The impact lasted only an instant.

The shrill sound of metal shattering, someone’s scream and then the floating sensation of the world flipping upside down.

The moment I shoved a child who had run out onto the crosswalk and slid my own body in front of the truck instead, my consciousness blacked out.

I felt neither heat nor pain. I simply understood, vaguely, ‘Ah. I’m dead.’

Age at death: twenty-five.

The life of Akutsu Jō ended all too abruptly.

* * *

“—Unfortunately, your physical body has perished in the living world.”

When I came to, I was standing in a pure white space.

In front of me sat an elderly man with a gentle smile, tea set on a small low table.

A so-called god, I suppose.

“I see… The child was unharmed, right?”

“Yes. Not even a scratch. Thanks to your self-sacrificial tackle. Though… the child you saved burst into tears the moment they saw your face.”

All I could do was give a wry smile at the god’s words.

Even at the very end, it was like this.

My face had been too vicious from birth.

Overly sharp sanpaku eyes^[1], a constant scowl carved into my brow and the scar above my left eyebrow from a childhood injury.

At 192 centimeters tall and 95 kilograms—built like a pro wrestler—I was mistaken for a hitman or a young yakuza boss just standing still.

All I ever wanted was a quiet life, cooking peacefully.

“Your soul is good. In recognition of your self-sacrifice, I have a proposal.”

The god sipped his tea as he spoke.

“Would you like to live a second life in another world?”

“Another world?”

“Yes, its level of civilization is not much different from Japan’s. However, there is one major difference.”

The god raised a finger.

“In that world, the male-to-female ratio is one to ten.”

“…What?”

I doubted my ears. One to ten.

An overwhelming imbalance.

“Due to a past epidemic, men are extremely scarce. As a result, men there are ‘beings to be protected.’ Treated like precious jewels, raised carefully. Going out is rarely permitted and labor is out of the question.”

“That’s… extreme.”

“And here’s the important part. That face of yours—what terrified so many people in Japan—has the potential to become an extraordinary ‘treasure’ in that world.”

A treasure didn’t really register.

But one thought did occur to me.

In a world where men are rare and cherished, maybe I wouldn’t be stopped by police or rejected by apartment screenings just because of my face.

If I could live quietly, cooking without being feared, that wouldn’t be so bad.

“I understand. Please send me… I won’t ask for much. If I can live quietly washing dishes in the back of some restaurant, that’s enough.”

“Hm, a cook. I’ll see what I can do. …Then, have a good second life.”

The god waved his hand and the floor beneath my feet vanished.

Pulled by gravity, my body fell into the white void.

* * *

I woke up to a sour, rotten stench.

Opening my eyes, I found myself in a dim alleyway.

Damp concrete walls.

Scattered garbage bags.

Looks like I landed somewhere with poor security.

‘…My body moves.’

Slowly, I sat up and checked my limbs.

No pain from being hit by a truck. All four limbs intact.

Then I noticed my reflection in a shattered shop window nearby.

A black shirt. Black slacks.

And above them, my face.

Deep-set features, an intimidating glare, a rugged line from cheek to jaw.

Slicked-back black hair only doubled the menace.

‘…Didn’t change at all.’

I sighed.

At twenty-five, I already had the presence of a fifty-year-old crime boss.

The god said I’d be a treasure, but I looked like a walking suspicious person.

If I stepped outside like this, even in another world, I’d be reported instantly.

I headed toward the alley exit.

First, I needed to assess the situation.

Peeking cautiously from the alley entrance onto the main street, a strange sight unfolded.

‘…There really are only women.’

Every passerby was female.

Business-suit women walking briskly.

Delivery workers unloading trucks.

Even road construction guides were women.

Their clothing felt more functional and rough than what I was used to seeing in Japan.

After watching for ten minutes, I didn’t spot a single man.

The god’s words—“one to ten,” “men rarely go out”—seemed to be true.

‘What should I do? For now, maybe find an employment office?’

That was when—“Hey! I told you to stop!”

An angry shout echoed from deeper in the alley.

From the opposite entrance.

Not a refined voice, but rough, violent.

My body moved on reflex.

I approached silently and peeked from behind a building.

Three figures.

All wore flashy sukajan jackets^[2].

Dyed blond or red hair, ears clinking with piercings.

Metal pipes and bats in hand.

Delinquents.

All of them women.

And surrounded by them was a small woman.

Messy black hair, black-rimmed glasses.

An oversized, worn hoodie.

Trembling like a small animal, cornered against the wall.

“I-I only have this much… I swear…”

“Hah?! You think we’re stupid?! You expect us to believe you only got pocket change?!”

The red-haired leader grabbed her collar and slammed her into the wall.

Mugging.

My first sight in another world.

‘…I don’t like this.’

Anger welled up inside me.

Three against one. Armed threats.

That cowardice—I couldn’t forgive it.

Even in my past life, I’d been judged by my appearance and treated unfairly.

Seeing someone abused by unreasonable violence never felt like someone else’s problem.

I’d help.

But how?

I’d never been in a fight.

Big body, but just a former cook inside.

I wanted a peaceful solution.

Lie and say I called the police?

No idea if police even exist here.

Best case, scare them off.

I took a deep breath.

When nervous, my facial muscles stiffen and my voice drops—a bad habit.

But maybe it’d help now.

I recalled the yakuza movies my old boss used to watch.

I wasn’t just a passerby.

I was the ‘dangerous guy’ who owned this alley.

I hypnotized myself with that thought.

I stepped out.

Heavy footsteps echoed.

The three turned.

“Huh? Who the hell are you—”

The leader’s words cut off the instant she saw me.

192 centimeters.

A massive silhouette framed by backlight.

I narrowed my sanpaku eyes, wrinkled my brow and looked down at them.

My heart was pounding.

My knees threatened to shake.

But I couldn’t back down.

I pushed air from my gut and spoke.

“Huh? …What the hell are you idiots ganging up for?!”

The voice that came out was shockingly deep.

The air vibrated. The echo lagged.

More beast’s roar than human voice.

The effect was immediate.

“H-huh?!”

“W-what?”

Color drained from their faces.

Not just fear.

Primal terror—like encountering an unknown predator.

“A-a man?! Why’s a man outside?!”

“It’s huge… what is that, a bear?!”

“No… human? But that face—!”

I stepped forward once more.

“Tch.”

I clicked my tongue.

The leader shrieked and collapsed backward, dropping her pipe.

Her pants darkened.

…Seriously?

“One warning.”

I cracked my neck.

“…Scatter.”

That was it.

“I-I’m sorry!!”

“Don’t kill us!!”

They fled, tripping over themselves.

Silence.

“…Phew.”

I exhaled.

That was terrifying.

If they’d attacked, I’d been screwed.

But my face still worked.

No—worked better here.

I turned to the victim.

I kept my distance and tried to sound gentle.

“…You hurt?”

No reply.

She stared at me, eyes blazing.

Not fear.

Excitement.

Like finding an oasis in a desert. Like a zealot seeing god.

“…Amazing.”

She muttered.

“That killing intent… that pressure gripping the soul…”

She stood and approached me.

Touched my arm.

“Solid… like steel. And this scar… proof you’ve survived real hell.”

Her fingers traced my eyebrow scar.

They were hot.

“Uh… you are?”

“I found you! What my films were missing! The scent of real violence no actor could give!”

She grabbed both my hands.

“Your name?!”

“A-Akutsu… Akutsu Jō.”

“Jō! Beautiful! I’m Kujō Hibiki! I make films!”

She looked up at me, grinning madly.

“You’re starring in my movie! No refusal, my ‘Villain’!”

Her gaze was more dangerous than the delinquents’.

And so, my peaceful—or so I thought—otherworldly life began with the clap of a clapperboard.

[1] Sanpaku Eyes: A way of describing eyes where you can see the white of the eye on three sides of the iris, most often the bottom as well as the left and right, it’s commonly used in Japanese to imply an intense, unsettling, tired or ‘dangerous’ look depending on context.

[2] Sukajan Jacket: A Japanese satin souvenir jacket, usually flashy and embroidered (often with dragons, tigers, eagles, or Japanese motifs), originally popularized after WWII and later adopted as a street-fashion staple, kind of like a shiny bomber jacket with bold embroidery.