LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 1: Please Sign a Contract with Me
[Mr. Wanderer, cease your pointless delay and sign the contract with me to complete the mission at once!]
"No way! Send me back right now!"
In an old farmhouse, a young man with pitch-black eyes was shouting and cursing to himself.
The youth had delicate features with a sunny disposition, a white towel wrapped around his head, and a simple long sword hanging at his waist.
His name was Siegfried, surname Qi, given name Gefei.
This outrageous name was the product of his late father's chuunibyou phase. Nevertheless, he was indeed a pure Han Chinese, born on Earth and raised in China.
Seven days ago, he woke up to find himself in this strange world, and then...
[Ding! Wanderer Siegfried, welcome to the Qilan Continent. I am your regulatory historian; you may call me Shannon.]
[Elves, dwarves, orcs, dragons, demon races - in this fantasy world of sword and magic with mixed races, I will help you survive and grow.]
[Please sign a contract with me, rectify history, and enjoy your journey through this alternate world to your heart's content.]
Siegfried remembered clearly that when this entity said the words "rectify history," its voice was so low it was almost inaudible, just like the disclaimer written in tiny font on a shady company's contract.
How could he possibly fall for such a trick?
"Listen, I'm not interested in being transported to another world. Even an idiot knows to choose between going to work for a salary or risking their life in another world! Hurry up and send me back, I have a sister to take care of at home."
[Of course. Sign the contract and complete the mission, and I will send you back to reality.]
"Damn it!"
Siegfried was so angry he was gnashing his teeth.
If it were two days ago, he could have continued to slack off and test Shannon's patience, but now that's no longer an option.
"You! Come out! Hands on your head, no resistance!"
"Over there, get down! Didn't you hear me? I said get down!"
"Hand over all your food!"
Noisy voices came from outside. Siegfried peeked through the crack in the door.
Several soldiers wearing round helmets were holding long spears, going from house to house to capture villagers and plunder their possessions. It would soon be the turn of this dilapidated farmhouse where he was hiding!
That's right, this village was unfortunately being raided.
"Damn it, hurry up and send me back!"
Siegfried's face darkened, his voice now tinged with a hint of coldness.
[Are you just going to watch as this village is plundered? You have inherited the memories of this world's Siegfried, and those are not false.]
"Unbelievable, even the system has learned to use moral blackmail these days?"
His eyelids twitched as he listened, but what the other party said was not unreasonable. Indeed, there were some extra fragments in his memories.
These additional memories showed that he was an abandoned baby, with black hair and eyes being his most distinctive features.
On the Qilan Continent, this genetic marker belonged only to the Meilan Family.
This family had given birth to many heroes, legendary figures who had been protecting humanity since ancient times.
Siegfried was naturally regarded as a future hero and revered by the villagers.
Twenty years passed, and the elders in the village treated him as their own, nurturing him with care. The village children looked up to him as a role model, following his wild adventure plans without question.
These memories were as clear as if they were real experiences, familiar yet subtle.
[There's one thing I'd like to clarify. It wasn't me who brought you to this world, but yourself.]
[The moment your consciousness replaced the original owner of this body, history had already changed.]
[Rectifying history is your duty. Saving the village is also your responsibility.]
Siegfried pondered over these words and finally let out a helpless sigh:
"One request, one question."
[Please go ahead.]
"Don't interfere with my actions."
"And, what's in it for me?"
[Every time you complete a mission, you'll gain a powerful and mysterious ability that will help you navigate this alternate world.]
"That's a given. What else?"
[You'll receive a multifunctional wanderer's manual that will automatically record your glorious deeds to be passed down through countless worlds.]
"Not interested. Then what?"
The historian Shannon didn't continue speaking. Just as Siegfried was about to propose his own conditions, a virtual image suddenly appeared in his mind.
It was a female knight with proper features, valiant and graceful, with light brown hair.
She was wearing only a tight white tank top on her upper body, outlining the surging waves on her chest and the harmonious abdominal muscles.
At this moment, she was removing the armor on her legs, revealing a jade foot wearing white suspender stockings, emanating steaming heat.
Even though it was just an image, Siegfried could feel a strong wave of female pheromones hitting him, leaving him staring blankly, unable to utter a word for a long time.
[In addition to this, you can also...]
"No, no, no, what was that just now? Aren't you going to explain?"
[I thought you weren't interested, so I skipped it.]
[She is the leader of those soldiers and bandits outside. If you defeat her, you'll have a chance to make her your companion.]
"Whoa..."
[Well then, shall I continue introducing the benefits you can obtain?]
"No need." Siegfried tightened the towel on his head. "I suddenly feel that impersonating a hero to save the world might be quite interesting."
[...]
[Let me confirm, you agree to sign the contract, correct?]
"Let me confirm as well, you won't interfere with my actions, right?"
After three seconds of silence, they both said in unison:
"Of course!"
[Of course.]
The next moment, a bright white light burst forth from Siegfried's body.
[Ding! Wanderer Siegfried, you have been incorporated into Historian Shannon's roster.]
[Retrieving wanderer's personal information...]
[Retrieval complete!]
Name: Siegfried
Male, 20 years old
Race: Wanderer
Alignment: Neutral
Class: Villager
A young man with somewhat unique features living in a remote village. You woke up in his body, and you have the obligation to fulfill his mission.
Specialties: Deception 81% (Master), Cold Reading 73% (Expert), Acting 65% (Expert), Thick Black Theory 60% (Expert), Art of War 55% (Proficient), Criminology 55% (Proficient), Swordsmanship 19% (Beginner)... (Total of 47 items)
Strength: C
Agility: C
Magic: E
Intelligence: A
Luck: B
Leadership: B
Overall Rating: C
[Binding wanderer's manual...]
[Binding complete!]
[Your mission has been issued to the wanderer's manual.]
Siegfried sensed something and snapped his fingers.
A black-covered manual appeared in his hand and automatically opened:
Time: Year 526 of the Glorious Era, February
Location: Wind Peach Village, border of Count Conston's domain, Kingdom of Moen, Qilan Continent
Background: Half a year ago, King Charles I of the Kingdom of Moen died suddenly without cause. Crown Prince Frederick, in collusion with Duke Byran, launched a coup attempt to control Princess Kriemhild, the first heir to the throne, in order to usurp royal power.
Princess Kriemhild's brother, Second Prince Roderick, deployed the palace guards to resist, and civil war was imminent. In the chaos, Princess Kriemhild fled the royal city under the escort of her retainers and disappeared. Afterwards, both princes sent search parties to look for the missing princess, claiming it was for her protection.
Warning: Due to various force majeure, the internal strife that was originally expected to end within half a year has been indefinitely prolonged. You must rectify this period of history.
Historical Rectification:
Reclaim the divided duchies of the East, South, West, and North, occupy the royal city of Andesores, end the civil war, and unify the kingdom.
Time Limit: Three years (1094 days / 1095 days)
Mission Objectives:
End the civil war: 0/1
Reclaim the Northern Duchy of Alvis: 0/1
Reclaim the Southern Duchy of Byran: 0/1
Reclaim the Western Duchy of Simon: 0/1
Reclaim the Eastern Duchy of Galloway: 0/1
Occupy the royal city of Andesores: 0/1
The current phase tasks are as follows:
1. Defeat the army invading Wind Peach Village: 0/1
2. Locate the whereabouts of any royal heir: 0/1
Complete the phase tasks to choose to end this wandering session and settle the rewards, temporarily returning.
Siegfried closed the manual, and Shannon's voice sounded again.
[Before you set out, I suggest you use the manual to appraise the sword at your waist.]
Siegfried looked slightly puzzled but still took off the long sword and appraised it.
A flash of white light, and a line of text information appeared on the blank page.
Siegfried's eyes widened slightly: "So it's this kind of plot, a bit cliché, but I like it."
He paused, then asked, "How renowned is the Meilan Family in this world?"
[Household name, enough to stop children from crying.]
"Oh boy."
Siegfried wasn't surprised at all.
Isn't a hero just the kind of scum who barges into people's homes, ransacks everything to the last gold coin, and then talks to the homeowner demanding to be given quests?
"Woo, bad guy! Let me go!"
"You little brat, get out here!"
The noisy sounds from outside were now within earshot, less than ten steps away from this dilapidated farmhouse.
Siegfried quickly browsed through the various functions of the wanderer's manual, then brought the long sword close to the manual. The sword turned into a white light and flew into the manual.
"Shannon, do you have anything else to say to me?"
[Mr. Wanderer, welcome to the world of sword and magic, the Qilan Continent.]
[Please feel free to cause a big commotion!]
Siegfried tugged at the corner of his mouth and slowly pushed open the door.
"Without a doubt."
