Chapter 79: Causing a Stir (1)
Chapter 79: Causing a Stir (1)
I bought slaves. As soon as I returned, I took the two of them straight to my office.
"Pick up the pickaxes."
"......."
Shiro and Kuro, the white-haired and black-haired half-Minotaurs… Since that’s a mouthful, let’s just call them half-cow humans… or simply 'Holsteins.' They just stared at the objects placed before them, glancing nervously at me.
"I ordered you to pick up the pickaxes. Shiro, Kuro."
"...!!"
The two women hurriedly grabbed the tools.
It was a sight that didn't quite suit them yet, but it would soon enough.
"Your mission is to work hard for eight hours every day, mining magic stones."
"......."
"Any questions? If not, prepare to head out to the Infinite Labyrinth starting tomorrow."
"...May I have permission to ask if I might—"
"Ask."
"...Is that all we are to do?"
"Yes."
There was no other reason.
"Fermaton cannot directly manage the magic stones obtained from the Infinite Labyrinth. We only receive a commission. However, it’s a different story if Fermaton mines the stones directly."
Who would complain about us mining magic stones on our own land?
It wasn't as if I was sending enough people to put existing laborers out of work; I was just sending a small number to do some mining.
—Oh no, the big corporation is killing the local businesses!
Of course, there would be those who would spout such nonsense, but I had no intention of withdrawing my plan to use slaves for mining.
"Why? Did you think that because I bought you as sex slaves, I’d be shoving my cock into you every single day?"
"......."
"Answer when I ask you something. I don’t like it when people stay silent."
"...Yes."
The two of them nodded.
"Since you are Ruji Fermaton… we thought… you surely purchased us with the intention of… performing sexual acts."
"I’ll do it. When I feel like it."
I wrapped my arm around the waist of Laura, who was standing beside me, and squeezed her breast.
"I have a pussy here that’s more attractive than your virgin ones. I’ll feast on this one, and if the mood strikes me, I’ll give you a turn."
"Young Lord…."
What a piece of trash you are.
Laura sent me a look that said exactly that, but I immediately suppressed her weak rebellion by giving her breast another firm squeeze.
"Why? Do you two want to have sex with me? If so, I can plow you right now."
"T-That is…."
"You don't seem very keen on it. I have no intention of engaging in sex that I’m not in the mood for, either. However."
Snap.
I gestured to Yurdias, who was clutching a whip beside me.
"I can't have my slaves spreading their legs for other men. Yurdias, put those on them. Shiro, Kuro. Wear what Yurdias gives you."
"T-This is…."
"A chastity belt."
It was an ordinary chastity belt.
"It doubles as underwear. Oh, it only strictly blocks the pussy, so everything else is fine."
"Do we really have to wear this… Ah, no. I will wear it…."
Being a half-cow by birth, Shiro accepted the chastity belt without much hesitation.
However, Kuro, a former adventurer who had been struck by the Succubus Transformation Curse, couldn't bring herself to reach for it.
"What’s wrong? I told you to put it on."
"...Am I to wear this, go down into the Infinite Labyrinth, and swing a pickaxe? Is that how I’m to live every day…?"
"Yes."
That’s exactly what I bought you for.
"Well, in special cases, I might use you as 'supporters' to assist the Knight Order."
"...!"
A spark of life returned to Kuro's eyes.
"If it’s as a supporter…."
"Basically, a porter. At the same time, while our knights are conquering the underground, it’ll be your job to pick up the choice magic stones with your pickaxes. Now, go wash up first."
The two of them, wearing the chastity belts, shuffled awkwardly toward the shower room.
"Young Lord. Do you truly intend to send them into the Infinite Labyrinth?"
"Yes."
Normally, they’ll be doing auto-farming on the lower floors.
And when it’s important, I’ll use them as reserve forces and porters.
"Isn't it a more fulfilling life to contribute to the Fermaton economy every day rather than just rotting in a cell and shitting day in and day out?"
"Won't it be dangerous for them in the Infinite Labyrinth?"
"I’ll just have to raise them to be strong. Strong enough to keep up with our Knight Order’s tempo."
If they’re weak as combatants, I can just train them myself.
"Even as slaves, they need to pull their own weight. They have to prove their value as human beings beyond just their pussies to be worth what I paid for them."
Even if they aren't gacha characters, even the most common mob or mercenary characters can pull their weight if you level them up.
‘I spent a fair amount of money on them, so I need to get my money's worth.’
Though they were slaves, they were essentially mercenaries I had purchased.
"Did I buy them just for sex? If that were the case, I would have just fucked you guys one more time."
"You bought them as slaves, but in reality, you’ve acquired Knight Order squires of slave origin."
"Well, squires… let’s go with that."
Squires.
Servants to knights.
Those who could eventually become knights themselves depending on their performance.
It’s a bit much to say, but in truth, they were meant for those moments when my Knight Order might be in danger….
"Tsk."
"What is it, Young Lord?"
"I really should try to be a moderate piece of trash, but I’m becoming such a total scumbag that it’s almost absurd."
I had made up my mind to be cold-blooded, but when it came down to actually doing it, I felt a twinge of worry.
When the time came, would I truly be able to give the order?
When I couldn't throw myself into the fray.
Could I sacrifice the slaves?
‘Maybe I should have just bought slaves that I wouldn't mind breaking.’
Buying slaves who were consumables in the truest sense might have been the right answer.
But because I felt I couldn't bring in male characters, and because I thought I should buy virgins if I was going to buy slaves anyway, I now felt it would be a waste to let them die.
‘No. This is right.’
What I cared about most.
That was public perception.
What others thought of Ruji Fermaton.
I was going to use that perception to deceive people and carry out my will; no other reason mattered.
"Yurdias."
"Yes, Young Lord."
"Spread some information tonight. Let it be known that Ruji Fermaton bought slaves from the slave guild operated by the Empire."
"Are we spreading information, not gathering it?"
"Exactly. We spread the information from our side and gather the reactions to it."
If I really made the right choice.
"...They’ll probably just think, 'Oh, he bought some half-cows,' and leave it at that."
*
At that same time, in Countess Zenith’s room at the Lord’s Castle.
"He bought half-cows? Is he insane?"
Zenith was thrown into confusion by Ruji’s unconventional move.
"I mean, why? It’s not like he’s lacking for women around him. Why on earth would he buy slaves?"
In her urgency, Zenith pulled out a magazine she had piled on one side of her desk.
A weekly magazine published by the Kingdom.
Though it was just a bundle of ordinary parchment, its contents covered different topics depending on the time.
"Found it. 'Abolish the Slave System'…!"
Among them was a weekly magazine containing the topic Zenith was looking for.
"The Kingdom has issued a statement of condemnation regarding the act of buying and selling slaves…."
It had only been a month.
A month ago.
While the sale of slaves hadn't been banned yet, the Kingdom was moving toward a prohibition.
Why ban slaves?
Naturally, that issue was causing a great deal of backlash within the Kingdom, but the King’s will was so strong that everyone was bowing their heads, at least superficially.
And yet, Ruji Fermaton had bought slaves.
To make matters worse, she found out it was from a slave guild backed by the Empire.
It wasn't illegal.
However, at a point where the King had ordered, "Make it illegal!", buying slaves before the law was even enacted was clearly asking for trouble.
It made it look as if Fermaton was rebelling against the Kingdom’s orders....
"Wait, could it be...?"
A sudden chill ran down Zenith’s spine.
"Is this a signal that he’s officially going to rebel against the Kingdom...?"
Resisting the King’s orders head-on.
It was as good as declaring that he would not follow the laws of the Kingdom.
"...Is he going to the Empire?"
The Kingdom.
The Empire.
If he had to choose between the two, going to the Empire might actually be a better choice for Ruji.
Setting aside the curse of the Fermaton family for a moment, if the Fermaton territory, which was the border between the two countries, fell to the Empire, the Empire’s territory would expand.
It was a place that could form a third zone, but for now, Fermaton was Kingdom territory.
The moment it became Empire territory, there would be active movements to try and reclaim it for the Kingdom.
"...Emma."
"Yes, Countess."
"As the Head Maid, what do you think of this situation?"
"...I can only describe it as Young Lord Ruji being himself."
Head Maid Emma shook her head with a blunt expression.
"He’s bored of the women he’s currently sleeping with, so he bought some random women. Under the name of slaves. The reason for that is... if I may be so bold...."
"Speak."
"...I wonder if it isn't to provoke you, Countess."
"Me?"
At Emma’s words, Zenith felt the anxiety she had been feeling vanish like bubbles in an instant.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I don't believe Young Lord Ruji bought slaves at a time like this with political maneuvering against the Kingdom in mind."
"......."
It was a rather harsh assessment, but it was the correct one.
At least compared to the Ruji from before he shaved his head.
"Those slaves, I heard they are half-Minotaurs. Women with breasts as large as yours, Countess. And...."
"And?"
"Though they are halves, women of the Minotaur species have a certain characteristic."
"A characteristic? ...They do?"
"Yes. Since it’s something unrelated to combat."
Emma knew something that even Zenith, a former adventurer, did not.
"They."
"They?"
"Produce breast milk even when they are virgins."
"......."
"Isn't it likely a sordid intention to suck on them until your own breast milk starts flowing, Zenith?"