Orgy Bathhouse
When I returned to find Cesare again, it was around evening. It was the guest annex reserved for the kingdom's envoys. The atmosphere and interior were worlds apart from the students' dorms, a clear testament to the envoys' extravagance. White marble floors like polished jade, oversized and dazzling chandeliers far too grand for lodging, famous paintings adorning the lobby from the entrance, and a lavish fruit table smack in the center. Around it, envoys lounged half-reclined on chairs that served as makeshift beds, munching fruit like old men lost in paradise. The ones guzzling booze craned their necks like giraffes the moment I strode boldly inside, sizing me up.
"Who's that?"
"Isn't that the punishment instructor? What the hell's he doing here this late?"
"Any reason he'd come to a place like this?"
In the midst of the murmuring crowd, a young envoy spotted me and rushed over, blocking my path.
"Please wait here."
"Pardon?"
"Instructor. Stay right here. I'll fetch Lord Cesare for you."
Sharp kid—he planted me in place and vanished into the depths of the annex. Amid the stares, I popped a Shine Musket berry into my mouth for no reason.
Damn, why's this so good?
Students could indulge in this luxury too, but they don't because it's just not worth the hassle. Scenes like this? Totally lost on me.
"Welcome, Instructor."
A plump middle-aged man with flecks of gray in his hair approached, greeting me. He flashed a friendly smile, but the subtle disgust etched on his face proved he wasn't the good guy he pretended to be.
"Yeah. Hello."
But there was a weird smell coming off him. Thick, familiar... what was it? I didn't smell it often, but he'd probably reeked of it plenty.
"This annex is for envoys only, so instructors like you rarely visit. What brings you here?"
"Got someone I need to talk to privately."
His vibe was off-putting; no desire to chat. Time to brush him off politely.
"Anyway, he's taking forever. Guess I'll head in—"
"Whoa, hold up. Outsiders can't just wander inside."
Desperate protest. He even stuck a foot out to block me.
Suspicious. Sure, it was their annex, but this was still academy property. As an instructor, I had every right to enter.
"Even with my status, the director and I have an agreement. No one—not even her—gets to barge in here freely."
"It's basically the same as the student dorms, isn't it? No real reason to stop me."
"You wouldn't get it. Though, blocking the annex entrance doesn't look great for us."
I wanted to ask what "doesn't look great" meant, but I figured it out soon enough. Cesare rushed out, reeking of the exact same scent.
This smell... no way?
I didn't want to believe it, but with two of them stinking the same, it clicked. Semen. Thick, pungent semen.
"Well, well. Didn't expect you'd make up your mind so soon."
Cesare greeted me with a beaming smile. He grabbed my shoulder for a perfunctory hug, treating me like one of them already.
"Come in, come in. You have no idea how thrilled I am that you've decided to join us so quickly."
"If anything, I'm the grateful one for accepting a guy like me."
Play along, thick mask on. "Heh heh heh. Then let's head inside and have a proper chat."
The middle-aged man panicked as Cesare tried pulling me in. "C-Cesare! What are you saying? He's an outsider—a punishment instructor, no less!"
"Don't you get why the instructor's here?" Cesare slapped a chummy hand on my shoulder and raised his voice for all to hear. "Listen up, everyone! Remember this man's face. Treat him like one of us from now on."
"The i-instructor?"
"Cesare, he's close to the director—a professor who punishes those who corrupt the academy's morals!"
Cesare exploded. "How can people be so narrow-minded and shortsighted? Can't you grasp why Instructor Lee Hyun is here?!"
"You mean he's joining us?"
"The director's been ignoring us outright, and now her right-hand man wants in?"
I hadn't said a word about joining, but Cesare had already yanked me into their inner circle. If anyone's lacking insight, it's him. What did he think my angle was?
Maybe he's just that desperate.
Stuck riding the academy's coattails for ages with no results, kowtowing to both kingdom and school. For a bigwig like Cesare, it must've been maddening, wasting time in limbo. Then I drop in like a goldmine, right into his lap. Less "lucky break" and more "long-overdue reward." He couldn't let me slip away— a rare gift that wouldn't knock twice.
"Exactly. Treat the instructor with respect from now on. Our patience has finally paid off."
"But what if he has ulterior motives—"
"Who's spouting nonsense?!"
Nailed it. Cesare hated even a speck of dirt on his name. He bellowed like his throat was ripping, glaring for the culprit.
Everyone clammed up, heads bowed in defeat. I grabbed Cesare's shoulder to intervene.
"Lord Cesare. Their suspicion's natural."
"...I made a fool of myself. My apologies."
"Let's head inside. Sorry if I soured the mood."
Now he'd peg me as thoughtful. I led Cesare deeper into the annex.
"Ahem. Embarrassing to show a guest such ugliness. This way."
We walked the corridor. Every door on the first floor was draped in suggestive red fabric instead of proper panels.
Why's the smell so thick here?
Semen stench hit hardest around here. What the hell were they doing?
"This way."
A grand doorway with a wide threshold and red drapes—probably the bathhouse. Steamy air seeped through the gaps. Why the bathhouse? No regular rooms available?
I hesitated but followed Cesare inside... and lost all words.
Fuck...
Curse bubbled up involuntarily, rage boiling over.
"Come help him undress."
Waiting in the changing room were women—or rags masquerading as such. Some softly stripped the envoys; others had their tits sucked or groped. Two rushed to Cesare, peeling off his clothes. Two more bolted for me, then froze at my face.
"I-Instructor?"
I recognized them. Not hired dancers—academy students.
Students whoring for envoys here?
I'd heard rumors of Ios's sex trade or rapes, but this annex secret? First I'd heard. No suspicions, no whispers. Ironclad lockdown. No leaks.
These decrepit kingdom envoys, dragging in students meant to learn, forcing this filth. Murderous fury surged.
Should I really let these vermin live?
"I-Instructor?"
The student trembled, terrified. My killing intent vanished; sanity returned.
Hold off for now.
Yeah, endure. Ruin things now, and the whole plan crumbles. Sacrifice a few for the greater good— for the moment.
"It's fine."
I forced a smile; she relaxed, removing my overcoat.
"K-Keep it secret, please."
"Got it."
"We... need to support our families."
"What do you mean?"
As she unbuttoned my shirt, she bit her lip, eyes welling up, hesitant to speak.
"Family's in debt."
"You're nobility, aren't you?"
"That's why we borrowed wrong. Commoners wouldn't even get loans."
Family woes forcing this. Selling themselves to scum like that. She deftly stripped my top, then pants.
"Heard you make good money here, so..."
"...Everyone?"
"Different reasons. Some just for cash."
She slid off my underwear, blushed, and quickly wrapped a towel around my waist.
"Commoners too."
"Why the hell would commoner girls do this?"
"Uh... why?"
Tsk, foot in mouth. I rubbed my mouth with my hand, smoothly changing topics.
"Forget that. Commoners working here? Forced?"
"Uh... some yes, some no. But commoners can't work here."
"Then?"
"They work upstairs, get called down sometimes."
"Separate duties?"
"Handling the rough ones..."
Using commoners because they could be roughed up without backlash. Even in this, they ranked low. Gut churning, she bowed and stepped back. Her barely-there rag barely covered her nipples; cleavage and midriff brazenly exposed. It wasn't clothing anymore.
"Enjoy your time, Instructor."
"Yeah..."
I left the changing room and approached Cesare waiting by the main bath. Flanked by two students, he cackled as he entered.
"Might be steamy—speak up if you feel dizzy."
"...Fuck."
I muttered under my breath. I'd suspected as much. This orgy den.