Chapter 33 - 33 The Advent of the Hero
The story returns to my territory.
For the pool, we first made a lazy river pool. Then, a pool with a high-impact, steep-drop slide, and a pool with a swirling spiral slide. To ensure the children could enjoy themselves, I made a trampoline-like pool using slime solution. Around the perimeter, I planted grass and prepared chairs, tables, and even reclining lounge chairs.
After that, there was the hotel, which was like a White Castle, but if one makes a single mistake, it might look like a love hotel, you know?
Naturally, I made the exterior as luxurious as possible. I finished it with the kind of sparkle that is popular in this world. The interior decorators and the water and sewage contractors, who had already caught the scent of money, seemed to be waiting impatiently for me to call them.
"Furniture, furnishings, and even the kitchen—knowing Young Master, he will absolutely demand the most luxurious ones! Contact them and tell them so!"
Since the contractors seemed to be arranging tools and materials on their own already, I would assign them work starting tomorrow. Since the hard infrastructure was mostly finished, I summoned all the contractors the following morning.
"As you can see, the exterior is done. Now, finish it up with your own sense! Anyone without sense is free to leave."
The contractors burst into laughter at my words.
"Young Master! How much is the interior cost for this building this time?"
"I have set a budget of one hundred million. You coordinators better adjust things well! If you overcharge too much, there won't be any work for you next time!"
I know they think I'll pay even if they add a bit extra. Because I am well-reputed as a good lord who doesn't haggle, the contractors flock to me.
From the next morning, contractors arrived one after another, causing everyone to fuss, asking, "What's going on?"
"Listen up! I'll kick out anyone without sense!"
"You there! The Young Master is particular! Do your work carefully down to every corner!"
"Are you sleeping? I'll kill you! Do it seriously!"
Each Master Craftsman was shouting exhortations.
"The lighting? Prepare something brighter! Don't bring cheap stuff!"
"What's with that color? Young Master loves flashiness! Plain is no good!"
The area around the pool was also like a battlefield.
Originally, Water City Aqua was of a scale that could easily accommodate 100,000 people.
The west side facing the road flourished as a commercial and entertainment district, and the north and south were gradually increasing as residential areas, but the east had nothing but military-related things. It was so lonely that I decided to build a pool.
Of course, since there were livestock, I decided to place it a little distance away. There were cows for milk, chickens for eggs, and of course, military horses. Currently, they are being given slope training every single day without fail under the effects of [Body Enhancement].
The dogs have increased too... Yaris keeps dogs, and Regias is training the horses.
I was currently scouting and strictly training former butlers and former maids who had been in the slums of Namibia and Kaoz's territories. Since the former butler, Harrier, was excellent, I had made him the Head Butler at the Lord's Manor and entrusted him with education.
"Shivans-sama. Have you picked up more orphans again?"
"Don't make such a displeased face. I'm counting on you to educate them properly, Harrier! Also, I'm counting on you for the education of the Head Chef and the hotel staff."
Harrier was someone who would respond properly even to such unreasonable demands.
On the rooftop of the Lord's Manor, I installed a sign that said "Water City Aqua," made not with electric displays, but with fluorescent flower paint. With this, they should be able to find their way even at night without getting lost. Once they enter the city, all the streetlights are fluorescent flowers, so the drinking establishments stay open until late night.
Recently, I have installed fluorescent flowers not just in tunnels, but also at parking areas and on main roads, so the nighttime traffic has increased.
With this, even if His Majesty comes, it will be fine!
The White Castle was massive, with an entrance hall that soared up to the third floor. The interior was designed with a modern architectural style incorporating a black and white color scheme, and I put the most effort into natural lighting.
As can be seen from the exterior, there is also a tower from which one can take in the surrounding scenery. The first floor is surrounded by glass, making it easy to see from both the inside and the outside. This hotel also has a dedicated private pool on the rooftop, which is perfect for people who do not wish to come into contact with the outside world.
The interior walls of the rooms were also unified with a black and white contrast. On the first floor, there is also a BAR and a restaurant. Of course, room service is also provided.
There are also rooms where attendants can stay, so it should be all-encompassing. The beds have mattresses made of slime solution and down duvets. I also prepared several types of pillows. The baths, of course, and the toilets are clean. The baths have shampoo and conditioner, and soap is also provided.
Since there are also high-class prostitutes, I don't know about Klaus, but Windam will definitely use them. I decided to have them serve in a cabaret club wearing decadent outfits. For the main attraction, I also prepared Soap Land Girls who would be effective even in the modern era. The men will surely be happy to drop their money.
In addition, there are massage therapists and a medical room equipped for easy treatment.
Beside the large public bath on the first floor, there are individual massage therapists. Surely, this too will become popular.
The Head Clerk arrived from Cielo's place, bringing a large group with him.
"Sell swimsuits while you can. If they don't sell there, I'll sell them myself, okay?"
"W-we will! Please let us sell them!"
Since Cielo's inn-cum-shop was still under interior construction, sales began at the shop in the Territory Capital.
"You can't enter the pool opening soon unless you're wearing a swimsuit—!"
The touts shouted day after day to attract customers.
For the common people, a swimsuit costing at least 2000G is by no means cheap, but they flocked to it.
"The fitting rooms are this way! Men, over here—!"
Men attempting to approach the women's fitting rooms were blocked with a "No!" even if they were lovers.
Everyone's impression was that it had been completed before they knew it. Everyone's hearts were dancing at the many sliders built as if descending from a small mountain. And, the dream of "I want to enter that White Castle someday!" began to form.
I had requested a blacksmith to make a shaved ice machine.
"What kind of machine are you making with something like this? I don't understand it at all..."
The blacksmiths, while complaining, made it through repeated trial and error.
And then, finally, the opening day.
Some people had already changed into swimsuits and arrived.
"It's open! Entrance is this way—!"
Some people complained, asking if they were charging an entrance fee, but when those around them said, "If you don't like it, don't come!", they had no choice but to fall silent.
"Those with tattoos cannot enter! Please refrain! We will also kick out those engaging in nuisance behavior, fights, or criminals!"
The thugs were flustered, saying, "We didn't hear about this!"
However, when a man called the Demon Vel beckoned them with a smile, saying, "If you have complaints, I'll listen to them over here," they had no choice but to leave with their heads bowed.
"If you want to live in this city, acting tough won't do you any good, you know? Live an honest life."
As a result of this, the number of young men wanting to erase their tattoos increased rapidly.
"How lame! You can't enter the pool? Let's break up!"
Men who had been dumped by women would come rushing in with teary eyes, saying, "Please... erase this!"
Over 100 people, including former criminals, were undercover in the pool as security guards and monitors. The outward-facing security guards and monitors were Cielo's employees.
However, since the 50 people brought by Cielo Trading Company were not nearly enough, the Head Clerk was hurriedly sending letters.
I spent several days in a row searching for red dots on the map and dealing with them.
How on earth can so many come... pickpockets, thieves, gropers, and rapists? They haven't targeted His Majesty, the First Imperial Prince, or the people of the Klaus family yet.
I captured those with potential skills and educated them so they could be useful to us. Naturally, I applied a Slave Mark to make them obey. It was the same for the women. Minor criminals worked as monitors or security guards. For serious criminals who were good-looking women, I applied a Slave Mark and put them in the cabaret club or the Soap Land. Naturally, they worked happily, provided they were paid a proper wage.
Sera was intensely interested in the White Castle I had built.
She let out a cry of admiration from the wide entrance hall, and at the entrance, she stood in silence for a long time, looking up at the ceiling. She seemed to be falling into the sensation of light falling from the ceiling in a sparkling manner.
"I have never seen such a luxurious use of space... The stairs are huge, too..."
After walking for a while from the entrance hall, there were stairs made of marble before her eyes. To prevent slipping on water or falling and getting injured, the surface was covered with a transparent film. I remembered the Master Craftsmen talking about how the Young Master was particular about even the small details.
The large public bath was the same. Everything was made of marble, but because it was coated, one could tell that a coating agent made of slime solution had been applied so that no one would fall and get injured.
The outfits and greetings of the passing staff members were flawless. She was once again surprised by their sophisticated clothing and movements. The rooms were also spacious and luxurious. If you opened the window, it felt as if you could grasp the sky.
When told that she could go up the tower and take in a view of the entire territory, she was moved into silence and gazed for a long time.
"Both Yaris and I are being praised by the public. They call us 'the female Commerce Minister who reconstructed the wasteland' and 'the female General who annihilated a hundred bandits'."
But she seemed to want to say that the public's reputation was just an idol.
"That is something Shivans-sama has almost accomplished, and we are just..." she said sadly, so when I told her, "You can just make it real," she said, "Eh?" and turned around.
"If you two think that evaluation is a fake, then just make it real! Because I believe that you two can do it!"
When they applied [Adrenaline] and [Dopamine], they said, "We've suddenly become energetic! We'll become the real thing!" and began to work enthusiastically.
His Majesty's party was driving their carriage toward Water City Aqua.
"Ho! Is that Water City Aqua! Is it not more magnificent than the Imperial Capital!"
His Majesty let out a cry of admiration from inside the carriage.
"And what is that? Is that a castle? How elegant!"
Watching this, the First Imperial Prince, Vista, had a bitter expression. Blade gave a smile as if to soothe the Prince. The two were childhood friends and Blade was Vista's closest of close aides.
"Vista-sama. This journey is for the restoration of the former Hermann territory. A person named Shivans O'Brien. It would be best not to do anything that underestimates him just because he is a youth. Rather, it would be advantageous to make him an ally."
When told this by Blade, he said, "I know. Looking at that Territory Capital, I can understand why the nobles who looked down on him as a mere boy were defeated! It's because they lack such sensibility that they lose! Even Father is that excited. He's no ordinary man!" and laughed.
And upon arrival, they were even more surprised. Roads and streets that were beautifully partitioned, without a single piece of trash. All of it led to the Lord's Manor. However, people were even more surprised to learn that the Lord's Manor was not that castle.
"Then what is that castle for?"
"Excellency Klaus. I heard that His Majesty and His Highness would be making a special visit. I thought it would be rude to use a plain Lord's Manor, so I built it so that His Majesty, His Highness, and the members of the Grand Duke family could enjoy themselves even a little."
The Emperor wondered which lord would have provided such hospitality.
"Allow me to guide you."
I rode a horse to lead the way, and the carriage followed slowly.
Then, we arrived at the entrance of the castle that had been visible earlier.
"What... is this place?"
In the vast entrance hall, butlers and maids were lined up on both sides, waiting. And a red carpet had been laid out to the entrance.
""Welcome!""
The men bowed their heads with smiles, placing their hands on their chests, and the women performed magnificent curtsies. Because it was done in perfect unison, everyone felt, As expected, this boy is no ordinary man. Upon entering, everyone's feet stopped in the solemn entrance hall.
Vista was observing even the fine details.
"It feels, how should I put it... more high-sense than the Palace."
"Yes. I think so too! The gap between the exterior and the interior is amazing!"
Blade also could not hide his surprise.
Passing through the bright entrance, there were shops, souvenir stores, restaurants, a BAR, and shops with an indecent atmosphere lined up in the back.
When I informed them that we could not accommodate all the escort soldiers in this hotel, His Majesty asked back, "Is this a hotel?"
"This is not a castle. It is an inn to welcome you all. I would be happy if you liked it."
This is an inn... They were speechless at that. When the escort soldiers were guided to the adjacent inn, complaints arose.
"The rooms here are plenty good... but after seeing that thing earlier..."
"I know! But they said we can use the shops on the first floor!"
"I... didn't bring any money... someone lend me some!"
They were also discussing whether His Majesty and His Highness would permit them to enter the pool.
At the hotel, the non-commissioned officer class entered the second floor.
On the third floor, His Majesty, His Highness, and the members of the Klaus family entered their rooms and were surprised. The ceilings were high, and one could take in the scenery outside through the large windows. When they opened the windows, they could see many people enjoying themselves in several pools below.
"If you would like, I shall guide you to the tower."
His Majesty, His Highness, and the members of the Klaus family were about to enjoy the magnificent scenery. When handed binoculars, Aria peered through them and rejoiced, "Over there! Aristo-sama! I can see a deer! Looking through this, it looks so huge!"
"There are monkeys on this mountain! Look, Aria!"
Aria looked happy as Aristo gently put his arm around her shoulder. And Vista said, "Look, Blade. Everywhere is a bountiful harvest, and the farmers are working vigorously. I want to go to that market later, so make preparations!" and was stopped.
"If you are going to the market, early morning would be best. Everything is available and it is full of vitality. Rather than that, I think it would be fine for you to choose a swimsuit at the shop below today and observe the scenery of the common people enjoying themselves until dinner."
Told this, everyone headed to the first floor, having no choice. Among those enthusiastically choosing swimsuits at the shop were the women and... for some reason, His Majesty. Therefore, both Vista and Blade inevitably ended up choosing, and even the non-commissioned officers tried them on.
Aria said sadly, "Which one is good? I... have no chest..." so I called Aristo and had him go to the corner for separate-type tankinis.
"If it's this one, there are also cute one-piece types. Even without a chest, you can achieve a certain effect."
"Hey! Don't say my bride has no chest! Well, I don't think she can hear you here... but since then, she's... strangely intuitive, or rather..."
He became flustered.
"I understand. I will also follow up as much as possible."
He smiled at my words.
Marino seemed to be choosing quite aggressive swimsuits.
"With this, the men won't call me ugly, right?"
"Are you still holding a grudge? Please forgive me..."
While I was laughing, Aqua asked me to choose.
"It's between this one and this one... which one do you think is better?"
"Why don't you try both on?"
They went into the fitting room to change, but both were hard to choose between. In the end, they decided they wanted both.
His Majesty was in high spirits, wanting to go to the pool immediately. And for some reason, the ones who were said to be the scariest—the nearly vertical water slides—were taken by His Majesty, Vista, Blade, and Windam.
"Why... am I here...? And why am I sliding first?"
As his legs froze, he was mocked, "Old Man! If you're not going, you're in the way!" or "Old Man! Are you scared? Say, 'Mama, help me!' Gyahaha!"
As a joke, His Majesty laughed and kicked him, "You too, if you're the Minister of Military Affairs, go!"
"Ugyaa!"
Windam slid down headfirst.
"Old Man is amazing! Not bad!"
"Going headfirst! You've got guts, Old Man!"
A great cheer went up, and when someone said, "It's the Hero!", Windam instantly became a celebrity as the "Old Man Hero."
We were on a water slide, riding a large float ring and spinning around as we descended. We slid in the order of the Klaus couple, the Aristo-Aria pair, and then me and Aqua.
Aqua rode in front, and I was in a position where I was hugging her from behind.
"Darling! Hold me tight! It's scary!"
While saying so, she enjoyed herself with squeals of delight.
When we finally came down, Aristo was about to complain.
"Shivans! You're too close! Get further aw—"
Behind Aristo was Aria with a terrifying expression.
"Leaving me behind again! Do you love Mama that much? You mother-complexed brat!"
Aristo was stunned after being slapped. Aria walked away briskly. He hurriedly chased after her, saying, "That's not it, Aria! Wait!"
There, from the adjacent pool, was the sight of Windam being cheered as "Hero Windam!" and "Old Man Hero!"
"That guy is the hero? What is happening?"
No one could answer Klaus's question. Both the wife and Aqua said, "It's fun!" and headed toward the spiral water slide again and again. As we climbed the stairs holding hands, Aqua smiled and said, "It's nice, like we're lovers!"
After that, His Majesty and the others were surprised by the dishes they had never seen before during dinner.
"This time, we will have our meal in what you might call a Viking style, or a buffet style. Take plenty of what you like. For things you don't know, take a little to taste before going back for more. The Head Chef is also there, so you may ask him what kind of dish it is!"
When I told them to go ahead, they all moved at once.
"This is called lobster, a local specialty! It is a dish I definitely want you to try."
They flocked at the Head Chef's words, and everyone took a little at a time, but the Klaus family already knew, so they took large amounts, skillfully peeled the shells, and were saying, "Give me some mayonnaise!"
"I like this rolled omelet the best!"
"I like this stewed innards! It goes great with alcohol!"
The soldiers were also eating and drinking in high spirits, but it seemed Aristo was still struggling.
It's pitiful, but this is a trial, Aristo! Do your best!
I was cheering him on in my heart.
I paid for the swimsuits, the pool, and the food and drink, including the soldiers' portions, but I would have everyone else pay for their other expenses. However, only His Majesty's party was free.
"I heard from the Manager that only those people are covered by the owner. I heard the owner saying that he owes a great debt to you all! He's young, but to owe a debt to that owner is amazing, isn't it? Just who is he?"
Klaus, Windam, His Majesty, and Vista looked at each other and laughed.
"I am the hero! Lord Windam!"
After that, the four of them had a great time at the cabaret club and were emasculated by the Soap Land Girls.
Among the soldiers, those with money paid 5000G for 30 minutes at the cabaret club and experienced the Soap Land Girls at 15000G per hour, vowing, "I... will definitely come back here!"
Around that time, Aristo was performing a dogeza in the room before Aria.
"Next time you obsess over Mama, it's divorce! And I'll spread the word to all the nobles that Aristo is a mother-complexed brat! Do you understand, Aristo?"
Having his head stepped on and seeing her black lace panties, he pleaded with teary eyes, "Yes... of course. Please don't divorce me..." He felt a sense of crisis, as his dignity as a husband had already dropped to zero and his reputation as a mother-complexed brat who loves Mama was about to be established.
Taking advantage of Windam's absence, I was hugging Aqua.
"This time for sure! I'll make the seed settle in your womb! Darling! I love you!"
"Get pregnant, Aqua!"
After a lot was released, she hugged me, saying, "I'm so happy, darling!" Since both Aqua and I likely thought Windam wouldn't return, we embraced until late night.
Naturally, Windam did not return that night. Of course, the same went for the other three.
"This is the best! To think such a heaven existed...!"
All four of them paid an extra fee and welcomed the morning in the beds of the Soap Land Girls.