Chapter 843: Love Paradise 11
Cosmos Main Store has a fairly large vacant lot behind it, and apparently that land belongs to Cosmos too. She secured it all together over a decade ago, thinking she might build something there someday—or even if she didn’t, it was better not to have any houses right behind the brothel where people could eavesdrop. Well, I guess that’s the nature of high-class prostitutes—even important figures like Minister Ashton come seeking solace. It might indeed be necessary for counter-espionage purposes. We gently landed Leda there, and we prepared to disembark……well, only I was taking my sweet time. Emma and Aurora had already finished dressing and were in combat readiness, jumping out without waiting for orders. I thought they didn’t need to be that alert……Cosmos and Cima, however, weren’t matching my sleepy state; they were wide awake as usual. They kissed me on both cheeks while I was flustered. Completely naked.
“Since we’re here, why not just go into the main building like this? We’re within 50 meters of the shop, so they shouldn’t complain, right♪”
“Ah, I know that ordinance. Wait, isn’t that the one where you can openly have sex within 50 meters of a brothel? Since we’re here, wanna try fucking us right out in the open?”
“Cima-chan……well, that ordinance was only meant for prostitutes. If someone like you, related to the bigwigs who made the law, starts getting too wild, they might just repeal it”
“Oh, I see. But it’s totally fine if people see us, you know?”
As always, Cima-san is overflowing with confidence in her own body. Well, in a culture where bathing together means everyone gets an all-access pass, maybe it’s natural for those who can carry it off to feel that way.
“This spot doesn’t seem like it’d get much attention, but that kind of recklessness……save it for when you’re better prepared”
I said that to dodge the issue, casually rubbed both their butts, then let go. Truth be told, I was a little hesitant about walking around with my dick dangling myself. Yeah, even if I do have a slight desire to show off my sexy female slaves, I can’t help imagining how ridiculous I’d look myself. So, I got dressed, met up with Emma, Leda, and Aurora—who had already surveyed the outside area—and we headed inside the shop. ……I did wonder a little about the reason for Cosmos-san’s earlier attitude, but with the overgrown trees and grass and no one around, there was no way to tell from there. The fact it was visible from the sky……maybe it was a fairly significant disturbance? But recalling the view from the window, I hadn’t noticed anything unusual. Convinced I was overthinking it, I stepped out of the dusty air and into the brothel, its intoxicatingly alluring fragrance almost suffocating.
In the first room I entered, a girl dressed in an extremely ordinary outfit—unusual for this brothel—was writing in what looked like some kind of ledger.
“……Eh? That opens!? Wait, Leslie-san?”
“I’m back. Yes, emergency. Gather 7 or 8 girls currently available, starting from the highest rank, for the Special Top-Tier Suite♪”
“……Eh? Not the Top-Tier, but the Special one?”
“Yes, the Special one. Hurry, hurry!”
“But, um, Leslie-san might not know, but the shop side is a bit”
“I know”
“……Ah, umm”
“I know. I know, so hurry!”
Urging her on despite her odd attitude, Cosmos-san (stage name: Leslie) gave some instructions.
“……Emm, just to be sure, I’m asking”
“Yes♪”
“I thought Leda and Emma were supposed to be observing, and I was just supposed to be accompanying them……or something like that. You’re not planning on assigning me to handle seven or eight people, are you?”
It might be asking for trouble again, but if I just space out, things will probably get way out of hand, so I have to confirm. Cosmos-san flashes an unreadable smile, pausing just a moment.
“………….Emm”
“Yes?”
“In this room, everything—the food, the drinks—is the absolute finest we can offer. So please, enjoy yourselves to the fullest?”
“I didn’t ask for that!”
Well, I’ll admit I had some expectations. After all, this place is like a real-life erotic scroll—a gathering of nothing but hardened perverts who’ve chosen the path of prostitution, indulging in nonstop lewdness morning and night. Even though I already have more female slaves than I can handle, I couldn’t help but think something exciting might happen if I came here. But you see, this trip is ultimately for Leda, Emma, and Cosmos.
“Hey, Emma and Leda, say something!”
“Eh, yeah……”
“But Master. Mightn’t this also serve as a learning experience for us……? There should be no issue whatsoever with the ladies of pleasure entertaining you instead of other patrons”
“No, you two! I was expecting you to spout some righteous nonsense like 『No ambushes, regardless of intent!』 in a scene like this!”
Somehow, even the dragons aren’t siding with me. ……While this was going on, the girl from earlier returned with several courtesans.
“Umm, the higher-ranking ladies currently in the shop are like this……”
Among them, I spotted a familiar face and pointed at her, exclaiming, 「Ah!」.
“You’re from Onyx’s”
“You’re……e, emm, I’m sure you were at that party Carlos-san arranged”
“……I’m Cathy. Oh dear, I gave you my contact info and you’ve already forgotten my name?”
She was the dark elf pimp who was always competing with Cosmos.
“Oh, did you transfer over?”
“……I suppose you could say that. Nice to meet you”
“That’s a bit surprising. I never heard rumors that the other place had bad working conditions”
“The commission wasn’t bad, true. But the facility investments, the clientele, well”
A friendly small talk session began. She used to feel like a business rival……but could you even switch agencies that easily? And was she one of those who did prostitution as a hobby, without debts or anything? Even in Talc, such prostitutes weren’t that common.
“Well then, Cathy-san, I’m appointing you as the leader this time♪”
“……Le, Leader?”
“Yes♪ Please entertain him with the Special Supreme Suite, the 『Feast of Flesh and Wine』 course, for three days and three nights, until this Smithson-san’s face shows he’s experienced every luxury this world has to offer♪”
“Eh? Wait……hold on, that’s definitely the confinement co……”
“Cathy……?”
“……Al, Alright”
Wait. No, wait. Did she just say confinement? Did she? I turned to look at the two dragons, who quickly averted their gaze……after a moment, Emma shot Cosmos a resentful look.
“……I’m still not keen on this. Perhaps we should just be honest here”
“…………”
Cosmos wore an inscrutable smile for a moment, then sighed.
“……Smithson-san. I beg you, please just stay silent……could you please enjoy yourself with Cathy-san for three days? ……Our brothel has girls who can cater to any need. If that’s not enough, we can bring in dozens more. If you like, we can even call in girls from other brothels”
“Umm, listen……if there’s something you want to say, just say it plainly. I can’t make a decision until then”
While inwardly tempted by this full-course seduction—as if urging me to ravage every prostitute in Talc—I couldn’t overlook the effort to hide things from me, to steal my time. Emma and Leda had cooperated, albeit reluctantly, so it probably wasn’t a genuine attempt to trap me. Or rather, Cosmos, what did you see? From that sky.
“……Is it too much to ask you to understand?”
“……That’s why I can’t tell you until after I hear it”
“If you hear it, you won’t be able to stay out of it. ……And I don’t want that to happen”
“…………”
What is this? I desperately try to figure it out. What did this person see? Why is she trying to keep me out of it? Why aren’t Emma and the others saying anything about it? Why are they trying to follow Cosmos-san’s wishes? I don’t understand. Blindfolded, ears plugged, being forced to choose something. No, being driven into a situation where I can’t choose. ……I see Aurora. Aurora stands with her arms crossed, quietly narrowing her eyes.
“Out of the question”
She declares it confidently. Cosmos-san looks sad.
“Aurora-san……”
“Don’t look, don’t know, don’t get involved, just sense it……there are situations where you might want to say that, but that’s a privilege reserved for those in higher positions. If the reason for refusing to intervene is Andy-san’s power, then the moment it’s sensed, it becomes a meaningless wish”
“……It’s a valid point, though”
Cosmos bites her lip, the resolve draining from her expression as if giving up. Then, keeping her eyes downcast.
“……Something bordering on conflict is beginning in this town. It’s likely the internal divisions within the Tower are becoming apparent”
“The Tower?”
“The Tower Emblem. Talc’s largest construction union, centered around the one-horned Ogre……recently, within it, five rival factions have been fighting for dominance. This area isn’t the Tower’s territory, but ogres who’ve broken free from the organization’s control and are committing lawless acts have been popping up everywhere lately……I could tell immediately from the air. The tension in the city feels different than before”
“……And you didn’t want me to know about that?”
“Yes”
Cosmos-san erased all trace of a smile, looking at me with an expression I’d never seen before.
“We absolutely cannot involve dragons in this chaos. Under any circumstances”