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 - 28

Chapter 28: My Master

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So there’s that way of life for me too, huh?

Though her superior was strict with her, she  also treated her like a real sister, and Sayaka really trusted her superior. In fact, she trusted her superior more than her own blood relatives. If her superior commanded her, Sayaka would gladly walk any path without any hesitation. From there, she was drilled in the basics of makeup, manners, the latest fashion, and the basic common sense needed to avoid embarrassing herself.

That said, Sayaka actually enjoyed the whole process. If someone actually needed her, she would serve them with all her heart and soul. She wanted to be useful. No matter what dangerous blade was before her, she would not flinch. She would gladly throw her life away in order to serve the one she served. 

However, Sayaka’s feelings were shattered by the boy she was assigned to protect at the age of 19. The chance of a male protection officer getting a mission this early was so low, it was said you’d have a higher chance of getting hit by a falling meteor while walking down the street. True enough, when Sayaka was chosen for this mission, she faced a significant amount of jealousy and harassment from her peers. However, she was full of joy, feeling that this might be her chance to get back at her family, who had treated her like she didn’t exist. 

Assigned male protection officers had to live with the man they were assigned to protect. Eagerly, Sayaka took the initiative and approached him herself, but the sweet honeymoon period didn’t even last three days.

“Your big chest is disgusting.”

It was a shock. Sayaka had been confident in her appearance and body proportions, but the boy she was assigned to protect, who had a lovely face, insulted her with words full of disgust. Her confidence shattered and she cursed herself. This boy’s sense of beauty wasn’t particularly twisted. As the number of men decreased, and in a society where women became more dominant, the typical image of a beautiful woman—big breasts, a small waist, and large hips—was no longer preferred. Instead, a delicate, doll-like body type with a fragile, modestly sized chest and hips became more popular. 

In real life, men were constantly suppressed by women, socially, economically, politically, and militarily. Even though the political and financial worlds were still controlled by old men, so to speak.

“Am I… Really that disgusting? My existence is.. Disgusting?”

Three days later, Sayaka was reassigned. She returned to her dormitory and while taking a hot shower, she grabbed her above-average-sized breasts with both hands and cried. Of course, no matter how tightly she squeezed them, her boobs wouldn’t shrink in size. Meanwhile, her colleagues, who learned that she was dismissed due to her body type preference, were kind to her. Most of the girls who had undergone what could only be described as a mutation due to the Demon Lord’s dying curse, all had glamorous figures just like Sayaka’s. Harassing Sayaka after knowing she was rejected by her male client because of her figure would be like spitting in the sky. 

“Congratulations, Second Lieutenant Yamanashi. You’ve been chosen once again as a male protection officer.”

Three years later, Sayaka had once again been selected to become a male protection officer. She stood victorious amidst the fierce competition, but the joy was far overshadowed by her fear. 

“You don’t have the luxury of looking dumbfounded, Second Lieutenant Yamanashi. The importance of this mission is on the same level as a state secret.”

She inputted the code into the data handed to her and began to decrypt it. The protection was layered, with multiple security measures in place, and the viewing was done under the supervision of three officers in a secure room.

First, Yamanashi glanced over the data of the man assigned to her, and her normally composed face twisted into a complicated expression. The man’s name was Ryuuto Sakazaki. This was the name that all soldiers entering the military were taught first and foremost in their studies, the name of the hero who had defeated the Demon Lord, the most revered hero on the surface world.

“Ma’am, based on this date, this man is…?”

“Go through everything first. Save your questions for the end.”

The data contained not only the basic information of the hero, Ryuuto Sakazaki, whom Sayaka already knew about, but  also highly detailed, confidential information that could only be obtained with the cooperation of his older sister, the current member of parliament, Kazuki Genma a key figure in the ruling party. While the basic storyline was omitted, it was recorded that Ryuuto Sakazaki had thrown himself into the deepest layer of the dungeon in a self-sacrificial attempt to save his companions, the Savior Party and just yesterday, he had miraculously survived and returned from the dungeon.

Sayaka’s right hand, the one moving the mouse, became damp with sweat. The legendary mage and hero, Ryuuto Sakazaki. The man who had become Sayaka’s mental support and also her first love. Indeed. Ryuuto Sakazaki, who had slain the Demon Lord and saved the world from destruction, was deified by various new religious organizations, and his strength and charm grew larger and more exaggerated with time.

Every year, on the anniversary of the day Ryuuto was said to have vanished into the dungeon, events were held all over Japan, with dozens to hundreds of people sacrificing their lives in devotion. His popularity was that staggering. The portrait of Ryuuto Sakazaki shown in the data showed the image of a boy with long hair reaching down to his waist, the image had captured his expression brilliantly. She could vividly feel the man’s vitality, completely different from the blurry image depicted in the media and textbooks.

Ah… So this is what Ryuuto-sama looks like…

“Calm down and listen to me carefully. At the strong request of the government and the client’s relative, Kazuki Genma, you’ve been selected for this mission. Think carefully about the significance of this and proceed with your duties. I know you think of yourself as an unlucky woman, but that’s absolutely not the case at all. From our perspective, you’re the luckiest girl born under the most fortunate star in Japan.”

“I…”

She looked up from the monitor at the officers’ words. They were sending her envious gazes, tinged with frustration.

Me? Becoming Ryuuto-sama’s male protection officer? I’m the one who will share his meals and living quarters? In that case… Does that mean… There’s a chance for me to become Ryuuto-sama’s mistress?

This was Sayaka’s second time being assigned as a male protection officer. Naturally, she had undergone a thorough physical examination, including a virginity check at the hospital. The military and government had given their seal of approval. Preparations were hurried, and Sayaka was sent by hired car to the designated Imperial Hotel. Along the way, she was given special accommodations for a five-hour sleep to rest and adjust her physical condition, but she couldn’t sleep at all. Measurements were taken at breakneck speed, and military uniforms that fit her well were prepared and quickly donned. Her hair, skin, nails, and body hair were thoroughly tended to by professionals. In a sense, this process made Sayaka look like sacrificial offerings to the gods.

God… No, Sayaka. Ryuuto-sama is someone with more authority and dignity than any god on this earth. Don’t forget that. 

“My name is Ryuuto Sakazaki.”

Sayaka’s god smiled at her. It wasn’t a smile of mockery or disdain, but a natural one. She had heard he was 38 years old this year, but just like the most recent portrait of Ryuuto that Sayaka had seen before, he looked to be no older than her. He still held onto the features of a young man in his 20s at most. 

Ryuuto’s smile was warm, like the sunlight that softened even those who gazed upon it. It was too much. 

God is smiling at someone like me… Ah… I’m so fortunate…

Ryuuto seemed to be talking about something, but Sayaka couldn’t quite grasp the content of the conversation since she was too overwhelmed with emotions. She wanted to reach out her hand to him, but… What if he rejected her? In the end, her fear was proved to be unfounded. Ryuuto himself extended his right hand to her. Sayaka’s heartbeat quickened. With trembling hands, Sayaka took his extended hand and held it with both of her hands. 

His hand was big and not only that, each of his fingers were thick and strong too. His palm was rough and full of old scars that Sayaka could feel even through her white gloves. They were clear signs that Ryuuto Sakazaku was a moving, living person. Sayaka almost cried from the emotion. Had she not undergone training to control her emotions, she would have shed tears on the spot.

Thinking that this strong right hand had saved humanity from the Demon Lord’s grasp made her feel as though she had to kneel and press her cheek against his hand.

Aaaah… I’m in the presence of a being more exalted than even a god!

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