Chastity-Reversed Hard Mode: Surviving as a Steel-Minded Adventurer in Another World - Chapter 04: Enduring the Guild Interview with a Steel Mind

Chapter 04: Enduring the Guild Interview with a Steel Mind

Following the directions from the guard lady, I walked down the road for a good ten minutes.

My first impression?

This city had far too few men.

Not that they were completely absent—but spotting one was rare. And the few I did see were middle-aged or older, shuffling along the edges of the street with hunched shoulders, as if apologizing for even being alive.

As for young men? Not a single one in sight.

Instead, the center of the road belonged entirely to the young women strutting about like they owned the place. They walked with all the confidence of people who knew they were the protagonists here. Everyone else—the elderly, children, and especially the scattered men—kept their heads down, careful not to get in the way… or risk getting dragged into trouble.

Maybe all the younger guys had been drafted into the army—that would explain their absence.

Even so, seeing women ruling the streets so openly like this still struck me as unnatural.

Either way, the last thing I needed was attention.

So I copied the locals, slipped to the side of the road, and made my way toward the Adventurers’ Guild.

Of course, that didn’t stop me from being stared at. I could feel women’s eyes on me the whole walk.

Were they surprised because young men were supposed to be off at war?

Or was it simply because I stood out—as a plain East Asian guy in a place where no one else looked remotely like me?

Oh, right—about the townsfolk.

Their skin leaned pale, closer to Westerners, but their faces weren’t particularly “foreign.” More like that classic Japanese fantasy look—where they’re not quite Western, not quite Japanese. The kind of generic design you see all the time in isekai games and anime. Honestly, it really drove home the feeling of, Yep, I’ve landed in a fantasy world.

As for the city itself, the main streets were lined mostly with brick buildings, which gave off a strong Western Europe vibe. But here and there, I spotted what looked like gas lamps.

So maybe this world’s tech level was actually a notch higher than the usual medieval setting. Still, no power lines, no cars—so at best, late Middle Ages level of development.

…And, well, the place stank.

A foul smell seeped up from the gutters along the roadside. Maybe the locals didn’t notice anymore, but for someone fresh out of modern Japan like me, it was pretty rough. I figured I’d get used to it eventually… hopefully.

Anyway, after wandering around for a while, I finally came across a sign that clearly belonged to the Adventurers’ Guild.

The design featured a carrier pigeon. Honestly, if not for the “guild” vibe, I would’ve mistaken it for a post office.

Alright—time to get myself registered!

“The guild registration fee is five silver coins.”

“…I don’t have any money.”

“Then please leave.”

The receptionist—an icy, no-nonsense kind of guy—brushed me off without a second thought when I asked to sign up as an adventurer.

Wait, what?! At least hear me out a little!

And seriously, a fee? Isn’t that backwards? I’m the one who’s going to be working for you, hauling in loot and clearing quests, and I’m supposed to pay just to join? How does that make sense?

I tried protesting, but the receptionist just let out a long, weary sigh.

“Every so often, we get people like you who are under the wrong impression. But let me make it clear—we are an organization. To keep it running properly, we need funding. And that means suspicious individuals like you get turned away at the door. Understand?”

“Wait, but… aren’t you guys more like a social safety net? You know, giving desperate people odd jobs like herb collecting or sewer cleaning?”

I tried tossing back the “common knowledge” I’d picked up from web novels, but the receptionist only made a sour face.

“…I won’t deny that we sometimes take on jobs the city hall doesn’t have the manpower for, like cleaning. But that’s only incidental. Feeding bottom-tier workers is not our purpose. Our true mission is monster extermination. Every guild member is expected to work their way up to those jobs eventually. That’s what matters.”

So basically, according to him, the Adventurers’ Guild was more like a monster pest-control company. The side jobs were just filler to keep rookies busy until they were strong enough for real work.

…Well, fair enough. Street cleaning really was supposed to be the government’s job anyway.

“Therefore…”

The receptionist narrowed his eyes at me.

“We don’t have any work for some clueless runaway boy who looks like he just left home for the first time. Adventuring is brutal. Go back home, raise kids, and live a proper life. That’s what’s best for you.”

…Huh? Did he seriously think I was just some runaway kid?

Joke’s on him—I didn’t even have a home to go back to!

Which meant I had no choice. I had to keep pushing here, no matter what!

“Wait, please! I came from another world! If you don’t hire me, I’ll end up starving out there… I’m begging you, just let me join the guild!”

“…Another… world?”

The receptionist blinked a few times, then gave me a slow once-over from head to toe.

“…Well, I suppose… I have heard of people claiming to be from another world showing up at guilds now and then, asking to become adventurers.”

Wait, seriously?! So I wasn’t even the first one to get isekai’d here?

If that was true, this conversation just got a whole lot easier! Excited, I leaned forward over the counter.

“Yes, exactly! That’s me! I’m one of those transfers!”

“…Mm. Yes, I’ve heard the rumors. Usually told as drunken tavern nonsense, of course.”

“Whaaat? But surely some of them must’ve risen to fame, right? Climbed the ranks and became legendary adventurers?”

“No. If they had, their stories would’ve spread as heroic legends by now. The fact that all we have are tavern tales means they either died quietly or quit without accomplishing anything.”

“…Man, way to kill the dream.”

But honestly, he wasn’t wrong. If some random, average person got dropped naked into another world, of course they’d die pretty quick. Only a chosen protagonist could suddenly awaken hero powers and rise to the top.

And me? Yeah… sadly, I was just your run-of-the-mill guy.

The receptionist let out a long, weary sigh before fixing me with a sharp, narrow-eyed glare.

“Instead of chasing dreams, why don’t you try looking for a job that’s a bit more… grounded?”

“Grounded how?”

“…Well, honestly, the best path would be to get married and settle down. If it’s just one wife, the finances might be tough… but with three sharing the household, you could probably scrape by.”

“…That’s just being a freeloader!”

“A stay-at-home husband!”

Oh, come on! This receptionist looked all serious and professional, but deep down he was insane!

Did he seriously just recommend I survive by becoming a kept man?!

So what, polygamy was the standard here? Even if it was… what kind of twisted moral compass did this world have?! Terrifying!

[Sudden Explanation Time!

In this world, only about 25% of all babies born are male. That’s right—one in four!

The result? A society perpetually short on men.

For the lower classes, the norm is either:

-buy a child from a male prostitute and raise it as a single mom, or

-team up with two or three women and “co-own” a husband together.

Meanwhile, the wealthy elite take things to the extreme—one woman keeping an entire harem of men at her beck and call!]

The receptionist leaned closer, his expression dead serious.

“Honestly, I shouldn’t even be saying this, but give up on becoming an adventurer. With your looks and build, you could definitely find something safer and more respectable.”

“No way—I want to be an adventurer no matter what!”

Because let’s be real—getting isekai’d, becoming an adventurer, and showing off cheat powers like I’m invincible!! That’s the standard template.

And dammit, I wanted to experience it at least once!

“At least let me take the adventurer aptitude test or whatever you’ve got!”

“…You sure know a lot. Normally, that’s part of guild registration—and yes, it costs money.”

The receptionist let out yet another sigh, then pulled a crystal ball from under the counter.

“Fine. I’ll let you take it. I’ll even cover the five silver fee as a personal loan. But if it turns out you’ve got no talent, you drop this dream immediately. Understood?”

“Yes! Thank you so much!”

Cold expression aside, this guy was actually a total sweetheart.

And honestly, I’d been itching to try this “ability check” ever since I got here.

I mean, isn’t this the moment where the crystal suddenly shatters and the examiner screams, “W-What is this power?!”? That’s the classic scene!

Buzzing with excitement, I pressed my hand against the crystal, let out a dramatic “Uooooohhh!” and tried to pour some kind of mysterious aura into it. (Hopefully it looked convincing.)

The receptionist, completely deadpan, muttered, “Please don’t do that.” Then he calmly turned his eyes to the crystal.

“T-This is…!?”

Oh ho! Here it comes—the shocked by my hidden potential routine!

His eyelids fluttered as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing, then, in a low voice, he murmured:

“…I’ve never seen anyone less suited to being an adventurer in my entire life.”

“Ehhhhhh?!”

No way. That couldn’t be right! I’d loaded myself up with the ultimate starter pack of otherworld cheats—language skills, resistance perks, the whole deal!

“Look again! I’ve got tons of resistance skills, you know!”

“…Ah, well, yes. You do have quite a few gifts. Honestly, I’ve never seen anyone packed with so many resistances before. But resistances alone aren’t enough. Look here—you’ve got zero magic power. How exactly do you plan on fighting monsters like that?”

“Magic power…? But if I’m on the front lines, I don’t really need it, right?”

“What are you talking about? If anything, it’s more essential for frontliners.”

“…Eh?”

“…Eh?”

According to the receptionist, apparently everyone in this world was born with some degree of magic power. And it wasn’t just mages who needed it for attack or healing spells—frontliners relied on it too, channeling mana to enhance their strength and reflexes in battle. On top of that, they subconsciously used it to reduce the impact of enemy blows.

The only jobs that didn’t absolutely depend on it were support roles like rogues. But even they used magic power for things like detecting traps and sensing enemies.

Which meant… with my magic power stuck at absolute zero, I basically had no right to step onto a battlefield at all.

Come on, that’s not my fault! Modern Japan didn’t exactly come with magic pre-installed!

…Wait. If I hadn’t chosen [Inheritance] and just been reborn as a native, would I have had magic power like everyone else?

But then I’d have lost me—my personality, my memories.

Damn it. Was my dream of becoming an adventurer really going to be crushed before it even began…?

…Wait. Hold on a second.

Something clicked in my head—the words I’d seen back in that white void, right before leaving. The “Inferno Dragon Set” from that vending machine.

If that machine could sell me cheats once… maybe I could buy more later? Sure, the “Great Sage Aptitude” cost fifteen coins, but if I only needed a weaker version of magic power, it had to be cheaper.

Right now, I was flat broke with zero coins left. But if I accomplished something in this world, I could probably earn new ones.

And if that was true, then giving up on the adventurer dream here just wasn’t an option.

“Please! Even so—I want to become an adventurer!”

“…Come now, you promised you’d give up if you had no potential. With no magic power and no notable strength or speed, you simply don’t have what it takes. I’m telling you this for your own good.”

“There really isn’t any monster I could take down?”

“…Well… maybe a Big-Horned Rabbit, at best. No—no, absolutely not. Forget it. It’s impossible. Please give up quietly. Adventuring is far too reckless for you.”

“Then let me flip the question—what can I do, according to you?!”

“…Become a prostitute. You’d rule the world.”

[Sudden Explanation Time!

An exotic Asian face that instantly stands out!

Zero common sense about this world, yet the cultured knowledge of an isekai outsider!

With [Otherworld Language Proficiency], he can chat smoothly with VIPs of any nationality!

With [Disease Resistance], he’s completely immune to STDs!

With [Poison Resistance], he can handle alcohol and drugs without a hitch!

With [Pain Resistance], he can endure even the nastiest customers and “hard mode” requests!

With [Mental Resistance], he could survive life in a brothel without breaking down!

And on top of that, thanks to [Inheritance], he’s sporting that lean, toned body every woman craves!

Put it all together, and Yuji Ojima has the perfect natural talent for being a gigolo!

Truly, a sex worker blessed by the gods themselves!]

“I have no intention of selling my body!!”

“…Wait, seriously? I mean, it’s way more realistic than being an adventurer.”

The receptionist looked at me with genuine confusion.

No, buddy—you’ve got it backwards. I’m the one confused here.

Like, is male prostitution really that popular in this world?

Do women actually line up to buy guys?

And besides, my chastity is not cheap.

Back in my old life, dying a virgin had earned me a whopping 25 coins. That’s the equivalent of two and a half Inferno Dragon Sets!

Sure, I don’t know if I’d even get to reincarnate with my memories intact next time… but if I did, I’d want to hang on to that sweet 25-coin bonus by staying pure in this life too.

No parents here means no “unfilial son” penalty either, so it’s pure profit!

Of course, if I ever met a girl in this world I genuinely fell for, I wouldn’t be against losing it. But even then, I’d have to ask myself: Does she really have the value of two and a half Inferno Dragon Sets?

Yeah. Only if she’s gorgeous, cute, and has a personality I truly love. Otherwise? No deal.

…Not that I’m really in a position to act picky. I mean, I went my entire past life without landing a single girlfriend. Who the hell am I to talk?

“Anyway, as I said, this guild has no place for you. Please leave.”

“C’mon, can’t you make an exception? My magic power will grow in eventually!”

“It will not! A person’s mana is fixed from birth! If you don’t have it now, you’ll never have it—end of story!”

Grrr…! What an impossible receptionist!

I could tell he was genuinely worried about me—that’s why he kept rejecting me. But still! I couldn’t just give up here! If this failed, my only fallback really would be selling my body… Not that I thought there’d be much demand.

While I clung desperately to the counter and he tried to pry me off, the two of us locked in a tug-of-war of stubbornness—

“Oh my? I don’t recognize you. Do you have some business with our guild?”

A calm voice drifted from behind me. I turned—and froze.

Standing there was a stunning beauty with glasses. Her sharp, refined face was framed by long hair, her figure draped in elegant, luxurious robes. She looked to be in her late teens or early twenties—about my age—but carried herself with the aura of a top-tier corporate boss who already had everything under control.

Despite her cool, almost frosty features, a warm, polite smile played at her lips as her gaze settled on me.

“Ah… an Easterner, aren’t you? I hear your people live far off at the edge of the world. With the Great Brishav Empire expanding its colonies everywhere these days, it’s becoming more and more common to see different races here. So then—what seems to be the issue?”

“Ah, Master. My apologies. This… so-called ‘otherworlder’ has been insisting we let him join the guild.”

“My, my… How flattering, that you would choose our guild of all places.”

From the way the receptionist addressed her, it was obvious—this older-sister type beauty had to be the guild master.

And if a woman was running the entire guild in a world like this, she had to be seriously competent.

Sure, she wore a friendly smile… but I wasn’t about to forget the sharpness hiding behind it.

The receptionist, looking like he’d just swallowed something bitter, lifted the crystal ball.

“Well… the thing is… with this man’s abilities, I don’t believe he can survive as an adventurer.”

“Oh? Let me see.”

She leaned over to peer into the crystal, gave a thoughtful little “hmm,” and then—bam—her face lit up with a smile.

“Ohhh, wonderful! [Disease Resistance], [Poison Resistance]… What excellent gifts for an adventurer! With these, there are plenty of jobs only you could handle!”

“…Huh?”

The guild master clapped her hands together in delight.

Wow. That actually sounded really promising.

Meanwhile, the receptionist had gone pale—his entire evaluation just got completely overturned by his boss.

“We’ve been looking for someone exactly like you! Would you lend our guild your strength?”

“Of course! Thank you so much!”

See? People who know how to judge talent do exist!

Grinning from ear to ear, I beamed back at the guild master.

…And with such a warm welcome, maybe I could afford to get a little carried away here.

“Um, so… actually, I just got here and, well… I don’t have a single coin to my name. If possible—only if it’s really okay—I was hoping you could maybe lend me a little money for living expenses and equipment…”

“Ahh, I see. Well, if you’re from another world, that can’t be helped. Of course—I’ll lend you around twenty silver coins from my own pocket. As for equipment… Wes, wasn’t there some gear left in storage by that Bronze-class party who never came back? Let him borrow those.”

The receptionist—apparently Wes—nodded with a troubled look, clearly unhappy about the idea.

“…Yes, there is, but the condition isn’t great. It’s been sitting around neglected for quite some time.”

“That should still be more than enough for fighting Big-Horned Rabbits. In fact, giving a beginner high-quality gear right away ruins the fun of growth. Don’t you agree, Yuji?”

“Totally! Rising up from rock bottom has way more impact!”

Oh hey—she knew my name? Must’ve been displayed on the crystal ball earlier.

I glanced at the crystal again, but the letters were completely unreadable to me.

So [Otherworld Language Proficiency] only covered spoken language, not writing.

Bit of a miscalculation on my part… but hey, it’s not like I had coins to spare when I bought my skills anyway.

The guild master, still smiling brightly, nodded in satisfaction.

“As for lodging, I’ll arrange a room upstairs at a tavern our guild works closely with. Of course, you’ll be responsible for your own rent…”

“Of course! I couldn’t possibly trouble you that much!”

“You understand your position well. I’m sure you’ll do great someday. At first, it may be difficult—very difficult—but there’s no need to rush. One day, your time will surely come. Until then, I’ll be cheering for your success.”

Wow. What a genuinely kind person! As expected of the guild master.

This was exactly how someone in charge ought to be.

So this was isekai life, huh? Piece of cake!

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After Yuji skipped happily out of the guild, the receptionist—Wes—stormed into the guild master’s office, his face twisted with frustration.

“What are you thinking, Master? Accepting him as a guild member? With abilities like that, he’s going to die in no time!”

The guild master, a woman named Deabolica, lit a cigar, let it smolder between her fingers, and exhaled a plume of smoke as cold as ice.

“He won’t die. I won’t let him. Assign him only the lowest-level jobs—ditch cleaning, herb gathering, pest extermination, at most Big-Horned Rabbits. Nothing that puts his life in danger.”

“…? But if you treat him like that, he’ll just get frustrated and quit. Most people who come here dream of fighting dangerous monsters and becoming heroes, after all.”

“Yes. And if he quits, all the better. In fact, I’d prefer it if he quit sooner rather than later.”

Deabolica’s lips curled into a cold, merciless grin.

Wes, unable to grasp his superior’s true intentions, shifted into a look of sheer confusion.

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Simple. If he quits, I can introduce him as a husband to one of our promising adventurers.”

“…So you planned to make him give up from the very start…”

“That’s right. Adventuring is hardly a respectable career. Even skilled adventurers with solid reputations and enough savings to live comfortably rarely manage to secure a husband. After all, it’s a dangerous profession—you never know when you’ll die. No ordinary civilian man wants to marry a woman who’s more likely than not to leave him widowed.”

In this world, young men were treated as treasures by their families. They were valuable assets—marry one into a wealthy household, and the family gained powerful connections.

That’s why most boys were kept under lock and key until a proper arranged marriage was secured. Free romance had little room to exist in such a society.

Adventurers, on the other hand, were often second or third daughters cast out from their homes, with no prospects for formal matchmaking. Many had no connections at all.

For those women, landing a young husband wasn’t just a dream—it was proof of success itself.

Deabolica chuckled darkly, a low, throaty laugh bubbling up from her chest.

“A young man with no family ties, just waltzing right into our lap—what a convenient gift. Now the only problem is deciding who to marry him off to. Honestly, it’s such a delightful dilemma.”

“…………”

As a fellow man, Wes couldn’t help but feel sorry for Yuji.

In the Great Brishav Empire, freedom simply didn’t exist for men.

Even Wes, who was born into the nobility, was only allowed to “work” in society because his family permitted it. Sooner or later, he too would be forced into a marriage arranged by his household. Being born male meant your right to live freely was stripped away from the start.

He knew all of this—but watching a man’s life get toyed with by a scheming woman still left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Noticing his expression, Deabolica gave a little shrug.

“Oh dear, don’t look at me like I’m some kind of devil, Wes. I’m painting a picture where everyone ends up happy. The lonely adventuresses finally get their dream—marrying a young, handsome man. Yuji, after giving up this reckless adventurer nonsense, gets to live comfortably as an adventurer’s husband. And the guild benefits too, gaining loyalty from the adventurers who secured husbands through us. It’s happiness on all sides—a perfect win-win-win situation, don’t you think?”

“…Everyone except Yuji, who’ll be stuck doing miserable grunt work until he breaks and gives up the adventurer path.”

Spitting out the words, Wes glared at her.

Deabolica only answered with a crooked smile—the very picture of a twisted Brishav noble.

“Remember this, Wes. It’s this kind of behind-the-scenes maneuvering that makes a true noble fit to stand above others.”

“…Yes, I’ve learned a great deal. I’ll be sure to keep it in mind.”

Deabolica ignored Wes’s sarcasm, puffed happily on her cigar, then turned to the calendar with a wicked grin.

“Now then… just how long will Yuji’s spirit last while he’s stuck doing only the dirtiest, smelliest bottom-rank jobs? One week? Two weeks? I’ve made preparations, so I’d really prefer he hold out for at least a month… kukukuku…!!”

And then—six months later.

“Phew~! Gutter-cleaning complete! Nothing feels better than doing work that helps people~!!”

Yuji was perfectly fine!!

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[Author’s Note]

When I was writing this part, I ate buri-shabu (yellowtail hotpot) and it was super delicious, so I randomly named the country the Great Brishav Empire.

There’s no deeper meaning behind it. (Totally not making excuses.)