Chapter 74: Those Who Have Seeped into Fermaton's Darkness (4)
Chapter 74: Those Who Have Seeped into Fermaton's Darkness (4)
Knight Lambert.
To nail one thing down from the start: this man is not a gacha character.
He’s an NPC.
Just a guy who occasionally shows his face whenever an incident occurs at Fermaton Castle.
And there was a reason for that.
‘To think he was an Imperial spy and a total gay.’
The "Imperial spy" part was a confirmed plot point in the story.
The "total gay" part was still just a suspicion, lacking physical evidence.
However, the fact that he was the Captain of the Fermaton Knights, a man who had pledged his loyalty to the former Count Fermaton, and the fact that he just looked like a total gay provided plenty of circumstantial evidence.
Is it too early to judge based on appearances?
Well, humans have something called physiognomy.
And I had one more very logical piece of circumstantial evidence.
‘If he weren't gay, he would have definitely been released as a gacha character.’
Whether they were 1-star or 2-star, the developers weren't the type to shy away from releasing 3-star male characters.
But since the primary consumer base was male, what would happen if Sir Lambert, whom players had invested in to reach 3-star status, turned out to be gay?
—Send in the trucks!!
The protest trucks with their flashing LED signs would be dispatched immediately.
A massive wave of refunds would follow, and the character named Lambert would be deleted.
‘No matter how money-hungry those bastards are, there’s no way they’d sell a gay character as a 3-star limited.’
A character with a backstory as an Imperial spy is fine.
An Imperial spy who becomes an ally to the protagonist and then struggles with the conflict between the Empire and the protagonist is a well-rounded, three-dimensional setting.
But a character who’s aiming for the protagonist’s asshole?
—Lambert Oppa, smash me! T_T
—Ah, fuck! Does this even make sense in a perfectly good cute-girl gacha game?!
That’s the kind of disaster that would happen.
Therefore.
I needed to catch him with definitive proof.
"Sir Lambert."
"Yes, Young Lord."
"I heard my father used to go out for 'nightly play' quite often."
"……."
Lambert’s expression stiffened instantly.
Since I was speaking openly while others were present in my office, it seemed he felt he couldn't speak directly in front of them.
"By that, you mean…."
"I’d like to go once myself. To that nightly play."
"What?!"
Look at him getting all surprised.
"Why? Is there a problem?"
"N-no, not at all. It’s just, when you say nightly play, I’m not sure which one you’re referring to…."
"Isn't it obviously this?"
I tugged on the leash fastened around Yurdias’s neck.
"Nine-Tail."
"…Ah."
Look at this guy. Did he just let out a sigh?
Don't tell me he was secretly hoping for a different kind of nightly play and is now disappointed?
‘Should I just kill him?’
It’s not that I hate gay people, but the thought of this man aiming for my cherry is terrifying.
‘Should I just ask him outright if he’s gay?’
I felt like just going for it, but the man was strong.
If I executed or dismissed him simply for being gay, the backlash would be severe.
What if Lambert lost his mind and tried to rape me? What if he jumped me when Serica wasn't around?
—I-I am a Fermaton! If you take me, I’ll kill myself!
—Hehehe…! The Empire has already secured another Fermaton! The Count was curious too. About his son’s back pussy…!
—Aaaargh!!
"……Sir Lambert. What were you thinking about?"
"My apologies. The former Count had so many things he did at night. I shall escort you to Nine-Tail."
"……."
Do I really have to follow Lambert?
The thought crossed my mind, but without Lambert, I had no way to connect with Nine-Tail.
"Fine. Let’s go right now."
"Right… now?"
"Yes. Why? Is there a reason we can't?"
"It’s not that, but…."
It was late evening.
Before the night air grew too cold, I simply wanted to pay a visit to the slave guild known as Nine-Tail.
Of course, I was also mindful of the eyes of others.
"Um… will you be taking your Knight Order members as well?"
"Yes."
I pointed to the bunny girls whose leashes I was clutching.
"Laura and Yurdias are coming too. I’m not selling them, of course. It’s just…."
I grabbed Laura’s breast and licked her cheek with my tongue.
"I want to show them firsthand what happens when they become useless. Hehehe."
"Master Ruji…."
"Hehe. Don't worry. I don't throw away useful women. But a bitch who becomes useless or betrays me… is trash worse than a slave."
I stood up, clutching both their leashes in one hand.
"Sir Lambert. Lead the way. Is there a dress code?"
"No. You may go exactly as you are."
I had put on a light suit just in case, so that was a relief.
It would have killed the mood if I’d been told I had to change.
"Regarding the Countess…."
"Don't mention this to my mother. …Wait. Does Mother know? About Nine-Tail?"
"She only knows that they are slave traders."
"Hmm. Then… you there, maid."
I called over a maid whose face looked familiar.
"You are…."
"I am Emma."
"Ah, right. Emma."
The woman with the same name as the Head Maid.
And the woman who had been slapped by Amy.
She had been harshly disciplined by Amy just for wearing glasses, and now she was without them.
"Hmm."
I approached Emma and tilted her chin up.
"U-um…."
Emma’s eyes trembled as she watched me, and I lightly teased her cheek with my thumb, twisting my lips into a smirk.
"Not bad. Yes. What a pretty face you have once you take off those glasses."
"……."
"It’s a sin to wear glasses when you have such a pretty face. Do you understand?"
"…Yes."
Emma trembled, clutching her maid uniform tightly. I let go of her face and turned away.
‘She’s definitely from the Imperial Intelligence Department.’
The earrings and necklaces weren't special devices.
Ever since Amy started handing out slaps, everyone wearing glasses within the Lord’s Castle had vanished.
At least they didn't wear them in front of me, but since they never knew when or where I might appear, they couldn't wear them anywhere except their own rooms.
That meant, at the very least, the flow of information to the Empire would be delayed until they developed a new device that wasn't glasses.
‘To think I have to worry about things like this. It’s a pain in the ass.’
There are too many Imperial spies within Fermaton.
I need a way to deal with these moles quickly.
"My apologies, Sir Lambert. Let’s be on our way."
"Ah, yes. But Young Lord. About the glasses…."
"What."
My voice wasn't sharp because he was gay.
It was because this man was talking about glasses right now precisely because he was an Imperial spy.
"Wouldn't it be better for the maids with poor eyesight to work while wearing glasses? And…."
"And what?"
"I think Miss Laura or Miss Yurdias would look quite good in glasses as well. Especially Miss Yurdias."
"……That is certainly true."
Yurdias was the quintessential OL secretary type.
She was definitely a woman who would look good in glasses.
However.
‘Trying to sneak the glasses back in, are we?’
There was no need to listen to what an Imperial gay spy had to say.
"No. No glasses. If a day ever comes when glasses must be worn…."
That would be the day the Imperial Intelligence Department managed to create devices out of something other than glasses.
"It will only be when my wife and children are in a situation where they must wear them."
Until then, glasses are banned.
* * *
A short while later.
"…Transmission. This is Fermaton. Urgent report."
Back in her room, Emma hurriedly put on her glasses and attempted to contact the Intelligence Department.
[What is it?]
"Ruji Fermaton is heading to Nine-Tail with two female slaves."
[What? You should have reported that sooner!]
"I couldn't help it. I’m reporting this the moment I returned to my room."
[Ugh, dammit…! Just keep the glasses in your pocket!]
"The maid who did that last time got slapped by Countess Zenith and fired."
[Tsk…!]
Fired over a mere pair of glasses.
A field agent who had infiltrated the Fermaton County as a skilled spy was kicked out of the Fermaton household simply for carrying glasses in her pocket.
"Please develop a device other than glasses immediately."
[Do you think that’s as easy as it sounds?! Do you know how hard it is for a maid to wear jewelry or accessories?!]
"That’s why I’m asking you to make it quickly…. Sigh."
Emma felt a sudden surge of irritation.
"There’s a crazy bitch who slaps anyone she sees wearing glasses. How am I supposed to wear them?"
[Dammit, you mean that Amy woman? Who the hell is she?]
"I don't know either."
Amy.
As the Young Lord’s exclusive maid, no one knew what she had done before coming to Fermaton.
"…But it doesn't seem like Amy is loyal to the Young Lord. She just does her job as an employee."
[I heard she shows him her panties?]
"Exactly."
It was just that the Young Lord seemed to trust her in a way that suggested he didn't quite believe her.
"…It might be nothing, but there’s definitely something about that woman, Amy."
It was the intuition of an Imperial Intelligence agent.
"And."
Emma recalled the touch of the Young Lord’s hand as he had held her chin, and she brushed her hand over her own jaw.
"…If possible, I’d prefer it if it wasn't something I have to wear on my face."
* * *
A short while later.
"It’s this way."
"Nine-Tail Trading Company. Hmm…."
A four-story building situated on the main street.
The trading company, which boldly displayed the sign "Nine-Tail," was using the entire four-story building.
Since most other buildings didn't exceed four stories, it was essentially using the largest and most expensive building in Fermaton.
I was stunned by how Nine-Tail had established itself so openly, but Lambert led me inside as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Young Lord."
The person who appeared before me was….
"I am the manager of Nine-Tail, Charlotte."
A blonde-haired, blue-eyed Gothic Lolita.
A girl even smaller than Astarotte.
"Are you an adult?"
"Yes. I am."
"Oh, I see…."
I reached out toward the ruler of Nine-Tail, Charlotte.
"By any chance, are you married, or do you have a boyfriend?"
A Human Rights Character has appeared.
