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 - 21

Chapter 21: Office Worker Akari Sayama

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“Anyway, I just want to eat ramen right now.”

Thick, fatty broth with rich chashu pork, topped with an egg and seaweed. And of course, a generous amount of garlic. 

Garlic breath? Hah. Like I need to care about that.  What about the men? Won’t they feel disgusted by your garlic breath? Hah. Meeting a man? I’ve never once experienced that kind of thing in my entire life. In fact, a living man is just an urban legend anyway. 

Akari Sayama. An office worker at Dekoboko Trading. She was a beauty, acknowledged by both herself and everyone around her. She had an oval face with almond-shaped eyes. With proportions of 8 heads tall, she looked as if she had traces of Nordic ancestry. Not to mention her large boobs and her more-than-necessary bountiful backside asset. She stood out even in an era where a beautiful girl was a common sight to behold. Her waist-length black hair was flawlessly maintained, so smooth it could practically reflect the world around her like a mirror.

If someone were to say that Akari Sayama was the incarnation of the goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite, no one would question it. And yet… Akari’s mood had been sour since this morning. There was only one reason for that. Last night, she had failed to win the lottery for the sperm bank managed by the government, which was commonly referred to as the “Impregnation Data Bank.”

She wasn’t asking for much, really. She held no arrogant hopes of being matched with someone her own age. Even a man in his fifties, sixties, or seventies would be fine. If she could just be matched with a man and held for even a single night, then she would finally reclaim her reason for living. 

“But still… I didn’t win it.. Haaaaaaaaahhhhh….”

Akari had gone all-in, blowing her entire summer bonus in a desperate gamble, but she hadn’t been selected in last night’s lottery. To make matters worse, the date for the next drawing was still undecided. Even Akari had no choice but to drown her sorrows in a bottle of her prized wine, and as a result, she felt absolutely miserable this morning. On top of that, she had made a series of uncharacteristic blunders at work, leaving her completely drained. At this point, she didn’t have the confidence to get through the day unless she recharged with a bowl of rich, greasy ramen for lunch.

Haaah… Ah, right. Might as well get some fried rice too.

It was a reckless indulgence indeed. Clicking her heels against the floor, Akari strode into the ramen place shop with enthusiasm, only to find an absurdly long-haired woman standing in front of the ticket machine, agonizing over her decision. Akari felt a surge of irritation but couldn’t exactly kick her out of the way, so she waited, growing increasingly restless with each passing seconds.

Ugh, amateur. Hurry up and decide already. Some of us need to shovel carbs into our system, you know.

“Hmm, I can’t decide which one to get…”

Akari perked up. From the looks of it, the person in front of her was into the recent trend of cross-dressing as a man. Even the voice was carefully crafted to sound deeper. It was almost impossible to tell what this person looked like from behind, but if this person actually had a small, adorable face that looked like a cute animal, she would probably laugh. After all, a woman dressing up as a guy had to at least have a bit of ruggedness to them to pull it off properly. Having an adorable face while dressing up as a guy would be hilarious. 

Still, Akari was a decent person at heart. So, she couldn’t ignore it when someone looked like they were struggling so much. She found herself offering a helping hand despite her irritation.

“Umm… If you’re not sure what to get, then please allow me to recommend the tonkotsu over the seafood-based options.”

“Oh. Thanks, Nee-chan. You really helped me out.”

The indecisive customer turned around and in that instant, Akari’s breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widening in shock.

Wai-Wait… Is this person really a woman dressing up as a man?! The quality of the cross-dressing is impressive! It’s on par with Hollywood special effects!

Sharply defined brows, piercing eyes brimming with intensity. Just seeing the old scar on that striking face sent an odd tingling sensation deep inside Akari.

Th-this is bad. I-I think something weird has just awakened deep inside of me…

“U-Ummm… Onee-san, are you cross-dressing? Yo-You know, your whole getup is incredibly convincing! Haha… It’s amazing… It’s really amazing! My heart actually skipped a beat just then. Huh? Ah, even your voice is incredible. It’s so deep. It really sounds like a man’s. I’ve never heard of someone who can change their voice like that. Ah, I know! Onee-san, maybe our natural voice is already deep-“

“What are you talking about? I’m not cross-dressing or anything like that. But still, it’s so hot. Is it really October already? Was autumn always this hot?”

A unique scent drifted through the air. Akari felt lightheaded, nearly overwhelmed by the suffocating wave of a male’s pheromones.

He’s a man! No doubt about it!

She froze as her eyes landed on his Adam’s apple, visible as he casually pulled at his shirt to let some air in. She was certain this person was a man. Her uncle, who had passed away at the age of 54, had the same feature as this man!

And he looks like what we learned in class… This… This is a real man…

“Hey, don’t you think so too?”

“Ye-Yesh…”

Akari was so flustered that she could only manage a weak, funny response. The man gave her a puzzled look, staring her down for a moment before turning back to the ticket machine. Now that she knew he was a man, the difference was glaringly obvious even from behind. His shoulders were broad. Even in the humid early October air, he was wearing nothing but a plain white dress shirt. If she focused her eyes, she could see the well-defined muscle hiding beneath the thin fabric. The man’s muscle was so broad to the point the fabric was straining for space. 

Ah… what is this? My heart’s racing. Just looking at him is enough to… No, this is bad. I’m about to—about to—something’s coming—coming—coming—!!!

“Hnngh!”

“Hm?”

Confused, the man glanced back for a split second before returning his attention to the machine. Akari felt a guilty thrill, even stronger than the first time she stole a bag of egg biscuits from the corner candy shop as a kid.

“Hmm… Seafood… Seafood, huh… It doesn’t scratch the itch for me… Tonkotsu… Tonkotsu, huh? That sounds good. Alright. I will go with tonkotsu. Ah! What? What is this…?”

“Huh?”

“What the hell is this toy? That bastard Shougen slipped me a fake bill! Damn it! He really fooled me! There’s no way I can use this. I would feel bad for the owner! And even though I went through all the trouble of sneaking out…”

The man stared at the loose bills in his pocket, looking visibly shaken. To be fair, the banknotes had switched from kanji numerals to Arabic numerals last year, making them easy to mistake as fake bills, but everyone already knew about this change. For the record, Ryuuto had planned to escape from the hotel from the very beginning. Hence why he had taken a few bills from Shougen’s wallet. He thought he could just return it later. It was a rather un-heroic way of thinking. Stealing was bad after all.

“A-actually, that’s not a toy. The bills changed last year, remember?”

“Hah? But ten-thousand yen bills are always Yukichi, and thousand-yen bills are always Souseki. That’s just how it is.”

“No, they’re not. Hehe, what era are you living in?”

As far as Akari knew, those bills had stopped circulating when she was still a toddler. The man still seemed unconvinced, but he eventually turned back to the ticket machine and started pulling out meal tickets one after another.

Wow, wow, wow, he’s ordering a lot.

“Huh? You’re not getting tonkotsu?”

“N-No. So-Somehow I prefer something lighter.”

“Hmm…”

We’re talking. I’m having a normal conversation with a man! Amazing!

The man quickly took a seat at the counter and handed over his thick stack of meal tickets to the staff.

“A-are you really going to eat all that?”

“Yeah, no problem. Just a little snack. I can handle it.”

“Eh? Uh, um, you wouldn’t happen to be…?”

“Anyway, just hurry up and sit down.”

“I-I understand!”

A man’s appetite is amazing…

First, he polished off two extra-large bowls of tonkotsu ramen like they were nothing. Then, he moved on to a heaping three-kilogram portion of the biggest fried rice the ramen shop had to offer, paired with five full orders of gyoza—twenty-five pieces in total.

“Ah, can I also add five orders or karaage, this chasu bowl, tsukemen and maze-soba as well? Also, using the meal tickets is so troublesome. Can you just take the money from me?”

His sheer hunger was a spectacle. It wasn’t just Akari—nearby office workers on their lunch break had taken notice of his amazing appetite. Everyone was murmuring among themselves. It was like watching a competitive eater from TV attempting a food challenge right in front of them. 

“Grrahhhh…”

The man let out a low growl as he shoveled rice into his mouth, eating with such force that he accidentally snapped his disposable chopsticks in half.

“U-Umm… Here you go…”

“Mmh. Thanks.”

Akari spontaneously handed him a fresh pair of chopsticks. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, the man nonchalantly took them and flashed a gentle smile at her.

Wha-What is this? My chest is all fluttery…

Her mind went blank. A feverish heat spread through her head, leaving her dazed. She couldn’t think of anything but the man in front of her. She wanted to devote everything to him. If he so much as touched her gently, she was absolutely certain she would reach her peak on the spot.

Akari was, by nature, a strong-willed woman.  She spoke her mind freely, never one to agonize over relationships. If something needed to be said, she’d say it straight out, even if it made people dislike her. She had the guts to accept that. Back in school, she’d gotten so used to being admired by underclassmen (all girls, of course) and being admired as a ‘prince’ came naturally to her. But now, in front of this man, she found herself wanting to submit. She discovered an intense submissive side of herself, one that filled her with an almost joyous sensation at the thought of submitting to this man.

I’m a woman… I’m really a woman…

“Ahhh, that was great. I’m stuffed. Phew!”

Drenched in sweat from the post-meal heat, the man did the unthinkable—he casually stripped  his shirt off. Naturally, the restaurant erupted into screams and cheers from the women present.

“Huh? What’s with the noise?”

His upper body was a sight to behold. A physique forged without an ounce of excess fat, covered in countless old scars. Just one look was enough to overwhelm anyone watching. Everyone in the room thought the same thing.

So… Thi-This is what a man’s body is…

The arms exposed beneath his discarded shirt were unnaturally thick, packed with muscle that resembled tightly wound steel cables. His pectorals were equally impressive. Beads of sweat cascaded down his torso, releasing an indescribable, intoxicating scent. Standing right next to him, Akari inhaled that pheromone-laden air directly. The effect was immediate. Her mind clouded over in a haze of bliss, and before she could stop herself, she reached her peak.

Ahh… No way… I… Right in front of everyone… I actually…!

Her toes curled, her entire body convulsing with sharp tremors. Needless to say, a shameful flood had erupted from deep within her.

“A man?!”

“No way!”

“What?! Why is he in a place like this?!”

“Sorry for having a run-down ramen place in the outskirts of town.”

“I never thought the day would come when I’d be glad I kept coming here!”

“Wai- Seriously?! A man?!”

“God, thank you for blessing me for ditching my colleagues and their pretentious café lunches today!”

“Uooh! What the hell!?”

The women swarmed around the man and within mere seconds, he was completely overwhelmed by them. Had Akari moved just a few seconds later, rescuing him would have been nearly impossible.

“DORYAAAH!!”

Making great use of her 176 cm height, Akari lowered her stance and tackled the horde of women with her arms crossed together to execute a powerful rush maneuver.

“KYAAH!”

“YAAH!”

“HINNNH!”

The sheer force of her charge sent the gathered office ladies scattering like leaves in a storm. It should be noted that Akari Sayama, who would be turning 22 this October, had been an active B-rank explorer up until two years ago. As a former heavy warrior, she had once served as the party’s frontline shield while hunting monsters in dungeons. Though she appeared to be nothing more than a beautiful woman with perfect body proportions at first glance alone, but she wouldn’t lose in a fight against a mere mob like this.

“Get up! We’re running!”

“Ah- Okay!”

She grabbed the man’s arm and hauled him to his feet. Without any hesitation, she threw a handful of ten thousand yen bills and her business card at the ramen shop’s owner (a 27 years old beauty), who stood there dumbfounded.

“If that’s not enough, send the rest of the bill to my company later!”

She shouted before bolting out of the ramen shop.

From behind them, the howls of frustration from the ravenous wild dogs echoed, but Akari couldn’t have cared less. She was so focused on running that she failed to notice until a while later that the man was shirtless. A shirtless man. In the middle of a bustling city. The existence of a man was as rare as a rock ptarmigan or as a Okinawa rail or as a Kuroiwa’s ground gecko or as a Tokyo salamander. A legendary existence like that could never go unnoticed and not to mention, it was precisely lunchtime. The streets were filled with people seeking a brief respite, yet right through the crowd there was a young man with a physique that looked like it had been sculpted by God’s hand. It was an impossible mirage. At first, people froze as if they had just witnessed a white snake slithering in broad daylight, and then… People burst out into choruses of screams. 

“Wha-What’s with this commotion?!”

“This way!”

Seemingly oblivious to the situation, the man stood there dumbfounded. He watched as the frantic women began to gather around him. 

Ahhhh! Does he really not understand what’s going to happen to him if he stays here?!

As a former explorer, Akari’s instincts snapped back in an instant, sharpening her perception of the looming danger. Fortunately or unfortunately, for now, the crowd was only taking pictures with their smartphones or squealing in excitement. But it was impossible to tell when that excitement would turn into something far worse. Mobs were terrifying like that after all.

“He-Hey… Do you think this is a… You know, like an AV shoot or something?”

“What?! Do-Does that mean it’s okay if I touch him a little?

“Wai-Wait… I… I think I want to see a real guy’s…. You know, thing…”

“I know, right?!”

“So, does that mean it’s okay to lick-“

“I think it’s okay! Right???’

“The-Then would it be okay if I just, like… You know, straddle him for a bit?!”

“A rodeo! It’s a rodeo! This is my chance to show off the skills I honed on an adult rodeo machine!”

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME??

At this rate, it was only a matter of time before this innocent man was offered up as a sacrifice to the lust of these wild beasts. Akari made her decision in an instant.

“Excuse me! This is not a movie shoot! He is an emergency rescue case! Please make way!”

Her voice, trained in the depths of dungeons, carried across several hundred meters. It was a vocal skill honed for communicating in echoing caves where instructions and messages could easily get lost.

“Huh? It’s not a movie shoot?”

“So we’re not allowed to lick him?”

The airheaded women, who had already stripped off their outer blazer and were practically spilling out questionable liquid from their underwear, stood there in stunned confusion.  Without wasting a second, Akari grabbed the man’s hand and bolted from the scene.

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