Author´s note: A story about a man, who is transported into another world, but with his game character.
Influenced by works with the same story like Sword Art Online, Log Horizon, Overlord and the like. Influenced, but apart the idea of the game becoming reality has nothing in common, not the same universe, not the same character and definitly not the same writer skill ;P

Prolog: Campfire tale

Shana watched the men around the fires as he walked trough the camp, the tension thick in the air. Everyone who saw him greeted him with respect and he replied with a soft smile. They were nervous, and so was he, but he tried not to show it. He could not show it, for their hopes lied with him, the hope to defeat the demon king.

`Poor people´ he tought to himself, to be caught in this cycle. Every thousand years the demon king would return and every thousand years the people would face a new crisis. A normal human had no chance to defeat the demon king, even the strongest among them could only face lower demon lords, but luckily he was not a normal human.

He was the hero, summoned to this medieval fantasy world trough the ancient hero summoning ritual, passed down in the royal family since the time of the ancient hero king Yamato three thousand years ago. The chosen warrior of god, the one blessed with the power to defeat the demon king. And the only way for humans to prosper.

Shana steeled his resolve, this was not his world, but nonetheless, he had to win, the consequences if he would lose were disastrous, because if the hero would not defeat the demon king, then the dragons would fight the demons, the two races mortal enemies since ancient times. But one should be very clear about the situations: the dragons were fighting against the demons, but not for the humans, and as such, cared little for the casualities humanity or the other races suffered. Kingdoms had died when those two powerful races clashed against each other.

That was the reason why the hero was so important. Only he could defeat the demon king and prevent the dragons from acting, protecting the humans from the wrath and power of both races. And with the hero, the human kingdoms could prosper.

Carefree laugther caught his attention. He was surprised. The battle would start soon, and yet, some people managed to shrug off the tension, they were more fit to be hero than him, he tought to himself. Intrigued, he followed the sound.

It didn´t take him long to find the source, a campfire with soldiers. Nothing out of order so far, except the one person who was sitting with them. He seemed not to be a soldier, because he was not armed or armored, and yet, the soldiers seemed to accept him.

One of the soldiers noticed him and instantly stood at attention. "Lord Hero!" The others turned towards him and repetead the action. Even the stranger stood up. "No need to be so formal" Shana laughed it of embarrased, he was still not used to all this respect. A few months ago he was a simple salesman. "So this is the hero, huh?" the stranger asked. Shana checked him with his Hero Eye. It was an ability that allowed him to see the `Status´ of people, with name, level and the like. Like a real rpg, he tought to himself.

Name: Arthur
Level 8
Bard

So the stranger was a travelling bard. "Have we met somewhere?" "Please forgive my rudeness. I was just surprised to see the legendary hero." "Legendary, isn´t that a bit much?" "No need to be so humble, Lord Hero" one of the soldiers said, "after you have defeated the demon king you will be known troughout all the surrounding kingdoms."

Shana tried not to think about that. He was already know troughout the kingdoms. He quickly tried to change the topic. "Would you mind if i were to sit with you?" "But of course not, it is a high honor that the legendary hero sits with simple soldiers like us."

After he sat himself, and insisted to be called by his name and that no formalities were needed, the men quickly returned to their carefree mood and resumed their idle talk. Shana listend to them. This men were still nervous, but by far not as much as the rest, or he himself. "Is Lord Hero...Shana, a fan of books by chance?" Arthur asked. Shana was surprised, just what made him think that? His surprise was apparently showing on his face, as Arthus began to chuckle softly and then pointed at the book Shana was holding. He could feel his face redding. "May i see it?" Arthur asked politely. Shana was surprised again. Not many people in this world were able to write and read, but apparently this bard was able to do so.

After a moment of hesitation, he handed Arthur the book. And surprise washed over the stranger´s face. "Is something wrong with the book?" Shana asked. "No, nothing, I was just surprised. I haven´t seen one of those in what seems to be an eternity. I admit I had expected the hero to read books about the former heroes or the ancient king Yamato, but not this kind of fairytale."

"Fairytale? I was told that it was true." "So people still remember..." Arthur murmured softly to himself, and if not for Shana´s high perception skill he surely would have missed it. Arthur handed the book back to Shana. Arthur´s next words surprised him. "Tell me, does the Lord Hero believe what is written in this book?" Shana tought for a moment. "Well, some things seems hard to believe, but I actually had no reason to thought it a lie." "Is that so" Arthur chuckled softly again and leaned back. Shana could feel his eyes on himself, like he was thinking, assessing him.

Shana was sure, this was the most rude gesture he had experiencing in this world so far. Since his summoning everyone treated him with utmost respect, they knew how important he was, he was the chosen hero after all. Others were afraid of him. Not only for his immense power, that surpassed every other human in the surrounding kingdoms. But also for his political influence and his good relationship with the royal family. Everyone was trying his hardest to make sure not to displease him. And yet, Arthur seemed not to care in the slightest. Shana was nervous. And then Arthur surprised him once more.

"Tell me, does Lord Hero want to know the truth?" "The truth?" Silence surrounded him. The soldiers´ talk had died as all were surprised by the turn of events, and waited for his answer. He was the hero, there was only one answer. "I want to know the truth." Arthur chuckled softly.

"Very well, let me tell you the true story of the one called Arashmiel."