Walking up the spiral stone stairs, Hajime didn't know what to expect. The basement wasn't too dirty, and it wasn't exactly menacing either, except for the fact that he got summoned against his will by people who carried weapons. The moment a metal door to the floor above was opened, however, Hajime's eyes were mesmerized at the splendid sight.

From the floors that shone bright as diamond, to the tall windows that almost touched the ceiling, ornamented with golden frames, to the chandeliers that hung low, shrouding the hall with its brilliant light, Hajime was slapped with a grandeur interior. The marbled walls and stairs, crimson red curtains, the well-groomed flowers, the paintings, and the red carpets were the icing on the cake for him. If he could, he wished to slow down time to take in everything.

"Tanigo owns this?" Hajime asked.

"Yeah. Surprised? We were too when we got recruited by him." Flare said.

"Say, I've been thinking about this for a while now. Do you all have something like magic or whatever? You all don't seem to be normal humans either, especially when two of you are a rabbit girl and an elf."

"Well, our world does contain magic, which is something that can make the impossible possible. Another thing is that we have different races, and one prominent race are monsters. Though, you may not know what they look like."

"Hmm...are there creatures like orcs?" Hajime looked up.

"Ah, there are! How do you know that?"

"You might not believe me, but it's a thing in our world — at least, in fiction. I can't believe stuff like that is a thing now, like orcs and magic. Oh, and by the way, this mansion is neat, goddamn!" Hajime said as they all went up the stairs.

"Mansion? This is a castle-peko!" Pekora intervened.

"Eh? A castle?!"

"Yeah, and we did sorta talk about this earlier-peko, but we work under Tanigo-sama's organization called Hololive! Though, I have no idea why he chose that name-peko." Pekora looked up, leaning back with her hands on her head.

"I see..."

Hajime couldn't help but notice they've been calling him "Tanigo" the entire time. What's more is that he's also addressed with "-sama", which is something you add to a person of higher status, such as a king. The Tanigo back in Hajime's world was constantly bullied, teased, and addressed as "Yagoo". Obviously, the talents of Hololive change when they meet him in person, since they respect him greatly. But in this world, it seemed Tanigo here was revered.

Arriving on the second floor, the hallway had candlesticks stuck on the walls, serving as a guide to where Hajime was going to be led. Those candles really gave off the vibe of a castle — it felt very aristocratic.

They arrived at a door with an unknown script embossed on a shiny golden plate. However, Hajime took a second glance, and it seemed that the letters made some sense, for some odd reason. Maybe it was because he used to like studying languages.

Flare knocked on the door. "Tanigo-sama, we have successfully summoned the Chosen One."

"...Is that so? Please come inside."

"Pardon the intrusion." Flare said, opening the door.

Tanigo sat behind a desk with papers stacked at the sides, and beside it laid a quill. He wore a long-sleeved white polo, and sat straight while holding the feather firmly. His face looked very young, to Hajime's surprise; he expected an old man like him who was almost reaching fifty to have wrinkles.

The room had a couple bookshelves containing a myriad of thick books that were written in the same foreign script. Taking a closer look at it, Hajime thought it resembled moon runes, like the ones the vikings used.

"I knew you five could do it." Tanigo smiled.

"Your praise is more than we deserve." Flare smiled and bowed, and the rest of the Hololivers also bowed. Hajime was slightly hesitant, but he also followed suit.

"His name is Kumoyama Hajime, Tanigo-sama."

"Is that so? Well then, you all can wait at the dining hall for now. I wish to have a talk with Hajime-san here. Don't worry, I'll keep it brief."

"It won't-peko? Sweet! Hey guys, maybe we'll have shrimp tonight!" Pekora said, stretching her arms out and turning around.

"I'm fine with anything though, really." Noel looked at her.

"You say that, but I'm sure you pick your diet well, Noel." Pekora blankly stared.

"H-Hey! Why're you looking at me like that?!"

"It seems we'll be excusing ourselves for now, Tanigo-sama." Flare bowed along with Rushia and Marine before following the rest of them.

The door closed, leaving the two alone in Tanigo's office.

"Well then, please take a seat, Hajime-san."

"Ah, thank you very much." Hajime said, taking a seat in front of Tanigo's table.

"Before we talk, I'd like for us to drop the formalities. I'll call you Hajime, and you can call me Tanigo. Or maybe, you could refer to me as 'Yagoo'."

"'Yagoo'?" Hajime asked, bewildered.

Why specifically "Yagoo"? He was very sure this world was different, yet somehow, he knew that nickname. Not to mention, dropping honorifics implied a very close relationship. Why would Yagoo want the two of them to get so friendly in such a short amount of time?

"Hold up, what the hell do you mean by that?"

Yagoo gave a warm smile and replied, "Let's talk, shall we? I'll explain what I can."

"Uh...okay."

I'll just keep it at the back of my mind.

"So, my name is Motoaki Tanigo. I'm the King of Wiesenland, the Kingdom of Green. I've been doing my research behind the scenes even before the five summoned you."

"Oh?"

"I'm aware of the fact that your world is more industrialized, and possesses no magic whatsoever. Sure, it had ghosts and supernatural activities, but magic was merely nothing but a figment of the imagination. Here, it's a real thing."

"I see...Wait, how do you know this? Can you see into other worlds?"

"Hmm...'worlds' could be the word, but it's more like I can see into 'different universes'. More specifically, alternate universes."

"I-I won't ask how you know the terms, but I'm assuming you must know quite a lot about where I'm from?"

"A bit. I tend to not dwell on other worlds, since I have other matters to worry about." He giggled.

"However, that's enough about me. I also don't want to keep you up for too long, and especially the HoloFive. Do you have any questions, Hajime?" Yagoo added.

Hajime paused for a moment. Of course he had questions, but he had to think about what were the most important as of the present moment.

"I have a lot, to be honest. Where am I? How was I summoned? Why was I summoned? What's a 'Chosen One'? Is that a hero? How am I still alive despite remembering clearly that I fell from a hospital moments ago? Why do you know about my world and that nickname 'Yagoo'? It may be a lot, but please enlighten me about all of these things."

"Now, now. I'm also eager to answer your questions, but I can only talk about so much. I even said that this would be short just so that everybody could eat dinner. Maybe I'll answer some of it another time. However, right now, I can tell you why and how you were summoned."

"Then, even if it's just those two questions, please tell me!"

"As you might've noticed, you're the 'Chosen One'. I won't exactly tell you the details, but to sum it up, the world is currently in a dire state, and the only one who can lead the world to a state of peace and tranquility is you, Hajime. The Chosen One. As for how you were summoned, you were-"

"Summoned by a ritual?" Hajime intervened as he remembered what Noel said earlier.

Tanigo giggled. "Yes. The room they used was the basement of my castle."

"I see. One last question, is it possible for me to return to my world?"

"Let's say you can but you can't."

"Huh? What does that mean?"

"It's possible, but if you remember, you fell from that tall building, and so you're considered dead in that world. That could cause confusion and disorder there. And what's more is, as much as I'm the King, I don't know about a spell that can transport you back to your world. That 'Chosen One' ritual only works one way."

Hajime sat there in silence, processing every word Yagoo said. The fact that he essentially left his father and his friends behind without saying goodbye, and leaving his goals and dreams unfulfilled, started to sink in. However, even without those, the biggest punch to the gut was that he couldn't fulfill his mother's promise.

Everything that had happened, from the basement to his talk with Yagoo, distracted him for a while, but now was a good time for Hajime to reflect on the reality of the situation. He couldn't shake off that feeling of guilt and unfulfillment in him. But there was no use in mourning for the past. He couldn't rewind time even if he tried, so whatever his life was now, Chosen One or not, he had to accept his fate.

"...I see."

"I'm sure you're a bit frustrated at me for not answering everything, and even more so that you couldn't go back to your world. I can understand that. I just don't want to fill your head up too much, since this was so sudden and all. However, if you're free, you can read at the library in this castle. You can ask one of the maids downstairs to guide you. I actually have a personal maid assigned for you, just like I did for those other five. She's the girl with dark skin and orange eyes."

"Got it. So...does this mean we're done here?"

"Yes. You may take your dinner now. Remember, the maid is waiting downstairs."

"I know, I know. Well, thank you for your time, Yagoo-san."

"Didn't I tell you to drop the honorifics? You can just call me Yagoo." He chuckled.

"Ah, I couldn't help it. That's how people like me greet somebody in a higher position than themselves."

"Just remember you can be as casual with me as you wish. I bet you're hungry now, so this concludes our talk, Hajime."

"Yeah."

Well, not really, since I ate dinner a while ago, but I could eat again.

**HoloWorld: Alternative!**

Hajime went down the stairs and saw a maid dressed neatly and standing straight. Her hair went down to her neck, her hands were placed at her front, and her eyes held that sharp look as if she was observing Hajime's every move like a cat staring at its prey.

On her right hip, he saw a golden pocket watch locked in place. It surprised Hajime, but they needed to know the time even without a clock for reference, plus it fitted the aristocratic theme of everything too.

"Good evening, Hajime-sama." The maid spoke and bowed.

"Oh, good evening too. How do you know my name?"

"I overheard it while the HoloFive walked to the dining hall."

H-Holofive? Bruh, that's supposed to be reserved for Gen 5! Argh, whatever. It's not like Coco and the others are here anyway.

"What's your name, by the way?"

"My name is Kerai. I'm the personal maid assigned to you, as per Tanigo-sama's orders."

"So I've heard from Ya-Tanigo." Hajime shook his head for a brief moment.

"Please allow me to take you to the dining hall." She bowed once more and led Hajime towards the tables.

He finally met up with the five, and there were maids beside each of them. Kerai pulled a chair, signaling Hajime to sit down. Looking to his right, he saw a maid in a blue and white outfit holding a tray.

Her headdress showed a blue anchor and her pink hair displayed groups of blue streaks. Despite being a maid in appearance, the way she walked looked like the tray on her hands could fall anytime, and her arm shook like how an amateur waitress would hold it when it's full of food and drinks. Hajime wondered if the possibly exquisite food would go to waste if she were to ever trip.

"H-H-Here's your food, everybody!" The maid said as she laid the tray on the table, soon placing the plates for everybody.

"Careful, Aqua-chan. You don't want your precious cooking to go to waste for Hajime-sama and Holofive."

"I-I understand!"

"Oh? Minato Aqua?" Hajime asked on impulse.

"Y-Yes! That's my name, sir! I-I mean, Hajime-san! I-I mean-"

"Ah, don't fret over it too much." Hajime put his hands up and giggled nervously.

Wow, Aqua is actually interacting with somebody here. She's nervous, but she's actually holding a conversation.

"It seems you know of our maid-in-training, Hajime-sama?"

"Sorta. She looks similar to a girl I know in my world. Also, you cooked this?"

"Ah, yes! I hope you all will enjoy what I cooked for dinner!" Aqua said, opening the lids of the plates.

The moment she did, a sweet aroma filled the room with a smell that fitted the room's splendor. The chicken was thick and juicy, and cooked to the perfect degree. The vegetable salad was perfectly mixed with a side of sauce for extra flavor. And lastly, neatly cut pieces of salmon with granules of thyme sprinkled and lemon squeezed all over it tempted the six to eat already. This was clearly made by a top-notch chef — or in this case, maid.

"Woah...and you made all this?" Hajime looked at Aqua.

"Y-Yeah! D-Do you hate it?" Aqua asked with her shoulders tucking inwards after getting the tray back from the table.

"Hate it?! I love it! I rarely get opportunities to eat something like this!"

"Ah, I'm glad! I'll do my best to meet your expectations again, Hajime-sama! Same goes for the Holofive!" She said with a radiant smile.

"Yeah!"

The six wasted no time and gave their thanks to the food before digging in. Juices from the chicken and salmon made them shriek in glee and the vegetable salad served nice for a side dish.

The dinner was filled with unforgettable tastes and friendly exchanges that would make anybody wish they were in their shoes. Hajime felt indebted to have the privilege of eating such extravagant meals.

"Ah, that meal stuffed me up!" Hajime said as a sparkling aura emanated from him as he walked with Kerai.

"I'm glad you liked the dinner. Aqua-chan's always had a talent for cooking and doing maidwork. Would you like to take a shower now?"

"I'd like that."

Hajime did get sweaty from his "talks" with his father, so a second shower for the night wouldn't bother him.

"By the way, there is only one shared bath here for the men and three for the women, in case you wish to use those."

"What the hell's up with that 1:3 ratio?" Hajime blankly stared.

"Most of us here are women, and there are only a few butlers. However, please don't give it too much thought as the bathrooms are huge."

"As long as I can have private time, I'm fine."

"That's only the shared bath though. There's a built-in bathroom in your bedroom."

"Really?! Sweet! I'll go there instead!"

Hajime arrived at his room and took off all his clothes. Kerai would take care of the laundry, so she placed his new clothes on the bed so that he could dress up once he finished bathing. A white tunic, brown coat, and black pants were given.

While he was dipping himself in the tub, he looked up and started unwinding about everything that had been happening. How did magic work in this world? How strong could he become? What exactly will he be getting into? As much as he was answered, more questions arose as a result. He was eager to figure everything out.

Though, he threw those out the window and decided to find it out soon enough through the library. He finished with his bath, and he dressed up and sank into his bed while breathing out a sigh of relief. His whole body felt like it was being massaged by the soft mattress.

"I'm beat!"

"You know, you could've told me to come in the bath with you, Hajime-sama. I would've also washed your back."

"H-Hey, you're a woman and I'm a man. That doesn't work out as well as you think."

"Is that so? I don't mind coming in the bath with you, and you also happen to be my type, Hajime-sama. Besides, polygamy is common in this world." Kerai gave a small smile, one that seemed mischievous.

Hajime blushed slightly and groaned. "Well, polygamy isn't common in my world, and I choose to only marry one woman! It's not like it's obligatory anyway, at least I think that's the case in this world. You're also my personal maid, right? That means you take orders, right? Don't come into the bath with me unless I say so!"

"I understand, Hajime-sama." She bowed, albeit with a slight frown.

"I'll be seeing myself out now. If you need me, just call my name. I'll be standing near the door for the next few hours." Kerai added.

"Got it!"

A moment later, Hajime laid there with his hands behind his head and the thoughts he had from the bathroom went back to fill his brain. One of those thoughts was wondering what the Hololivers do. He knew they worked under Yagoo, but he didn't know what they exactly do. Whatever the case may be, he'll be working alongside them from this day onward.

Kerai said that if I needed her, I should just call her, right?

"...Kerai!!"

"I'm here. What seems to be the problem, Hajime-sama?" She instantly opened the door.

"What do the Hololivers do? Do they just do whatever Tanigo says?"

"Oh, I see you're curious about something. They do two jobs. One, they work under Tanigo-sama as a special group that does exclusive quests for him. The rewards are rather generous as the money can be enough to live in an inn for one year."

"Eh? Really?!"

"Yes. However, there aren't that many quests coming from Tanigo-sama. That's where the second job comes in. They're guild members that do quests like hunting, escorting, and the like. Of course, Tanigo-sama isn't too harsh to not give them money except for special quests, so he gives them a big sum of allowance. After that, the rest of their money is earned from the guild of Wiesenland."

"I see. Welp, I guess that's enough for today. Sorry for disturbing you over a silly question, Kerai."

"Order me however you like. I'm your personal maid, after all." She said as she closed the door.

I guess I'm gonna train tomorrow. If I'm gonna be the 'Chosen One', I gotta start by training, right?

Hajime thought before turning off the lamp that lit the room, and his eyes slowly closed as he started to surrender to his sleepiness. Today was a very long day, and so much happened in the blink of an eye. He had to get as much rest as he could for the following day.