Overloaded With Attributes Chapter 10

A 1:100 Gender Ratio, Seriously?! 

Apparently, the full details are unknown, but in the 1930s, a method for converting the "magic stones" dropped by monsters into energy was released to the world. Dungeons were suddenly reclassified from "just dangerous places full of monsters" to "treasure troves of resources." Other nations that had been hesitant to explore dungeons suddenly turned it into a massive, state-sponsored project... ...This is also getting long, so back to the gender ratio.

In the early days after the dungeons appeared, the decline in males started "gently"—a ratio of 1:5 for the first twenty years, which then slowly shifted to 1:10 over the next thirty. ...Wait, is any of that "gentle"?

And now, in the modern day, that ratio has apparently exploded to an absurd 1:100. Somehow, thanks to advances in technology like artificial insemination, the population has managed to stabilize.

...That said, this country's current population is only about sixty million. That's just half the population of the Japan I know. And worldwide, it's not half, it's a fifth. I bet some countries are down to a tenth or less.

"I see... Japan's population is 60 million... And one percent of that is male... so, around 600,000..."

Sad News: When you look at the hard numbers, the male population is barely at "statistical-error-level." If those... less-than-savory types from my old world saw this, they'd probably piss themselves with joy.

"You've had such a serious look on your face for a while... I assumed you were just staring at more pictures of scantily-clad women. ...You were looking at this country's population statistics?"

"...What exactly do you think I am, Shouko-san?" Okay, I was looking at pictures like that a minute ago (it was a normal school HP, not a shady site!!), but still!!

"Well... what do I think? I think... ...you are a 'strange man,' the likes of which I have never seen. Less an 'eccentric' and more a 'weirdo.' Could it be: A pervert? ...That is what I was thinking."

"Right. Thanks for your honest opinion." I never thought I'd hear someone use a double-colon in a normal conversation... ...Well, she's not wrong, is she? From this world's "common sense," I've been vaguely aware that my actions are... pretty damn weird.

"More importantly, how did you jump from 'choosing a high school' to this?"

"Well, you know, if I'm going to the Labyrinth Department, I figured I should probably know a little about... well... dungeons. So I did a quick search, and... it looks like the appearance of dungeons and the decline of men are directly linked. And that's how I ended up at the population and gender ratio statistics."

"...You have an even stranger set of interests than I imagined. No, wait, before that... you're only asking about this now? ...And you're still dead set on enrolling in the Labyrinth Department, aren't you..."

Hey, what do you mean, "now"? To me, this is all news from a 'world I know nothing about,' okay?

"Since we're on the subject of 'now,' I have one more question. It's about... me. Or rather, 'men.' To women... what are men? Something to be protected? Something gross? Or... ...A sex object? Unlike the people at the hospital, you were clearly keeping your distance from me at first, right? Were you... wary of me, or something?"

"That, too... you're really only... no, wait. That's different. A 'normal' male wouldn't even care what women think of him. ...Well, yes. I was wary of you at first. I have... a clear-cut disgust... and a little fear... for every male 'other than you' that I have ever met."

Shouko-san stared into the distance, out the hospital room window.

"Frankly! The way the women in this hospital are acting is what's strange! Your lack of boundaries is abnormal, and their acceptance of it is abnormal! A normal woman would, at the very least, react the same way I did. ...Though, to be honest, a certain subset would probably just... attack you without warning. ...Sexually."

"That's terrifying."

And from there, she began to explain "the difference between me and the men of this world." First, how to address people. Apparently, it's extremely rare for a man to casually call a woman by her first or last name, like I do.

"...I'm sorry, I don't really get it. If you don't call them by their name, how do you tell people apart?"

"Because, in the first place, men rarely have a proper conversation with women."

And that wasn't just a Japan thing; it was a worldwide thing. What is this, a 'world where all men are social shut-ins'?! Okay, if the only guys around are incapable of normal conversation, I can suddenly understand why 'direct collection methods involving physical contact' died out...

Incidentally, the most common ways Shouko-san has been addressed in her life are: "Hey," "Woman," and "Handler." As for the worst ones...

"I... I can't... bring myself to say it... If you absolutely insist on hearing it, I will, but..."

...she blushed and trailed off, unable to finish. What am I supposed to say to that but "No, it's fine"? I'm about to start living with this person; I don't want her to be any more creeped out by me.

And yet, in this world, there are legions of women who wish to "marry" or "be near" men who are so trash-tier that I wouldn't even want to be friends with them. Apparently, that is the "common sense" of this world, and anyone who questions it is the weird one.

"Even in a heterosexual marriage... to a man, a woman is just 'one of many.' Just a meal ticket... But... even so... a woman's instinct is to try her best to serve him, just to be liked a little... It's not even rare to be beaten... and other women see that... and feel envious. They feel... a base jealousy... I hate... having those feelings..."

...This sounds... vaguely familiar. Like things I've heard back in my Japan, even with its normal-ish gender ratio... Is it possible... that the vast majority of women in this world have a "thing for 'no-good' guys"? ...No, it's probably just that the vast majority of men are scum.

"Wait, 'heterosexual marriage'? And what do you mean, 'one of many'?"

"Eh? That's... about marriage... Oh! That's right. You're only fifteen, Kashiwagi-sama. It's only natural you wouldn't be interested in such things yet. In this world, there are two types of marriage: 'Heterosexual Marriage'—a union between a man and a woman—and 'Female Marriage'—a union between two women. In a heterosexual marriage, a male has no limit on the number of partners. He also has no obligation to live with them, or to... 'recognize'—that is, take responsibility for—any children born. 'Female Marriage,' on the other hand, is a practical marriage, where two women live together for the purpose of raising children."

Good News: I can have multiple wives in this world!!! ...Well, there's probably a "※Only applies to hot guys" catch, anyway. ...No, wait. Given the sheer number (or lack) of men... do I... actually have a chance?

"Just wondering... are you in a 'female marriage,' Shouko-san?"

"I am not. In fact... ever since taking this job... ...I've completely lost the desire to have children."

As she said it, the light in her eyes completely vanished. ...GENE might be a way darker workplace than I ever imagined.

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