"....Hmm."
Akamir hummed softly as he continued to read the book about the history of Veridia.
The world he currently inhabited.
Even though it's a vast world with a lot of lands remaining uncovered.
Still, Akamir felt something was wrong.
"Why is there only six hundred years' worth of recorded history?"
Akamir couldn't wrap his head around it.
Even though Veridia wasn't the best in technology, there should still be much more about this world.
'Considering how long people live in this world.'
"Do you know anything about it, Zia?"
Akamir asked, glancing back at the maid who was fixing his bedsheet.
"I don't know what—"
"I know you heard my question," Akamir interrupted her. "Just answer my question."
She looked at him as if he had done something wrong.
Sighing, she explained, "The gods started influencing the mortal world exactly six thousand years ago.
People who believed in them thought the history before the gods are worthless."
Akamir guessed. "So, they destroyed it?"
She nodded. "Precisely."
"Foolish people." Akamir clicked his tongue in annoyance. "I really hate these fanatics."
"Then you must hate a third of this Kingdom," Zia commented with a soft chuckle.
Akamir didn't reply as he turned the pages back.
On the very first page were written the last words.
The man who founded this kingdom and the one who didn't belong to this world.
Otherworldly beings who were summoned to defeat the Dajin lords that terrorized the world.
"It's all a game....."
Akamir mumbled the last words in a heavy tone.
"...That hasn't ended."
He slowly leaned back on the chair.
'What does this even mean?'
Akamir had tried to reason with what the last words could mean.
Perhaps this world is someone's game?
Or maybe something else entirely?
'....Maybe this world is based on a game?'
There were so many things that could be true, and all of them were giving him a headache.
"What do you think?" he asked, glancing back at his maid. "What could Krivos have meant by that?"
"Don't bother with it," Zia replied simply while arranging his clothes. "Even the brightest scholar could only guess."
Akamir just nodded while he flipped the pages once again until he reached the page that explained about the world.
Vyrinthia continent is mainly divided into three domains.
Human, Elves, and Beastmen.
Humans are further divided into three different kingdoms: Krivos, Lythanis, and Aure.
'Princess Inara's mother belonged to Lythanis kingdom.'
The second wife of Aldric and the one who died shortly after Inara's birth.
Akamir was vaguely aware of Lythanis' schemes.
They want Princess Inara to ascend the throne and to use her as a puppet queen.
'....The exact same thought Darvin had.'
Akamir was now quite certain that Aldric would never let Inara be the next queen.
'That leaves Lucien as the only one left.'
Akamir couldn't help but smile at the thought.
'Lucien would have been the next king without a problem, but he had to go against me.'
Akamir was sure he wouldn't live long.
He won't let him.
Shifting his focus back to the book, Akamir turned the page.
The next domain was of the Sylvan of elves.
All elves are ruled by only one family—Sylvan.
They lived in the eastern part of the Vyrinthia continent.
The most united forces of all with the best military.
'Now, this is interesting.'
Akamir couldn't help but admire the race.
The elves in this world are all born genderless.
They live that way until they fall in love, and only then do they change their gender to the opposite of their partner.
'How does this even work?'
Still wondering about it, Akamir turned the page.
The next was the domain of the Beastmen.
They weren't ruled by any single family or royal lineage.
The Beastmen had a committee of several representatives that lived together.
Beastmen consist of many different races put together.
They have fox-kin who are best at seducing others to orc-kin that have sturdy bodies.
'This world sure is diverse.'
Akamir had never seen any of these races in his previous world.
And he was quite curious to meet them in person.
'Now, should I do some planning?'
Akamir thought as he looked at the ceiling.
When he got the weird thing that showed his stats.
There is one thing that piqued his interest.
'Show me about memories.'
=====
Memories:
The ability to copy and learn any ability of an Artifact.
=====
Akamir stared at the screen with a blank expression.
He wasn't sure what he was seeing or why he had it.
But....
If what it says about memories is true, then he could become strong quickly.
'Artifacts are too broken.'
The things that are made from tens if not hundreds of years of preparation.
Something that can even affect reality.
'But they are way too valuable.'
Even the lowest grade 9 Artifact is hard to come by, not to mention the highest grade 0 that are practically a legend.
'If I want Artifacts, then I need to find them myself.'
Akamir's head turned towards the side where a map was nailed on the wall.
His eyes stared at a small town on the northern part of the map adjacent to the endless forest.
'....Death Maiden's Forest.'
Akamir had heard about the forest by now.
It was a place where the otherworlders fought by themselves.
And....
The place is filled with Artifacts left by them.
"..."
Time passed as he continued to stare at the map.
Finally, he made up his mind.
"Zia," he called, standing up. "How long will it take to reach the Eldergrove town?"
The maid's raven eyes widened in surprise, but she still answered.
"It will take two days by a wagon, young master."
Akamir frowned. "Can't we use worm—teleportation portals?"
"Only the most important cities have them, young master," Zia replied, shaking her head. "Unfortunately, Eldergrove isn't one."
"Tsk."
Akamir clicked his tongue as he walked towards her. "Is a wagon the fastest way to travel in this world?"
"In our continent? Yes," she replied, taking a step forward and fixing his robe. "But they say in the land across the sea, there are faster ways to travel."
"Then why are we not learning from them?" Akamir asked, genuinely wondering if the people were stupid.
"Well, unlike them, Vyrinthia continent's residents refuse to blend science with magic,"
Zia replied simply, nodding after perfecting his robe.
"Call it a cultural thing."
'A stupid one.'
But that begged a question.
"Who is stronger?"
Which Akamir asked.
Zia looked at him with a serious expression.
She pondered about it before shaking her head.
"We don't know, young master,"
She replied, shaking her head.
"There hasn't been a war between us, nor do I wish one to ever happen."
Akamir just nodded. "Anyway, pack my things."
He turned to walk towards the door.
"Why?" Zia asked as she looked at him.
Akamir halted as he replied.
"We are going to Eldergrove."