Chapter 116 - 115: A Nation in Decline
The Mistopolis Commercial State
This nation was built on trade.
The fatal blow was the loss of the roads to the major powers, gradually closing off their trade routes. Now, the only source of revenue was Shoko and Joyu's casino. And even that was beginning to panic as people slowly stopped gathering.
The National Lord and the Elders, finally awakening from their peace-induced stupor, met day after day, but they could not come up with any effective measures.
One of the Elders shouted, "At this rate, it's only a matter of time before this nation runs out of food! We should immediately invest money in the farming villages and encourage more agriculture. And then, we must maintain the roads to the villages!"
Then another Elder refused to budge, saying, "In that case, wouldn't opening up roads to the other nations be the higher priority?"
However, everyone was tight-lipped, thinking that no matter which plan they acted on immediately, none would be a quick fix.
(And on top of that, the money is disappearing...)
Reaching this point, they were made painfully aware once again that this was 'a nation that produces nothing.' They were forced to realize that they had merely been thriving through trade.
(What should I do... why did things come to this?)
The National Lord watched the inconclusive meeting, thinking such thoughts. The impatience of being slowly cornered. The claustrophobic feeling of a dead end was suffocating everyone.
Shoko and Joyu were also panicking.
They had risen from the underworld, but the reason they were sheltered in the palace was because they had a grip on the weaknesses of the National Lord and Elders and exploited them. However, if things continued this way, the possibility of them being defied openly was emerging.
The moderate faction, who believed things were fine as long as the casino existed, was in opposition with those who said it was time to cut their losses and flee.
"Let's flee the country!"
"No, no. Out of the four nations, three have their roads closed. The western nation is nothing but a road! What is there in a country like that?"
Here too, the Senior Executives held meetings day after day, but they lacked a decisive plan.
On my side, when it was decided that Annabel would take me to meet someone like the festival's executive committee chairman, Roxanne also said, "I want to go."
"The shopping district... you mean that shopping district, right? I was the daughter of a merchant house there. When I could still see, I have many fond memories."
After Shoko and Joyu's subordinates began collecting tribute money from the shop owners, the district declined and fell into ruin, and now it's apparently become a 'shuttered shopping district.'
Annabel, Roxanne, and I stood in front of the shopping district.
(He has more of an air of a young boss of street stall operators than a festival executive committee chairman.)
"I'm Volk! Nice to meet ya! This here is Venice, a real estate agent."
As I gazed at the arcade, thinking it looked like an old-fashioned shopping district, it seemed almost uninhabited. The real estate agent apparently came hoping to sell even just one property during this opportunity.
"Honestly, how long will we do this? I haven't set a deadline."
He frankly stated that whether the shops were rented or bought, a cut would flow from the real estate agent to Volk. As we walked through the shopping district, Roxanne stopped in front of a large shop with a frontage of about five stores and began to cry.
"This place used to be a secondhand clothing store. When I was a brat, I was so happy to have clothes bought for me at this shop!"
As Volk spoke nostalgically, Roxanne said, "This is my home..."
So, when I asked the real estate agent the price of the shop, he took advantage of the situation and said with a straight face, "It's 100 million G." Annoyed that Volk was also smirking, I asked Annabel.
"Are these two your companions?"
"No. I just know Volk from when he used to be an adventurer."
So I took out my greatsword and asked, "May I kill them here?" She laughed and said, "Go ahead! They picked a fight with an A-rank person!"
I glared at the two with 'Intimidation' and 'Killing Intent,' and they wet themselves in an instant.
"I'll ask Venice one more time. If you try any more strange bargaining, you will depart from this world. Of course, the Old Man next to you will also die under joint responsibility."
When I pressed the greatsword against his neck, blood oozed out. I stepped on Volk's face to prevent him from escaping, and Annabel burst into laughter.
"So, how much is it?"
"O-One thousand G will be fine..."
He wet himself, cried, and handed over the deed, so I paid him silver coins. He snatched them up and dashed away.
"You fool, Volk. I warned you he was someone you shouldn't make an enemy of. You're lucky to have escaped by the skin of your teeth!"
"I'm terribly sorry. I will never do anything so foolish again!"
Volk was terrified of me and performed a dogeza.
Having reconciled for the time being, the four of us entered the shop.
The interior smelled of dust and mold.
When I cast 'Clean,' the smell vanished.
We went up to the second floor. The moment Roxanne said, "This was my room. Next door was my parents'..." and opened the door.
All four of us saw the sight of her parents and older brother hanging by their necks, dead. Volk wet himself spectacularly again, and Annabel collapsed, her legs giving out.
"Father! Mother! Big Brother! Why only me..."
I felt as if the three sorrowful figures slowly looked our way, so I knelt down, assumed a praying posture, and cast 'Purification' to purify them. Then, a voice was heard from the sky.
'I'm sorry for leaving you behind...'
'I'm sorry, Roxanne, I love you...'
'Big Brother will always be watching over you.'
Finally, I heard what sounded like 'Thank you' directed at me, and sparkling fragments of souls fell from the sky, gently enveloping Roxanne.
Before we knew it, the blue sky had disappeared, and we were back in the original room. Annabel and Volk watched the scene, still collapsed with their legs given out.
"I-Is that person an Angel-sama, Annabel?"
"He must be! That explains his magical power and strength..."
The two of them were talking while still wetting themselves.
"That can't be true, right? Do you think an angel would hold a sword to a real estate agent's neck and threaten him? I'm just an ordinary person you can find anywhere."
But those words didn't convince anyone. Roxanne was becoming increasingly devoted to me.
I calmed everyone down for the moment and questioned Volk.
"Is it permissible to do any kind of business here? And what roles do you all play, and how do you make a profit?"
Surprisingly, a decent answer came back.
"Originally, this city is a free city. You sell what you want to sell. Well, it somehow became a country that sells drugs and such, but we'll do business here too! Don't you worry!"
Considering it was supposed to be in three days, there seemed to be no stalls at all, so I handed over large silver coins and said, "I'll buy the shops on both sides of this one too." He beamed and said, "As expected of Angel-sama! You're a good guy!"
As we were making noise in front of the shop, the people who used to be servants came over and wept loudly, saying, "Isn't that young lady Roxanne? ...You've grown so much..."
So I decided to recruit them.
"In three days, we will reopen the secondhand clothing store. If you're willing, would you work for us again?"
"Absolutely! With pleasure! Please! Let us work for you!"
So I made a request to Roxanne.
"The second floor is filled with many memories, isn't it? So I'll leave it as is, but I want to remodel the first floor."
"That's fine! Please, I'd love for you to!"
I cast 'Revive' and 'Clean' on the three buildings and tidied them up. I also granted 'Insulation' and 'Cold Protection,' so both the shop interior and the second floor should be comfortable.
At the secondhand clothing store, we hung the used clothes I provided on hangers. We separated them into men's and women's clothing, and for the men's section, we also stocked weapons and armor. To make window shopping enjoyable, we made it glass-fronted, and to attract women's interest, we dressed mannequins in dresses and displayed them at the storefront.
(There was a warehouse in the back, wasn't there?)
I finished the warehouse to Magic Box specifications, planning to store large quantities there later. This time, we had received a large amount of clothing from the upper-class citizens, so I returned to the territory and requested, "I want these tailored into children's clothing!"
"Please give us a little time, Young Master... let's say, one week."
"Understood!"
The building closest to the entrance had a public bathhouse on the first floor, with separate sections for men and women.
(We could make a mixed bath, but there are many criminals around.)
I also prepared towels, soap, and shavers. I built a cut house next to the first floor for cutting hair.
The second floor was made into an employee break room and nap room.
Actually, when I destroyed and burned the drug fields, I discovered a hot spring source. Thinking it might be useful for something, I had set up a magic circle.
(With this, we can make a public bath with free-flowing hot spring water!)
For the other shop, with the secondhand clothing store in between, I planned to have half be a bakery and a shaved ice shop run by the women. I thought of having the Head Chef do grilled foods and such out front. The other half would be a tavern, where they would also serve alcohol. The second floor was similarly made into a break room and nap room. I remodeled it with the assumption that someday employees might live there.
I returned home and, thinking of serving yakisoba on an iron plate and yakitori over charcoal, I was teaching the Head Chef, but he was completely No Good, and everyone around was getting irritated.
"Switch with me for a bit!"
The second son's Butler tried it by imitation, and surprisingly, he was better than the Head Chef.
"You... really are hopeless..."
"That's right! And you wet the bed..."
As the eldest son and his wife criticized him, the second son's wife also complained.
"The other day, when making soup from bones, he slept without skimming the scum."
Blamed by everyone, the Head Chef started to lash out in anger, but the eldest son sneered and asked.
"Then, what can you do? Tell me!"
"W-Well, that's..."
The Head Chef, told off by the eldest son, was on the verge of tears, unable to argue back.
"I feel bad for Moa, but this guy is fired!"
When the eldest son said something harsh, the Head Chef was so shocked it seemed like a crashing sound effect played, and he clung to the eldest son.
(It can't be helped... I'll cast 'Talent Bloom' and hope something blossoms.)
Then Angelina came and said, "That smells delicious!" So I had her cook yakisoba, and she was the best at it.
I consoled the Head Chef, who had lost his standing even further.
"For now, we don't have much time, so please practice as much as you can!"
Moa, Jimmy, and Leona, who could bake bread, were practicing making sandwiches.
Remi, Mizera, and Lovely were learning to make shaved ice, starting from making condensed milk.
The five members of 'Phalaenopsis' were undergoing special training in simmered dishes, grilled dishes, and fried dishes.
The eldest son and his wife, as the managers of the secondhand clothing store, were having meetings with Roxanne and the other employees about various matters. The second son and his wife were in charge of the public bathhouse and inn, and when I told them I had tamed a Purification Slime, they were training it not only for bath cleaning but also for laundry.
And for the security of the three shops, I assigned the three men of 'Amadeus' and the lookout thugs. The Head Chef, left out and looking lonely, was decided to be in charge of guiding carriages, directing lost children, and customer solicitation.
The night two days before the festival.
Roxanne and I finally challenged the enemy's stronghold, the casino. Roxanne wore a dress. I was also in a formal tuxedo, and we arrived at the casino by carriage.
"Now, shall we go, Roxanne?"
"Yes! Let us go, darling!"
I cast 'Fear Resistance' on Roxanne, and I used the name of my current house, the Volkmer family, forged a membership card, and attempted a frontal breakthrough.
"Excuse me, but I recall that the head of the Volkmer family and the eldest son are missing. And the second son has passed away?"
He's quite sharp. Well, this much was within expectations.
"I am the third son, Shivans. This is my wife, Roxanne. May we be allowed to enjoy ourselves?"
When I slipped a silver coin to the man, he smiled brightly and said, "My apologies for the rudeness. This is your first time using our establishment, correct? Allow me to assign an attendant to you!" A boy appeared and guided us.
Was it the effect of the silver coin? Just as I was thinking they let us in quite amiably, it wasn't so easy.
The room we were suddenly brought to was a Swapping Room. Moreover, they said we would be watched from a Peeping Room, which was a high hurdle for the virgin Roxanne.
"As you know, there are those who disguise themselves as couples and plot improper acts in this establishment. I'm sure Lord Shivans and his wife will be fine?"
"Yes! Of course! Right, darling?"
Let's do this!
In the room, something like incense with a strong aphrodisiac effect was burning, and both men and women were breathing heavily, panting.
When we entered, there were four other couples, but all the men seemed like regulars with money.
"Hey you! If you'd like, how about swapping with my wife?"
"No, no. I was first. I'll pay you!"
The four men swarmed around Roxanne.
"We are new here, so we will observe our seniors for a while."
"Hmm. You're young but have promise! Very well, we'll show you!"
Unfortunately, there was nothing to see.
(What 'wife'? All four of them are just mistresses or prostitutes bought with money. These people are regulars, so they're competing to see whose woman is the best.)
The room was enveloped in a mist, and the old men fell asleep.
"What is this smoke?"
"Hey! I can't see!"
Everyone thought it was just the incense smoke.
(While I'm at it, I'll spread it around!)
I burned the incense vigorously.
In the meantime, I set up a Barrier on the bed, cast 'Perception Block,' and held Roxanne.
"Is it really okay for me to be your first? I'm going to disappear, you know?"
"Ufu! Rather, I am a woman who can offer you no thanks. If I can repay you even a little with this body, I would be happy!"
She seemed excited, so we got completely naked, embraced, and kissed.
"Hey? I'm... not very good, but may I perform fellatio?"
Having a lovely, neat young lady suck your cock is a man's romance, isn't it?
"I absolutely want to ask Roxanne to do it!" When I said that, she said, "With pleasure!" stuck out her tongue, and devotedly served me.
When I grew large and loomed over her, she said, tears welling up, "Thinking that I can offer my first kiss and my virginity to someone I like, someone I love and respect, makes me so happy! I feel like crying! Please hold me!"
She clung to me, murmuring like in a delirium, "Lord Shivans... Lord Shivans..." When I finished, she asked, "Was I... able to make Lord Shivans feel good?" When I nodded, she said, "I felt good too..." and fell asleep as if fainting.
Next to me...
The women were On All Fours, sticking out their rear ends, in the middle of performing fellatio on the sleeping old men, so I fucked them Doggy Style. Was it thanks to the incense? They were all soaking wet.
"W-Who? Ah♡ It's so big♡ It feels good♡ It's going deep inside♡ I'm cumming♡"
I fucked all four of them twice each, left Roxanne sleeping inside the Barrier, and exited the room.
On the first floor, there were other dimly lit rooms with things like strip shows and show pubs. It seemed like a system where you paid a girl you liked and held her on the second floor.
Going further in, there was an SM room, and there was a man riding a Triangular Sawhorse. There was a man being whipped and shouting, "Yes, Mistress! More!"
As I was watching, a woman like a Female Panther called out to me.
"Don't just watch, come here!"
"No. I'm fine. I'm good."
"Everyone says that at first!"
The extremely sadistic woman looked at me and said, "You have a face that just begs to be bullied! It gives me shivers!" So I stripped her naked and forced her to perform fellatio. She struggled at first, but when I commanded, "Spread your crotch!" she shivered and said, "Yes..." and opened them.
"What do you want me to do? You Female Dog?"
"I want you to put your cock♡ inside my pussy♡"
"Are you on birth control?"
"Don't worry about it♡ Give me lots♡"
She was a virgin, but maybe it was thanks to the incense. She let me cum inside her three times.
"Come again!"
It seems she awakened to being a masochist as well.
Going even further in...
There was a room where improper things were done to innocent young boys and girls. I put the old men and lookouts to sleep for a bit with 'Sleep' to immobilize them, and when I tried to let the children escape, they were terrified.
(They even put a Collar of Subjugation on children like this!)
I destroyed the collars and used a magic circle to connect them to our house and let them escape.
Further in, there were stairs leading underground, and it seemed to be the casino.
"Sir! You cannot enter here!"
I put all the men in black suits to sleep and placed them in the room with the boys and girls.
The casino was amazing.
(Hey! It's surprisingly authentic!)
There were roulette wheels, dice, and more.
I'll take this entire facility!
In the underground break room, there was a room where people were smoking cigars and cigarettes, and next to it were people who had gone crazy on drugs, so I started a small fire.
"Fire!"
When I produced a lot of smoke, everyone panicked and fled All at Once. I collected all the equipment and alcohol into my inventory and headed to the third floor, where the Manager was likely to be.
In the hallway, there were many guards who complained at me.
"You bastard! How did you get to the third floor? There were subordinates on the second-floor stairs, weren't there?"
"I walked here on my own two feet. That's a strange question to ask."
The people who thought they were being mocked attacked me in the hallway. As expected, they didn't give me the leeway to put them to sleep, so I had to fight.
I incapacitated them and went to the office in the back.
"For an outsider to come this far. How long has it been?"
The Manager said happily, but his eyes weren't smiling. This time, he told me with a face full of superiority.
"Well, fine. You will die here!"
As the Manager said this happily, there was a clunking sound, and the floor opened up with a snap.
"What a fearless young man you were. Ahahaha!"
He peered into the hole, looking for my figure, but it seemed too dark to see. When he turned around and noticed me sitting in the office chair, he turned pale.
"How does it feel to fall into a pitfall you made yourself?"
As I approached, he begged for his life.
"Stop! Stop it! Please... Gyaaah!"
I took everything in the office and collected the money from the safe. I scattered gunpowder and set it ablaze with 'Fire,' and the office exploded.
Both the second and first floors fell into panic. I collected all the beds, furniture, furnishings, alcohol, food, costumes, money, and valuables from the second floor, woke Roxanne, and escaped along with the other customers.
I also woke the sleeping people and let them escape. After confirming that everyone had fled, I went up to a slightly elevated area and spoke to Roxanne with a smile.
"Roxanne. The real finishing touches start now! Watch closely!"
"Yes!"
When I launched a small 'Fireball' at the casino, it hit the gunpowder storehouse I had prepared, causing a massive explosion. Then, a chain reaction of explosions occurred in the castle walls, destroying one entire wall, and the remaining three walls also collapsed.
At the moment of the explosion, I hadn't noticed that a large amount of monster blood had scattered. Some people noticed, but they only thought someone might have been injured.
The common people were startled by the roar of the massive explosion, but rather, they applauded and cheered.
"The upper-class citizens? Serves them right for acting so high and mighty!"
"That's right! Divine Punishment has finally come down!"
"A toast to the downfall of Shoko and Joyu!"
That night, drinking parties were held everywhere.
Roxanne and I decided to search for and treat people injured at the casino.
Many of the men and women who had fled completely naked were injured. The women, in particular, were abandoned and crying.
After casting 'Heal' and 'High Heal' and cleaning them up with 'Clean,' I gave clothes to those who were completely naked and had them change.
"You are free now!"
While they were happy that they no longer had to work as prostitutes, they were at a loss, wondering, "What should we do from now on?" Seeing people in trouble, Roxanne said, "I want to help..."
Many of the men who had worked at the casino also said, "We didn't work there because we wanted to..." so I decided to help them as well.
When I brought those people back to our house, everyone welcomed them.
"This is family here! No need to worry!"
The Head Chef enthusiastically took care of everyone.
"Are you hungry? If you'd like, I'll make something!"
"You? This guy's cooking is terrible!"
When the Head Butler said that, everyone laughed. The two maids and Moa also helped by assigning rooms, letting them take baths, and taking care of them, so some people cried, saying, "It's been so long since I've felt human kindness..."
Hearing that a girl about eight years old had already lost her virginity, the second son's Butler openly displayed his anger.
"Lord Shivans! May I kill that scoundrel?"
"We don't know who the culprit is, so calm down!"
I managed to calm him down and sent everyone to their respective rooms to sleep.
The next morning
While eating breakfast, the conversation turned to "What should we do from now on?" People who had a place to return to were given money and food and sent back, but the problem was those with nowhere to go.
Including the boys and girls, most were from the slums.
(Isn't there anyone who wants to do agriculture...?)
So when I brought up the idea of starting a business from tomorrow, they were more positive about that. I understood that no one wanted to go back to being prostitutes or men in black suits.
"We don't want to do that kind of work anymore! Forcing women and children to work... it breaks your spirit!"
So when I talked about running a hot spring inn, a secondhand clothing store, and a restaurant, each person started saying what they could do.
"I used to be a pickpocket, so I can spot a thief!"
"I like clothes! I can do a little seamstress work!"
"I like cooking!"
"Me too! I can do grilled foods!"
They proudly declared that they were all used to customer service.
"I can deal with customers without making a sour face!"
"I've been praised for being amiable!"
We decided on roles and had them undergo special training. For those who said they wanted to go home, I took each of them back, and emotional reunions awaited.
"Be happy!"
"Thank you! I'll never forget this!"
I went around to each village, distributing alcohol and clothing, and ended up acquiring another large amount of food.
Evening
When I returned, I called the five members of 'Phalaenopsis' and the working women, bathed with them, used Shampoo and Conditioner and Body Soap, shaved them, and finished them off beautifully with Hair Removal Cream.
Then I took them to the costume room on the third floor.
"Your work clothes have been decided!"
When I had them put on a short traditional coat over a red bikini, it looked quite sharp. Angelina complained, but when I said, "I think you look like a stylish, dashing, and cool older sister though..." she seemed to take a liking to the phrase 'stylish and dashing.'
For the men, thinking of cool clothes, I had them wear dress shirts, black pants, and black vests, and also changed their hairstyles, which pleased them.
Thinking about the future, I widened the road from the house to the shops, made it a Gentle Slope, and installed streetlights. I prepared a horse and carriage and decided to have the Head Chef be the driver, and he was surprisingly good at it.