In this world, kingdoms rose and fell like tides.
Nobles, princes, even kings—none of them were rare.
But Brittany's grandmother understood something most villagers never would.
Armor like that… didn't belong to ordinary men.
The gilded plate, engraved with intricate reliefs, carried a presence that spoke of immense wealth and status. Even minor kings or regional lords would struggle to possess such craftsmanship.
And more importantly—
Adrian Vale wasn't wearing his helmet.
His face was fully exposed.
Sharp features. Clean lines. Dark hair framing a composed, almost regal expression.
Under the influence of his unknown "charm" trait, his presence carried an unnatural pull—subtle, but overwhelming. The kind that made people trust him before they even realized it.
It wasn't just attractiveness.
It was authority.
The kind that made people instinctively lower their guard.
Behind the old woman, Brittany quickly spoke up, her voice bright and eager:
"Grandma, this is Mr. Vale! He came with me!"
"We ran into a monster in the forest on the way here—it was hiding and trying to attack us. But Mr. Vale drove it away!"
Adrian gave a slight nod, composed and restrained.
"Greetings. My name is Adrian Vale."
The old woman immediately returned the gesture, her movements respectful, almost cautious.
"Sir Vale…"
She repeated the name silently in her mind.
Adrian… Vale…
Not a local naming structure.
Not from any nearby kingdom she knew.
Her thoughts began racing.
A prince from a distant empire? A noble heir traveling incognito?
It wouldn't be the first time someone of high birth concealed their identity during a journey.
Meanwhile, Adrian had no idea the old woman had already constructed an entire noble backstory for him.
And frankly—he didn't care.
What he needed right now wasn't reputation.
It was information.
This world…
Magic. Monsters. Hidden forces.
This was no ordinary medieval setting.
This was a supernatural plane.
The only question was—
Low magic?
Or high magic?
Without wasting time, Adrian reached down and lifted the severed arm he had brought with him.
The gray fur, the twisted muscle, the dark, clotted blood—
He held it up calmly.
"Do you recognize this?"
"This creature attacked us in the forest."
The moment the old woman saw the arm—
Her pupils contracted.
Shock flashed across her face.
Of course she recognized it.
A werewolf.
A predator that had been stalking the outskirts of their village for weeks.
A creature that fed on human flesh.
If not for her protective magic shielding the village, the entire settlement would have already been reduced to a feeding ground.
And even then—
She hadn't come out unscathed.
Her current condition… bedridden, weakened… was the result of confronting that very monster.
That creature was not just strong.
It was cunning.
Cruel.
Patient.
And now—
Adrian Vale had severed its arm.
Just like that.
The implications hit her instantly.
Her attitude shifted.
Not subtly.
But completely.
Respect deepened into something closer to reverence.
From that point forward, she answered every question Adrian asked—without hesitation, without concealment.
And through her knowledge…
Adrian finally began to understand the world he had entered.
This was a world resembling medieval Europe.
But beneath its surface lay something far more dangerous.
Witches.
Elves.
Dwarves.
Magical creatures.
Artifacts with strange and powerful properties.
A true fantasy world.
However—
It wasn't as exaggerated as the high-magic settings often described in modern fiction.
Overwhelming magic wasn't common.
Only a rare few possessed the ability to wield truly devastating spells—
Or invoke blessings and curses that functioned almost like absolute laws.
Inevitable.
Unavoidable.
The Kingdom of Capet, where Adrian now stood, was a perfect example.
Once a powerful and unified nation…
It had fallen into chaos years ago.
The reason?
A single witch.
A being of terrifying power.
The kingdom had offended her.
And in response—
She cursed the king's only daughter.
For sixteen years, the entire kingdom searched for a way to break the curse.
Priests.
Scholars.
Mages.
Nothing worked.
And when the princess finally came of age—
The curse activated.
She fell into an eternal sleep.
At the same time—
The royal palace became entangled in an endless mass of cursed thorns.
Anyone who approached was repelled.
Or worse.
With the king gone, the throne empty, and the royal bloodline effectively sealed away—
The kingdom collapsed into internal conflict.
Faction against faction.
Noble against noble.
War without end.
And it had remained that way ever since.
Adrian listened.
Quietly.
Processing everything.
Then—
A faint sense of familiarity surfaced.
Sleeping princess.
Cursed thorns.
A fallen kingdom.
…He felt like he had heard this story before.
Somewhere.
But the thought passed quickly.
And he dismissed it just as fast.
What mattered wasn't nostalgia.
It was opportunity.
A fractured kingdom.
No central authority.
Endless conflict.
This wasn't a disaster.
It was a perfect battlefield.
No wonder the system had dropped him here.
After answering his questions, the old woman hesitated.
Then finally spoke.
"Honored sir… would you be willing to help us?"
Adrian's eyes sharpened slightly.
There it is.
The quest trigger.
Right on cue.
He straightened slightly.
"What do you need?"
The old woman took a breath, then spoke with quiet urgency:
"Our village is being targeted… by that same werewolf you encountered."
"I was injured while trying to stop it from entering the village."
"It has been waiting… for this moment."
Her grip tightened slightly on her staff.
Then she looked directly at him.
Voice firm.
"Sir Adrian Vale—strong, noble, and merciful…"
"I ask that you help us eliminate this creature."
Her tone carried weight.
Not flattery.
Not manipulation.
A genuine plea.
Because she understood something very clearly—
A werewolf's physical strength was terrifying.
But earlier—
Adrian had forced it to sever its own arm just to escape.
That level of power…
Even among legendary knights—
Would be exceptional.
If he intervened—
That monster would not survive.
Behind her, Brittany finally understood the situation.
For the first time, the danger surrounding her peaceful life became real.
Her small hands clasped tightly in front of her chest.
Her expression trembled slightly.
But her eyes—
Clear. Sincere. Hopeful.
She looked at Adrian.
"Mr. Vale… will you help us?"
At that moment—
The system interface flickered into existence again.
Even through the distorted text, the meaning was clear:
[Defeat the story antagonist: Werewolf]
[Reward: Substantial]
[Effect: Significant increase in favorability with key character "Brittany (Little Red Riding Hood)"]
Adrian's lips curved slightly.
So this really is a quest.
And not just any quest.
An early-game progression trigger.
A gateway to securing his first "unit."
His first asset.
His first foothold.
He looked at Brittany.
Then at her grandmother.
No hesitation.
"I understand."
"I'll take care of it."
The answer was calm.
Confident.
Absolute.
Relief washed over the old woman's face.
She exhaled slowly, tension finally easing.
"Thank you… truly…"
Brittany's reaction was even more direct.
Her eyes lit up instantly.
Gratitude, admiration, something softer—
All of it surfaced at once.
And then—
Adrian noticed something.
Above her head.
The system display… had changed.
No longer a question mark.
Now—
A number.
[Brittany (63%)]
Adrian raised an eyebrow slightly.
Interesting.
She hasn't even pledged loyalty yet…
And the value is already visible?