Chapter 1.1

< The game ‘How the Foolish Countess is Loved’ includes high-level hardcore play elements that may cause trauma, such as physical assault, multiple participants, and r*pe. >

In the pitch-black space, white text floated in the air. 

A figure reached out into the transparent void, blinking eyes that couldn’t see anything. No matter how far virtual reality games had advanced, the sensation of being completely detached from all senses—sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch—and even the feeling of one’s soul leaving the body—was utterly mysterious. 

The letters that had appeared before her disappeared, and the dark surroundings brightened. A small, cozy room emerged. Soon, clusters of light, like fireflies, scattered around, and one by one, furniture began to materialize—a worn-out bed, a wooden wardrobe, drawers, and a window. Finally, a full-length mirror of appropriate size appeared in front of her. 

The mirror reflected the character she had been given: 

< Sera Adria >. 

She was a woman with pure white hair that fell halfway down her chest, alabaster skin, and gray eyes. A game without character customization in this day and age. Still, the character’s unique features made her face and figure unrealistically beautiful. 

Sera lightly clenched and unclenched her delicate and elegant hands, which looked as if they belonged in an art gallery. Perhaps because she had played so many games, this place didn’t feel like a virtual world at all. 

As soon as she looked away from the mirror, the sound of a door suddenly opening startled her. 

< The tutorial will now begin. > 

< During the tutorial, sensitivity settings will be adjusted. Starting the game before these settings are complete may hinder progress. > 

A man entered the room, his appearance exuding an intelligent charm. He had light blonde hair, blue eyes, and glasses connected by a chain. As Sera stared at him, his name appeared above him: 

< Ray Mott >. 

Ray spoke first, his tone casual yet commanding. 

“Are you still in your nightwear?” 

Sera blinked in confusion, unsure how to respond. 

“Yes, uh…?” 

The conversation progressed without warning, leaving her standing there blankly. Ray leaned casually against the wall and gestured toward the wardrobe with his chin. 

“First, change your clothes.” 

In front of him? Right after barging in? 

Starting with something so humiliating was a bit overwhelming for her. 

Still, was there any other choice? Sera approached the wardrobe and opened its doors wide. Inside, as if prepared specifically for this moment, was a single neatly folded outfit in an otherwise empty wardrobe. She grabbed it, but… 

Was this really clothing? Or just scraps of fabric? 

While it technically covered the chest, the design left the cleavage completely exposed. The sheer material made it impossible to hide anything, and just looking at it made her face flush with heat. 

To be fair, what she was wearing now wasn’t much better. Her current outfit, a cute nightgown, left the pink of her n*pples visible through the thin fabric, and if she bent over even slightly, her backside would be entirely exposed. 

So, what was the point of changing? If someone asked, she’d say the difference was that what she was wearing now was a cute nightgown, while the new outfit looked like something meant for… a night with a man. 

As she hesitated, simply holding the outfit and staring at it, Ray frowned. At that, she finally started to move. 

Receiving such an overtly scrutinizing gaze from a man made her hands tremble with an unfamiliar sense of shame. 

“Huff…” 

But… wasn’t this sensitivity… a bit too much? 

Was it normal to feel this way just from changing clothes? 

She could hear the sound of something dripping onto the floor. Every brush of the fabric against her skin sent a ticklish sensation through her. 

No matter how advanced virtual reality technology had become, there had to be limits. Yet this game’s sensory detail was astonishing. She had never experienced anything like it before. 

Realizing that Ray was watching everything unfold, her legs began to shake. Her knees wobbled slightly, but she managed to straighten them and slowly removed her current outfit. A strange ticklish sensation deep within her made it hard to focus. 

Regardless of her body’s reactions, Sera wasn’t someone who particularly enjoyed this kind of humiliation. Honestly, who would enjoy undressing in front of a man they had just met? 

And yet, every spot his gaze lingered on felt as though it had been coated in honey. 

“Ah… mm…” 

Ray’s voice interrupted her thoughts. 

“If you’re done dressing, come here and lie down. I’ll have to punish you for being unprepared on your first day.” 

Ray’s tone was calm and composed, even as Sera stood there, breathing heavily from the strange sensations overtaking her. He sat at the edge of the bed, waiting, but she hesitated, unable to move from her spot. 

“Are you… going to hit me…?”

From the very beginning? Shouldn’t it usually start with something else before hitting? 

Sera wondered nervously, asking the question just in case, but the man only furrowed his brow without giving her an answer. The atmosphere became even more intimidating. She didn’t have the courage to ask again, so she timidly watched him and cautiously approached. 

Ray extended a hand toward her as she came closer. The moment her hand touched his, she was honestly surprised. She had already realized that this game was designed to be highly sensitive based on how her body had reacted earlier. Even when she had taken clothes from the wardrobe, she noticed how realistic the textures felt. But the warmth of his hand was so startlingly real that it caught her off guard. 

Ray helped her lie across his lap, positioning her so that her back was exposed, and lifted her skirt to reveal her lower body. His unhesitating actions made her body tremble slightly. Even though she knew this wasn’t reality, she couldn’t help but feel nervous. 

A large hand began to trace circles over her exposed backside. The unexpectedly sensual touch made her bite her lower lip softly. Even though she was in a situation where she was about to be punished, Sera couldn’t deny that she had entered this game with a certain desire. The physical contact with another person felt oddly welcome. 

Ray grabbed one of her arms and pinned it behind her back. That part was a little frightening. He pressed firmly on her lower back to keep her from moving, and the weight of it felt ominous. 

Smack!

“Ahh!” 

The sound was so loud it seemed to echo in her head, filling the room. She had underestimated how painful it would be. Only now did she realize how naive she had been. 

It hurt far too much. It felt like her backside might fall off. Tears welled up in her eyes as she whimpered, and when she glanced at the mirror positioned against the wall, she saw that her skin had already swollen noticeably. 

Was it even possible to feel pain this vividly in a game? 

Still dazed from the shock, she didn’t have time to recover before Ray struck her again, even harder this time. 

Smack!

“Ugh…!” 

This didn’t feel normal. Her once pale skin was now bruised and discolored, as if she had been hit in reality. Tears fell uncontrollably as the pain overwhelmed her senses. 

“What time were you supposed to be ready by?” 

Ray’s voice was calm but firm. 

“I-I… I don’t… know…” 

She stammered through her sobs. 

How could I have known? No one had told me anything! Shouldn’t he at least explain before punishing me? 

Ray’s hand rose again. Instinctively, she tensed her body. Despite how much she struggled, he struck the center of her backside even harder this time. 

“Hah!” 

The impact left her breathless. The pain was so intense that she couldn’t even form words. But this time, something was different. Alongside the pain, a strange wave of pleasure began to spread through her. 

She could feel herself becoming more aroused, and now there was even a sensation of wetness trickling down her thighs. 

“Have you forgotten that you’re being punished?” 

Sera didn’t understand why her body was reacting this way. She had thought she was simply overly sensitive, but now, it felt as if she was enjoying the way he spanked her. 

However, when his hand rose again, her fear returned. His indifferent expression made her panic, and she began to beg. 

“I-I’m sorry! I was wrong!” 

She tightly shut her eyes, tears falling freely onto the floor. Her mind raced, desperately searching for the logout button. 

Fortunately, his raised hand didn’t come down again. Instead, Ray lowered his hand and gently rubbed her sore, stinging backside. 

“So, you do know you were in the wrong.” 

His tone was calm, but there was a hint of mockery in his words. 

“I was starting to think you were mute since you weren’t saying anything.” 

It sounded as if he was blaming her silence for the three strikes he had delivered.

Couldn’t he have just told me earlier? 

The thought made her feel even more miserable. 

Ray spoke evenly as he continued to rub her backside, his hand moving up and down before slipping between her cheeks. His fingers trailed along the crevice, brushing over her most private areas. 

“Hah… ah…” 

His fingers barely grazed her sensitive skin, but the wetness there made a sticky sound with every movement. A soft moan escaped her lips involuntarily. 

“I’m certain I told you to be ready for training by 8 a.m..”

“Ha… I’m sorry… I’ll… from tomorrow, I’ll…” 

She apologized, her voice trembling as she tried to gauge his mood. But all her attention was focused on his hand, which was now teasing her entrance. His fingers hovered as if they were about to push inside but stopped just before doing so. 

The absence of his touch left her feeling frustrated. As the teasing sensations faded, the pain in her backside returned to the forefront of her mind. 

“Sera.” 

“Y-Yes…?” 

His voice, calling her name, carried a weight that made her tense up. She couldn’t hide her nervousness as she looked at him. Ray gazed at her intently before speaking again. 

“It’s nothing. I was just surprised by how different the Earl of Adria’s words were from his actual behavior.”

“Ah….” 

Ray continued his actions after saying those words. His fingers circled around her entrance, and just as a pleasant moan began to escape her lips, he pulled his hand away. 

The teasing behavior made her lips almost pout involuntarily. She bit her lips inward and, following his lead, naturally slid down between his legs. 

As she did so, a system window popped up in front of her eyes. 

〈 Ray’s Affection Level has increased. (Current Affection Level: 1%) 〉 

〈 Affection Level 〉 

– The affection level of others can rise to a maximum of 100%. 

– Upon reaching 100%, you can obtain a special item with unique effects from each character. 

* Currently, the Blessing of Deliwood is active. 

〈 Blessing of Deliwood 〉 

– A blessing bestowed by the god governing this world. 

– During tutorial mode, when the target’s affection level reaches 10%, you will obtain an item. 

〈 Upon reaching 10% affection with Ray, you will obtain the “Flavor-Modifying Choker.” 〉 

〈 Flavor-Modifying Choker 〉 

– When worn, it seems the taste of s*men will become sweet. It might even taste like fruit? 

The item description that followed after the affection level rose for the first time left her slightly shocked. In most modern games, things like the taste of s*men could be adjusted in the settings. But now that she looked, this game didn’t even seem to have a settings button, not even the usual gear-shaped icon.