— Vice Mandate Activated —
[Mandate: Underwear!]
[Content: Secretly glance at a female student’s underwear without being noticed.]
[Reward: ??]
[Time Limit: 2 hours]
[Remaining Time: 15 minutes]
[Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆]
[Failure Punishment: Shrinkage! Failure will result in the reduction of your manhood, severely lowering confidence in the presence of females.]
Arcadian Hearts. That was the game Adrian had been playing. A dating sim so popular with teenagers it was impossible to have not heard of it. The game was all about managing relationships and pursuing multiple love interests, a harem-building fantasy.
He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t interested.
But he never expected that getting hit by a truck would land him inside the game itself. And not even as the protagonist, but as a disposable supporting character. The final, cruel joke was the awakening of this bizarre Debauched Conquest System.
Fuck… How am I supposed to complete a quest like this?
Adrian cursed internally, forcing his features to remain neutral. He was in the cafeteria of the Aethelgard Royal Academy, and the last thing he needed was to draw attention to himself.
Fucking idiot system, can’t you give me a decent mission?
He wasn’t some pervert who went around trying to peek at underwear. The very idea made his stomach turn. But a glance at the quest’s remaining time sent a chill of genuine fear through him.
It’s already so small… if it gets any smaller…
Adrian had, of course, checked. The discovery had been so dismal he’d almost cried. If it shrank any more, he might seriously have to consider a gender change.
No. Absolutely not.
He shuddered, picturing a future of utter despair.
“Hmm…? Adrian, are you alright?”
A soft voice pulled him from his spiraling thoughts.
“Why are you staring at your lap?”
The voice belonged to Elara Montclair. With her silky blond hair, sparkling blue eyes, and a tall, graceful figure that radiated both warmth and elegance, she was undeniably beautiful.
“Haha… he’s probably just bummed that the next class is a practical one.”
Before Adrian could answer, a hand clapped his shoulder and an easy laugh followed. That was Liam Hawthorne, a tall, handsome young man whose confidence practically oozed from his pores. He was, of course, the protagonist of this dating sim.
The three of them were friends, all chosen from the same hometown to attend the prestigious academy. After all, not just anyone could get into the Aethelgard Royal Academy, where the best of the nation’s future hunters gathered.
“…I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
Adrian wasn’t exactly comfortable around them, not since he’d realized what kind of world he was in. Besides, the ticking clock on this damnable quest had warped his every thought.
Shit… she’s wearing long pants. How am I supposed to see her underwear? he thought, his eyes flicking down to Elara’s legs in a brief, desperate scan. He was met only with disappointment.
The poor guy hadn’t seen a single girl in a skirt all day. How in the hell was he supposed to complete this mission?
Dejected, Adrian stabbed his fork into the pile of food on his plate and shoved a bite into his mouth. It was meat from some kind of beast, but he barely tasted it. His eyes were already darting around the cafeteria, searching for a target. His Archer class helped; his vision was sharp and could cover long distances. If he was careful, no one would even notice his gaze.
“Don’t mind him, Elara,” Liam said with a shake of his head. “He’ll be back to normal once he gets some food in him.” He changed the subject. “By the way, did you see that huge building earlier? Damn… this Aethelgard Academy is really something else. I heard they even have their own exclusive artificial dungeon.”
Liam’s voice was buzzing with an excitement shared by nearly every other freshman in the room.
“Yeah… it is the best academy, after all,” Elara chimed in, her blue eyes shining with hope. “As long as you graduate from here, there will be a line of Guilds waiting to recruit you.”
Unlike Liam, who was a Swordsman, Elara was a Healer. She was a perfect support class, indispensable to any team, but finding a good Guild on her own would be a challenge. For her, this academy wasn’t just about learning; it was about making connections.
The only one immune to the excitement was Adrian. He tuned out their conversation, his entire focus bent on scanning his surroundings. The academy drew students from all over the world. Surely, one of them…
He poked at his food, his eyes still roaming. Maybe he’d get lucky…
“Hmm?”
His gaze locked onto someone who had just entered his field of view. She was a tall girl with fiery red hair, carrying a tray of food. Her long legs moved with an easy grace as she walked in his direction. The gentle sway of her hips was mesmerizing, and with every breath, the swell of her chest rose and fell in a steady, unhurried rhythm.
In sheer presence, she could easily rival Elara. But that wasn’t what Adrian noticed. His eyes dropped for a fraction of a second.
A skirt.
Adrian swallowed hard and quickly lowered his gaze, his heart starting to pound. If anyone caught him staring, he’d be branded a pervert for life. Still, he’d finally found a target. Conflicting thoughts flooded his mind.
Should I do it?
…
Wait… how should I do it?
Adrian’s mind went blank. The girl was getting closer, clearly intending to pass by their table, and his anxiety mounted with every step she took. He had no plan.
Drop a spoon and sneak a look when I pick it up? What if I get caught? Her skirt isn’t even that short. Follow her? In front of all these people? And then what? Class starts soon, I’m out of time.
What to do, what to do…
Think, Adrian… think… This is a matter of dignity.
You cannot give up your manhood…
He tried to force a brilliant idea into existence, but his brain had completely shut down.
Oh… fuck it.
By the time he looked up, the girl was almost past his table. It was now or never. If he let this chance go, he would fail the quest for sure.
No… I can’t let this opportunity pass.
As his panic peaked, Adrian finally acted. It was, however, the act of a complete and utter idiot.
“What? N-no…”
He shot his leg out from under the table, right into her path.
The girl, her tray piled high with food, never saw it coming. Her foot connected with his leg, and she pitched forward with a gasp. The tray flew from her hands. Plates and bowls crashed against the floor in a cacophony of shattering ceramic, scattering food everywhere.
“Ah…!”
Her shrill cry echoed through the hall as she lost her balance completely, tumbling down into the messy sprawl.
“…”
The entire cafeteria fell silent. Every eye turned toward the commotion, focusing on Adrian’s table and the girl sprawled embarrassingly on the floor.
Oh, fuck… I am so done for.
Adrian could feel the weight of hundreds of stares. In his desperation, he’d done something monumentally stupid. Everything had gone wrong.
Fortunately, she isn’t wearing safety shorts.
The only silver lining—if it could even be called that—was the brief, fleeting glimpse Adrian had managed to catch as she fell.
[Congratulations!]
[You have successfully glanced at the underwear of a female student, Isolde Valerius, without being noticed.]
[You have successfully completed your first Vice Mandate: Underwear.]
[Do you want to accept the reward?]
He had completed his quest on time. But at what cost?