Ch 2: Encounter

As Gray sprinted down the dimly lit alley, the girl's desperate cries for help grew louder. He turned the corner and skidded to a halt, his eyes widening in horror at the sight before him. Three men were surrounding a woman, holding knives and tearing at her clothing, their laughter echoing through the narrow alley in the morning light.

The woman's cries pierced the air. "Help! Help!"

Gray, struggling to maintain his composure, shouted, "Get away from her!"

The three men turned, their expressions a mix of surprise and amusement. One of them, holding a knife, smirked and said, "Oh, a hero, huh?"

Another man laughed and taunted, "What are you gonna do?"

The third man chimed in with a sneer, "Yeah, what's your plan?"

The system's voice suddenly intruded into Gray's thoughts, 「Hostile enemies detected. Prepare for combat.」

Gray's composure crumbled. "Wait, wait, what?" he stammered, panic creeping into his voice.

The men exchanged confused glances, then one of them, still holding the knife, said with irritation, "I don't know what you're talking about, kid. Just die already!"

Gray's heart pounded in his chest as he faced the men. The reality of combat, something he'd only experienced virtually, was now crashing down on him. He glanced around desperately, hoping for some kind of solution or escape.

With no clear plan and his anxiety spiking, Gray tried to muster up his courage, though it felt like a drop in the ocean compared to the intimidating trio. The situation was rapidly spiraling out of control, and the surreal nature of the world around him only added to the chaos.

As the man with the knife charged toward Gray, his smirk confident and menacing, Gray's panic reached its peak. In a split second, as the man neared, Gray's body seemed to react on its own. With a swift, reflexive motion, Gray's foot connected with the man's head, sending him flying backward and crashing to the ground.

Gray stared in stunned disbelief at the scene before him, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "What is that?" he muttered, holding his head and trying to process what had just happened.

The system's voice chimed in, its tone almost amused, 「Looks like your Survival Instinct skill has been activated.」

Gray's eyes widened as he tried to grasp the implication. "Survival what?"

The system replied, 「Your instincts are enhancing your reflexes and actions in critical situations.」

Gray glanced at the fallen man and the two remaining thugs, his mind racing. "Great, just when I thought things couldn't get any weirder."

The remaining two men, taken aback by the sudden turn of events, exchanged nervous glances. Gray's involuntary action had given him an unexpected advantage, and now, with his survival instincts kicking in, he had a fighting chance in this chaotic encounter.

As the two remaining men charged at Gray, their faces twisted in fierce determination, they shouted, "Haaaaa! Arrghhh!" Their arms spread wide as they leaped toward him.

In a flash, Gray's instincts took over once more. Without thinking, he raised one foot and delivered a powerful kick. The force of the kick sent both men flying through the air, slamming into the wall and then crashing to the ground with a loud thud.

The two men, dazed and battered, scrambled to their feet, panic evident in their eyes. "This guy is dangerous! Run!" one of them shouted, and they both bolted down the alley, leaving their fallen comrade behind.

Gray stood there, breathless and stunned, watching the fleeing figures. His heart pounded in his chest, the adrenaline from the fight mixing with a sense of disbelief. "What just happened?" he wondered aloud, still trying to grasp the reality of his newly activated survival instincts.

The system's voice, ever present, offered a dry observation. 「Looks like your instincts are serving you well.」

Gray shook his head, trying to process the surreal turn of events. "Yeah, well, thanks for that. I guess I'll just... figure out the rest as I go."

As Gray's heart raced from the adrenaline of the confrontation, he finally turned his attention to the woman he had tried to save. She was sitting on the ground, her clothes torn and her face showing relief and gratitude.

Before Gray could say anything, she suddenly lunged at him, wrapping her arms around him tightly. Her naked form pressed against him as she clung to him, her voice filled with emotion. "Thank you! Thank you! You're the best!"

Gray's face turned beet red as he felt her body against his. Her breasts pressed into his shoulders, and his arms, in their awkward position, inadvertently came into contact with parts of her body that he hadn't intended to touch. "Stop, please stop!" Gray stammered, his voice a mix of embarrassment and discomfort.

The woman, still in shock and overwhelmed with gratitude, didn't seem to hear him. Her embrace was fervent and unrestrained, leaving Gray feeling increasingly awkward.

Desperate to extricate himself from the situation, Gray tried to gently push her away, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. "Please, just... let me go," he said, hoping she would understand and release him.

The system, ever observant, offered a dry comment in Gray's mind. 「Seems like you're in a bit of a bind.」

Gray sighed, wishing for the whole surreal situation to end as he attempted to regain some semblance of personal space.

Gray, feeling increasingly uncomfortable, looked away and said, "Please find some clothes to wear."

He shifted uncomfortably, trying to regain his composure. However, his discomfort was compounded by an unexpected physical reaction, and he noticed an embarrassing situation arising.

The woman, still clinging to him, glanced down and blurted out, "Are you excited by me?"

Gray's face flushed crimson as he stammered, "Ah, no! It's not like that!" He muttered to himself, "Seriously, what's with these people?"

The system's voice, ever present and unbothered, responded, 「The world you're in is accustomed to women expressing their admiration for those who save them.」

Gray shook his head, his face still red with embarrassment. "Yeah, right," he said, managing a weak smile through his awkwardness.

He continued to fidget, trying to navigate the bizarre circumstances and regain his composure while wishing for a more conventional and less uncomfortable resolution to the situation.

Gray, feeling overwhelmed, muttered to himself, "What do I do? What do I do?"

The system's voice offered a practical suggestion. 「How about taking that dress over there? It's hanging fresh and ready for a woman to wear.」

Gray's eyes darted to a nearby line where a dress was hanging, clearly meant for someone. With a mix of urgency and embarrassment, he ran over, grabbed the dress, and quickly clasped his hands together in a silent apology. "Sorry for this, whoever owns this dress. Please forgive me."

He rushed back to the woman, closing his eyes as he approached to give her some semblance of privacy. "Here you go, ma'am," he said, holding out the dress.

The woman took the dress and began to put it on. Gray, peeking with one eye open, quickly realized the dress was more of a jacket or robe. It barely covered her, leaving her vulnerable areas almost visible.

Gray's eyes flew open in shock. "Holy molly!" he exclaimed, rattled by the sight.

The woman, now dressed but still revealing much, chuckled at Gray's reaction. "You're quite the gentleman, aren't you?" she teased, finding amusement in his discomfort.

As Gray and the woman walked through the village, she clung to him closely, her gratitude evident in her demeanor. Gray, still feeling awkward, tried to address the situation. "Um, ma'am, this is a bit embarrassing."

The woman looked at him, puzzled. "What are you talking about?"

Gray gestured to their close proximity. "Just look at us. If people see us like this, they might think we're a couple."

He glanced around at the villagers, but to his surprise, no one seemed to take much notice of them. Most passersby went about their business, ignoring their odd pairing.

Gray muttered to himself in frustration, "What is this?"

The system's voice chimed in, 「It's called Passive Skill: Women's Grace.」

Gray scratched his head in bewilderment. "What a whacky skill I have."

The system responded with a hint of amusement, 「In this world, such skills can have unexpected effects.」

As they continued walking, Gray tried to adjust to the bizarre and surreal aspects of his new reality, his mind still reeling from the strange encounter and the peculiar skills he was discovering.

As they continued their walk through the village, Gray, feeling increasingly disoriented, asked, "Ma'am, where are we going?"

The woman looked up at him with a reassuring smile. "To my house, of course."

Gray's eyes widened in shock. "Wait, what? Your house?"

The woman chuckled, finding his reaction amusing. "Yes, my house. Follow me."

Gray, still trying to process the surreal situation, followed her as she led the way. The village scenery passed by in a blur as he tried to wrap his head around everything that had happened and the unexpected turn his day had taken.

As they arrived at the woman's home, she turned to Gray and said cheerfully, "So, mister, we're home!"

Gray looked at the cobblestone house with its quaint, medieval charm and marveled, "Whoa, I've never seen a house like this before. Not in the modern world, and not even in the game due to its low graphics."

The woman tilted her head curiously, her hair swaying slightly with the motion. "Hmm? What's that?"

Gray, feeling a bit awkward, laughed nervously while closing his eyes. "Oh, nothing. Just... thinking out loud." He forced a smile, hoping to brush off his discomfort.

The woman's eyes sparkled with curiosity but she let it slide, guiding him inside. As Gray followed her, he continued to grapple with the surreal nature of his new surroundings, trying to adjust to his unexpected and bizarre adventure.

As Gray and women entered the house, they were greeted by a warm and bustling scene. The Women's mother was baking a cake in the kitchen, and her father was busy fixing a chair and table.

"Oh, Vanisa, you're home!" her mother exclaimed, her face lighting up with a smile.

Vanisa's father, noticing his daughter and Gray, looked up with concern. "Oh, you're alright, dear Vanisa?"

Vanisa, still clinging to Gray awkwardly, said, "Actually, he's my savior."

Her parents' expressions shifted to gratitude. They clapped their hands in appreciation, their relief palpable. Gray, feeling both honored and embarrassed, smiled awkwardly, closing his eyes briefly to manage his discomfort.

Vanisa's mother then asked, still cheerful, "Were you attacked by the Bagage?"

Gray, confused, responded, "Um, ma'am, what's the Bagage?"

Vanisa's father explained, "It's the three men who've been causing trouble in town, attacking young women. Thankfully, Vanisa was untouched by those gangs."

Her parents looked at each other with relief and gratitude, clasping their hands together in thanks. Gray, still trying to find his footing in this unfamiliar world, nodded and attempted to come to terms with the situation.

Gray, trying to ease the tension, said, "Actually, Miss Vanisa here was attacked, and I tried to save her. Luckily, I managed to help." He offered a reassuring smile.

Vanisa, still curious, asked, "Mister, how did you hear me? There were no people in that alley."

Gray, thinking quickly, replied, "Actually, I was passing by the alley and heard you, Ma'am Vanisa. So, I came to help." He smiled, rubbing the back of his head and closing his eyes, trying to look casual.

Vanisa's parents, relieved and grateful, nodded in understanding. Her mother said, "We're so grateful for your help."

As Gray smiled awkwardly, he hoped his improvised explanation would be enough to keep things smooth. He continued to navigate the complexities of his new world, grateful for the kindness of Vanisa's family but still trying to make sense of everything.