Chapter 214: Ruji's Dream Comes True (4)
Chapter 214: Ruji's Dream Comes True (4)
Ruji Fermaton was up to something again.
In truth, even if he was plotting, there wasn't much to worry about. In the end, it was certain to be a great benefit to the people of Fermaton.
The center of public attention was, without a doubt, the Swimsuit Contest.
However, the response was a bit more lukewarm compared to the initial Breast Festival. This was because swimsuits weren't particularly interesting to ordinary people.
"A swimsuit is just pie in the sky."
Swimming?
To the locals, that just meant going outside the walls of Fermaton and dipping one's body in a creek.
The problem was that even if they did go "swimming," it wasn't exactly what one would call proper recreation.
"Is the swimming we're thinking of different from the swimming the Count is thinking of?"
It certainly was!
To the common folk, swimming was simply soaking in water and splashing around. Since they might be seen by others, they just wore clothes that could get wet and enjoyed themselves.
But wearing a swimsuit—which was essentially no different from underwear—felt less like playing in the water and more like it was predicated on being seen by someone.
"It’s obvious what the Count is thinking. He clearly built that place to put women in swimsuits and have sex with them. You think the Count actually wants all of us to just purely enjoy the water?"
Whether they were adventurers or Magic Stone miners, whenever the people of Fermaton gathered, the topic of conversation was always Ruji Fermaton’s actions and his true intentions.
"There’s no other reason. He just wants to receive designs for sexy swimsuits, make them, and then put them on his own knights. That’s the goal."
"So it’s sex again?"
"Of course. Sex is the driving force that moves the Count."
The general consensus regarding the Swimsuit Contest was that it was all for the sake of dressing up his knights for sex.
He didn't care how much money it cost; the only thing that mattered was that it had to be hot.
"I see it differently."
"How do you see it? With one eye closed? Or are you one of those religious types from the 'Church of Ruji'?"
"What? No. I’m not one of those crazy fanatics. I don't subscribe to the view that he’s a new kind of savior trying to make the lives of us commoners happy through the medium of sex."
Even though Ruji Fermaton’s actions were entirely related to sex, there were indeed those who viewed it as the birth of a new Messiah.
—Ruji, is he the God of Sex?!
—You can have sex with a Succubus for the price of a bucket of fried chicken. If that isn't divine grace and mercy, what is!
—So, if you pray to a god, can you have sex with a Succubus? No. But if you pray to Ruji Fermaton, dreams come true!
—Isn't giving an offering to a church basically the same as buying Ruji Coins anyway...?
Most people thought that was going a bit too far, but there were definitely those who had been moved by the revolution Ruji Fermaton was leading.
Most were simply faithful to their carnal desires—believers who would turn their backs the moment Ruji Fermaton suddenly stopped providing sex—but for now, they followed and believed in him.
"As for me, I’d bet that Ruji Fermaton is trying to turn swimsuits into 'outdoor wear.'"
"That’s insane."
"Pioneers are always called insane at first. Hehehe."
And here, there was one man who viewed Ruji Fermaton’s actions from yet another perspective.
"The Count wants swimsuits to become everyday clothes. He’s trying to make it so that it’s not strange for women to walk around Fermaton Castle in swimsuits."
"Hey. How much difference in surface area is there really between a swimsuit and underwear?"
"But a swimsuit is something you’re allowed to wear outside."
"You really are something..."
Everyone had different opinions, but in the end, no one could truly guess Ruji Fermaton’s sincere intentions.
"Well, as long as it doesn't hurt us, I guess."
"He won't suddenly raise taxes just to build a Water Park, right?"
"Let’s just keep sucking on the warm Succubus nipples Ruji Fermaton bestows upon us. Hehehe."
Because Ruji Fermaton was dead serious about sex, and he was a man truly crazed for it.
"To Ruji Fermaton’s sex life, cheers!"
"""Cheers!"""
While people in taverns everywhere were praising Ruji Fermaton according to their own thoughts...
Creeeeeak.
The tavern door opened, and a group of zombies raided the place.
"Gah! W-what the? Ugh, dammit. Is it the Magic Tower people?"
Their faces were haggard.
They looked pathetic, as if they hadn't eaten or slept properly for days, yet they were individuals who earned salaries incomparably higher than anyone else in the tavern.
"...They are from the Magic Tower, but aren't those the ones employed by Fermaton?"
"What? The Architect Mages?"
Everyone’s ears perked up.
Since these were the people working on the front lines of the projects Ruji Fermaton was planning, everyone was curious about what they were doing.
"Haaaah..."
The Architect Mages, their faces steeped in exhaustion, simply sat at a table and ordered food in silence.
"Give us one of everything from here to here."
"A-all of this, sir?"
"Yes. We’re going to eat to our hearts' content today."
They looked as if they had truly burned themselves out, appearing determined to spend every cent they had today.
"Uh, is today some kind of special occasion?"
"...Hehe, it’s a great day. Yes, a very great day."
The Architect Mages began to laugh with expressions that looked somewhat unhinged.
"Because our project finished today!"
"Oh, what project was it?"
"I can't tell you that. It’s a matter related to Fermaton."
Twitch.
Were they leaking information on purpose?
While everyone focused on the Architect Mages, the mages just laughed and raised their beer mugs.
"Then, to celebrate the end of the project, a toast—"
"So this is where you were."
At the entrance of the tavern.
A female mage opened the door and stepped inside.
"...Gasp. Team Leader?"
"The staff dinner is canceled. Pack your things and return to the site immediately."
At the thunderbolt-like news, the Architect Mages' expressions began to crumble.
"W-what do you mean?! You clearly said you were satisfied!"
"We even built that 'Pool Villa' thing to your satisfaction, so why?!"
The onlookers realized.
Though the mages had tried to maintain security, they were so shocked by the cancellation of their dinner and their immediate redeployment that they had lost their composure.
"Enough. Do not speak of the details."
Part of the project had been leaked, but the shock of the canceled dinner—and the extension of their labor—was far more devastating to the mages.
"Count Ruji Fermaton wants another task done right now. Along with a massive bonus..."
The Team Leader scanned the faces of the Architect Mages.
Underneath their mage robes, they wore checkered shirts with alternating patterns of red and black.
"He has also guaranteed sex with a Succubus."
"That’s tempting, but I think having our dinner here would be more like sex..."
"A Virgin Succubus."
"......."
The Architect Mages looked at each other, let out a deep sigh, and stood up from their seats.
"How much is the pay?"
"200 Ruji Coins."
"......To earn a month's salary for just three or four more hours of work. Does Count Ruji Fermaton think he can work people like dogs just because he has money?"
"Probably?"
The Architect Mages followed her out the door, laughing self-deprecatingly.
"I’ll work like a dog, Team Leader."
"So, what do we have to build? Is it classified?"
"No. It’s not exactly classified. What we have to build is..."
The Team Leader pulled out a piece of paper with a crude drawing on it.
"...A 'Castle.'"
* * *
"You want to build a brand-new, massive castle outside Fermaton?"
"That’s right."
Since this involved money, I had summoned Charlotte.
"Nero, two cups of milk tea."
"My Lord. I have a question. Is Lady Charlotte not a member of the Imperial Guild...?"
"Yes. She is of the Empire. But at the same time, she is a merchant here in Fermaton."
Nero showed a subtle distaste for the Empire.
That was why I usually met Charlotte outside the Count’s castle, but I couldn't keep walking on eggshells around Nero forever.
"Charlotte. I plan to build a 'Castle' first on the site where the Water Park will go."
"A castle?"
"Yes. A castle. A grand, magnificent castle like the Count’s."
Charlotte, who had been showing discomfort at Nero’s faint hostility toward Imperial citizens, began to show interest, her eyes sparkling.
"After building the castle, I will turn it into an accommodation facility. A top-tier luxury establishment, unlike any mere inn."
Just as some modern hotels buy up old castles and convert them, I planned to build the castle first and then construct the Water Park next to it.
"Use your Imperial connections to source all the materials needed for the interior design."
"So you’re planning to create guest rooms for Imperial citizens to stay in when they come to Fermaton for tourism. In the Imperial style."
"Exactly. Whether they stay for a week or a month, they’ll need rooms similar to the Imperial style to feel comfortable during a long-term stay."
Just because Nero disliked the Empire didn't mean I could pass up this golden opportunity to bleed them of their money.
"We will build a hotel to attract Imperial tourists and then pull a massive amount of Gold from them."
"Oh."
Nero, who had been listening quietly beside us, also began to sparkle with interest.
"And what will you use to get the Imperial tourists' Gold...?"
"Sex, obviously."
"...Are you saying you’re going to turn a castle into a red-light district?"
"No. I am going to create a paradise of pleasure that includes sex."
A new source of revenue for the day this city, which currently has nothing but the Labyrinth, is no longer just a Labyrinth City.
A place where the Water Park next door provides the scenery, while simultaneously raking in massive amounts of Gold.
Furthermore.
A place where adventurers can find new professions and livelihoods when the Labyrinth eventually falls.
"A gambling hall."
I was going to build a Kangwon Land—no, a Rujiland—on this soil.