The Virgin Hero Who Fought in the Dungeon for 20 Years Returned to the Surface Only to Find the Population of the World Has Dropped Drastically, with a Male-to-Female Ratio of 1:1000 - 15

Chapter 15: This Juice Is Super Yummy!

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“Ryuuto, for the time being, I’ve prepared a hotel. We will head there straight away. Sure, we have plenty of stuff we need to talk about, but let’s prioritize getting you some proper rest first.”

“Sure, but I’m more curious about what’s going to happen to Haruka? You know, the girl who was with me?”

Kazuki made an indescribably pained expression for a brief moment at his question. However, she immediately put on a smile as if donning a mask. This part of her hadn’t changed since the old days. Whenever Kazuki was feeling troubled, she would always smile out of reflex. That smile seemed to be her defensive system to cover up her emotion. Ryuuto, however, wasn’t the type to hide his feelings. He stepped forward and asked directly.

“Hey, don’t tell me something happened to her?”

“That girl… Haruka Shimomura… Hmm, it’s a long story, but for now, she’s fine. She’s got a few scrapes, but nothing serious.”

“I see, that’s a relief.”

“Fufun~”

“What are you laughing at?”

“It’s just… You haven’t changed at all since back then. It’s really comforting. Anyway, just rest for today. I’ll tell you more about Haruka tomorrow, okay?”

Seeing Ryuuto glancing around at the gathered people, Kazuki then added with gentle eyes filled with kindness.

“Don’t worry. You’ll see everyone tomorrow. Except for you, everyone made it back safely.”

“O-okay.”

He suddenly pressed his cheeks firmly with both hands as he stared at her big sister’s face up close. Then, he noticed something. Unlike the image of his big sister he had in his mind, the face before him actually looked appropriate for her age. That realization rendered Ryuuto unable to say anything more.

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“Amazinggg… It’s so fluffy…!”

Ryuuto murmured as he sat down on the spacious bed placed in the middle of the room, still wearing his shoes. He had never stayed in such a luxurious, first-class hotel before. Having spent his youth in wartime and the next 20 years inside a dungeon, Ryuuto only knew Tokyo when the city was under severe material shortages and blackouts.

Perhaps defeating the Demon Lord had brought something closer to peace to the world. The world had regained the prosperity Ryuuto remembered from his childhood. The cityscape, which he had glimpsed from the tinted windows of a black Lincoln, looked orderly and clean,unlike the poorly paved streets full of cracks and potholes that he had known.

The oppressive and depressive atmosphere of the past had vanished from the city, replaced by rows of colorful goods displayed in storefronts. For Ryuuto, this sight was a full-blown culture shock. 

“Not to mention, that receptionist lady was really gorgeous too…”

He mused aloud. Even though he had only passed by the front desk briefly, the receptionist had left quite an impact on him because of how beautiful she was. He flopped down on the bed, burying his face in the blanket and inhaling deeply. While kicking his legs, he slipped off his shoes, flinging them across the room. The mid-calf boots he had worn out in the dungeon were in tatters, so his sister had prepared new ones for him before they left the Explorers’ Association office. They were 29 centimeters big. Brand new shoes, untouched by dirt. The shoes were enough to fill Ryuuto with happiness just by looking at them. 

The city is overflowing with so many things now. 

“Whoa, I almost fell asleep there.”

Ryuuto said as he jolted upright from the bed. He grabbed a glass set on the table.

Gulp.

The chilled glass, dripping with dew from condensation, seemed to sparkle in a faint blue color. As he brought it to his lips, the perfectly cooled orange juice flowed from his mouth down his throat. He finished it in almost one go, feeling his brain tingle at the sensation.

“Wow, this is delicious. Was juice always this good?”

He staggered slightly. After nearly 20 years of going without anything sweet, the taste of an orange juice almost overwhelmed him. In the dungeon, there were no sweets. The only way to replenish his expended energy was to consume the raw, bloodied flesh of monsters. No matter how harsh the circumstances, humans could never truly forget the sweetness they once knew. Even during the ground battles of World War II, horses would eagerly suck on the sugar cubes rationed to soldiers. That was how precious sweetness was to humanity. 

“Damn, this is amazing. But it’s not enough. I want to drink until my stomach bursts. It’s not enough! Ah…?”

Come to think of it, they said I could call them if I wanted anything. 

Ryuuto picked up the smartphone that his big sister had given to him and fumbled with its pristine, smudge-free screen. Though still unfamiliar with the device, he managed to navigate it enough to make a call.

“Hello, this is Tsukikage speaking.”

“Ah, Yurina-san? It’s me, Ryuuto. Uh, can I get a refill on the juice?”

“Of course. I’ll have it brought to your room right away.”

“Thanks, sorry about that. It’s just so ridiculously good, you know? I was shocked! I feel like I could drink it until my stomach is full! Haha!”

He heard a soft giggle from the other end of the line and Ryuuto immediately panicked. Yurina Tsukikage, his big sister’s secretary, was staying at the same luxurious hotel as him specifically to look after him.

“It seems you’re quite fond of the orange juice, Ryuuto-sama. I’ll have it sent up right away. Please relax in your room and wait just a little longer.”

“Ah, okay.”

Ryuuti replied hastily before he cut the call and slumped into his chair with a long exhale. 

“Aw, crap, crap. Did I just embarrass myself? Yurina-san is insanely beautiful and she’s got the vibe of a mature, elegant woman, so I…”

To Ryuuto, Yurina, who was sharply dressed in an elegant pantsuit, looked like someone from another world entirely. Despite being 38 years old himself, Ryuuto viewed her as an “older sister figure” who embodied everything he imagined about a competent adult working in a proper, polished world—something he had never experienced before.

“But still, Nee-chan is a politician? And a minister no less? That’s gotta be a joke. Yurina-san, though… She’s the ultimate secretary for sure. I can’t help but feel this… adult allure about her.”

Crossing his legs on the touch and resting his chin in his hand, Ryuuto pondered. egret began to creep in as he replayed the overly casual way he had spoken with Yurina during their call. 

Damn. I must’ve left a sour impression on her. 

“Alright. Time for a shower.”

Deciding to escape the embarrassment, Ryuuto headed to the bathroom. He was wearing a shirt and slacks that his big sister, Kazuki, had provided for him. Because they were ready-made goods, the clothes were struggling to contain his overdeveloped upper body. Though his waist was slim, his neck, shoulders, and arms were so bulky that the fabric was stretched tight and quite frankly, uncomfortable to wear. 

“Here we go! Be free!”

In one swift motion, Ryuuto yanked off his shirt and slacks, flinging them onto the floor before heading straight for the bathroom. Left in his wake were the scattered remains of his clothes, tossed haphazardly across the room. 

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