Translate the following Japanese text to English. Paragraphs are separated by ”
”. Output each translated paragraph with the same delimiter in between, preserving the exact number of paragraphs. Do not add explanations. Do not merge or split paragraphs.
Today, Polka has both the old district, where shabby buildings still dominate, and the new district, which utilizes materials and technology from the forest as well as dragon-level earthmoving capabilities. Even the old district is gradually being rebuilt. Well, even the original residents wouldn’t want to stay in rundown houses while pretty new ones keep popping up. The example of the cat house that the baron bought and had renovated by an elf tutor and a hornless ogre carpenter also helped. Since the Grange was built, many ogres who were drawn to Polka’s charms have moved here to work as construction workers, and it’s a good source of employment for them. During winter, their strength and height are prized for snow shoveling, and before long, ogres became indispensable in Polka.
That’s why, despite only being about 15 years since first contact with the elves, the residential area has grown several times over. And one of its sections is known as a gathering place for particularly alluring women.
And that’s no surprise—former courtesans from Cosmos-san’s place are moving here one after another.
That’s because most of Cosmos-san’s courtesans… well, former courtesans, didn’t get into debt and sink into the life, but chose it out of their own desire to make a living through sex. So when they decide to quit, there aren’t many ties holding them back, and quite a few end up settling in Polka permanently.
The Onyx Maid Corps also occasionally has members retire and settle here, but that’s pretty rare. The maid leader once mentioned that maids don’t tend to save much money, which might be part of the reason. I think it’s also because they’re a group of troublesome women with a habit of wanting to be violated by someone else.
Moving on…
The former courtesans who settled here from Cosmos-san’s place often have skills and talents beyond just sex, like cooking or business, thanks to their previous profession. They’re also accustomed to men and other races, so they can hold their own even against large men without hesitation.
That’s why they’ve become a significant force in the new commercial sector of Polka, adapting well to its rapidly expanding needs.
[Ogre]: “Master— are you here?”
[Cosmos-san]: “Cosmo-san. You’re over here.”
Cosmo-san comes to me while I’m working on a new armor prototype at the Vapor Palace’s invention workshop.
She’s wearing clothes even though she’s inside the palace. I’m a bit surprised, but today I’m also dressed.
It’s stupid to work on blacksmithing naked, after all.
[Cosmo-san]: “I was doing some research on the living situation of the former courtesans from the eastern district, and today it’s all wrapped up… They’re all doing so well in business that it makes me a little proud.”
[Master]: “Well, I figured they wouldn’t struggle financially if they were from the shop. As long as they’re doing well, that’s good to hear.”
Even though we’ve become incredibly wealthy thanks to the “S&F Foundation,” the power of the slave owners’ families, and the various blessings brought by dragons… my wealth isn’t infinite.
It’s different for the girls who became my slaves, but the former courtesans who chose to live independently are a bit harder to support. Honestly, I’d rather not expand my care to people I’ve already let go.
That’s why I’ve been asking Cosmos-san to check on them regularly. But as expected of women from the business world, none of them have ever asked for help, even when they were struggling.
[Cosmo-san]: “Lynn is on the verge of divorce after fighting with her husband, but that’s their own problem. As for Shasta, she said she accidentally squeezed a customer during a massage and ended up apologizing… I had to scold her a little.”
[Master]: “Ah… well, if they’re going to offer those kinds of services, they should at least inform me and get the proper authorization.”
The business permits for courtesans working here—whether as independent operators or under a guild—are managed by Cosmos-san with the baron’s approval.
I can’t keep an eye on every little side gig, but when it comes to their livelihood, conflicts like territorial disputes or pricing issues can’t be ignored from a security standpoint.
And offering sexual services at massage parlors is pretty gray area.
If customers know which places are okay with it, they’ll expect it.
Unlike someone like Hilda-san, who would even take on free jobs and accept any challenge, something spontaneous like that can easily lead to trouble. It’s not like I can say for sure that there won’t be complaints about being denied when they expected it.
[Cosmo-san]: “So, no need for me to step in this time, right?”
[Master]: “Yeah… As long as they’re not trying to bring any of their husbands here, that’s fine.”
They’re the ones who chose not to become my slaves, so some of them are already married. I’d rather not cause trouble between couples.
It’s easy to forget, but I’m generally cautious when it comes to having relationships with girls. I can be reckless with those who clearly don’t have other men in their lives, but I hate the idea of fighting over a girl.
[Cosmo-san]: “I’ve been reminding them of that all along… But you know, some of them say they prefer your charms because they’ve experienced other men.”
[Master]: “Well… That’s fine, as long as they’re happy with it.”
[Input Text] “Seriously, let’s not go that route!? If I end up being hated for it, I’ll just be the perfect villain!” He was the de facto owner of a brothel and a legendary playboy who surrounded himself with a hundred-class beauties in a hot spring harem. If he were still sneaking around with former prostitutes even after they’d quit, then there’s no way that’s good. “Don’t worry, even if someone picks a fight with you, Emma-san or someone will stop them, so it’s fine♪” “It’ll just make my villainy worse!?” Honestly, I want to find a path where everyone won’t end up miserable. Even if it means only one or two people won’t have to cry.
And now, the new armor I’m working on while cutting into time with the children and female slaves.
“Is it almost done yet?”
“I’d like to refine it a bit more. It’s fine as it is, but I feel like it could use one more touch.”
As expected of something called “new,” it’s a cut above anything I’ve worked on before.
What makes it different is that I’m using every high-quality material without holding back or compromising.
Starting with all the available metal materials, the backing is dragonhide (which requires special tanning chemicals and techniques that I had to learn directly from Silver Dragons themselves), the spacer for shaping the silhouette is a special wood from the elf territory, and for crucial defense points, I’ve used dragon scales. On top of that, I’ve added a net made of silk chains under the armor to create a basic chainmail.
It’s so special that the paint doesn’t match well, but… if you wear this, you won’t take serious damage unless something really happens.
I’d prefer if they also had helmets, but as for that… I’ve never seen anyone wearing them since my youth.
“Given the materials, it’s hard to put a price on it… I’m sure the higher-ups have been informed about it over there, so you shouldn’t run into any trouble.”
“Yeah, well. That’s part of the difficulty—it’s completely one-of-a-kind because of that.”
I’ve thrown away all pride as a blacksmith and just pursued the ultimate performance in this ultimate piece.
I’ve never made armor like this for even the strongest enemies. Well, I don’t have time to prepare armor for every opponent.
But who would wear it…?
“Long time no see, Papa!”
“Father, how are you?”
My cheerful sister and my elegant little brother.
The children of Tetes arrived at Vapor Palace.
“Well done, Sonia, Tyrus.”
They were nobles.
I couldn’t let them see me in a shabby state. Going around the palace completely naked was out of the question.
Today, I greeted them in the high-quality outfit that Oregano had prepared for me.
Every time they come to Polka, I always put on this show of grandeur, but I can’t exactly give fine clothes to all the female slaves, dragons, and visiting courtesans and maids, so the back is still a bit of a naked paradise. It’s a little awkward.
I wish I could get used to it… Sorry, Tyrus. I still can’t handle it without getting flustered.
Well, they are civilized people, so maybe I should have ordered them to “wear clothes today,” but then my carefree sister Sonia ran off into the palace interior, so I gave up for now.
“Father, this place is as wild as ever… um, it’s quite something.”
“Yeah, well… there are all sorts of races here.”
I brushed aside the issue as a racial thing and led my innocent son to his room. He’d be staying for a few days.
“Tetes, take care of Sonia. She’s used to this by now, but make sure she doesn’t get into any trouble.”
“Okay♪”
“After all, with me dressed up like this, you’d better keep up the dignity of a mother for a while longer.”
Even though it’s surrounded by high walls, I give Tetes a warning as she begins to take off her noble attire at the open-air dragon landing pad.
For the sake of preserving the fantasies the children have about you, I think it’s best not to show too much of that kind of freedom.
“I’m just following the rules here, so it’s only natural to do so♪”
”…Tyrus. You know how this is, but you don’t have to strip naked here, okay? It’s entirely voluntary. The women who are already naked are just a bit eccentric, so you don’t have to follow their lead.”
“Yes…”
Tyrus blushes and hides behind me, following along dutifully. How endearing.
The boys back at Polka wouldn’t react like this to seeing a woman’s bare body. Crow doesn’t even flinch when he sees breasts shaking right in front of him, and Peter just keeps chasing after them with a lecherous grin while fully erect.
“Wait.”
“Sonia! Cut it out and come to the workshop! I’ve got a present for you!”
“Oh, really!?”
Sonia had already found an acquaintance and was happily reuniting when she heard about the present, her face lighting up.
“Yes, yes. It’s always nice to see kids happy.”
“Is this just for Sonia?”
“Ahh, I’ll make one for Tyrus next time. Honestly, I rushed to make this one for Sonia too.”
“It’s a promise!”
“Yeah. For today, let’s consider it reserved for you, Tyrus.”
I smile at Tyrus and ask for her forgiveness.
The reason I prepared this for Sonia is because she was recognized as having combat skills on par with the Gantlet Knights much sooner than expected. Other knights who had seen me spar with Berg invited her to join in real combat. She ended up accepting, though it wasn’t official yet—just to try it out, they said. Given the situation in Rengafas, it wouldn’t be wise to brush off such an offer as “not my style.” Especially since she’s related by blood to Alex Buster, the Crown Prince, it wouldn’t be appropriate to refuse outright. I heard that even Tetes first fought monsters at about the same age as Sonia is now. That said, despite occasionally taking a victory against a Black Arm, sending a child like Sonia into the heart of the monster horde still makes me uneasy. To ensure nothing goes wrong, I wrote letters to Alex and Felios pleading for their understanding, and to ease my anxiety, I had a suit of armor crafted with utmost care. As for the weapon, since it’s from the Buster family, there might be something even better than what I could make. But when it comes to armor, as long as I throw myself into it without holding back, I can definitely create something far more durable than any craftsman’s work. With that, I confidently unveil the armor in front of Sonia, the cloth covering it pulled away with a flourish. So, how does my daughter react?
”…It’s way too ugly…”
My father is dead. “Father! Father!!” Tyrus earnestly shakes me as I collapse. Thank you, son. And to my daughter… That’s some truly amazing craftsmanship. It’s on par with buying a whole castle if you were to try and buy it with money. “Hey, Dad, make me a bikini armor! Like Sharon-san’s!” “Bikini armor…!?” You… are asking your father… to make you a bikini armor…!?
“Mom, why are you asking me to get half-naked armor for my daughter when she’s still a child…!?”
“That’s impossible!”
“Why!? You’re the legendary bikini armor craftsman in Gantlet, Dad! Why is her present something so damn ugly!?”
“I can’t keep up with the jokes!!”
Why am I being called the legendary bikini armor craftsman? Me, who’s treated as a son-in-law by the Buster family.
Why are girls so obsessed with bikini armor?
Also, is it really that ugly to be called crap?
And by the way, my bikini armor-making skills involve a lot of groping, you know that, right?
…Wait, was it really that bad?
I used to get praised for my design sense, but your one jab shattered my pride.
Is it really that terrible…?
“Father, I think this armor is wonderful. If you’d like, I could take it.”
“Tyrus doesn’t even fight with a sword in the first place…”
“Yeah, well…”
Also, since it’s made for a girl’s body type, Tyrus wouldn’t be able to wear it anyway… or maybe he could, since he’s a kid and a twin, so it wouldn’t fit him…?
“Then give it to Tyrus, and in return, make me some bikini armor!? Can you do it by tomorrow!?”
“I can’t do it that quickly! Besides, I won’t allow her to fight in something that looks almost naked in front of others! That’s for when she’s an adult!”
“But wouldn’t it be worse as an adult…?”
Tyrus. Adults have a strategy called putting things on the back burner or delaying them.
Though, honestly, you shouldn’t say stuff like that to kids.
What’s going on with Renfanga? Why is bikini armor so popular among girls?
Apparently it’s because of female knights like Shalon who can confidently show off their beauty.