Chapter 227: Fermaton Water Bomb (3)
Chapter 227: Fermaton Water Bomb (3)
I had been a bit distracted by the Sea Elves and my ascension to the rank of Count, but the project I’d been pouring my heart and soul into was also making steady progress.
The Swimsuit Contest.
Using the swimsuits I’d put on Laura and Serica as samples, many people had exercised their imaginations and submitted swimsuit drafts.
The number of entries in the contest was a staggering 1,000.
From crude and clumsy sketches to surprisingly detailed drawings, we had successfully secured a vast array of swimsuit designs.
At the very least, they were designs at a level that could be 'commercialized.'
"Knights, take your seats."
I took the seat of honor at the dining table and gathered all the knights to sit on either side of me.
"We need to review these seriously. You must choose as if you, or the comrade sitting next to you, will be the one wearing it."
To my left was Laura, and to my right was Zenith.
The rest of the knights took their places down the line.
"One hundred sheets each. Once the first review is finished, pass your hundred to the next person and review again. After you've finished checking, place your stamp on any swimsuit design you like."
Piled before us were massive stacks of parchment.
And in front of each person sat a small stamp.
"Don't think it's strange if someone else's stamp is already there. Ultimately, we need to look at all 1,000, and there's no need to keep track of who stamps more or less."
Instead of red ink, everyone had stamps with colors that matched their hair, eyes, or a unique signature color. With those in hand, we prepared to begin.
"This might take some time, so let's take it slow."
One might wonder what we were doing at a dining table without eating, but this was the core of the Swimsuit Contest.
"From now on, as you check one hundred sheets each, if you see a swimsuit you’d want to wear, or one you think would be good to have sex in, or one you think would sell well, put a stamp on it."
At my suggestion, everyone raised their stamps.
"Let’s begin. Nero, flip the hourglass."
"Understood."
Click.
As soon as Nero flipped the thirty-minute hourglass, we all began scanning the swimsuit drafts.
Thump, thump.
Some were generous, stamping right from the start, while others were quite conservative, passing over anything they deemed too lewd.
"Serica. Does this swimsuit look too scandalous to you?"
"Yurdias, it looks less scandalous than the one I’m wearing... Wait, what’s going on with the back of this one?"
"Exactly."
"This is a bit much... It’s like it was made specifically for anal play. What’s with the string in the back? Just a string? When it’s my turn, I’m skipping this without even looking."
Since everyone had different preferences, their criteria for judging the swimsuits varied.
I also flipped through the parchments, checking numerous drafts.
I can't believe these have already been filtered once.
I stamped a few designs that I found particularly arousing as I moved through the stack.
It was truly hard to believe that these numerous papers on the table had already been screened once—meaning they had been vetted by the succubi.
Everyone is more serious about swimsuits than I thought.
Swimsuits were the exclusive domain of the nobility.
Perhaps their ears had perked up at the idea that I would make such swimsuits available to rent or buy with affordable Luji Coins, because more people than expected had racked their brains to design them.
The belief that something belonging to the nobility could become theirs.
The thrill of being able to wear the clothes of a noble.
At the root of it all lay the sexual desire to see women with beautiful bodies dressed in swimsuit-like underwear.
Thanks to that, I was currently feasting my eyes, even if only through drawings.
"Oh."
Among them were various designs that made me wonder if they were even allowed.
Swimsuits that I would never let my own women wear, but that I’d love to see another woman in just once.
I recognize all of these.
They were all distinctly different from modern 3D swimsuits; most were designed to be erotic for the sake of selling characters in a gacha game.
A standard black bikini.
A white swimsuit with frills at the bottom.
Some looked similar to Serica’s, perhaps because they had seen hers.
Swimsuits with different colors on the left and right.
Standard bikinis with patterns.
There were even one-pieces that weren't technically swimsuits but had "waterproof" crudely written on the side, disguised as swimsuits.
There were even "swimsuits" that consisted of nothing but nipple patches and pussy covers, the kind of thing you'd only see on a reverse bunny.
"This is incredible."
An image appeared that was so close to a high-quality erotic illustration that I wondered if I was witnessing the birth of this world's version of Pixiv or Twitter.
Thud!
As soon as I stamped it forcefully, Laura and Zenith’s eyes turned toward me.
"What?"
"It... it’s a very detailed drawing. The pose seems a bit extreme...?"
"It feels less like they drew a swimsuit and more like they drew an erotic picture, but it’s quite good. If I didn't have women around me, I would have jerked off just looking at this."
"......"
When I told the truth, everyone’s expressions became a bit uncomfortable.
"What? What is it?"
"Are you saying you’d masturbate even though we’re right here?"
"What? No. I said if you weren't here. It was a hypothetical."
"That’s a relief. I thought... how should I put it? I thought you’d gotten an erection from looking at a woman with eyes as large as a demon's."
"Hah."
A chill ran down my spine.
Is that something people living in a beautiful-girl gacha collection game world should be saying?
No matter how much reality correction had turned 2D into 3D, everyone here was a beautiful girl in the style of Japanese anime.
"My Lord. Is it the swimsuit that’s your type, or is it people with eyes like that?"
"The swimsuit, obviously."
I felt a bit stung, but I feigned composure and stamped the paper for now.
Regardless of the art style, the swimsuit was definitely an erotic design.
"Asti. What should we do about this one where the pussy mound is drawn so clearly?"
"Just follow your convictions. ...Wait, isn't this body painting, not clothes?"
"It’s not clothes...?"
In many ways, everyone was feeling a mix of admiration and shock at human imagination, but only forty of these swimsuits would make it to the finals.
"I should post the swimsuit drawings that make it into the top forty outside. As samples for what people should make for the next swimsuit contest."
"Wouldn't it be better to give out prize money for that?"
"I can do that. I’ll just give them some Luji Coins and Gold and buy the copyrights."
Fortunately, the concept of copyright existed in this world.
While these swimsuit designs were all things I could have come up with, there were occasionally designs that reminded me, 'Ah, right, there was something like this too.'
In other words, this was a form of 'outsourcing.'
Through the method of a swimsuit design competition, we didn't have to worry about coming up with designs suitable for products; we just had to pick forty from here.
—No, wasn't this my idea! Making money with this, I'll sue!
—You should have read the terms and conditions carefully. Didn't you sign the contract?
—Th-this is...!
Later, I planned to sign contracts and buy the copyrights for the designs that made it to the finals.
What if I didn't go through this process?
—Ruji Fermaton, that villainous lord, stole my idea! Please punish him...!
—What! Sucking the lifeblood out of an innocent citizen, you villainous lord! I will not forgive you! This means territorial war!
Crazy people like that might appear.
Of course, they’d be saying crazy things on the surface while moving behind the scenes with all sorts of political maneuvering.
"We just need to pick the most erotic designs... Hm?"
As I was flipping through the parchments, I discovered a strange design.
"Nero."
"...Yes."
Nero, who had been standing behind me, cautiously approached.
"I think this needs an explanation."
I pointed to a swimsuit design with Nero’s name on it.
"Didn't I say that something covering the whole body isn't a swimsuit?"
"That is why I intended to reveal the arms and legs."
"Hah."
This is just a short-sleeved shirt and shorts.
The words were right at the tip of my tongue, but I couldn't bring myself to say them easily.
"This is...!"
Seeing one design in the corner of the parchment, my hands and feet began to tremble.
"What is the matter?"
"...Nero. You truly are a Perfect Maid."
I picked up my stamp as if possessed.
"Look at this. People really need to think and think again. After making one and having it rejected, she comes back with a swimsuit design this beautiful and magnificent."
"What is it, my Lord?"
"A miracle of God."
Laura’s expression froze for a moment.
As I held up the parchment as if praising a deity, the other knights began to glance over one by one, curious about my top pick.
"I want to make this one separately for myself. No, I’m definitely making it. Even if it doesn't make it to the finals, I will absolutely produce this."
"A product has been made already. What will you name it?"
"...Siren Pants."
Normally, they would be called 'dolphin pants,' but from now on, they would be known as Siren Pants.
Because I had named them so, and the ones wearing them would be the Sirens.
Wouldn't it be a true parade to have forty Sirens walking through the plaza, each wearing a different swimsuit?
And at the same time, an event where they splash water on people.
The preparations for the Fermaton Waterbomb were proceeding steadily.
Ah.
You’re wondering where the other two out of the forty-two went?
Well, that’s...