The Red Witch
About a year ago.
Ian had been pulled into the world of the adult game Eden. The moment he launched the game, his consciousness blacked out, and when he opened his eyes, he found himself lying in an unfamiliar place. The cold touch of the stone floor and the strange scent of the air quietly proved this was no dream.
...Still, up to that point, he hadn't panicked too much. Ian had a certain confidence. He'd read countless fantasy novels, comics, and played games up until now. The patterns in them were mostly the same. Isekai transfer. Protagonist perks! Growth. And eventually, overwhelming power. There was no way he didn't know that formula.
I can do it too! He figured that with a bit of clever thinking, he could survive just fine. Plus, this game's world was one of reversed chastity. A place where males were rare and females dominated. If he could get strong as expected, that would be perfect, but even if not, it wasn't a total dead end. Worst case—he could sell his body! He wouldn't starve even if he ended up in a brothel.
Fuck desperate women while earning gold! Best of both worlds! Somehow, his life here seemed like it could be happier than he'd thought. He knew it was a twisted way of thinking, but in this situation, it didn't feel all that strange.
Ian hadn't played the full release of Eden, but since it had caught his interest before launch, he'd tried the closed beta a bit. This was Labyrinth City Eden. A place where you conquered an endless labyrinth to grow stronger, with the core promise: "Reach the deepest part, and you can return to your original world!" That was the game's basic structure.
So Ian moved immediately once he grasped the situation. The first thing to do was simple.
Register as an adventurer!
The guild registration was surprisingly straightforward. Write your name, get a wooden tag. Done.
Clutching the tag, Ian headed straight for the labyrinth. It didn't take long to reach the entrance.
The labyrinth entrance was like a portal. You couldn't see inside—it emitted a bright light that reflected your image like a mirror. Staring at his reflection, Ian realized his body was different from before.
He'd shrunk. Down to about 160cm. Over 20cm shorter than his original height. He'd vaguely sensed it since arriving, that his body felt smaller, but not this much. His limbs were slender, with barely any muscle. Lighter body, but weaker too. Moving in the portal's reflection made it obvious. Strength. Reflexes. Balance. Everything was noticeably inferior to his old body.
And the most crucial fact: In this world, males were born weak by default. Weak enough to lose to an average woman. Understanding that intellectually was one thing; feeling it firsthand was another.
Even so, Ian pushed himself into the labyrinth. The reason was simple.
The labyrinth is calling me!
Eden's labyrinth offered a relatively safe way to grow.
1. Enter the labyrinth.
2. Kill early-floor monsters.
3. Exit.
4. Enter again.
Repeat, and you'd gradually build power. A surprisingly safe and simple method! The entrance opened once a month for seven days, free entry and exit during that time. Miss it now, and you'd wait at least a month. Ian planned to get as strong as possible in those seven days.
At least—that's what he believed.
But plans have a way of crumbling easily against reality. As Mike Tyson said: "Everyone has a plan 'til they get punched in the mouth."
It didn't take Ian long to learn that.
Shortly after entering, he encountered a monster. A goblin. The weakest on the first floor. At least, in the game.
Ian didn't hesitate much. He crouched low and charged.
Was it overconfidence? In that instant, the goblin's arm swung.
The little green bastard held a club and had longer reach than Ian. Thwack.
His vision flipped, back slamming into the floor. Breath caught in his throat. Head hit, but somehow breathing hurt more.
"Guhk...!"
His body wouldn't move right. The goblin climbed on top.
And in that moment, Ian remembered another fact. This was a reversed-chastity world. Most monsters were female too.
The goblin on him yanked at his clothes. Rip!
Fabric tore roughly, exposing pale skin like a boy's. Chastity in peril right at the story's start.
And right then—
A sound sliced the air.
"Lightning."
Flash. Blue lightning tore through the darkness, striking down.
Crack. The goblin flew off. Ian, stuck to it, felt a stinging shock.
"Kik!"
The goblin hit the wall with a short scream.
Brief silence. Then footsteps. A shadow approached slowly.
"Are you okay...?"
A soft voice. Ian turned toward it—and lost his words.
Red hair. Red eyes. Red lips. Skin white as snow, contrasting sharply.
A woman in a loose robe and large mage's hat. A face he'd never seen in the game's catalog.
But that didn't matter. She was—overwhelmingly beautiful.
Ian mumbled stupidly.
"Y-Yeah... I'm... fine..."
His body still tingled from the lightning's aftermath.
She looked apologetic. "Oh, sorry. You were too close; I couldn't help it."
Her eyebrows dipped slightly, genuinely sorry. It was oddly cute. Ian grinned blankly.
"Really okay?"
"Yeah... I'm good..."
As he tried to stand, his legs wobbled. Body not fully obeying. Foot slipped, pitching forward.
And—poof. Soft sensation.
His face buried straight into her chest.
Warm...
Body heat seeped clearly through the robe. And a faint floral scent.
The woman chuckled after a pause. "Fufu."
A small laugh. "You're really cute."
And with that—her hand naturally stroked his butt.
Butt?
Ian's thoughts stalled. But he got it soon enough. In this world, males were protected... and cute. As a man with normal desires, he kinda understood her urge. Like a lucky perv moment... He'd probably grope too in her shoes (not really). He excused her.
"Does it hurt a lot?"
Her voice stayed soft, unlike the pervy move.
"I'll take you to the guild."
"N-No, really, I'm f—"
In that instant, his body floated lightly. She grabbed under his arms, hoisted him up.
And casually—slung him over her shoulder.
Surprisingly natural, like she'd done it a hundred times. Too smooth to even protest.
"You got hit by magic."
She said. "The aftereffects last longer than you'd think."
Ian's legs dangled in the air. The labyrinth view from her shoulder spun dizzily.
So the two headed for the exit. Well, one walked; the other dangled.
She found the way out effortlessly, like it was routine. They emerged through the portal.
And—poof.
"Huh?"
"Oh my."
A faint light flowed from Ian's body. Like a glow leaking from beneath his skin.
In Eden's labyrinth, exiting after killing monsters gave a chance at a boon. It manifested like this light. Intensity hinted at quality—brighter for strong boons, red for negative boons.
Longer stays or beating stronger foes upped chances and power.
"Got a boon already... Lucky kid."
Arcia smiled lightly.
She was right. Less than an hour in, only one goblin—and not even killed by him. She'd zapped it. A boon in that scenario? Pure luck.
"You check boons at the temple."
Eden had no status screens or skill menus. Temple visit required for labyrinth boons. Checking free; removal cost gold depending on the boon.
"What do you wanna do?"
Arcia tilted her head. "Temple or guild?"
Originally, she'd planned to drop him at the guild inn to rest. But the boon changed things. If it was a bad one, remove it before effects kicked in.
"Check the boon first."
Ian answered without hesitation. He already knew his first boon.
Hero's Heart.
The boon protagonists got first here. Normally not on first run, but as this world's protagonist—he'd snag it right away.
Still, he wanted to confirm personally.
"Okay, temple it is."
Arcia smiled easily. Then casually—smack. Smack.
Her palm patted his butt twice. Not too hard over clothes, but solid impact.
"H-Hey, why the butt again...? And I can walk now!"
Ian muttered. But Arcia ignored it, keeping him slung over.
Upside-down view fixed downward. Each step jiggled him; her hand supported thigh and butt naturally.
"Stay still."
Arcia said calmly. "Not fully healed yet."
To her, it seemed utterly normal. But not to him. She stroked slyly under pretense of steadying.
"...I'm really fine now."
Ian said softly again. Arcia paused.
Turned her head slightly. Red eyes narrowed playfully.
"Still."
Her hand pressed his butt lightly. Not a pat—firmer squeeze.
Ian felt inexplicable dread in those red eyes.
"This is more comfy for me."
She resumed walking. Ian's protests died quietly, dangling and silent atop her shoulder.