Chapter 238: About the Place Called the Infinite Labyrinth (4)
Chapter 238: About the Place Called the Infinite Labyrinth (4)
The execution of Irmiri Sirjosia.
It wasn't an impulsive act.
Before dealing with Irmiri Sirjosia, I sought advice from those well-versed in the inner workings of the nobility, like Zenith and Charlotte.
They only had two concerns.
First, that the Sirjosia County would become our enemy for losing a son.
Second, that the Queen would be furious because I killed her secret envoy.
"Is there any liability on Fermaton's part?"
"You might be criticized for being excessive since you killed him immediately without question, right?"
"If I'm going to be criticized for taking his head instead of just his wrist, then I'll just kill him."
As an example.
The effect of killing Irmiri Sirjosia was greater than the benefit of keeping him alive after what had happened.
Ruji Fermaton does not back down when someone touches his people, even if the Queen is behind them.
As the ruler of Fermaton, I had to instill that perception in people.
The belief that no matter who provokes Fermaton, Ruji Fermaton will boldly stand and fight.
Even if that opponent is the Kingdom, the Empire, or the entire world.
"Nero. How long has it been since Sir Lambert took him down to the Infinite Labyrinth?"
"Five hours have passed."
"Five hours..."
I thought that was more than enough time for an 'execution,' but apparently, Lambert had other ideas.
"Count."
"What is it? Are you going to tell me my actions were excessive too?"
"No. You did well. What I want to speak about is Queen Messalina."
"...The Queen?"
"Yes."
Nero glanced around the room. Sensing she had something important to say, I stood up.
"Let's go to the Sex Room. There are too many ears here."
"Understood..."
Nero hesitated for a moment at the mention of the Sex Room, but she soon nodded and followed behind me.
Creeak.
"Sit. It sounds like we're about to have a serious conversation."
I shut the door tight and offered Nero a seat, pouring a drink from the Sex Room's bar and placing it in front of her.
"What is it you want to say about Queen Messalina?"
"What do you think of Queen Messalina, Count?"
"A sort of mutual self-loathing?"
"Pardon?"
"In the sense that we both love sex, I feel a bit of a kinship. I don't really care that she has random sex or enjoys orgies. We're cut from the same cloth, really."
In this fantasy world, who else is as honest about sex as I am?
In fact, she might even be a step above me.
While it's considered natural for a man to be lustful and isn't socially condemned too harshly, a woman who is open about her lust and sleeps around is easily vilified.
Honestly, calling her the 'Great Harlot' is just a polite way of calling her a 'total slut.'
The Slut Queen, Messalina.
"I don't care if Queen Messalina is obsessed with men. I don't care if she takes a truckload of men to bed every night. As long as it doesn't affect me. But this time, it's a clear case of harm."
Whether a sex village is being run far away or not is their sexual freedom.
If it harms me, I'll report it; if it doesn't, I'll ignore it.
Right now, it's harm.
"The reason the beasts I capture from the Infinite Labyrinth are all females is obviously because of this."
"Are you referring to the Bitch Collar?"
"Yeah. The one you're wearing right now."
I pointed to the Bitch Collar around Nero's neck.
"Of course, you're fine because you keep your libido suppressed to the minimum for that 'perfect' mindset, but if this is even slightly misused, it becomes a tool to control humans instantly."
"I heard your concerns last time. That with a single snap of your fingers, you could make everyone on the street climax."
"Exactly. If they're wearing one of these."
This is a strategic weapon created by Fermaton's research into Sex Magic.
It's something that must never be leaked to the outside. Last time, when Queen Messalina somehow found out about it and asked for one, I sent her an old prototype that was as basic as possible.
Perhaps because she saw how effective it was?
Queen Messalina followed up with two demands.
One was the development of a 'Male Dog Collar.'
The other was to put them on Orcs and send them to the Capital.
Either way, they were both incredibly shitty orders to me.
"I have no intention of putting these on males to force them into a state of permanent erection. I have no reason to. And Orcs, of all things? Absolutely not."
"Is it because they are male?"
"Yeah. I can't have Orcs going on a rampage and jumping my women. Well, I've said this before."
I picked up Dark Jeanne and held it out toward Nero.
"If you ever feel uncomfortable with my actions, you're free to leave at any time."
"You are being very kind to me."
Because she's a Human Rights Character.
We haven't had sex yet, but I still don't want to part ways on bad terms with a Human Rights Character.
"I understand. Thanks to your sincerity, Count, I have been able to make a decision."
"A decision?"
"I told you before, didn't I? That I have some connections that can move the Royal Family."
Nero nodded deeply and took hold of Dark Jeanne.
"If Queen Messalina becomes a hindrance to the House of Fermaton, I can have her ousted."
"......What?"
"I have the power to do that, Count."
"Wow."
Suddenly, Nero looked different.
Is this woman some kind of shadow power player in the Kingdom?
'Shadow power' sounds a bit awkward for a Kingdom, so to rephrase—is she the kind of woman behind the scenes who can manipulate even the Queen?
"That's incredible. Is it true?"
"Yes. Just say the word. If you give the order, I can deal with someone like Queen Messalina immediately."
"Impressive. Nero, if someone heard you, they'd think you were the hidden supreme authority of the Royal Family."
"......It's not quite that, but I can produce a result similar to what you've described. For instance, Queen Messalina stepping down from the throne voluntarily and the Crown Prince inheriting the crown."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, I am. I am a person of Fermaton now."
"I see."
There was no tremor in Nero's voice.
At the very least, she wasn't lying.
"It's a great offer. I'm touched. But I refuse."
"Pardon?"
"Even if the Queen disappears, the Crown Prince will just take her place. I don't know what the Crown Prince—who advocates for the human rights of slaves—will do, but I don't think a King who replaces Messalina would be particularly helpful to Fermaton."
It's true that Queen Messalina is being a nuisance, but would getting rid of her make our lives that much easier?
Not necessarily.
"Nero. No matter how much you belong to Fermaton now, you don't need to sacrifice everything for it. The connections and power you've built up are yours alone. I shouldn't profit by having you sacrifice them."
It was a matter of ethics and responsibility.
"Especially if it's a situation where you have to use them for a minor crisis like this."
It was a matter of scale.
"If—and this is a big if—the Kingdom pressures me to the point where I can't take it anymore... for example, if they drive me to the point where I'm considering seeking asylum in the Empire, then I might ask for your help."
"Fermaton... to the Empire...?"
"Yeah. If the Kingdom starts treating me like a death row inmate and tries to hunt me down and kill me."
Nero's face turned pale in an instant.
"It's just a hypothetical. Why would I want to become a citizen of the Empire? The Empire is even more of a headache than the Kingdom. I'd much rather shove my cock into the Kingdom than bow down to the Empire."
"Don't people usually say they'd 'butt heads' with them?"
"She's a Queen. Listen, I'm the kind of man who would shove my dick into Queen Messalina's pussy if it meant I could protect Fermaton and my people."
Even if it's a total slut's pussy.
"Everything for the sake of Fermaton... Hm?"
The 'Ultra-Emergency Danger Signal' on one side of the wall began to ring.
"It's ringing while I'm in the Sex Room? Crazy. Did something go to shit?"
I had made it so that no one could disturb me while I was in the Sex Room.
But for someone to send a signal that could only be sent from the outside—a signal that required thinking over and over again because sending it wrongly could cost them their head—and for it to be ringing now?
"What is it?"
[I am sorry, Count. This is an emergency report.]
It was Amy.
"What is it? Did Viscount Sirjosia declare a territorial war? It's only been half a day since Lambert took his son for execution."
[It has nothing to do with Sirjosia.]
"Nothing to do with them? Then what is it?"
Even if it was Amy, there was no reason to disturb me in the Sex Room if it wasn't about Sirjosia.
"Did Irmiri escape? Did the Infinite Labyrinth go berserk? Or... it couldn't be, but did someone touch one of my women?"
[No. Someone has died.]
"...Who?"
Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine.
[Queen Messalina is dead.]
"......What?"
Who died?
"Queen Messalina is dead? No, what does that mean? The Queen suddenly died? Why?"
[Well.]
Amy continued in a strained voice.
[She passed away after three straight days of 17-on-1 creampie sex with men.]
"......."