Chapter 2: A God Walks Away
The glowing text hovering before Baek Ri-hyun's eyes vanished as abruptly as it had appeared. His expression remained unreadable as he scanned his surroundings.
He stood in a grand throne hall—ornate and imposing, carved from marble and inlaid with gold. Towering pillars lined both sides of the room, etched with intricate scenes of forgotten wars and divine interventions. Celestial figures battled demons across the stone, their weapons frozen in the relief of time.
At the far end of the hall, elevated upon a dais of ivory steps, rested an opulent throne. It stood empty—like a promise, or a trap.
Near the center of the chamber, still bathed in the fading glow of the summoning circle, stood four young individuals, visibly shaken and bewildered. Their attire was jarringly out of place: worn T-shirts with faded logos, denim pants, and modern sneakers. Above each of their heads, a translucent status screen flickered with fluctuating text.
"Amazing! It's just like in a manga..." said one of them, a dark-haired boy with a strikingly handsome face. He examined his screen with shining eyes. "Swordsman class? This fits perfectly with my kendo training."
A girl beside him, sporting bright pink hair and an intense gaze, clenched her fists with excitement. "I'm a mage... I actually got magic!" she exclaimed.
Another boy, smaller and bespectacled, adjusted his glasses and took in the surroundings with awed reverence. His screen marked him as an archer. "This... this is straight out of a fantasy novel."
The last youth, taller and quieter than the others, looked up at his flickering screen and frowned. "I'm... classless?"
His voice was tinged with quiet frustration. His status window showed no title, no spells, no talents—just a name.
A voice rang out across the hall, formal yet desperate.
"Oh, great heroes—" began Princess Aurelia Beleville, stepping forward from behind the dais. Her voice echoed through the chamber, graceful and trembling with hope.