“...” He paused again, pondering for a moment. “Alright, I find it quite interesting. After getting familiar...”

“Hmm.” Ankexikaao nodded, his eyes fixed intently on me. “Rogelit, what I must tell you is this. Though this world seems chaotic and confusing sometimes, have you considered it’s still a complete world? It has its own unique system, diverse intelligent races, and a mature ‘deity—Sanctuary; king—nation’ structure. Perhaps it feels abnormal only because you’re stuck in this tiny village. You’ve seen just a minuscule corner and mistaken it for everything.”

His words stunned me. I couldn’t believe such a pervert could say something so reasonable.

Thinking carefully, it was true.

After all, I was sent here by the goddess Elise, not a true resident. Since my ‘birth,’ I’d been holed up in the Village of Egramote. The people I knew best were only Anjelit, and at most, old Pastor Grandpa and the tavern uncle.

All my understanding of this world came solely from Egramote. Ankexikaao’s reminder made me realize I knew almost nothing.

What were the Beastfolk? Old werewolf Garios?

Garios was indeed dead, but not by my hand. He truly lost to ‘time.’

Sealed for over a thousand years, even an LV65 super warrior would die of old age... Rather than saying he died miserably, it was astonishing he survived that long.

This thought shocked me deeply.

I thought lifespans maxed out around a hundred years, but Garios lived over a thousand!

Shocked!

“Also, do you truly grasp this world’s basic system?” Ankexikaao’s expression turned grave, like a lecturer correcting errors. “This world has five continents and an encircling sea, seven intelligent races and many sub-races...”

He drew five circles on the table: one center, four surrounding it north, south, east, west.

“North: Demonkin. East: humans. West: Beastfolk. South: Elf Folk. Center: Imaginaria. Plus Sea Folk in the sea and Insect Folk underground...”

He rattled off many races I’d never heard of. Anjelit had mentioned them once but didn’t finish or explain clearly.

“Among the seven, Imaginaria are reclusive, Sea Folk ignore land resources, Insect Folk dwell deep underground. Surface has only Demonkin, humans, Beastfolk, Elf Folk...”

“So, four intelligent races with different beliefs. What happens next?”

“War.” Ankexikaao didn’t wait for my reply. He drew a line from Beastfolk to Elf Folk. “First, strength-focused Beastfolk clashed with magic-focused Elf Folk. Beastfolk attacked elves.”

Another line connected Elf Folk and humans. “Elves sought allies, found humans, taught them magic, formed an alliance.”

Then a line from humans to Beastfolk. “Humans attacked Beastfolk, forcing retreat to the western continent. Know what happened next?”

Was Ankexikaao recounting a great war from over a thousand years ago?

Listening closely, it actually sounded intriguing.

“After that, Demonkin invaded Beastfolk, humans, and Elf Folk alone...”

“Aren’t they asking for death?” I muttered.

Ankexikaao gave a bitter smile, nothing like his usual self.

“Anyone would think that. Sadly, Demonkin nearly wiped out the three races... If not for the Imaginaria stepping in...”

“Imaginaria?” I looked at the central continent. “What race is that?”

“A super-natural race existing only in imagination. Few in number, but each a mythical figure—like the Ice-Flame Phoenix, Deep-Sea Titan... even our so-called deities. Among Imaginaria, deities are the highest-tier beings, the strongest in existence.”

“Deities...” I glanced at the central continent.

My understanding was only Elise... but in my memory, she seemed ordinary, just like a girl.

Was Elise somewhere in that central land?

“Imaginaria intervened. They chose one person each from Beastfolk, elves, and humans, granting ‘Imagination’ power. Thus, the ‘Seer,’ ‘Nature Spirit,’ and ‘Hero’ professions were born.”

“These three wielded Imaginaria power and quickly drove Demonkin back to the far north. Demonkin signed a peace treaty. The world war ended...” Ankexikaao summarized simply, but I knew he glossed over the brutality.

Real wars must be horrific.

In my original world, history books called them true ‘meat grinders.’

“So...” I took a deep breath.

Indeed, his words were shocking. Any war history feels suffocating.

But...

What did this have to do with me?

I hadn’t lived through that war. I didn’t know its horrors. Even the Imaginaria deity Elise in my mind was just an ordinary girl...

Precisely, I had no real concept.

I admitted this world might be scarred... but I’d just arrived. My impression was only peace and beauty.

After all, it’s a beautiful world now, isn’t it?

History is history; let it rest in the past. Just remember it.

“So, you called me here just for ‘a prophecy’ and ‘world knowledge’?” I asked.

Ankexikaao looked at me. “Those were messages I relayed. There’s one more thing...”

“What?” I asked curiously.

“To help you change professions.” Ankexikaao said.

Change professions?

Can a Hero even do that?

It won’t be ‘Vagrant’ or ‘Comedian,’ will it?

After all, ‘Hero’ is a notoriously weak profession!

“You think Heroes are useless? Heh. Do you even know what a Hero is?” Ankexikaao saw my expression and sneered. “Worthless! Not even a damn bit!”

“...” I raised my fist.

Ankexikaao paled, stepping back quickly.

“But that’s only for the ‘Hero’ identity. To make it useful, I’m here to help you change!” He fumbled in his pocket—where was it?—and placed something on the table proudly. “Look, what’s this?”

“This is!”

Those strawberry-patterned, pink, sweet-scented panties!

“Ahahaha... sorry, wrong item. Forgot to hide it after last night’s use...”

After use...

My gaze at Ankexikaao turned peculiar.

“This thing!” He rummaged again—pocket location unknown—and pulled out a weapon.

It resembled a Chinese jian sword, but looked off.

The blade wasn’t metallic... dull, fragile... like plaster?

“Ah, wrong again! I brought out Yubis’s replica figurine by mistake...” Ankexikaao scratched his head apologetically. “Took me days to craft this!”

I gave him a ‘kind’ smile.

“Ankexikaao, know the saying ‘near vermilion, stained red; near ink, stained black’?”

“I know it. Why?”

“I’m very close to Anjelit, a violent muscle girl. So, you get it?”

“Huh?”

Ankexikaao leaned in, puzzled, staring at me.

Then, I gave him a solid thrashing.