Kaidan Game Train: Abide Rule or Die!-Chapter 2173: Dual-gender Nation

The townspeople were a bit disappointed that the baby wasn’t dual-gender, but they still smiled and congratulated the Mayor. After all, a new life had been born.

"If they’re not born dual-gendered, even if they still retain dual-gendered organs inside, they generally don’t live long, and it’s quite difficult for them to have children," A Hai said a bit regretfully.

He meant that only those who possess both sets of reproductive organs internally and externally could be considered truly "dual-gendered." Without a clear "dual-gender" identity, people are divided into male and female.

"Are there many dual-gendered people in your district?" Xu Huo asked.

"Of course," said A Hai. "The Saintesses of the Goddess Church are all dual-gendered. This is a special ability granted to us by the Goddess."

Then he started explaining the origins of their nation to Xu Huo.

The story has a hint of mythology, starting with their nation being struck by a calamity that nearly wiped them out. Not only did the population sharply decrease, but people of one gender all died out, leaving the nation’s future bleak. At that time, a survivor met the Goddess. Holding onto hope for the country and hatred toward the enemy, the survivor made a wish to the Goddess - to continue their lineage and also have the ability to protect their nation.

Thus, the Goddess bestowed the survivor with male physical strength and female reproductive capability — the first dual-gendered person was born.

From then on, the descendants of this nation were primarily dual-gendered. However, not everyone met the criteria for being "dual-gendered." Many people were incomplete, lacking a complete reproductive system. Thus, the nation still had divisions between male and female. The true "dual-gendered" had the opportunity to be selected into the Goddess Church as Saintesses, bearing the responsibility of birthing the nation’s future elite force.

A Hai spoke in broad strokes, avoiding details on the nation’s founding or the selection system for the Saintesses. His focus was on the mysterious and revered aspect brought by religious belief, deliberately ignoring the irrational aspects of how this dual-gendered nation was born.

"You said you also wanted to join the Goddess Church?" After he finished speaking, Xu Huo asked.

A Hai nodded vigorously, "Who wouldn’t want to? Even if it’s just to be a gardener at the Goddess Church. Sadly, no one from the Goddess Church has ever visited our town, so I want to go to the Holy Land."

Xu Huo understood his intent. With such determination and the inconvenient transportation, he could only place his hopes on the players.

"Are there Outer Zone players who have settled in the Holy Land?"

"Yes," A Hai said, mentioning that he often saw them on TV. "Some players even voluntarily undergo surgery to give birth to children. The physical fitness of players is better than ours, so their offspring would certainly be stronger than ordinary peoples’.

All these stories could be listened to as regionally colored tales, but when it came to "Outer Zone players voluntarily undergoing surgery," Xu Huo realized that this "dual-gendered nation" was not just an ordinary district.

"With the birth of a new child, you can get a cup of holy water today." A Hai nudged Xu Huo to a less crowded spot, indicating he was going to line up.

Xu Huo nodded, signaling him not to worry about him.

From outside, he could see the situation in the assembly hall. The so-called Goddess Spring was actually a small, simple automatic fountain. The Mayor poured some of the stored holy water into the fountain, so everyone could receive a cup of cool boiled water mixed with holy water — it had a ceremonial feel.

A Hai wanted to share half a cup with Xu Huo after getting his water.

Not wanting to inspect others’ water for potential issues outright, Xu Huo politely declined the offer.

A Hai drank the water devoutly and even put the cup into his pocket, thinking Xu Huo had been outside too long, which wasn’t good for his recovery. He planned to go to the old doctor for a check-up and then return.

The old doctor’s clinic was the only hospital in this town. Normally, it wasn’t too busy here. Today, perhaps because a child was born, many envious couples came to buy medicine.

The old doctor was very kind. Seeing Xu Huo come in, he readily took the medicine out and placed it on the counter, leaving himself free to check on Xu Huo.

"You’re recovering well," the old doctor said, patting his leg. "Young people are indeed healthier."

"Thank you for taking care of me," Xu Huo said gratefully.

The old doctor waved his hand, "If you want to thank someone, thank A Hai. He brought you out of the grove and spent his own travel money to treat you."

Xu Huo looked at A Hai, and A Hai smiled at him, "If you can take me to the Holy Land, travel expenses are nothing."

Xu Huo didn’t make any promises. On the way back, he inquired about whether they could hitch a ride with the delivery trucks to other cities.

"It’s possible, but the fare is expensive," A Hai had checked everything. "On the road others provide food, drink, and ensure safety, so it’s understandable that it’s costly. However, to reach the Holy Land, you still have to transfer through several cities, and the expenses in each city aren’t small. Moreover, you’ll need to find places to stay."

It’s not just about the expense, but also the safety along the way. Encountering Alien is one danger, and facing bad people is another. Some Outer District people might, out of curiosity, rob local people. It’s said that dual-gendered people abducted to other districts are almost impossible to rescue.

"But if you travel with the players, these dangers won’t exist." A Hai didn’t directly ask Xu Huo, but his voice couldn’t hide his anticipation and longing.

"You seem to be slightly less physically capable than ordinary ’males,’" Xu Huo said, "Is this a characteristic of being dual-gendered?"

"Did you notice?" A Hai was a bit embarrassed. "The old doctor checked me. I’m a true dual-gendered. My strength is slightly less than a man’s, but not by much. The old doctor said it’s because the body needs to accommodate pregnancy, so the muscles aren’t as tough as a man’s. Once they can’t have children anymore, their strength becomes greater, and their lifespan is longer."

Xu Huo didn’t comment, but instead asked, "Doesn’t this conflict with your ancestors’ wish to the Goddess?"

"Maybe descendants like me aren’t strong enough," A Hai rationalized, a bit worried. "I heard that Saintesses are stronger than ordinary men and women, live longer, and are more like descendants of the Goddess than truly dual-gendered."

"Is the Goddess also dual-gendered?" Xu Huo paused.

"Yes," A Hai said matter-of-factly. "The Goddess modified the ancestor of our nation according to her body. The Holy Land has always revered the Divine Temple of the Goddess, which ordinary people cannot even see the Goddess Statue."

"Can the Saintesses see it?"

A Hai pondered for a moment, "The Saintesses should be able to since they live close to the Divine Temple."

"Do you want to know what the Divine Temple looks like?" He finished, a bit cheerfully. "I have some news videos at home; I’ll play them for you. The temple is truly beautiful, like a place where real deities live. It’s said those harboring malice can’t even look at it directly, lest their eyes bleed at worst; at best, they go mad or are driven to insanity!"