ZZZ: Book Immersion System

-Somewhere in New Eradu-

A boy who was barely 6 years old stood in front of a daycare. His ragged clothing and unwashed body gave the impression of a homeless boy. Before long, an old man approached the boy.

"Little one, why are you alone here?" The boy who was looking at the door turned to the old man "My parents left me, but I heard this daycare take care of lonely children!"

Hearing about the boy's situation looked for sympathy. The man looked at the shining bright golden eyes and hair, though mudded by filth the boy's eyes were far from despair and were closer to that of hope.

"Poor soul, it was the right choice coming here, I am the owner of this daycare." The man patted the boy's head before retrieving a key from his pocket and opening the locked door.

"Come in. From now on, you are welcome here. You can call me Grandpa. What is your name, little one?"

"My name is [Albrecht]. Nice to meet you, Grandpa!"

~~

-2 years later-

In daycare, children's giggles can be heard all around the playground, parents come to drop off their children for care while they work. Inside the playground was a boy who sat under a tree. His golden eyes were glued to the book in his hand. The cover showed a picture of a knight who was facing a dragon.

After diving into the story called "Chivalries Never Dies" Chao Yu found himself in a very young body that was sitting on a cardboard in the streets. After familiarizing himself he received a notice that the quest would arrive in two years. So Chao Yu having nothing else to do decided to stabilize his life.

Picking up bits and pieces of conversation by passerby he found a daycare that takes in orphaned children.

[New Quest: At a young age you aspired to be a knight who protects the weak and faces the strong, as you grow, many challenges will be met. Face them with valor and this world will award you in return]

[New Quest: Path To Knighthood]

[Path To Knighthood (I): Find a 'princess' whom you will swear a solemn oath to protect (The princess is eligible to be a male consort as long as the appearance is feminine enough)]

'pff System you are defaming my dignity!!! I Chao Yu will never bend!' 

After spitting at the system for a few moments Chao Yu turned to the other quests he received.

[Path To Knighthood (II): Defeat a formidable foe at your prime]

[Path To Knighthood (III): Become a recognized hero, And never experience the last death]

'Hmm, seems alright with how young this body is, I'll be long before I reach my prime, I was worried this simulation would take years to complete.'

[No need to worry host, as per protocol each story needs to be within the time limit of 3 months, and in accordance I am required to shift the time dilation to 1:500]

'That's good at least' Chao Yu nodded as he continued to read the book in his hand.

Hearing footsteps approaching him, Chao Yu put down the book and turned his attention to the approaching girl.

"Hey, is that book fun to read." The girl asked with a smile as she sat down beside him to take a peek.

Scanning her features, her strikingly beautiful long black hair was lush and the red streaks made it even more pronounced. Her red eyes shone as she scanned the book.

"Hmm, why does it only have words." Confused the girl turned to Chao Yu and asked.

"Because it doesn't have words in it."

"Whaat, that's boring." Being instantly disinterested the girl turned to the other children who played together.

Noticing a longing in her eyes Chao Yu decided to entertain her for a little and put down the book.

"Hey wanna play together." Chao Yu stood up and stretched his hand towards her.

The girl eye's shone with happiness as she took his hand. "Sure! What do you want to play."

"Hmm" Pondering for a moment, Chao Yu decided to play a simple game "Let's play tag. You're it!" After touching the girl's shoulder Chao Yu made a run for it instantly before the girl realized what he had done.

"Hey! That's cheating!!" The girl said in shock before started chasing him around the playground.

[After this Chao Yu and the girl interacted more, be it by reading stories to her or playing with her, he always accompanied her. Her parents who frequently saw this interaction smiled in happiness.]

One day Chao Yu who was alone reading a book looked toward the playground to see a group of kids who were surrounding something. Curious Chao Yu decided to investigate.

Upon arriving, he heard a subtle crying by a familiar voice that was drowned out by the laughter of the group of children.

Instantly knowing what happening Chao Yu who was the only 'adult' around decided to resolve this like a child.

"Hey! Pick someone with your own size!!" After shouting, he picked up the 3 bully's attention by smacking them.

Compared to Ethereals these children don't hold a candle to them and Chao Yu easily beat all of them.

Hearing all of the commotion Grandpa investigated the scene and was enraged by what he saw.

"Why did you beat all of these children!!" He asked. Chao Yu was a very sensible child and he would never imagine he would be this violent.

"Grandpa! They were bullying my princess!! I had to teach them a lesson." Chao Yu pointed at the girl nearby who was on the ground with a shocked expression.

Lost by this response, he eventually sighed and readied himself from the enraged parents who would express their dissatisfaction with their children being beaten.

As expected, upon hearing what had happened, the bully's parents became enraged and swore to never come back.

But the girl's parents upon hearing what had happened did not become mad at the daycare but rather complained the parents should teach them better and should have known there would be consequences if they ignored their child's behavior.

Chao Yu who had been present at the parent's meet-up was not surprised by their reaction, he had met the girl's parents on occasion.

"Thank You, Little Albrecht, you are truly our knight to our princess."

"Hehe, how do I let Zhu Yuan be bullied!! Only I can bully her" Hearing the smug remark the parents and grandpa laughed except Zhu Yuan who was mad.

"Hey! Y- You're a big bad bully! mpf." Zhu Yuan pouted and hugged her mom in protest.

"Haha, don't be like that Zhu Zhu, say thanks to Albrecht" Her mother chided but elicited no response, she sighed in helplessness help before turning to Chao Yu "I hope in the future you protect our Zhu Yuan."

"Of course! She is my princess!" Chao Yu who stuck to acting internally winced by such a predatory remark. 'I swear I'm only doing it for the quest, I have no interest in young infants!!'

[Path To Knighthood: Find a princess (Complete)]

[Reward: Resolute oath]

[Each promise is a holy oath to you, and acting upon your promise empowers you (If any of your promises become broken you will receive the debuff 'Curse of The Oath Breaker')]

As he received the reward a gilded light descended upon him as if the gods themselves witnessed the promise and a golden flame descended from the sky before being absorbed into his body.

[Reward: holy Flame (Sub-Element of Fire)]

[The World who peer into your pure soul becomes moved by such purity it and rewards you. Conjure a flame said to be a fragment of the flames from the heavens, cleanse this world of its corruption, and bless those you deem worthy. Legend says only those with a resolute oath will be able to wield such power.]

The parents of Zhu Yuan and Grandpa saw the entire scene and understood what had happened.

People who could wield elements are far and few between, some receive them from family heritage, mutation from birth, others from outer powers, or even from gadgets that manipulate them to a certain degree.

Though this was the first time they saw an element descend from the sky, it was not out of the realm of reality.

Seeing the reward Chao Yu internally celebrated and felt a foreign feeling slowly spread throughout his body before settling in his heart. As his heart beat he felt those feelings coursing through his blood vein.

After the gilded light fades Chao Yu extends his palm and directs the foreign energy to his palm.

As the energy gathered enough, Chao Yu's hand became enveloped in a golden flame.

Observing the phenomenon with interest Chao Yu felt this flame could only burn evil and corrupted beings and won't affect normal things.

"Look, Grandpa! Look what I can do!" Showing the burning hand to the old man.

"Don't flail that around recklessly child!" He chided and sighed in hopelessness 'What do I wish you, child.'

Satisfied by the reward, he retracted the flames with some effort before turning to Zhu Yuan His eyes seemingly enchanted by the flame shined a golden hue.

"I, promise this oath under the witness of the heaven, I will dedicate my life protecting you my princess!"

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Offer thee your possession of stones to the shrine, if an achievement is met I shall reward this world with another chapter