Days in the Narmer Kingdom (3)
"...Please wake up, Mr. Kang Hanjo. We've arrived."
"Ugh?"
I opened my eyes at the sensation of someone shaking me, and there was Hanyujin staring right at me.
"...We've arrived?"
"Yes. We haven't entered yet, but we've reached the territory of the Narmer Kingdom."
At her words, I sat up and peered outside. Unlike the endless desert from before, there was now sparse vegetation here and there—it felt like we'd reached a place where people could actually live.
And before long, the scenery shifted to what looked like actual settlements.
"Whoa..."
Starting with massive stone structures carved straight from rock, man-made buildings began popping into view, reeking of human—or rather, non-human—handiwork.
But no people in sight.
A fallen kingdom.
It must've once teemed with life, but now it gave off that vibe of long abandonment. Ruined buildings everywhere, untouched by hands for ages.
"Guooooh..."
As I took it all in, the deathworm came to a stop.
Wondering what was up, one of Karura's subordinates—a woman—approached and said,
"From here on, it's the resting place of the undead, so no more necromantic travel. We apologize for the inconvenience."
End of the line for the deathworm bus, I guess.
Anyway, once everyone dismounted from the desert beast Karura had been dragging us around on, I saw her approach it.
Curious what she was doing, she placed her hand on its forehead and murmured,
"You did well. Now rest."
Then, with a thrust of her spear into the ground, the deathworm collapsed like a puppet with cut strings.
Soon enough, even its corpse crumbled to dust and scattered away.
"Ahh..."
A few of the old mages sighed softly as it vanished, clearly regretting the waste.
They'd caught it themselves, sure, but whatever they did with it was their call. Still, the pitiful looks on those necromancers' faces said it all—they couldn't complain.
Not my business anyway, so I was about to tune it out when Hanyujin's mutter reached my ear.
"...A deathworm that size would've fetched hundreds of billions. What a shame."
"What?"
No fucking way—they turned something worth that into dust?
Shit, give it to me instead.
"Let's move on."
Like the other mages, I couldn't say shit either, so I just followed quietly behind Karura as she led the way.
If she'd shown a bit more spine, I could've haggled or something, but nah—shoulders slumped, I trudged on, pissed at the waste.
How long did we walk?
Unlike the empty ruins before, people started appearing here and there.
By the way...
"...Quite the diverse races, huh?"
"Indeed."
From the way everyone gawked at each other like zoo animals, it was clear the Narmer Kingdom's residents were a motley crew.
Winged types like Karura, beastkin with ears and tails like typical werebeasts, even a few with full furry heads—super varied.
Most worlds stuck to one main race plus a handful of sub-races, so this was unusual.
Normally, different species in the same world just slaughtered each other until one went extinct or got enslaved. But here? All sorts living together peacefully. Kinda wild.
Though honestly, the desert heat probably explained the outfits more—women in next to nothing, thin white fabrics at best.
Long without men, maybe? Plenty went totally topless.
With Hanyujin right beside me, I couldn't stare, but these non-human babes were stacked—curves on full display. The other dispensers were already hustling, eyeing them up.
Most women screamed and bolted from the leers—makes sense after so long without dudes.
But a few blushed, chatted back—atmosphere wasn't bad overall.
Anyway, drawing stares the whole way, we reached the Narmer Kingdom's palace.
Second palace I'd seen in my life. Not as grand or ornate as the werehoneybee one, but imposing in its own stony way. Karura spoke up.
"The one we'll meet ahead is the Pharaoh of Narmer Kingdom, a living god. Show respect. You're foreigners, so no excessive formalities, but insult her, and I won't forgive you."
...God?
Her words made me tilt my head.
Haven't heard that term in ages.
Post-merger, religion was for nutjob fanatics with cracked skulls. Obvious why.
Multiple worlds proven real—monotheism? Laughable.
If each world's gods were "the one true god," what the fuck were their worlds?
One god per world. Many gods per world. Multitudes.
Mythic gods from old worlds? Now just museum relics in this era.
Debates on "real gods" ended long ago.
Divine powers? Just mana, ki, internal energy variants.
Racist zealots starting holy wars? World Government curb-stomped them straight to their gods.
That was their "equality"—by force.
Crush unrest, purge conflicts, enforce parity.
Religion? One of the first things wiped out.
Now, gods were taxidermied exhibits.
No worshippers left—just curiosities.
World Gov had smashed every fanatic skull, so no real religion anymore. "God" felt awkward after so long, but here it was probably just a title. Whatever.
My old world had kings claiming godhood or divine blood too, especially early merger days.
All got equality—the skull-crushing kind.
Anyway, Karura nodded after her warning and reached for the massive door.
Grrrrumble...
It slid open like grinding boulders.
From beyond, a shrill voice rang out.
"Come in! Foreigners!"
And its owner—a pint-sized kid with long, pointy black ears twitching atop her head.
She'd shot up from a golden throne high above, looking down imperiously.
Draped in white robes embroidered with lavish gold, oversized for her tiny frame.
Arms spread wide, she declared,
"I, the sole legitimate ruler of Narmer Kingdom, Pharaoh, and living sage-god, welcome you!"
What the hell is this kid?
Claiming pharaoh and god herself—she must be Narmer's ruler, the Pharaoh.
...That shrimp?
If they'd said one of the busty women flanking her throne was pharaoh, sure. But her? No way.
Yet...
"It's an immense honor to meet the Pharaoh."
Unlike me and the other baffled dispensers, Hanyujin and the World Gov crew—who seemed briefed—bowed to the kid.
"Hm! You're not my subjects, so no need for excess. Raise your heads! More importantly, Karura."
"Yes, Pharaoh."
Karura—the kingdom's great warrior who'd escorted us—knelt and bowed low too. Guess the kid really was pharaoh.
"You labored well guiding these foreigners safely! I grant a reward—what do you desire?"
"To continue serving Pharaoh with utmost loyalty—that is my only wish."
Damn, loyalty maxed.
The kid pharaoh nodded casually.
"That's a given. Speak something less obvious—what you want."
"Then..."
Karura glanced my way.
The pharaoh followed her gaze—to me.
"...?"
What the—? Then Karura spoke.
"On the way here, I committed a grave discourtesy. I beg permission to make amends."
The pharaoh nodded.
"If that's your wish, so be it!"
"Thank you, Pharaoh."
What just happened?
Something about me, apparently.
"Anyway, are you the finest men in this world? Indeed, brimming with vitality."
With the exchange done, the pint-sized pharaoh eyed us dispensers.
"You've heard before coming, so no long speeches. What I want? You lot multiplying my subjects aplenty! So..."
She tilted her head.
A woman in sheer silk—everything visible—whispered in her ear.
"Ah, right."
Nodding, the pharaoh puffed out her nonexistent chest.
"Thus, foreigners! Frolic freely with my subjects in free sex!"
"...?"
What?
Did I hear that right?
Other dispensers gawked too, faces screaming "the fuck?"
"...Hm? Odd reaction. Ah, I forgot the caveat. Sex freely, but leave refusers be. Even as pharaoh, forcing the unwilling to bear children is wrong. There!"
"..."
Murmurs erupted.
The pharaoh tilted her head again, puzzled—like she had no clue what was weird.
Then, one dispenser stepped forward.
"If we can fuck freely, does that go both ways?"
You fucking pedo creep?
Brain full of dick or born that way? Everyone recoiled in horror as the pharaoh burst laughing.
"Ahaha! Ahahaha! You wish to be my man? Never dreamed a man would crave this form! But fine! If you desire, so be it!"
No fucking way?
She accepted that?
"Then..."
Not just talk—the guy stood, tight clothes hugging his body. Eye-searing.
Fucking creep in slutty fit. We all glared like "pedo scum," but he ignored us, approaching the throne.
"But my man must prove worthy! Let's test your mettle!"
"Conditions? What—"
Before he could finish,
Thud.
It dropped to the floor.
A massive beast.
With a broad, gaping maw—enormous.
"Pharaohs bear only heroes' seed. Prove you're hero enough for me! My cute Ammut, test him!"
Queen of the dead, bound pitiful one, my master.
I, Ammut who judges death, shall obey your command.
The beast's jaws cracked wide as it approached. The bold pedo collapsed, pissing himself.
Drip drip...
Stain spreading between his legs.
Ammut eyed him with slit pupils, then snapped her jaws shut.
Heart unworthy even to chew. No hero—not even a woman's courage. Test unbegun. You fall far short for my master.
The pharaoh nodded at Ammut's verdict.
"If my Ammut says so, it is. Unfortunate! I shan't bear your seed!"
She scanned us.
"Any others like him? Wishing to claim me, prove heroic? Sow seed, impregnate? Step forward!"
No fucking way anyone's testing for pedo play with that monster.
Busty bombshell like Lilith, Hoaran, or Yustitia? Hell yeah. But a kid pharaoh? Pass.
"Hm, none, alas. Truly a shame..."
No takers—she slumped, genuinely disappointed.
"...Well, no heroes for me changes nothing. My goal's different. Welcome again, foreigners! Go! Sow seed diligently in my kingdom! Free sex, I said!"
Enough with the free sex already.
Anyway, got the gist. Other dispensers eyed each other warily but started filing out. I was about to tell Hanyujin I'd head to work when—
A hand grabbed my arm.
"Hm...?"
Turned—Karura, cheeks flushed red.
"Pharaoh permits it. Let me atone for my rudeness."
Ah...
Recalled her chat with the pharaoh.
"...Refuse if you wish. You can reject too—not just my people."
I grabbed her withdrawing hand.
"Didn't say no. Where you going?"
Stoic knight sis? Big yes.
Stunner like Karura? Double yes.