SADGM 01

Chapter : 01

The Bachelor Aristocrat Dies Alone

Year 20XX

Modern Japan faced the problem of declining birthrates.

According to the White Paper on Health, Labor, and Welfare, the lifetime unmarried rate had risen to about 26% for men and about 17% for women.

It was projected that ten years later, the rate would reach approximately 30% for men and 23% for women.

One of the main causes of this declining birthrate was the increasing number of people choosing to remain unmarried.

There were economic, psychological, and environmental factors involved, but one significant factor was the rise of the “bachelor aristocrats.”

—Bachelor Aristocrats

Those who are unmarried, financially independent, and able to spend all the money and time they earn entirely for themselves.

This story depicts the single life of one such individual: Rintoku Komakiba, a 35-year-old bachelor.

◆

In my home kitchen, I was grilling a steak.

I had bought premium Wagyu beef from my favorite butcher.

It was expensive for a single meal, but money was no issue.

On the frying pan lay a large, marbled steak with slices of garlic, sizzling audibly.

The seasoning was simple: just salt and pepper. No other flavors were needed when the meat itself was this high quality.

Once the steak was cooked, I added a splash of wine for aroma.

Since my stove was IH (induction), it couldn’t ignite the wine directly, so I used a lighter.

A sudden flame shot up with a loud whoosh.

“…Perfectly cooked.”

Excited by the flames, I plated the steak from the dish cabinet. But a steak alone looked dull, so I added some pre-made potato salad and butter-sautéed carrots and green beans.

That should be enough color. The steak was the main focus today; no need to overdo the garnish.

I carried the dishes from the kitchen to the living room table.

The steak’s companion was white wine. I poured it generously into a glass.

Some might be surprised, but white wine is highly recommended with Wagyu.

The more marbled the meat, the higher the fat content.

White wine enhances the flavor of fat better than red wine. The same principle applies as foie gras pairing well with white wine. Simple seasoning of salt and pepper was ideal.

With lightly toasted baguette on the side, dinner was complete.

“Let’s eat.”

The knife cut through the marbled Wagyu effortlessly, releasing its juices.

I eagerly took a bite, savoring the soft texture.

The meat juice and umami burst in my mouth.

It melted smoothly as I chewed, and I washed down the lingering fat with white wine.

The combination of fat and wine blended perfectly.

“…Delicious.”

Delicious to eat, delicious to drink. The cycle continued endlessly, and my fork never stopped.

Eating whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. It was bliss.

I was now 35 years old. Society assumed people my age were married, but I was not.

I had always liked being alone.

Even with family, I valued my personal time.

Married friends often extolled the joys of life with a loved one or the fulfillment of raising children, but I could not relate at all.

No marriage meant no wedding expenses. No children meant no childcare costs.

All money that would inevitably disappear could instead be spent on myself. Could there be anything happier?

Being with someone disrupted my pace.

Decisions required consideration of others.

Being with someone meant compromise.

I hated such social entanglements.

So, I spent my time freely, unbound by anyone.

Society worried about declining birthrates due to late or non-marriage, but it didn’t concern me.

We live in a society that accepts diverse lifestyles. Those who want to marry may do so; those who don’t, need not.

After finishing my steak, I cleaned up and lowered the screen in the living room.

I started the projector and displayed the latest anime season.

Cheerful music played from the speakers as cute characters moved across the screen.

“This is the dream home theater.”

Such behavior would be annoying with a cohabitant, but I lived alone.

No one’s eyes to worry about—just me, watching anime freely.

Potato chips (consommé flavor) and cola accompanied my viewing.

Not plain salted—consommé. I wouldn’t compromise on that.

I ate chips while engrossed in the story, washing them down with cola.

Compared to dinner, it might seem trivial, but junk food’s deliciousness was undeniable.

It was already nighttime, enhancing the guilty pleasure.

This combination would surely affect my body, but it was devilishly irresistible.

Well, I’d hit the gym tomorrow, so it would be fine. I’d burn off today’s calories there.

Lost in the anime, I escaped reality entirely.

◆

I exhaled as the anime reached a natural pause, and glanced at the clock: exactly midnight.

“…It’s already this late.”

Apparently, I had been engrossed for about two hours.

The chips and cola were gone, but it was worth it for the fulfillment of the past two hours.

“Better take a bath and sleep… no, I should take out the trash first.”

Tomorrow was burnable garbage day. Our collection area was first in line; leaving it until leaving for work risked missing pickup.

Then I’d spend several days living with trash. Much easier to take it out the night before.

Mornings were already busy; I didn’t want unnecessary tasks lingering.

With that in mind, I reluctantly gathered the trash and tied it in the designated bag.

As I lifted the heavy bag and headed to the door, a sudden pain shot through my chest.

“Ugh, uuuugh!?”

An unprecedented pain in my chest.

It was so intense I collapsed in the living room, groaning.

Not only pain, but I couldn’t breathe properly. I opened my mouth wide, but oxygen wouldn’t enter.

Even calling for help was impossible. Living alone, no one would come. The apartment was well soundproofed; no small cry would reach anyone.

I thought all this as my mind clouded.

The excruciating pain faded. Did I even feel pain anymore?

Gradually, my vision darkened. Only my labored breathing echoed.

…Am I dying here?

With that thought, my consciousness vanished completely.

◆

When I awoke, I was in a completely white space.

“…Where is this?”

Moments ago, I had been taking out the trash when chest pain struck… I had collapsed in the living room from the agony.

Had I been lucky enough to reach a hospital? No.

There were no boundaries—just endless white stretching infinitely.

So continuous that I couldn’t tell where I had been standing.

No more chest pain or breathing difficulty.

If not a hospital, then where was I?

“Good. Looks like I successfully summoned your soul.”

A voice came from behind.

I turned to see a gentle-faced man with blonde hair and blue eyes.

His flawless white skin, perfectly symmetrical features, straight nose, and well-shaped lips…

He looked almost doll-like, not quite human.

Not only his hair and eyes, but his robe-like clothing was unusual. Could be cosplay, but it looked natural.

“…Who are you?”

“Well… to put it simply, you could say I am a god overseeing Earth.”

[Author’s Note]

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