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 - 30

Chapter 30: Fried Rice Episode

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I was pretty surprised when they told me to live with a woman, but.. Well, I think I can manage if it’s with her.

“Even so, I finally have my own place. It’s making me feel kind of emotional. Sayaka, where were you living before?”

“I’ve been living in the provided government housing ever since I enlisted in the military. After I was assigned as a male protection officer, I moved into the dormitory.”

“I see. I’ve never lived alone before. Oh, I wasn’t trying to pull a joke, okay?  I don’t think surviving in a dungeon really counts. Anyway, this place has all sorts of extra stuff besides being a 3LDK, right? It’s nice that it’s fancy and all, but isn’t it too big? Cleaning’s gonna be a pain.”

“Please leave all cleaning and meals to me. Ryuuto-sama, your purpose here is to relax and rest your body.”

“Oooh! I see! I’m happy to hear that. After all, eating only convenience store bento and takeout every day would get old fast. Sayaka, can you cook?  I can handle basic stuff like grilling, boiling, or peeling, so if you ever need a hand, just say the word.”

“Your concern is unnecessary. However, your kindness does reach my heart.”

“I see. Sayaka, you really can do anything, huh? Is this place on the 40th floor?”

“No, it’s the top floor, the 44th. It has an auto-lock system with surveillance cameras. If anything happens, police officers will arrive from the nearest station within three minutes. The shared facilities include a delivery box for online orders, a guest room, a lounge, a theater room, a sports gym, a library, various clinics, a convenience store, a small home center, and even a 100-yen shop. If you so wish, Ryuuto-sama, you could live here comfortably without ever needing to step outside.”

“Whoa. This is… a bit much. Am I even gonna be able to afford the rent? How much is it? Like… 70,000 yen a month?”

Ryuuto’s sense of money hadn’t changed much since his high school days. He didn’t know about inflation. Hearing his words, Sayaka’s lips curled slightly, as if she were looking at a cute child.

“The rent here is relatively inexpensive. Just 1,525,000 yen per month.”

“One… one million five hundred twenty-five—!? No way! That’s on par with a national budget! You could buy a whole new country with that!”

“Ryuuto-sama, you’re so adorable.”

“But where the hell is all that money coming from? Could it be… From Nee-chan? No wait. If that’s the case, Shougen would keep working the night shift just to keep up with the rent alone…”

“You need not concern yourself with the finances of your living expenses, Ryuuto-sama. The government covers everything.”

“Seriously? The government is really pulling out all the stops, huh?! But why would they be so generous?”

“What are you saying, Ryuuto-sama? This country, no, this world itself, only continues to exist because you defeated the Demon Lord. This amount of money isn’t just expected—it’s nowhere near enough to match your achievements…! In truth, there should be nothing in this nation beyond your reach! That is how great your deeds are!”

“A-Alright, I get it! I get it, okay? Stop! Sto—op! I understand, Sayaka, so let’s calm down. It’s already late at night, after all. Don’t get so worked up”

“As long as you understand. As long as you-…!”

Seriously? I thought she was just a cool, military-type beauty, but she’s actually got a burning passion deep inside her. Wow! I think I’m in love with her!

Sayaka’s shoulders rose and fell as she breathed heavily. Overcome with emotion, her jade-green eyes shimmered like the surface of a lake under the bright sun. Ryuuto, who had been leaning back on the sofa, handed her a glass of water. Sayaka gulped it down in one go, her neatly arranged hair slightly disheveled. The way she tucked her loose hair behind her ear with her fingertips was strangely seductive, making Ryuuto gulp audibly. Whether it was the adrenaline or something else, the pheromones emanating from Sayaka had intensified. The sweet, distinctly youthful feminine scent filled his nose, sending a sudden heat through his lower abdomen. Faint beads of sweat formed on the soles of his feet, resting on the plush carpet.

“S-Sorry. I lost my composure for a moment back then.”

“Well, it’s fine, isn’t it? Sometimes, letting your emotions explode is probably good for your mental health.”

Suddenly, Ryuuto’s stomach let out a loud growl. Despite having eaten a hearty meal at the hotel just earlier, he was already feeling hungry again. Sayaka’s expression remained mostly neutral, but she seemed to relax ever so slightly.

“My bad. My body has terrible fuel efficiency.”

“I can prepare something light for you to eat right away. Do you have any requests?”

“Fried rice.”

Fried rice was anything but ‘light’, but Sayaka bowed gracefully anyway. 

“Please wait a moment.”

She said before heading to the kitchen. Ryuuto stared blankly at the space for a bit but soon got up and wandered in after her, unable to sit still even for three minutes. 

“Oooh~”

There, in the kitchen, was Sayaka, wearing a white apron as she neatly arranged the ingredients for fried rice.

“It will be ready soon.”

“Mind if I watch?”

“You are quite the curious one. There is nothing particularly interesting about this.”

Sayaka heated a Chinese wok until smoke began to rise from it, then added just the right amount of oil. Taking out a ladle, she used the back of it to spread the oil evenly before cracking an egg into the pan. With practiced movements, she spread the egg across the surface, let it heat thoroughly, and then tossed in the rice. Stirring briskly to mix the two together, she seasoned it with salt and pepper.

“Whoa!”

Impressed by her smooth technique, Ryuuto couldn’t stop himself from exclaiming in admiration. Sayaka then gave the wok a firm shake, sending the rice into the air. The kitchen seemed to be specially designed, as the firepower far exceeded that of a normal household stove. The airborne rice was kissed by the flames, allowing excess moisture to evaporate. Ryuuto recalled reading about this in a manga once, but actually pulling it off in real life was a different story entirely.

“It smells amazing.”

Sayaka glanced back at that. A faint smile appeared on her lips. She then added diced char siu pork and shrimp, giving them just the right amount of heat. Finally, she sprinkled finely chopped green onions over the dish and poured soy sauce along the edges of the pan in a circular motion. The sizzling sound made Ryuuto’s stomach grumble again. The rich aroma of the seared soy sauce, combined with the flavors of the ingredients, was enough to make his mouth water. There was no doubt—the fried rice was going to be delicious.

“Alright. I will bring it over to the table now.”

There’s something special about a homemade food made by a woman. 

Ryuuto, looking like the incarnation of a starving child from the Showa era, was gripping a fork and spoon in both hands as he waited eagerly for the special fried rice to arrive. 

“Grrrowl~”

“Here you go. Thank you for waiting.”

Ryuuto immediately devoured the fried rice that Sayaka had made, shoveling it down one bite after another, finishing off an entire shō (about 1.8 liters) of cooked rice in no time at all.

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