A normal life was boring…

Adam had heard of many who were 'living life to the fullest', but he couldn't find that happiness.

What was he doing wrong?

Maybe… was it his family situation?

It's not like he'd been particularly mistreated or coddled. His parents were of the wealthy variety and had a healthy amount of interest in him. They even gave him a building he could earn from.

On one side he was regularly getting money from tenants, and on the other was administration work.

Since his older brother only needed someone trustworthy to handle certain tasks, he was only given a few tasks. Stably, but surely… He was adding more money to his account to fill it up.

And for what purpose…?

Adam didn't really know himself.

The alarm woke him up to his average day. It was annoying enough to warrant him punching it silly.

A poor alarm clock was broken once again.

His arm hurt like usual, and it felt like pins and needles were poking out from his forehead.

Yup, just a regular day.

Although he wasn't fond of overworking himself to this extent, he wasn't about to lose any money.

Losing money meant losing luxuries.

And although luxuries didn't mean happiness, it was never wrong to have more of a good thing.

He leapt out of bed groggily. Swaying with each step to force himself to get to the bathroom.

'Hello, me.' He looked in the mirror to see his average face. Wondering what to do with it.

He considered getting married once, but was unable to shrug off the fear of talking about anything other than business. He was so used to contracts that 'romantic love' seemed impossible.

Brushing his teeth and going downstairs, he went and sat in front of the TV before the day began.

Just business as usual.

However, a sudden thought suddenly occurred to him. It was almost like an out of body experience.

Like how Sun Wukong was inexplicably hit by the inevitability of death, Adam also felt this sensation.

He looked at himself and wondered what he was living for… Where was he going with his life?

After earning a lot of money, he had expected to have gained the happiness he saw all around him.

The happiness people felt when talking to their friends, or winning in a round in an online shooter.

It wasn't as if he hadn't tried anything.

Making friends was hard, but he had sunk his head into the myriad of entertainments provided to him.

He'd nearly got calluses on his thumb from the amount of games played and time spent.

Was that all for nothing?

I mean, knowing how to do 15 hit combo in a fighting game was definitely an achievement…

…right?

Maybe he should really take his brother's advice and take one of the arranged marriage offers.

He was still 26 and not too old to marry. At least, it wasn't like no one would want an average richie.

But he still didn't want to socialise and share beds with someone. What if they stole money from him?

…Did everyone have such problems?

Well, it wasn't like dying without kids was going to make things better. Marriage would need money-

Yup, he was definitely putting THAT off the table.

Although getting a girlfriend might lighten up his dull life, but wasn't death coming for all of us?

Wait, didn't that mean money was worthless too?!

'What am I doing with my life?' It suddenly occurred to him that he could just use his money.

He didn't have to go out today. It would be better to use a chunk of that money to get some rest.

Should he go talk to someone today?

What about his older brother?

'No…' Talking wasn't the forte of anyone in his family. They didn't do things without a reason.

If he called his siblings or parents, he'd need a business reason. They'd reject him otherwise.

'Then who should I talk to…?' Suddenly, he found that there was not one person by his side anymore.

This heavy atmosphere felt agonising…

He had the freedom to do anything, but not the freedom to feel like he'd achieved something.

Even if he did, no one would acknowledge him…

The feeling of loneliness had him in a stranglehold with no way out. He needed a new distraction!

Thus, he looked a strange game he was surprised he'd even brought on his console's digital catalog.

And its name being: {The Villainess Against Fate!}

Just one look at the title made him wonder what he was thinking. Wasn't this a game meant for girls?

One about seducing dudes…?

Looking at all the other games with near complete achievements, he knew they wouldn't last long.

He wouldn't be able to immerse himself in the games he'd already finished. It was like a rule.

So he had two choices:

1. Writhe around in existential dread.

2. Shamelessly play an Otome Game despite being a straight white male who it wasn't marketed to.

There was no debate.

It wasn't like there was anyone to judge his tastes in here. So what if it was aimed towards girls?

He was itching to play something to completion.

Thus, he booted up the game for a test drive.

For a game that was on a 80% sale for 5 pounds, it was pretty good. There was a lot of good graphics.

It had a near 'cinematic' feel to it…

A subversion of the classic types of romance simulator games. One which switched the leads.

The main character was a female Surgeon turned Villainess after reincarnation. A tale about love.

Not love for others, but love for oneself.

A feature that seemed to be part of the gameplay since you didn't exactly need to 'romance' anyone.

In fact, it played more like a political thriller!

You start off impoverished despite having being reborn into an aristocratic household, and had to do your best just to survive. Rather than controlling the character, you acted as a system interface.

It was kind of a futuristic game in hindsight.

Characters acted way too realistic to be fake, and the advice you gave could mean 'her' life or death.

Linda Arcadia was born an illegitimate daughter to her household. Being mistreated by her family.

A pretty generic setting among 'Villainess' stories.

Usually, the main character would patch things up with their neglectful family by the end of the story.

However, Adam didn't let her go down that 'Route'.

What was the point of charming them?

The man himself had never once tried to get on anyone's good side, so why would he let her?

'Money is the most trustworthy asset.' He thought inwardly while typing his thoughts to the young girl:

{Don't worry. I'm here.}

Even though he knew there was a matured adult under that exterior thanks to the intro, he carefully used his words to console her whenever times were tough. At times, even motivating her forward.

"T-thank you." Adam felt a strange feeling when he saw the gratitude in her eyes. It felt too 'real'.

Normally, the only times he'd converse with a person was for business… but she wouldn't stop.

"Hey, do you know card games?"

{I'm here to support you. Not to entertain you.]

"Why not~?"

{Maybe when you're older.} He looked at the six year old maiden who seemed way too realistic.

"So you'll play when I get older?"

{Not on your life. I'm just here to support. Don't call me out unless you need advice or information.}

Yes, that was his role as a 'System'.

Using the Third Person Camera, he could individually look for data when summoned.

The plot was a little jarring thanks to the sudden time-skips (months to even years), but the flavour text in-between helped keep things consistent. At least to the point he wasn't ever feeling lost.

He didn't know how long he'd been playing and putting off work. It was a strange experience.

While before he'd put his two sources of income as his priority, now that one game became his life.

It took about three days worth of hours for him to raise the young 'Villainess' from her position.

Adam didn't advise her to charm anyone with her looks or socialise too deeply. That was on Linda.

Instead, he gave her tactical advice and support.

{Sock that bastard in the face if you can.}

{That MoFo wants to spike your cocktail.}

{Why not slap his mom?}

{You don't have to listen to anyone if you're strong enough to take out an army. Put some effort in it.}

{Do you REALLY have to listen to this?!}

{I'm not an antisocial nihilist. I'm just being real.}

{Why do you have to be so helpful to people?}

{Ignoring the poor is totally a viable option.}

{I'm not that much of a cold and ruthless machine.}

Or was he…? Truth be told: Adam hadn't expected anyone to point that out so strongly about him.

"You have to stop being like this… I admit that your advice helped, but life isn't all about money and influence." The girl he'd practically raised from a nobody spoke up. She dared to criticise him…!

He couldn't believe what he was hearing!!!

Not once had his advice missed the mark. It was thanks to his distrustful and questioning nature that she survived multiple ambushes. Absolute focus on raising money even improved her status.

Those who'd once looked down on her were awed by her brilliance, perspective, and decisive nature.

So what was she talking about now?!

{You're ungrateful…}

"…" Seeing his sudden burst of sizzling emotions, a silence overbearing weighed down their debate.

He didn't stop there, texting:

{You've benefited so far… so why this now?}

"I felt like you needed to hear this. I've known you for so many years. And you've never changed."

{Is that a problem?}

"People who never change, always suffer. We BOTH have seen that in how my family had grown."

{They went from neglecting you to begging for your forgiveness. I don't see the good in that.}

"You think they should have stayed the same?"

{If they did so, they wouldn't be suffering right now. They'd be happy despite their ugliness.}

"I wouldn't have forgiven them if they did."

{That's because you're soft. What's the point in forgiveness without giving equal compensation?}

"…Compensation?" The girl looked up.

{Don't act like you didn't understand me. They'd made you suffer because of their neglect. Never stood up for you. And even sold you out to your enemies. How does a "Sorry" account for that?}

"It doesn't."

{Then?}

"In words I've told you before: 'I forgive them'. As long as they don't repeat this. All is well and good."

{What will you do if they act up again?}

In response to his words, she smiled. A fair face replied some coldblooded words unfitting of her.

He was satisfied with what she answered.

With that, the game had finally ended.

With a satisfied face, he watched her go about her own 'daily life'. One he also had a part in achieving.

"Congratulations." A foreign voice called out. The feminine nature different from his game character.

His eyes shook when he heard these words…

…because they weren't from the screen!

Instead, a woman with a beautifully toned body and impressive figure walked into his room.

He was sure he locked the door, but the woman opened it as if the lock was a fake to begin with.

"And who are you supposed to be?" Regardless of how she looked, Adam was immediately on guard.

Though her face and looks DID calm him a little.

"So THIS is your taste…" She looked at herself and stretched those muscles under her sportswear.

Her words only confused him.

"How did you get in?" Adam put up his guard.

"Through the front door."

"I'm not in the mood for jokes."

"Then I'll be perfectly blunt. From the first moment you started writhing in existential dread, you weren't at home anymore. In fact, you've never been 'home' ever since you started that game."

"Nonsense! That-" As Adam was about to kick her out, she smacked the wall with tremendous force.

Like a set of a theatre play, the four walls of his home toppled over to reveal a room of emptiness.

His eyes were wide…

'Am I dreaming right now?' Adam tried to pinch himself, but that only proved this was reality.

Panic started to settle into his heart.

"Congratulations, you have officially stepped into the Divine Realm… and completed a task for me."

"Then… am I not on Earth? Since when?! I'm sure I've been living here-" It was then it all sunk in.

Even someone as antisocial as him noticed everyone was 'quieter' than usual since earlier.

It'd been three days since he'd held a proper conversation with anyone other than Linda.

And 'she' was a character in a video game…

…wasn't she?

"Haaa… Haaa… Haaa…" The panic started to settle in, and he was started to hyperventilate out of fear.

"Wait wait wait! Calm down!" The charming woman quickly ran up to him and started patting his back.

Even saying in a loud and hurried tone:

"It's okay. I'm here to help you. Don't panic. Don't panic…! Please… I need you to trust me. For even a moment. Please listen to what I have to say." It may have been her appearance and thoughtfulness, but he started to calm down when she showed worry.

The rational(?) side of him needed a proper explanation. He decided to keep it together.

Though things only became hopeless from there.