Mad Dog of the Brothel District
The mad dog of the brothel district. Gender reversal is trash. It was a fact so obvious it nearly choked me before slipping back down my throat.
In my previous life, I'd read my fair share of web novels and even dabbled in what they called "pig farming." Back then, I enjoyed gender-reversal stories well enough. But now that I was living in one, I realized it wasn't the paradise it seemed.
"Fuck. An orphan from the brothels crosses the line."
At least the world I'd been dropped into was just gender-reversed, not some alternate reality. If it had been the same real world I'd known, maybe it wouldn't have been so bad. Hell, even being born a nobody in some ordinary commoner family in a fantasy world might not have earned such a bitter judgment from me.
But no.
"Hey, kid. Looks like making ends meet is tough. Come play with big sis over there for a bit, and I'll give you something yummy. What do you say?"
Hearing that disgusting proposition a dozen times a day left my head filled with nothing but what a shitty world.
A gut bulging out like it was screaming for mercy from a too-tight belt. An auntie who'd clearly just scarfed down some meat, licking her greasy lips with her tongue. She looked well past forty—calling herself "big sis"? Did she have a conscience? Even in the brothel district, she had no shame propositioning a kid who could be her son.
"Hoo."
What kind of hardcore route was this? Where was the reincarnator's privilege, the status window? Hell, give me a demon sword or something. Let me skewer that toad-looking bitch.
"Get lost, you pig auntie."
"What?! You little shit...!"
Unable to hold back my boiling rage, I spat it out as a stress reliever. The toad, who'd been all sweet-talking at first, lost it completely.
Oh? Gonna lay hands on me? Too bad.
Thwack!
My kick landed first.
"Aaaagh! You bastard! Stop right there!"
I slammed my foot into her shin hard enough to make her grab her leg and hop after me like a deranged chicken fight. Watching her face twist in fury was pretty entertaining. Who said fantasy worlds didn't have color-changing mutant toads?
"You think I'd stop?"
I easily dodged her flailing hands and bolted down the opposite alley.
"What a pain in the ass."
The thought of her trying to seduce me almost made me laugh, but turning away brought on a sigh instead. What sin had I committed in my past life for them to dump me in this shit world?
If only I knew what novel this was like those other transmigrator protagonists. I could hog all the lucky encounters, sideline the original hero, and cruise to solo victory. But without knowing the world, what could I do?
"Tch."
I shoved my hands in my pockets, spat on the street, and kept walking. Recalling that toad-face made me want to hurl again.
People from my old world might say, "Just go along once and score a meal." Yeah, right. I'd been in this world over ten years now, but my past life—complete with military service—had been longer. No way twenty-plus years of values flipped overnight.
Of course, I knew how I looked to those women. Not quite selling my body like the other boys my age, but playing cute to survive was an option... Not easy, though.
Gurgle.
"Starving to death here."
The familiar rumble from my gut killed my mood instantly. In my old life, there was that saying about low pressure meaning head to the meat. Yeah, that didn't work here. Maybe rummage through a dumpster?
Like a hyena prowling the brothel district, that's when—
"Hey, nobles have money! Lending a bit ain't hard!"
"Just let me see the pendant for a sec."
"No way! This is a precious gift from my mom!"
"Tch, what a whiny little bitch for a boy."
A commotion echoed from the alley mouth.
"Hm?"
Curious, I turned and spotted four girls I'd never seen. Extras around them? Who cares. What caught my eye was the pink-haired kid getting mobbed in the center.
Noble? Bourgeois at least? Fancy clothes, pricey pendant around her neck.
Anyway, situation assessed. Next step...
"Hey, you shits. Who the hell extorts in my turf?!"
Thud!
Justice served.
"L-Lisha! You okay?!"
"Ugh, who the hell...!"
My clean flying kick planted one face-first into the dirt, nose gushing blood as she struggled up. Guess she was curious about the guy who'd smashed her face. Time to show her.
"Yeah, me—big bro."
They freaked like they'd seen a ghost.
"The—the mad dog Aren?!"
"Shit, why him of all people...!"
"Woof woof."
No idea when I'd picked up that retarded nickname, but right then? Perfect. Your mad dog had arrived, bitches. Don't want to get bit? Eyes down, keep walking.
"Hey, no need to freak! We outnumber him!"
Oh, going that route? Weaklings who can't throw punches always rely on numbers.
"Yeah, rush him together!"
"Numbers will crush a loser like him!"
"Gonna make him squeal from the bottom this time!"
Fine by me, but that last line? Reminded me of the toad-bitch. Thanks for the shitty memory. For that, you're getting extra beatdown.
"Hmph."
I snorted and threw a punch at the charging pack.
Crack!
It nailed one's gut dead-on; the girl I'd kicked earlier foamed at the mouth and flopped over.
Wham!
A roundhouse to another's ribs sent the freckle-faced one crashing into the wall.
"What kinda power for a boy... Gack?!"
The last one, who'd gifted me that shitty memory? I grabbed her by the scruff and slammed her into the ground. One-hit KOs all around. Clean work.
Stripping 'em for resale tempted me, but saving the kid came first.
"Hey, you good? Hurt anywhere?"
I approached the girl huddled terrified in the corner, offering my hand.
"Ah..."
A soft sigh escaped her lips. Like she'd been entranced.
"Ah..."
In that instant, the girl's world stopped. Sound, breath, heartbeat—all frozen.
Sunlight filtering through the alley gaps haloed a rare black-haired boy grinning fiercely. His voice was low, his eyes unusually clear. For a sheltered young lady, it was an utterly unreal scene.
"Hey, you okay?"
The rough-yet-gentle tone snapped Tiabel back to reality.
"Y-Yeah! I'm fine. Thanks for saving me."
She fumbled out her hand and grabbed his. Dusty and grimy, but no revulsion—just a thump.
Thump.
Feeling her heart pound wildly today of all days, Tiabel was about to ask her savior's name when—
"Who're you? This ain't a place for kids like you to wander."
"Wh-what? You're a kid too!"
They looked the same age—who was calling who a kid?
"Fine, what's your name then?"
"Me? Aren."
"Aren, huh. I'm Tiabel Roze Tail."
"Roze Tail? Whoa."
The boy gaped in shock at her family name.
"From the Luciel Barony next door?"
"Yeah."
"Isn't that a barony with just one eldest daughter?"
"Yeah."
His pupils darted wildly at her confirmation.
"What're you doing out here? Dangerous spot for a noble lady."
Aren questioned her like a scolding big brother. Tiabel stammered her answer.
"I-I snuck out alone and got lost..."
"Alone? No escort?"
...Nod.
Tiabel couldn't meet his eyes.
- She's a runaway, huh. Sigh.
Aren muttered softly with a sigh, then cracked a wry smile.
"Anyway, you wanna get home, right?"
"...Yeah."
Tiabel nodded eagerly.
"Then let's go."
"Eh? W-Wait...!"
Aren grabbed her hand like he'd accepted a quest and dragged her out of the alley. Tiabel's briefly calmed heart started racing again.
'Holding hands with a boy twice now.'
Trotting behind him, her gaze stayed glued to Aren. It felt magical—like the world held just the two of them. Maybe, just maybe, this boy was a wizard sent to show her a new world. The thought crossed her mind.