Jack stood in the hall, the door to his mother's room closed behind him, his body still thrumming with the thrill of what he'd done.
Her gasps, her trembling, the way she'd unraveled under his touch—it was a victory, a taste of the power the goddess had promised.
But as the adrenaline faded, questions flooded his mind.
What is this world, really? Who am I in it? Do I have friends, enemies? Is it just like my old world, or something else entirely?
The goddess had been vague, dropping him into this virgin paradise with little more than a smirk and a promise. If he was going to make the most of this, he needed answers. He needed to explore.
He grabbed his phone from his room, the screen lighting up to reveal a sparse contact list: Olivia, Mom, Eva, Me.
Eva—that's the older sister.
Only four contacts, including his own number?
Damn, I really am a loner.
His mother's earlier promise to buy him any game he wanted clicked into place.
Hardcore gamer or weeb, huh? That's who Jack was.
It explained the sparse social life, but it didn't tell him about the world outside.
He moved to the computer in his room, a sleek setup with a glowing keyboard and no password lock.
Of course, he thought, smirking.
No porn, no sex, no need for privacy.
He opened a browser and checked the news, expecting familiar headlines.
Instead, he was bombarded with articles about a dopey-looking blonde king—planting trees, riding horses, waving at crowds.
The national news site was obsessed with him, every story a mundane celebration of his existence.
No president, no prime minister—just a king?
The world was modern, with tech and cities like his old one, but this monarchy felt… off, like a fairy tale grafted onto reality.
How's that different for me? he wondered.
Guess I'll find out.
He needed to see the world for himself, to make contact and understand his place in it.
Shutting off the computer, he headed to the main door of the apartment and stepped into the hallway.
The door faced a sprawling cityscape, skyscrapers glinting in the morning sun, cars humming below.
To his side, other apartment doors lined the corridor, and a plaque on his own read "309."
Third floor, got it.
A click sounded to his right, and a door opened.
Out stepped a woman.
She was around Eva's age, mid-twenties, with fiery red hair pulled into a tight bun, accentuating her sharp cheekbones and full lips.
Her tailored blazer hugged her curves, the deep neckline revealing a hint of creamy cleavage, and her pencil skirt clung to her hips, swaying with each step.
Her legs, long and toned, ended in stilettos that clicked against the floor.
Her green eyes flicked to Jack, but she passed him without a word, her hips swaying hypnotically as she headed for the elevator.
Jack's gaze lingered, the heat in his veins flaring.
My neighbor is hawt.
He stayed by the door, scouting the hallway, the city's pulse calling to him.
Another click, and a couple emerged from a nearby apartment to his left.
The woman was a tall blonde, her body a study in sensuality.
Her dress was scandalously tight, red fabric clinging to her generous breasts, the neckline plunging to reveal their inner curves.
Her hips flared, the dress ending mid-thigh, showcasing legs that seemed to go on forever.
Her companion, a shorter man with a bland face, trailed behind her, his expression neutral.
They moved without touching, no hint of affection, like roommates rather than lovers.
"Hi, Jack," the blonde called, her voice teasing as her blue eyes locked onto him.
"Up early? Not cooped up in your room? Internet out?" She smirked, her lips curling mockingly. "Seriously, get a life, Jack."
Jack blinked, caught off guard by her familiarity—and her jab.
Guess I'm known as the shut-in.
The couple headed to the elevator, the blonde's ass swaying with each step, the man silent beside her.
Husband and wife?
They didn't act like it, their distance another reminder of this world's strangeness.
He lingered, determined to learn more.
The elevator dinged, and a delivery man stepped out, holding a parcel. He glanced around, then approached Jack.
"Hey, where's 308?"