œEh, ah…Uhm…” (Erin)

I urged on the suddenly flustered Erin and headed to the cafeteria in a comfortable pace.

β˜†β˜† β˜…β˜… β˜…β˜… β˜…β˜… β˜†β˜† Β 

Why did something like this happen?

After a night, the boy -Takahashi Yuichi- had regained his calm and was holding his head.

The rooms that were prepared for the heroes were the guest room for nobles. Many extravagant articles decorated the room, and with two personal maids for each of them, they had their bed and meals taken care of.

Their meals were mostly taken at their own rooms, and from morning, they already had extravagant food filling the top of the table.

Yuichi got agitated by this, thinking β€˜I honestly don’t know if I can eat this much’, but he didn’t try to eat the food.

Because the problem wasn’t that.

The plan of today is to have an audience with the queen, and then, have a talk about the plans from now on. Thinking about that, pain ran through his stomach and made him rub it.

β€œI am…a hero…” (Yuichi)

Because of how sudden it was, his mind was currently a mess.

Yesterday was a regular day with a free day from school, but because he had club activities, he headed to the school in the morning, and there, he met with his childhood friend -Kusuhara Miki- and her friends Katsuragi Shiori and Asagi Kaede.

All three of them participated in club activities, and they coincidentally ended up together in their way home.

They were all having casual talk about how coincidences like this can happen, and when they passed by the convenience store, they apparently were thirsty or were hungry, so they were planning on buying something in the store.

That might have been where fate branched.

When Yuichi’s group had arrived at the automatic door, it opened, and inside there was a young man in a jersey rubbing his eyes as if sleepy.

He heard Shiori raising her voice from behind, but that voice suddenly got cut off.

No, that’s not all. Every single sound in the surroundings had been cut off and, wondering if something had happened, Yuichi looked around.

In an instant, a massive storm of light surged, and his vision had been dyed golden, and with that, a sense of floating in the air and dizziness. While holding in the desire to puke, fear steadily began to control his body, and his body stiffened as it did so.

He was already unable to understand what was happening. He simply continued to shout the names of his childhood friend and her friends in this world without sound.

And then…

β€œAh, again huh…”

Light bursted, and his body began to disperse slowly into particles of light, and just before his consciousness was cut off, he felt like he heard that voice.

β€œYuichi-sama, are you not feeling well?”

The maid that was on standby behind him had noticed the state of Yuichi and called out to him.

β€œEh, no…I am…okay.” (Yuichi)

β€œIs that so. But if you don’t feel well, make sure to tell us at once, okay?”

Yuichi returned a vague response, and the maid directed a gaze filled with grief and a slight smile as she worried for the well-being of Yuichi.

Yuichi froze for a bit after seeing those entrancing eyes of hers, but he soon returned to his senses, and hurriedly averted his eyes in embarrassment.

β€œNow then, please enjoy the meal before it cools.”

β€œR-Right.” (Yuichi)

A small laugh leaked out after seeing his state in this place where only Yuichi and the maids are in.

That’s why it was easy to know from who this laugh was from.

But Yuichi was unable to notice that he was laughed at when he himself was writhing in embarrassment and hurriedly ate his food, while keeping at the side of his mind the desire to request eating together with everyone else since eating alone felt distasteful.

At the back of Yuichi, the eyes of the maid smilingly looking at him had a tint of amusement, and at the same time, was distorted in a devilish way.

He never noticed the small bottle that was hidden in her hand.

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85 thoughts on “QualiA – Chapter 2: I have been dragged in β‘‘”

  7. I actually like this series a lot more than WR so far and it’s only been 3 chapters.

    I’m guessing that small bottle was either poison… or an aphrodisiac.

  8. Thanks Reigokai.

    It’s only a couple chapters in and I like the feel of it already. The MC feels jaded but not too far gone and the other heroes seem okay so far as well.

    I’m looking forward to seeing how this one goes. Enjoy your trip as well.

  9. dang even when you’re on a trip you still post something, dont overdoing things bruh ! we cant let the Slav— cough cough .. i mean the translator to get K.O. πŸ˜›

  10. Thanks for the chapter, “They were all having casual talk about how coincidences like this can happen” … yep complete coincidence not like the other hero is as dense as a brick

  12. Makoto in Tsuki Michi = Orc Girl as First Encounter
    Makoto in Qualia = Kobold Girl as First Encounter

    Gentlemen, it seems we are gonna have one hell of a adventure

  13. thanks for the chapters

    premise look interesting, though I don’t know how it will turn out with a character so much experimented, I hope he isn’t a completely “finished” character and have some room for development. or maybe the story will like world reformation an turn more around the heroes, will the MC will have a more passive and support role?
    hope the heroes aren’t just some scarecrows to let flow the hate for normies.
    and hope all problems won’t be solved by the MC steamrolling any enemy with his OP strength.

    β€œAh, again huh…”
    http://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/mobile/000/023/818/cdc.jpg

    PS: have a nice trip in the US, Reigokai

    2. I think it will be about solving past issues. Meeting the reincarnation of the first DL, the god playing with his life… all while exploring the new world as a wannabe normal citizen.

      Quite the Death march vibe?

  14. Thanks 4 the chapter!

    I wonder why the Queen haven’t told anyone except her maid. Is she under the control of someone and can’t act freely? Maybe with a drug? The same thing that was given to the hero?

  15. Plot holes keep appearing at each turn, if he is so damn powerful then can’t he cancel tge summoning or at least escape the magic circle? If the people in that kingdom are so weak comoared to mc then how did they manage to summon a living god? Loved the kobold maid interactions but it makes non sense ploy wise, mc keeps thinking in his long lost demon lord but it doesn’t mind getting touchy with other girls… like wtf? Weren’t you suposed to be a depressed character mc? Are you an emo but still have the energy to get intimated with a girl you just met!!??

    I really want to give a chance to this novel but so far it seems another self-satisfacting story.

    PD since when medioeval castles have janitors?

    1. in the prologue, when he was the hero, the summoning wasn’t something he could hope to resist because it was god’s will.
      we can hypothesize the summoning magic require a god’s volition, and is not something a human no matter how strong can counter.

      Even if he still think of his first love, we don’t know how many years it’s been since then, maybe even decades. he probably had time to end his mourning.

      from how I see the MC, he isn’t really depressed, but is disillusioned.

    2. It’s not a plot hole at all. I think you’re misjudging the MC on multiple counts.

      Firstly, he was never declared a “living god”. His frustrations in the prologue express that he’s indeed not strong enough to resist an actual god. This chapter confirmed that he’s indeed still strong by mortal standards. (And as a side, his power doesn’t really have anything to do with the feasibility of him being summoned by someone weaker.)

      Secondly, his interaction with Erin had no bearing on his relationship with Esthella. Assuming he’s romantically bonded with the demon lord (likely, but not confirmed), it’s not like he’s actually flirting or anything as intimate as that. He finds the maid cute, possibly in a small animal way. Why couldn’t he? It’s a matter of taste, but I would argue it’d be unrealistic to not react fondly to a sweetheart like her.

      And lastly, he does seem worn down and had depressing scenes , but I never pegged him as the depressed hero type. And even if he was…so what? He’s trying to find a bit of positivity where he can and is taking his “rejected hero” scenario in stride.
      What’s wrong with that? I’m actually more interested in him now than before because he’s demonstrated a desire to continue moving forward despite everything.

      I have no idea whether this story will turn out to be wish fulfillment, but at the very least, it’s doing something of substance with itself already.

  16. Wow. They’re poisoning/drugging the Hero already? That was not how I was expecting this to go.

    Is…is this story trying to subvert the “Rejected Hero” setting itself? That’s already a subversion in itself so…well, now I’m genuinely curious on where it’s gonna go with this.

    Actually, although it’s throwing plenty of standard tropes at us like fantasy racism, adorable droopy ears, cynical heroes, et cetera, I feel like it’s tackling them in a slightly unique way? Maybe that’s not the word I’m looking for.
    Original? Novel? Meaningful?
    Meaningful. It feels like the author has a concrete idea of where they’re going with these tropes instead of them being there just for the sake of being there.

    It’s clichΓ© in a good way, and in a different flavor from World Reformation, which stood on its lovable cast.

        1. You don’t know that! The isekai-verse is large!

          …though now that I think about it, if some fantasy race fawned over my ears like we do with animal ears, I’d be creeped out.
          Well, maybe a really cute one would water that feeling down to just mixed feelings. Hmm.

  18. So they go for the poison the Hero route from the guet a go. Wondering what side will the queen play at. And Makoto isnt still at full force but already stronger that all the great warriors of the kingdom. Thanks for the chapter Regokai.

  19. Thank you for the chapter Reigokai-san!
    Hmm, i see, the queen is aware of MC strength huh… I bet the maid didnt work for the queen thou, maybe the other faction in the kingdom…

  22. I love the demihuman no monster kobold girl πŸ˜›
    Those droopy ears are justice!!! Even if I prefer cats and foxes!!
    I can totally agree to it (β€’βˆ†β€’)/

    1. Yeah pretty stupid move. They knew he is op but give subpar accomodations. I know the kingdom side is pretending to not know the op-ness but at least the kingdom just need the standard room or something.

      It is more logical and safer than give store room to him. At least by giving standard room the kingdom will have decent first impression.

      1. I’m pretty sure most of the kingdom actually doesn’t know he’s so strong. The queen was even complaining about how an undefined “those people” behaved.

        While it’s true doing so is a stupid move, you can’t exactly blame someone for setting off a bomb if they don’t realize and have no way of realizing that it’s a bomb.

  28. Err… There’s alot of Makoto now… is he included in Makoto series, Makoto mk-4 perhaps?

    Ik there are already

    Makotwo
    Makothree
    Is this perhaps…

    MAkquatro?

  29. Err… There’s alot of Makoto now… is he included in Makoto series, Makoto mk-4 perhaps?

    Ik there are already

    Makotwo
    Makothree
    Is this perhaps…

    MAkquatro

      4. All I can see is a whole line of Makoto models now.

        Makoto with Magic Power Armor, Masked Makoto, Demon Lord Posse Aura Makoto, Archery Uniform Makoto, White Devil suit Makoto, Mech Makoto, Makoto piloting a mech…

        I wonder which one is limited edition?

          1. …Actually, a Makoto dakimura line would probably sell very well in Asora.

            And possibly in certain places outside it, though the academy administration might have a few objections.

        2. You now that makes me think of a hole cast of Makotos in a figthing game, like if somehow all type of Makoto had to figth in a interdimensional tournament to decide the Ultimate one!!!!!!!!!!!!

  34. Thanks for the chapter, Reigo-senpai. And have a fun and safe trip!

    I think I know what’s going on. That scheming queen… she’s trying to disable the hero so MC has to step in. Or the maid is working for the current Demon Lord? Either way, Hero’s not going to enjoy this. Nor do I think it will be over quickly.

  36. Thanks for the chapter. So they are drugging the hero early on huh. And makoto got a cute kobold maid. And a queen finally understands his true potential

  37. Thanks for the chapter. Can’t say much for whether or not I like the story yet, but I trust in your judgement and will read it until it’s proven wrong.

      5. In Japanese fiction kobolds are dog like creatures while in Western fiction kobolds are actually dragon kin. it’s very similar to though how it works or handled orcs in Western fiction are like dark elves you know twisted and deformed and they’re terrible they’re like upgraded goblins while in Japanese fiction orcs are pigs.

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