Count Bran

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Count Bran (布兰伯爵)
Species/Race	Black crow 54
Affiliation	Slime Kingdom; one of its founding noble members 70 71
Occupation/Role	Noble, Arthur's self-proclaimed master/retainer commander, court tutor, messenger, field strategist, and treasurer 70 96 105 134 157
Status	Active 219
First Appearance	Chapter 54

Background / History

Count Bran arrived in the swamp while Arthur was searching for the Lord of the Swamp. Presenting himself as a wise guide, he repeatedly led Arthur in incorrect directions, yet their wandering ultimately brought them to Chen Yu's fortress construction site. 54 55 59 61

At the fortress, Bran arrogantly demanded that the Lord of the Swamp greet him. He laughed upon learning that the lord was a Slime, but immediately fell silent after Chen Yu's Water Arrow felled a massive oak beside him. Though Bran tried to flee and urged Arthur to leave, Arthur instead pledged respect to Chen Yu as Nature's Kin. 61 62

Bran accompanied Arthur on the purported “trial” to cleanse Abyssal Spawn. He loudly blamed Chen Yu for sending them into danger, but remained beside Arthur throughout the expedition. 63 67 When Chen Yu later offered Bran a future hereditary fief in exchange for joining the growing Slime Kingdom, Bran accepted the offer and swore fealty alongside Arthur. 70 71

Within the Slime Kingdom, Bran became a conspicuous court figure. He taught Common Tongue lessons to young slimes, guarded the kingdom's prestige, advised Chen Yu on supplies and trade, organized troops, and acted as a spokesman when communicating with humans and rescued slaves. 74 105 120 134

Bran later found a seed connected to the World Tree in a Bottle and warned Chen Yu to keep its existence secret from powerful mages, cults, and divine apostles. He subsequently joined Arthur's expedition to retrieve the Crown of Ignis, serving as scout, messenger, and a reluctant but persistent rescuer after Arthur and Calvin were captured. 157 159 218 219

Appearance

Count Bran is a pitch-black crow who affects the mannerisms and bearing of a high-ranking noble. He frequently preens his feathers, puffs out his chest, and uses his wings as though they were hands. 54 61

• Black, sometimes drenched or singed feathers; his tail feathers were burned during the Magma Well campaign. 55 112
• Small bird eyes described as obsidian-like. 70
• Often perches on Arthur's shoulder armor, Pei Qi's head, or Chen Yu's fortress walls. 67 134 159
• May carry crystals, acorns, or a small travel pack in his beak or on his back. 157 159 219

Personality

Bran is flamboyant, vain, and relentlessly self-aggrandizing. He introduces himself with grand declarations, treats his title as a matter of great importance, and regularly exaggerates his combat ability, wisdom, wealth, and past exploits. 54 61 74 206

Despite this bravado, he is easily frightened by strong enemies, explosions, wild boars, and Treants—especially Viola, whom he believes holds a long-standing grudge against him. 94 105 106 157 He is also intensely attracted to gold, Gray Grit Crystals, and other shiny objects. 74 122 206

His arrogance conceals genuine loyalty. Bran repeatedly worries over Arthur when he is lost or endangered, helps console Yano after learning of Border Guard Legion corruption, and risks entering Shield River City to find a way to rescue Arthur and Calvin. 96 118 218 219

Abilities & Skills

Flight and Reconnaissance

As a crow, Bran can fly over terrain, scout ahead, and carry small items.

• Scouts suspicious locations independently, including Baron Landon's unnaturally quiet territory. 216
• Followed Beryl through Shield River City and helped identify her as the party's missing lead. 219
• Can act as a messenger and battlefield observer for the Slime Kingdom. 134 219
• His navigation is notably unreliable; he frequently gets lost while confidently claiming otherwise. 55 59 219

Fortune of the Lady of Defiance

Bran claims to be an apostle of the Lady of Defiance, a being associated with unpredictable reversals of fate. Chen Yu observes that Bran repeatedly stumbles into useful outcomes despite his chaotic methods. 71

• Claims he can perceive looming disaster and uncover improbable opportunities. 71
• His noisy behavior once exposed Arthur and Bran's location in a dungeon, allowing Chen Yu to find them. 71
• He attributes periods of good and bad luck to revelations from the Lady of Defiance. 148
• The extent and reliability of this power remain unclear; Bran is also struck by notably poor luck, including being burned by magma fallout. 112

Command and Court Service

Bran serves Chen Yu as an intermediary, organizer, and morale-focused noble.

• Commands Demonic Beast forces during the occupation and cleanup of the Obsidian Mining Area. 134
• Relays Chen Yu's words to freed slave miners and manages their departure from the mines. 134
• Advises Chen Yu on resource management, trade, and the kingdom's food shortage. 107 120
• Teaches Common Tongue to the young slimes, though he cannot understand their pheromone-based responses. 105

Limited Combat Capability

Bran projects a fearsome image but is not portrayed as physically formidable.

• Evades individual Stinger Bee attacks in flight, but panics and hides behind Chen Yu when explosions erupt nearby. 94
• Commands troops to use magic scrolls during the Magma Well battle. 112
• Chen Yu notes that Bran cannot defeat even a somewhat larger field mouse. 74
• Relies primarily on mobility, intimidation, shouting, and stronger allies rather than direct combat. 74 106 134

Relationships

• Chen Yu — His king and patron. Bran joined the Slime Kingdom after being promised a future fief, then became a loyal adviser, messenger, and advocate for Chen Yu's authority. 70 71 120
• Arthur — Longtime companion whom Bran calls his retainer, despite frequently relying on Arthur's strength and steadfastness. Bran is openly worried when Arthur is missing or endangered. 55 96 159
• Yano — Fellow Slime Kingdom knight. Bran initially mocks Yano but later consoles him over the corruption within the Border Guard Legion. 74 116 118
• Pei Qi — A member of the kingdom's forces whom Bran formally addresses as “Miss Pei Qi” and commands alongside during the mining-area battle. 116 134
• Little Card — Bran attempts to win the young dragon's favor through food and shared “nobility.” 99
• Viola — A Treant whom Bran fears intensely due to an earlier grudge; he assumes even her gifts and letters may be curses. 105 137 159
• Beryl Brooks — Initially distrustful of Bran, but ultimately listens to his account and uses her mirror to connect him with Princess Louisa. 219
• Calvin — Arthur's fellow Crown of Ignis seeker. Bran criticizes Calvin's spending habits and suspects him of being a bad influence, but works with him during the mission. 206 208

Story Role / Major Arcs

Search for the Lord of the Swamp

• Guides Arthur through the swamp while becoming lost himself. 54 55 59
• Publicly challenges Chen Yu, then is intimidated by the Slime King's display of power. 61
• Attempts unsuccessfully to convince Arthur to abandon the supposed Nature trial. 62 63

Founding of the Slime Kingdom

• Accepts Chen Yu's recruitment after hearing the promise of a hereditary fief. 70
• Becomes one of the kingdom's first noble figures alongside Arthur, its first knight. 71
• Defends the kingdom's status and demands that visitors properly address “His Greatness the Slime.” 74

Kingdom Administration and Expansion

• Serves as court tutor, resource adviser, treasurer, battlefield spokesman, and troop commander. 105 120 134 136
• Helps coordinate the rescue and liberation of slaves in the Obsidian Mining Area. 134
• Accompanies Iron Anvil to procure supplies for the Slime Kingdom. 143 146

Crown of Ignis Expedition

• Finds the third World Tree seed and warns Chen Yu of the danger surrounding its origin. 157
• Joins Arthur and Calvin's journey into the White Horse Kingdom to find the Crown of Ignis. 159 206
• Escapes capture at Baron Landon's territory, then leads Chen Yu toward Shield River City to rescue Arthur and Calvin. 218
• Helps locate Beryl Brooks and establish contact with Princess Louisa. 219

Notable Quotes

“Count Bran has arrived!” 54

“Join us. Become a Founding Member of the kingdom. Once its borders are secure and its territory expands... would it not be only natural to grant the meritorious count a fertile hereditary Fief worthy of your status?” 70

“This is the wisdom of yours truly, Count Bran—turning the impossible into possible, twisting disaster into opportunity.” 71

“This power itself is neither good nor evil; it all depends on the heart of the wielder.” 117

Trivia

• Bran considers himself a refined noble but is willing to cook roasted moss monsters for Little Card. 122
• He maintains Arthur's flower garden while Arthur is away. 110 137
• He has a recurring fear that Viola intends to turn him into a crow specimen. 157
• Bran was briefly mistaken for a potentially dangerous or unusual demonic beast by people unfamiliar with the Slime Kingdom. 74 159