Happy Milk Cows of Sweet Ranch - 2
Human women with enormous, cow-like breasts enlarged through genetic modification lay in neat rows on their stomachs. The milking machines attached to their breasts relentlessly pumped out the delicious milk produced by injected drugs.
"Hoo, ughhh…."
Some savored the ticklish yet refreshing sensation of their massive udders being firmly squeezed and milked. Others simply closed their eyes, listening to the songs playing from the speakers, while a few chatted idly with the women lying beside them.
This was the heart of Sweet Ranch, the space Yu Gayeon had devoted her life to creating.
Lost in the sight for a moment, Yu Gayeon suddenly felt a strange sense of dissonance.
"Huh?"
She checked her watch. It was 7 p.m. Pressing the button on the speaker to stop the music, she shouted in a loud voice.
"I-it's quitting time! Why is everyone still here?"
Confining animals and forcing them to work is abuse. But keeping humans for about eight hours and having them work isn't. Every milk cow here—the women dedicated to producing milk—were full-time employees of Sweet Ranch. They had full health insurance, retirement pensions, ample breaks, provided lunches, and even free medical services at the on-site clinic. The only doctor was Yu Gayeon herself, of course.
"Boss is here? It's no big deal—I just told the girls we'd stick around a bit longer."
Yoo Soonyu, whose breasts stood out even among these busty women, flashed a bright smile.
"Wh-why?"
"You said the company's in a tough spot. Honestly, it's because of our salaries, right? You've gotten investments from all over."
Still on her stomach, Yoo Soonyu raised her arm to press a button. The restraints holding her came loose, and the milking machine automatically detached and retracted.
"But…."
"Me, the others—honestly, we like this job. Great benefits, and I love just lying here comfortably like this. If the company goes under suddenly, it'll be rough for you, but we don't want that either."
Yu Gayeon gazed at Yoo Soonyu with eyes brimming with emotion. Back when she first founded Sweet Ranch, Yoo Soonyu had been the one saying things like, "Making milk from women to offer to the Superior Race? What a crazy, genius idea! Let's do it—I'll be your first milk cow!"
Back then, without any know-how, milking sometimes caused the women pain, and body modifications or drug injections led to mild fevers or headaches. But Yoo Soonyu always smiled radiantly, cheering Yu Gayeon on.
To Yu Gayeon, Yoo Soonyu was a comrade sharing the same dream.
"We all know you're working harder than anyone, boss. But since there's nothing else we can do, we want to help like this."
One by one, the other milk cows rose from their positions and approached Yu Gayeon.
"Boss, the company can't go under! Hang in there!"
"Hmm… Honestly, don't you have plenty of options if it folds, boss? Maybe the company was holding you back, and we're the ones who really need it…."
"No, don't drop harsh facts like that when the mood was perfect!"
Yu Gayeon couldn't hold back and burst into laughter.
"Pfft, haha…. It's okay! It won't go under! I'll do my absolute best to the end!"
"B-boss? Doesn't that contradict itself? If it won't go under, why bring up 'the end'?"
"Ah, you caught me. When paychecks start bouncing, just say, 'Here it comes….'"
"Classic small business vibes!"
Yu Gayeon and her employees laughed heartily. Their future was still uncertain, but for now, they wanted to smile.
I'm not alone.
Yu Gayeon felt a warm glow filling her chest. Of course, not everyone here might be truly devoted to her delusion of "producing the finest milk to offer the Superior Race." Some might just fear losing an easy job with low physical demands; others might simply want to flaunt the massive breasts from their body modifications. But that didn't matter.
No matter the reason, Yu Gayeon wasn't alone. There were still people rooting for her success, for her dream to come true.
She couldn't give up yet.
"Thank you so much. But honestly, this won't make much difference."
Yu Gayeon shook her head with a smile. Yoo Soonyu pouted.
"No way, boss! For real, with a capital T? Now's not the time for that!"
"Our problem isn't a lack of milk—it's that we have no way to sell or promote it."
"Can't we just sell it cheap?"
"Considering our system, this milk needs to be sold at a premium price. Better to hold out for high-end than sell at regular processed milk rates."
The tools for body modification, the high-quality drugs for superior milk, the milking facilities and maintenance equipment, the payroll for everyone here, and R&D costs for even better milk. Selling it as mere "sugared milk" wouldn't change a thing.
"Ugh…. That's a shame. I didn't think it'd be a huge help, but totally meaningless?"
"That's why I have something to say…. Yoo Soonyu, could we talk privately for a moment?"
"Why? You're not gonna scold me, right? I did it for the company—"
"Nothing like that."
Yu Gayeon beamed.
"I want to discuss something with you. About the company's future."
She wasn't alone.
The president's office at Sweet Ranch was packed with employees.
Solid turnout.
Sweet Ranch was a startup, and funds weren't abundant. Most staff were milk cows producing the milk. Yu Gayeon handled accounting, R&D, management—pretty much everything herself. It was rare to have so many people crammed into the office.
"First, let me explain our company's situation at Sweet Ranch."
She knew it in her head. These people weren't smarter than her, nor proper business consultants. But somehow, she felt pooling their heads together would lead to a good outcome. They shared her dream, after all.
"As you know, we're facing a major crisis."
Yu Gayeon drew shapes on the massive digital whiteboard prepared for her presentation.
"Our strategy was simple: produce superior premium milk. Milk so incredible anyone would love it, sold at a price matching its quality. That was our goal."
The ultimate aim was to delight the Superior Race with her milk, but a company's goal had to be profit.
"That's weird?"
Yoo Soonyu tilted her head.
"Our milk is seriously delicious. We know it from tasting it ourselves sometimes. Isn't that enough?"
"To sell it profitably, we need at least a million won per liter. That's the bare minimum to break even… and repay investors."
"Th-that much?"
"Yes."
This figure even excluded her own salary, arguably the priciest element: "genius Yu Gayeon's labor."
"Still, super-rich folks might drink it, right? People with money to burn."
"Exactly. Premium milk targets them by necessity."
The Arken race supplied humans not just with cheap beef or pork, but eggs and milk too. That's why mid-priced processed milks flopped. In a world where raw milk cost 1,000 won per liter and retail was 2,000, you might sell tastier processed milk for 2,300. But if raw was 100 won and retail 200, no one buys mediocre processed at 500.
"No matter how delicious ours is, people without the spending power… can't buy it."
If demand exploded, economies of scale could lower costs—but Yu Gayeon wasn't planning hypotheticals. Bankruptcy loomed in months.
"So sell to the rich?"
"Yes. But…. It turns out taste alone isn't enough."
"Why?"
"Some might drink milk this pricey casually, but non-enthusiasts won't sample milks worldwide themselves. Their staff picks. And staff choose proven premium brands with history and tradition."
"Ah…."
"Gifts are possible, but same issue. Swiss milk with centuries of heritage? Sure. Who gifts unproven expensive milk? And the recipient won't love it anyway."
Gifts need visible luxury. The recipient must instantly see "this is pricey."
"Hearing it now, it's eye-opening. You hadn't thought of this, boss?"
"I had some inkling. But I thought our overwhelmingly superior taste would overcome it."
Truthfully, she'd forgotten. Researching tastier milk was so joyful, she'd averted her eyes from reality.
"Just make it mind-blowingly delicious?"
"The milk we're squeezing from you now is my best. Ways to improve exist, but…. Not realistically."
"Say the word, boss! We'll figure it out!"
"We need the Superior Race's help."
"Yeah, that's a no-go."
Yoo Soonyu scratched her head sheepishly.
"So… advertising?"
"Yes. Not easy, though. Building a brand costs a fortune…. Honestly, impossible."
Ad spends for branding are astronomical. If Yu Gayeon had that cash, no worries.
"Anyone have ideas? Speak freely."
Various suggestions followed, but all hit reality—specifically, lack of money.
Then one employee raised her hand.
"Since we can't do much anyway, how about filming a milk production video?"
Yu Gayeon tilted her head.
"Hmm. Won't help premium branding…. Everyone knows luxury Italian bags are made in Chinese factories, but brands don't flaunt it in ads, right?"
"W-we can't help it! We'll go under like this!"
"Well…."
"Anyone who's tasted our milk once knows we're the best! Premium's great, but first make them want to try it!"
Yu Gayeon was convinced. The next day, cameras arrived in the milking room.
