Chapter 366: What is Equality

Prologue of a Merchant War.

「It feels like forever since we had a long talk like this.」

I comment calmly as I face Claire and Laurie.

Most of the times when the two of them visit me in my mansion, it’s to ask me for some kind of favor.

They either ask for some kind of permission or for me to sign some document or something along those lines which usually gets rejected by Adolph.

「We want the Margrave’s cooperation.」

「Oh, on what?」

As expected.

After official expressing their request, they slowly close the distance between us.

While listening to the details, Claire and Laurie comes to my side of the sofa.

Then at the end, they start appealing to my lower half.

「We ask that you please lend your support.」

Their way of doing things seems to be different this time around.

Instead of coming onto my lap with a spoiled expression, Laurie is bowing on the floor beside Claire.

「Hey now, I’m not into making women prostrate before me. At least sit normally.」

This isn’t an insignificant matter then.

I might have to hold back my cock which is craving for Laurie’s and Claire’s bodies.

When I urge them to talk with a serious expression, Claire begins to explain politely.

「What we knew was coming has finally come. The Flitch company has issued the final notice for all its interests and assets throughout Eastern Goldonia, including Hardlett’s territory, to be sold. I was even introduced to a large merchant company in Goldonia as a potential buyer.」

Claire holds a considerable amount of authority within the company as a regional manager.

She can make her own decisions regarding inventory, sales, and investments, however the company’s position is determined by the executives.

If the head office decides to withdraw from a certain area or sell the business, she has no choice but to obey.

「You said it before. The head office is eager to invest in the south―― in the South Yuguria Empire.」

Claire nods with a rigid expression.

「Yes. Soon, a large amount of extremely high interest government bonds will be issued by South Yuguria Empire in the name of Queen Wilhelmina. It is to cover the costs of procuring war supplies and ruling Libatis.」

South Yuguria may have won, but they still suffered casualties and they will certainly need more money to completely swallow up Libatis. That is, they need to pay off debts.

「At first glance, the high rate seems risky…… however the top thinks it’s possible to be repaid if the wealthy Libatis is ruled peacefully.」

I’ll nod for now.

I’m not knowledgeable in business transactions and the specifics Claire is talking about is not on the level of a general store owner buying and selling.

In short, I have no clue what is being said.

I can only nod my head at everything.

「I do not intend to abandon my business in this land and return to being the manager of some mid-level company. I made up many reasons to dodge the question. That’s where this comes in.」

Laurie places a vial of scarlet ink and a fancy sheet of paper decorated with gold in front of me.

Thanking her, I rub her bowed head and neck, making her leak a “hafuuh” sound and her body tremble.

「Hooh, “if there is no proof of liquidation within a week, they will consider it a breach of contract and, as a penalty, will strip away all status as well as order a fine to be paid in addition to the initial capital investment and deposit”, is it?」

Does this rough way of wording written on this sheet of paper really have such compelling force?

No, it might actually hold power for merchants. I probably would have blown my nose on it and threw it away.

「Well, it’s a matter of convenience. I can easily make back the initial investment and deposit, but the penalty for breach of contract is ten times the principal amount and not a sum I can pay. If I do what they say, my rights and accounts receivable would be seized.」

「I guess. So, what are you going to do?」

The corner of Claire’s mouth raises slightly.

「It would be against a merchant’s policy to avoid paying so I paid back the principal and the appropriate amount of interest. That along with the good will I have towards Flitch.」

In that case, a clash with the head office is unavoidable.

「The shipment was three days ago, but six major suppliers have already been notified to terminate transactions and immediately return the money. All shipments that will go across the river are impossible to receive, essentially making it impossible to do business with the Federation.」

To be expected of her opponents who are also merchants, they work fast.

「In addition, several feudal lords are blocking the transport of iron products from Lintbloom to the capital. I have no doubt they were bribed by head office.」

That’s not good to hear.

「It isn’t a big deal, since I’ve already secured an alternate route by buying off feudal lords and barrier officials.」

Claire isn’t losing.

「My name is more prominent than that of the Flitch company within the Margrave’s territory and the neighboring areas. I have also switched my target market of steel to the Goldonian merchants.」

「So this is the merchant war you described to me before. It’s not something I’m familiar with…… I will cheer for you.」

Laurie and Claire shake their heads.

「Not even close! This is just the opening act. In terms of war, this would be like the initial cursing stage or the exchange of arrows.」

「This is when the true battle begins. When you talk about merchant wars, you won’t see blood, rather you will see mountains of gold being thrown around.」

I see.

「Then what can I do? To be honest, I have no clue about how to fight a merchant war. I don’t think I can just march into the Flitch company and swing a spear around, right?」

Adolph would know what to do, except he said something about remaining neutral as the feudal lord’s government affairs official and not wanting to get involved in disputes with other merchants.

Claire and Laurie finally come beside me.

「The head office is betting the survival of the company on the investment in the South Yuguria Empire. They won’t stop at cutting off my market and expelling me…… They will use all sorts of methods in order to retrieve their assets.」

「Flitch may be mid-level, however they can move hundreds of thousands of gold from one side to the other. They have a long history and are fully capable of utilizing under-the-table tactics like hiring assassins to take care of us.」

Even I’ve heard through rumors that there is a group specialized in assassination willing to accept work at a ridiculously high price.

It’s possible for them to also send troublesome individuals unlike the usual mercenaries or thugs found at any bar.

「I will naturally be very careful, but unfortunately there is a limit to what I can do. If I can borrow Aegir-sama’s strength……」

「Sure, I’ll help.」

If I surround them with my escort unit, it won’t be easy to touch them.

The assassins will need to hide their weapons to try and kill Claire, meanwhile I can openly protect her with heavily armed guards.

In the first place, the difference in strength between the bodyguards personally hired by Claire and my escort unit whose main occupation is fighting wars is like night and day.

No matter how skilled our opponents are, my guards will be something they aren’t used to.

If that is still insufficient, I can mobilize my personal army.

Adolph looks like he wants to say something, but the lives of women can’t be replaced.

「And then I’m also properly maintaining relationships with local lords and governors, however there is no lack of skilled individuals in head office. When unimaginably important people fall to schemes and bribes…… there is only so much we can do as merchants. If we could use Aegir-sama’s influence――」

「Sure.」

In other words, it will be a bribing competition.

That’s where I come in and send a letter saying “you better stop or I’ll kill you”, to act as insurance.

This is for Claire. I’ll gladly become a wicked lord who supports a merchant with his status and power.

「Understood, leave it to me.」

Adolph probably won’t be the only one who has something to say to me. Regardless, I’m Claire’s ally.

She’s my woman after all.

「「Thank you very much. To repay the Margrave’s kindness――」」

Claire and Laurie bow their heads together.

I’m not a fan of such formal treatment.

The two of them raise their heads and smile mischievously.

「So what kind of compensation do you desire?」

「Fufufu, you already know…… Claire, you’re such a bad woman.」

Just like the evil lords I’ve seen in theatres, I reach out towards Claire’s bountiful bust and Laurie’s slender waist.

「Gufufu, not as bad as you, my lord…… aahn!」

Claire plays along, though she lets out a moan when I use my finger on her.

When I push the two of them onto the sofa, hands get placed on my chest to briefly delay me.

「You are certainly welcome to covet our bodies as much as you want, at any time and anywhere――」

「You may use whichever hole you want, in whatever way you want.」

Saying such pleasing things to me will cause my pants to tear. I have to take them off quickly.

「But that’s not all. We have created an intelligence network here in this land. If you wish for any girl aside from us, we can grant that wish.」

「Whether it’s a lewd attractive older lady or a pure and innocent young girl, we can arrange them for you.」

That sounds good. I just have to confirm one thing.

「You can’t trick or bring any of them by force. Only invite girls who genuinely want to be with me.」

I love women the most, yet at the same time I hate despairing women.

「Of course, we will be recruiting women to become lovers for Aegir-sama. It isn’t something we normally have to do though.」

Claire assures me as she takes off my clothes.

Laurie pulls down my pants and then gulps before chiming in.

「With this size and girth, you will definitely have unwilling women moaning by the end, even if you rape them.」

「This shape…… can only be seen as a weapon to kill women with. Their bodies will fall before their hearts.」

In any case, I’m helping Claire.

I’ll get Celia to explain it to Adolph. He’ll complain more if he hears it from me.

Poor Person, Rich Person.

「Umumu…… I failed.」

When I slump onto a chair in the office with my head in my hands, Celia comments sourly.

「That girl, she really just took the goods and left.」

A moment ago, I gave Suzy a specially made pure gold necklace as a present.

She was happy enough to pounce on my neck and give me a kiss on the cheek.

All that jumping around made her breasts jiggle and flipped up her skirt to reveal her thin red underwear. It was great.

After she received my gift, she left.

「I thought I could sleep with her right away after how happy she was.」

「She’s good at handling men. You can tell by looking at her…… More importantly, we were about to discuss the situation with the refugees and that stupid girl ran off with your necklace!」

I have no chance at winning a battle of enchanting each other.

If I can just pull in her in bed, I can manage something.

「Also, I think you should stay away from Nonna-san for awhile. She thought that you bought the necklace for her.」

So she knew about it. If she finds out I gave it to Suzy, she’ll sulk.

I’ll leave for the city so she can’t find me.

「……I will go question the refugees and learn more about that girl. It’s definitely strange someone like her can be considered skilled. I sense some kind of conspiracy here.」

Celia has doubts about Suzy’s background, huh?

I think it doesn’t matter at this point, although I’ll let her do as she likes.

I exit the mansion and head into the city.

Along the way, I pretend not to notice the female caretaker breastfeeding a foal in the stable.

Firstly, I take a peek at the parade grounds.

Irijina is running around like she’s having fun.

「Here’s where you charge in! What’s wrong, where’s your energy!?」

To the side, Myla is talking endlessly to the mid-level and low-level commanders about something.

「When you get hit by an enemy raid, you should inform the main force of the size, then you need to analyze the enemy’s strength and pressure, retreat, defend and then determine whether it is possible to counterattack. The standard for judging strength is――」

It sounds like a lecture on military tactics.

If she finds me, she might rope me in as well, so I’ll keep my distance.

「Don’t zone out like an idiot!」

Myla whacks one of them on the head with a baton.

That man seems to be a little happy as he apologizes.

Tonight I’ll get her to slap my ass with that stick as well.

「Oh that reminds me, the soldiers mobilized as the reserve forces did not get called off.」

They were mobilized as spare infantry as a precaution, but they never had a chance to do anything.

Keeping them mobilized for no reason will incur necessary costs and they will neglect their main occupations, which isn’t a good thing.

I thought a dismissal order would have come from Leopolt already.

「There are unsettling movements in former Vandolea. I decided it would be wise to maintain our current state for now.」

「Ooh.」

Leopolt is standing behind me before I realized.

Did he know I would be sneaking around?

「I knew. The soldiers knew as well, although they probably didn’t bother pointing it out to you when they could see you trying to hide.」

After Leopolt said that, the soldiers salute altogether and Myla also lowers her head.

Irijina…… is still running around.

How uncool, they knew from the start. I’ll try to deceive them by talking about something serious.

「So do we know specifically what moves they are making in Vandolea?」

「South Yuguria Empire’s counterintelligence system is difficult to get through so the information we can gain is limited. However it has been confirmed that a portion of an unknown size of the army concentrated in the southwest, which includes Libatis, has moved to the east. There aren’t too many reasons to move the army from Libatis considering the likelihood of rebellion or deterioration of public order.」

「Is it another war?」

Leopolt shakes his head.

「If they were going to wage war, they would need to move more than a squad of soldiers. They would need to set up logistics. Therefore, I conclude that the chance of a smaller scale ambush operation is highly likely.」

「I see. Then I will leave that in your hands. If necessary, I’ll send Tristan again.」

Leopolt lowers his head a little bit and then disappears.

I’ll go somewhere different too.

Having a superior wandering around and doing nothing won’t do anybody any good.

I walk leisurely along the main street of the shopping district to cool off.

A group of females wearing fur coats and vibrantly-colored hats pass by in front of me.

「It’s cold today, don’t you think? Do you want to go somewhere warm to have tea?」

「Then shall we go to Rumu Rumu? They released a new apple pie yesterday~」

「Sounds delicious. I’m going to use up all my allowance.」

「Ahaha, didn’t you also get an advance payment of five silver from your parents last month? Aren’t they going to yell at you?」

「After warming up ourselves with tea, do you want to check out some new hats? We could also look at the fox pelt…… kyaa――!! That person just touched my bum! It’s a molester!」

Crap, my hand moved by itself after I was drawn into the sprightly atmosphere.

「Sorry. You were so beautiful my hand couldn’t help reaching for your ass. Forgive me and my right hand for being lewd.」

The girls were shocked after they saw my face.

「Feudal lord-sama!? What are you doing here by yourself?」

「Hahaha, I’m a human too. I shop and walk around like everyone else.」

The five girls crowd around me like they just saw a rare animal.

They are probably daughters of wealthy houses without any noble titles so I can talk to them casually.

It works out in my favor.

To begin with, Myla and I are the only nobles in Rafen.

「Feudal lord-sama is such a pervert for touching a girl’s bum~」

「What a naughty hand~」

The girls surround me and criticize me in a playful tone.

Upon closer inspection, they’re all in the late teens or early twenties.

I can’t see much of their bodies when they’re wearing thicker clothing for the winter, however I can smell the scent of perfume trendy among young girls on them.

「Eww, he’s ogling at us~」

「He’s thinking about dirty things. It’s just like the rumors~」

A finger pokes my body.

I’m glad I became feudal lord. I have another reason to protect Rafen now.

「Hey, don’t poke me. By the way, what are you doing about tea? Rumu Rumu’s apple pie is popular so it’ll probably run out by evening.」

The special apple pie which was made ready for sale yesterday is actually quite popular with the rich.

Celia ran to the store at night after training and hung her head when she found out it was sold out.

She’s clever so I know she won’t make the same mistake twice. She’ll get one today.

「Here, it’s thanks for letting me touch your ass. Now you can eat as much as you want.」

I give each of them one gold coin.

They may be from well-off families, but I don’t feel any regret giving them gold.

「Waahー Thank you.」

「If I eat one gold’s worth, I’m going to get fat~」

「Let’s go to Meriges restaurant too. That place is really expensive and too much for our allowances.」

The girls giggle and wave their hands as they leave.

Older ladies are great, but girls 20 or younger are wonderful too.

Erich told me once, “protect the city and the people who live there,” because that’s the duty of a feudal lord.

「That is wrong. It should be “protect the city where women reside”.」

Now then, I guess I’ll find a bar to drink at.

It would have been nice if Gido or Christoph came with me――

「Oh right. Christoph isn’t here anymore……」

It’s a little sad to call him a scapegoat after he got captured by South Yuguria.

As Leopolt said, South Yuguria has a tight hold on information so we can’t locate Christoph, much less come up with a rescue plan.

「He’s not the smartest guy. Well, he’s interesting. It’s lonely without him.」

I’ll drink alone after all.

I’ll quietly raise a glass in memory of him.

When I try to look for a quiet bar to enter, I feel a tug on my sleeve.

「Hm?」

It was a young girl about ten years old who was grabbing onto me.

「Are you lost?」

She has a rather dirty appearance though her clothes are normal, so she probably isn’t an orphan.

With that said, she doesn’t seem to be at an age where she can’t find her own house.

「Please, your blessing. I humbly beg you.」

「Fumu……」

A beggar, and a child one at that.

You don’t really see many of these in Rafen.

「……hn?」

I see the guards looking this way so I put the little girl on my shoulders.

Now we look like parent and child.

「……fumu.」

The guards return to their patrol.

Myla fussed about how beggars could become a cause for the deterioration of public order in Rafen and has made it illegal.

If any are found, while they may not be thrown in jail, they will get a good scolding.

「You don’t have a house to go back to?」

She shakes her head side to side.

Ahh, she has a place to go back to yet she’s begging.

「You don’t have parents?」

She shakes her head again.

「Mama is there……」

The girl points to a woman in her thirties similarly pulling the sleeves of passersby.

Oh, the guards shouted at her and she ran away.

After entering the back alleys, I find the mother and put my hand on her shoulder.

「Um, your blessings…… hiiiih!」

Does she recognize me?

She was about to run again until she saw her daughter beside me.

If she abandoned her daughter and fled, I would have to punish her with my dick.

I take the mother and child to a store we can enjoy tea at, then try to understand her situation.

Their family consists of two parents and three children, with the children not yet old enough to work.

Although the father is working, he has a weak constitution, preventing him from earning a decent wage.

The mother used to be working, but was fired recently after making a blunder.

With the addition of various other factors, their family was left with no money and they couldn’t pay the winter head tax for five people―― a total of five gold.

They won’t be able to survive if chased out of Rafen so they are doing everything possible, regardless of appearance, to earn more money.

「I see.」

Which reminds me, the time for head tax collection is soon.

As the feudal lord, I have seen the title of a document passed to me by Adolph.

Of course, I only read the title and not the contents.

「The city tax of one gold per person is too much for us. I’m sure it’s like allowance for those shopping here everyday……」

The mother looks downward depressingly and sips her tea.

Adolph was very worried about the widening gap between the rich and poor, and I’m actually experiencing it now.

Head tax in cities, including Rafen, are one gold per person for the year.

Compared to the two silver every year in smaller towns and farming villages, it seems relatively expensive. However, it is justified if you consider the cost required to maintain the city walls, to pay wages to the guards constantly keeping watch of the public order, to upkeep facilities for easy access to fresh water, plus to pay for the construction of other amenities in Rafen.

These benefits are evenly shared between the rich and poor so it’s not reasonable for only the rich to bear ten times the burden.

Besides, if the level of tax in the cities are set to the same level as the farming villages, all the people will gather in the cities.

If that happens, there would not be enough houses and food to distribute to everyone.

The number of people who can’t eat will increase and cause public order to worsen, both of which are not good things.

There hasn’t been a problem so far since everyone in Rafen is poor, but no matter what there will always be some people who are richer and some people who are poorer.

Trying to equalize that would be strange.

「Uuu…… there isn’t much time left until tax collection. At this rate, my only option left will be selling my body at a brothel…… still, that’s better than all my children getting thrown out.」

「Umumu.」

I know head tax is something necessary and Adolph has a reason for calculating such an amount, however I can’t just ignore the trouble family in front of me.

「I got it. I’ll write up something for you so just show it to the tax official when he comes.」

“In the name of the feudal lord Aegir Hardlett, this family is exempt from head tax”

There, I’m sure Adolph will come up with a good method to deal with this.

「Are you sure about this!?」

「Yeah, don’t go telling everyone now. If this causes a disturbance, Adolph will complain to me.」

Tears run down the mother’s face as she grabs my hand tightly.

「Hey, if you grab on so tight, you’re going to turn me on. I love married women, you know?」

「I don’t mind. If it’s the compassionate feudal lord……」

The mother glances outside.

She sees a couple leaning against each other lovingly get sucked into an inn.

「I’ll be a feudal lord who steals women’s bodies in exchange for tax.」

My arm circles the mother’s waist.

「This is just a married woman having an affair with a feudal lord who cares about his people.」

The mother’s hand moves from my arm to my shoulder, then to my chest.

「Richa, I’ll give you some pocket money so go play for an hour or so. This is a secret from papa.」

Several copper coins, probably earned by the mother through begging, were given to her daughter.

As the mother and I watch the little girl run off happily to a food stand selling skewers, the two of us enter the inn while cuddling.

One Hour Later.

「Mama, you’re wobbling. Do your legs hurt?」

「It’s my groin that hurts, my legs are fine.」

I watch the mother and daughter walk away and look to enter the bar.

「Mama, something is dripping down your leg. Did you spill something? There’s a lot of it.」

「Something is just overflowing a little, it isn’t a big deal.」

My hips feel lighter.

Now I can focus on remembering Christoph.

「Mama, there are lots of red marks on your neck. Why is that?」

「Some out-of-season bugs stung me. I’ll wrap a scarf around my neck when I get back home, so don’t tell papa about it.」

Young women are great, but women with children are awesome too.

「I’m certain you’re going to be getting another sibling next winter. Let’s think about some names.」

「Yaaay! I want a little brother!」

Temperatures have dropped in the evenings.

Patchy clothing must not be warm enough for them as the heart-warming scene of parent and child cuddling together on the way home is beautifully unfolding before my eyes.

「Aaah…… it truly was an amazing experience. If only papa was as big and fat as that. Then, mama would be screaming every night. Aaah, feudal lord-sama…… I want you to hold me again…… I’ll never forget this……」

「Eeeh, papa getting bigger is fine, but getting fatter is not. I don’t want mama to cry either. You want the feudal lord-sama to carry you?」

「Being carried might be nice too. Imagine if he held me, supported me with only that thing and then rocked his hips…… don’t tell papa anything, got it?」

What a beautiful mother and daughter.

「Ah! Feudal lord-sama!」

「Are you going to drink~?」

It’s the same group of five girls I met earlier.

They must have went shopping after tea judging by the new hats they’re wearing.

Those warm, fluffy hats are made of the fox fur which Nonna also loves.

「Thank you for the money earlier!」

「The dinner we had today at Meriges was the best. I think the feudal lord-sama would surely like it as well~」

「Yes, well the feudal lord-sama might need five portions though.」

The girls are smiling from the bottom of their hearts.

They are genuinely happy.

「We’ve already ate, but we can at least pour alcohol for you.」

「I want to listen to the feudal lord-sama’s stories too~」

「Hahaha, it’s getting dark. If you don’t get home soon, won’t your families worry?」

The girls also seem to be reluctant to spend too long outside when it’s late.

They obediently listen to my advice, wave to me and leave.

「Aah, I needed to buy my younger brother a gift……he said he wanted red wine from the Federation.」

「I also spent too much today! I won’t be able to buy the new dress next month.」

「You always spend too much. Your allowance is going to decrease soon.」

「Don’t say such ominous things! If it goes down anymore, I’ll die!」

「Huhmph. My papa is doing well in his business so my allowance is at three gold now. I’m all the way up heeere.」

「「「「Haha, please treat us!」」」」

The girls really seem happy.

「「「「「Kyahahahaha!!」」」」」

「We’re talking about the same five gold, yet the value is so different.」

I’m not saying either one is better.

It’s simply an observation that Rafen’s citizens have changed so much.

「It might be a good idea to give this more thought.」

The poor and the rich…… if I can think of a way to make everyone happy, I’ll be a wise ruler.

In other words, I will get the poor girls, the rich girls and every girl in between to open their legs for me.

「For the allocation of tax―― and then help to the poor――」

As I begin to think, I see someone I recognize.

It’s easy to see who it is even as the sky darkens and the number of somber lights from bars increases.

Clothes which show off her large breasts, her short skirt, her plump thighs, her long fancy hair…… it’s my Suzy.

A man is standing in front of her, almost cornering her against the wall.

「You’re a real cutie. Why don’t you play with me right now.」

「Eeeh, actually I’m working for the feudal lord, so that would trouble me, I keep telling you~」

The man puts his hand next to Suzy and brings his face closer.

「Who cares about that~ you’re dressed like this because you actually want to catch men, right? You can do some fun things with me, it’ll feel real good.」

「Hey now, sexing it up so quickly, it isn’t my thing~」

The man scoops some of Suzy’s hair and blows on her neck.

No, I think he’s kissing her neck.

Not to mention his other hand is rolling up her skirt and rubbing her thick thighs.

When I look closer, I see Suzy is wearing the necklace I gave her.

The man is praising the necklace while touching her breasts.

「Your body is super sexy, and this necklace is also attractive…… hey, it’s okay right?」

「Gosh, in a place like this…… it can’t be helped. You’re kinda cool and I guess if it’s only one round~」

Suzy forces a smile as she glances over at the lovers’ inn, meanwhile the man happily wraps his arm around her shoulder.

This is no time to be thinking about the gap in society.

My woman is about to be attacked by another man.

If I can’t even protect my own woman, I can’t expect to do anything for others.

I shake my head to throw out all the complicated thoughts.

「Wait, I won’t let you!」

My voice comes out instinctively as I step in front of them.

「……what’s your deal?」

「Huh? It’s Aegir-san.」

I could tell.

Suzy may appear to be willing to accept this guy at first, but she really doesn’t want to be with him.

She could not refuse when pressured in the public and accepted only out of fear.

「You have guts to put your hands on my woman.」

She received a present from me so she can be called mine.

I do the same thing the guy did to Suzy before, put my hand on the wall and bring my face close to his.

「W-what do you want? I didn’t hear about a villainous boyfriend! You’re a muscular freak. And I’ve seen your face somewhere……」

The man looks at Suzy with spite.

「Hrngh!」

There was a clunk sound.

I put too much power in my arm and it pushed right through the brick wall.

「Hiiih!」

The man’s legs give out and he falls to the ground on his ass.

「I’ll ask again. What were you trying to do to my woman? Depending on your answer……」

I see the crotch area of his pants get wet.

「Hiiiih! I’m sorryーー!!」

The man runs away half in tears.

How unsightly.

You don’t have the courage to face me at least?

If you did, I would have beat you to a pulp to show Suzy who the better man is.

「Are you hurt? I chased away the bad man.」

I turn around with a smile on my face.

「Aah, yeah. That was super unnecessary…… Oh well, weaklings aren’t my type anyway.」

Suzy tries to steady her breathing and rubs the places on her thigh and neck where the man touched her.

Still, she can’t seem to stop her skin from turning red or return her rough breathing to normal.

「Aahn, I can’t endure it any more. Hardlett-san seems to be big in that area…… do you have some time to spare~?」

Suzy pulls my hand and walks forward.

「Hm?」

「Shall we go there to-ge-ther~?」

Suzy points to a dimly lit lovers’ inn.

My heart and crotch spring up in excitement.

「Ooh, so you finally feel in the mood!?」

「Nnfufu~」

Suzy takes my arm, pushing her chest against it as she heads to the inn.

When I look down at the woman clinging tightly to me, I can see her nipples as well as her undergarments.

「Aah, you’re looking~ pervert~」

「Fufufu, yes I’m a pervert. I’m going to be more and more perverted.」

Suzy grins and then whispers in my ear.

「You see, I’m actually a pervert too…… and extremely lewd.」

Hearing the sound of my pants ripping and no longer able to hold back, I pick Suzy up and run into the inn.

Christoph, the five gold coins, the gap in society, and all that stuff flew out of my mind in an instant.

At the moment, my head is filled with thoughts of the body of a mature thirty year old woman, the tight ass of a young girl, and what I’m going to do to Suzy to make her cry out in pleasure.

–Third Person POV–

Christoph’s Tragedy 2

「Kukuku…… how about here?」

「Guah! It hurts!」

In a certain damp basement in South Yuguria, Christoph’s screams echo.

「Over here is next.」

「Aaau! T-take it easier on me!」

Everytime the torturer pushes his arm, Christoph shouts and his body jerks up.

「You’re already making so much noise? This is still far from being over…… take that!」

「Higyyii!」

His screams continued for a while until the torturer decides to take a seat and drink some water.

「Haa…… haa…… I thought I was going to die…… give me some water too……」

Christoph is out of breath, unable to move and barely keeping himself alive with the water.

「I’m simply giving you a massage. How much of a wimp are you?」

「Well, I can’t help it. When it hurts, it hurts.」

Christoph moves his shoulder in circles, showing a minimal amount of resistance to the torturer.

「Oh, the tightness is gone. You’re pretty good, Zilia.」

「I haven’t been an interrogator since I was born. I was originally someone who gave massages for a living.」

After the torturer confirmed Christoph has caught his breath, she begins to cruelly torture the soles of his feet next.

「Ow, ow, ow ow! I’ve been in this basement for all this time, so my body is bound to get tight. I want to get outside.」

Christoph grits his teeth and pleads to the torturer, but she doesn’t comply with his request.

「Mm, I can somehow get you things to eat and drink. Going outside is not so easy. I’ll give you a massage everyday so put up with it.」

「I feel bad for letting you do all the work. Let me massage Zilia next.」

「Oh, thanks.」

Christoph takes the slight opening given to him to start his counterattack.

「Oh…… that feels pretty good. You don’t have to use too much strength…… it only hurts when amateurs try too hard.」

「Hehehe, to make up for my lack of achievements, I at least massage my superiors to increase their evaluation of me!」

「……don’t say that, it’ll make me sad.」

Unfortunately, Christoph’s attack doesn’t last long.

「That does it for the back, I guess. Why don’t you lie down―― oww!」

「Stuuupid, you think I don’t realize you staring at my boobs and ass? You probably intend to grab them in the process.」

The harsh abuse strikes at Christoph’s heart.

「Uuu…… I just want to touch a woman. The boss has all these beautiful girls waiting for him…… plus he keeps claiming them off the battlefield one after the other. I’m trying my hardest to seduce them and all I get are “you’re a nice guy” and “what an interesting friend”, at best!」

「You don’t have a wife or a lover?」

Christoph slumps over and nods, his heart broken by her question.

「I see…… so you don’t have anyone.」

The torturer nods.

「The boss’s wife has boobs this big…… then there’s his maid Rita whose ass is like this big…… aaaah, the boss can touch it and lick it all he wants!」

Christoph exclaims the unfairness in the world.

「Saying something like that out loud in front of a girl is something you shouldn’t do. Shallow, fool, superficial.」

The torturer’s abuse resumes.

Her inhuman finger pokes Christoph in the side, his thigh and chest.

「Wait! Stop! Uhiih! Ohyo! Stooop, I’m dyinggg!」

「Pervert, idiot, nice guy.」

The torturer finishes her harsh treatment and stands up, getting ready for mealtime.

「……by the way, does that mean you’re a virgin?」

「Heh, don’t be ridiculous. I’m part of the glorious escort unit. I still have some money leftover after paying the bill at bars!」

「Prostitutes, huh? ――haah, how pitiful.」

The torturer gives Christoph a hard flick to the forehead.

「It’s not like you can call prostitutes to this dungeon. There are guards constantly keeping watch too so masturbation is……」

The torturer checks the door of Christoph’s confinement cell.

「Fumu…… keeping watch here…… and then the time to torture the person next door…… fumu fumu.」

「Heey, it’s about time to eat.」

Christoph’s plea goes unheard and the meals essential for human survival are delayed.

「If you’ve only been with prostitutes, you’re practically a virgin…… fufu, I should be adventurous with some new underwear……」

「Heeeey, I’m hungry over here.」

The agonizing torture continues.

Christoph does not have any hope.