Chapter 7
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 7: First Outing (1)
Day 5 of adapting to the Reverse World, a sunny morning.
While others might be busy learning magic or building a harem when dropped into another world, I am exploring the ecosystem of another dimension, Summoner's Rift, from my room.
Even if this world is a bizarre place where the gender ratio is flipped and women go to the army, I believed there would be at least one unchanging law of the universe.
But...
Clack-clack-clack-clack—!
The keyboard screamed as if breaking.
That f*cking bastard...
I grabbed the back of my neck. My blood pressure skyrocketed vertically.
No... let's not get angry. Jin-hyuk, you are an intellectual. You are an accepted student of a prestigious university. Endure it. Blessed are those who endure.
But the Yasuo inside the monitor mocked my patience, flashing the splendid 'Mastery Level 7' emote and playing the flute right in front of me.
'Ha... f*ck.'
Why on earth does a troll champ like Yasuo exist in this Reverse World too? This is severely wrong.
When the Creator made the world, he definitely said "Give balance to the dogs". It's unfair enough that the gender ratio is broken at 1:9, but for the cancer of the Rift to remain the same? Is this truly immutable science?
The provocation continues. I took a deep breath. Yeah, while playing games you might play badly. You might get cursed at a bit.
I endured up to here. Since it's fact. But the guy's fingers didn't stop.
Snap.
The string of reason inside me snapped with a very clear and lovely sound.
More unpleasant than simple curses, the speech style that subtly scratches and brings up parents. Mocking my mother, who suffered raising us three siblings alone, with the word 'Unfilial'?
I activated the chat window. The game is no longer important. From now on, it's war.
The single word with the best cost-performance ratio. The magic spell that scrapes down the opponent's pride.
Took the bait. The Yasuo's typing speed got faster. Anger is felt across the monitor.
I roughly pushed the keyboard away and jumped up from my seat.
Game over. I immediately snatched the outing hoodie hanging on the clothes rack.
Thinking about it, women are 9 in this world. Meaning, there is over 90% probability that arrogant Yasuo is a woman too.
So what? Not my business.
A bastard who plays like sh*t and insults parents must be punished equally whether they are man or woman, or alien. That is the 'True Gender Equality' I learned.
But if I just hit them, it could be mutual assault, or I could become the perpetrator and end up at a police station meet-up.
I searched for a 'Gym available for sparring rental' near the PC cafe on the internet window I had opened beforehand.
Violence is savage, but sports are legal. Just write a consent form and educate them properly on the ring.
"Phew... You're dead today."
Surprisingly, this is my first outing since coming to the Reverse World.
Coming out to the living room, it was quiet. Mom already went to work, and Seol Ji-hye, who is on vacation, seems to be in her room.
I shouted indifferently while walking toward the entrance.
"Hey, Seol Ji-hye. I'm going out."
Click.
The room door opened and Ji-hye popped out.
"...Where are you going?!"
Asking with eyes wide open, her look is a spectacle. Um... What should I say... It's a bit much to say I'm going for an IRL fight...
"...Just going to meet a friend."
It's not a lie. A friend whose head will soon be broken. We plan to have a very 'intimate' conversation.
"Brother... had... a friend?"
Ji-hye's pupils shook severely. Look at that crazy b*tch talking to her brother like that...
Of course, I don't. In the real world... original world or this world... my friends exist only inside the monitor. My heart ached at the bone-hitting fact, but I pretended to be calm.
"Yeah. Internet friend."
"That's not a friend! No, more than that... it's dangerous for a man to go alone... I'll go with you."
Ji-hye tried to put on her shoes running out to the entrance.
"No, just stay home. Don't follow me, it's embarrassing."
"Still... really it's dangerous for a man to go alone... Did, didn't you see the news? These days there are criminal groups targeting only men... and sisters from pick-up bars kidnap them..."
Ji-hye grabbed my arm with a tearful face. She seemed genuinely worried.
In all my life, I never thought I'd receive this kind of worry from my little sister. Worrying about a man getting kidnapped.
"Don't worry. I run fast so if things go south I'll bolt."
"Does Mom know?"
"Don't tell Mom. She'll worry for nothing."
I crumpled my shoes on and opened the front door. Cold wind rushed in.
"That aside, anything you want me to bring when I come back? I'll buy it."
"No... It's been years since Brother said he'd go out... and it's the first time going alone... I'm a bit very worried... really..."
Ji-hye was restless and biting her nails.
"Really don't worry and just tell me what you want me to buy."
"I'm fine... And if anything happens call me immediately. So I can report to the police right away."
"Okay."
I roughly waved my hand and left the house.
Bang.
The door closed, and cold air hit my cheek. The outside scenery of this world. On the surface, it's identical to the original world, and the air quality isn't much different.
I pulled my hood down deep.
'That son of a b*tch, you're dead.'
I can endure insults to me, but I can't endure insults to family. Because that is an act worse than a beast.
I took a deep breath once and moved my steps. Come to think of it, this is my first outing since coming to this Reverse World...
What would be different. Looking around, first of all, there are only women on the streets. Well, actually, even in the original world, at this time in a residential area, there were many aunties or grandmas out grocery shopping.
But this place is a bit different. Men are hardly seen. No, there are none at all. As if they are an endangered species, the streets are dry of them.
And above all...
'The gazes are a bit stinging.'
Passersby were glancing, no, turning their heads openly to stare at me. I wondered why since I pulled my hood down deep so my face wouldn't be seen well, but thinking about it carefully, I think I know the reason.
Physique. Roughly, I belonged to the quite sturdy side even in the original world.
But men in this world are mostly stuck inside their houses, or even if they come out, they walk around intimidated with hunched shoulders. Moreover, cases of being thin or frail due to lack of exercise are the majority.
But a giant man in black clothes walking around striding with shoulders squared, it's strange if he doesn't stand out. Like a bear mixed in a group of rabbits maybe.
"What are you looking at."
When a group of passing female students stared intently, I muttered quietly, and they whispered "Whoa, crazy..." amongst themselves and ran away. What the, boring.
I ignored them and headed for my destination. First, I'm going to that Dollar Store that has everything. I checked the location on the internet map before leaving.
Entering the store, numerous gazes landed on me along with the hot heater wind. There are many people. And naturally, everyone from customers to staff is a woman. I'm the only man.
I felt a sense of alienation, but I didn't care and headed straight for the toy corner.
"Let's see..."
I could find the item I was looking for quickly.
A yellow toy hammer that makes a 'Squeak! Squeak!' sound when hitting. If the opponent is a scrub, I plan to break their head with this and give them mental education. Using a weapon is special assault, but this is a toy.
Unfortunately, there were no gloves. Well, I can just borrow them at the gym that will be the fight location.
I took the toy hammer and headed to the checkout counter. Thinking it would be annoying to check out with a staff member, I stood in front of the self-checkout.
Beep.
I scanned the barcode and paused trying to take out my card.
'Wait, how much money do I have in my account?'
I had quite a bit of money saved from part-time jobs in the original world, would that be in this world's bank account too? Or would the 'Male Support Fund' I searched earlier have come in?
Come to think of it, I ordered chicken too, and spent money without thinking. If 'Insufficient Balance' pops up when I ride the bus later, it would be a disaster.
'Eh, I don't know.'
I inserted the card for now.
Relief. Looks like there is money. As expected, a male welfare state is different.
Packing the receipt and toy hammer and coming out, the gazes stabbing the back of my head were more blatant than before.
"What is that man? Look at the size..." "Did he come alone? Without a guardian?" "Wow, physical is crazy..."
Whispering sounds were heard, but I pretended to plug in earphones and ignored them.
"Goodbye! C-Customer!"
Leaving the clerk's unusually energetic greeting behind, I left the store.
I headed straight for the bus stop. About 40 minutes by bus to the destination PC cafe.
That arrogant Yasuo bug waiting for me there. Just imagining it makes my fist cry.
Vroom—
A bus was coming from afar.
I pledged holding the toy hammer.
'That son of a b*tch, today is your memorial day.'