I Died and Was Reincarnated as a Goth Femboy

Kenjiro snatched the note from DragonSlayer's hand and read it. With a frustrated sigh, he shoved past the two annoying warriors.

"Fine," he grumbled. "Let's see what the big guy wants."

He stormed out of his suite, with Taguro and DragonSlayer trailing behind him like confused puppies. They met up with Kaito and Lyrielle in the hallway, and the full, chaotic party made their way to the main guild hall.

Just as the note said, Gluteus Maximus was waiting for them by the mission board. The giant knight was practically vibrating with excitement. He pointed a massive finger at a newly posted parchment, which glowed with the orange light of a high-risk quest.

"My friends! A glorious opportunity has presented itself!" he boomed.

Kenjiro pushed his way to the front to read the details.

Mission Rank: A

Objective: Escort the Sunstone Merchant Caravan across the Great Sand Sea to the Oasis of Al'Khem.

Warning: Extreme heat, treacherous terrain, and frequent attacks by giant Sand Wyrms. Only well-equipped, high-level parties should apply.

Reward: A staggering sum of Femboy Coins and Standard Coins.

Kenjiro's heart did a little jump. The Great Sand Sea. It was exactly where he needed to go. He tried to hide his eagerness, quickly schooling his features into a mask of annoyance.

"The desert?" he scoffed loudly, making sure everyone could hear. "Are you kidding me? The heat will be terrible, and sand gets everywhere!

"But my lady," Gluteus said, his face falling slightly. "The reward is immense! And it would be a true test of your butt strength"

"He's right, Bombom," Kaito chimed in, a sly look in his eyes. "Think of all the Titan's Essence you could buy. And besides," he leaned in and whispered, "a desert adventure sounds very... romantic, don't you think?"

Kenjiro's face flushed. "I-it's not about that! It's about... the logistics!" He crossed his arms, tapping his foot impatiently. "Fine," he sighed dramatically. "I'll do it. But only because the pay is good. Someone has to fund this ridiculous party."

With the quest accepted, they began to prepare. This meant a trip to the guild's outfitter, a place Kenjiro dreaded. He needed desert gear, but of course, the Femboy Adventuring Guild's idea of "desert gear" was different from anyone else's.

Ryo was there to personally oversee his new wardrobe. He presented Kenjiro with an outfit made of light, flowing white and gold silk. It consisted of a cropped top that exposed his midriff, a pair of billowy pants with high slits up the sides, and a sheer veil meant to cover the lower half of his face. It was less "desert warrior" and more "sultan's favorite harem dancer."

"Absolutely not," Kenjiro said flatly.

"But the stats are amazing!" Ryo chirped, pointing to the tag. "+15 Agility, Heat Resistance, and a special 'Desert Lily' Charisma bonus!"

Kenjiro looked at the outfit, then at Ryo's smug face, and then thought about the man with the golden eyes trapped in the pyramid. With a groan of pure suffering, he snatched the outfit. "Fine! But I'm blaming you if I get a sunburn."

The next morning, the party assembled at the guild's rear gate. Kenjiro was a vision in white and gold, his red eyes looking even more striking against the pale fabric. His face was a mask of pure tsundere rage, which, of course, only made him look cuter.

DragonSlayer69 took one look at him and his nose started bleeding. Taguro just stared, his mouth hanging open, completely speechless.

"Let's get this over with," Kenjiro grumbled, pulling the veil over his face.

The Sunstone Merchant Caravan was waiting for them just outside the city—a long line of large, sturdy-looking sand-skiffs laden with goods. The lead merchant, a portly man with a kind smile, bowed deeply to them.

"Thank you for accepting, brave adventurers," he said. "The Great Sand Sea is unforgiving. We place our lives in your capable hands."

Kenjiro just gave a curt nod, trying to look cool and professional. He climbed aboard the lead skiff, his party following close behind. With a lurch, the caravan began to move, leaving the city behind and heading toward the endless expanse of golden dunes. The quest to the black pyramid had begun.

The caravan of sand-skiffs glided to a halt at the very edge of civilization. Before them lay the Great Sand Sea, a seemingly infinite ocean of shimmering, golden dunes that rolled away to a horizon blurred by heat. The sun was a merciless tyrant in a cloudless sky, beating down with an intensity that made the air itself feel heavy.

"Alright party, final checks!" Kenjiro commanded, trying to sound authoritative as he adjusted the sheer veil over his face. The light, silky fabric of his desert outfit, which he had initially despised, was now a godsend, offering surprising protection from the oppressive heat. "Stay hydrated. Lyrielle, keep an eye on everyone's stamina. Gluteus, you're on watch for Sand Wyrms."

"As you command, my dear Bombom!" the knight boomed, his polished armor reflecting the sun with blinding intensity.

As the merchants and guards prepared for the long journey, a figure appeared on the horizon. It was a lone person, stumbling and weaving through the sand, looking like a pathetic, heat-addled mirage. As it got closer, a sense of dreadful familiarity washed over Kenjiro.

The figure was clad in a filthy, tattered mockery of a femboy outfit. A tangled, sun-bleached blue wig was askew on his head, and his face was a grotesque mask of smeared makeup, caked with sweat and sand. It was him. The wannabe waifu.

"MY WAIFU!" Matsui "FemboyHunter69" Tanoshii shrieked, his voice a dry, cracked rasp. He had spotted Kenjiro. With a final, desperate burst of energy, he broke into a stumbling run, his arms outstretched. "DESTINY HAS BROUGHT US TOGETHER IN THIS ROMANTIC DESERT! I HAVE COME TO PROTECT YOU!"

He collapsed in a heap in the sand just a few feet from their skiff.

Kenjiro stared down at the pathetic sight, his face a mixture of horror, disgust, and pure annoyance. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me."

Kaito burst out laughing. "Looks like your fan club is more dedicated than we thought."

"How did he even get here?" DragonSlayer muttered, looking disgusted.

The lead merchant, a kind-hearted man named Omar, rushed over with a waterskin. "Good heavens, son! You'll die out here!" He helped the gasping nerd to his feet, offering him water, which Matsui greedily gulped down.

"Thank you, kind sir," Matsui rasped, before his eyes locked back onto Kenjiro. "I did it... I followed my heart... all for you, my precious Bombom..."

"Absolutely not," Kenjiro said flatly. "We're not taking him. Leave him."

"Now, now, Sir Bombom," Omar said gently, draping a wet cloth over Matsui's head. "I cannot leave a man to die in the sands, no matter how... eccentric. He can ride in the rear skiff with the extra supplies. He will be no trouble."

"But he's a creep! And a stalker!" Kenjiro protested, his voice rising.

"My decision is final," the merchant said, his tone firm but still kind. "He is a passenger under my care."

Kenjiro fumed. He was overruled. He was now trapped in a caravan, in the middle of a vast desert, with his most unhinged admirer. He shot a venomous glare at the rear skiff where two guards were helping the recovering nerd aboard.

With a final call from the lead merchant, the sand-skiffs lurched forward, their magical engines humming as they began their long glide into the endless sea of sand. The quest had officially begun, and for Kenjiro, it was already a waking nightmare.