Present-day Polka consists of both the old town, with much of its traditional, poorly constructed architecture, and the new town, which utilizes forest timber, advanced techniques, and occasionally even the land-clearing abilities of dragons; even the old town is gradually seeing redevelopment. Naturally, the original inhabitants wouldn’t want to continue living in dilapidated houses while seeing beautiful new homes spring up one after another. This momentum was bolstered by examples like the Nekoyashiki, which the Baron purchased and renovated into a magnificent estate using the talents of Elven architects and Celesta’s ogre carpenters. Since the construction of Grange, many ogre construction workers have decided to migrate here, drawn by Polka’s charm, and the town provides them with the perfect place to work. During the winter, their immense strength and tall stature prove invaluable for snow removal, and before long, the ogres were becoming an indispensable part of Polka.
Thus, in just about fifteen years since making contact with the Elves, Polka’s residential area has expanded several times over, though rumors say one particular district has become a gathering place for particularly sultry women. And for good reason: the prostitutes—or rather, former prostitutes—from Cosmos-san’s establishment are migrating here one after another. The women of the Cosmos Agency weren’t originally driven into the trade by debt or similar misfortunes; most of them chose sex as their livelihood by choice. Consequently, even when they decide to quit, they have few lingering ties, so quite a few people simply settle down here following the momentum of their move to Polka. Occasionally, members of the Onyx Maid Corps retire and settle here as well, though that is much rarer. Perhaps it has something to do with the Head Maid’s comment that “maids don’t exactly accumulate much wealth.” Though I suspect one reason is simply that they are a difficult group with a fetish for being dominated by someone they serve. Anyway, back to the point. Because of their former line of work, the former Cosmos Agency prostitutes who have settled here often possess skills other than sex—such as culinary expertise or business talent—and since they are accustomed to men and different races, they can hold their own even against large-bodied men. As a result, they have integrated remarkably well as an emerging commercial force, meeting the new demands of the expanding Polka.
“Master—are you in~?” “Cosmos-san. Over here, in the back.” Cosmos-san approached me while I was tinkering with a new type of armor in the Invention Workshop of Vapor Palace. She was properly dressed, despite being inside the Palace. I was a little surprised by that, but then again, I was also clothed today. I mean, it would be foolish to do blacksmithing work naked, yeah.
“I’ve finished the living condition survey for our former prostitutes in the East District… and man, seeing them all working so vigorously in business makes me feel a little proud…” “Well, I figured those from the Agency wouldn’t fall into poverty, but I’m glad everyone is doing well.” Even though we have become incredibly wealthy thanks to the “S&F Foundation,” the “family power” of the female slaves, and the various blessings brought by the dragons… my fortune is not infinite. I can handle the girls who became “kin” as my female slaves, but it’s difficult to take full responsibility for the prostitutes who chose to be self-sufficient instead. To be more precise, if I extend my reach to those who have moved on, there’s no end to the scope of people I’d have to support. However, if they are in trouble, I am well within my rights to lend a hand. For that reason, I have Cosmos-san check on them periodically, but perhaps because they are women from a nation of commerce, no woman has ever approached us in true desperation so far.
“Lin is apparently on the verge of divorce after a fight with her husband, but well, that’s their personal problem. Shasta, on the other hand, mentioned that she accidentally squeezed a customer’s dick while giving a massage out of habit, so I gave her a bit of a scolding.” “Ah… well, if they’re going to offer that kind of service, they really need to declare it beforehand.” The business permits for whether or not to take customers as prostitutes here are managed by Cosmos-san, with the Baron’s authorization. While I can’t keep an eye on every small way to earn pocket money, if someone is making a living out of it, territory disputes and pricing troubles inevitably arise, so for the sake of public order, it cannot be left unchecked. Furthermore, providing sexual services at a massage parlor falls into a “dark gray” area. If customers realize a shop is a place where they can demand such things, they will come with that intention. While it might be fine for someone as legendary as the old Hilda-san, who might take on anyone for free or at a whim, it’s much more likely to cause trouble when it’s just a “spur of the moment” occurrence. One cannot say with certainty that there won’t be unreasonable incidents, such as someone hearing a rumor, going with high expectations, and then being denied the service—leading to a “don’t screw with me” situation.
“So, I take it there’s nothing we need to step in for this time, either.” “That’s right. Oh, a few of them did ask if they could come to the Palace to have sex with you, Master. That was okay, right?” “Well… that’s fine, but of course, I made sure anyone with a husband would refrain, right?” Since they are people who did not join me as female slaves, several of them are married. It is not my intention to cause trouble in their marriages. People tend to forget, but I am fundamentally a cautious person when it comes to sexual relationships with girls. I can be reckless with girls who clearly have no shadow of another man over them, but fundamentally, I dislike pursuing a girl if it means having to contend with another man.
“I am always conveying those intentions of yours, Master… but you see, some girls say that it’s precisely because they’ve tasted other men that your charms are unforgettable…” “Seriously, let’s not do that!? If I get resented because of that, I’ll end up looking like a complete villain!” The de facto owner of a brothel and a legendary womanizer surrounded by a hot spring harem of about a hundred beauties. If word got out that I was still making moves on reformed prostitutes, no matter how you looked at it, I would be the villain.
“It’s fine, because even if someone tries to pick a fight with you about it, someone like Emma-san will stop them! ♪” “That just makes my villainous reputation accelerate even faster!?”
I truly want to keep searching for a path where no one has to suffer. Even if that path only spares one or two people from tears.
And so, I am currently crafting a new type of armor, even at the cost of my time with the children and the female slaves. “Is it almost finished?” “I want to refine it a little more. It could pass as finished as it is, but I feel like I can add one more touch.” As expected of a “new type,” it is on a completely different level from any armor I have worked on before. To be specific, I am using every high-class material available without any restraint or compromise. Not only every metallic material I can get my hands on, but for the lining, I’ve used dragon leather (which requires a special chemical for tanning, a technique I learned directly from the Silver Dragons themselves); for the spacers to shape the silhouette, I’ve used special timber from the Elf territory; additionally, I’ve used dragon scales for defense at key points, and even attached a net made of silk chain to the underside as a rudimentary chainmail. I’ve implemented every possible safeguard. Because the materials are so extraordinary, the dye doesn’t take well, making the appearance a bit too flashy… but once you wear this, you won’t suffer serious physical damage unless something truly extraordinary happens. I’d like to include a helm as well, but regarding that… well, almost no one has worn one since I was a young man.
“With materials like these, it’s hard to even put a price on it… The important people on the other side will surely be informed of the details, so I doubt we’ll get in trouble, but…” “True. That difficulty is exactly why this can only be a one-off.” It is the ultimate piece—an item where I abandoned all pride as a blacksmith to pursue nothing but peak performance. I have never made defensive gear like this, even when facing the strongest of foes. Well, I never have the luxury of preparing gear specifically for an enemy. The person who will wear it is—.
“It’s been a while, Papa!” “Father, I trust you are well.” My innocent sister and my elegantly poised, albeit young, brother. Tetes’s children have arrived at Vapor Palace. “Welcome, Sonia, Tyrus.” The children are nobles. I cannot show them an unrefined sight. Appearing in my usual palace form—completely naked—is out of the question. Just for today, I have prepared to greet them in high-end, new clothing tailored by Oregano. I always put on this display of prestige whenever they visit Polka, but since I can’t exactly provide fine clothing to all the female slaves, dragons, visiting prostitutes, and the maid corps in the palace, the background remains a bit of a “naked paradise,” which is somewhat awkward. I’d like to think I’ve grown used to it… but sorry, Tyrus. I suppose it’s hard to stay unfazed. Actually, they are all civilized people, so I wonder if, in hindsight, I should have just given an order like, “Wear clothes today.” But Sonia, who doesn’t care about such things at all, has already gone running into the palace interior, so I’ve given up on that idea.
“Father, this place is… as always, quite… unrestrained.” “W-well… there are many different races here, after all.” While providing a response that was far too vague—essentially throwing the issue onto “racial differences”—I guided my innocent son to my quarters. I plan to have them stay for a few days. “Tetes, look after Sonia. You’re probably used to this by now, but make sure there are no strange troubles.” “Okaay! ♪” “Also, since I’ve dressed up this much, I need you to maintain your dignity as a mother for a while.” I gave a stern warning to Tetes, who had already begun stripping off her noble attire at the open-air dragon landing pad, despite the high walls surrounding us. For the sake of preserving the illusions the children have of you, I think it’s best not to flaunt that level of “freedom” so much. “These are the rules here, so it’s only right to follow them! ♪” ”…Tyrus. You know this, but it’s not like you have to be naked here, okay? It’s entirely optional. The older sisters who are naked are just a bit perverted; you don’t have to follow their lead.” “Y-yes…” Tyrus followed behind, turning red and trying to hide in my shadow. A very telling reaction. The sons I have here in Polka don’t react to naked women like that anymore. Cloud is unresponsive even if breasts are bouncing right in front of him, and Peter just chases them around with a blatant, lecherous face while fully erect. Ah, right. “Sonia! Stop frolicking and come to the workshop! I have a present for you!”
“Wait, really!?”
Sonia, who had been overjoyed to reunite with the sisters she already knew, visibly beamed when I mentioned a present.
Yes, yes. There really is nothing quite as rewarding as seeing a child’s happiness.
“Is it just for Sonia?”
“Ah, I’ll make one for you next, Tyrus. To be honest, I rushed through Sonia’s too.”
“You promise.”
“Yeah. Forgive me today, but let’s call yours a pre-order.”
I smiled at Tyrus and gave him a look that pleaded for his forgiveness.
The reason I prepared this for Sonia was that her combat prowess—comparable to that of the Gauntlet Knights—had been recognized far sooner than I had anticipated. After watching her spar with Belga, the other knights had invited her to join actual combat, and it seemed she had eventually been talked into it. It wasn’t a formal enlistment, but she felt she should at least give it a try.
Given the political climate of Renfangas, it wouldn’t be wise to laugh this off as “not my hobby.” Especially when dealing with a relative of Alex Buster, the King’s Consort; one couldn’t exactly afford to be stubborn and tell them not to be foolish.
From what I heard, Tetes’s first encounter with a monster happened at roughly the same age Sonia is now. However, no matter how much skill she showed by occasionally landing a blow against the Black Arms, I couldn’t help but feel sick with anxiety at the thought of sending a girl who could only be described as a child into the middle of a monster swarm.
To ensure nothing went wrong, I wrote letters heavily entreating Mr. Alex and Felius to look after her, and because I was still worried, I decided to craft her armor with every luxury imaginable.
As for weapons, being part of the Buster family, they might have access to something more magnificent than what I can produce. But when it comes to armor, if I commit myself with everything I’ve got, I can undoubtedly craft something far more durable than any professional artisan’s work.
And so, with full confidence, I whipped the cloth away in front of Sonia to reveal my masterpiece.
As for my daughter’s reaction…
”…That is way too tacky…”
My father died that day.
“F-Father! Father!! Get up, Father!!”
Tyrus heroically shook me as I collapsed. Thank you, my son.
And to my daughter: that is truly a magnificent piece. If you tried to buy something of that caliber with money, you could probably afford an entire castle.
“More importantly, Papa, make me bikini armor! Like Sharon’s!”
“Bikini armor…!?”
You… you’re asking your own parent… to make… bikini armor…!? You’re asking your young daughter to tailor semi-naked armor…!?
“I can’t do that!”
“Ehh, why?! There’s a legend in the Gauntlet Knights that Papa is the greatest bikini armor craftsman ever! Why is my present something so damn tacky!?”
“I can’t even keep up with your retorts!!”
Why am I a legendary bikini armor craftsman? Me, who is treated like a mere son-in-law of the Buster family? And why do you long for bikini armor so much? Also, is this really so “damn tacky” that you’d say that? And for the record, making my bikini armor involves a lot of breast-handling, you brat. …Wait, was it really that tacky? I’ve actually been praised for my design sense before, but your single strike has shattered my pride into pieces. Is it really that bad…?
“Father, I think this armor of yours is wonderful as well. If you wish, you may give it to me.”
“Tyrus, you don’t even fight with a sword…”
“Well, that’s… true…”
Furthermore, since I made it to a girl’s measurements, for Tyrus… well, she is a child and a twin, so I suppose it’s not as if she couldn’t wear it…?
“Then I’ll give it to Tyrus, so in exchange, will you make me some bikini armor!? Can you do it by tomorrow!?”
“There’s no way I can do it that quickly! Besides, I won’t allow you to fight in something that looks practically naked in front of people! Save that for when you’re an adult!”
“Isn’t it actually even worse once you’re an adult…?”
Tyrus. You know, adults have this strategy of putting things on hold or deferring them. Well, I know you’re not actually supposed to say things like that to children.
…What is wrong with Renfangas? Why is bikini armor such a trend among girls?
*Note: Apparently, it’s because of the existence of magnificent female knights like Sharon who carry themselves with such poise.