The Hero Turned Into A Potato And The World Fell To Ruin - Chapter 57: Times Change

In Liu Ji’s opinion, his previous life had been quite ordinary indeed.

Born into a typical family, he attended a regular public school, studied with average effort, and achieved moderately good grades.

His hobbies were reading comics, novels, and playing games—interests that might not even qualify as hobbies.

He would also do sports with friends, but he was only average, fitting the stereotype of the unnoticed player on the field.

Most of the time, he ate meals cooked by his mother at home. Occasionally, he would cook though he often messed up, like burning spices due to mismanaging the fire.

Like most others in his teenage days, he loved junk food but had limited pocket money, so he rarely treated himself to fast food. College life was slightly better, but he still mostly ate in cheap canteens.

In high school, he had a crush on a girl, but it remained one-sided. In college, he spent most of his time with his roommates, who all found partners, while he remained single.

It had to be said that there were many amusing moments in his life, but the passage of time had blurred them. Talking about family and friends made him nostalgic, so his storytelling became a straightforward, emotionless recounting of events.

However, this straightforward style suited Liu Ji’s current level of conversational incantation practice.

While speaking, Yaine would give him guidance, and this practice progressed very smoothly.

Even though Liu Ji felt he was recounting meaningless memories, Yaine listened attentively, occasionally nodding or gazing at the fire, her body gently swaying.

Liu Ji spent about two hours telling the story of his life, from childhood memories to the celebration after his college entrance exams.

Though his story spanned nearly 20 years, avoiding mentioning family and friends left him with little content to remember.

When Liu Ji finished telling his story, silence fell once again, only the crackling of the fire breaking the stillness.

After a long while, Yaine exhaled softly, murmuring, “Sounds like the people in the story had happy lives…”

“Ah, really? I think it’s quite ordinary…” Liu Ji scratched his cheek.

“An ordinary life like that is very fortunate.” Yaine turned over, giving Liu Ji a meaningful smile. “You… are from another world, aren’t you?”

“Ah?” Liu Ji was taken aback and chuckled awkwardly. “Haha, you mean, I don’t seem like I’m from this world?”

“From the moment I first saw you, I just knew. At least, you aren’t from that side of the world beyond the desert.” Yaine nodded. “At that time, I wondered if this side of the desert was a land of such happiness that it could produce someone as innocent and pure as you.”

“Is that so?” Liu Ji touched his eyebrows. “I feel, I don’t think… uh, how to say.”

“No. You don’t understand how people live on the other side of the desert.” Yaine shook her head sadly. “Every stranger you encounter could stab you without warning. Even friends might cast you aside to save themselves. The Tyrant’s shadow looms over the entire land, and the hearts of those living under it are just as terrifying…”

Yaine looked at Liu Ji and slowed down. “You know, when I hear about dozens of strangers squeezing into a single… what did you call it? Oh, bus. Dozens of strangers, crammed together just to hitch a ride—such a scenario is unimaginable in my world. People would think they are crazy, and in such a small confined space, who knows how many would die.”

This was a long passage, and Yaine had spoken slowly, but Liu Ji could only understand partially. Still, he got the gist of it.

He realized the level of vigilance he considered normal was nothing compared to the wariness people in this world had. Being able to ride a bus to school every day without fear seemed incredibly naive to them.

Perhaps, from the moment Liu Ji met Yaine and the others, he had stood out as different.

But…

He still didn’t know how to respond.

If it had been as Myza said, Liu Ji was summoned around the same period when the Tyrant invaded, then perhaps his absence as a hero might be one reason the world on the other side had fallen to ruin.

Liu Ji didn’t feel responsible, nor did he feel like he had done something wrong. Even if he had been present, he might have ended up like the unfortunate soul who replaced him—dead in some ditch.

However, he didn’t know if Yaine felt the same. Filled with unease, Liu Ji sneaked a glance at Yaine, only to find her meeting his gaze.

“Are you wondering if I’d blame you?” she suddenly asked.

“Uh… How did you…” Liu Ji was taken aback.

“How did I know… that you were actually a ‘hero’?” Yaine smiled.

Liu Ji’s mouth dropped open. He hadn’t expected to know what he had been struggling internally with.

“There’s no need to be so surprised,” Yaine said, adding a piece of wood to the fire. “My teacher was the last Grand Arcanist of this world. And the original hero summoning spell was previously kept with him…

“And when he died, that spell was passed on to me.” Taking a deep breath, Yaine continued, “Do you know? The spell even contains a way to send a summoned hero back to their original world.”

Hearing this, Liu Ji froze as he stared at Yaine in shock.

He actually had the chance of returning? And the one capable of sending him back was by his side?

In that instant, a flood of emotions overwhelmed Liu Ji—joy, excitement, longing for family, memories of friends…

He almost blurted out his desire to return home, back to the place he had kept in his heart but dared not remember; that warm home.

But Yaine’s next words hit him like a bucket of cold water.

“I can send you back, but…” Yaine said with a hint of sorrow, shaking her head.

“You must understand one thing. If you were summoned during the last recorded ritual, then over a thousand years have passed since then.

“I don’t know what your past world was like or if your longevity is due to your race or something else.

“So, if you go back… Do you think that world after a thousand years would still be the familiar home you remember, or just another strange new world?”