Women's Ranks (5)
Women's Ranks (5)
I had heard from Rina about some of the factions in this future society.
Gender is the primary way to broadly categorize the population.
Of course, there are males and females.
And a few other genders.
The other genders are the kinds where they've altered their body structure with all sorts of science and technology.
But basically, it's males and females.
Among them, males are pretty much excluded from social and political life.
They're weak-bodied with no endurance, so they basically feel like third-class citizens.
That's why females, who make up over 90% of the population, are the important ones...
And those females have classes.
Of course, it's not socioeconomic classes.
It's more like distinctions.
Rina didn't want me wandering outside her protection, but she said at least I needed to know the basics so I wouldn't cause problems in any potential "contact with women," and explained it to me.
It's called the Female Class theory.
And that was none other than the classes born from the differences in T-Hormone and E-Hormone.
Not like the old noble-commoner-slave concepts from the past.
It's more like identity.
For example, the "Strong Class" I mentioned are females who secrete relatively high levels of T-Hormone.
The amount of hormone naturally varies wildly from person to person.
Some for natural reasons, but plenty not.
"You said T-Limiting procedures on males are done in the fetal stage, right?"
Rina had come to my room once to explain.
She personally had the researchers bring in a whiteboard to my room.
It was super serious.
She was even wearing glasses.
I didn't know where to even start asking.
First, I asked why a whiteboard in an era where holograms are commonplace.
She answered it was "custom-made for the Head of the Family-nim."
"In the Head of the Family-nim's era, you must've taken lectures using these boards. I had it specially ordered."
She must've estimated my era and done it out of consideration, but it showed Rina's meticulousness, thoroughness, and obsessive side—though unfortunately, it wasn't spot-on.
Even in my time, we had electronic devices.
She must've picked analog because she saw me as someone from a way more ancient era.
Or maybe she was off the mark, I thought, and let it slide back then.
Anyway, she explained the classes.
"T-Limiting isn't actually an obligation just for males. This society views T-Hormone as a necessary evil and E-Hormone as absolute good, so females get it too, based on their parents' wishes."
Female Class
Strong Class: T-Hormone overproduction, muscle development, lean build, combative
Normal Class: T-Hormone (Head of the Family-nim standard) past female levels, nervous, energetic, organized, average build
Soft Class: T-Hormone (Head of the Family-nim standard) past male 1/5 levels, dull disposition, prone to gaining fat
Rina wrote on the board in unexpectedly crooked handwriting.
Her serious attitude clashed with the chicken-scratch writing, so honestly, it cracked me up a bit.
But I figured I shouldn't say that and kept my mouth shut.
Above all, she seemed satisfied with her own handwriting.
Honestly, it wasn't anything to brag about.
"......"
Rina tapped it confidently.
Tak tak!
"How is it?"
"G-Good handwriting..."
I can't lie, but I know how to consider the other person's feelings, so I averted my eyes and said it.
She raised an eyebrow like, "What're you talking about?"
"Not the handwriting—the content! Head of the Family-nim, I know my handwriting is perfect. Even if I wasn't trained in it like older generations, I'm someone who strives for perfection in everything."
"Ah, y-yes... I see... Grandniece-nim... Impressive."
Come to think of it, my little sister Seo-yoon had pretty awful handwriting too.
Suddenly missing her so much it almost brought tears.
According to Rina, she lived to nearly 100 in good health, so that's a relief.
"......"
"Then I'll continue the explanation. Head of the Family-nim."
Rina straightened her back and tapped the board with a thin pointer like a teacher's rod.
Tak tak!
'...When did this girl prepare even that?'
Now that I think about it, Rina's outfit seemed different from usual when she came to my room today.
This girl who always sticks to pantsuits and jackets was wearing a long skirt for some reason.
Thick stockings hid her bare skin, but it still surprised me.
Thinking back, it was like she was doing a female teacher cosplay.
Not like she was trying to seduce me or anything.
The grandniece I knew wasn't that type.
On the contrary, she was perfectly matching the TPO.
And even matching the "era" of the Head of the Family-nim, me.
Not just time-wise.
I have no idea which era's teacher she referenced for the glasses or long skirt.
But going all-out once she starts is totally Rina's style.
"Now, pay attention. Student."
"Student now?"
"Right now, the Head of the Family-nim is also my student. Come on, come on!"
Rina tapped the board with the pointer again.
She gets surprisingly immersed.
If she goes as far as corporal punishment, it'd be a blow to the Head of the Family-nim's dignity.
I nodded obediently for now and struck a note-taking pose.
Three Female Classes.
Strong, Normal, Soft.
One of their standout traits is sexual desire—or rather, Rina said it, not me.
"......"
"Sexual desire is heavily influenced by T-Hormone, after all. Strong Class has the highest. Then Normal. Soft is on the weaker side. They're not that interested normally."
"Question."
I raised my hand.
Somehow, it felt like I was back in my student days.
Rina pushed up her glasses with a flick and elegantly nodded for me to speak.
"Go ahead."
"...You're pretty good at acting."
"'You'? Should I note that in your student record? Deduct points?"
"Such detail!"
I can't lose at this.
I've always been good at role-playing.
I took a small breath and asked.
"I get that sexual desire is a key factor, but isn't Soft Class most of the population?"
"Right. About 70% of the total population."
"Basically everyone, then. How does society hold together without sex drive?"
"To be frank, here's the thing. Every woman has a childbirth obligation, so regardless of Strong, Normal, or Soft, they all have to give birth to at least one child."
"Hey, is this changing genres?"
...If you wake up in a female-dominated city from a Cryogenic Device, your initial thought as the only man is inevitably swinging your dick around in a harem setup, spreading your seed everywhere...
But after a few months, it seemed no such raunchy manhwa plot was in store for me.
Still, "childbirth obligation" packs a punch.
"I don't know what you're on about, but most members accept the duty willingly."
"Is this a common sense alteration genre?"
"Head of the Family-nim, if you keep saying nonsense, I'll take that as you wanting penalty points."
"Sorry."
"I get what you're worried about, Head of the Family-nim. But nothing shameful happens. It's a duty for society's survival, and above all, it's as simple as a Botox procedure."
Botox is still around, huh.
And making babies that easy? Definitely felt unrealistic.
The doubt cleared up with more explanation.
"Artificial insemination tech is perfect. As I said, it doesn't even need sperm—you can mix genes from the same woman and create life. Artificial wombs are excellent too. So, you just lend an egg, and the government handles everything, including T-Hormone Limiting, to make the baby."
"Ah......"
"What's with that disappointed look?"
"D-Disappointed...? I'm just relieved my grandniece-nim doesn't have to go through anything rough—tears of joy."
"No tears are falling, though."
"Let's move on."
I asked what I'd been wondering.
"So, which class is our Rina grandniece in?"
To me, my grandniece-nim stood out as a total beauty even in this future society, a charismatic young Chairperson of a massive corp like Eden Genesis—a star shining bright.
So, I figured she was some special class.
The problem: leftovers are Strong, Normal... or the other Third Genders.
Nothing seemed to fit her.
Strong are muscleheads, steroid-pumped women.
Normal are like the past women I knew, but Rina's vibe wasn't that.
Third Genders... not worth mentioning.
Unless Rina suddenly turned out to be a futanari.
Rina let out a small "Kkeung," avoiding my eyes.
Bad feeling about this.
*
"...No way?"
"...What is it, Head of the Family-nim? Your face just turned super sour."
At my uncontrollably trembling voice, Rina looked back at me.
That expression.
One you wouldn't normally see on a grandniece.
The air froze in an instant—chilling disdain.
A look of looking down on people, transcending the world.
But judging by features alone, definitely female.
The contempt only a woman could make.
...No way that face is futanari.
She's got a slightly cynical expression, but it's a round, feminine face for sure.
"W-Wait... you're actually... a guy..."
"...Yes."
"...Y-You're not a t-tr-transformation into a woman, right?"
"If you mean transgender, no."
A sharp answer came back.
"Oh... holy shit..."
I clutched my chest in relief.
Thank god my grandniece-nim really was a 'niece.'
If she'd been a grandnephew, I'd have reeled.
"I don't know what the big deal is..."
Rina brushed her blue hair behind her ear.
For some reason, in that moment, I felt she was embarrassed.
Her voice was calmly subdued as always.
"I'm a Soft Class woman."
She said it low, like a sigh.