"…"
James stood there silently, staring at Ratanya with his mouth open in disbelief for a few moments.
"Uh why.. would my bottom be sore..?"
"Ohh well.. you know I just kinda assumed.. with the way your dressed.. that maybe.. someone took advantage of you…"*a-ahem*
She said the last part while clearing her throat. "But it seems I'm mistaken.. so uh please forgive my rude question James."
James pondered for a moment, then responded with a chuckle,
"Well I guess that makes sense, with the state of my clothes. I guess your question wasn't that unwarranted. But I must ask why you think my butt would be sore?"
Another flush of embarrassment passed over Retanya's features, "Because of.. we'll you know, most of the Ascendants like to mess with males they find handsome."
'Ascendants? I feel like I've that term before.. Oh yeah! At the end of Fractured World's story something happened with the F-virus destabilizing the population, I think. I wonder if she'll find it weird if I ask what Ascendants are? Time to keep playing the memory loss card..'
"Retanya it seems that quite a lot of my memories are missing, to be honest I'm not even sure if I remember anything other than my own name. So could you explain what an Ascendant is?"
"James that's just terrible! I feel so sorry for you.."
'The pity in her gaze kinda makes me feel like I admitted to something dirty.'
"Well James, to explain what an Ascendant is, is a long story involving alot of world history. Based on the records we have of the sacred mission Goddess Myen'tal gave to the 5 hero's of Minthra to defeat the witch cult 1,000 years ago. To cut a long history lesson short, Ascendants are the product of the F-virus developed by the witch cultist for their plan of world domination."
'I seem to remember something like that was happening at the end of the game. But I'm pretty sure the witch cult was defeated in the end. I wish I would've paid more attention damnit, to busy jerkin' it to the MC with his harem.'
"Oh okay, that feels like familiar information. But Ratanya, what can the Ascendants do that makes them so special and make the cultists think they could take over the world?"
"The Ascendants developed a mutation that makes it three times as easy to level compared to others."
James blurted out, "Wow, that's a pretty unfair advantage."
Retanya nodded slowly, "It is, but most don't see it that way anymore."
"Why is that?"
Retanya stared for a moment and then said, "I guess you really must have lost your memories. Most don't see it as unfair because now half of the worlds population are Ascendants."
"Half the world?! I thought the hero's defeated the witch cult and stopped the F-virus?"
Retanya laughed softly, "The hero's did infact stop the cultists, but the F-virus had already begun to spread. It is so infectious that if there weren't people who are genetically resistant to it, the entire world would be Ascendant."
"That's alot of information to take in.." James stepped back and put a hand to his head. "Though I have another question, earlier why did you say Ascendants like to mess with males? You made it sound as if men have low standing in todays age. Are men that inferior to women?"
"Oh Goddess no, James. Men are regarded quite high in today's society. Also I think you're misunderstanding something. Ascendants aren't women."
More confused than ever James said, "I have a couple questions. Firstly if an Ascendant isn't a man or woman, what are they? A different race? And why are men regarded so highly?"
"To answer your first question an Ascendant could be any race, the F-virus affected every being the same way. Think of an Ascendant as more of a unique sex denomination. As for why men are so important in todays age is because of the F-virus and it's effects on reproductive functions. Birth rates for men have declined rapidly in the past 1,000 years and even among the men who are genetically resistant to the F-virus have their libido severely limited."
"Okay I only have a few more questions and I'll be satisfied. What makes the Ascendants 'sex' unique and what do you mean by severely limited libido?"
"Err well James um… Ascendants have both man and woman bits down there.. and men usually can only use their thingy once a month.." Retanyas face was once again a deep crimson.
"…"
'My isekai fucking blows..'
Closing his eyes James counted to 10 and reopened them. "Okay then. Thank you for your help Retanya, I wouldn't want to take up any more of your time so I guess I'll head to the town now. I hope I can repay your kindness in future."
Retanya smiled wide and said, "It was my pleasure James, and if you want to repay me just don't forget about me when you need to fill your quota."
"Uh yeah sure, no problem. See ya around." James said as he started walking again, raising his hand waving goodbye.
'Thank you miss exposition Lamia.. adios~'
——————
Coming into view was the outer wall of the town, which seemed to be made out of giant stone blocks, stretching 30 feet into the air. James didn't really know if that was necessary for a random town's defenses and seemed a little excessive.
'Well if everyone can get insane strength from a few levels I suppose moving that stone wouldn't be too hard.'
Walking towards the big wooden gate that allowed acces into the town, James only took a moment to consider his clothing situation.
'If I act like I know what I'm doing, then nobody will question me hehehe. This is a trick I have mastered to perfection from my time in the army.'
To pull off this skill you need only two things. An exasperated expression signaling you've already been assigned a duty and to walk with a purpose.
As James was around 100 paces from the gate, he started seeing quite a few people on the road. As he walked closer and closer, he took note of their bewildered expressions but his stride did not falter.
'If there is a skill for deception, I have it maxed out hehe..'
Seeing a line formed up outside the gate, James stepped into the que. To play up his persona he started tapping his feet while waiting and looking at his wrist as if a watch was there.
'I'm totally fooling everyone right now, I've completely nailed the impatient subordinate act. I'm a master of disguise hehe.'
As he shuffled through the line James noticed something peculiar, he didn't see any men in line. And all the women around had faintly red cheeks.
'I wonder if there's a cold going around right now, I'd hate to get sick.'
When he got closer to the gate through the slowly moving line, one of the four guards noticed him and began whispering while not very discreetly pointing.
'How have I been discovered so quickly.. I wonder if they have a magical bullshit detector..'
Snapping out his internal musings he saw a guard break off and start towards him.
'Well shit.'
The guardsman approached him extremely quickly, massive strides of long legs eating the ground between them. The guard stopped about 5 paces away and in a husky voice that was definitely feminine said, "Good afternoon Sir, I'm corporal Sanders and I've come to escort you into the town of Creekrock."
'My acting worked that well? I guess I'm not to surprised, I am pretty good at it. Also that's definitely a woman even though I can't see her face behind the guard helmet. But holy hell, why is she so damn tall. Must be around 7ft if I had to guess.'
"Well then thank you corporal, please lead the way." James said with as much faux boredom as he could muster, playing up his character a bit while craning his neck upwards.
The guard turned around and started walking back towards the gate. With a shrug James followed close behind, well as close as he could. Her stride left him in the dust and he had to call out, "Hey corporal, could you slow down a bit."
She turned around and noticed how far behind he was, "My apologies Sir, I should've taken your deleicate frame into account."
A vein bulged in James forehead as he responded, "Yeah very delicate, maybe you should just carry me to our destination."
The guard paused for a second then walked back towards him and scooped him up in a princess carry, "Most men don't like this kinda thing, but this will be much faster. Thank you sir."
James was so shocked at the sudden turn of events he only managed a, "No problem corporal." In reply.
'This is outrageous. My masculinity is shattered and my heroic image ruined.' James thought to himself numbly.
As he was carried through the gate into town James thought to ask, "So where are you taking me."
"I'm taking you to report to the towns mayor, since you're here for your quota."
'My quota? Retanya said something about a quota too.'
James cleared his throat and began, "Corporal im not here for a quota."
The guard stopped suddenly then peered down at him as she muttered "identify". She made a surprised noise as she said, "I'm very sorry, I didn't realize that you are only 14. You won't be due to have a quota for a few years, I just assumed with your state of undress that you intended to fulfill the requirement as fast as possible."
"No apology needed corporal, I should've said something sooner." James replied even he internally mulled over what this quota was all about.
"Then Sir, might I ask why you visited Creekrock? It's quite uncommon to see a male, especially one as young as you without any guardians or bodyguards present."
"Well uh that's a long story corporal, but the short of it is I woke up in the eastern forest this morning with no memories of myself and just my name."
"Oh you poor child.." he heard the guard mutter under her breath.
Seeing where her thoughts were headed James cut in with, "It's not so bad, at least I got to be carried by such a beautiful and strong lady as yourself." He gave his most charming smile at the end of his praise.
'It never hurts to lay it on a little thick.'
Her grip tightened on his shoulder and leg where he had been propped up in his princess carry. "Please do not make fun of me Sir."
'Good god laying it on thick actually hurts quite a bit!'
Realizing he couldn't retreat from his position James stood his ground and pushed back against her words, "I'm not making fun of you! I may have lost all my memories but being in your arms is certainly the best day of my life." James declared defiantly as he peered up at the shiny metal helm.
Her grip on him relaxed significantly and James breathed out a sigh of relief.
'This big bitch was about break my damn shoulder.. I wonder if she's actually ugly or something to have such a bad reaction to compliments.'
A silence stretched on for a moment before the corporal said in a trembling voice, "If you really mean that, then promise I'll be first on your list when you have to fulfill your quota."
James enthusiastically agreed to the demand in self preservation, "Of course you'd be first corporal Sanders! Who else could I choose but you."
"Veronica. Please call me Veronica."
"Well then Veronica you must call me James, none of that Sir nonsense."
"Okay James.." Veronica replied, her voice small and shy.
"Then we got a deal." James said as he smiled up at her, "But I do have to ask what is the quota? When I said I lost my memories, I meant all of them."
"The quota is the requirement men must meet each year when they turn 18. They have to try to impregnate 10 women or Ascendants of their choice per year until the age of 25."
'Holy shit.. I just agreed to impregnate a woman I just met.. and I don't even know what she looks like.'