Exploring

"Yeah, So Lyson you are a system & someone who knows everything about me & this world."

"Yes, yes, yes. I am an omnificent God who knows anything & everything."

"And I am the only who can see & hear you."

"Yes Dumbass, otherwise why do you think that maid didn't freak out?"

"Yeah, then tell me everything about this world & let the ball rolling." Asked Philip. Now he had to know why he was here & things he had to do next.

"Ok Fine, I will tell you, but not everything at once or your brain will just explode." Replied the system named Lyson.

"Fine."

"First, Let's make one thing abundantly clear."

Maximillian looked at the screen, where the exact words were getting written with a bored expression.

"Aren't you gonna ask what is that?"

"Why are you so annoying? Can't you just tell without me asking every single time? I haven't slept for days & now this shit. Please dude, just tell me." said Philip in a pleading tone.

He hadn't slept well due to all the work related stress, then got blew up by a missile, woke up in another world, talked to an impractical thing called system, faced a man who scared the shit out of him & now this.

It was like his fate was playing some shitty game with him, where he didn't have the choice to control the events.

"Fine. I was just playing with you." replied Lyson in his professional tone.

"Tell me then."

"So first let's make few things abundantly clear & that is, you are dead. You were killed by a hellfire missile by accident or that's what they will write in the report. And the second thing is that there is no going back. In other word you are stuck here with me till the end."

"Yeah, I know." said Philip with a sigh.

Even if he tried, he would get back to whom. His parents were dead long ago, had no relationship because of his job. So there was no one waiting for him. And also he had much interest in exploring this new world. What the hell was he even in? He had to find that out.

"Good to know. Now on to the next part. " With that, the screen also changed and started showing a gigantic map of some land, which surprised Philip as to what it was or where it was.

"This is Witdeaory, the beautiful country where you are in right now."

"Ok, so where it is then?"

"The same question you asked to the maid. Pretty clever, huh?"

"Can't you just answer?"

"Sure. You are in another world, which is similar to your world, but still different."

"Like an alternate earth?"

"Yes. Thing are totally different yet similar."

"How?"

"You will find out tomorrow."

"Not now."

"Let's get a bit serious, shall we?" asked Lyson, completely disregarding Philip's words.

"Listen, Philip, everything you have seen so far is real & you are also real. No, you are not dreaming. This world, the people, everything is real. You are here for a reason & you will fulfill it whether you like it or not. That's an order & you will obey it." said the system in a heavy tone.

"You are ordering me?" Just a moment ago this thing called system was joking & within a moment he was serious, like the world could fall apart at any moment.

"It is neither an order nor a request. It's your duty & you will fulfill it no matter the cost."

"Am I a hero summoned to this world or what?" Philip couldn't understand what was going on, what should he do. And what was even his duty?

"No, you are a part of it. We will get to that at some other time, but remember, this country & it's people's fate depends on your future actions & decisions."

"Dude, calm down. Why are you so serious & why can't you just explain me everything properly?"

"It's not the time yet, Philip."

"Whatever... at least tell me what should I do now?"

"Find out why you are here...." Lyson's words trailed off at the end & the screen before Philip disappeared, leaving him staring at the ceiling.

Throughout the talk, he had placed himself in the massive bed for some sleep & now he was going to sleep. Still, his mind was not at rest due to all these stupid things happening all at once. What was he supposed to do now & how his decision could affect the people of this country?

Just what the fuck was going on?

***

Next Day

A handsome youth with black hair and blue oceanic eyes could be seen walking along the road of the town named Esvet. He wore the clothes befitting of someone who belonged to some powerful noble family. Everywhere he went attracted the attention of local people, as it was a rare sight for them to see some noble walking down the road.

And the youth was Maximillian Von Lexius, only son and heir of the most powerful Duke in the entire empire Duke Esper. But in reality, he was Philip who hated spotlight but was forced to come here with two of the trusted aids he had met in the morning and some knights, including the commander named Hansh.

So this entire tour began because of some quest Lyson told him to complete. Quest was to explore the town & find out about the people & living conditions. Nothing big & the reward was the system would give him some info about what was going on & what should he do precisely?

He had desperately tried to make hundreds of excuses, but in the end, nothing worked and now he was walking along the roads of the town named Elanor.

These two guys were here to show him around the town so he could learn more about how the culture of this country and how the people lived their daily life and the knights were here for his security, but it attracted a lot of needless attention.

Reaching the town, Philip saw what he expected to see. It was a tiny town, compared to Elanor, where the Duke's family lived. Various shops were lined on both sides of the road and the streets were bustling with crowds.

Some carriage carrying goods were moving along the roads. It wasn't something like what a 21st-century shopping district would look, but it served the purpose.

As the group made their way towards the busy area, various vendors called to them, attracting Philip's attention to the items they sold.

Some shops sold flowers, some sold medicinal herbs, some sold weapons like swords and shields, some sold food items, and so on. Except for the weapons, everything here looked like what anyone would expect a shopping district to be.

"So, this is Elanor, huh?"

"Yes." replied one of the two aids.

"Then where do the people live?"

"They live in there..." said the man, pointing in a certain direction, where many houses both small and big could be seen in the distance.

"Let's go then..." said Philip, walking in the pointed direction. His quest was to find out about the people's situation & living standards and he was doing it.

Soon the group made their way into the area where the town folks lived. Some houses were new, some were old. Children were playing outside their houses, women were doing various chores. And again Philip got unrequired attention.

Though everything was fine with the houses and the people, there was no proper drainage system for wastewater, no proper water purification system. The people just drank the water from the nearby well. The road had become muddy from the waste water coming from the houses.

Philip knew how much proper hygiene was necessary for any living being and these people were not the least bit worried about their hygiene or anything that could cause health issues for their children and themselves.

As they passed the houses and reached the outskirts of the town, Philip voiced out his thoughts to the man who was walking beside him.

"Everything is fine with this town, but why do they lack in basic hygiene?" Philip was shocked to see that these people had no idea about how much danger they were putting themselves in.

He was not a doctor, but it wouldn't take a genius to understand what happens when you drink your own bathed water. Well, not in the literal sense, but due to not having any proper drainage system, the water which the families used was directly getting absorbed by the soil near the well, and the people were using the same water for their regular use.

"Hygiene?"

"Yes Hygiene. Like how you maintain the mansion's water supplies, wastes, etc."

"I understand that, but... this is how the people live in here."

"What do you mean by they just live like this? Isn't this the job of the local lord to take care of the land and the people?" asked Philip. Back in his world it was basic manners taught in schools and the Govt. was spending billions to maintain basic hygiene, but here, these guys were doing nothing.

"It is.... But..." The man couldn't answer Max's repeated questions.