Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 29: Time to Find a New Friend (2)

Thump, thump, bang, bang, crash...

In case you’re wondering what all the noise is about, it’s the sound of the first and second floors of my villa in the Imperial Capital being remodeled.

Walls are being torn down, windows are being widened, and spaces are being created for making drinks and desserts...

Thanks to that, my ears are ringing even though I’m sitting in the third-floor study.

As I was looking through a few documents brought by Matthias, he finally spoke up.

"Um... Young Master, I have followed your instructions, but... may I ask exactly what you are planning to do?"

"Oh, it's simple. The first floor will be a salon... a space where noblewomen can gather comfortably to enjoy drinks, desserts, and gossip."

"I see. If it goes well, we’ll be able to gather information naturally."

"Exactly. What matters most to noblewomen is a sense of superiority. It’s even worse for those with successful husbands."

As someone reborn as an aristocrat, I can say this with certainty: the ecology of the nobility is no different from that of wild animals.

The only difference is that they don't literally use their claws and teeth to tear each other apart; the moment their eyes meet, they’re busy establishing a hierarchy.

In other words, even if noblewomen are smiling on the outside, they’re only thinking about how to crush the woman in front of them.

What pitiful, wretched women they are.

I shall gladly reach out and embrace all these women who are poor in spirit.

"However... if I may be so bold as to ask one more question, what kind of space are you planning for the second floor?"

"Hmm, let's see. A sanctuary where women with shadows in their hearts can lay everything down?"

"...Pardon?"

"You don't need to know the details. Sitri?"

"Understood."

Matthias was struck with utter shock as Sitri revealed herself from within my robe.

But the moment Sitri’s eyes flashed, Matthias’s expression instantly turned vacant.

"There is nothing wrong with the second floor. Do you understand?"

"There is... nothing wrong... with the second floor..."

"It is done. Hmph, that was unexpectedly easy. He seemed like a man who had undergone a fair amount of training."

"That’s my Great Demon for you. Wonderful."

As a reward, I kneaded Sitri’s breasts and gave her a light kiss on the neck.

"Mngh... Is this not you enjoying yourself rather than a reward for me...? Haah... Though I am enjoying it as well..."

"Of course. You’re a woman I could never get tired of, no matter how much I have of you."

"Fufu... A woman you never tire of..."

I wanted to love Sitri to my heart's content right then and there, but I had work to do.

So... pushing my regret aside, I turned my eyes back to the documents Matthias had brought.

Of course, like a true man, my hands continued to keep Sitri pleased.

"Ahhaang...!"

"Hmm... the information on the Sword Princess is too different from my memory."

The Sword Princess in my memory was a beautiful, curvaceous, and proud Princess of the Sword.

When I realized there were no sex scenes with her in the game, I remember slamming my keyboard in frustration.

But... the current Sword Princess...

"Currently married to the Sword Saint, she gave birth to a son the following year. Since then, her public appearances have gradually decreased, and for the past two years, she hasn't stepped a single foot outside the mansion... I see. There were a few people she spoke with occasionally, but even that contact has ceased in the last three months... Hmm."

Unfortunately, there was no more information to be found.

For instance, the reason why the Sword Princess won't leave her house.

Or the fact that the person she was talking to was someone I had no memory of.

Furthermore, she gave birth to a son, not a daughter...

'I have to assume the current Sword Princess is a completely different person from the one I knew. Tsk... This means I’ll have to take the long way around.'

I put my fingers, soaked with her love juice, into Sitri’s mouth.

Pulling Sitri closer as she habitually licked my fingers, I called out to the dazed Matthias.

"Matthias, there’s something you need to do right now."

"Just... give the word..."

"Find out the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠schedule for every banquet or dinner hosted by anyone ranked Baron or higher, or by high-ranking officials. Once the schedule is organized, send word that I will be attending. Got it?"

"Understood..."

"Good. You may go now."

Matthias vanished from my sight immediately.

Perhaps thanks to Sitri’s suggestion, he didn't react at all even though I was putting on such a show right ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in front of him.

"Was the magic you just used on Matthias really just a simple suggestion? Not enchantment or brainwashing?"

"Haa... Yes. The magic I can exercise through the cracks in the seal is limited to that simple level. The suggestion will wear off in five minutes. Though, of course, he will have no memory of it."

"Haha, I wonder how Solomon managed to seal all these incredible Great Demons."

"Do not speak of that boring man. Anyway, it seems your business is finished. Isn't it about time you satisfied me?"

"I would be honored to do so, my Great Demon."

"Fufufu."

Sitri immediately climbed onto the desk and spread her legs ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wide before me.

Just as I was about to satisfy her...

Click.

"Young Master, the items you ordered are all finished... Lady Sitri. Didn't I ask you to restrain yourself while the Young Master is working?"

"It’s Helena. I intended to do so, but Leon insisted on having me sit on his lap in front of his servant."

"Sigh... Young Master."

"Help me~ Sitri~ Teacher is bullying me~"

"Fufufu, Leon is a man who distinguishes between what he must do and what he wants to do. He has performed his duties well even while pleasing me."

I shared a kiss with Sitri, who had defended me so wonderfully.

A life of debauchery and decadence is exactly what I’ve always wanted.

Anyway, Helena let out a shallow sigh and approached me.

"Sigh... Young Master, these are the items you called 'business cards'."

"Thanks. Hmm~ not bad. The words 'Esthetic Salon' came out looking great too."

"Also, the clothing you ordered will be finished by this evening."

"Perfect. I love you, Helena."

I tucked the stack of business cards into a drawer and stood up.

My father never gave any rewards to the vassals who achieved results, but I have no intention of following his lead.

"Now then... I should please the women who have served me so well. There’s still time before evening."

"Fufu, I have been waiting for those words."

"Young Master... the sun is still..."

"So, you don't want to?"

"It’s not that... but shouldn't there be a bit of moderation... Ahhaang...!"

As expected, Helena’s expression turned ecstatic the moment I slid my hand between her thighs.

It’s not that I think Helena’s lecturing is nagging or annoying.

I’m simply trying to spend my spare time in a meaningful and productive way.

"Please keep teaching me, Teacher. By the way, your hair has grown quite a bit, hasn't it?"

"Haaah... Young Master... i-if you do this... haah...!"

"If I do this? What comes next?"

"I can't hold back anymore either...!"

And so, today as well, we burned with passion from broad daylight... but.

I am still hungry.

*

The shadows of night fell over the Imperial Capital of the Thousand-Year Empire.

For most ordinary people, it was a time to wrap up the day and have a cozy dinner with their families.

But for nobles like me, the evening is when things truly begin.

In other words, today is my debut in social circles.

"I have truly never seen such clothes before..."

Those were the words Helena muttered as soon as she saw me fully dressed.

It was only natural.

In this world, knights and soldiers wear armor instead of uniforms, and nobles wear formal attire that looks like it came out of old Europe.

However, the clothes I was wearing in the mirror were a suit, closer to a tuxedo.

"Hmm... not bad. Maybe it's because the 'hanger' is so good. Teacher, send ten more gold coins to the tailor. There must be rewards for those who produce results."

"Understood. However... Young Master, do you really intend to go wearing that?"

"Why? You don't like it?"

"N-no. It’s not that. To be honest, I think you look very handsome, but..."

I understood why Helena was worried.

It was common sense that private gatherings where nobles interact—parties, to put it simply—had a dress code.

If you didn't follow that dress code, you couldn't complain even if you were cut off at the entrance... but.

I was in a position where I could slightly ignore etiquette or common sense.

"I know what you're worried about. But really, how many nobles can actually lecture the second son of a Margrave on etiquette?"

"That is true, but..."

"I’m not entering social circles to play with women or to bond with men. I’m going there to advertise."

"...Yes, Young Master. I understand."

To achieve my dream, I had to create a place where noblewomen would come of their own accord.

The location would be finished in a month, so during that time, I had to work hard to spread the word.

That’s why I wore such a conspicuous suit.

No matter what, an advertisement has to catch the eye first.

"What do you think, Sitri?"

"Hmm? Me? Well... I prefer you with nothing on rather than in clothes. Not that those clothes aren't dashing."

"Hahaha."

I looked at myself in the mirror once more.

In my past life, I was someone who wore a suit every day... but wearing one again after so long felt somewhat strange.

Finally, when I equipped the Demon Sword Sitri at my waist, it gave off a unique, almost alien atmosphere.

"As expected, the finishing touch to fashion is the face."

Lastly, I skimmed through the file on noblewomen that Matthias had prepared.

My target for this party was Miriam Bauer.

She is the wife of Baron Bauer and was the only woman who had private interactions with the Sword Princess, Natalia, until ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠two months ago.

'Originally, in Milfgard, the flow was to make contact with the Young Lady of the Sword Saint Family and naturally form a connection with the Sword Princess...'

Since the Sword Princess had a son instead of a daughter, the plan to use the original work's flow was completely scrapped.

Therefore, the only means I could use right now was Baroness Miriam.

Tsk... it looks like conquering Natalia will take some time.

"Well, I suppose it’ll still take less time than it did with Helena."

"Pardon? What do you mean by that..."

"Haha, it’s nothing, don't worry about it. Now then... shall we get moving?"

I took out one of the business cards I had put in the drawer earlier.

On the front, a catchphrase was written:

'The True Guardian of Noblewomen, Milfgard.'

Seeing such a catchphrase would naturally raise a question.

A question like: What exactly are you trying to guard?

The answer was right on the back.

'Psychological counseling, body sculpting, aesthetics, marital relationship improvement, and more.'

Of course, there were other brief details written as well.

Resident counselors and therapists trained directly by the Margrave family.

We never leak our clients' information, nor will it ever be leaked... and so on.

"A hundred business cards... I wonder how many of these will survive."

Muttering those words to myself, I stepped out of the mansion.

Finally, the time for the hunt had come.