A small colony in the middle of the desert.
Until about twenty years ago, it was nothing more than an unremarkable, ordinary colony of cat-folk. But a few years ago, the gender balance shifted so drastically that its very future was thrown into doubt.
And now.
“Looking back, things have really changed, haven’t they?”
Looking down at the colony from atop a small rocky hill, I could see several large structures had increased within the tiny settlement. Amidst the many simple houses made of sun-dried brick, these stood out prominently; they were stone buildings I had ordered the dragons to construct, each in a short period of time.
They served various purposes: some were simple community centers, some were reservoirs to prepare for droughts, and others were childcare facilities.
…And some were buildings I had initially intended for erotic use.
No, wait. Please don’t say “not again.” I have at least a little bit of common sense. It’s just that, after visiting so many times, I truly came to realize that it wasn’t right to just hold “Village-wide Orgy Days” as a matter of course. It might be fine at first, but eventually, the children I fathered will grow up. I thought that just because the rest of the village was like this, it wouldn’t be good to simply let them get used to it from the start.
Even at Vapor Palace, while it’s unavoidable for childcare purposes to some extent during early childhood, I make sure they are moved out of the Palace to live a normal life once they reach a certain age. I believe that letting them live their entire lives in a “naked paradise” witnessing nothing but sex would lead to serious psychological distortions.
Therefore, even in the cat colony, I wanted to strive for a somewhat decent standard of living. If they were going to live their whole lives without ever leaving the colony, perhaps being “distorted” wouldn’t matter—but since they frequently travel to and from the Polka District via the dragon transport, they could eventually move to places like Basson or Talc to become independent. Their futures now hold great potential.
With that in mind, I thought it would be fine to have facilities specifically designated to set boundaries, such as “Erotica is only allowed inside this building.” I thought so. At the time.
…It didn’t go well.
“How long do you intend to indulge in these strange sentiments?”
”…Strange? Well, whatever.”
With a wry smile, I glanced at the rock where Grandma Donna had, as usual, appeared out of nowhere. We began our leisurely descent down the mountain.
There was no grand fanfare to greet us. The cats had become accustomed to our presence to the point where, upon sensing our arrival, they would choose to prepare a proper welcome rather than simply leaping at us in disorder.
Compared to those early days, it had truly become lively.
“Welcome back, Master.”
“Welcome~!!”
In the center of the colony, in front of the oasis, Anis—now a composed, beautiful woman—greeted me as the representative. Once, alongside her mother Tanya, she used to welcome me sexually as a pair; since then, she has become a mother of seven. I have also fathered four children with Tanya. Furthermore, Anis’s eldest daughter is just reaching the age where her physique is starting to become more feminine.
Those daughters, along with the other small cat girls, were all calling out in unison. The number of children gathered there was likely close to three hundred. Most of them were my children. There are many in Polka as well, but in terms of total numbers, this is the largest faction of my offspring.
“Thank you for the welcome, everyone.”
I raised my hand to greet the children, their mothers, and the young cat girls aiming to join their ranks, trying my best to put on my “gentle Papa” face.
…That said, considering what follows, I never quite know what kind of expression I should be wearing.
“Are you staying with us this time?”
“Uh… well. My schedule is quite open, so I was thinking I might stay for about a month since I’m already here.”
“A whole month…? Is that… really alright?”
“Selene and the others have already given their approval. A few other female slaves will be joining us in a little while, but I’ll provide the food and caretakers for them myself…”
Before I could even finish my sentence, the gathered cats let out a massive cheer. To them, my stay is nothing short of a festival. The peaceful, boring life of the colony—and the sexual impulses driven by instinct—instantly transform into something exciting the moment my presence arrives. To them, that is truly all it is, and… “Wait, hey, hold on! You’re undressing too fast! Way too fast! Do you guys plan on not wearing clothes for the next month!? And listen, I’m not having sex with my own children! Even with contraception, it’s a no! Sex with your father is off-limits!” Without even giving me a chance to stop them, both adults and children stripped off their clothes and tossed them away. They went as far as to throw the clothes into the fire in the heat of the moment, and then began to dance joyfully. “Clothes should be precious in a place like this…” As I stood there, dazed by the sight of the women dancing nimbly while naked, a nearby half-elf woman gave a troubled smile. “They don’t mind much if they don’t have clothes… though it is quite a sight for the boys.” With that, she stripped herself and tossed her clothes into the fire with a flick. “Wait, even you!?” “Well, they do say ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’♪” …This was Karsha-san, a wandering half-elf who had once been taken in by the Duchy of Gardner and had briefly moved to Granz. Initially, she had been looking after the Karlwin people migrating to Granz, but after visiting Polka for a festival, she hit it off with the cat-folk and moved here a while ago, drawn to their carefree desert lifestyle. In truth, there are quite a few people like her who intentionally choose to migrate to the cat colony; there are about a dozen or so members of other races, including her, who have taken root within the colony. Since the cat-folk frequently visit Polka for medical treatment, recovery from injuries, or to attend the Polka Academy, they are quite accepting of such migrants. …Men occasionally wish to migrate as well, but I personally reject those requests. Because it inevitably turns into this, and even if someone were a powerhouse capable of satisfying several women, it’s obvious that things would become incredibly awkward once the orgy begins. My policy remains as follows: if the cats here marry another man, it must be outside the colony. Inside the colony, everyone is my wife—excluding the children. “Besides, as long as we are in the colony, we are also potential mates, aren’t we…?” Having thrown even her underwear into the bonfire, leaving everything from her nipples to her genitals exposed to the sunlight, Karsha-san asked while looking up at me. …Ugh. ”…Yes.” ”♪” Though they do not wear collars, every woman who has migrated to this colony has consented to participate in the orgy. If they become pregnant, so be it. A child is a joyous event unconditionally, and if one is born, everyone will raise it without a second thought. It seems all prospective migrants are drawn to that bright, optimistic, and pleasure-honoring nature of the cat colony. …Aside from the half-elfs who arrived via the Almeida Hidden Village Project, the other female migrants who have chosen this life are mostly former maids and former prostitutes, along with one girl who was formerly Karlwin and one elf girl from the Northern Forest. With the way things are handled here, I feel like they could just join my harem directly, but well, choosing one’s place of residence is important. Some are here simply because they hate the cold. “But seriously, I just got here, so sex comes later!” Leaving that remark to the dancing cats and Karsha-san, I headed toward the edge of the village with Lyra.
On the opposite side of the village from the labyrinth exit, across the oasis. There was a solitary rock jutting out, and atop its peak stood a single staff. Lyra splashed the alcohol she had brought all over the rock. ”…Here. Savor it. It’s the finest liquor from the Elf Forest.” Then, she took the rest into her mouth, her eyes drifting toward a distant memory. …Grandma Donna passed away several years ago. She never let anyone notice her declining health; she remained as energetic and sarcastic as ever right up until the day before she died… and by morning, she was cold. Following the custom of the colony, her body was buried in the sand, a short distance away from the settlement.
…Whether it be the desert insects or perhaps a sandworm, something will return that corpse to the natural cycle.
If one were to bury them deep within the labyrinth or even right beside it, they might turn into an undead. For those left behind, that is the most painful outcome of all.
That is why, in the colonies of the Great Desert Labyrinth, burying the dead in the sand like this is considered the most natural funeral rite.
”…It is not my first time seeing a dear friend off. But perhaps, you truly were special.”
With those words, Lyra took another sip, then poured the remainder onto a rock and tossed the ceramic flask far into the sands.
It was her usual ritual.
Eventually, even Grandma Donna’s staff will break, the rocks will weather away, and no one will remember what any of this meant.
If asked if she should protect it with magic or something, Lyra would simply say that it is fine as it is.
Clinging to gravestones or keepsakes only serves to thin the connection to the deceased.
The bond with those you can no longer meet should live on within one’s own heart.
Because the things she lived for and protected are preserved like this, she would say.
”…He was, well, quite happy, I suppose. He was able to pass on while watching the colony flourish like this.”
”…I wonder. Even if you say it flourished, that was mostly just me rampaging through it.”
“Ho ho. Even so, you must have accepted the responsibility because you calculated that even your wilder results could be sustained.”
“Won’t the colony just end up being mostly full of incest if it flourishes like this?”
“There are mountains of colonies that began that very way… Donna said as much, did she not? Besides, the elves know how to handle the issue of blood purity. Do not hold back; you should embrace your daughters and granddaughters as you please.”
“I’d prefer it if the children could look toward the future and be happy, though…”
“You couldn’t say that after laying hands on Ele and Frena. Besides, once the cats reach a full moon, their impulses override any notion of chastity. There is nothing to worry about.”
“I know, but still…”
…Ah.
Seeing me wallow in my stubborn agony, the slight shadow in Lyra’s expression vanished. She began stripping off her clothes with great vigor as she walked, heading triumphantly toward the plaza where the cat-girls dance.
“Hey, that clothing is incredibly expensive elven cloth! Don’t burn it!?”
“Ho ho. What does it matter? All things with form must eventually break. If you need more, you can just make it then♪”
Without even waiting for a campfire, Lyra incinerated her clothes using the heat from her own hands.
“You know, that makes us artisans feel really… awkward!?”
…And yet.
Leaving only her collar behind, Lyra stood naked—her body just as gorgeously attractive as the day we first met.
As for me, with Lyra’s naked form exposed under the bright sky and the anticipation of the naked dance party of the cat-girls visible in the distance, my crotch was becoming a serious problem.
“Blast it.”
I steeled my resolve and stripped from the waist down right then and there. Since everyone will be naked once we arrive anyway, there’s no real shame in it. No one is going to laugh.
An old man exposing his fully erect cock, a peerless beauty, a blue sky, and the desert.
…No, honestly, what kind of scene is this?
“Ho ho. Shall we begin right here then♪? I am your pet for sexual relief; whenever you wish is fine with me♪”
”…F-First, let’s get there!”
For a split second, I almost gave in. I thought, Since we have a whole month to play, maybe Lyra can be the first round…
But I came here for the cat-girls. I can’t scold them and push them away, only to sneak off and have my first round with Lyra… I won’t do that.
And so, walking alongside the naked Lyra with my legs wide to hide my concern for my member, I found myself glancing back at the grave.
…I think I’m being far too optimistic in believing that Grandma Donna passed away feeling happy, witnessing such a sight.