Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 009
Chapter Title: Prostitute Studies: Theory (2)
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"Ugh, the smell..."
Mari the maid pinched her nose and dry-heaved.
The ground was squelchy, and the air hung heavy.
To her, the night air of a noble house smelled of lavender.
But here, it was the stench of rotten eggs mixed with piss.
Sharl, however, pulled her cloak hood low and strode fearlessly into the filthy street.
"Miss, watch your step there."
The man following behind tossed out the warning curtly.
Dressed in shabby mercenary garb instead of his usual armor,
he yawned widely as if annoyed, pointing at a puddle with his toe.
"That's not water."
"Then what is it?"
"Piss. Someone just took a leak and left."
Mari let out a shriek and jumped back.
Sharl sidestepped the puddle without batting an eye.
"Thanks, Kain."
"Yeah, yeah."
Kain scratched the back of his head and grumbled.
"Still... your tastes are something else, miss. Why come to a dump like this when there are nicer places...?"
"Quiet. We're here to sightsee."
Sharl's eyes scanned the street.
It was all out in the open. Nothing hidden.
In one alley corner, men sat in a circle gambling with dice.
"Bet! Come on, you bastard, bet your damn hand!"
Shouts, curses, and the loser's screams echoed unchecked.
On the other side, a drunk lay spread-eagled on the ground, puking his guts out,
while stray dogs passing by lapped up the vomit.
"......"
Sharl stared at the scene impassively.
Disgusting. Filthy.
Yet at the same time, a strange sense of liberation washed over her.
Back at the mansion, even yawning required caution.
But here, every desire and excretion was allowed.
It turned her stomach, yet she had no urge to leave—an odd irony.
"What's that?"
Sharl nodded toward a dark alley gap.
A woman leaning against the wall, a man plastered behind her, thrusting away.
Rough breaths and slapping flesh rang out starkly.
"Hah! Huh! Like it? You like it, you slut?!"
"Ahh! Bro, you're too big...!"
Mari's face turned beet red as she whipped her head away,
but Kain answered flatly.
"They're fucking."
"Kain! Not in front of the miss...!"
"Fine, correction: they're mating."
Kain snickered and added,
"Only joy around here. Cheap and the most fun."
"You know your stuff, Kain?"
"You know I grew up in this world. Got lucky, climbed up, now I wear armor."
Sharl stared openly at the animalistic act.
The man's contorted face, his glazed eyes.
"......Does Father do that too?"
Mari gasped and clapped a hand over her mouth at Sharl's mutter.
"M-Miss! Such disrespect toward the Duke!"
"Why? He calls women over every night to play."
Sharl looked up at Kain.
"What's that from Father's doing? What's the difference?"
"Same thing. Just whether it's under silk sheets or against a wall.
Hole's the same, stuff that comes out's the same."
Mari scolded Kain again at his vulgar words.
Sharl smirked at the sight.
Good call bringing this guy.
Other knights obsessed with etiquette would've flipped out alongside Mari.
"Right... strip away the shell, and it's all the same."
Sharl started walking again.
Her night out wasn't ending anytime soon.
A lazy afternoon.
Beat had just finished nursing the babies
and was smoking without even buttoning her blouse.
Pale smoke drifted from her ample cleavage.
"Ugh, so full."
For the record, those babies included me, obviously.
"......Horny little shits."
"Beat, we need to talk."
Stuffed enough, time for business.
"Overheard you with a customer yesterday. 'Hurry up and cum, then get out'?"
"How'd you... why were you even listening?"
She grimaced in disgust,
but I waved it off.
"No misunderstanding. Field research for quality improvement."
"What the hell's that mean?"
"Point is, bad attitude."
I clicked my tongue.
"Hah... so what? I'm half-asleep, guy's dragging it out."
"Keep that up, you'll sell for 2 silvers forever."
"What? You little shit..."
Beat stubbed out her smoke furiously.
I continued unfazed.
"Can't just sell your body."
"What, sell organs too?"
"No, add some acting."
I leaned in close.
Dead serious expression.
"These magnificent tits. Killer, overwhelming."
"......?"
"But just letting them grope? No different from a hunk of meat fat.
Acting changes everything."
Scratching my chin,
I rattled off ideas from my head.
"Like... 'the nurturing big sis next door'."
"Or 'childhood friend you've crushed on forever'. Stuff like that?"
Settings and role-play to match those giant milk tanks.
Beat's face soured instantly.
"Eww! Psycho! You want me doing that crap? Ridiculous!"
"Make it work. For the money."
I stated firmly.
"Think about it. Guys here get shit on outside.
What do they crave most? Pussy? Nah.
Respect. Pretend love. That's the key."
I locked eyes with her.
"Greet a customer: 'Oh, bro, why so late~ I missed you.' Hug 'em tight.
He'll pay 4 silvers, bring friends tomorrow.
Regular in no time."
"......"
Still skeptical.
Slum rat brain can't grasp it quick.
"...Can't. Makes me wanna puke. How do I even...?"
"It'll make money."
Glanced at Noah and Noy sleeping soundly nearby.
Beat's brats.
"Kids don't pick their dads. Can't help mom being a whore.
Least you can do: give 'em a better life, right?"
"......Who said no?"
Her voice softened.
"I want to. But reality's a shithole."
"So change it."
I drove the point home.
"Kids grow fast. You see it in me.
Soon, meat on the table, teach 'em letters. Not rotting here forever."
"......"
Beat said nothing, lit another smoke with her teeth.
The lit end trembled faintly.
"...So you learned letters from Rinea and you're still like this?"
"Learned, so I'm this far."
"Sigh... hope my kids don't turn out like you."
Bitch. What's wrong with me?
Beat exhaled deeply with the smoke,
"Really... more money if I do what you say?"
"Guarantee it. Follow orders, weekly pay doubles."
I pulled out my prepared gift from my pocket.
"And one more thing."
"......?"
"You're promoted."
A gaudy lace headpiece, cheap from a stall,
a bit worn but flashy.
"Promoted? To what."
"Madam of this house, starting today."
I pinned the lace in her dazed hair.
Even on greasy strands, it looked decent.
"Oversee outfits, hygiene, especially speech. Train 'em.
Tell Lulu to hike her skirt, Shasha tone down the clown makeup.
For that management."
I grinned, flashing five fingers.
"Fixed salary. Separate from whoring."
"......How much?"
"5 silvers a week."
"......!!"
5 silvers hit, her eyes changed completely.
Done.
Hit her two weaknesses: kids and cash.
Vague promise first, solid reward second.
Thus,
"...You cleared this with Master, right?"
"Of course."
Checkmate.
The moment I appointed this simple, greedy woman
my loyal middle manager.
Of course,
"Explain yourself, Leon."
"It worked out."
Not discussed.
Fuck first, report later.
Ah, the taste of consequence-free pleasure.
"This is 'flower'."
"And this is 'bird'."
Rinea gripped a worn charcoal stub,
spread paper on the floor, scrawling crooked letters.
Sunlight danced through window cracks with dust,
drunks' curses leaked in as background noise.
Broad daylight, when other whores slept off the night,
legs spread for rare customers—backs aching now,
yet Rinea skimped sleep to hunch before me.
"Now, Leon. Copy it."
"......"
I stared blankly at her.
Honestly, it was funny.
"Don't wanna."
"Just once."
"Sleepy."
"Finish, then sleep. Okay?"
Rinea persisted.
Dark circles hung to her jaw under hollow eyes,
but her gaze on me sparkled fiercely.
"Leon. Mommy wants..."
"......"
"You to grow smart and proper."
She stroked my head. Rough, callused hand.
Night: kneading men's cocks. Morning: changing my shit diapers.
"Not like the people here."
"Pfft..."
I snorted right there.
"You're a whore, Rinea."
"Yeah, a whore."
"How do I not grow like them?"
Dreaming big. Lotus from a shithole?
Bastard with unknown dad, and she wants "propriety."
"Know your place.
No matter how you struggle, I'm whore spawn, slum rat."
Thinks she's a white heron among crows,
acting like she's something special...
"That's why I'm teaching you."
"...What?"
"Don't want you growing like me."
So unexpected, words failed me.
"Not body-selling like Mommy.
Not booze-and-fists-only like those uncles."
"...Then what kind?"
"Just... better."
Rinea smeared charcoal on my cheek.
"That answer it?"
"......No."
"...Sorry. Mommy's got nothing to teach."
What was she sorry for?
Truly, an incomprehensible idiot woman.
I pouted,
and wrote
[ flower ]
[ bird ]
"......Done?"
Slung the charcoal down like trash.
Rinea lifted the paper, beaming like she owned the world.
"Oh my god... my boy's a genius! Nailed it first try!"
"Shut up. Ears hurt."
"How are you so smart? Huh?"
She crushed me in a hug.
Sour sweat, rank milk.
Faint blood stung my nose.
"...Let go."
Chest tight. Nothing eaten all day, yet heavy.
"Rinea, can't breathe."
Finally loosened a bit. Didn't release.
Could breathe now.
Still suffocating.
The stench,
too overpowering.