Chapter 15 - 15 Passo
The next morning
"Honestly! Even though I wanted to do it, I never thought I'd be attacked like that! I underestimated your libido. Just how much do you like me?!"
Thinking that a lovestruck Emilia wasn't so bad, I attacked her once more.
"I... I can't live without you anymore! You absolutely have to make me your mistress! And we'll have proper sex, right?"
And when she finished the Cleaning Fellatio, she touched her own pussy and muttered, "If I hadn't been using contraception, I'd probably have given birth to about a hundred," grinning happily to herself.
"I like being desired by you! Did you know that? Well, I was the one who seduced you yesterday, but..."
"I understand, Emi-nee. But make sure you're waiting for me in a sexy outfit, okay."
"As if there's ever a day I'm not!"
She complained that she always complies except on those days, as we headed to breakfast. Today, we had talked about going to the Adventurer Guild branch to report that we had become B-Rank.
"I'm sure Reimi-san will be happy for us too, right?"
"That doesn't mean you should smirk about it, okay?"
When we arrived, the two of them were delighted that we had safely become B-Rank. And the adventurers around us also praised us, calling us "the pride of our homeland."
Several adventurers who had come from the imperial capital had their eyes glued to Reimi's boobs, which were bouncing boing-boing. So, they didn't go to the dungeon and stayed near the reception. A frivolous-looking young man with tattoos started saying he had a question for Reimi.
"Hey, hey, Reimi? Tell us your boob size and age!"
"My size is for my lover only! And my age is 18. Next year, and the year after that too! Remember it well!"
He froze under her fiercely smiling pressure and replied, "Yes." After that, she came to be known by the epithet "Eternally 18-Year-Old Reimi."
As we were walking after leaving the Adventurer Guild, Emilia asked me.
"How long will you be over there, Shivans?"
"I think it depends on His Excellency Klaus, but at most about one week, right?"
She looked relieved, saying that was good then.
We returned to the mansion and prepared.
"Hey, Shivans. Don't forget about the girl who's waiting for you, all wet down there and incredibly horny!"
Saying of course, I gave her a passionate kiss.
"Leave the care of the Silver Wolves to me!"
"Got it! I'm counting on you, Emi-nee!"
When I used Instant Movement, Klaus was already waiting.
"We're heading to the palace immediately!"
He tried to hold my hand to go by Instant Movement, but I refused, saying, "Let's go by carriage."
When we arrived, it was a place like a drawing room. It was a private room with only His Majesty, Klaus, and myself. There, the topic immediately turned to Marquis Kaoz's son, Ivan.
"When we acted on your advice, that fool Ivan was so flustered it was obvious he was the culprit. What's more, he fled without drinking the wine. For now, we must ascertain who would benefit from killing me!"
I thought it would be difficult to obtain evidence, but...
"For example, would it be unacceptable to involve His Excellency Kaoz and search for the truth?"
My proposal was rejected by the two of them.
"Unfortunately, that old man also has no loyalty to His Majesty. He's only siding with His Majesty now because His Majesty has momentum, but when it comes down to it, he'd likely betray him immediately, just like his son. His Majesty's foundation is still that precarious."
"Klaus is right. The current state of the Empire is such that we must even harbor such vipers in our bosom. Pathetic as it is."
I see. I understood that they were still on fragile ground.
"Furthermore, it was Kaoz who opposed even your father Butler's Promotion in Rank to the very end! You may not understand this, but court nobles are the type who shake your hand with their left hand while smiling, and hold a knife in their right."
Klaus taught me that they do even dirty deeds with a smile. Then, he brought out a map. I was informed that skirmishes with the neighboring Kingdom of Rhodesia have been ongoing.
Bordering the Kingdom of Rhodesia is Margrave Kruger. And bordering Kruger's territory are the three Quasi-Knight families to the south. To the west is Baron Auris, who borders our northern territory. And bordering the northwest, across the eastern highway, is Marquis Kaoz.
"The Kaoz family and the Auris family have a good relationship. Well, Auris is practically a vassal to Kaoz. Auris's daughter and Ivan's son are both 15 this year and will take the Imperial Academy entrance exam in winter. It would be nice if they failed, but..."
I understood that Klaus truly despised these people.
(So Father and we have been protected by this man, Klaus.)
Even though our territory, the Blue family's, and the Auris family's are said to border each other, there are mountains and no roads.
They apparently look down on us and the Blue family as "upstart lower nobles," so we never had occasion to meet.
"That's right... we need a road!"
Looking at the map, I thought this was the solution.
"What is it, Shivans-kun? What about a road?"
"I thought that if we connect a straight road from here, the imperial capital, to our territory, it would significantly stimulate the economy. And I thought it would be advantageous whether we need to access the sea or move troops in an emergency!"
They were exasperated, thinking it was just about my own territory.
"Well, isn't that fine, Klaus? He is the savior of my life, after all! You seem to want to say that building a road would also benefit us, Shivans?"
"It would! If safety is secured, distribution will develop. Goods from the sea, things like salt and dried fish, and also items that are in short supply in each other's territories will be transported."
Both His Majesty and Klaus seemed somewhat interested.
"If distribution is stimulated, goods will be brought in large quantities, creating competition! If good items can be obtained cheaply, the common people should be pleased! This imperial capital is a major consumption area. With a large population, peddlers and merchants will spend more money in the capital! If that happens, tax revenue will also increase, won't it?"
They immediately summoned officials for a land survey, but apparently, they asked for a day to consider it.
Instead of returning immediately, I was allowed to wander around the imperial capital, and I discovered a lingerie shop. There, they had corsets made of leather!
(Ohh! That's nice!)
When I tried to enter the shop immediately, I was challenged, so I showed them the emblem I received from Klaus, and they bowed most deeply.
"U-Um, are you, sir, from the Bismarck family?"
"No. But I am Shivans O'Brien, son of Butler, who was recently made a Baron, and I am under the care of His Excellency Klaus."
Those who knew, knew.
"It must be about that Lightning-fast Butler!"
"Why would such a child come to our shop? He's a boy, right? He said 'son.' Does he have a cross-dressing fetish? Is it because he has a pretty face?"
That whispering... I can hear all of it, and it hurts. Who has a cross-dressing fetish!
"What is that leather made of?"
"It's the hide of a monster called a Wild Frog. As the years pass, it develops a luster and tightens up nicely!"
When I asked the price, it was an expensive 300,000 G.
(With this, it seems like even I could make one! Besides, mine would be the type that pushes up and gathers. If I make something better, it would likely be popular with the nobility!)
I returned to my territory via Instant Movement and requested prototypes of corsets, push-up bras, night bras, and bust-enhancing bras.
"For example, how about tanning Kobold hide, coating the lining with Slime Solution, and tightening it with Wild Spider Thread?"
The artisans agreed to try it and began working on the prototypes.
I returned to Klaus's mansion and decided to make a model using earth magic.
(I have to prepare various things! They probably won't believe what I say.)
First is bridge building.
It's a model for making an arch-style stone bridge!
1. Make a model of the centering and show the foundation
2. Assemble the arch stones on top of it
3. Finally, place the keystone and remove the centering
4. Stack the wall stones and finally attach the balustrade to complete it
I'll present this at dinner, and if everyone understands it, it's a go!
When I headed to the treatment room, the three quack doctors seemed to be struggling hard, doing their best somehow. There seemed to be many things they didn't understand, but it had come to light that they had been prescribing random medicines until now, and Klaus had sternly told them, "Don't think you'll be allowed to live if you do the same thing again." They seemed to be striving daily with the book I wrote in one hand.
"Those guys are no good, Master!"
"Don't say that, Tima. They're reflecting on their past and working hard for the future!"
When I thrust into her pussy, which had been squelching wetly from behind, her face turned ahegao.
"Does Tima's super slutty pussy feel good?"
"Of course I love it!"
She screamed, squirted, and also shed tears.
"Please! Let my womb drink your sperm!"
"I'm going to release a lot!"
As it was pumped in thickly, she convulsed in bliss.
"So happy...!"
She collapsed, saying that.
After finishing the Cleaning Fellatio and changing clothes, she began to work briskly, like a completely different person.
(What is this... that gap between her excitement and her calmness is amazing...)
At dinner, I had Klaus's family gather. When I explained while showing the bridge-building model, I was asked various questions.
"Where will you bring the stones from?"
"Isn't a uniform size necessary?"
"Why won't that bridge collapse?"
(I see! So these are the kinds of questions that come up!)
As I was pleased, Aristo asked a question.
"Why are you building a bridge? What benefits will come from building it?"
"If this bridge is completed, it will help people's lives for the next 1000 years."
"1000 years?!"
"When many people come to visit this imperial capital, many foodstuffs and rare items will be transported via the roads! When money moves, the economy is stimulated, and tax revenue also increases!"
As I spoke of my dream of expanding the roads and enriching people's lives, he was impressed, saying, "I want to do something like that too! Roads are amazing!"
"That's right! When people move, goods move. When goods move, money moves! Also, it's an unpleasant topic, but if war breaks out, messengers will arrive faster. Large armies will also be able to demonstrate their mobility. There are far more good things about it!"
Klaus, who had been listening to our conversation, spoke to Windam.
"Introducing that child to Shivans-kun was the right decision!"
"Yes! I had no idea that a shy, quiet child could smile like that. I wonder if my life would have been a little different if I had a good friend too? Just kidding. Let's drink tonight, Father!"
As usual, I got out of the bath and gave massages. I went to Aqua's room and spent the time until dawn, waking up to the sound of a maid's knock.
"Lady Aqua? Are you awake? May I come in?"
She clicked her tongue, said, "It's morning already? See you, Shivans!" gave me a passionate kiss, cast Clean, and I left.
"Good morning. You may enter."
"Good morning. Here is your attire for today."
This became the morning routine.
At breakfast, I consulted with Klaus.
"Most likely, the architects and surveyors today will insult me. I can imagine them making light of me as a child. But once they see that model and my earth magic, they will understand it's not a dream or a pipe dream. If they still can't understand..."
"If they're such fools, let's fire them! We don't need them, right?"
At Klaus's reply, Windam and Aristo nodded in agreement.
"But Father... even if we fire them, the situation won't improve, will it?"
"Who do you think I am, Windam?"
With a menacing grin, he headed to the palace with me. It was the same room as yesterday, but instead of His Majesty, there were stern-looking old men. They were sitting with difficult expressions, looking at a map.
"Is it you, brat? The one who spouted this pipe dream, just drawing lines on a map? It won't be done even in 100 years! Dreams are for when you're asleep!"
Klaus's face looked like he wanted to blast away the cackling old men.
Another old man pointed at the map and explained.
"Let me teach you, kid. There are three rivers. Two mountains. Just building bridges would take at least three years, you know? And these mountains. That's a different story if you're saying you can move them!"
Smiling, I brought out the model.
"Are you aware that centering is necessary to build a stone bridge? It's this shape. This is a model of the first river I made with earth magic. The scale is 1/100."
The old men seemed surprised, as if seeing a model for the first time.
"You'll understand once you survey it. This can be assembled in five days. Next, please look at this model. You know this, right? You assemble the arch stones. If there are no stonemasons or if they lack the skill, I can teach them, but?"
Everyone stared blankly at my model.
"What's wrong? You're making light of him as a child, but with his plan and magic, and if there are local engineers, one bridge can be completed in about a week, it seems. If you say you can't do it, I will arrange for other engineers. I called on you because I believed the engineers retained by the Imperial Family were superior to those from his hometown, but it seems that was a mistake. To think you were a group that could only complain and grumble!"
When told this, they had no choice but to push back, but it was undoubtedly a technique they didn't know.
"Young master... no, Young Master! Won't this bridge collapse?"
"Unlike iron, stone cannot be bent or pulled, but are you aware that it is strong against compression?"
Several nodded, but some were asking, "Is that so?"
"However, a stone bridge cannot be built if the ground on both banks is weak. Rest assured, I will solidify that with my magic. Also, I will dig the tunnels with earth magic while solidifying the ground to prevent collapse. If we do that, a fine road can be built in less than a year, don't you think? If you lack confidence..."
As I started to say this, they said with an intensity as if about to perform a dogeza, "We'll do it! Please let us do it! However, could you impart the techniques to us? To be honest, we don't have this level of skill. But we want to know! Please! We beg you!"
"Very well. However, no construction work that would disgrace His Majesty's face, understood?"
"O-Of course! We'll do it with our lives on the line!"
And they left, saying to gather people.
"They receive work from the Administrative Bureau, but that Administrative Bureau is not doing well. Would you like to see it?"
When I went to that Administrative Bureau, there was no vitality.
Among them, a slightly overweight man had an exceptionally high INT.
"What about that person? He seems free! I want that person!"
"Him, huh... He has absolutely no motivation. Are you sure you still want him?"
It seemed he knew of him.
Indeed, he was picking his nose while yawning. He also seemed to be disliked by those around him. He appeared to be being complained at to do his work.
"I'll step away for a bit, so you should talk to him yourself."
Saying that, Klaus went to another person.
"May I have a word with you?"
"Who are you? You still look like a child, though?"
I spread out a map of our territory, talked about building a road from the imperial capital to our territory, and said I wanted advice on where to plant what crops and where to build a town. After thinking for a moment, he explained, "In terms of location, here is best. But for living conditions, near the river would be best, right? Because people can't live without water."
"I see. Then I'll leave it to you. I've come to want to see what you would do with this territory."
"Ahahaha! You're an odd one, aren't you. I'm Passo, 25 years old."
"I apologize for the late introduction. I'm Shivans, 13 years old."
I told him that preparations for construction to build a bridge were currently underway, and when I showed him the model, he was honestly impressed, saying, "You made this? I've never seen a construction method like this."
"I'll have you, Passo-san, also act as the site supervisor and check the progress."
"W-Wait a minute! Are you planning to make me do everything alone?"
"You just need to hire subordinates and manage and supervise them, right?"
Then he held his head and said, "No one would ever listen to what I say..."
"The people here don't know your dreams or abilities, and they just look down on you because you seem idle, right? Without knowing that you, Passo-san, have high processing ability."
"Just what... are you?"
"I'll come to see you again tomorrow. By then, I'll come to hear how you think it's best to face this map and guide the people!"
When I left the Administrative Bureau, Klaus was waiting.
"Your Excellency Klaus, do you know Passo-san?"
"Yes... His nickname is 'the Administrative Bureau's Burden.'"
Is that all? He seemed to be sighing about something...
"If I had to say, he's my son. My 13th son."
"Is it alright for me to hire such a person?"
"I'm rather grateful, actually."
He seemed to be a child of a concubine, shunned by his siblings.
Then I spoke of my plan.
"Starting tomorrow, I plan to act together with him and head to a slave trader to find military and civil officials."
He murmured, "I see," and then said forcefully, "But leave the serfs to me. I'll prepare 300 of them for you!"
The next morning
I went around to slave traders with Passo.
A slightly overweight, unshaven old man and a brat visiting didn't get a good reception. So I showed the emblem. Then, a complete about-face. We were guided in with them rubbing their hands together.
"Why do you have the Bismarck family crest? Don't tell me... you didn't steal it, did you?"
"There's no way that's the case! I'd be caught by now. I have my own circumstances."
In the end, we searched all day but couldn't find any particularly good talent.
The next day
"Today, let's go to the Slum District!"
"Eh? Why such a dangerous place?"
He complained but followed along.
"Ugh... it stinks... Let's leave quickly..."
Passo seemed to want to leave due to the fear and smell, but since I kept advancing, he had no choice but to follow.
And finally, I found someone.
A person with high ATK, VIT, and DEF abilities.
"Eh? Shivans-dono... it's a dirty, drunk old man like this? You're going to scout him? He seems weaker than me..."
"What did you say, fatty! If my arm tendons hadn't been cut, even I could have dreamed of becoming a Knight Commander someday..."
So I tried negotiating. I said I would heal his arm tendons, and if he fought me and lost, he'd become my subordinate. He said, "Against a brat like you? There's no way I'd lose!" so I treated his tendons.
Immediately, we went to a vacant lot and fought with wooden swords, but I won easily.
"Wait, wait... it's because of the alcohol... There's no way I'd lose if I sobered up!"
"Is that so? Then please come to the Adventurer Guild tomorrow. Let's fight once more. How about that? Can you fight?"
He said fine, so we promised a rematch.
I was concerned about someone watching intently from the shadows... but they didn't seem hostile.
"Shivans-dono... instead of an old man like this, how about a cuter child? An innocent, pure girl who knows no defilement?"
This guy... is he a lolicon? When I thought he was a dangerous guy, he said that wasn't it.
"Please don't lump me together with such a pervert! I prefer to watch from a slight distance!"
"That's a stalker!"
"Isn't that fine! It's my hobby!"
"But you'd be disliked, right?"
"Isn't that part of what makes it good!"
To think I would learn in another world that there are sexual fetishes I will never understand in my lifetime...