บท 2: The Starting Village

The face looking back at Michael was a familiar one.

It was a face anyone who had been more than one day on any adult form would recognize in an instant.

It was the face of Iris, the villain of the most famous adult game 'Adult Cultivation online.'

It was a face almost everyone was obsessed with, inside and outside the gaming world. She was considered one of the best characters ever released in the world of online gaming.

So of course Michael knew that face well.

But to have it look back at him like that was a little overwhelming to Michael now. Especially considering that it was his face now.

"What should I do? What should I do? Why this game of all the games?" Michael could not help but panic.

'Congratulations to User 'Doctor' for unlocking the character domain #1.

Page Iris is now open and users can view basic information of the character here'

Fuck basic information. Who did not know Iris, the legendary doctor goddess and the main villainess of the 'Adult Cultivation online' series?

She was the only character who was not lewded by the main public due to her characterization of an aloof goddess, unapproachable by anyone because her 'true love' died a long time ago.

So, what did that mean for Michael now? What should he do next?

'User 'Doctor' is warned that the sunset would take place in an hour.

User 'Doctor' is advised to head to the nearest local town as soon as possible'

The system knocked Michael out of his thoughts and right in the middle of rapidly darkening surroundings.

Right, now that he knew what kind of world he was in, he suddenly realized just how much danger he was actually in.

The world of 'Adult Cultivation online' was made up of demons and immortals. Well, the middle world of Rivendell had been at least. No wonder it had sounded that familiar to him.

But the forest was not a safe place for someone like Iris because the demons would be out anytime and she was a goddess, a prime target.

Iris would have been able to protect herself but not Michael. He had no fighting bone in his body.

'Character lvl up. Lvl 3 achieved.

Healing unlocked.'

As soon as the wordings finished, a loud roar lit up the area.

The first of the demons were already out and ready to kill anyone they could get their hand onto. This place was not safe.

"The first town. It's right down the path, isn't it?" there was no reply but Michael did not need one to bolt in that direction.

Behind him, the small wolves of the starting villages of the game spawned which indicated that this was the beginners' area.

Looking back at this, there was little to no doubt in her mind who the small girl had been.

There was only one character in the story that fit the prototype of the tragic but friendly character the player meets at the starting of the game.

One who loses her mother young when a doctor advises them to move to the nearest settlement and one who had a deep grudge against the same doctor later on.

It was Hua Mei, the first female protagonist and the only non-love interest for the male lead.

Instead, she was something like a wingman for the protagonist and also the reason Iris was termed as a villainess.

The male lead had nothing to do with her but the rest of the female cast found some way to be involved with her somehow.

Anyway, since her fate as a villainess could not be avoided at any cost, Michael had a new goal in mind for him.

"System, is it necessary for me to follow the script as intended? How much leeway do I have?"

Since there seemed to be no other choice but to follow the system, for now, Michael needed to know how far he could stretch his privileges.

'User is informed that they can do what they want as long as the major events do not change.

The end needs to be reached as had been written but the adaptation can change due to external factors'

This was pretty generous and something Michael could work with if he had enough time and resources on his hand.

And he needed to reach the first town for things to really work out for him. Micheal could already see the gates of their settlement from his original position.

The blue protection crystal was embedded for protection in the whole fencing of the town and it was meant to keep the monsters out.

A blessing of the gods.

As Michael passed through the energy field produced by the crystals he could feel a coolness pass through it. His body relaxed without and the tensions his shoulders had also receeded in one swoop.

It felt so good.

Almost good enough for him to even consider taking one of the crystals with him.

"Miss, stand away from the gates. The monsters cannot come in but their attacks can still pass through" someone pushed Michael further away the cool feeling began to fade away.

"Miss, are you alright? You seem to be in pain? D-Did I accidentally hurt you?" someone asked as soon as they settled down.

Michael snapped out of the daze the crystal had put him in and looked at the tough-looking female elf in front of him.

The other was built well, all muscles and powerful looking with a coat of armor covering her up fully.

"Miss, are you alright?" and she was right in Michael's face which made him almost blush.

"No, it's right. I am fine. I was just on my way out now" it would not be good to run into one of the male lead's harem members this early. It would jeopardize her plan of going unnoticed.

Also, all the calling of being called 'Miss' was creeping Michale out since he was mentally a guy.

"O-Oh. If you are sure. Be careful out there and go see a doctor if you feel unwell" somehow, it forced a small laugh out of Michael's lips.

He could not help but find it funny that he was being suggested to see a doctor when he himself was the best out there.

"Will do" and with that, he was out of there.

He did not want any unwanted attention on him.

"Miss, would you like one?", "Miss, this jewelry would look fetching on you", "Discount for the lovely lady in pink"

Different places were calling out and it was not until Michael bumped into someone did he realize that they had been calling out to him.

He looked up, only to meet the eyes of a female ogre who looked as if she could snap him in half if she tried.

"What? Are you too good to acknowledge us poor people? Can't even look at us, can you? I ought to teach you a lesson little miss" it was at this moment that it occurred to Michael that he might have messed up.

In his defense, he was not used to being called a 'Miss' by anyone but he was a female now and it was clear that he had upset someone with his carelessness.

And it might cost him heavy if he did not get out of this situation.

After all, those muscles in the female ogre's arms looked as if they would hurt if they connected with Michael's delicate cheek.