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 - 82

Chapter 82: Ryuuto Goes to School

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“You look absolutely wonderful, Ryuuto-sama.”

“I know, right? Ehem. Just kidding.”

On a fine day in late autumn, Ryuuto was dressed in the uniform of the Explorer School. e He was in the middle of receiving a thorough check from Sayaka on the finer details.

“It’s probably because it’s been ages since I last wore a school uniform. Feels kinda embarrassing, y’know? Hey, Sayaka. Nothing looks weird, right?”

“Yes, you look truly splendid. You’re absolutely radiant. How should I put it… I’m overwhelmed with emotion just from the sight alone.”

Sayaka said this with tears welling up in her eyes. Being praised so directly made Ryuuto feel undeniably embarrassed. He scratched his cheek and looked away, prompting Sayaka to let out a soft giggle.

“So gallant, I hardly know what to do with myself. I am so incredibly happy to serve a noble person like you, Ryuuto-sama.”

“Haha, you’re exaggerating. I’m just heading to school for a bit of studying, that’s all. Ah, but still… What should I do?”

“Is there something you’re worried about?”

“It’s just… I only finished middle school, so I’m afraid if there’s some tough test, I might embarrass myself.”

“In that case, please call me immediately. Though this unworthy Sayaka does not hold a university degree, I have received special training in the military and have every bit of knowledge from the old imperial system stored right here in my brain. My support for you, Ryuuto-sama, will always be perfect. Feel free to use me as your tool anytime.”

“Uh, well, I don’t know about that. I appreciate the thought, but it’d be pathetic as a man to rely on you right off the bat. Sorry for sounding weak. I’ll get through this with my own strength.”

“You’ve truly become so admirable.”

Sayaka seemed deeply moved by Ryuuto’s words. Her dark, moist eyes brimmed with tears as she pressed her hands together in a prayer-like gesture.

She’s acting just like my mom…

Ryuuto’s face twitched slightly as he sensed the intense, almost religious devotion Sayaka harbored toward him, and he unconsciously took a few steps back.

“Whoa, can’t waste any more time. If I’m late on my first day, I won’t be able to face Nee-san, who pulled strings to get me in. Better get to school quick.”

“Please leave it to me. I, Sayaka, shall escort you to the Explorer School with utmost speed and safety.”

Sayaka twirled a set of car keys that glinted sharply in her hand, then moved her nose just a little with a hint of smugness. Despite only having spent a short time together, Ryuuto had already noticed that, contrary to her cool appearance, Sayaka’s emotions showed clearly on her face.

“Well, I’ll leave it to you.”

“Yes, please leave everything to me.”

Thirty minutes later.

The vehicle Sayaka was driving was stranded on the road with a mysterious flat tire. It was during the 7 a.m. rush hour. Their black luxury sedan, trapped amidst the angry commuters, was bombarded by a chorus of furious honking. Even inside the vehicle, protected by reinforced armor, they couldn’t escape the din.

“…P-please… Kill me.”

“It’s just a flat tire.”

“I deserve death a thousand times over.”

“No, no, no, it’s no big deal. Don’t worry about it.”

“But…!”

Sayaka looked utterly unable to bear her own failure; unable even to respond to Ryuuto’s words, she pressed her shapely lips tightly together and bowed her head deeply. Since Ryuuto’s car was blocking traffic, furious honks erupted from every direction. Sayaka, overwhelmed by a sense of responsibility, had turned pale all the way to her lips.

“A car breaking down isn’t your fault. It’s not like you did anything wrong. It’s just bad luck, that’s all. Don’t let it bother you.”

“P-please don’t be kind to me. If you are, I’ll… I’ll end up wanting to lean on you…”

“It’s fine. I’ve made plenty of mistakes in my life, too. Alrighty…”

“Ryuuto-sama?”

Ryuuto climbed from the back seat into the front passenger seat.

“It’s okay. This isn’t even really a mistake.”

Ryuuto lightly patted Sayaka’s shoulder. Then he placed his large, rugged hand over hers on the steering wheel. His hand, big and thick, was like a glove—scarred from countless battles in the dungeon, it completely enveloped Sayaka’s slender hand. Perhaps feeling his resolve, Sayaka calmed down, her cheeks flushing faintly.

“Ryuuto-sama…”

“But, ah, this isn’t exactly the time for us to stare into each other’s eyes.”

He stuck his head out the window and waved to a woman in a compact van next to them, who had been aggressively laying on her horn. The woman, who looked like a late-twenties office worker with makeup done to perfection like a TV announcer, noticed Ryuuto. She immediately took her hands off the steering wheel, opened her window, and shrieked in a piercing voice that felt like it stabbed right through his skull. Her scream triggered a mass reaction: women from the surrounding cars suddenly jumped out when they realized there was a man present.

“Wait, what? There’s a boy in there?!”

“No way! My horoscope said today was the worst day of the year, but heaven hasn’t abandoned me after all!”

“Hey! What the hell are you all honking for, huh?! Can’t you see the man is scared?!”

“That’s right, you’re being a nuisance! Look, he’s terrified. It’s okay, sweetheart—come to me. I’ll hold you tight, huff huff…”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, whipping your boobs out in public at this hour?! You perverted hag! Hey, come over here! My boobs are way bigger! See, little boy? Where’s the squishy boob tunnel? Right here, come on, it’s right hereee♡”

A woman ripped open her suit shirt along with the buttons, boldly emphasizing her cleavage as she strode straight toward Ryuuto in the passenger seat. She looked like a refined, traditional Japanese beauty, but her shameless display of a voluptuous figure at the crack of dawn without a hint of hesitation was already a huge red flag.

Ugh. I like sexy older ladies, but I’ve never dealt with exhibitionists before…And doing it in public like this is way too much.

“Mmblgh!”

The Kyoto-style bombshell with the hyper-sexual body was just a hair’s breadth away when Ryuuto slammed the window shut, smushing her face awkwardly against the reinforced glass.

“G-grr… A maaan! I won’t lose! Not to something like this!”

But she was tougher than he expected. She pressed her exposed chest against the passenger window, fiercely intensifying her sexual advances. Even Ryuuto was taken aback by the sight. He was clutching his mouth in shock as he stammered helplessly.

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T/N: I’d be scared too.