Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Cheonwi's Secret Workshop
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"You ladies must feel so stiff being cooped up in the palace all day. Aching shoulders, sore backs. This vibrating stone is the core component of the latest 'medical device' designed to loosen up those tense muscles."
"Ahh! As expected from Big Brother, your filial piety knows no bounds!"
The eunuchs nodded in admiration.
"Then what about this 'Spider Demon's Transparent Silk'? It's so thin that if you made clothes out of it, everything would show through."
Another eunuch A piped up. Spider demon silk was notoriously hard to obtain, durable yet too transparent to serve as proper clothing—that was the common consensus.
Cheonwi's lips curled up ever so slightly.
'That's exactly why we use it, you idiots.'
But what came out of his mouth was something entirely different.
"This is for maintaining the ladies' skin elasticity... yeah, a 'beauty compression bandage.' Wrap your legs in it, and it'll improve blood circulation, really bringing out those killer legs."
"Ooh...!"
"And this sticky fluid is for skin moisturizing, the elastic rubber for... stretching exercise equipment. Got it?"
Cheonwi's mind was already firing on all cylinders with knowledge from his past life as an engineer.
Designs for a [Magic-Engineered Electric Massager (Women's Edition)] with adjustable vibration intensity—combining the vibrating stone and elastic rubber—were taking shape. And with the spider demon silk, he'd perfected weaving methods for [Sheer Stockings] at a mere 15 denier and a matching [Garter Belt].
This was a fantasy world. Magic and martial arts existed, but the state of adult toys was pathetically primitive. Wooden dildos carved by hand and some erotic paintings were about it. Into this barren wasteland, Cheonwi was determined to bring the wonders of modern civilization.
"The peace of the imperial household comes from the ladies' peace of mind and body. If they're happy, His Majesty the Emperor will be at ease, and only then can we relax. That's patriotism. Understand?"
"Yes, sir! We'll get them, even if it costs our lives!"
The eunuchs, thoroughly brainwashed by Cheonwi's sophistry, shouted with resolute expressions.
"Good. Scatter in teams and hunt them down. Expenses come from the eunuch bureau's operating funds. If it's short, raid Ma Eunuch's room and scrape it together."
"Loyalty!"
The eunuchs dashed out of the courtyard like the wind.
The yard emptied in an instant. Cheonwi crossed his legs on a bench and unrolled a map of the Imperial Palace.
Several spots were marked in red ink.
[Empress (Conquered)]
[Princess (Approach Planned)]
[Noble Consort (High Difficulty)]
[Rear Palaces 1, 2, 3...]
Cheonwi hummed a tune as he twirled his brush.
"Once I gather the materials... I'll turn this boring, rigid palace into 'the world's greatest pleasure house.'"
He glanced toward the emperor's grand hall and grinned.
"Big Brother Emperor, look forward to it. I'll dress up all your women real pretty... and real 'functional.' Not sure if you'll get a chance to enjoy them, though."
Cheonwi chuckled to himself, imagining the storm his inventions would unleash in the palace. The Empress in stockings, the princess in a bunny girl outfit, concubines writhing on electric toys.
Just the thought set his dantian yang energy surging once more.
"Hurry up, you materials. My hands are itching—I can't hold out much longer."
A few days later.
The eunuch bureau warehouse, now Cheonwi's personal office, was packed to the brim.
Piles of materials scraped together from across the nation—no, the entire continent—by the eunuchs' desperate efforts towered high.
The fishy scent of South Sea red abalone, said to raise the dead. Mystery elastic rubber smuggled from a Western trade caravan at a premium. And spider demon silk that shimmered faintly under moonlight.
Cheonwi gazed fondly at the bounty on his desk. His eyes no longer held the look of a mere eunuch. They burned with the mad gleam of a genius inventor on the cusp of greatness—a 'Mad Sex Toy Maker.'
He rolled up his sleeves.
"Alright, time to get crafting."
The eunuch bureau warehouse—no, Cheonwi's secret workshop now deserved the name—was thick with a bizarre fervor. It resembled an alchemist's lab, crammed floor to ceiling with exotic, grotesque materials.
Cheonwi shuddered with excitement at the array on his workbench. The soul of his past-life engineer and the overflowing yang energy of his current body both screamed in ecstasy.
"Whew, calm down. Shaky hands make defective products."
Before him lay a bundle of silk with a subtle pearlescent sheen.
'Spider Demon's Transparent Silk.'
Most would think of making armor or durable ropes, but Cheonwi saw far more. He held it up to the light.
"Incredible elasticity and perfect flesh-toned transparency. It's not just tough—it's the ideal denier. Roughly 15 to 20."
Cheonwi couldn't contain his awe. No weaving technique in this world could replicate such thinness and stretch. He grabbed scissors and began cutting.
Snip, snip.
Even the sound was crisp. With deft hands, he stitched the silk into tubes. No sewing machine, but his qi-infused needlework was more precise than any machine.
Next, the 'Western Elastic Rubber.' This black import from the West was tough and springy, used for slingshots. Cheonwi sliced it thin, shaped it into bands.
"The key is holding without slipping. Too tight, and blood flow cuts off. Too loose, and no shape."
He added ribbon accents to the band ends, fused it with the spider silk. For the garter belt clips to grip thighs, he fashioned them from small mana stone fragments.
How many hours passed?
Cheonwi wiped sweat from his brow and held up the finished product triumphantly.
Sheer stockings dyed thin black. And the crowning garter belt set.
"It's done. The man's dream, the creator of Absolute Territory—magic items perfected!"
Cheonwi's eyes glittered with mania.
This wasn't mere socks. It exposed that tantalizing sliver of bare thigh between skirt and knee-highs, maximizing visual pleasure—one of humanity's greatest inventions.
"Now, for clinical trials."
Cheonwi tucked the carefully wrapped stockings into his bosom and stepped out of the workshop.
Near the palace maids' quarters.
The sun-drenched corridor basked in lazy afternoon light, peaceful as could be. Cheonwi strolled with hands behind his back, eyes sharp as a hawk scanning for 'models.'
No worn-out veterans—they were too cynical to convince. But rookies lacked the curves.
There—two maids carrying teacups in the distance.
Fresh faces, not long in the palace, yet with mature figures. Above all, those innocent eyes were perfect.
Cheonwi cleared his throat and called in a stern tone.
"You there. Hold up a moment."
The two maids froze in surprise. Seeing Cheonwi, tension etched their faces.
"V-Vice Chief Cheonwi, my lord?"
Rumors had spread among the maids: he'd ousted the senior eunuchs and seized real power in the bureau. And he had the Empress's favor—the real power among powers.
Cheonwi approached slowly. With feigned concern, he eyed their legs.
"Tsk tsk, just as I thought."
"P-Pardon? Is something wrong...?"
Maid A asked, frightened.
"You've been getting leg swelling lately, haven't you? Standing all day, calves puffing up and aching by evening."
"Y-Yes... How did you know?"
The maids' eyes widened. Leg edema was an occupational hazard for standing maids.
Cheonwi pulled a black silk bundle from his bosom.
"Her Majesty the Empress, in praise of your hard work, has graciously bestowed this. A 'functional leg protector' handmade in the eunuch bureau's secret workshop."
"Functional... leg protector?"
Maid B eyed it curiously. The thin black fabric looked oddly luxurious.
Cheonwi switched to his most earnest pitchman mode.
"Slip these on, and the specially woven spider demon silk applies just-right pressure to boost circulation. Swelling gone, legs sculpted beautifully."
"Really?"
"And moreover."
Cheonwi leaned in, whispering conspiratorially.
"Wearing these boosts your chances of catching His Majesty's eye by 300%. Statistically proven."
'300%!'
The maids' eyes wavered. Every palace maid dreamed of imperial favor. Tripling the odds? Irresistible.
"I-I'll try them!"
"Me too! Give me some, please!"
Cheonwi smiled satisfiedly, pointing to the changing screen.
"Good. Go behind that screen and put them on. Tricky to wear, so I'll coach from out here."
Rustling came from behind the screen.
"Oh my, what's this? So thin."
"But it clings so tight. Feels like it's gripping my legs."
"Where does this strap go? On the thigh?"
Cheonwi stood outside, arms crossed, humming. Imagination stirred more than sight. High-res images filled his mind: thin silk climbing those pale legs.
Moments later.
"M-My lord... We're dressed."
"Come out."
The maids emerged shyly from behind the screen.
Cheonwi swallowed dryly without thinking.
"Perfect."
It was flawless.
Below skirt hems falling to mid-calf, sleek legs sheathed in black sheer stockings gleamed. The subtle translucence contrasted with black, making skin whiter, more sensual.
With each step, skirts swayed, flashing the precarious garter straps high on thighs.
The maids blushed, eyeing each other.
"Oh, it's too risqué..."
"Skin shows right through. Is this really a leg protector?"
"But... my legs look so slim! My calves are half the size!"
The aesthetic worked wonders. Despite embarrassment, they couldn't tear eyes from their mirrored gams.
Cheonwi approached with his baton (aka disciplinary rod). Time for fine-tuning.
"Hold on, there's a wrinkle there. Ruins the compression."
He flicked Maid A's skirt up slightly with the baton tip.
"Need to check this band's tension."
Tap—the baton struck the thigh strap.
Twing.
A crisp snap as it dug into flesh then rebounded.
"Mm, good. Just right. That boundary between thigh and stocking... art."
"M-My lord? Art?"
"Er, medically speaking, perfect blood flow."
Cheonwi brazened through, turning to Maid B, who stood awkwardly.
"What's with that posture? Won't catch His Majesty's eye like that. Cross your legs more. Yes, haughty-like."
"L-Like this?"
Maid B crossed her legs, tensing thigh muscles, sharpening stocking lines.
"That's it! Chin up, gaze 15 degrees down. From today, hike skirts a bit when working. Wider steps. It's the palace 'trend' now."
"Trend...?"
"Yep. Fall behind fashion, get weeded out. Got it?"
Cheonwi's confident tone and pro demeanor sold it completely.
"Y-Yes... Understood..."
"We'll do our best, my lord!"
They were fully hooked in his rhythm now.