Chapter 259: Going to the Labyrinth (2)
Chapter 259: Going to the Labyrinth (2)
That bastard is insane.
Everyone’s eyes were saying the same thing.
Ruji Fermaton is a nutcase, a lunatic, a psycho.
They all stared with those exact expressions, but soon, their faces shifted.
Is that guy a monster?
Does he have no sense of shame?
Where the hell does he get that kind of confidence?
Ah, so that’s what confidence looks like.
Those who had initially shown contempt and disgust at his naked appearance suddenly gasped as they caught sight of my lower half.
It was shocking enough that I was sitting there stark naked and proud, but even while seated, my member stood tall, towering toward the sky.
If I were to stand up, it would either cause a massive uproar or make the women faint on the spot.
"Ah... ah..."
"Arnin!!"
Women were already starting to collapse in succession.
Since I had manifested a body near perfection with the help of the Mythstone, women were losing the strength in their legs and swooning just from looking at me.
"Good."
Perfect.
Everyone’s attention was fixed on me.
Phase one: draw all eyes. Success.
This way, my knights—the ones others mockingly called the "Bride Knight Order"—would face less scrutiny and fewer insults.
There was only one reason I stood here so boldly in the nude.
It was to deliver a dose of shock and awe to the factions trying to slander my knights as a "Prostitute Knight Order" or a "Cosplay Knight Order."
Exposure that rivals underwear? That’s nothing in the face of overwhelming madness.
It didn't matter if there were Bunny Girls, swimsuits, or nurse outfits.
When a Rated-X scene follows a Rated-R one, who’s going to keep looking at the Rated-R stuff?
If a naked man is following right behind them, that level of exposure suddenly looks wholesome and beautiful by comparison.
Regardless of gender, and even if they claimed to have no interest in a man’s body, they couldn't help but stare once I revealed myself as a warrior with such a rugged, powerful physique.
Yes.
I stepped forward to divert the gaze meant for my women toward myself.
That was half the reason.
The other half was...
"This should be enough. Golems, halt. It is time for the speech."
Thump!
The golems stopped in their tracks.
After taking a moment to steady my breath, I slowly rose from the chair.
"Kyaaaaaaa—!!"
The women shrieked the moment I stood up.
The men looked on with disgust but let out hollow laughs, while those who had already heard rumors of how I might behave simply smirked and shook their heads.
Naturally.
I stood up with a full erection.
Thrusting my cock forward, flaunting the member that stood tall for all to see, I reached out my hand to the side.
"Megaphone."
"Yes, Count."
Astarotte, who was attending to me, handed over a voice-amplifying Magic Tool. I gripped the megaphone and stood before the crowd.
"Testing. Everyone, eyes on me."
Even if they didn't want to, they were already staring.
"Until now, Fermaton has lived a cursed existence, enslaved by the Infinite Labyrinth. However!"
I pointed toward the entrance of the Infinite Labyrinth, then raised a bold fist, putting strength into my voice.
"The Fermaton of the past ends today. The Fermaton that I, Ruji Fermaton, show you will be different!"
It certainly would be.
No Fermaton in history had ever stepped forward completely naked like this.
Until now, every Count of Fermaton had simply enjoyed the lifespan granted to them, sucking the sweet nectar of their position while keeping their own necks in chains until they died.
"I will conquer the Infinite Labyrinth. My knights and the House of Fermaton will conquer the Infinite Labyrinth ourselves!"
No one had ever truly challenged it.
Not sincerely.
"I will raid the Infinite Labyrinth and seize control of the Curse of Fermaton. I will no longer be one oppressed by the curse, but the one who dominates and conquers it!"
Never before had a Fermaton officially declared their intent to conquer the Infinite Labyrinth.
"Every Magic Stone in the Labyrinth will belong to Fermaton, and those stones will become the funds and facilities for the people of Fermaton! The endless swarms of monsters will become research materials for the Magic Tower, and the beasts within will work in the lowest reaches of our territory for the benefit of humanity!"
It didn't sound particularly special.
These practices had technically existed for a long time.
"If ten thousand Magic Stones can be obtained in a day, we will scrape up all ten thousand! Every beast emerging from the Infinite Labyrinth will be hunted by the waiting knights of Fermaton before they can even think of attacking an adventurer!"
But previously, that was the work of adventurers; it wasn't a "regular" operation conducted directly by Fermaton.
"Citizens of Fermaton, my people, and the humanity of the continent watching this spectacle! I, Ruji Fermaton, will rule the entire Infinite Labyrinth and turn it into a land flowing with infinite milk and honey!"
Until now, no one had thought of the Infinite Labyrinth as a "hunting ground" or a "farmland."
"A labyrinth where Magic Stones can be mined safely! A Knight Order that can neutralize sudden monster appearances within five minutes! Experts who can swiftly suppress a Rampant Obelisk! Adventurers will no longer need to risk their lives to raid the labyrinth! Because this place is now our 'hunting ground'!"
I was changing the paradigm of the Infinite Labyrinth.
"The Infinite Labyrinth is no longer a place where you go to hunt at the risk of your life! We! Fermaton! It is merely the basement of the House of Fermaton!"
The subterranean maze crawling with life-threatening monsters was instantly demoted to a mere basement.
"It’s nothing more than taking treasures out of a warehouse! From this moment on, Fermaton truly takes charge of the Infinite Labyrinth!"
Standing with my legs shoulder-width apart, I thrust a single fist toward the sky.
"Make Fermaton Great—!!"
* * *
A short while later.
At the entrance of the Infinite Labyrinth, near the old Fermaton Castle—the "Command Headquarters."
"To think the start of 'Great Fermaton' would be a naked speech in the plaza."
"Everyone was paying attention, Mother."
"That’s exactly why I can’t stop sighing."
Zenith scanned me from head to toe—I was still naked—and covered her face with her hands.
I thought she was peeking through her fingers, but she had actually covered her face as if truly trying to suppress a heavy sigh.
"Now that everyone has seen it, what are we going to do? Honestly."
"What’s wrong with my body?"
"It’s too good, that’s the problem. Things like this should be saved and kept only for us."
"Don't be like that."
It was the opposite of the concern I expected.
I thought Zenith was worried about the exposure itself, but it seemed she just wanted to keep the sight of my body as a precious secret among those close to me.
"Still, I think I drew their attention quite well, didn't I? It was essentially a declaration to the whole world that Fermaton is beginning the conquest of the Infinite Labyrinth in earnest."
I pointed forward.
In the situation room, screens made of polished, mirror-like Magic Stones were lined up, each displaying a different scene.
"This is the starting point for Fermaton’s conquest. A system that shares the vision from the knights' helmets, allowing us to command from right here. And here, we have Operators who are veteran adventurers with years of experience in labyrinth raids."
In front of dozens of Magic Stone monitors, knights wearing things like in-ear mics were preparing to "command," sharing the vision of the knights linked to each screen alongside Guild Leader Bernhard.
"From now on, instructions will be relayed to each knight through this center. We will prevent dangers based on the adventurers' guidance, and the knights will hunt safely. It will be a safe 'farming' operation where no one dies and no one gets hurt."
The knights already waiting at the entrance of each floor were overflowing with motivation.
"Attention. Relay from 'Command.' Ruji Fermaton speaking. Everyone, do your best in your respective zones. All Magic Stones you obtain will be yours, minus a 3.3% fee. However, those who lose their lives lose everything. Do not be greedy; make sure you return alive."
I couldn't hear their replies.
But as the Operators relayed my instructions, the screens bobbed up and down vigorously.
"Good. I’ll leave the upper floors to you. I’m heading down to raid the lower floors with my Knight Order now. Mother?"
"Yes. Preparations are complete."
Next to the Command Headquarters.
In a space created by Evelyn’s earth magic to look like an office, a large screen flickered on a concrete-like wall.
[This is Captain Laura. We are ready.]
On the screen, five knights had finished their preparations to descend to the lower floors.
"We’re ready on this end too."
I sat lightly in the prepared chair, resting my arms on the armrests. Placing both hands on the supports that extended from the armrests, I gripped the controls for the Living Armor.
Whirrr.
With a shimmering sound, my hands appeared on the screen.
My will, extending through my cock, was being transmitted to the Living Armor inside the Infinite Labyrinth—[Dark Tuscany].
The black, full-plate heavy armor knight.
In its hands was an axe styled like a fire hammer, perfect for gripping with both hands.
"Kept you waiting, Captain."
Now, it was time to return to being "him."
"The Lewd Man has been resurrected. Lewd Man Mk. 2. From this moment, we raid the Infinite Labyrinth... no."
"I’m going to fuck the Infinite Labyrinth."