Chapter 4
Chapter 4: The Story Mission Has Triggered!
This world was filled with large and small kingdoms, and all manner of nobles, princes, and even kings were far from rare.
But Branny's grandmother knew full well that armor this magnificent was not something an ordinary person could possess.
Even the kings and princes of minor kingdoms, or common nobles, could not lay claim to armor like this!
And more importantly, Li Kainan was not wearing his Face Guard at this moment.
That handsome, imposing face of his, elevated by the Trait into something of extraordinary charm, could make anyone take an instant liking to him at a single glance!
Branny, now sheltered behind her grandmother, quickly spoke up to make introductions:
"Grandmother, this is Mr. Kainan—he walked here with me……"
"On the way here we even ran into a monster hiding in the forest that tried to ambush us. Thankfully Mr. Kainan drove it off!"
Li Kainan gave Grandmother a slight nod of greeting and said:
"Hello, I am Li Kainan!"
Grandmother didn't dare be remiss, and promptly returned the greeting with respectful courtesy.
Li·Kainan?
Grandmother quietly repeated the name to herself, racking her memory over which great nation used this style of naming where the surname came first.
Well, it was also possible that this was a prince of a great kingdom, or the son of a great noble, traveling abroad—and had deliberately used this method to conceal his true identity……
Li Kainan had no idea that his name alone had caused Branny's grandmother to instinctively fill in a whole web of implications in her mind. All he wanted right now was to understand the specific background setting of this world.
This world, which apparently had magic and strange creatures, was without question a transcendent plane.
The only question was whether it was low-magic or high-magic……
……
Li Kainan directly produced the gray-furred arm and held it out toward Branny's grandmother, asking:
"Do you happen to know what creature this arm belongs to? Just now in the forest, it was this thing that tried to attack us!"
The moment she laid eyes on the severed arm in Li Kainan's hand, Branny's grandmother's expression shifted to one of unmistakable astonishment.
Branny's grandmother knew perfectly well whose arm this was—it belonged to an evil werewolf that devoured humans wherever it roamed, and had recently begun prowling near their village.
Were it not for Branny's grandmother using magic to protect the entire village, the small settlement would likely have been devoured whole by the werewolf long ago.
And this werewolf was not only immensely powerful but also exceedingly cunning and treacherous—Branny's grandmother had suffered greatly at its hands, which was precisely why she was now bedridden and in need of a visit……
Yet now, this cunning and powerful werewolf had actually had one of its arms severed clean off by Li Kainan!
In an instant, Branny's grandmother's attitude toward Li Kainan grew considerably more respectful, and she answered every question he put to her without reservation.
Thanks to Branny's grandmother's wealth of experience and her willingness to hold nothing back, Li Kainan finally gained a certain understanding of this world.
It was a transcendent world resembling feudal medieval Europe, home to witches, elves, dwarves, magical creatures, and all manner of wondrous treasures.
Fortunately, the magical power of this world was nowhere near as outrageous as what was described in online fantasy novels.
Only a very small number of powerful transcendent individuals were capable of wielding devastating magic—as well as the powerful blessings and curses that, much like the laws of causality, were absolutely guaranteed to take effect.
The Kingdom of Cape, where Li Kainan currently found himself, was a prime example.
It had once been a thriving nation, but many years ago it had made an enemy of an extraordinarily powerful witch, resulting in the kingdom's princess—the king's only child—falling under a curse.
Even with the full might of the kingdom mobilized, and every possible remedy sought across sixteen years, the curse could not be broken.
On the day the princess came of age, the curse came true!
Not only did the princess fall into an endless slumber, but the entire royal palace was completely encircled by countless cursed thorns—and for more than a decade, no one had been able to approach it.
With its king lost, the Kingdom of Cape had naturally descended into complete internal strife, and had yet to recover peace or unity to this day……
Hmm, there was something oddly familiar about this story to Li Kainan.
It felt like he'd heard it somewhere before?
But Li Kainan didn't dwell on it too much—he turned his head and tossed that inexplicable sense of familiarity to the back of his mind, turning his attention instead to the Kingdom of Cape beyond these woods.
No wonder the system had dropped him here after the transmigration. It was because this country was currently in the midst of internal strife—and he was perfectly positioned to rise during this age of chaos!
……
Having answered Li Kainan's questions, Branny's grandmother hesitated for a brief moment, then took the initiative to speak:
"Esteemed lord, might I ask whether you would be willing to help us?"
The moment he heard those words, Li Kainan's spirit immediately perked up.
Here it comes—the story mission has triggered!
"How would you like me to help?" Li Kainan said, his expression turning serious.
"Our village has been targeted by an evil creature—a werewolf—the very monster you encountered in the forest just now!"
"I was injured while trying to prevent the werewolf from entering the village, and now it intends to take advantage of this opportunity to finish me off……"
Branny's grandmother paused for a brief moment, then said with the utmost gravity and sincerity:
"Noble, merciful, and valiant Lord Kainan, I ask that you help us eradicate this evil werewolf once and for all!"
Werewolves were creatures of extraordinary physical power.
Yet just now in the forest, Li Kainan had done nothing more than hurl his sword—and it had forced the werewolf to sever its own arm to escape.
Such martial prowess was surely on par with even the mightiest titled knights of legend.
As long as Li Kainan was willing to help, that cunning werewolf would inevitably meet its end!
Young Branny, having grown up sheltered under her grandmother's protection without a worry in the world, had only just now—moments ago—learned of the crisis threatening her village.
She pressed her hands together at her chest, her innocent face filled with pleading, a pair of wide, dewy doe-eyes fixed upon Li Kainan.
"Mr. Kainan, will you help us?"
【Prompt: Defeating the story villain "Werewolf" will yield a generous reward and will greatly advance the conquest progress of important story character "Little Red Riding Hood Branny"!】
…..
【Prompt: Defeating ******* "Werewolf" will yield a generous reward and greatly advance progress toward *******!】
Seeing the system prompt, Li Kainan's eyes immediately lit up.
The story mission has triggered, just as expected—once completed, it will massively advance the recruitment progress of "initial system talent" Branny!
Gazing at Branny's pleading expression, Li Kainan nodded without hesitation:
"Understood—I will help you all eliminate this werewolf!"
Upon hearing this, Grandmother finally let out a long breath of relief and offered Li Kainan her sincere thanks without delay.
And young Branny looked at Li Kainan with eyes brimming with gratitude and deep emotion.
With Li Kainan's agreement given, the name displayed above Branny's head in his field of vision changed—where there had once been a "?" there was now a specific number.
【Branny (63%)】
Huh, you haven't even formally sworn your loyalty to me yet, and the Loyalty Value is already showing?