“New festival?”
“Hmm. I’d like your help with it.”
It was late early summer when the Baron came to ask me, scratching his head, which had recently turned entirely white from giving up dyeing it.
“Another one?”
“As far as Polka is concerned, there aren’t that many yet.”
”…Yeah, no, that’s right. Just the New Year Festival, the Spring Festival, and the Harvest Festival if we count only Polka’s.”
I counted them off on my fingers. Add to that the Breakcore Holy Beast Festival, Celesta’s twice-a-year Spirit Festivals, Rapal’s Tide Festival, the Capital’s Founding Day, and the Renfanggas Hero’s Festival, plus Carlwin’s “Dragon Bonding Day” in Karlwin, and Grangi’s Liberation Festival… personally, I feel like there’s always some festival preparation going on almost every single month. And then there’s the Elf Spirit Temple’s unique calendar measured in 100,000-day cycles; occasionally they have festivals at weird times that suddenly call me out of nowhere. Thanks to that, my schedule gets messed up all the time and Tetes scolds me.
Anyway, things have been like this for so long—constantly surrounded by festivals—that my sense of reality has gotten distorted.
“I know you’re busy, but as long as you give the word, the Elves will move forward, and going through Lady Diane to reach Celesta’s people should be fine too.”
“Yeah… well, I get that, but what kind of festival is it?”
“An Art Festival.”
”…Eh? A-ART FESTIVAL?”
“Hmm. I really want this one to succeed.”
Currently, in Polka, an artists’ circle is gradually forming around Gloria and Lanz. How many years ago was it that, after Goat got married and completely settled down as a housewife, Lanz became Gloria’s disciple? Blessed with such a great mentor, and aided by her natural concentration and deep understanding of the female form, she’s now busily painting original erotic scrolls that rival professional works. Seeing this kind of activity inspired young people from among the former Carlwin residents of Grangi to aspire to become painters themselves. Even further, figures like Julio—the circus sculptor, brother of Lady Diane—and various sculptors and creators from the Northern Forest naturally gathered together, causing artistic works to proliferate rapidly in certain districts.
The Baron, who had been supporting Lanz as a patron since he first started painting, has even begun constructing galleries one after another to house these artworks. Well, considering that both Gloria and Lanz specialize in them, most of the collected pieces are nude studies—not exactly something you’d enthusiastically recommend to the general public. However, he seemed to be thinking: Why not boldly promote these alongside other sculptures, spreading the word about how wonderful Lanz’s works truly are? It felt like an era where diverse cultures were gently loosening their grip on rigid traditions.
Indeed, limiting such art to just a few enthusiasts feels like a waste. The districts with ateliers look like entirely different worlds, lined with sculptures and murals so impressive that you can’t even believe they’re being done by hobbyists in rural areas. The galleries are even more astonishing—currently unpriced, yet filled with works created by Gloria and her disciple, displayed somewhat casually, which is hard to comprehend given their quality.
Gloria has no financial worries now that she’s become my female slave; she lacks any sense of vanity and keeps painting steadily, motivated solely by the fact that whenever she finishes a piece, I, Lanz, the Baron, Old Harry, and others are thrilled beyond measure. Though somewhat slower than expected, she’s been blessed with children, and disciples have gathered from Grangi and the Northern Forest, all looking happy. But the Baron apparently thought, That won’t do.
“Anyway,” he said, “we’re planning a new Art Festival for autumn. Since we’re doing it anyway, I want to make sure ours is lively too.”
Night fell. Back at “Vapor Palace,” I discussed this matter with the girls gathered in the dining hall. Among those present were female slaves wearing collars, dragons, cat-beasts who had just come for fun, courtesans from “Cosmos Shop,” and Elf women from the Northern Forest.
Inside the palace, nudity was allowed freely—a rule mainly intended for brood dragons and some female slaves whose exposure tendencies had awakened—but except for Elf women unaccustomed to taking clothes off and those frequently coming in and out of the outside world, more than half the girls were basically naked all day long.
“So what are we doing? Should I stand next to a painting saying ‘I’m a model! ♪’?”
“No, well, that might have some effect too, but it’s not quite what I mean.”
Lady Cosmos spoke boldly and casually while feeding two young girls their meals. In reality, there were quite a few paintings by Lanz using Lady Cosmos, Hilda, or Lilira as models. But while those might excite viewers, they’re not really suitable for boosting the appeal of an Art Festival.
“There are plenty of girls here at the palace. I think we should hold something like an amateur competition among them.”
“Isn’t there already a recruitment drive going on in the city?”
“Yes, but it seems unlikely anyone will actually join.”
Canvas, paints, brushes—all art supplies aren’t easily available or shared just by whim. For truly inexperienced families, painting is quite a high barrier to entry. However, within this palace, such tools are readily accessible and can be shared; plus, dragons can easily import them from urban centers. It doesn’t even have to be paintings—sculptures would work too, and I or Jeanne could prepare the necessary carving tools.
“Gloria said she’d offer beginner instruction, so anyone interested should give it a try.”
“Are there any rewards?”
Oregano raised his hand to ask. His parents, Laurel and her child, were sitting beside him—and of course, they were also naked.
“The reward… hmm, what should I do?” I scratched my head and thought for a moment. And then: ”…Everyone gets this as a participation prize: one Andicoin. Presented to all.” Ping! I snapped my fingers. It was a “reward coupon” modeled after the “Isabel Coin” from Cosmos Shop. Using it allows you to demand a handmade gift from me, or ask a dragon to take you somewhere of your choice.
…At first, no one used the dragon option, but Emma proposed it later to reduce my workload, and it was adopted. Usage isn’t very high overall, though it happens occasionally. Naris uses it most often. A “gift” could mean a few hours of dating too. Though dates tend to turn sexual quickly, when I spend time aimlessly, things often spiral into group play anyway. So being able to openly demand solo sex has become quite a rare privilege these days.
I’m not sure if the non-slave girls would really be happy with this coin, but right now, even the courtesans go absolutely wild when I focus my attention on them properly. After spending every night for over ten years practicing with Hilda, Cosmos, Gloria, and others, my skills have improved significantly. They’ve gotten better.
“And if someone wins… hmm, what could be good? Let’s just say we’ll make something truly special.” I made a vague declaration like that. When I wondered if it sounded too underwhelming to inspire enthusiasm, the girls suddenly erupted into excited chatter. Am I really being valued this much? Even as an artisan?
…But then: ”…If you win… could we… try serious baby-making?” Mya timidly asked. Of course, she was naked too.
”…Well, I’ll consider that option, but don’t we already do it regularly?”
“Not just a couple of times and stopping there—we go for dozens, aiming to impregnate!”
”…Okay, then.”
I tried to add, “But since there are children around, maybe we shouldn’t talk like this,” only to have my words completely drowned out by the growing excitement.
…Is that what everyone wants? Well, technically, this is Polka, so even if things get a bit rough, they heal quickly anyway.
The girls usually living in the palace are basically those under four or five years old, before their minds and bodies fully develop. Once they grow older, they move outside to establish their own living bases. Some, like Jeanne and Selen who belong to the Smayson family, stay here—but most female slaves now have their own homes and live with their mothers’ families.
As for those who aren’t female slaves… well, they’ll return to their hometowns to be raised. While it’s okay for them to engage in sex without becoming slaves, most can’t bring themselves to completely sever ties with their origins.
By the way, several children born from the courtesans of Cosmos Shop are actually mine—I accidentally handled one of them. Turns out some of them got pregnant carelessly and gave birth back in Tark without contacting anyone afterward. The oldest case was with Felicia-san’s daughter (the white fox girl), whom I touched on by mistake after finishing a battle. She casually told me about it right after the fight ended.
From then on, whenever a young girl tries to seduce me, I make sure to confirm whether she might be carrying my child.
“I want motherhood to happen naturally with my daughter.”
“If you don’t force it, wouldn’t that be fine?”
“This kind of situation makes me think Selen should be the most angry one!?”
“If you’re forcibly violated by your dad, you’ll absolutely hate sex—but if someone rejects your advances while you’re obsessed with them, you’ll start repelling your own instincts, which will distort things.”
”…Hmm…”
“I believe the child’s happiness is what matters most,” Selen said.
While washing dishes, Selen smiled in her usual relaxed manner.
Hmm… Is Selen thinking less about whether I should have sex with children at all, and more about whether it causes harm? Ignoring the fact that having sex with others is normal for me… well, it’s a bit late to bring that up now. As for social concerns like reputation—having grown up being ridiculed by society as a half-elf, I simply don’t care about such things.
As for issues arising from increased bloodline concentration… Elina always says, “A little isn’t a big deal; magic can handle it. But if you keep messing around for dozens of generations, that’s a different story.” So maybe she sees it that way too.
No, no, no. But still…
“I can’t allow Peter to assault his mother or any of the other female slaves, no matter how much he might want it.”
“Of course you’re right. Children are one thing, but those women belong solely to Mr. Andy.”
“And yet… why is it that when a daughter touches her father, we just brush it off?”
“I think Mr. Andy needs to remember that he’s special—that he’s someone who can bring happiness to dozens, even hundreds of women. Only the girls who accept that truth will approach him. But unfortunately for Peter, he doesn’t fit that mold… Well, actually, if you were in his place, Mr. Andy, I’d say you could make any woman happy—even your own daughter, as long as she’s female.”
”…Sometimes…”
”?”
“That just made me realize again how messed up my thinking really is.”
“Really? You’re just being realistic, that’s all! ♪”
Hmm… What does “realistic” even mean? Maybe I should think about this a bit more philosophically.
Of course, Peter was the first among the children to be accepted as my son. But since he’s half-dwarf, his growth has been slower. Though he should technically be slightly older than Elenia, who recently outgrew her toddler phase and became leaner, he still looks barely ten—or maybe even younger. Dwarves generally don’t grow very tall; often, before they realize it, they’ve developed facial hair and excessive muscle mass while retaining their childlike frames. But Peter hasn’t shown any of those traits yet. He just has a bit of a thick, grating voice for a ten-year-old—something like early puberty kicking in.
“Dad,” Peter said one day, “can I enter the Vaper contest?”
“You can… but have you ever drawn anything?”
“I haven’t done much drawing, but I can make small figurines.”
Peter looked proud and brought out a handmade figure from his room—a knight crafted entirely of lead. Oh right, we made this together back when he was little.
“I’ve already made twenty of them! Grandpa Jackie says they’re ready for sale!”
“Stop calling Jackie ‘Grandpa.’ It confuses me.”
Usually, it’s Jackie who interacts with Peter. She’s in her fifties but still a solid blacksmith by trade. Since Sara married off, she’s been doting on Peter especially lately, perhaps feeling lonely herself.
“But saying they’re ‘ready for sale’ is a bit of an exaggeration. The details are sloppy. You need to finish them properly before calling them products, Peter.”
“Tch! Dad always finds fault with everything!”
“Your talent isn’t bad—I’m just telling you not to cut corners. If you try to pass off half-finished work at the contest, people will laugh at you.”
“Oh, okay… So if I win, can you give me more allowance?”
“Why would you need more money? What are you gonna spend it on?”
”…Well, uh, whatever I want! Just give me some!”
He mumbled shyly, blushing slightly. Hah, he thinks he’s gotten away with fooling his father again. With all the perks of this polka world, kids rarely have a real use for extra cash. Chances are, he’ll buy some trinkets from traveling merchants and try to impress a girlfriend with them.
“If you win, keep in mind that even elves and dragons will be there. It’s not going to be easy.”
“Hmph! I don’t think anyone except Mom can beat me!”
My overly confident son makes me uneasy. Has he been spoiled too much?
By the way, later it turned out his reason for wanting more allowance was this: after showing off naked in the palace, Cosmos and one of her courtesans whispered to him, “If you want to get intimate with us, bring some money first! ♪”
About a week passed. The girls of the palace started going outside to sketch and engage in other artistic activities, suddenly giving the Polka a cultural flair. “What a great opportunity. The Polka is a lovely town, but it lacked this kind of artistic enrichment.”
Christie narrowed her eyes as she watched the townspeople and stationed crossbow teams join the sudden art boom. Upon reflection, she was right. Despite the people glowing with health and beauty thanks to the spirit spring, the streets themselves lacked decorative elegance. …Though part of that was because Gloria, our top artist, had been drawing nothing but erotic scenes.
Amidst all that, there was also Elenia, seriously sketching forest landscapes.
”…Eh? Ele? You’re asking for more allowance too, huh?”
“Allowance? There’s nothing to spend it on here anyway. Besides, why did you bring that up, Peter? Claudio?”
Claudio is Hilda’s son—about the same height as Peter now. While Peter is wild and energetic, Claudio is quite shy around strangers. He’s more of a mama’s boy, raised entirely under Hilda’s maternal affection.
”…Do you expect some kind of reward for this?”
”…Well, I’ll tell you if we win.”
Elenia said that while maintaining a stern expression. …Even with her serious profile, she’s just so cute. Fatherly bias at work.
After watching Elenia like that for a while, I felt satisfied and realized my thoughtless concern shouldn’t be voiced aloud. More than ever before, Elenia wandering around the palace naked or trying to let me touch her isn’t due to any loss of shame regarding nudity caused by the environment. It’s probably just because she wants to show more filial piety or indulge herself as my daughter. Yeah, that must be it. Her mother Selen being oddly lenient on incest is just a coincidence.
Then came the Art Festival. People gathered from Grangi, the North, Celesta, and Ranfangas, enjoying the paintings and sculptures displayed throughout the town. …As for the much-anticipated works by master-and-apprentice Gloria & Lanz, only about twenty percent of them were exhibited outdoors. But thanks to their superior quality, they captivated viewers, drew them into galleries, and secured numerous buyers—effectively a success.
Then came the actual contest held at the Baron’s residence. The grand prize went to… Maya’s “Scale Sculpture.” She had collected broken dragon scales and crafted a miniature dragon statue from them. Some argued that giving the top award for such an unfair material advantage was questionable, but since nothing prohibited it, excluding it would have been worse too. So she won anyway.
Besides gold and silver medals, Elenia’s “Solitary Pine of the Forest” narrowly made it to the bronze category.
And so…
“Aaaah… Uh, Ele? If possible, as your father…”
“You won a prize, and you’re not even going to grant my request?”
That night in the palace, in a corner of the bath area.
As expected, Elenia had pinned me down.
”…Look, Ele? I’d really love to fulfill your wish… but—”
“Not hearing me!”
”…”
“I hate you.”
“Guhh… Ah, Ele, it’s not that I won’t listen—it’s just that I think you’re too young for this yet.”
“Then when will I be old enough!?”
“No, really, just a little longer, okay? Hmm?”
The palace girls were watching us with such serene smiles. It was heartwarming.
…After begging until she relented and spared me today, I felt relieved. I don’t want to be disliked. If Elenia hates me, I’ll die. …But it might not last long.