"XXXXXXX is impressed by your tenacity."
"A gift has been bestowed."
"Knowledge access has been granted."
"An assistant will be provided by the Management System to aid the bestowed."
"A lower-grade assistant system has been exchanged for five years of the bestowed's lifespan."
"The assistant will choose which world to access for knowledge, in place of the troubled bestowed."
"Assistant has chosen Earth-279902793789."
"Access has been granted."
"We wish you good luck, Bestowed."
Roan looked around in bafflement at the strange series of messages. But there was no one there. Was he losing his mind?
"You're quite sane right now—though with the blood loss, that might not last long," a different voice said inside his head. He couldn't tell if it was male or female.
"Ahh, where are you? Show yourself if you have courage!" Roan shouted, scanning the alley for the voice's source.
The voice sighed. "Why did I get assigned to such a backwater world? Tch. I can already see my promotion slipping away."
"What are you on about, demon?" Roan shouted again, slowly backing toward the alley wall.
"Demon? Really? This world doesn't even have demons. How do you even know of their existence?" the voice replied, exasperated.
"What are you talking about?! And stop speaking in my head! Show yourself!"
"I'm inside your mind. I don't have a physical body here," the voice said casually.
"What do you mean? How are you alive without a body? What kind of demon are you?" Roan shifted uncomfortably on his feet.
"Can you not?" the voice snapped. "I am not a demon."
Roan swallowed hard as a wave of pain returned to his head. He was being reckless. He couldn't raise his voice in front of a demon. He needed to act meek—and wait for an opportunity to escape.
"I swear in the name of the System God, if you call me a demon again, I will blast your brain—even if it means getting demoted," the voice snarled.
Wait… he hadn't said that last part out loud. How could the voice—
"I can read your thoughts, dumbass. How else do you think I'm speaking inside your head?" the voice said impatiently.
It can read my mind… Roan's body trembled. Something warm leaked between his legs.
"What do you want from me?" he whispered, voice shaking.
"To calm down first. Then we can get down to business," the voice replied.
Roan took several deep breaths. He looked up at the sky and silently asked for the Lady's protection before whispering, "How... how are you talking inside my head?"
"Because I'm attached to your mind," the voice said, with the same dry tone used by a tired butler reading commands on behalf of his lord.
"What does that mean? How can you be attached to my mind? How does that even work?" Roan knew he was pushing it, but the voice didn't seem to mind answering.
"It means what it means. I'm a support system, bestowed to help you access your gift."
"What gift?" Roan asked, confused.
He felt a mental sigh before the voice repeated:
"XXXXXXX is impressed by your tenacity..."
(The same messages echoed once more.)
This time, Roan focused more intently on the... divine message. Though it only made him more confused.
"Before you ask, I can't tell you who gifted you or what the Management System is. I can only give you limited information," the voice said before Roan could ask.
Then why mention it… Roan thought, annoyed.
"To mess with you." The voice's reply left him dumbfounded.
He exhaled, trying to wash away the irritation. This was clearly some... otherworldly being. He had to tread carefully.
"You do know I can still hear your thoughts, right?" the voice said, amusement dripping from its tone.
Roan cursed himself for lowering his guard and changed the subject. "What can you tell me?"
"You have knowledge from another world stored in your mind. I'm here to help you access it."
"Another world... So there are multiple worlds? And why did you choose this… arth something?" he asked, glancing down at his hand. At least the bleeding had stopped during this surreal conversation.
"There are uncountable worlds out there. From the ones I could choose, Earth-279902793789 seemed the most compatible with your world."
"Compatible how? And how can this information help me?" Roan pressed—time was running out.
"That, I can't answer. It involves this world's direction. As for how it helps—seriously? You have the knowledge of a whole world at your disposal. Obviously, it's not free."
Roan had suspected there'd be a price. Still, he asked, "I thought it was a gift."
The voice snorted. "Gifts from entities with seven-digit code names are rarely free. This one is no exception, unfortunately for you."
Roan wanted to ask what kind of entity this was—or if there were higher ones—but he knew he wouldn't get an answer. So instead, he asked, "What's the price?"
"Since this was given to you for your tenacity, I'm guessing that each time you use the knowledge, he'll interfere with this world's fate to push challenges your way. And by 'challenges,' I mean life-or-death trials."
Roan tensed. He had many questions, but one stood above the rest. "So… I'll be in life-threatening danger every time I use this knowledge?"
"No. Not always. It depends on how valuable the knowledge is and how much it benefits you. That entity can only bend fate based on that weight. There are rules—even he can't break them without consequences. Though, of course, he can stockpile minor uses and cash them in later."
Roan let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. His shoulders slumped like he'd dropped a heavy burden.
He still felt like the voice was messing with him—but there was nothing he could do. Instead, he asked, "How do I access the knowledge?"
"Just ask me what you want to know. Though I recommend asking about otherworldly topics first. Not that I can answer most of them."
"Why?"
"Because my access to anything beyond this world and Earth-279902793789 will get blocked in a bell. That way, I don't accidentally give you forbidden information."
Roan was surprised—but not concerned. It didn't affect him directly. Still, he picked up on something else.
He narrowed his eyes. "What else is blocked?"
A clicking sound echoed in his head before the voice muttered begrudgingly, "My powers are also blocked. I'm only allowed to use them for self-preservation. The only ability I have left is to transmit knowledge to you."
That was... reassuring.
Roan smirked. "You're obligated to answer me, aren't you? And you can't lie."
"Yes," the voice answered sourly. "Though don't rely on it too much. Truth can be... flexible."
Roan felt a bit of satisfaction at annoying such a powerful being after such a hellish day. Still, he didn't want to push his luck just yet.
He considered asking about otherworldly matters but ultimately dismissed it. He needed to move. So he asked, "What should I do now?"
"I'm here to provide knowledge—not map out your future," the voice replied, clearly annoyed.
"Understandable," Roan nodded. He was just testing it anyway. "How can I heal my finger? Can I regrow it? What damage will it do long term if I leave it untreated?"
"You can't regrow it. You'd need various equipment you don't have—mainly alcohol, which can be found in drinks. If left untreated, the wound will likely get infected, and you'll eventually lose the whole arm."
That alarmed him more than he expected.
He knew what to do now: get out of here, and fast. Then find a way to earn enough money for a drink.
Before he moved, he asked, "What's your name?"
"My model name is too complex for your mortal brain to perceive. So I'll give you my human name—Fanyi," the voice said, suddenly enthusiastic.
"I'm not calling you that," Roan replied flatly.
"Fine." The voice sighed. "Call me Naor."
Isn't that just my name backward? Roan thought, reluctantly amused. Well… better than Fanyi.
He inhaled deeply and exhaled, rolling his shoulders. Then, crouching down, he picked
up the waterskin and stepped forward.
(Fanyi is equivalent to holy earth in the in story language. And Fanhu is equivalent to mother earth.)