Chapter 1: System, where the hell did you send me? |
A young man opened his eyes to find himself lying beside a simple campfire. Looking around, he was in a dim, quiet forest.
Where is this?
Boom!
A clap of thunder struck, briefly illuminating the night sky. Within the dappled shadows of the woods, a massive figure seemed to flit past. Moments later, a deep, muffled dragon's roar echoed from the distance.
Is that... a dragon?
He just said Faerûn... Could I really have transmigrated? Is this a world based on Dungeons & Dragons?
"Finally awake, kid."
A rough voice suddenly sounded from behind, instantly putting the young man on high alert. He hurriedly turned his head to see a rough-looking man dressed like a hunter.
"Kid, what's with that look? Why so wary of me? Do you even know it was me who saved you! If I hadn't found you unconscious by the lake and kindly brought you back to camp, a little whelp like you would've been torn to shreds by murlocs already!"
"So, where are you from? How did you end up alone and unconscious by Crystal Lake?"
Are there even murlocs in a D&D setting? He really couldn't remember.
While thinking this, the young man lied as easily as drinking water: "Uh, I'm from Baldur's Gate. You can call me Ailan."
"Oh! Allen! Sounds like a noble name. And where's this Baldur's Gate? How did you end up all the way out here with us?"
Oh, a country bumpkin who doesn't know Baldur's Gate.
"Allen" thought to himself while observing the hunter. Suddenly, a gentle yet hollow female voice, without any warning, rang clearly in his ears, as if someone were whispering right next to him.
「Insight Check: 19, Success」
「A seemingly harmless "human" hunter. Even though you've lost most of your memories, you still keenly notice that beneath her seemingly amiable exterior lies a barely concealed arrogance.」
This person is suspicious!
Allen immediately became more vigilant, but he only heard the voice and didn't catch that the system used the feminine pronoun "her."
In D&D games, there are various dice checks. As long as the result of a 20-sided die meets the required number, different effects can be achieved.
For example, passing an Insight Check can see through someone's verbal deception or disguise.
So, with the system's "Insight Check" spoiler, Allen could be certain that the hunter uncle before him was absolutely not as simple as he seemed.
Barely concealed arrogance... So this person likely has a prominent identity and is currently in disguise.
Of course, Allen didn't show this on his face. He spoke with heartfelt gratitude: "Oh! Sir! Thank you so much! I came here to visit relatives but ran into a bunch of damned bandits. They robbed me clean and left me there, dead or alive. Damn them!"
The hunter nodded. "That bunch of Red Scarves that popped up recently is indeed quite annoying."
Allen's gratitude wasn't entirely feigned. Regardless of this person's identity, the fact that he saved Allen, who had just transmigrated and was unconscious, remained true. "A thousand thanks, Ranger. May I ask for your name? I will surely remember this kindness."
I think hunters in the D&D setting are called Rangers, right?
Allen thought this, but he didn't notice the hunter's pupils slightly contracting upon hearing the word "Ranger."
'Ranger? How does he know I'm a Ranger?!'
But the hunter quickly masked his slip, letting out a hearty, honest laugh. "Wen Lei. Just call me Wen Lei. You've been out for so long; you must be starving."
As he spoke, he lifted the rabbit he had just hunted and shook it, hinting that he was about to prepare a feast.
Allen's stomach betrayed him with an ungrateful rumble, but he was also hesitant to eat food provided by such a suspicious person.
Boom!
Another clap of thunder struck. Somehow, Wen Lei's grip loosened, and the rabbit carcass fell to the ground.
The two looked at each other in silence for a moment. Wen Lei bent down to pick it up. "What bad luck. Looks like a heavy rain is coming. I think it's best we find somewhere to take shelter."
Allen immediately patted his completely empty pockets, then looked at Wen Lei with an awkward expression.
Before Allen could speak, Wen Lei heartily patted his own chest. "Since I saved you, I might as well do the good deed all the way. I'll take you to the inn in town to rest up!"
"A thousand thanks, Mr. Wen Lei."
Allen initially wanted to help Wen Lei pack up, but Wen Lei refused. Considering the other might be hiding secrets, Allen tactfully averted his gaze.
Well, only half-averted. Allen still "accidentally" caught a glimpse of Wen Lei taking out an elegant purple gem, murmuring something indistinctly, and then carefully putting the gem away again.
"Alright! Let's get going!"
Wen Lei slung a somewhat slender-looking wooden bow over his back and led Allen on a fast trek through the forest. The thunder grew more frequent; they'd better hurry to reach the town.
"Ouch!" While running, Allen stumbled over something and fell into a patch of weeds.
"You alright, kid?"
Allen propped himself up, looking at the grass before him. Just as he was about to answer, that gentle female voice sounded in his ear again.
「Religion Check: 7, Failure」
「You discover a strange dagger in the grass. Though ordinary-looking, it feels like a bottomless black abyss, constantly drawing your gaze.
The sensation faintly stirs memories of some ancient totems or forbidden symbols, but your knowledge isn't sufficient to pinpoint it. You only feel an inexplicable chill.」
"Darling, pick me up."
In a daze, Allen found he had already clutched the dagger tightly to his chest without realizing when.
[Worn Ritual Dagger]
One-Handed, Dagger 「Common Quality」
1-2 Damage, Speed 1.4
"You alright, kid? What's wrong with you?! Did you hit your head?"
Wen Lei's voice snapped Allen out of it. He hurriedly scrambled to his feet. "I'm fine, I'm fine, Mr. Wen Lei. I just felt a bit dizzy. Let's keep moving. I really don't want to get soaked."
Wen Lei gave Allen a suspicious once-over but said nothing more. The two continued silently weaving through the trees.
Soon, they could see some firelight. The town was just ahead.
Just as they were about to step out of the woods, Allen suddenly stopped.
"What now, kid?"
"Mr. Wen Lei, I imagine your family background must be quite comfortable? My old man hunts year-round too. His palms are thick and rough, and his knuckles are big and coarse. Not like yours, which are so well-maintained."
Wen Lei was taken aback. Just as he was about to speak, he saw that Allen, after saying this, didn't linger but walked straight forward.
'This strange human... is he... reminding me?'
Looking at the young man's retreating back, Wen Lei silently took a pair of gloves from his pocket and put them on, covering the hands that didn't match his false identity, then quickly caught up.
Allen pushed aside the branches and stepped onto the town's cobblestone path, feeling excited. He'd forgotten to ask earlier—what's the name of this town? This is the first place the great Allen has set foot in this world!
"Come on, the inn's over there!"
Wen Lei caught up and, without mentioning what just happened, pointed into the distance.
Allen looked in the direction he pointed and saw a simple yet exceptionally cozy-looking cottage with a blue-tiled roof and a red brick chimney.
The signboard above the door wasn't in Chinese characters, but Allen could directly understand its meaning:
「Lion's Pride」
Lion's Pride?
Boom!
Thunder crashed, and a flash of lightning seemed to cross Allen's mind. The previous clues connected at this moment.
He remembered that he had indeed seen murlocs in his D&D games, but those were only Kuo-toa living underground in the Underdark, Sahuagin inhabiting the oceans, and the lawful good Locathah.
And this country bumpkin who's never heard of Baldur's Gate, the very familiar-sounding name Crystal Lake...
Damn system, you didn't send me to Faerûn at all! You clearly sent me to Azeroth in the World of Warcraft!
Goddamn Lion's Pride Inn, this is clearly the freaking Elwynn Forest's Goldshire!
Amidst his shock, the system's notification sounded again.
「Personal Panel Unlocked」
「Race: Human
Strength: 6 (At least you're not disabled.)
Dexterity: 6 (You run faster than a turtle.)
Constitution: 6 (You are very proficient at receiving skin tests and saline injections.)
Intelligence: 18 (Your brain is not very smooth.)
Wisdom: 18 (Trust your intuition.)
Charisma: 20 (People easily and unconsciously tell you the truth, are willing to listen to your opinions, and even, at certain moments, subconsciously follow your choices.)
Attribute Points to Distribute: 0
Spells Learned: None」
[Newbie Mission Triggered!
Mission Name: To Forge Iron, One Must Be Strong Oneself.
Writing legends begins with a strong physique. Please persist in daily physical training to forge a powerful body. It is recommended to start with 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10km run every day.
Mission Objective: Increase your Strength attribute by 1 point, 0/1
Reward: 5 Strength attribute points, 1 random low-level spell]
Looking at the mission prompt, Allen was somewhat surprised.
Increase Strength by 1 point? This mission is...
Too easy, isn't it?
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