Chapter 197 - 195 Prince Richard
I brought the drug woman and returned to the lord's manor.
At the lord's manor, the maids greeted me with smiles.
"The bath is ready! Come on! Let's get in!"
They squealed and came in with me themselves.
"I can't believe you were a virgin until yesterday! What a lewd maid you are!"
"But... today, I went into town and told my parents, 'I was embraced by Lord Shivans,' and Papa and Mama were overjoyed and said, 'Well done! Make sure you bear his child!' Seeing my parents so happy just gets me fired up! So please, fill me up inside♡"
The next girl was the same.
"I've never even given my husband a blowjob♡ Of course, I've never been embraced by him either♡"
"As for me! I broke up with my boyfriend to come here♡ I wouldn't want it to be unclear whether the child is Lord Shivans's or my boyfriend's, right?"
"You're leaving tomorrow, aren't you? I gave you my virginity! So please, give me lots today too♡ My parents are expecting a lot from me too!"
Lewd sounds and the maids' moans echoed in the bath.
After getting out of the bath, I checked on the ladies... and they were completely hooked on mahjong. The generals had also been drawn in, learning the rules and getting heated.
"Take that! Pon!"
"General, you're always calling tiles, you have no patience, do you?"
"That's right, that's right! You love toitoi, don't you!"
"Come on, come on! I'm declaring riichi! There are only four tiles left, so I won't let you escape!"
The wives were enjoying a gambling mahjong game at 1,000 points for 100 G.
It looked like the general was getting fleeced, but was he having fun?
"Hmm? I get why this is popular in the Imperial Capital! Pon on that!"
The general was being teased and made fun of, but he seemed to be enjoying himself.
I could imagine they'd probably play all night long.
When Wesson and the others returned, the caravan people and the adventurers were also forced to learn the rules and got caught up in it.
"After dinner, we'll start again!"
"Fine by me! If you lose and can't pay, maybe I'll have the wives pay with their bodies?"
When the adventurers got randy, the wives smiled and said, "Fine by me♡ But if you lose and can't pay, we'll strip you naked, you know?" and accepted the challenge.
(Is everyone going to be okay? I hope they don't all get stripped naked...)
When I went to the butler's room, the 20-Year-Old Wife and the drug woman were already there, unable to wait, playing with each other.
"I became Arton's concubine for the sake of my family. So, without thinking about whether it was good or bad, I just stared at the ceiling and let him embrace me..."
The 20-Year-Old Wife said sadly.
"Forget about it already. It's a good thing you couldn't get pregnant, right!"
"Yeah! When I was called the other day for the first time in a while, I was glad it was to be with Lord Shivans♡"
The truth was different, but since she was happy about it.
After I made her climax many times, it was the drug woman's turn.
"I had lingering feelings for my ex-boyfriend too. But I've moved on! Hold me lots!"
"It's best to just forget about a guy like that!"
I held her plenty too, and then put them both to sleep.
After that, I used alchemy and 'Revive' on the things in the treasury, turning them into usable items. To do that, I decided to work in the basement.
Then, Arton came to talk to me.
"I'm going to be killed, aren't I? That's fine. I must have done enough to deserve it. But tell me one thing? I heard you invented a stone that gives off heat when you pour water on it?"
He seemed to be talking about quicklime.
"It wasn't an invention."
"Oh! Then how? I've never seen it before, but why does it get warm?"
There were things that surprised me too.
In my previous life, it didn't retain heat for this long.
(Is it because this is a world with magic that a stone that size can give off heat for so long? There are still so many things I don't understand...)
Saying it was a chemical reaction would be true, but it was hard to explain.
"I don't really understand it myself. But I knew it would give off heat if you poured water on it."
He didn't seem convinced by my explanation, but he seemed to understand vaguely.
"You said I had a talent for business, didn't you? If I had abandoned my pointless pride and worked hard using that talent, do you think I could have become a marquis?"
I nodded, saying "Of course," and added, "But only if you had devoted your efforts to your people." Arton nodded too.
"I don't believe in reincarnation. I thought it was all over when you die, but if there is such a thing as a next life, I think I'll try to be a good lord."
He said that a little shyly and then fell asleep.
(It happened to me, so it might happen to Arton too.)
I used alchemy to break down the swords made by second- and third-rate smiths, and remade them into flying kunai and caltrops. I also made strong, thin wire like piano wire and barbed wire, and prepared items imbued with lightning magic.
After that, I made things like landmines and knuckle dusters.
Arton was asleep, so I thought I'd sleep too and went back to my room.
I thought Kuro and Shiro were probably hooked on mahjong, so I went to sleep alone, but at some point they came back and slept with me.
The next morning
The 'Shinobi' men were completely naked.
"T-there's a deep reason for this..."
"Why don't you just honestly admit you lost badly to us?"
It seemed they had lost badly to the 'Kunoichi' women too...
While eating breakfast, I asked, "How much did you lose?" and since the total for the five of them was apparently 100,000 G, I paid it and got their clothes back.
The other adventurers were also completely naked. They had lost to the wives and came clinging to me, saying "Help..." The general, though sleep-deprived, was eating breakfast energetically.
"Ah, that was fun! Next time, I'd like to play against you, Shivans-kun!"
"Understood. I'd be honored!"
I shook hands with the general, and after setting up a barrier over the shop, we said, "We'll be back!" and left the territory capital.
(Prince Richard asking me for help... what could be going on? Are there refugees?)
Thinking about such things, I headed north.
Four days later.
We finally arrived at our destination, the Egg Capital City, just before noon.
"It's surprisingly a real city..."
"Yeah, right? It's more prosperous than I thought..."
That was the first thing the adventurers said when they set foot in the city.
(So what does he want to ask of me?)
Public order seemed good, and there weren't as many refugees as I expected.
Maybe it was a problem that wasn't apparent on the surface?
First, I went to the Adventurer Guild to take care of the paperwork, and right away, some guy started picking a fight with me.
"Hey, hey! A guy like you is A-rank?! You've got a pretty face, but from the looks of it, you're just some noble brat who bought his rank with money, right?"
He came over with a smirk.
"That's right! Is there a problem?"
When I smirked back, he tried to punch me, but I quickly changed my position and used Instant Movement to swap places with one of his companions, making the companion take the hit.
His companion went flying with a thud.
"Huh? Why did I punch you?"
"That's what I wanna know! You big idiot, Gan!"
Getting hit hard in the face, he punched his angry companion again.
"Who are you calling a big idiot! I'll kill you!"
"You die!"
They started fighting among themselves, and the people around laughed at them, which finally brought them back to their senses.
"Did I buy my rank with money? Or was it through skill? That's none of your business, is it? Whether a face is good or bad is based on personal opinion, right? So, have I caused you any trouble?"
"Sh-shut up!"
When he tried to punch me again, another one of his companions took the hit this time.
"Stop dodging around, you coward!"
"You're not answering my question. Or is it that my words don't reach a backwoods ape like you?"
When I laughed, everyone around laughed too, making the ape even angrier.
"An ape! Come to think of it, he is an ugly monkey!"
"Hey, hey! That's an insult to monkeys!"
He roared and lunged at a woman, trying to punch her.
But there was a 'crunch' sound. Yes, the ape had punched a stone pillar.
"It hurts! It hurts so much!"
He rolled around on the ground, crying and screaming, while everyone around burst out laughing.
"Even modern yakuza wouldn't start a fight with such a flimsy excuse. Is that kind of common sense normal here?"
The ape screamed and cried, but no one helped him. I also kicked him in the dick and covered him with lice, and then we left the Adventurer Guild.
The adventurer who had been punched was left staring blankly after us.
After leaving the Adventurer Guild, the adventurers who had finished their procedures received money from Wesson.
The 'Shinobi' men tried to repay their debt to me, but when I said, "You don't know what might happen, and if you pay it all back, won't you have trouble paying for lodging and food?" the 'Kunoichi' women laughed at them.
"Really! You're such idiots!"
"Did that place suck it all out of you?"
"It's embarrassing to be seen with you!"
"People in the previous village were giving you weird looks too, weren't they?"
"Please! Just die once!"
The five of them were still sporting erections.
(Well, this exchange has become part of our daily conversation...)
Kuro, who was next to me, asked.
"Why did you leave that guy alone earlier?"
"He's like a drunk, isn't he? Besides, I think it's a waste of time to give him the answer he wants and just waste time."
Shiro smiled and linked her arm with mine.
"As expected of our master! Let's go look for a shop!"
In this city, there was someone who seemed to be a real estate agent, and it turned out that even abandoned buildings were unusable without paying.
"No matter how run-down the building is, you have to pay for the land! Let's see... I can lend it to you for 1,000 G a day. How about it?"
It was a business that took advantage of my situation, but thinking it couldn't be helped given the rules of this city, I decided to look for another piece of land, but then I had an idea.
(That's it! Why not consult with Prince Richard himself!)
He wanted to see me too, so it would kill two birds with one stone.
I immediately headed for the lord's manor.
I showed the crest of the Klaus family to the guards and announced, "I am Baron Shivans von O'Brien. I wish to see Prince Richard." They said, "We've been expecting you! I'll inform him immediately!" and ran off.
Entering the lord's manor, I was led to an office where there was a handsome man who could be called a prince charming. He should have been well over 30, but he looked remarkably young.
"Ah! Nice to meet you! Can I call you Shivans-kun? Please call me Richard too! Have a seat!"
As soon as I sat down on the sofa, he asked, "What's your impression of this city?"
"It seems like there are no problems?"
Idiots like that ape are everywhere. Nothing else stood out.
"Right! There are no problems! Egghardt is still loved by the people. Public order is good, and children's education and medical care are well-provided. It's just... there's no distinctive feature!"
Was there really nothing?
I felt like I might be overlooking something...
"There are two problems with searching for one."
I told him one was my unfamiliarity with the land, and the other was the cost of lodging for the other merchants and adventurers. Separately, I also mentioned the lack of a place to do business, and he readily agreed.
"I'll assign you a guide. Also, you can use the annex of my manor for lodging! I'll have someone find you a suitable property for a shop right away!"
The annex was completely different from what I had imagined.
(As expected of someone who was once a member of the Senate...)
Just as he had united the noble faction, the annex was probably used to host many nobles. It could easily accommodate all of us.
After being shown around the mansion, I was being shown around the city by the old butler when someone called out, "Lord Shivans!"
I wondered who it was, and it turned out to be Arina's parents.
"What brings you to such a remote frontier?"
Arina's father ran the Rira Trading Company.
"We're escorting a caravan."
Was the main cargo food? It was all jumbled together.
I was led to the back of the shop, and the wife served me tea.
Then she sat down next to me. She was wearing a dress with a very low neckline, and she pressed her large breasts against me.
"Listen, Lord Shivans! That Heimer from the Altz Trading Company does whatever he wants! His son Gan and his daughter Herpes, or whatever her name is, they're no good either!"
Apparently, they had grown rapidly in recent years through connections with the underworld.
"For example, what kind of things?"
"There's no evidence..."
According to Rira, on the surface, they dealt in magic stones and minerals. But they also engaged in predatory lending, forced daughters and wives to work in their brothels, and made the men do hard labor until they died.
"Could it be that the son, Gan, is an adventurer?"
The guy who picked a fight with me was called that too.
Then the wife looked surprised, as if to say that was exactly right.
"My! How did you know that?!"
"He picked a fight with me at the Adventurer Guild. Though, he should be suffering right now."
Gan had broken his fingers, and I kicked him in the crotch so fast he couldn't see it, causing him to writhe in agony and pass out. After that, he woke up with an itch all over his body, but when he tried to pee, the intense pain made him writhe again, and he collapsed in the toilet. He was covered in his own urine, but no one tried to help him.
(I might be able to hear some interesting stories since I have a bird's eye view.)
I made a request to Rira.
"I'd like to set up a business for the caravan somewhere. Do you know a good place?"
"In that case, please use my place! It's spacious enough!"
If they cleared out all the clutter, it did look spacious.
I immediately went to the shop, stored the clutter in my inventory, cast 'Clean', and used 'Revive' to repair the place. The Rira couple was delighted.
(With this much space, it's definitely enough!)
After that, I only understood that there were absolutely no local specialties.
"Is there anything in this territory that can't be found elsewhere?"
Rira asked his wife, but she said, "Something unusual? If there was, I'd be selling it. Don't you know anything, butler?" The butler shook his head.
"I have served since the time of Lord Egghardt, but nothing comes to mind..."
The butler said it in a way that seemed like a sigh.
(Well, I guess I'll have to look for myself. I'll consider it a success just to have secured lodging and a shop!)
I found Wesson and the others and invited them to the annex of the lord's manor, which delighted the adventurers.
There, Prince Richard treated us to a lavish meal and strong liquor, resulting in many people getting drunk.
(They'll probably have hangovers tomorrow...)
Richard was in high spirits, savoring the seafood I had provided.
Since everyone had passed out drunk, I put my plan into action.
Using 'Presence Concealment' and 'Concealment', I infiltrated the Altz Trading Company.
And in the study of the father, Heimer, his two children were present.
"So? What about that injury?"
Heimer pressed his son, Gan, in a harsh tone.
"There was this cocky noble brat... I tried to punch him, but he dodged, and I ended up punching a stone pillar... and then..."
Before he could finish, Heimer kicked him and sent him flying.
"Hey, Gan? I taught you, didn't I? Don't pick a fight you can't win. If you can't win, threaten them and take their money. We are descendants of the Rappa Tribe, who didn't side with the Hazard Tribe! Our law is to take, rape, and kill! Did you forget?"
Gan cowered in fear at his father's words and said, "I haven't forgotten..."
His sister Herpes watched this.
"Can't be helped. I'll get revenge for my big brother! What kind of guy was he?"
"A noble brat... a detestable bastard who bought an A-rank with money! Tall and handsome..."
Hearing this, Heimer's face looked like he was about to drool.
"Guhuhu... I see, rich! Herpes! Use your face and body to seduce that man! Right... lure him to the usual inn! You know the rest, right?"
"Make sure you have your underlings ready, okay? I don't want to be touched by some filthy man's hands! If he touches me, I'll cut him to pieces after he falls asleep! You handle the disposal of the body, got it?"
So that was the plan for this slut and the fate of being cut to pieces by her underlings.
(Tomorrow morning, I'll have to go to the Adventurer Guild and fall for this slut's seduction! But there's something I need to do first.)
Something to do during the night. That was to cripple Heimer.
First, I raided the loan shark operation.
I put slave marks on the ones who seemed smart, making them candidates for internal affairs officers or farmers to be entrusted to Sera. I erased the memories of the thugs and entrusted them to Regias. If I stored the entire building in my inventory, the commotion would probably start around noon tomorrow.
Next was the gambling den.
I cast 'Sleep' on both the customers and the staff.
I just threw the customers out onto the street. They'd probably be stripped of everything by morning, but that wasn't my concern. They'd be too embarrassed to worry about the gambling den.
(Even if there's a commotion, there's no one to report it immediately. Well, even if there is a commotion, it won't bother me. I might as well grab the other red dots and clean up the city!)
I abducted only the Rappa tribe members, sorted the men, erased the memories of the women, and sent them to the brothels in my territory. I stored the entire buildings in my inventory here too.
Finally, I went to the brothel.
Thinking this was probably their biggest money-maker, I felt excited.
One by one, people disappeared. The customers were fast asleep, thrown out onto the street, and the Rappa tribe employees vanished, transported to my territory.
I appeared before the women who were forced to work as prostitutes due to debt and spoke to them.
"Is your deed among these?"
When I showed them the deeds I had taken from the loan shark, one of them said, "That's it! That's my deed!" and took it.
"You're all free now. You can go home."
I gave them some large silver coins, but 30% didn't leave.
Wondering why, they lamented, "Even if I go back now, I'll just be sold again," or "My family was killed when I went back. I have nothing to do..."
"It's fine. For those who don't want to stay in this land, I'll introduce you to a new place and a job where you don't have to sell your bodies!"
Then, out of the 70% of women who said they wanted to go home, half of them came back.
"You're not lying, are you? If it's not a lie, I want to go to this new place!"
"Is it a warm place even in winter? I'm sick of the cold!"
I calmed them down and first took them to the club at the Wizard Hotel. They were overwhelmed by the luxury and glamour.
Then I had them listen to a talk in the women's rest room.
"You don't have to sleep with the customers here. But you do have to work hard in your own way! This shop aims to be top-class!"
Feeling the difference in the flashy costumes and the level of determination, the women hesitated. Another woman gave them advice.
"You could just spread your legs and stare at the ceiling, and you'd still make a decent income, right? But do you think you can earn that easily ten years from now?"
Most of them would be over 30 in ten years.
(It seems they understand it's not that easy.)
Then I teleported to Port Town Marino and showed them the high-class soaplands and sexy cabaret clubs.
There, they heard comments that conveyed a kind of pride from the women who said they were different from prostitutes, and they were shocked.
"Rest here for today. Tomorrow, I'll take you to another place."
The women, who had thought I would embrace them, seemed a bit let down, but they were happy to be able to sleep in a luxurious room.
I asked a maid, "Please have Meg come first thing in the morning," and she replied with a smile, "As you wish."
(Working at a fast-food place would be good for them too.)
I was curious if the mentally unstable girl was working properly, so I went to her room. She said, "I missed you!" and immediately took off her clothes.
Before I could even ask her anything, she greeted me with a devouring kiss and a sucking blowjob, so I ended up holding her.
After she finished cleaning me up with her mouth, I asked her about working at the fast-food restaurant. She told me about it with great excitement.
"Everyone is so kind! And I'm happy because I get to make such delicious food every day! Also, when I told them that I had been embraced by you, Master, everyone looked so envious!"
I was worried that she might be calling me 'Master' in front of everyone, but she shook her head.
"Since no one would understand if I said 'Master,' I call you 'Lord Shivans' because everyone knows that. Is that bad?"
"No. That's better."
I spent the night until morning with the mentally unstable girl.
The next morning
Meg, who looked grumpy, was waiting on the first floor.
"What's wrong with you since morning? Did you get your period?"
Still with a sour face, she pointed at the mentally unstable girl.
"Seeing her with hickeys all over her body and such a happy face would make anyone grumpy! I haven't been touched by anyone even though I've lost weight! I'm a woman, and I have sexual desires too! And it's not like I'll sleep with just anyone! Got it?"
"But Meg, you're aiming to be a female internal affairs officer, right?"
"That's true, but I'm not a virgin anymore... I want to have sex too!"
So, I made a condition that if she could get these women working in suitable positions, I would embrace her. She got enthusiastic.
"I'll take them to every possible place and let them experience everything! Once they're settled, you'll hold me, right? You promised, so keep it!"
"Of course! Introduce them to the military, adventurers, farming, fishing, artisans, and so on!"
Meg waved her hand and said, "Got it! I'll have everyone working with a smile in a month!"
Around the same time, at the Altz Trading Company...
Gan, who had been scratching his whole body furiously since morning, was being kicked by his father Heimer.
"You're noisy since morning! Go take a bath!"
"B-but, with this hand..."
"Don't talk back! You worthless piece of trash who picks useless fights, doesn't make any money, and becomes a laughingstock."
He kicked Gan and then looked at Herpes.
"Listen, Herpes! You must find that bastard and take him to the 'Bloodstained Inn'! We'll make him learn the terror of the Altz Trading Company!"
He immediately gave orders to his subordinates and looked at Herpes.
"I'll get revenge for you! I won't make a blunder like my big brother! I'll bring you his money and his mutilated corpse, so look forward to it!"
Looking down at her annoyingly scratching brother, she changed into a clean, erotic outfit and went out.
And at the Adventurer Guild, she went around asking about my description.
"Here he comes! He's the one Gan picked a fight with!"
"Hehe! Thank you very much!"
And with her perfect erotic body, she came to me.
"My name is Herpes! I've become your fan! How about we have some fun together right now♡"
That was my first contact with Herpes.