Chapter 37 The Matter of Being Popular in a Reversed-Chastity World
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Understanding the daily lives of the women in this region is important. In this world, where the gender ratio is heavily skewed, men are treasured above all. Yet it is undeniable that society stands on the shoulders of countless ordinary women.
Their lives, however, are short and brutal. Without land, their choices are grim: pass grueling exams to join the Imperial Guard, risk death as dungeon explorers, or gamble on luck by opening shops in distant towns. Otherwise, they live as tenant farmers, laboring in dungeons from dawn till night—passing their poverty down to their children and dying before they reach fifty.
Their only joys are rare and fleeting: one permitted night with a man, and the brief warmth of raising children. That is the world they live in.
I want to say “no” to that. Unlike nobles or Imperial Guards, these women almost never meet men. That felt unbearably sad to me.
Since my Imperial Guard escorts were delayed returning from their mission, I had plenty of free time. My body had recovered completely, and with my childlike sense of time, each day felt unusually long. When you’re young, a single day feels endless, doesn’t it?
I could have spent the time studying, but all-day cramming was a surefire way to boredom. Worse, the men’s textbooks dripped with ideology, draining my interest within minutes.
So, instead of theory, I decided to step into real society—to bring a bit of comfort to these women. They spend their whole lives serving men, only to be granted a single encounter in return. Isn’t that far too cruel?
Wanting someone of the opposite sex to like you, to touch you, or at least to share a moment of closeness—those are universal human desires. Kings and beggars alike feel the same. And I wanted to respond to that desire, to remind myself that humans are not worker ants.
In short, what I wanted was to visit and observe the women’s daily lives—perhaps “to offer encouragement,” as one might call it.
I even appealed to Trash-san about it.
”It’s not allowed,” she stated, her tone as unyielding as the mountain winds.
She had come to visit me in the hospital, but rejected my proposal without hesitation. My desperate pleading did nothing; she refused me coldly.
Cruel. I tried to protest. How could she say no so easily? Didn’t she feel sorry for those women?
But Trash-san only gave me a look colder than the mountain winds. She was always dependable, yet this time she would not yield.
”Why are you looking at me like that?” I blurted. “It’s not like I suggested anything bad! I just said I wanted to use my Psionic Power to follow you when you go to the public bath.”
”Your recent behavior, Young Master, has become quite indecent,” she replied, voice sharp.
Humans are not worker ants, I thought. We’re monkeys—creatures full of desire.
Apparently, I was not the queen ant exploiting others, but a single young beast in heat.
To me, peeking at the baths—or rather, becoming invisible and joining a mixed bath—was a beautiful dream. A man’s eternal fantasy. And since I’d finally gained this ghost-like Psionic ability, wouldn’t it be a waste not to test it?
So I pressed her again.
”Think about it,” I said quickly. “Most ordinary women die around fifty, right? Wouldn’t they be happy to have some contact with a man, even just a little? They’d enjoy it, and I’d be helping society too—it’s a win-win!”
But Trash-san silenced me with a single sharp question.
”What meaning is there in a Young Master who cannot be seen by anyone?”
”Ah, well… it’s just reconnaissance, you know? Like social studies,” I mumbled.
She didn’t respond. Still, I couldn’t let go of the idea.
I wanted to see it—desperately. To bathe among them, to watch their rituals of cleansing, to study every detail up close. Once I’d decided that, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Even last night, as I tossed in bed, I was filled with determination—I would make it happen, no matter what. I’d even held back from calling Maggot-san over. I was saving everything for the grand “bathhouse experiment.”
”W-What about your promise?” I tried again. “You said you’d take responsibility when I returned from the dungeon!”
Trash-san’s eyes turned to ice. It was the gaze of a father whose beloved daughter just confessed she wanted to see a strip show.
Seeing my desperation, she sighed softly and shook her head, the sharpness in her eyes easing a little. Then she spoke gently, almost kindly.
”Commoners must know their place. Of course, showing interest in women will be admirable after your marriage. To feel no disgust toward intimacy will even be considered a virtue. But, Young Master, you are still a child. I worry for your future.”
So that was it—she meant I shouldn’t sympathize too much with the townsfolk. She looked at me with true concern.
A genuine warning. It seemed hopeless… but maybe, if I tried another angle, she’d yield. After all, she’d always been soft on me before.
No matter how much she worried, when my mind turns toward lust, I don’t feel shame.
”You said before,” I continued, “that ordinary women sometimes don’t even speak during their one night with a man. Isn’t it kind of unfair that you get to talk to me all the time?”
She hesitated, then smiled faintly. “I admit, I treasure these conversations very much.”
”I want to understand their lives. Please, let me,” I pleaded.
For most women, even during their single night of intimacy, if the man is in a bad mood, they can’t even meet his eyes. He simply finishes his duty and leaves.
Even if they never realize it, maybe being quietly observed by a man could give them some small comfort. …Maybe.
”Besides,” I added, “it’ll be good training for using Psionic Power.”
”You don’t need a bathhouse for training,” she replied sternly.
”That’s… more about motivation,” I muttered.
I tried to steer the conversation away. Just a little more and she might give in.
She sighed again. “How should I put this… Young Master, it is shameful for a man to show interest in the female body.”
But she wasn’t convinced yet. Her tone softened, yet remained firm as she reasoned with me.
”To wish to see women naked, without restraint, is the height of shamelessness. Even the city’s women are not made of stone. They feel embarrassment too. No matter how innocent your intentions, you cannot simply break society’s customs as you please.”
So much for that “one last push.” She was completely winning the argument now.
Normally, she’d at least preface her scolding with something gentle—about modesty or duty—but not this time.
”There’s no romance in that…” I said weakly.
”Can you truly not restrain yourself, Young Master?” she asked with a sigh.
”Uh, well… maybe not exactly, but yes,” I admitted.
”I thought I understood your impulses, Young Master,” Trash-san said, tilting her head slightly. “But you truly are like a girl your own age.”
”I mean, it’s also kind of… for inspection purposes,” I said quickly.
She looked at me, eyes wide with surprise—but not in a bad way. It was the curious, almost amused look you’d give to a strange but harmless creature.
”If you insist that much,” she said after a pause, “would you not be satisfied with me? I can do whatever you wish. My body may not be beautiful, but if you’d like, I can do what we did by the lake again…”
”Yeah, let’s do that later! But I still want to see new women too!”
”You really are a troublesome one, Young Master.”
I replied with a bright grin, and she gave me a complicated expression in return—part bitter, part tender, like someone exhausted by a lover’s selfishness yet unable to hate them. It felt nice, actually. I was being selfish, and she still accepted it.
Sure, what I was saying sounded questionable, but given how things worked in town and how women felt in general, my words weren’t actually despised. If anything, such acts could even be seen as virtuous. For a man, being lustful is both shameful and—ironically—something to be welcomed.
When I asked if there was something else I could do to stave off boredom, she thought for a moment and offered an alternative.
”In short, you simply wish to interact with ordinary women, correct?”
”Yeah, pretty much.”
”And the part about Psionic Power training… that was a lie, wasn’t it?”
”Well… kind of. I mean, I still want to peek at the baths, but yeah, maybe.”
She sighed deeply. “Good grief. In that case, let us arrange an official act of appreciation instead.”
”You can do that?”
”Yes.”
Apparently, there existed a system where men could visit the workplaces and living areas of common women, engaging with them in organized “comfort visits.” It was a formal duty for men—to prevent discontent from building up among the townsfolk.
They would rent halls or meeting places, watch performances by the women, or meet them one by one in a conveyor-line format—basically like an idol handshake event.
”It’s a duty after coming of age,” she explained, “but if you wish to do it voluntarily, it will be welcomed.”
”I see. I didn’t know that.”
”I’ve already completed the necessary status certification,” she added. “And if we limit it to the local neighborhood, there shouldn’t be any danger.”
”Yes! Let’s prepare right away.”
”When would you like to go?”
”Right now!”
”…Understood. I’ll start the arrangements immediately.”
She gave me a quick nod and left the room briskly.
Thankfully, the permission for our outing came quickly. Having Imperial Guards sworn to my service helped, as did my clean record at the academy. The doctor signed off on my health, and—somehow—Maggot-san had already started the paperwork at the town hall ahead of time. Her timing was as uncanny as ever.
”Then, shall we go? The vehicle is ready,” Trash-san said.
Hearing her calm voice, I felt a rush of excitement. We set out for the town.
Sure, sneaking into a bathhouse as an invisible man would have been fun, but maybe seeing the lives of real women up close would be just as interesting. As for the peeking plan, I could always ask Maggot-san to handle it—or do it myself another day. After all, I could always turn invisible again if I really wanted.
We rode for a while through the Kujukuri district in a sleek, carriage-like vehicle until we stopped before a pair of large white double doors. Two young female guards stood outside, watching us.
They wore traditional Kujukuri-style work clothes—short-sleeved jinbei tops and baggy monpe pants, belts tied high around their waists like old-time farmers or tea pickers. They looked quite young, maybe around middle school age, their postures loose and tired.
As our vehicle approached, they noticed us and blocked the gate with their poles.
”Hey, stop that container! Stop—stop there!” one shouted.
”Was there a delivery scheduled today?” the other asked.
”No idea. But that’s a fancy self-moving container,” the first murmured.
The car came to a smooth halt near the doors. The two guards approached and peered through the window like police officers at a roadside check.
When they saw who was inside—Maggot-san and Trash-san—their casual attitude vanished. The girls stiffened instantly, eyes wide with shock.
”Wait, that white uniform… those are Imperial Guards! Oh no, did we mess up?”
”They’re elite! What are they doing here?”
”D-Do you have business here, ma’am?” one stammered.
Both Guards stepped out, standing tall with quiet authority, their blades at their sides. Their calm presence carried an almost divine weight. The young sentries straightened their backs at once, trembling.
”It’s a man’s visitation for appreciation,” Trash-san said coolly. “You didn’t receive the notice?”
”Uh, n-no… please wait a moment!”
The two girls huddled together, whispering in panic. Watching them, I almost felt sorry.
”Did something happen?” one asked.
”It’s probably that thing—the one that’s always scheduled but never actually happens.”
”There’s such a thing?”
”Idiot. It’s on the calendar every year.”
”Oh, that! Wait—does that mean a man’s really come to visit us?”
”Exactly!”
”No way! For real?”
”Look, even the Imperial Guards are here—it’s the real thing!”
Their cheeks flushed red as they nervously peeked into the car. Even through the window, I could see their excitement rising.
They were both plain but cute, like twin dolls with dark glossy hair and shy eyes.
I waved a little, unsure what else to do.
They both jumped back and screamed.
”Eeeek! There’s actually a man inside!”
”P-Please wait! We’ll prepare right away!”
”He’s so cute! Oh no, that smile—he smiled! Did you see that?!”
”Quiet, you idiot! I—I apologize for my partner’s behavior!”
I stepped out of the car, trying not to laugh.
”You two seem interesting. I’ll talk to them,” I said.
Trash-san looked displeased, but Maggot-san placed a gentle hand on her arm to stop her. This was a rare chance to see real, unscripted reactions from ordinary girls. Truth be told, it was my first time talking to women who weren’t nobles or Imperial Guards.
”Um, s-sir…” one of the girls stammered.
The ponytailed one looked up at me, trembling. Normally, common women avoid meeting a man’s eyes, but she seemed too nervous to remember.
Up close, she really did look like an ordinary country schoolgirl—no makeup, but with the kind of natural beauty that would only grow with time.
”I came today to see how everyone works,” I said gently.
”Ah—y-yes!” she answered, voice high and flustered.
”I’d like you to show me around, if that’s okay. Are you free right now?”
”M… m…”
”M?” I prompted.
Her eyes went wide in disbelief as she whispered, voice trembling, “M-me? You mean me, the older sister?”
I nodded without hesitation, my face uncovered—no veil, no blindfold hat.
The girl’s expression melted like wax under sunlight.
Usually, when a man speaks to commoners, his face must be hidden. For someone her age, it was probably the first time she had ever seen a man’s face directly, let alone spoken to one.
”Ah—yes! Right away! I’ll guide you! I don’t have any duties, and if I do, I’ll skip them! I’ll take you anywhere you need to go!” she blurted out in panic.
Then she turned and ran toward the gate—but tripped over her own six-foot guard staff.
With a loud crash, she rolled across the ground in a surprisingly graceful tumble. Watching from behind, I was almost impressed.
I hurried over to her side.
”Ow…”
”Are you okay? You’ll hurt yourself if you’re not careful,” I said gently.
”S-sorry!”
”Here, take my hand. Let’s get you up.”
”Eh… wha—?”
I took her hand.
”Ah…”
Her face turned bright red. It was as if steam were rising from her cheeks.
Her eyes watered, her lips trembled, and she whispered, “A boy… is holding my hand…”
”Are you alright? Did it hurt? You look surprised,” I asked softly.
”N-no, it’s just—ah, uh…”
”Hold still then. You scraped your knee, right? I’ll clean it for you.”
”Ah—uh, aah…”
I brushed the dust off her skin, carefully wiping the small red mark she’d earned from the fall.
She stared at my hand as if hypnotized, her fingers trembling.
”S-such smooth hands… this can’t be real…”
”Hey! What do you think you’re doing?!” her partner yelled in shock.
The ponytailed girl’s words fell apart into incoherence. It was kind of funny. Maybe this was what people called teasing a pure-hearted maiden.
But I wasn’t finished yet.
She worked hard at such a young age—she deserved at least one good memory. It would be too sad if this little accident turned out to be the only warmth she ever felt from a man.
Pretending to brush off another stain, I leaned closer—and “accidentally” tripped.
”Ah!”
Thud.
I fell straight onto her chest.
She landed on her back, and I collapsed against her front.
Soft. Her body wasn’t mature yet, but even so, she caught me gently, enough to make my small frame bounce slightly against her.
”…Sorry,” I whispered.
She breathed raggedly. “Haa… haa…”
We locked eyes.
My hand was pressed against her chest. And—just a little—I let it slip under her jinbei, feeling the warmth of her bare skin. Maybe because food was scarce, her ribs showed faintly through her sides, pale against the rough orange cloth of her robe. She looked about my age—innocent, fragile, and alive.
Ah. Suddenly, desire stirred in me. I wanted to push further, right there under the open sky.
We stayed silent, gazing at each other.
”This is our secret,” I whispered.
I closed my eyes slowly.
Her warm, shaky breath brushed against my lips. The moist air drew closer, inch by inch.
Beneath my hand, her small heart beat wildly, almost dancing. Just as we brushed against each other, her partner yanked her away.
”Stop that right now! You’ll get yourself killed!”
”I don’t care! I can die here! If I could kiss him like that, I don’t need anything else in life!”
”What about your family? Your sister?!”
When I opened my eyes, the two guards were already arguing in panic. The commotion was drawing stares from the workers nearby, so I stood up, brushing the dust off.
Technically speaking, everything that just happened counted as a crime punishable by death. It didn’t matter that I’d “fallen” by accident—such was the harshness of this society.
Staying out here any longer would only make things worse. Best to head inside quickly.
”Young Master,” Trash-san said with a long sigh, “you went too far.”
”It was an accident,” I mumbled. “I’ll reflect on it.”
In truth, calling it an accident was the only way to save that girl’s life. If anyone believed she’d looked into the car—or worse, touched me—her head would already be gone. Still, I felt bad seeing her carried off, faint from hyperventilation. Her partner’s glare could’ve burned holes through me.
While Trash-san scolded me, the preparations for our visit were completed.
This place turned out to be the largest dairy farm in Kujukuri Town. Beyond the great gates stretched about five hectares of open land, dotted with barns, coops, and weaving sheds. They raised cattle and chickens, grew cotton for clothing, and produced goods for the town’s survival.
Raising livestock for the wealthy was their specialty. Their secret was simple—the feed came straight from the dungeon. Though limited by land, this miraculous ration fed every animal perfectly, without sickness or waste.
It was a bit of a shock to realize that the same ration I’d been eating was technically livestock feed. Still, it was a mystical substance said to nourish nearly all living creatures. No wonder it was expensive. Now I understood why they made me eat it every day.
Inside the dome-shaped facility, the space was pure white, sterile like a laboratory. At first glance, it looked like something run by advanced AI—but in reality, everything was done by hand, with pre-industrial tools. And there were many such enormous chambers across the region.
We walked together, watching the women feed animals, tend the soil, and manage equipment.
”You know,” I said, “they’re actually really friendly. I thought everyone in town hated me.”
”It is not you they resent, Young Master,” Trash-san explained calmly. “It is us—the Imperial Guard. The hostility comes from the foolish local authorities. To ordinary women, any man is a being worthy of reverence.”
She spoke gently, like a teacher reminding a child of the world’s strange logic.
Since my visit was unannounced, everyone seemed overwhelmed but honored. There was no tea prepared, no entertainment arranged. So, this became more of an impromptu workplace visit.
As I walked, women in the middle of their duties froze, then knelt before me. “Everyone, thank you for your hard work,” I said softly each time, stopping to acknowledge them.
Their faces filled with disbelief. I met their gazes and smiled gently.
”He smiled at me. A man… actually smiled at me!”
”Did you see that? He looked my way! I can’t believe it. I could die happy now!”
Once they realized I wasn’t angry or intimidating, more and more turned their faces toward me—smiling, radiant with joy.
It was… honestly a bit embarrassing.
”My heart hurts,” one woman murmured, clutching her chest. “The last time I saw a man’s face, he looked disgusted,” said another. “If only my daughter could have seen this…”
There were women of every age—young mothers barely in their twenties, older nursemaids in tattered coats, all working hard.
They gathered around just to catch a glimpse of me, like townsfolk welcoming a famous council member back home. If someone hung a banner, I wouldn’t have been surprised.
Seeing that I wasn’t scolding anyone, they began kneeling one after another, offering formal greetings.
Everyone was dressed in ragged clothes, hair unkempt but brushed back as best they could. Being near the coast, many had tattoos, and more than half were barefoot. The atmosphere was like a noisy old downtown street from the Showa era.
”Out of the way! I can’t see the man!”
”It’s a real boy! Wow, he’s so cute!”
”He’s divine… I can’t believe such a beautiful creature exists…”
”Ugh… I can’t… I’m gonna faint…”
”He actually smiled at us—he’s so kind!”
Maybe this was what it felt like when a celebrity visited a high school.
”Yeah, but…” I murmured, “they’re poorer than I expected.”
Even from a distance, I could see how thin most of them were—their cheeks hollow, their skin pale. Even with the dairy farm here, the women themselves weren’t exactly clean; there was a faint smell of sweat and toil everywhere.
”But still… they’re lively,” I said softly.
I waved to the half-dressed women crowding together like mice. Before I knew it, the entire facility had filled with them.
”Over here! Look this way!”
”Ah—too radiant! My stomach hurts from looking at him…”
”Hey, maybe we could touch him! He looks kind!”
”Are you crazy? The Imperial Guard will kill you!”
”I wish I could be like them—wearing such pretty uniforms, standing so close to a man… I wanted that life too.”
They all stared at me with shining eyes. The air was thick with heat and emotion. I felt a bit dizzy from it all.
They were adorable, honestly. If I didn’t have a title, I might’ve jumped into that sea of women just to be spoiled for a day.
These women were different from the others I’d met. They were rough, unschooled, but warm and full of life.
…Somehow, being welcomed so openly—it really moved me. I’d never experienced this before, not even as one of the rarest men alive. Ah yes, the power of a one-thousand-to-one gender ratio.
”Make way! Clear a path or you’ll be detained!” one of the guards shouted.
”Wait, wait,” I said quickly. “It’s fine. This is a goodwill visit.”
”Y-Yes, sir! Waiting!”
I slipped past the guard’s arm and stood before the townspeople.
Now what? I couldn’t exactly… do it with all of them. Still, being this openly adored stirred something other than lust inside me—something like pride or the craving for recognition. I hadn’t realized I even had that kind of feeling. Usually, I thought I was above such things.
Right now, my heart was filled with a pleasant sense of superiority.
Well then, maybe I should act the part. I stepped toward the nearest group of women and took one of their hands.
”Here—handshake. Squeeze.”
”Th-thank you, thank you so much!”
”And you too—you’re small and cute.”
”Ah! T-thank you, big brother!”
”And you, ma’am—may I give you a hug?”
”Oh my… I… oh dear…”
I went around shaking hands and giving gentle hugs. Squeals—half screams, half laughter—filled the air.
Young or old, everyone who touched me looked radiant with joy.
”No way!”
”Move! It’s my turn!”
”Touching him brings good fortune!”
Seeing that the Imperial Guards weren’t stopping me, the crowd surged closer. Normally, such contact would be unthinkable—but this impromptu “public service” act hit them right in the heart.
”Thank you for your hard work—woah, careful! You’ll crush me!”
”He smells so nice! He’s too cute!”
”He’s still just a boy… maybe he hasn’t learned to hate women yet…”
I was completely mobbed. Women took turns crowding in, brushing against me, touching my hair, sniffing me. Some even shoved sweets into my hands—or bit me, for some reason.
Good grief, what are they, grandmas from the countryside?!
Covered in the scent of so many young women, I felt lightheaded.
”Stop it! Do you want to traumatize him, you shameless fools?!” one of the guards yelled.
”Ow! You hit me, you lowly officer!”
”Yeah! Stop showing off in front of the boy!”
”Give me a strand of his hair! For a charm!”
The escort started swinging her staff, driving the crowd back. Meanwhile, a little girl clung to my leg, and an older woman nearly smothered me in her chest.
It looked like a riot—but when the crowd noticed I wasn’t speaking, silence slowly spread. The noise faded, replaced by shame and panic.
”Oh no… we went too far…”
”Are you alright, sir? I was just so happy, I lost control…”
”I-I’m sorry! Please don’t hate us, you wonderful man…”
All around me, the women’s faces turned tragic. They peered at me with tearful eyes, some actually sobbing.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
”Ahaha…”
It was too ridiculous, too sweet to resist. So this is what it’s like to be treated without restraint. It felt… nostalgic, somehow.
It wasn’t a deep or meaningful kind of laughter—just simple joy, the kind that fades quickly, like laughing over nonsense with friends. I stood there chuckling quietly, surrounded by sniffles and wide eyes.
”He’s laughing… why?”
”He’s not angry?”
”Look—he’s smiling!”
They stared at me in disbelief.
It felt nice, honestly. This kind of raw interaction—it loosened something inside me. It was almost therapeutic.
Being grabbed and fussed over like a puppy, I felt strangely healed.
”It’s fine,” I said, smiling. “I’m not hurt. Don’t worry.”
I was covered in odd smells, dirt stains, even a few fleas from their clothes. Still, I made sure to show I wasn’t angry—to let them know I forgave their lack of manners with a smile.
”Um, there won’t be… any punishment, will there?” one asked timidly.
”Nope,” I said. “I had fun. It’s fine. I’ll come visit again—just be a little gentler next time, okay?”
”You’re too kind… people like you actually exist…”
The young woman guiding me burst into tears.
I couldn’t stop grinning.
It had been so long since anyone treated me roughly. Strange as it was, it felt good.
Normally, an incident like this would end badly— The women would be punished, the man traumatized or furious, and everyone involved would face strict discipline to preserve social order.
But if the man himself forgave them, then forgiveness became law. In this world, the man’s word was final.
”He looked so happy… what a divine expression.”
”He must be a reincarnated saint…”
Even the grandmothers watched me with serene smiles.
After that, I spent a long while touring the facilities. Everywhere, I saw strange technology born from that alien vessel—a refrigerator running without power cords, a printer that turned manure into edible food, tiny insect-like machines that crawled and cleaned, and odor-neutralizers that dissolved waste instantly.
It felt like walking through a factory exhibit—fascinating and surreal.
I continued my tour alongside Maggot-san and our tearful young guide until exhaustion set in. Seeing how these women worked so hard to sustain the world that sustained me, I felt—just a little—like I could try harder too.
Notes:
• Psionic Power – Mental energy concept in Chapter 35’s lecture. Trash-san teaches it to strengthen the protagonist’s mind after dungeon ordeals.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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