Chapter 184: Sex is Business (4)
Chapter 184: Sex is Business (4)
"Umi-daaaa!"
What does that mean?
A normal person wouldn't know if it’s a Japanese surname or some other obscure word.
However, if you are a master of Otaku-speak—someone who claims to have "read a few light novels" or "knows a bit about subculture"—a specific image immediately springs to mind the moment you see those three syllables.
—I bet the protagonist’s party is going to the beach for a fanservice episode where everyone wears swimsuits.
—They’ll play beach volleyball with a watermelon-patterned ball, do a blindfolded watermelon split, and some blonde delinquent-type character in a Hawaiian shirt will be grilling corn.
—Then at night, they’ll either set off a massive fireworks display or gather around small sparklers to have a heart-to-heart conversation.
—I can see it all without even looking!
Umi-da.
It’s Japanese for "It’s the sea!"
In most cases, this line serves as the introduction to a fanservice scene designed to showcase the heroines in their swimwear.
Similar examples include lines like, "It’s a ceiling I don’t recognize," or "Oh, what year is it?"
So, why am I bringing this up now?
[It’s the sea.]
Because there is a sea inside the Fermaton Infinite Labyrinth.
[This is the sea? It’s magnificent.]
I am already well-acquainted with the ocean. I was born in a place surrounded by sea on three sides, I’ve seen the east, west, and south coasts, and I’ve traveled to distant islands to enjoy the view to my heart's content.
[It’s... quite different from the records. Is it because this is the Infinite Labyrinth?]
"The actual sea looks just like this, Lord Lewd."
[Have you seen the sea before, Yurdias?]
"I visited a coastal city when I was a child."
Thanks to Yurdias’s testimony, my common sense remained intact. Just because this was a medieval fantasy world didn't mean the sea was red, or divided into four cardinal directions with a hole in the middle.
The sea was just a normal sea.
Aside from the fact that it was located right in the middle of a continent, deep in the basement of the Fermaton Infinite Labyrinth, it was a perfectly ordinary ocean.
"I don't know about the Infinite Labyrinth, but they say if you keep going forward in a boat, you can reach the edge of the world."
[Is that so? Fascinating, truly fascinating.]
"You don't sound particularly fascinated, though?"
[It’s because it’s an unfamiliar sight, Captain.]
I felt a slight prick of conscience at Laura’s remark. As she said, I was currently doing my best to act like Ruji Fermaton seeing the ocean for the first time.
[A brief moment of sentimentality is enough. Captain, how many minutes did it take to walk here from the Gate on the 21st floor?]
"It took about twenty minutes."
[And the number of monsters that attacked us in the meantime?]
"Fourteen. Five encounters in total."
A twenty-minute walk.
In terms of distance, it was probably about one kilometer. If we hadn't been ambushed by monsters along the way, we could have arrived much faster.
[If we’re going to build a waterpark, we’ll need to pave the roads properly.]
Unlike the lower floors up to the 10th floor, which people frequent, this area is quite deserted. The floors between the 21st and 30th are formed into an environment reminiscent of a "coastal zone."
Following the Transfer Gate down leads to a forest, and if you follow the river just a little way out of the woods, the coast unfolds before you. Because of this, no one visits this place unless they specifically need the resources found here.
And for good reason...
[It would be madness to come all the way here and deal with monsters just to eat some fish.]
The threat of beasts is far too great compared to the resource of fish. Those capable of overcoming the threat of these beasts wouldn't bother hunting here; they’d go to even lower floors for more efficient farming.
[They’re also awkwardly strong just to fight for fun.]
"It’s because they’re all beasts. Unlike the humanoid ones, everything here is an animal. Creatures that prioritize instinct over reason. Beasts have a higher chance of causing injury compared to the efficiency of hunting them."
Serica pouted as if she wasn't particularly interested. She probably preferred cutting down humanoids or something similar; the "hand-feel" of slicing through monsters didn't seem to appeal to her.
Thus, the 21st to 30th floors—which I’ll call the "Coastal Zone" for convenience—are the most deserted areas.
[It’s a waste to leave it undeveloped.]
"You’re planning to turn it into something like the mining area, aren't you?"
[Yes. But I don't plan on making it just a mine; I’m going to turn it into a tourist district.]
In many fantasy games or stories, people enjoy swimming even when monsters come out of the sea. There are even episodes where they get attacked by monsters and end up stripped or have their swimsuits stolen.
Why is that possible?
Is it because of the dark, despicable desires of game developers who insist on showing off female characters in swimsuits and selling swimsuit skins regardless of whether monsters appear?
Or is it because the monsters in the vicinity aren't a threat to the tourism business, and one can fight even while wearing a swimsuit?
It’s neither.
Well, it could be both, but at least not right now.
[If we can thoroughly control the monster threat, don't you think it would be great to turn this into a tourist destination?]
To clarify one thing, the Fermaton Infinite Labyrinth has Transfer Gates that act like "elevators." There are ways to use these gates to go directly down to floors like the 1st, 6th, 11th, and 16th. In other words, you can descend to the 21st floor immediately upon entering the Infinite Labyrinth.
[We need to find a way to get from the Transfer Gate entrance to this beach without being threatened by monsters. That will be the start of the tourist destination.]
Why a tourist destination?
Why am I so intent on using this sea as a tourism resource?
It’s strictly for practice.
[Captain Laura. If the Fermaton Infinite Labyrinth were to disappear, all the resources here would vanish too, wouldn't they?]
"I suppose so. But it’s not going to disappear right away, so we came here to get as much profit as possible before then, right?"
[Exactly. There’s no way the Infinite Labyrinth, which has lasted for generations, would suddenly vanish in my time. That means we should build a beach here and operate it for a few years...]
I pointed to the empty expanse around us.
[It’ll be the perfect place to practice running a waterpark.]
This place would be the testing ground for our large-scale construction project.
[Now, everyone, change. Into swimsuits.]
"Um, Lord Lewd."
[What is it, Serica?]
"...We’re just going into the sea to check if monsters come out, so why specifically swimsuits?"
Serica raised a fundamental question.
"If something like a fish with sharp teeth appears under the sea, wouldn't the correct answer be to wear armor even if we're going into the water?"
[Silence!]
The shout burst out of me instinctively.
[Who on earth goes swimming at a beach wearing full plate armor!]
It was a matter of common sense.
[Naturally, we have to go in wearing swimsuits to see if we get attacked, so we can verify the safety!]
"Isn't it just because you want to see people in swimsuits?"
[Serica. Do you not trust me?]
I am innocent.
[If I had brought you all down here just because I wanted to see you in swimsuits, I would have just held a swimsuit contest long ago and given 50,000 Ruji Coins to the woman in the prettiest one!]
50,000 Ruji Coins.
That’s 500 million.
[And in the first place, if I wanted to have sex with a woman in a swimsuit, I would have just made her wear one and then had sex. Isn't that right, Captain?]
"That’s true. Why would Lord Lewd bother making us wear swimsuits here? He’s just an empty tin can who can't even have sex right now."
[...Captain. That sounded a bit harsh.]
"It’s not like I’m wrong."
Laura lightly tapped the crotch of my Living Armor, Paladin Sonata, with the top of her foot.
"Can you feel that?"
[No. I can't feel a thing.]
"See? Serica, the reason Lord Lewd told us to wear swimsuits is because he’s thinking of the people who will enjoy playing in the water here."
"Is that really true?"
[Of course. I am innocent.]
"...You’re not trying to subtly make everyone walk around in swimsuits, are you?"
[As if.]
Serica. Her intuition really is incredible.
[A swimsuit is just a piece of clothing. If I wanted to see you exposed, I would have just made you wear a bunny girl outfit or stripped you down to your underwear.]
"I suppose that’s true. ...It’s absurd how persuasive that is."
Serica still gave me a skeptical look.
"Please tell me honestly. You’re not planning to make people walk around the streets in swimsuits, are you?"
[Ahem. Why would I do that for someone else's benefit? I should be the only one seeing the good stuff.]
"...Why does he keep making sense?"
[Because that’s who I am.]
This is bad. She’ll probably faint if she finds out I’m planning to build a nude beach later.
'I will definitely succeed.'
For the day when Serica walks around in a swimsuit with a cardigan or a see-through dress.