Shroud Arcanum - Chapter 2 - - Into the Shroud

Fate is a funny thing.

The royal bastard of House Vasquer, Argrave, changed after his stay studying magic at the Tower of the Gray Owl.

The sickly man's awkward posture and cruel behavior have been replaced with a neat dignity and acerbic wit.

Though once listless, he now strives towards his goals with a life-or-death tenacity.

Most come away thinking he seems to know too many details about too much. Few can claim to know his motives or his goals.

Yet behind that confident appearance, the primary contributor for an open-world RPG's wiki battles existential dread and things far beyond his ken as he struggles to adapt to a grim, gothic fantasy world mirroring his favorite game.

The prospect of fighting against a world-ending calamity loses all of its appeal when it transitions from entertainment to reality.

Argrave is spurred towards unwanted heroism to preserve his life as he struggles desperately to keep this sinking ship afloat.

[Fast Wear + Group Pampering + Gentle Female Lead + Crushing Scum]Su Zhiruan had died unexpectedly and was bound to the Childbirth System. Completing tasks would earn her eternal life and inexhaustible wealth.This sounds great!In her last life, she had no children. After binding with the system, she became blessed with many children and was pampered to the heavens by the male lead!All her children were obedient, sensible, and easy to raise, making her a true bringer of fortune![Scenario One]: Five years into the Emperor's reign, the harem had produced no offspring. After a night of passion with Su Zhiruan, the harem became filled with princes and princesses. The Emperor would dote on them even during court sessions, setting aside his imperial deportment to play with the children and personally teach the princes. His gaze towards Su Zhiruan grew increasingly fervent.“My dear, would you like to be my Empress, and together take care of our children, becoming my wife above all others?”[Scenario Two]: The most mysterious gentleman in the Capital City was rumored to be disabled. Approaching middle age without any descendants, his relatives eyed his fortune and wished him dead daily. Su Zhiruan's arrival utterly dispelled their schemes, as she bore this handsome man a brood of children. When she thought to leave, he held onto her, his normally cold and proud eyes filled with pleading. His voice was deep and low.“Wife, please don't leave me and our children. I beg you.”

Initially, the four elder brothers of the affluent Sang family disapproved of everything about their biological sister, their hearts and eyes solely focused on their foster sister.The eldest brother said, 'Stop embarrassing yourself with your acting, just retire from the industry.'The second brother remarked, 'Your life is less significant than Jiaojiao's movie premiere.'The third brother declared, 'Didn't buy you a gift, you are an outsider after all.'The fourth brother insisted, 'Don't come to my game, Jiaojiao will be there.'After repeated disappointments, Sang Qiao carried her bag and left, not only setting up her own company to make money but also participating in a dating show with her ex-fiance as her partner. Just when she finished the show diligently, thinking she could gracefully retire from it, she suddenly felt a pair of large hands encircling her waist, and a man's voice murmured deeply: 'Where do you think you're going, naughty girl? Were you just leading me on this whole time? Hmm?'Sang Qiao: '!' I was taking the dating show seriously, and you actually fell in love???'From then on, she gained a powerful supporter, reaping the rewards of both a flourishing career and a love life.However, the four brothers, betrayed by their foster sister and realizing how wrong they were in their treatment of Sang Qiao, deeply regretted their past actions, attempting every means to reconcile.Facing the eldest brother she said: 'Stop squatting at my doorstep begging, you're affecting the city's appearance.'To the second brother she said: 'You've only lost a leg, if I take care of you, I'd be losing five million!'Confronting the third brother: 'Keep dumping trash at my doorstep and watch how unpleasant I can be.'And to the fourth brother: 'Tomorrow I'm going to visit a friend's dog, so I have no time for your competition.'