Chapter 117 A Stroll Through the Capital and Revenge for That Day
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
My lodgings turned out to be a Western-style cottage, complete with a sprawling garden that gleamed with fresh white paint.
”An underground kingdom… a sandbox for the laborers. The feet of the wealthy elite are planted in a soil of sorrow. To think the Teitoⁿ was a wasabi tree, blooming only by sucking the life out of the subterranean depths…”
Directly beneath the Capital lies a massive cavern where the female labor force lives in a sprawling collective. The residential districts are hidden away. It isn’t that the gender ratio of the city is skewed; the men are simply kept out of sight, tucked away where they won’t offend the eyes of the elite.
Only the relatively wealthy citizens are permitted to work on the surface during the day. The rest supposedly crawl out at the stroke of midnight to perform the city’s maintenance.
I began my life as a bachelor in the Capital, learning these ‘open secrets’ from a rickshaw woman who spoke of them with a strange sense of pride.
I was given my initial set of ground rules by Madam Urin, a stern elderly woman. Essentially, my time here would be spent living alone. The theme was the ‘Modern Lifestyle’ – a cutting-edge existence that stripped away the female presence from a man’s personal affairs as much as possible. Out here, bodyguards and attendants aren’t just unnecessary; they’re discouraged.
Consequently, while my cooking and laundry were handled, I was stuck doing my own light cleaning and dressing myself every day. It wasn’t that this suited my tastes – in fact, it was a giant pain – but I was stuck with it because I hadn’t bothered to check the ‘vibe’ of my destination before traveling. Apparently, other young men flock here for the ‘chic college experience,’ eager to escape the suffocating stress of the Imperial Guards.
On the morning of my second day, there was no unpacking to do; the Guards were scheduled to send my heavy trunks later. I sent a greeting to the Guards via Psionic Powerⁿ, but they only asked that I forget about them and simply enjoy my vacation.
They told me that while they knew my circumstances, to them, I was still the Master they were sworn to protect. They wanted me to live naturally, embracing all my internal complexities. ‘A normal boy with memories of a previous life? That’s just a quirk,’ they’d said. ‘There’s no need to hide it from us, or from the world. We know about the conditions for the monsters in the Ichihara Dungeonⁿ, but no one has any proof.’
”Is it so strange? You don’t have to feel guilty. It’s a wonderful personality trait.”
That’s what they told me. My ‘mothers’ are certainly broad-minded.
Because of that, I decided today would be for me. I’d been holding back on spending to avoid annoying the Guards, but bottling up that stress was doing more harm than good. To vent the dissatisfaction I usually keep under wraps, I decided to play exactly how I wanted. Even I have parts of myself I try to hide. But on a trip? It’s okay to let loose.
I found Madam Urin in the corner room of the cottage. I told her I was blowing off today’s etiquette lessons for an outing. Her room had its own exterior door, so unless I went looking for her, we would never cross paths inside.
Predictably, she pinched my ear while delivering a lecture.
”If Your Lordship wanders the city without knowing the social ceremonies of the Capital, you will surely run into trouble. But if you insist on going, I will not stop you. There is no point in teaching a student who refuses to learn.”
That logic-punch actually stung.
”Can’t I just slack off for one day? I just got here. Please.”
”Oh, very well. I assume you at least remember how to hail a rickshaw?”
”You taught me yesterday. I just call out to one of the ones running around, right?”
”The rickshaw pullers are commoners. It might be simple for Your Lordship to ask, but doing it yourself rather than being ‘served’ is a different matter. You’ll see soon enough.”
She had a mean way of putting things. She didn’t know my true nature yet, but the Guards had left the decision of how much to reveal up to me.
”Well, I’m off.”
Madam Urin couldn’t have known, but ‘commoner’ interactions are actually my specialty. I felt a twinge of guilt, but I’d committed to being selfish today.
She didn’t follow me. A male guard who doesn’t guard… it was a novel concept. Then again, the Guards had hired her, so she probably had her reasons.
Once outside, I finally understood what Urin had meant.
A young man with a haughty, prim expression was standing on the main road under the cherry blossoms. Several empty rickshaws passed right in front of him. He clearly needed a ride, but he stood there irritably, waiting for someone to notice his ‘distress’ and offer help.
Help never came. In any other town, someone would have knelt and begged to assist him, but the Capital wasn’t built like that.
”Does he really hate talking to ‘lowly’ people that much? Oh, wait… someone actually stopped out of pity and he turned them down. He wanted a more luxurious model.”
He was practically throwing a tantrum. From an outsider’s perspective, it was hilarious. If he wanted a high-end ride, he should have just called for one.
”He’s glaring. He saw me looking. Better move.”
I hurriedly looked away and headed toward a stop, scanning the passing carriages for my own ride.
Rickshaws here have ranks. Beyond the comfort of the carriage itself, they are ranked by the puller’s skill and their knowledge of the Capital’s layout, marked by a colored ribbon. Some people don’t care and take the lower ranks; others will wait an hour for a purple-ribbon carriage even if it makes them late.
Feeling a bit bad for the boy from earlier, I decided to find a puller close to my own age who looked easy to talk to. I hailed a rickshaw being pulled by a girl who looked like she belonged in a track club.
She stopped cautiously. “Can you take me?”
”Please, step inside. Where to, Sir-ssu?”
”No specific destination. Let’s just wander until we find somewhere quiet. No people.”
”No people? Got it. Understood, Sir-ssu.”
I’d chosen a black ribbon – the lowest rank. The difference between this and the one Urin had arranged yesterday was staggering. The carriage was small and rickety, and the girl pulling it was visibly nervous.
”Whoa… it really rattles, doesn’t it?”
The girl had tanned skin and a short haircut. Her hands were shaking. Rickshaw pulling is a young person’s game – typically for those between twelve and eighteen. Once they develop a more feminine physique, they retire so as not to appear ‘unsightly’ in the shafts.
In this world, males usually look at rickshaw pullers as nothing more than disposable tools, like a pair of socks. But she was in the heat of puberty and painfully aware of me.
We passed through several greenery-lined paths until we reached a bench under a wilting cherry tree. I’d avoided the crowds specifically because what I was about to do was a total violation of social status.
When I moved a few inches closer on the bench, she moved away by the exact same distance. I made her sit even though she clearly didn’t want to. Today, I was being arrogant. Like any other man in this world, I wanted to see if I could make a girl dance to my tune.
”Your name is Bikka, right?”
”Y-yeah… yes, Sir-ssu. That’s right-ssu.”
”You look like you’ve just come of age. Are you around my age?”
”Fifteen by the traditional count, Sir-ssu.”
”Then we’re only a year or two apart.”
Commoners don’t have surnames. You only earn one if your family business lasts three generations. Five generations with a male heir gets you into the nobility.
”I… I’ve never talked to a noble this close before-ssu. Am I… am I acting weird-ssu?”
”You’re doing fine. You seem calm for someone who spends her day hauling men around.”
”Is that so-ssu? Heh… Well, I live in the Capital. It’s a city of men. But some girls still get the jitters. There are pullers who chant sutras the whole time they’re running just to stay focused. I’m not like that, though-ssu!”
”I see. That’s impressive.”
”Yeah-ssu! Those girls are pathetic, catching feelings for their passengers. I’m totally different-ssu!”
She was actually quite a bit taller than me. But she was so flustered by the opposite sex it was almost painful to watch. She was rambling like a middle-school boy trying to act cool. At her age, she was just starting the transition from girl to woman.
I’m not usually mean enough to poke at that kind of awkwardness. But with a tanned, tough-looking girl like her? It was too tempting.
”It’s cool that you’re not interested in men.”
”Gah! I – of course-ssu! That’s the rickshaw spirit! If I spent my time daydreaming about guys, I’d never make it in public service. It’s no joke-ssu!”
”Admirable. I might even end up liking you…”
”Wha…-ssu?” She looked at me with a completely blank expression.
”If I said I liked you, what would you do? It’s a shame, though, since you hate that stuff.”
”T-that’s right-ssu! It’s uncool! But… this is… you’re making things difficult-ssu.”
”Why? Do you hate me?”
”No! It’s not that-ssu! I just… I don’t even get what ‘like’ or ‘dislike’ means-ssu! It’s just… it’s so provincial-ssu!”
”Of course, when I say ‘like,’ I don’t mean as a woman. I mean I respect you as a person.”
”I knew that-ssu! Obviously! That’s what I was talking about too-ssu!” Bikka’s voice cracked as she shouted.
”I see. That’s a relief.”
”Don’t say such stupid things-ssu. I don’t care about all that ‘falling in love’ crap. By ‘stupid,’ I mean… well, I mean me. I was being rude. Anyway, don’t get the wrong idea-ssu!”
She was so incredibly bad at handling men. It was hilarious. She reminded me of the ‘little demon’ girls from my middle school days.
Since I’d teased her enough, I decided to let her relax. After ten minutes, we were actually having a real conversation.
”So, you’re working in the great Capital, but with a black ribbon, things must be tight. Sounds rough.”
I swung my legs on the bench. Her rickshaw was ancient, and her clothes were covered in patches.
”My mom racked up a debt at a gambling den-ssu. Our home underground is about to be foreclosed. But after today, I don’t have any regrets-ssu. Thank you. I never thought I’d get to have a real conversation with a noble-ssu.”
She bowed her head. Apparently, lowest-rank pullers only get a pittance from the city.
”Are you quitting?”
”I have relatives in Yotsuya. I’ll go serve them. I can’t keep up this flashy city life forever…-ssu”
”Then there’s no risk of rumors ruining your job. Good. Bikka, let’s go on a date.”
”A d-date? With me-ssu?”
”Why not? You aren’t interested in men, so there’s no reason to worry. Let’s go.”
”I mean, a rickshaw puller doesn’t really have a reason to say no to an escort… but I’m just a puller-ssu.”
In the Capital, seeing a man and woman walking together isn’t that rare. She looked into my eyes, realized I was serious, and swallowed hard.
”Is this… that ‘flirting’ I’ve heard about-ssu?”
”Think of it as a ‘reverse-pickup.’”
”Reverse? How trendy-ssu!”
I stood up with her. “Let’s hold hands.”
”GYAAAAH!”
”Whoa, you scared me!”
When I tried to lace our fingers together, she actually screamed.
I took her to a second-hand shop that didn’t look too pricy and bought her a nice tunic. I combed her hair and even had her put on a little powder. By the time we were done, she looked like one of those ‘summer memories’ girls from a mountain villa.
”Cute. The tomboy look is the best.”
She was usually so rugged, but the Western clothes transformed her. I felt a little bad for forcing my tastes on her, but I loved it.
”Praising me won’t get you anywhere-ssu! My looks have nothing to do with my job-ssu!”
”We should show off your forehead. Let’s sweep your hair to the side with a clip. I chose the outfit specifically to match your hair.”
”GYAAH-ssu! I – I don’t feel anything when you touch my hair! No ‘feelings’ here-ssu! I’m not like other girls-ssu!”
”Then you don’t need to shout every time.”
Every time our skin touched, she barked or yelped. It was adorable. I was remaking her exactly how I wanted.
”You’re stuck with me all day, so get used to it. Next, we’re going to a traditional sweets shop. I want to try everything, but I can’t eat it all alone, so you’re helping.”
”Wait-ssu! No one will believe this! Ah – no! Hands! Don’t pull me-ssu!”
”Do you hate getting tea with me?” I made my best ‘sad puppy’ face.
”No! It’s not that-ssu! It’s just…”
”Just what?”
”I just… I didn’t think a woman should go to such a ‘soft’ place. It’s not that I hate tea… Ugh, fine-ssu! I’m going! I’m thirsty anyway-ssu!”
Her palm was soaking wet with sweat.
I dragged Bikka all over the city. It was a perfectly normal date, like something out of a dream. Her lack of manners actually made it better. To any onlookers, we were just a ‘noble boy’ and his friend.
After we ate, we hit a ‘power spot’ – a trendy shrine for romance prayers. We climbed the stone steps to find a Truth Mirrorⁿ. Supposedly, anyone reflected in it can’t move until they answer a question honestly. It’s a favorite for friends who want to spill each other’s secrets.
I stood next to her in front of it. “This looks fun. Let’s try. Can I ask you something?”
”Fine-ssu! I’ll answer anything! This ‘flirting’ stuff is beneath me anyway-ssu!”
our reflection stared back – we looked like a middle-school couple with a height gap.
”You really aren’t interested in men, right? You’re so cool, Bikka. I really like that about you.”
”Huh-ssu?”
”Wait, why aren’t you moving? You don’t have feelings for men, do you?”
”I… ugh…!-ssu”
With a dull thud, her entire body locked up. I was being cruel, and I knew it. I tilted my head with an innocent, ‘worried’ expression.
”Was I wrong? Were you lying to me?”
She was paralyzed. The only way out was the truth. Looking at her reaction, I already knew the answer.
”Ugh… nng… sniff… uuu…-ssu”
She was fighting the paralysis with everything she had. It seemed she would rather die than admit she had feelings for a man. Finally, she just started sobbing. I’d seen enough. I felt bad, so I let her go, asking the priest to break the ‘curse’ with a counter-mirror.
Next, we hit the afternoon market. By now, Bikka’s emotional state was in shambles.
”I wasn’t crying-ssu! It was the smoke from the ritual fires-ssu! That priest is a delinquent for not thinking about the guests-ssu!”
”Sure. But look at the crowd. Come on, stop crying…”
”Hyaaa-ssu! I wasn’t surprised-ssu! hic…”
I pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her eyes. She screamed again. My face, my voice, my scent – everything was a trigger for her. But after a minute, she went back to being my guide. She was tough.
”The auction at Kanda is the best in the country. They say Tokyo is the ‘nation’s wardrobe’ now-ssu.”
”You really know your stuff. I’m glad I found such a smart puller.”
”Well, it’s common sense-ssu! Want me to show you around-ssu?”
”Please.”
Bikka was still acting tough, though her face was a mess of tears and sweat. No matter how many times she hit her limit, she rouses herself to ‘escort’ me. I had to respect that spirit. She was a true Edokko – a stubborn girl who refused to lose.
I held out my hand so we wouldn’t get separated. She stared at it, then timidly squeezed. Her hand was shaking. She wouldn’t even look at me now. When I let go, she looked crushed and started wiping her palm on her tunic over and over. It wasn’t because of the sweat; she was just overwhelmed.
The auction was a spectacle. In the grand plaza, mystical objects from across the land were being sold off under the watchful eyes of the elite. The crowd was mostly women – ladies in suits or noblewomen with pages holding their kimonos. The culture was entirely different here; no one wore rags, and everyone looked perfectly composed.
Suddenly, the ‘Main Event’ appeared. It was an orange, Western-style door. An Edible Dungeonⁿ.
”Are they selling a dungeon?”
”It’s the Edible Dungeon from Awa-ssu,” Bikka whispered, her eyes wide. “Everything inside is food. The monsters, the buildings – it’s all edible-ssu.”
”A dungeon like that exists?”
”It’s the only one that can be moved. It’s the star of the show-ssu.”
To prove it, people started hauling out crates of fruit and meat from the door.
”You can eat the ground, the walls… everything-ssu,” Bikka explained. “The deeper you go, the better it tastes. But the best part is…-ssu”
The wealthy woman who won the bid immediately took a knife to the door itself and ate a slice.
”She’s eating the door?!”
”I knew it-ssu! She couldn’t wait-ssu! She’ll probably finish the whole thing before it spoils-ssu.”
”The door can spoil?”
”Well, it’s food-ssu!”
I guess even a dungeon that solves a famine has its downsides.
Next were the monsters. A Qilinⁿ made of gemstones had been harvested and laid out in pieces. The shards were so bright they turned the plaza into a rainbow prism. Apparently, it has 100% reflectivity in natural light. It’s the material for Daytime Morning Starsⁿ – jewelry that is five times brighter than a diamond in the sun.
The other monster was a giant, elephant-sized bee from the desert ruins. It breathed honey-fire and mowed down everything in its path. Its weakness was the stinger; once removed, it died. It looked surprisingly cute, all yellow and black and plump. It was being sold for beekeeping – apparently, if you make a hive out of the carcass, honeybees will flood in and produce massive amounts of royal jelly.
If either of these things were alive, everyone in the plaza would be dead in minutes.
A staggering amount of money changed hands today. Afterward, we got our tea fix at a shop and walked through more stalls. I paid for everything by showing my ID. It was all my treat. Letting a girl indulge, making her laugh and cry – that was my selfish whim. To her, I was a mystery, but I was having the time of my life.
By evening, we were back where we started. My stomach was full and my feet were dead. The bench was covered in cherry petals. As we sat, Bikka looked exhausted, but her happiness was even more visible.
”How was a ‘normal’ date?”
”Well… if this is normal, then I love ‘normal’-ssu.”
”In my world, this is how it works. Shopping, eating together, holding hands. And at the end, you part ways with a little bit of sadness. You probably don’t believe me, but…”
”I believe you-ssu. Today felt like a dream-ssu.”
She sounded resigned. Maybe I’d pushed her too hard. We watched the sunset together. Suddenly, her face clouded over. She was already mourning the end of the day. This experience would probably stay with her forever – a memory to sustain her for the rest of her life.
But I had a curfew.
”Why were you so nice to me? I’m not important or pretty-ssu.”
”That’s not true. You’re cute.” I looked at her youthful profile. “I wanted someone to play with on my trip. And someone told me I should make friends. But… maybe it was just revenge. Because we’re close in age.”
”Revenge…-ssu?”
She looked confused. She was slightly older than me. In the red glow of the sunset, I leaned my head on her shoulder. Her skin was so red she looked like a little demon. Bikka froze, then started muttering to herself again.
”Calm down… I’m a professional-ssu. I don’t touch the customers-ssu. That’s the rickshaw spirit-ssu. I can’t show interest in a noble-ssu. If I mess up, it’s prison…-ssu I can do this… I can endure…-ssu”
”You’re getting used to it,” I teased. “You don’t even scream anymore. It’s lonely.”
”Sorry-ssu… did you say something-ssu?”
”I forgot. I’ll take the clip out for you.”
”GYAAH-ssu! Your hands! Your face is too close-ssu! Give me a break-ssu!”
I took the clip out and her bangs fell back into place. Looking at her now, she didn’t actually look much like her. I’d just projected Himawari onto her because of the haircut.
I’m a piece of work, relying on a kid like this. But if I’m alone, I hear her screaming. Even now, that girl is rotting in a white prison, hating herself. I couldn’t tell the Guards, and even if I did, they wouldn’t understand. I’m the only one who can pity Himawari.
I felt bad for dragging Bikka into my ‘revenge.’ Treating someone else well wouldn’t help the girl I actually cared about. But I needed a human connection. I pressed my head into her shoulder, the fabric of the tunic soft against my skin.
”The real reason? I just wanted to see a happy girl. I wanted to see someone working hard and looking toward the future. It’s… refreshing.”
”You talk like an old man-ssu… but, whatever happened… cheer up-ssu.”
”Yeah. Let’s look forward.”
”Nobles shouldn’t be sad-ssu. It’s a waste of energy-ssu. If there’s anything I can do, just ask-ssu.”
I’d made her worry. I decided to make a clean break of it.
”Thanks for today. You made my trip. I feel much better.”
”You’re… you’re welcome-ssu.” She looked happy, but also terrified that I was about to leave.
”So, a request. If I pay you, can you keep being a rickshaw puller? I want to hire you for the rest of my trip.”
”I… I wasn’t quitting-ssu! I mean, I was, but I can change my plans-ssu! It’s nothing for a girl of the Capital! Don’t worry about it-ssu!”
”Wow, so cool. Then pick me up tomorrow morning.”
I gave her my best look of admiration.
”It’s not ‘cool’ or anything-ssu… but thanks-ssu. My first reservation-ssu.”
I gave her a massive tip. I was a terrible man, taking money from women just to give it to another girl.
As Bikka prepared to pull the rickshaw back to my cottage, I stopped her.
”Wait. I want to try something. I need your help.”
There’s one other way for a man to ensure he sleeps soundly. It’s a proven method for insomnia and PTSD. Humans are just animals, after all.
I made Bikka stand in front of me. I reached for her chest wrap. She looked horrified.
”What… why are you undoing my wrap-ssu?”
”You said you’d help, right? I want to go home in a good mood. I want to turn my brain off so I can sleep.”
”I… I said I’d help-ssu! But what does my wrap have to do with it-ssu?”
”It’s revenge for what I couldn’t do with my childhood friend. Call it a ‘prank’ between people our age… or simply, ‘tension release.’”
Bikka realized the implication. The hint was that this would ‘give me energy’ and ‘make me sleepy.’ I was going to make her earn that extra tip. I really am a piece of work.
”Tension…-ssu?”
”They say if you ‘blow one out,’ you sleep like a baby. Please, Bikka. Help me take care of my ‘seed’ while I’m here?”
”But… don’t nobles have… people for that-ssu? What are you saying-ssu?”
”The Guards told me to forget about them… and my teacher is a woman who’s far away. I can only ask you, because you don’t look at me like that.”
I’m going to be cursed for this.
”You’re my only ally here. Help me. You were so reliable today… please.”
I said it without a shred of shame. I gave her the ultimate ‘pathetic man’ look. Bikka’s brain was clearly melting. Her wrap was damp with sweat. As I pulled it away, I realized she had more curves than I’d thought – she’d just been binding herself with starch-stiffened fabric.
I stopped and stared at her innocent face. Before I knew it, our lips were pressed together.
* * *
Diary Entry
Memories of that summer girl.
Bikka is a healthy, cute girl, about middle-school age. We played together, and she was incredibly loud. But she shut up once I blocked her mouth with mine.
I played with her for an hour. I tried to make her grab my cock and rub it. She said she didn’t know how. I tried to make her use her feet, but she cried and said she couldn’t step on me. I thought she was being cheeky, so I decided to go all the way.
I stripped her bare on the bench. I made her do an M-spread. I poked at her pussy – she hadn’t even grown hair yet. She said she hated it, but she was so wet from being touched by a man. She tried to pretend she wasn’t coming, but she was. It was her third time ever.
She fought me on the actual sex. She was terrified. But she couldn’t beat my strength. In the end, she just wailed and curled up on the ground, refusing to show her face. I felt a bit bad, so I just painted her back with my load. Seeing her try to wipe up the mess while saying it was a ‘waste’ made me feel a different kind of sadness.
But thanks to that, I’ll sleep well tonight.
The End.
* * *
She’s my friend now – a friend I can sexually harass in the Capital. I’ve probably destroyed her dignity, but today was just too much fun. I’ve seen enough of the market; tomorrow, maybe we’ll head further out. Having a good rickshaw girl makes traveling so much better.
—
Summary:
Ichihara begins his solo stay in the Imperial Capital, struggling with the self-sufficiency required by the ‘Modern Lifestyle.’ He hires Bikka, a low-rank rickshaw puller, for a day-long date that serves as an emotional vent for his psychological stress. After exploring the city’s sights and auctions, the day concludes with Ichihara coercing Bikka into a transgressive sexual encounter as a form of ‘revenge’ for his trauma involving Himawari.
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Character Insight:
Ichihara demonstrates a disturbing capacity for compartmentalization, using Bikka as a disposable psychological proxy for his guilt over Himawari. Bikka’s internal conflict—her ‘rickshaw spirit’ vs. her burgeoning biological response—highlights the vulnerability of those in the lower social strata of the Gynocentric Capital.
—
Behind the Scene:
The ‘Edible Dungeon’ is a unique world-building element that introduces a biological timer to dungeon exploration. The ‘Reverse Chastity’ trope is utilized here to heighten the protagonist’s predatory subversion of expected gender roles.
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T/L:
Notes:
• Psionic Power – Mental energy concept in Chapter 35’s lecture. Trash-san teaches it to strengthen the protagonist’s mind after dungeon ordeals.
• Bikka – A fifteen-year-old rickshaw puller with tanned skin and a short haircut. She wears a black ribbon (lowest rank) and clothes covered in patches. She is taller than the protagonist and binds her chest with a starch-stiffened wrap. She is an Edokko with a stubborn spirit.
• Himawari – A one-eyed black oni girl/aberration-type psionic; town leader/face; asks for promotion help; apologizes for killings; sets 2‑day deadline.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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