Chapter 185: Sex is Business (5)
Chapter 185: Sex is Business (5)
I’m planning to build a water park inside the labyrinth, but at the same time, I’m devising facilities with the assumption that this beach might eventually disappear.
I have to get rid of the Infinite Labyrinth, if only for Laura’s sake.
The Infinite Labyrinth will vanish one day. It could happen suddenly, or we might choose to dismantle it ourselves after clearing the final floor. If that happens, no matter how well-built the facilities inside are, they’ll vanish along with the labyrinth itself. All the investment would go down the drain.
Therefore, I need to establish a system that can infinitely reproduce the resources found within the labyrinth on the surface.
For instance, regarding the magic stones from the mining area, we’ve already built a mass-production system using the succubi’s mana milk. Even if the Infinite Labyrinth disappeared tomorrow, the succubi and the Dream Factory would remain.
The key is to build facilities on the surface that can replicate the resources of the Infinite Labyrinth.
So, what’s the best way to create a sea—a beach facility?
“We’re going to build a water park outside the fief, Mother.”
“……”
Zenith silently scanned the business proposal I had written.
“It’s a facility built solely for playing in the water.”
“And the name for this is a ‘Water Park’?”
“Correct. Just as young children play near fountains, adults need a place where they can play with a sense of childlike wonder.”
“It wouldn’t happen to be because you want to ogle women in swimsuits, would it?”
First Serica, now Zenith. Why does everyone insist on linking my pure intentions to dark, lewd desires? It honestly hurts my feelings when my own people act like this.
“I am proposing this with a truly pure and wholesome heart. Besides, it’s a facility that has to be built outside Fermaton Castle. I can’t even go there myself.”
The Curse of Fermaton is powerful. I cannot leave the current ‘Inner Castle’ of Fermaton; I can’t even cross the main gate.
“The limit of what I can do is watch the footage recorded on Image Magic Stones by others. I can’t even send a Living Armor out there.”
I ran an experiment. Just like entering the Infinite Labyrinth, I tried sending a Living Armor out past the castle gates. The armor itself could go out, but it was impossible to link my consciousness through mana.
A so-called ‘astral projection’ was impossible. I have no choice but to monitor facilities outside the Inner Castle through third parties.
This implies there are still illegitimate children of Fermaton living within the Inner Castle, but seeing as they haven't been found yet, perhaps they don't even know it themselves.
Medieval fantasy is different from the modern world.
Many people are born in a village, live there their whole lives, and die there. Or perhaps someone is truly brilliant, realized they couldn't leave the Inner Castle, and is living in total secrecy.
Regardless.
Just as they cannot leave the castle, I am confined within the Inner Castle.
However, the water park shouldn't just be outside the Inner Castle; it needs to be built separately, some distance away from the entrance of Fermaton itself. Just as amusement parks are often located in quiet mountain areas, I plan to construct a massive water park in a peaceful spot outside the outer walls.
“So, your business plan is to have a beach inside the Infinite Labyrinth and a ‘Water Park’ on the surface?”
“Yes. If the beach inside the Infinite Labyrinth is a resort, the surface water park will be an amusement facility for water play.”
“…Is such a thing necessary?”
“Yes, it is.”
For hygiene. For tourism. And at the very least, to create a place where it’s socially acceptable to walk around in a swimsuit.
Men are really going to have to thank me for this.
I’m trying to create a place where they can sit on a bench wearing sunglasses and just enjoy the view of women passing by.
The same goes for the women.
Everyone works hard to maintain their bodies, they show them off to each other, sparks fly, and they hit it off. Then they bump privates, have kids, and get married. How great is that?
Ultimately, it leads to more taxpayers.
“At this rate, it would be nice to build a massive lodging facility near the water park too.”
“How did you know? I didn't put it in the proposal, but I plan to build that later as well—once we start getting more travelers than Fermaton can handle.”
“If we have the ability and capital to build the facilities, it really is like a dream becoming reality.”
Zenith pointed to the final section of the proposal: ‘Budget Allocation.’
“There isn't a single word about the construction budget for this project. What’s the meaning of this?”
“That’s because the budget is infinite.”
Time and technology are the only issues. To us, a budget means nothing now.
“We print magic stones infinitely, and those stones are money. What meaning does a budget have?”
“Still, having a specific figure attached to the budget makes it feel more real, don't you think?”
Zenith picked up a quill and quickly filled in the numbers for the budget plan.
“Rather than making people think ‘Ruji Fermaton threw a ton of money at this,’ it’s better to make them think ‘He built a massive facility on the scale of 200 billion Gold.’”
“Why 200 billion Gold specifically?”
“Because it has that ‘wow, that’s a staggering amount’ kind of feel to it?”
“…Well, fine. Though considering the actual construction costs, it might take 200 billion Ruji Coins rather than Gold.”
“What? Wait. Just how big of a facility are you planning to build?”
Zenith’s face went pale in an instant.
“Are you planning to make it larger than the Count’s castle?”
“The Count’s castle? I’m thinking it should be at least a quarter of the size of this Inner Castle.”
The Inner Castle of Fermaton is surprisingly vast. It’s called the ‘Inner Castle’ now, but when the curse was first laid centuries ago, this was the ‘Outer Castle.’ My primary plan is to turn a quarter of this space—no, even more—into a water park.
“What on earth are you trying to achieve by building something like this? Are you really trying to turn this into a cultural tourism city?”
“Even you doubt my true intentions, Mother? Fine, I understand. If it’s more persuasive to play into the misunderstanding, then I’ll answer accordingly.”
I guess the vision of a top-tier entrepreneur doesn't translate well here.
“I just want to see women playing in the water in swimsuits, only for their tops to fall off so they have to go ‘Kyaaa!’ and cover their chests with both hands.”
“…I should have known.”
Zenith let out a deep sigh.
“Approved.”
She stamped it with the Count’s seal.
“If you had just said that from the start, I would have approved it immediately. Why bother beating around the bush? Just be honest like that from now on. Or were you trying to attempt some kind of image makeover?”
“……Is it impossible?”
“Yes. I think it’s far too late for that.”
Zenith let out a self-deprecating laugh and raised her glass.
“I never went out of my way to spread rumors, but people seem to think you’re blackmailing me after raping me.”
“……”
“It’s not the maids spreading rumors. Looking at the things you do, the general consensus among the people of Fermaton is: ‘A guy like that would definitely rape his own stepmother.’”
“That’s a bit bitter to hear.”
“Bitter? Isn't it basically the truth?”
“……”
Ruji Fermaton. The perverted rapist.
“It’s strange and disappointing. I simply chose the fastest and most righteous path to make Fermaton strong.”
“I’ll give you the ‘fastest’ part, but the ‘righteous’ path…?”
“Yes.”
Despite appearances, I’m quite conscientious for a modern-day possessor.
“Do I snatch random women off the street to rape them? Do I purge people I dislike by cutting off their heads on the spot? If you average out the humanity of the nobility, I am a dignified and virtuous aristocrat.”
That was an undeniable fact.
“There is no noble who cares for their subjects as much as I do, Mother.”
Surprisingly, I really was in the top tier of ‘kind lords who care for their people.’
“I’m not some villainous lord who cuts down women just because they’re in the way of my carriage like in other fiefs, am I?”
And above all else.
“Do you have any idea how many virgins have finally gotten laid thanks to me?”
Among those who used the succubus brothels, some had even started to become my devotees.
“I’m a kind lord by any standard.”
I am by no means someone who does strange things.
* * *
At that same time.
Emma, who was working hard as a maid while serving as a spy for the Empire, heard a suspicious piece of intelligence.
“I heard the Young Lord is planning something again.”
“What? What is it this time?”
“Who knows? Probably something for the men again. Sigh. If the Young Lord had been born a woman, there’d be nosebleeds everywhere by now.”
“……”
Having eavesdropped on the maids' conversation, Emma quietly lingered near the Young Lord’s office. Whenever her eyes met Amy’s—the maid who had slapped her in passing before—she found herself reflexively bowing her head, but she had a duty to gather fresh information on Fermaton.
—His Majesty the Emperor desires information on Fermaton. Provide daily reports.
The Emperor had begun to take an interest in Fermaton. As the Abalone War slowly shifted into peace negotiations, perhaps he had turned his gaze toward Fermaton, the production site of Penisilin, which had even more certain effects than abalone.
—Turning Fermaton into Imperial territory?
As a spy, her mind was racing. Emma had no idea what Ruji Fermaton was trying to create now.
“Emma.”
“…Yes, Senior?”
Suddenly, Amy called out to her.
“Pick nine girls with good bodies, including yourself, and assemble at the office within the hour. It’s an order from the Young Lord.”
“W-Why is that…?”
“It’s for the preparatory work for a new festival.”
A new festival. This was information.
“And make sure you shower before you come.”
“…Pardon?”
“Because you’ll be changing clothes. Into the new maid uniforms designed and produced by the Young Lord himself.”
“……”
Somehow.
“U-Um, what kind of new maid uniforms are we talking about…?”
“Don't worry. At the very least, everything that needs to be covered is covered.”
She was starting to feel… even more uneasy.
“What style is it? Kingdom style? Empire style? Or is it something truly original that the Young Lord created himself…?”
“…The Young Lord said this.”
Amy spoke slowly.
“He said that as long as it has frills and an apron, it’s a maid uniform regardless.”