Chapter 1 : The rabid hound of the brothel

Title : Gender-Reversed Worlds Are Trash.

The thought that “gender-reversed worlds are trash” almost burst out of my throat before I swallowed it back down.

In my previous life, I read a ton of web novels.

I even engaged in what you might call degenerate otaku behavior.

Back then, I actually enjoyed the gender-reversal genre.

But now that I’m living in it?

I’ve realized this kind of world isn’t as ideal as it seemed from the outside.

“Fuck. An orphan from a red-light district? That’s over the line.”

Maybe if the world I landed in had simply reversed gender roles but kept everything else the same as the modern reality I used to know, it might’ve been tolerable.

At the very least, if I’d been born as some random commoner in a generic fantasy world, I probably wouldn’t be judging this place so harshly.

But no.

“Hey, kid. Looks like you’re having a hard time making ends meet. If you come play with this noona for a bit, I’ll buy you something tasty. How about it?”

When you get disgusting propositions like that dozens of times a day, your brain just fills with nothing but sheer rage.

The belly fat spilling out and screaming for help like it’s trying to escape a belt.

The greasy lips being licked by some lady who just finished gorging on meat.

She looked easily over 40, but she had the nerve to call herself noona.

Shameless.

Sure, it’s a red-light district, but talking like that to a kid who could be your son?

Seriously?

“Hoo.”

What kind of hardcore hell route is this?

Where’s the status window every isekai protagonist is supposed to get?

At the very least, give me a magic sword or something.

So I can stab that toad-looking hag right in the gut.

“Get lost, you pig-faced hag.”

“What?! You little bastard…!”

The toad, who’d been speaking sweetly just moments ago, snapped and started freaking out when I vented my boiling anger at her.

Oh?

You’re gonna get physical now?

Well, too bad for you.

Thud!

My kick was faster.

“Argh! You little shit! Get back here!”

I’d slammed my foot into her shin, and now she was hopping on one leg like she was in a chicken fight, clutching at her injury while chasing after me.

Watching her face twist and change colors was surprisingly entertaining.

Seriously, only in a fantasy world would you find a chameleon-toad hybrid like her.

“You think I’d just stand here and take it?”

Dodging her flailing arms with ease, I bolted into the opposite alleyway.

“What the hell kind of messed-up suffering route is this.”

I felt a smirk creep up at how ridiculous it all was, but as soon as I turned away, a sigh escaped instead.

What the hell did I do in my past life to get dumped into this world?

If only this was like some other returner novel where I at least knew I was inside a book.

Then I could steal some hidden treasures, take out the original protagonist, and go on a solo rampage.

But when you don’t even know what kind of world this is, what can you even do?

“Tch.”

I shoved my hands into my pockets and spat on the ground as I kept walking.

Just thinking about that toad’s face made me want to puke again.

If people from my old world saw this, they’d probably say, “Why not just give it up once and get a free meal out of it?”

But could you really do that?

Could I?

Although I’ve now lived in this world for over ten years, in my previous life I spent even more time alive—long enough to serve in the military.

No way the values I built up over more than 20 years would just disappear overnight.

Sure, I know in my head how those kinds of women see me.

Even if I’m not like the other boys my age selling their bodies, there are ways to survive by acting cute or sucking up…

But that’s easier said than done.

Growl.

“I’m starving to death here.”

Hearing my stomach growl again—like clockwork—immediately dampened my mood.

There used to be a saying in my past life: If you’re feeling down, go find some meat.

But clearly, even that advice doesn’t hold up here.

Should I try digging through a trash bin or something?

I was prowling around the red-light district like some kind of starving hyena when.

“Hey! If you’re a noble, you must have money! What’s so hard about lending us some?!”

“I just wanted to see your pendant for a second!”

“I said no! This is something my mom gave me, it’s precious!”

“Ugh, you’re screeching like you’re not even a guy.”

Voices shouting from the mouth of a nearby alley caught my attention.

“Hm?”

Curious, I turned my head and spotted four girls I’d never seen before.

I couldn’t care less about the background extras, but the pink-haired kid being bullied in the center got my attention.

A noble?

Or maybe the daughter of some rich bourgeois family?

Her clothes were flashy, and the pendant around her neck looked pretty expensive.

Anyway, I had a read on the situation.

And the next step was obvious…

“Hey, you bastards. Who gave you permission to shake people down in my turf?!”

Thwack!

Time to dish out some justice.

“Ri-Risha! Are you okay?!”

“Ugh, who the hell…!”

The girl who got the full brunt of my flying kick was now picking herself up off the ground, nose bleeding.

Judging by her look, she really wanted to know who had just planted their foot in her face.

Well, I’d be happy to introduce myself.

“Yup. It’s your big bro.”

And just like that, the girls all flinched as if they’d seen a ghost.

“W-Wild Dog Aren?!”

“Shit, of all people, why him…?!”

“Woof woof.”

I have no idea when or how I ended up with such a ridiculous nickname, but just this once, I decided to embrace it and play along.

Just like you said—Wild Dog’s here.

If you don’t want to get bitten, keep your head down and walk away.

“Hey, don’t freak out! There’s more of us than him!”

Ah, so that’s how it’s gonna be?

Typical.

Cowards who can’t fight always rely on numbers to act tough.

“Yeah, come at me all at once!”

“Hah! What can that guy even do against our numbers?!”

“Let’s make him cry like a baby when we’re done with him!”

I didn’t mind that they were rushing me, but that last line reminded me of that disgusting, thick-bodied toad woman from earlier, and I couldn’t help but scowl.

Thanks for bringing back that shitty memory.

In return, I’ll make sure to beat the hell out of you properly.

“Hmph.”

With a snort, I threw my fist toward the charging idiots.

Thud!

A clean punch landed square in the gut of the one I’d kicked earlier, sending him foaming at the mouth as he collapsed.

Whack!

A spinning kick slammed into another one’s ribs, and the freckled brat was sent flying into the wall.

“What kind of guy has that kind of strength…?! Ack?!”

The last one—the genius who gave me that unwanted flashback—got special treatment: I grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and slammed him into the ground.

One strike, one fall.

Phew.

Clean and done.

Honestly, I’d like to strip these bastards and sell their clothes for cash, but taking care of the person first comes before profit.

“Hey, you okay? You’re not hurt, are you?”

I walked over to the girl still huddled in fear in the corner and offered my hand.

“Ah…”

She let out a soft sigh.

Almost like she’d been bewitched by something.

*

“Ah…”

At that moment, her world stopped.

No sound.

No breath.

No heartbeat.

Framed by rays of sunlight filtering through the alleyway, the boy with rare black hair stood there, smiling faintly.

His voice was low, and his eyes were oddly clear.

To a girl raised in a sheltered world, this was anything but ordinary.

“Hey, you alright?”

His tone was rough, yet strangely gentle—and that snapped Tiabel back to her senses.

“Y-Yeah! I’m okay. Thank you for saving me.”

She reached out with a trembling hand and grasped his.

It was covered in dirt and grime, but she didn’t feel the slightest bit repulsed.

Thump.

Thump.

Her heart pounded louder than ever.

Just as Tiabel was about to ask the name of her mysterious savior.

“Who are you? This isn’t a place for someone like you to be wandering around.”

“What?! Look who’s talking—you’re just a kid too!”

They were clearly around the same age—so who was she calling a kid?

“And what’s your name, then?”

“Me? I’m Aren.”

“Aren, huh. I’m Tiabel… Tiabel Rosetail.”

“Rosetail? Oh…”

The moment Aren heard her last name, his jaw practically dropped.

“From the Luciel Viscounty next door?”

“That’s right.”

“Isn’t that the noble house with only one daughter?”

“Yup.”

As she confirmed it, Aren’s pupils darted around in panic.

“So, what are you even doing here? This place isn’t exactly safe for a noble lady.”

When Aren questioned her in a lecturing tone, Tiabel answered hesitantly.

“W-Well… I snuck out alone and kind of got lost…”

“Alone? Without any escorts?”

Nod.

Tiabel couldn’t bring herself to look him in the eyes.

A runaway, huh.

Aren sighed and muttered under his breath.

Then, letting out a dry chuckle, he spoke.

“Anyway, you want to go home now, right?”

“…Yeah.”

As if she’d been waiting for permission, Tiabel nodded her head.

“Alright then. Let’s go.”

“Eh?! W-Wait…!”

Before she could protest, Aren reached out, grabbed her hand, and started walking out of the alley.

Tiabel’s heart, which had just barely calmed down, started pounding again.

‘I’ve held hands with a boy twice in one day…’

Even as she stumbled along behind him, Tiabel couldn’t take her eyes off Aren.

It was such a strange feeling.

As if the two of them were the only people left in the world.

For a moment, she even thought—maybe this boy was a magician sent to show her a new world.