Chapter 10: You, That Day Has Come

Today, after finishing the dungeon subjugation smoothly, I was on my way to the office to settle up.

“…”

Another signal came from down below.

As usual, stopping by the office and waiting for others to finish their settlements took about ten minutes. If I was unlucky and the line was long, I’d have to wait thirty minutes.

When I had a man’s body, I could hold it in easily enough… but ever since I became a woman, holding it in was tough.

…Is it because there’s nothing hanging down there anymore?

‘Tch.’

A heavy sigh escaped me on its own.

I felt pathetic for seriously worrying over something like this.

What should I do, just head back to the lodging today?

Just as I was thinking that.

A public restroom placed on the street caught my eye.

‘Still… that’s a bit much, right?’

The reason I don’t use public restrooms isn’t because they’re dirty.

The public restrooms in this world were much cleaner and more refined than the ones in the world I originally lived in.

The men’s room was like that, so the women’s room must be even better, right?

Even so, I didn’t go because it was psychologically uncomfortable.

A few days ago.

I was in such a hurry that I had no choice but to try using a public restroom.

Couldn’t have been more unlucky. The moment I saw a female Hunter going into the stall next to me at the exact same time, I felt an indescribable feeling, and in the end, I avoided using any restroom except the one in my room.

‘This is seriously fucking annoying.’

How the hell was I supposed to go into a place like that?!

Think about it — just a few days ago, I was a man.

Even if my appearance was that of a girl, my heart was still a man.

And now you’re telling me to go into the women’s restroom?

At first, I thought I could do it.

But the moment I saw a woman going in with me, I shouted inside my head.

As if I could! Fuck!

“You’re back.”

So today, I ignored Mr. Luca’s greeting and ran up to my room on the second floor.

“Yeah, go on up.”

Mr. Luca seemed to have gotten used to my behavior by now.

* * *

A few days later.

As usual, after finishing the settlement and going to the restroom, Verdi came down and subtly handed a money pouch to Luca.

“Good work today too.”

It was still a pitiful amount to pay off the whole debt, but Luca wore a satisfied expression.

Seeing the guy who used to just drink all day and do nothing keep at it so steadily was a good sight.

But…

“Yeah…”

For some reason, Verdi’s answering voice lacked energy.

‘Huh?’

Luca tilted his head at the unusual behavior.

Looking closely, Verdi’s expression was more twisted than usual, as if something bad had happened.

Yesterday, the guy was bragging about paying off his debt with a cocky attitude and spouting nonsense about praising him — why was he like this today?

“Did something happen in the dungeon or something?”

“No… I’m just feeling a bit down today.”

“You’re not sick, are you?”

“Don’t worry… I’ll get over it soon…”

This was a guy who never showed weakness in front of others… Worried, Luca asked, but Verdi just nodded, said nothing, and headed to the second floor.

‘Hmm…’

Luca watched Verdi’s back, which seemed especially heavy-footed, and fell into thought.

What on earth happened to make him act like that? He was the type who wouldn’t even show it if he was sick.

That was when.

A thought crossed Luca’s mind.

Come to think of it, how many days had it been since that kid’s body changed?

‘Exactly one month.’

Luca immediately figured out why Verdi was like that.

‘You, that day has come.’

* * *

Struggling up to the second floor, I threw myself onto the bed.

“Fuck…”

I’d felt something off since entering the dungeon, but I never expected to get a fever.

On top of that, my stomach hurt. My lower abdomen was throbbing like crazy, fucking painful… and disgusting.

‘I’ll have to take tomorrow off.’

Thinking about it, I’d probably been overdoing it lately.

Ever since I ended up in a girl’s body, I’d entered the dungeon every single day without fail to hunt Demon Beasts.

Hunters usually entered dungeons at most twice a week, and on average once a week.

Even if it was E-Rank, regardless of rank, entering a dungeon was a life-risking endeavor.

It was only natural that my body and mind would feel the fatigue from going into a place like that every single day.

‘Ugh.’

Nausea rose up. I felt like I was going to throw up.

But even when I stuck my face over the toilet bowl, nothing in my stomach came up.

‘It hurts.’

I didn’t think I’d be able to sleep in this state.

One good thing was that, maybe because of the pain, I couldn’t hear that “annoying voice.” But that didn’t exactly put me in a positive mood.

I’m not a priest. I can’t use healing magic. Going to the hospital costs money. I didn’t want to waste money on a hospital visit during a time when I should be earning. Besides, all the clinics would be closed by now, so only the emergency room would be open… and emergency room fees are fucking expensive.

‘When I had a man’s body, I never got sick…’

I’d lived a life in dungeons that straddled the line between life and death, and there were even days I was homeless back then, but I never had a single sick day. And now, not long after becoming a girl’s body, this happens.

“Ngh…”

That was when it happened. I felt an unpleasant sensation along with pain in my lower body. It felt like an organ inside me was being scraped out… Anxious, I carefully lifted the blanket.

“Ah…”

I regretted looking.

My underwear and the blanket were…

In a state so wretched it left me speechless.

“This is seriously fucked…”

I guess I’ll have to stop by a laundromat next…

‘Wait.’

Is this that thing?

That… the day women have once a month?

‘Ugh.’

I let out a sigh. To anyone listening, it might have sounded like a sigh of irritation, but it was closer to relief.

At first I thought I’d caught some serious illness, but that wasn’t it. It was an entirely natural phenomenon.

A biological process that every woman goes through. It wasn’t body aches from overdoing it in the dungeon.

‘Making a fuss over nothing.’

It’s no big deal… no, that’s not quite right. The pain I felt in my body was real.

Right now, I was more exhausted than when I’d closed an A-Rank Gate alone.

‘So women feel this on a regular basis?’

This is its own kind of hell!

Realizing it wasn’t a serious illness, I endured the pain and closed my eyes. I wanted to fall asleep somehow.

That way, I could forget the pain.

But damn it, sleep wouldn’t come, and the pain wouldn’t stop.

‘Ah, this is annoying…’

I finally gave up and lay down in the most comfortable position I could find.

I was forcing myself to kill time, enduring the pain like that, when—

*Creak—*

“Mind if I come in for a sec?”

I heard the door open, followed by Mr. Luca’s voice.

“…What is it?”

Mr. Luca, who had entered the room, was holding a black envelope in his right hand.

“I bought this for you.”

For me? What is it?

“It’s painkillers. Take them, you’ll feel better.”

What Mr. Luca pulled out of the envelope was medicine in a small box.

And that medicine was exactly what I needed most right now.

“Wait a bit. I’ll get you some water.”

“…”

I didn’t like how he came in and out of my room like it was his own, but I didn’t say anything.

…Besides, this place is a lodging house he runs anyway.

A moment later.

Mr. Luca handed me a warm cup and the medicine.

“…How much is it?”

“Do you really only see me in terms of money?”

Mr. Luca let out a sigh and spoke with a fed-up expression.

“It’s not like this costs much. I’m not gonna bill you, so don’t worry about it and just take it. Stressing over it will only make things worse for your body.”

“…Okay.”

…What’s gotten into him?

Before the bitter taste of the pill Mr. Luca had bought could register, I quickly swallowed it down with the water.

“Oh, right.”

Mr. Luca, who was about to leave, suddenly turned around.

“Hey, are your clothes okay?”

“…”

*Heh heh.*

I answered Mr. Luca, who was laughing at whatever was so funny, with a scowl.

This inconsiderate bastard!

…But I couldn’t exactly say that for sure.

How did this guy know to buy painkillers when I hadn’t even said anything?

He must have noticed… so I couldn’t really call him inconsiderate.

If he were, he wouldn’t have come looking for me like this.

To be honest.

Mr. Luca had always been like this, even back then. He takes care of people in the oddest ways.

I couldn’t exactly call a guy like that inconsiderate.

“Change into the underwear I gave you last time, wrap the dirty stuff in the bag, and I’ll wash it and bring it back. I’ve got nothing better to do.”

“…”

I’m not a kid, he doesn’t need to go that far for me.

But the words wouldn’t come out. Mr. Luca stood there for a moment as if waiting for my answer, then apparently took my silence as a yes, waved his hand, and left.

‘Can’t be helped.’

The painkiller’s effect kicked in not long after.

The headache and stomachache were much better than before.

Once that happened, I was able to move my body.

First, I wanted to wash up. My body was drenched in sweat right now. And I wanted to do something about those… spots where the blood had gotten on me.

I hurried to the bathroom, showered first, then changed into the clothes Mr. Luca had given me before.

I put the soiled clothes into the bag Mr. Luca had brought, tied it up tight so no one would know, and set it outside.

After finishing everything, I threw myself onto the bed.

—I’m taking it!

Not long after, I heard Mr. Luca’s voice from outside.

Please take it away quickly. Before anyone sees.

“Ugh…”

Once Mr. Luca had left, a feeling of humiliation washed over me this time.

My mind was already a full-grown adult, yet here I was getting help from someone else with something like this.

And of all things, fucking… this…

I buried my face in the pillow. I wanted to forget it all.

It was only because Mr. Luca had treated me seriously that I wasn’t, but if he’d laughed at me, I would’ve felt like dying.

Aaaargh!

The more I thought about it, the more humiliated I felt, so I kicked the blanket.

Forget it forget it forget it!!

That was around the time I tired myself out.

“Huaah…”

Was it the medicine kicking in? A yawn started, and drowsiness began to wash over me.

For a moment, I worried that if I fell asleep like this, I might have a nightmare.

But I fell asleep quickly and didn’t dream at all.

And so, my first-ever day of that kind passed without incident.

* * *

A few days later, back to normal, I hurried my steps toward the Hunter Association office.

“Oh my, feels like it’s been a while. You used to come every day, then you stopped, so I wondered if something happened.”

“…”

I answered receptionist Irene’s words with a grimace instead of a reply.

Something had happened, all right… and a huge something at that…

“What’s the occasion so early in the morning?”

At Irene’s question, I held out the watch on my wrist.

“Rank Advancement Exam.”

That’s right.

Today marked one month and one week since I ended up in a girl’s body.

I figured this was about the right time.

“I want to take the D-Rank Hunter’s Rank Advancement Exam.”

Irene couldn’t hide her surprised expression at my words.

I felt a little smug.

Normally, it takes an average of about six months to qualify for advancement from E-Rank to D-Rank. If your skills aren’t up to par, that period gets longer. For some people, it stretches indefinitely.

Given that reality, it was only natural she’d be surprised that I’d earned the qualification in just a month.

Except for the time I’d been laid up, I’d visited dungeons every single day without rest, killing the boss and closing the Gate each time.

Honestly, I could have applied for the Rank Advancement Exam much earlier, but I deliberately didn’t. I didn’t want to stand out.

“Hold on a sec.”

Irene turned her gaze toward the monitor.

“Let’s see, the next exam date… oh, it’s not far off.”

“When is it?”

“Three days from now. Should I register you?”

“Yes.”

I answered confidently.

Having deliberately waited this long, I was hoping the exam day would come as soon as possible.

Other people would be racking their brains preparing for the test, but I’d taken it before and had experience passing it.

Even the first time I took it, the exam was a piece of shit. I already knew the outcome, so what was there to fear?