"Then, what should I do now?"
I murmured, contemplating the plan I should carry out.
The most fundamental plan, of course, is to save (slaughter) this world from the Abyss.
Child of Fortune and the system have their own agendas, encouraging me to learn and grow in this world.
I think traveling the world and gaining various experiences is exciting, and I fully support the idea.
But both of them suggested that attending the Academy is the best choice.
Fine, I'll go along with it.
Maybe because I used to be selfish and stubborn, I'm now compromising and trying to change little by little.
Besides, I feel like the sensations and experiences I'll gain will be worth it.
The problem is finding a sponsor so I can enroll in the Academy.
Initially, when I was summoned into this world, I expected a grand and joyous welcome.
But look at the expressions of the priests, knights, cardinals, even the Pope.
They looked at me as if I were a heretic or an aberration from an unknown world.
Their expressions said it all—they'd rather eat pig filth than deal with a stranger like me.
So, the plan to seek sponsorship from the Church was scrapped.
Another option was to seek help from the Saintess, but I quickly dismissed that idea.
Upon closer observation, she seems to have fallen in love with me.
But who cares?
Even her beauty fails to stir my heart.
"It seems I've become indifferent to romance."
Since when, though?
Was it back when I first attended school on Earth?
No one knows.
Not that Elaria isn't beautiful—she's stunning, actually.
But I know this would be a relationship driven purely by personal desires, not genuine affection or true love.
Mutual respect and admiration would also be questionable.
That's why I think it's still too early for me to consider romance.
Especially since she only likes me for my looks and hero status, not because of who I truly am—Arov.
[Child of Fortune: Are you starting to consider her as a life partner?]
"It depends on how fate unfolds. I already have a feeling about this."
[Child of Fortune: Hmm... Sometimes, the stronger someone is, the stronger their will to live. This is why some people can predict fate and the cause-and-effect of their actions.]
I could almost see an illusion of Child of Fortune smirking.
[Child of Fortune: But don't overthink it. Live as you wish—no one controls you anymore.]
"Alright, it seems the best choice is to go with the flow for now."
I stood up and left the training room.
The library was just as quiet as when I first arrived.
I headed back to the shelves storing magic books.
The book I held was *How to Become a Heavenly Demon.*
Once it left my grasp, it turned into an ordinary book, as if nothing had happened.
It was clear that this book was meant for me, and only I could decipher its true meaning.
I wandered and found a beginner magic book.
[*Beginner's Guide to Magic (Even a 3-Month-Old Can Understand)*]
"..."
If I can't understand this, does that mean my intelligence is below that of a three-month-old?
"Why are there so many weird books in this library…"
I even found some cookbooks on shelves that were supposed to only hold magic books...
Arov gathered a variety of books, ranging from history, social studies, culture, etiquette, biology, and even cookbooks.
"Arma's world… Historians say this world was created billions of years ago?"
I stared at an illustration, seemingly hand-drawn, in a history book.
A humanoid figure with a hood obscuring its face, light and darkness swirling at its sides.
The world was created by its will, and living beings worshiped it as the Creator God.
After that, no records remained.
The mythic era was a blank slate, almost devoid of any noteworthy information.
"They say nearly all historical accounts from this era have been lost."
The rest of the recorded history spanned from 10,000 years ago to the present.
Kingdoms and Empires rose and fell as superpowers, each leaving behind relics from bygone civilizations.
People in this world called them artifacts, with methods of construction lost since the mythic era and the fall of civilization 10,000 years ago.
"But what surprised me is the existence of items that mimic artifact effects. It seems this world retains its fantasy RPG elements."
There are even dungeons in this world. I can't wait to explore them.
Freelance jobs like adventurers who take missions and earn commissions also exist.
The continents are divided into four: the southern continent, eastern continent, western continent, and northern continent.
True to their directional names, these continents each have unique characteristics.
"I'm a bit surprised that this world isn't entirely backward compared to Earth."
There are many differences, such as political systems primarily feudalistic, and shogunates still existing despite Empires being established on those lands.
"Damn, I'm really getting excited to explore all these places."
Beyond societal structures, the geography of these continents is genuinely breathtaking.
I can already imagine the scenery awaiting me when I visit these places.
Just imagine having a house in the mountains with rolling meadows, clouds occasionally brushing the earth, flocks of birds migrating across the sky, and livestock grazing freely.
A heavenly life—I'll strive to make it a reality in this world.
Should I find a few wives to accompany me?
Alright, wives from various races seem like a good idea.
"Well, I have to save this world first."
What's surprising is how little history exists regarding the appearance of Abyssal beings.
I have my suspicions about this.
"System, are they infiltrating this world covertly, or attempting a full-scale assault in one go?"
The system panel appeared.
[Both. It seems they've tried infiltrating the upper echelons of this world. But this is just my deduction.]
"Hmm..."
The probability isn't zero.
I know this world is special, considering its power systems and the fact that deities exist here.
At the very least, this will make the Abyss invest more material and human resources to launch their invasion.
That gives me more time.
[Child of Fortune: Relax, they'll fully attack this world in about 1,000 years. You can even start a family and leave it to your descendants.]
I couldn't help but consider this possibility.
[Child of Fortune: Of course, by choosing this, you've made the worst decision possible. Running away and shirking responsibility isn't our style, is it?]
"Yes, I agree with you."
[Child of Fortune: We're not cowards, are we? We'll finish what we need to do, leave this world, and save the universe.]
I resumed reading various books.
But soon, I realized one thing.
"The Murim world… It really seems to exist in a different dimension."
Even the Heavenly Demon doesn't seem to appear in any of these records.
In short, all these continents have their own power systems.
The Western Continent (where Arov resides) is dominated by Kingdoms, Empires, magic, and swordsmanship.
The Eastern Continent houses Eastern fantasies, with spiritual energy, ki, and a harmonious blend of Chinese and Japanese cultures.
The Southern Continent is home to the Beast-folk tribes; all demi-humans can be found there. Thaluna likely originates from this continent, whose culture leans more towards the East.
The Northern Continent resembles ancient Nordic lands, filled with strong and mighty warriors. Strangely, besides its cold climate, a vast desert lies adjacent to it, scorching hot. This duality creates an odd contrast, with the desert tribes resembling Spartan warriors.
"Truly a continent of warriors..."
Arov immersed himself in exploration and knowledge, his bookworm tendencies resurfacing.
When he finished…
Should I read a magic book first or a cookbook?
---
1360 word.
Hi guys, this is DE. For the next week or so from now I'll probably do mass releases per week, the schedule this time is 7 chapters per week or one chapter per day. But I'm going to do 10 chapters next week. 2 weeks from now, if we hit the 50 power stone, then I'll update 12 chapters per week before returning to the regular schedule. So, what again? Give me your vote and review 😈 (2/10)