Poruka now boasts both the old town, with its many shoddily built, traditional structures, and the new town, which utilizes timber and technology from the forest, and even occasionally the land-clearing abilities of dragons. Even the old town is gradually undergoing reconstruction.
Of course, even the original residents wouldn’t want to keep living in dilapidated houses while beautiful ones were being built all around them. The example of Cat Mansion, which Baron bought and had splendidly rebuilt with the help of an Elven architect and Celesta’s Ogre carpenter, certainly helped push things along.
Since Granzi Construction came on the scene, many Ogre construction workers have been drawn to Poruka by its charm and decided to relocate here, finding good work in the process. In winter, their strength and height are invaluable for snow removal, and before long, Ogres had become indispensable to Poruka.
That’s why, just fifteen years after first contact with the Elves, Poruka’s residential areas have multiplied several times over. And one particular district has gained a reputation for being a gathering place for especially alluring women.
And it’s no wonder—former prostitutes from Cosmos’ establishment are moving here one after another.
The prostitutes at Cosmos’ haven’t been sunk by debt or anything like that; most of them genuinely enjoy making a living off sex. So when they quit, there aren’t many strings attached, and quite a few end up settling in Poruka on a whim.
Occasionally, even some of Onyx’s Maid Brigade members retire and settle down here, but that’s pretty rare. Maid Captain had something to do with it, saying that maids don’t exactly get rich in their line of work. But I also think it’s partly because they’re a troublesome bunch with a fetish for being served and violated by someone.
Anyway, the former prostitutes from Cosmos’ who’ve settled here often have skills beyond sex—cooking, business acumen, things like that—thanks to their previous profession. And since they’re used to dealing with men and other races, they can hold their own against even the biggest of them.
That’s why they’ve become such a natural fit as a new commercial force catering to Poruka’s expanding needs.
“Master! Is anyone here?"
"Cosmos? This way, back here.”
Cosmos comes to my workshop in the Vapor Palace’s invention lab, where I’m tinkering with a prototype suit of armor. She’s properly dressed, even inside the Palace, which surprises me a little—though I am wearing clothes myself today.
Working on blacksmithing naked is just stupid, after all.
“I was doing a welfare check on the former prostitutes from East District who used to work for you, and it’s all wrapped up today… Yeah, they’re all doing well in business, which makes me proud…”
“Well, I figured anyone from Cosmos’ wouldn’t be struggling, but it’s good to hear they’re all doing fine.”
Even though the “S&F Foundation,” the female slaves’ families back home, and the various boons brought by dragons have made us incredibly wealthy… my wealth isn’t infinite.
It’s one thing to take care of the girls who became my “family” as female slaves, but it’s a bit much to single-handedly look after the prostitutes who chose to support themselves. Or rather, if I start taking responsibility for people I’ve already let go, the scope of those I need to nurture becomes endless.
But if they’re in trouble, I’ll lend a hand.
That’s why I have Cosmos check on them regularly, but as you’d expect from women from a nation of merchants, none of them have ever been so desperate that they needed our help.
“Rin seems to be fighting with her husband and is on the verge of divorce, but that’s their problem. Shasta apparently squeezed a customer’s dick while giving him a massage out of habit, so I gave her a little scolding."
"Ah… well, if you’re going to offer those kinds of services, you should at least register them.”
Cosmos manages the business licenses for prostitutes in Poruka with Baron’s approval.
She can keep an eye on small-time hustling, but when livelihoods are at stake, territorial disputes and pricing issues inevitably arise, so it can’t be left unchecked from a security standpoint.
And offering sexual services at a massage parlor is pretty much in the gray area of illegality.
If customers know which places offer what, they’ll act accordingly.
It’s one thing if someone’s as tough as old Hilda, willing to take on anyone for free, but it’s easy for trouble to arise if someone just happens to get frisky on a whim. You can’t rule out unreasonable complaints like, “I heard you did this, so I came here expecting it, and then you didn’t let me!”
“So, nothing this time that requires us to step in?"
"Nope. Oh, some of them asked if they could come to the Palace and bang Master, but is that okay?"
"Well… sure, but you made sure none of them were already taken, right?”
Some of them didn’t join my harem, so a few are still married. I don’t want to mess with those relationships.
Everyone forgets this, but I’m generally cautious about getting involved with girls. I can be reckless with girls who clearly aren’t attached to other men, but fundamentally, I hate getting into fights over women.
“I’ve always told them about your preferences… but you know, some of them only realized how great you are after trying other guys…”
“Seriously, no way I’m doing that! If they hate me for it, I’m totally the bad guy!”
That was the de facto owner of the brothel—a legendary womanizer surrounded by a harem of a hundred beauties.
If he kept trying to hit on a reformed courtesan even now, there’s no way that wouldn’t make him look like an utter scumbag.
”Even if they get mad at you, Emma and the others will stop them, so it’s fine~"
"That just makes your villainy accelerate!”
Honestly, I want everyone to find a path where they don’t end up miserable. Even if it only spares one or two people from crying.
So, right now, I’m cutting into time with the kids and my female slaves just to work on this new armor.
”Almost done?"
"I think I want to simmer it down a little more. It’s good as is, but I feel like I can add one more thing.”
As the name suggests, this is completely different from any armor I’ve made before.
What I mean is, I’m using every high-end material without holding back or compromising.
Every metal I could get my hands on, plus dragon tanned leather for the lining (the tanning process required special chemicals, and I had to extract the technique directly from the Silver Dragons themselves), specialized elfwood spacers to shape the silhouette, dragon scales for key defensive points, and even a silk chainmail net under the armor for extra protection.
The materials are so special that the paint doesn’t adhere well, making it look a bit flashy… but if you wear this, you’ll avoid serious damage unless something really bad happens.
Ideally, I’d want a helm too, but… well, hardly anyone wears one these days, not even back when I was younger.
“Looks like there’s no price that could cover the materials… The bigwigs over there should know all about it, so you probably won’t get caught."
"Yeah, well. That kind of difficulty is what made this a completely one-off piece possible.”
I threw away any pride as a blacksmith and relentlessly pursued only the best performance—this is the ultimate work of art.
Never before have I made armor like this, even when facing the strongest enemies. Well, there’s never been time to prepare armor tailored to each opponent anyway.
And who’s going to wear it?
“Long time no see, Papa!"
"Father, I trust you are well?”
His radiant older sister and his younger brother, graceful even as a child.
Tetes’ children have arrived at the Vapor Palace.
“Well met, Sonia, Tirus.”
The kids are nobles.
I can’t exactly show them an uncouth sight. A completely naked “standard form” in the palace is out of the question.
So, just for today, I’ll greet them in brand-new, high-end clothes tailored by Oregano.
Every time they come to Polka, I put on this kind of show, but I can’t exactly give proper clothes to every female slave, dragon, prostitute, or maid staying at the palace, so the area behind me is still a pretty naked paradise—makes things a little awkward.
I want to think I’m used to it by now… but sorry, Tirus. Still can’t bring myself to be completely calm.
No, wait—that’s not right. Everyone here is civilized, so maybe I should just order them to wear clothes today. But then Sonia, my sister who doesn’t care about any of this, dashes into the palace anyway, so I’ll just give up for now.
“Father, this place is still… well, unrestrained as ever."
"Well, yeah… there are all sorts of races here.”
While giving a dismissively vague answer about the “race issue,” I lead my innocent son to my chambers. He’ll be staying for a few days.
”Tetes, take care of Sonia. She’s used to this place by now, but keep an eye out so nothing weird happens."
"Y-yes~!”
“Since I’m going all out with the fancy clothes, you should at least maintain some semblance of dignity for a while.”
Even though we’re surrounded by high walls, I had to firmly tell Tete, who was already starting to strip down in the open-air dragon landing zone, that he couldn’t just go around showing off his freedom like that.
It’s important to preserve the illusion the kids have of you. Showing them too much freedom isn’t a good idea.
“This is how things are done here, and you should follow those rules, okay? mwa ha ha!”
”…Tirus. I know, I know, it’s not like we have to get naked here, right? It’s completely optional. The girls who are stripping off are just a little perverted, so you don’t have to join in.”
“Y-yes…”
Tirus followed me, blushing furiously and practically hiding behind my back. Priceless.
My sons back in Polka wouldn’t react like this to a woman’s naked body anymore. Kraw would be completely unfazed even if the biggest breasts he’d ever seen were shaking right in front of him, and Peter would just chase after her with a lecherous grin and a hard-on.
…Right.
“Sonia! Calm down and come to the workshop! I have a present for you!”
“Eh? Really?”
Sonia had already spotted some familiar faces and was happily greeting them when she lit up at the mention of a present.
Yeah, yeah. It really is nice to see kids happy.
“Is it just for Sonia?”
“Ah, I’ll make one for Tirus next time. Honestly, I rushed this one for Sonia.”
“You promise?”
“Yeah. Consider your share on hold for today, okay?”
I smiled at Tirus and asked for his forgiveness.
The reason I prepared this for Sonia was because she was recognized as having combat power comparable to the Gantlet Knights much sooner than expected.
After watching her spar with Belga, the other knights invited her to join them in actual combat, and apparently, she got hooked. It wasn’t a full-time position, but they wanted her to at least try it out.
Given the political situation in Renfangus, it wouldn’t be good to laugh it off as “not my hobby.” Especially since Alex Buster, the king consort, is her relative, I couldn’t exactly tell her what to do.
I heard that Tete was about the same age as Sonia when he first fought a monster.
But even though she’s shown some skill against Black Arms, sending her, who’s still practically a child, into the thick of battle with monsters makes me uneasy.
To prevent any mishaps, I wrote serious letters to Alex and Felios, but I was still worried, so I went all out on this armor.
As for weapons, the Buster family might have something better than what I could make, but when it comes to armor, if I put my heart and soul into it like this, there’s no doubt it’ll be tougher than anything any craftsman could make.
So, with confidence, I dramatically pulled back the cloth to reveal my creation in front of Sonia. What was her reaction?
”…It’s so lame…”
My father is dead. “S-Sir! Father! Father!!” Tirus shook me vigorously as I collapsed. Thank you, my son. And you too, my daughter. It really is an amazing piece. If you tried to buy something like it with gold, you’d probably be able to buy a whole castle. “More importantly, Papa, make me a bikini armor! Like Sharon-san’s!” “Bikini armor…!?” You… want your parent to make you a… bikini armor…?
“You want me to make a half-naked suit of armor for my daughter?!"
"Are you kidding me?"
"But why?! In Gantlet, you’re legendary as the best bikini armor craftsman! Why is the present for me such a total dorky piece of junk?!"
"My comeback skills are failing me!!”
Why am I the legendary bikini armor craftsman in the first place? The Buster family practically treats me like their adopted son.
Why does she even long for bikini armor so much?
And is it really that lame?
Oh, and let’s not forget—making these bikini armors means I get to grope a lot of boobs. This brat…
…Hey, was it that bad? People used to praise my design sense, but your one shot just shattered my pride.
Seriously, is it that terrible…?
“Father, I think this armor of yours is wonderful. If you don’t mind, may I have it?"
"Tirus doesn’t even fight with a sword in the first place…"
"Well, yeah, that’s true…”
Also, I did make it in a girl’s body type, so Tirus… well, he’s still a kid and they’re twins, so maybe he could wear it?
“Then give me Tirus, and you make me a bikini armor instead!? Can you have it done by tomorrow!?"
"I can’t possibly finish that fast! Besides, I won’t allow you to fight in such a half-naked outfit in public! That’s for when you’re grown up!"
"Maybe being grown up is even worse…”
Tirus. The strategy of “postponing it until adulthood” exists for a reason.
…No, actually, you shouldn’t tell kids that kind of thing.
…What’s with this Renfangus? Why are bikini armors so popular with girls?
※Apparently, it’s because there’s Sharon, the confident beauty knight who wears them like a pro.