3 months has passed since Tatsuya came to this world.
Time surely passes by fast, A third of the year has passed.
You heard that correctly In this world one year consists of 9 months instead of 12 but amount of days in one month is increased to around 40.
Tatsuya can speak the language of the Deity about as well as a toddler learning their first words, and his reading skills are on par with a fifth grader.
It's not exactly impressive, but it's something.
Still, it feels like holding a piece of the divine in his hands, and every time he spoke, he wonder if he's really touching the edge of something greater.
The book he'd been studying from gives incredibly detailed instructions on how to read and pronounce the language.
He didn't just mean normal textbook explanations; he's talking about layers upon layers of meaning in every single word, as if whoever wrote it wanted even someone like him to eventually grasp the full depth of the language.
Whoever they were, they had to have been a genius.
Tatsuya's days here are rather simple, yet they've taken on a kind of charm. He wakes up to the soft, golden light of the sun streaming through his window—or at least he try to.
There's something about the warmth of the early morning that makes him want to bury himself deeper into the blankets.
But If he turns around and falls asleep again, Paul has his own foolproof method of waking him up. His signature move? A splash of icy cold water right to the face.
It's impossible to sleep through that.
Every. Single. Time.
Breakfast is... well…. Guineahare meat and berries, make up the bulk of his diet.
If you're wondering what a Guineahare is, picture a guinea pig and a hare somehow mashed into one animal.
It's not bad, really, but he does find himself missing asa gohan—a proper breakfast with rice, miso soup, maybe a nice grilled fish.
He wondered if they even have rice in this world...
Sigh.
Once breakfast is done, he heads out for his morning run. It's become a bit of a ritual, a way to clear his head before he dives into the day.
The air up here in the mountains is crisp and clean, and the landscape is breathtaking.
Meanwhile, Paul heads down to the village for his usual business—trading, chatting, who knows what else.
By the time Tatsuya returns, he's usually covered in a fine layer of sweat and more than ready to hit the books.
He study until his head is about to explode, he doesn't find this language to be extremely difficult but it still causes some problems.
His trusty old book wasn't the only book in this cottage.
Books about history and some fairytales.
Maybe Paul is a otaku himself?
On the rare occasion that Paul isn't too busy, he takes Tatsuya on a hunting trip.
It's supposed to help him improve his aim and agility, but so far, Tatsuya hasn't managed to catch a single Guineahare.
They hunt with bow and arrows.
Those little things are fast darting through the underbrush like furry lightning bolts.
Paul says it's all about patience and timing, but Tatsuya thinks the Guineahares have a personal vendetta against him.
Up here, high on the mountain, there aren't many quadrupeds roaming around.
Occasionally, they spot a few mountain goats, but Paul always waves them off. "Not worth the effort," he says.
Apparently, they don't taste great, though they do produce milk that's surprisingly close to cow's milk.
A strange comfort, I suppose.At least we don't have to worry about going thirsty.
As for bathing, well, it's a bit of a luxury. They don't have a shower—no modern plumbing here—but there's a gorgeous hot spring just a short walk away.
The water is crystal clear and perfectly warm, steam rising from the surface like something out of a dream.
It's one of the few indulgences Tatsuya has left in this world, and he make sure to take full advantage of it.
There's nothing quite like soaking in the hot springs after a long day of studying, the tension in his muscles melting away as he gaze up at the starry sky.
And that's his life now.
Part 2
"Meow, meow" Tatsuya heard.
Sitting on a desk reading a book.
A cat like creature jumped up on the desk and nuzzles against Tatsuya's head.
Its fur is primarily tan or light brown with darker brown or gray stripes. The cat's eyes are a striking green, standing out vividly against its fur.
raised, ears perked up, and the three tails held out behind it in a curve.
It's called a Bastek cat, named after the beast-volk, cat breed god. Bastet.
Speaking about history, he started a rough investigation into the world's history from the history book he found in the cottage.
Based on the chronological table it's something like this.
—— 200,000 years ago ——
The world was peaceful, unhurried by the rush of magic or grand mysteries. It was a time when life moved with the rhythm of nature, undisturbed by anything supernatural. Humankind had just begun to scratch the surface of its potential. Communities were small and scattered, living harmoniously with the land.
—— 100,000 years ago ——
A comet struck on the planet, in the country of Nerovia. Back then the country was called Nerokia. The comet struck where now the city of Poseidon is located.
After the comet struck seven spirits started roaming the world. It is said that the spirits came out of the comet, but others believe that they always existed.
The seven spirits began to help the residents of the world. They provided for chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, kindness, patience, and humility. The spirits got named, the seven spirits of virtue. They also taught the people how to use magic. It is said that the comet was the source of the worlds mana and other belief it is the works of a god.
—— 60,000 years ago ——
The residents of the world started to rebel against the spirits, showing signs of pride, gluttony, envy, lust, sloth, greed, and wrath. The 7 spirits started to get corrupted and split in two, instead of being on entity there were now the spirits of virtues and sin.
The spirits of sin were called Feints.
The feints of sin casted chaos in the world. So the people asked the spirits to help them but it was to late, ones the feints freely roamed the land they could never go back in the spirits.
—— 55,000 years ago ——
Slowly but surely, humanity began to splinter into new forms of life, each one carrying traces of the original human essence, but evolving into something entirely unique. It is said that because of the comets mana. The races started to form in the world.
The demon-volk live mostly in the southern and western pasts of the world.
The beast-volk live mostly in the forest or swamps.
Fire-volk live in the most Southern part of the world mostly in the country of Pyronica.
Ice-volk live in the most Northern part of the world, high up in the frozen mountains or in the country of Borealia.
Island-volk live in the central continent and on all the island in the world.
Cave-volk live in the mountains and caves.
And last human they live all over the world and make out of most of the world population.
The long eared race (elves), the horn race (Tharokai) and many races more are all associated with the demon races.
—— 20,000 years ago ——
The world was ruled by 7 emperors. All extremely powerful in magic ability and chosen to held one of the virtues spirits.
Emperor of demons (Gorath)
Ruling from the kingdom of Kyoei, in the country of Aridvale. Gorath commanded legions of infernal creatures. His domain, the southern and parts of the western continents, was a twisted realm of dry and a land full of monsters. He was feared for his cunning and his mastery over his virtue and sin Powers.
Emperor of beasts (Zathor)
Zathor was a primal force, ruling over the wild, untamed jungles and savannas of Fenora. He controlled the beasts of the land, from the smallest insect to the mightiest wyverns. Zathor could command the animal spirits, shifting between beast and man, his empire living in balance with nature's ferocious power.
Emperor of fire (Soryn)
Dwelling in the volcanic fortress of Ifaisteio, Soryn embodied the power of flame and fury. His empire spanned the fiery mountains and volcanic plains of Ashrend, where the air was thick with ash and rivers of magma flowed. Soryn's temper was as hot as his domain, his legions clad in enchanted armor that glowed with heat.
Emperor of ice (Iselith)
In the frozen north, where the sun barely kissed the horizon, Iselith ruled over the glacial kingdom of khione. She wielded the power of ice and winter, and her armies were said to be made of frost and storm. Her cold heart mirrored the endless winter of her empire, a place where even time seemed to freeze.
Emperor of Varkani (island) (Kaelros)
Kaelros was known as the Storm King. The Várkani, a proud seafaring people, looked to him not only as their ruler but as the embodiment of the sea's power. He could summon storms, command the tides, and his ships were feared across the oceans for their speed and ferocity.
Emperor of Durmach (cave) (Morvak)
Beneath the mountains, in the endless tunnels of the Underealm, Morvak ruled with an iron fist. The Dûrmach, hardy cave-dwellers, revered him as the Father of Stone. His mastery over earth magic allowed him to shift entire mountains and carve cities out of the living rock. His kingdom was rich with minerals, his armies armored in stone.
Emperor of mankind. (Valerian)
From his golden throne in the city of Deity, Valerian ruled over the fertile plains and majestic cities of Aluria. Known as the "Eternal King," Valerian was loved by his people for his wisdom and fairness, but beneath his gentle exterior burned a deep ambition. Mankind flourished under his rule, expanding rapidly, driven by curiosity and conquest.
For centuries, the Seven Emperors ruled their lands in relative peace, bound by the Imperial Concord—an ancient pact that divided the world into seven distinct regions. Though their natures differed greatly, they had no need to encroach upon one another's lands. Each domain was vast and supplied the needs of its emperor.
—— 15,000 years ago ——
Gorath, the Emperor of Demons, grew dissatisfied with this peace and sought to dominate the entire world. He launched a brutal invasion of Aluria, the land of the Emperor of Mankind, Valerian, breaking the Concord and starting the First Imperial War.
Valerian, the Emperor of mankind together with. Emperor of ice, Iselith and Emperor of fire, Soryn were able to defeat Gorath. But he escaped and hit deep into his own land.
—— 10,000 years ago ——
Gorath rebuilt his strength, with even more powerful demonic legions, wreaking havoc across the war-torn empires together with the Emperor of Varkani, Kaelros and Emperor of Durmach, Morvak.
Emperor of ice, Iselith and Emperor of fire, Soryn betrayed the emperor of mankind, Valerian.
With his Legendary sword of the sun, he killed the other emperors and came out victorious. It is said that the four continents are split because of that battle.
—— 9,000 years ago ——
This era is called the Harmonia Era. One thousand years of peace has blessed the world. Slowly they started to rebuild the world with buildings like. The church and the University of Deity.
They made the church as a sanctuary for the spirits of virtue to rest.
—— 8,000 years ago ——
This era is called the war era.
With the human race naivety and ignorance, as well believing themselves to be powerful after defeating the other emperors. They frequently picked fights with other races.
There were civil wars happening all over the world. And the demon races were treated as slaves because of their history.
This nearly went on for an entire century.
—— 7,000 years ago ——
The emperor of mankind got killed by
—XXXX—
Why is the name scratched out of the book?
I should ask Paul.
Furthermore there is almost no data contributing this era.
—— 6,500 - 6,000 years ago——
The finish of buildings like the Church and the university of Deity were finished.
And there is also a record of a peace signing contract between the human race,
And all of the other races expect the Demon race.
—— 4,500 years ago——
The Demon race deteriorated, most of the races flee back to the home land, Aridvale and back to the kingdom of Kyoei.
But also the kingdom wasn't doing so good, the king Baldur Gorath Kyoei died and they were without a ruler.
Because of that a big civil war broke out between the races. The horn race, Tharokai was the winning party in the end and took over the throne.
—— 4,000 years ago ——
In this era there was only written one thing.
—XXXX— Roamed the land and cost chaos…
Why is that name scratched out of the book? And why is that the only thing that is recorded here?
—— 3,000 - 1,000 years ago ——
This era goes over quickly, the world was at peace and life was flourishing, no mature event of wars or civil wars are recorded in this era.
The land, once ravaged by war and misuse of magic, blooms again with vibrant life, enabling the kingdoms to rebuild their agricultural and economic systems.
Rune stones placed in fields ward off pests without harming the ecosystem.
Weather mages ensure balanced rainfall and protect against natural disasters.
Ancient seed banks, yield exotic fruits and grains, creating new markets.
Roads and trade routes connecting the kingdoms are rebuilt and enchanted for safety and speed.
Merchant Guilds ensure fair trade practices, fostering trust between races and regions.
Mage Collectives sell magical services like enchantments, weather adjustments, and protective charms.
Where some examples of how day to day life went back then.
—— 1,000 years ago ——
The world was abuzz with rumors of a mysterious figure, one whose exploits had begun to shape the very fabric of history. Known simply as The Legendary Hero, this enigmatic individual emerged seemingly out of nowhere, wielding power that transcended human comprehension.
Yet, the Hero was never alone. At his side were 4 men called the Legendary Disciples.
And the 5 of them killed the current demon king.
Wait… what is this? What demon king? The last "demon king" Gorath, died by the hands of Valerian 10,000 years ago and there is further no record on a new demon king rising up of something?
Does this have something to do with the 7,000 and 4,000 era?
The Legendary Hero got authority over the Church and brought peace to the demon races in the southern continent.
He also got the title as the Saint, because he was worthy enough to become bearer of all the 7 spirits of virtue and the 7 Fiends of sin.
The spirits of virtue rested in the church after the deaths of the emperors but what were the Fiends doing all that time?
Did they just roam the land?
The legendary disciple Isaac, wielder of the legendary Yin sword, was the founder of the swordsman corps.
An organized revolt focused on protecting the people from bandits within the city and monsters lurking in the wild. Founded in the city of Poseidon.
The legendary disciple Jakob, wielder of the legendary Yang sword, founder of something called the Hall of Divine blades.
There is further no information about the Hall of divine blades or its location.
Must I assume that the masters are so strict that the second you mess up, they kick you out and wipe your memory so you don't remember a thing? That's why there is no information about it?
On the other two disciples was no information, only that one wielded the, legendary sword of the Stars and the other one the legendary sword of the Moon.
Furthermore after the death of the demon king it was peaceful in the world.
—— 500 years ago ——
It was a peaceful era for over 500 years until suddenly the unexpected death of the legendary hero was announced. It started off as a rumor but it quickly spreads over the entire world.
Someone called Nizhalgal was the one that killed him.
How and his motives for killing the legendary hero was unknown but he
quickly got the name, The Devil Nizhalgal.
For all that was known, someone that possessed all the Fiends of sins roamed freely the land, so the 4 legendary disciples searched for him to take revenge.
In that battle 3 of the 4 legendary disciples were killed and the last one went into hiding.
Nizhalgal himself survived that fight.
—— 400 years ago ——
An occult appeared, believed to belong to the Devil Nizhalgal.
The Demon Cult as they called themselves. It's highly decentralized and chaotic, with no clear hierarchical structure beyond its Demons of Sin, who wield immense power through their connection to the Fiends of Sin—mystical entities associated with the Seven Deadly Sins. These Demons of Sin act as leaders, embodying and representing one of the sins.
Their main goal is unclear but all they do is cause chaos in the world.
So do I need to see them as the main villains of this world? That Nizhalgal guy is probably the leader of the cult.
—— 350 years ago ——
The swordsman corps was attacked and almost massacred, the survivors left Poseidon and rebuilt the corps somewhere else. But the location is unknown.
Meanwhile the current king of Poseidon was jealous of the economic welfare of Gaia and demanded authority for over Gaia.
Of course Gaia refused that and Poseidon declared war on them.
—— 300 - 200 years ago ——
The Poseidon-Gaia War lasted 100 years, beginning 50 years after the declaration.
—— 100 years ago ——
The King of Deity waged inexplicable wars across the western continent.
I guess the king must be childish, staring war for no reason?
And that was the last thing written in this book.
Part 3
It's wasn't that Tatsuya himself willingly started to study all this history stuff, Paul almost had to force him into opening this book.
It is fun and all that I understand the history and all that stuff but I don't see why it would be imported for me to know this?
Why does he want me to study anyway?
It wasn't that Tatsuya was ungrateful; he was glad that there was someone that looked out for him, but he would still question Paul's motives from time to time.
They have lived together for 3 months now but Tatsuya still didn't trust him.
"I'll be going to the town again." Tatsuya heard from behind him.
Standing in the doorway was Paul, the man of the hour. He carried his usual package, the one he always took with him whenever he went to town.
"You'll be fine by yourself?" He asked, like a concerned parent looking over his child.
"Yes, you don't have to worry" Tatsuya said. "I won't set the house on fire."
Paul gave a soft smile, nodded briefly, and went on his way.
He always check on me like that before going to town.
Tatsuya shove his book and the other stuff that was on the table to the side.
And got a piece of paper out of his pocket from his school uniform.
I should really get some new clothes, this is getting dirty.
Paul did wash it out one time but I don't think that it got any cleaner after that.
It is not the same as I am used to; after all, a washing machine doesn't exist in this world… right?
Maybe I should ask Paul for some new clothes?
No I need to focus on my goal, I can't get too close to him.
Tatsuya unfolded the paper on the table, revealing what appeared to be an "escape plan."
Every day, the church bell rings twice at midday, marking the time when the sun is directly overhead.
The time system works as follows: the first bell rings at sunrise, the second at midday, and the final bell at sunset.
At this time, as the bell ring twice, Paul sets off for town.
Tatsuya had been observing Paul for a while now, trying to piece together his daily routine.
Despite living in a world with magic, Paul's life was surprisingly… ordinary. No dramatic spellcasting. No flashy heroics. Just the quiet, steady rhythm of someone deeply attuned to the mountains.
The day always began the same way. Around sunrise, or whenever the church bell tolled its first notes, Paul would nudge Tatsuya awake.
He didn't speak much during these early moments—just a quiet pat on the shoulder. His presence was warm, like the hearth that always seemed to be burning when Tatsuya finally dragged himself out of bed.
By the time Tatsuya managed to get dressed, Paul was already out checking his traps to see if he caught any Guineahare.
If the traps were empty, Paul would call out for Tatsuya and together, they'd hunt the Guineahare.
Once the morning's hunt was complete, Paul would fetch water from the river. Sometimes, he'd veer off toward the grassy cliffs where the mountain goats grazed.
It wasn't just the water or the milk, either. When it came to firewood splitting, stocking up the hearth, or patching the cabin's roof, Paul did everything manually.
His axe, worn but sharp, was an extension of his arm. His hands, roughened from years of labor, moved with practiced precision.
Magic, Tatsuya realized, was a tool Paul rarely reached for—if ever. In fact, the only time Tatsuya had seen him use it was when that Speed Dragon had attacked.
Paul had dispatched the beast with a single strike of his sword, a flicker of silver light so swift that Tatsuya hadn't even been sure what he was seeing.
Sometimes I forget that I live in a fantasy world. I also never see him practicing his sword skills, maybe he is a retired legendary swordsman?
After the morning's work, Paul usually headed into town. He didn't say much about what he did there, and Tatsuya never pressed.
Sometimes, Paul returned with supplies—bags of flour, bolts of fabric, or bundles of herbs. Other times, he came back empty-handed but with the faintest trace of a smile, as though some quiet interaction had made the trip worthwhile.
Paul is a man of few words but whatever comes out of his mouth, it is always meaningful.
Evenings were peaceful. After supper, Paul would disappear into the forest or climb to a high ridge, where he'd sit and watch the sunset. The sky would blaze in hues of orange and purple, and Paul's silhouette would be still, almost meditative. Tatsuya never joined him, he just watched from afar.
"What do you think about when you're out here?" Tatsuya had asked once, unable to contain his curiosity.
Paul had turned to him, his expression thoughtful. "The day," he said simply. "What I did right. What I could do better. What I'm grateful for." Then, after a pause, he added, "It's important to reflect. Otherwise, the days slip by before you know it."
After that question, Tatsuya began to understand Paul a little better. He wasn't just someone who lived in the mountains. He belonged to them, in a way Tatsuya couldn't quite put into words.
His routine wasn't just about survival; it was a deliberate, mindful way of living.
Part 4
In the end, his grand escape plan boiled down to something surprisingly simple: sneak away when Paul made his trip to town. Just quietly slipping away, unnoticed, while Paul's back was turned.
It wasn't a flawless plan, though. There was one crucial obstacle that had kept him from acting on it. he had no idea where the town or other big city actually was.
Sure, he'd considered running off before. He wasn't stupid enough to think he could just pick a direction and hope for the best.
Wandering aimlessly in the wilderness would certainly end with him dying of starvation, getting lost in the forest, or becoming a particularly unlucky monster snack.
Who knows what type of monster besides the Speed Dragons are roaming around here.
Paul did say that it was pretty safe, the Speed Dragons won't attack you as long you don't enter their territory.
But Tatsuya had no clue on how to identify that.
So it was no use of trying to run of and hoping for the best.
Whenever they went out hunting or did his morning run, he'd tried to scout the area and piece together some kind of mental map. His idea was simple: follow the game trails, look for signs of human activity, maybe even find a road leading to civilization.
But despite his best efforts, all he ever found was more dense forest and the occasional Mountain Goat track leading nowhere useful.
He sighed.
"Ugh, this is impossible," he muttered, frustrated.
"Meow." The cat meowed for attention while sitting on the end of the desk.
Tatsuya leaned over to pet her.
"Hey, I can trust you, right? Loki?"
Her name is Loki.
Back home we didn't had a dog or a cat both my parents were allergic to them, but I always dreamed of having a cat or a dog.
Maybe I'll take you with me?
While going through his thoughts, Loki was purring and rubbing her head against Tatsuya's hand.
Ohh, you're so cute!!!
"No! I should focus on my goal." He said while shaking his head.
He stopped petting Loki and got back to reviewing his plan.