"Greetings, class. My name is Odal, but you can call me Mr. O. Welcome to Monster Physiology. If you don't know what this class is, walk away now and pick a different course. And you, just pay attention and watch. I don't expect much from you yet, but I will change that!" The voice boomed with a rough, gravelly edge, sharp and straight to the point, commanding the attention of everyone present.
And that was when I saw him, Odal, the dwarf, leading this course. And, to my surprise, this was the first time I'd ever seen a dwarf… who was alive, if I may add. I'd read and watched about dwarves, who were supposed to be great miners, blacksmiths, short, and physically strong.
Odal was everything I imagined a dwarf to be, and more.
Standing at maybe just above four feet tall, Odal was the shortest person in the entire colosseum, or this class by a wide margin. I haven't seen everyone yet. It honestly gave me a chuckle seeing all the tall elves, demi-humans, and Mika towering over him, only for them to shut their mouths the moment he spoke. Because, despite the size difference, Odal had a presence. The kind that made you straighten your spine instinctively.
[[A/N This character is for my short kings. Yall don't get much love in this app]]
This short king was ripped like a carved statue. His muscles bulged from his compact frame, corded with thick veins and a lifetime of physical labor. He wore nothing above the waist, completely bare-chested, revealing a network of battle scars that crossed his torso and arms. And a hairy but well-trimmed chest.
He wore steel-gray trousers reinforced with monster hide, I think, and armored boots that clanked heavily as he walked. Around his neck hung a necklace made from the jagged teeth of monsters, each one strung on a cord of braided sinew.
And then there was his helmet, a full-head piece shaped like the open mouth of a... dragon? Its wide open maw forming the visor. Dark slits revealed only his glowing blue eyes beneath, fierce and staring deeply at everyone. No beard visible, which was weird because I thought dwarves love their beards, but I guess I was wrong about that.
He carried a massive warhammer, almost as tall as he was. The shaft was thick and black, yet Odal gripped it with no trouble. The hammerhead itself gleamed a faint bluish hue, probably imbued with mana, from the way it glowed. One side was a brutal flat head used for crushing, and the other, a wicked spike used for piercing armor, bone, or skulls. Probably all three. God, I want one so bad now.
He didn't use the hammer like a walking stick or lean on it like a crutch, he carried it like it weighed nothing. Students all around Mika were either whispering in awe or nervously straightening up, eyes locked on him. Ravka, however, whispered to Mika with hushed excitement.
"EEEEEEE! THERE HE IS! ODAL THE DRAGON HUNTER! OMG, I WANT HIM TO SIGN MY SWORD! QUICK, GET MY BAG OUT!"
Ravka's voice came out in a rushed, overly loud whisper that drew more than a few curious glances from nearby students. She was full-on fangirling, eyes sparkling like a kid seeing their favorite celebrity up close. Gripping Mika's shoulders with both hands, she began shaking her poor friend so hard it looked like Mika was going to rattle apart.
"R-Ravka… w-wait…!" Mika tried to protest, but her knees were buckling under Ravka's enthusiasm. The taller girl was practically pushing her into the dirt without realizing it.
Seeing this disaster unfold, I hurriedly pulled Ravka's bag from my [Inventory] and tossed it on the ground. The moment it hit the floor, Ravka let go of Mika and dove for it like a predator pouncing on prey.
Mika, finally free, slumped forward with a quiet groan and crouched to rub her aching shoulders, muttering, "Ow… that actually hurt." She winced, casting a low-effort healing spell over herself with glowing fingers. "I'm so glad my teachers taught me healing spells..."
As Mika slowly stood up again, brushing herself off, her gaze followed Odal as he strode confidently toward the center of the coliseum, where the instructors of the three other classes were already waiting. The atmosphere shifted the moment he joined them, like a lion stepping into a group of lesser beings. He didn't say much. He didn't need to.
"Ravka… who is that man?" Mika asked, still rubbing her shoulder.
Still elbow-deep in her bag, Ravka looked up with a huge grin plastered across her face, clutching a sheathed greatsword like it was a treasured relic. "Who is he?! He's ODAL! Odal the Dragon Hunter! He killed an elder dragon king solo during a blizzard using nothing but his warhammer! He's quite literally one of the strongest adventurers in these lands!"
Mika blinked, her gaze drifting back toward Odal's bare chest. "He… doesn't look much like a teacher, though." Her voice was quiet, thoughtful, though inwardly, Mika was thinking about just how strong this world was if there was a monster called an elder dragon king, causing a pit to grow in her stomach.
If Ravka, someone who could probably crush her head with a hug, was jumping up and down like an excited child meeting her favorite hero, then just how strong was this man?
[Do I even make the cut of being a hero? Will I be able to take down dragons on my own?] The thought crept in, quiet but persistent. Doubt was nothing new. It had always lurked in the back of her mind, small and shadowed. But the more she learned, the more it grew, like a pit slowly eroding the ground beneath her feet.
"That's the thing!" Ravka whispered, practically bouncing on her toes, unable to contain herself. "He's not a teacher. Not really. I don't even think he likes teaching. I don't know how Lunnon's Academy managed to snag Odal, but I'd bet my sword it's because of you! With the demon realm opening into our world, they probably spent a fortune to bring him here. He only shows up when things are about to go really bad."
[Am I really worth that much?] Mika's eyes flicked toward Odal again, who now stood among the instructors with an air of heavy, casual menace. Possibly just aura farming because the drip was immaculate.
[Are they putting their hopes on me? Just because I was summoned by their goddess… does that mean I'm ready to save anyone?]
Her chest tightened slightly as her breath caught. Keeping her face calm, composed, she masked the unease clawing at her insides. She was getting better at that, at smiling, nodding, pretending she was okay with everything. But she wasn't. Not really. The weight was building. The expectation of being a 'hero.' Of saving lives. Of not failing. Of not dying a brutal death.
It was terrifying. Imagine having the whole world on you, with every child, mother, and father expecting greatness from you. Expecting you to save them. Those depressing thoughts grew in Mika as she watched how the other students would look at her, as well as how the people of this kingdom would look and pray whenever they saw her. It was just too much.
Ravka didn't notice Mika's quiet mood. She was too caught up in her joy, her tail flicking behind her in fast, excited arcs. Her wide grin stretched from ear to ear as she practically glowed with energy, her voice still hushed in disbelief. Her first year at this academy had just gone from 'probably boring' to 'absolutely legendary.'
But for Mika, it was starting to feel like a story she wasn't even supposed to be in. She was just a normal girl, a girl with a loving family, peaceful days, and dreams that didn't involve swords, magic, demons, or saving the world. Then, in a snap, that life was stripped away. A sword was thrust into her hands, and she was told to be a hero. No time to think. No one asked what she wanted. No chance to say, 'I'm not ready'.
No, instead, she was dropped into a magical world filled with monsters, politics, and expectations, and now, a looming demon invasion. All because someone decided she had a role to play.
And yet… the only thing keeping her from crumbling beneath it all, the only anchor she had left, was her.
The voice of Emi, her daughter, echoing in her soul. Not just in her mind, not some figment or illusion, but something deeper. Something real. Always there, cheering her on, whispering words of encouragement when things felt too heavy. When the training and the constant stream of knowledge are being shoved at her, making her want to pull her hair out.
[You're doing great, Mama. You can keep going, right? Just a bit more.] That voice was her light. Her constant.
It made Mika smile, even if just a little. A quiet chuckle escaped her lips, one that gave a depressing vibe but carried a hint of contentment. Because really, wasn't it supposed to be the parent's job to encourage their child to keep moving forward? And here she was… taking her next step, because her daughter told her she could.
"I miss you Mom"
—
Ok, I wanted to try and give Mika some character development, not too sure if I did a good job, but I think it's somewhat good. Please tell me your opinion and criticism about this chapter. Anything helps.
The reason I did this for this chapter is because, as I read and watch anime/novels that have people being summoned/reincarnated to magical worlds, to fight some sort of demon king, I don't really see the characters breaking down or having massive doubt if they truly belong in this world, thinking if they deserve the praise and title. They usually are like, 'omg I was summoned to a magical world filled with monsters that can easily tear you to shreds, time to have fun, and become super rich by recreating chess!' Most just have an internal talk about wanting to become stronger or something like that in seconds, but what about those who can't change and adapt that quickly? I just wanted to share my perspective on this idea and write about it! :)
Though as I type this, my start for Alex probably fits this, but since this is my novel, Alex is just built different.
Anyway, thanks for reading. Please enjoy this chapter.
But what's the thing with chess being major in novels, with the MC's recreating chess and becoming super rich, given the title of genius, or it becoming mega popular in a matter of days? I dont know why, but I notice it a decent amount.