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 - 46

Chapter 46: Yuto Genma

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“Ryuuto-sama. Both my husband and I have been waiting for the day we could meet you. Please, take your time and relax here today.”

“Ah-Okay… Hm?”

As she passed by him, Kotoha lightly grazed Ryuuto’s side with her fingertips. That indescribably sensual touch sent a shiver down Ryuuto’s spine. He shifted his gaze toward Kotoha, who was walking down the long hallway. What was her intention? That gesture was definitely inappropriate, even for an expression of affection between an uncle and his niece. 

Did she just touch me? Why did she touch me just now? What’s with this girl?

“What’s wrong, Ryuuto? The room is this way.”

“Ri-Right. Okay.”

Shougen, who had been looking elsewhere, seemed completely unaware of the earlier interaction. Ryuuto, however, was feeling rather flustered. That improper gesture just now had sent his heart racing.

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In the luxurious reception room Ryuuto had been shown to, he sprawled on the plush leather sofa, tossing his legs out haphazardly. Shougen soon entered, bringing along someone small with long hair, whose gender wasn’t immediately clear at first glance alone.

“Hey, come over here and greet Ryuuto.”

“Ah, um, nice to meet you. I’m Yuto. You’re Ryuuto-ojisan, right?”

What?

That was Ryuuto’s immediate impression of Yuto. He looked small and petite. His shiny, long hair reached his shoulders. When he was standing shyly beside Shougen like that, he looked delicate and fragile. He really stirred a protective instinct within Ryuuto. When Ryuuto focused his gaze on him, Yuto lowered his eyes bashfully. His long eyelashes trembled slightly, and Ryuuto found himself overcome by a strange, indescribable feeling.

O-o-oh. What’s going on here? He’s supposed to be my nephew, right? He’s Nee-chan and Shougen said he’s my nephew. Not my niece. Which means, he’s a boy. I mean, he must be a boy, but he looks like a girl! To be precise, he looks like a prim and proper young lady! What the hell?! What’s happening? My brain’s all confused!

“Hm? Hold up, Shougen. Don’t tell me this kid is—”

“Hey, don’t point at someone’s son like that. Yes, that’s right. This is Yuto Genma, my and Kazuki’s child, and he’s also the eldest son of the Genma family.”

“P-pleased to meet you, Ryuuto-ojisan.”

Yuto bowed his head politely in a soft voice. When their eyes met, Yuto’s cheeks flushed faintly. Even that gesture was so feminine that if Ryuuto had leaned in that way, he might have pounced on him immediately. Yuto was just that enticing.

“So… this is my nephew, huh? Wait, hold on. How old is Yuto?”

“He’s 18 this year and since I’ve known you forever, I can tell exactly what you’re thinking. Let me make one thing clear. Unfortunately for you, Kotoha is Yuto’s fiancée.”

“Ugh.”

Shougen smirked, stroking his chin as he stood with his hands tucked into his kimono sleeves. Ryuuto grimaced, realizing that Shougen had seen the impure thoughts he had toward Kotoha.

“Unfortunately…?”

Yuto looked up at Shougen curiously.

“Oh my, oh my~ Oji-sama? What could be so unfortunate?”

Kotoha flashed a mischievous smile, as though she had understood everything from the start.

“Stop reading my thoughts! What are you all?! A family full of psychics or something?!”

“U-Umm… Ryuuto-ojisan…”

“Yuto, right? Stop calling me ‘ojisan,’ it doesn’t suit me.”

“No, no. I think it suits you perfectly. That’s the right way for him to address you.”

“Shut up, Shougen! Listen up, Yuto. From now on, call me ‘ojiki.'”

“Ye-Yes! Ryuuto-ojiki!”

Yuto closed his eyes tightly and did his best to address Ryuuto with zeal, but his voice was still lacking in impact. If anything, he sounded rather cute. 

“That’s right, Ojiki. Hmph~ It has a nice ring to it.”

“What the hell are you teaching my kid? You’ve been watching too many yakuza movies.”

“Not trying to brag, but I’m aware that I’m tactless.”

“Fufu~”

Kotoha chuckled softly watching the exchange between Ryuuto and Shougen. 

“Anyway. Is this for real? This kid is really yours and Nee-chan’s? Are you sure you didn’t mistake his gender at birth?”

“Kyaah!”

“Don’t go grabbing someone else’s son’s private parts out of nowhere!”

Ryuuto gave Yuto’s crotch a quick squeeze, then looked around with a dazed expression on his face.

“Okay. He’s got a cock alright. No doubt about it. He’s a guy. But still… Yuto, how tall are you?”

“Umm… I’m 154 centimeters.”

“You seriously look like a girl no matter how I look at you.”

“Auh…”

“Don’t say that. Well, Kazuki and I are pretty tall though.”

“For the record, I’m 152 centimeters. I’m just a bit shorter than Yuto-sama.”

Kotoha chimed in, swiftly moving to sit beside Yuto. To anyone watching, the two looked like two close female friends instead of a husband and a wife. 

“You two look like a cute Emperor and Empress doll pair.”

“By the way, how exactly did you two end up together?” 

“Right, right! Yuto-sama and I are childhood friends. I pursued him and this spring, we finally became a couple.”

Kotoha said while clinging to Yuto’s arm. Yuto blushed silently, seemingly glancing toward Shougen for help.

“Ooouh. Kotoha, you’re pretty passionate, huh?”

Ryuuto said, scratching his left cheek in mild surprise.

“…Well, yeah. That’s how it is.”

Shougen said with a distant look on his face. Ryuuto figured there must’ve been a lot of drama behind the scenes but decided not to ask since it seemed complicated.

“So Yuto’s already settled down at eighteen? Bold move.”

“It’s not that unusual. Since the civil law amendment, both men and women can marry at fourteen in this country. Getting married at eighteen is pretty standard nowadays. Most young men settle down around twenty—or are made to, anyway. You’ll see for yourself soon enough.”

“Shougen, I can sense the hidden implications behind your words…”

“Umm… Father, I would like to talk with Ojiki alone for a bit…”

“Oh, really? Haha… Yuto, that’s unusually forward of you.”

“Auh…”

Shougen gave Yuto a hearty pat on the shoulder, causing him to stumble slightly. It seemed his balance wasn’t all that great.

“Ryuuto, you’re Yuto’s hero, you know.”

“Huh?”

“Ever since he was little, Kazuki and I would tell him stories about your exploits. He’s always looked up to you. I told them that Ryuuto is actually an incredible guy. Right, Yuto? Go ahead and have a nice long talk with your favorite uncle today. After all, your uncle is still unemployed.”

“Shut it. I prefer to be called a free spirit, thank you.”

How does “unemployed” translate to “free spirit”?

That said, Ryuuto’s situation was certainly a rare case. He had sacrificed his life fighting for the sake of the nation and he had a strong resolve to continue challenging dungeons that would likely pose a threat to humanity in the future. However, due to his flippant way of speaking and his unnaturally youthful appearance, his actions carried little weight in the eyes of others. Shougen, though, simply nodded as if he fully understood Ryuuto’s situation. 

“Y-Yeah. I have so much stuff I want to talk about with you, Ojiki.”

“Oh my, oh my~ I’m starting to feel a little jealous here.”

“No, no, no, no. I just want to talk with Ojiki! That’s all.”

That said, when Ryuuto saw the passionate gaze coming from Yuto, a part of him was afraid he might lose his reason in front of Yuto despite knowing Yuto was a man.

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