Chapter 52 Accused of Being a Scamp꞉ The Elf’s Crush and the Second Ban
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
A few days’ve passed since Her Majesty the Queen ordered me to stop selling the ‘Hot-Hot Ddo Buddy’. That’s the second time now, man, coming right after the Church banned the ‘Tremble-Ddo-Buddy’. I feel like I keep getting knocked down right as I try to get started—like a nail that just won’t stop sticking out, ya know? The world’s so harsh! Even in another world, it’s just so damn cruel…
”Lily, I swear, I might be cursed…” I sighed.
”Don’t say such idiotic things, Master. You’re a low-level magic wielder yourself; you’d know if you were truly cursed, wouldn’t you?” Lily replied, her tone perfectly flat.
”Nah, I don’t mean it like that…”
I was clinging to my slave, Lily, during our lunch break between the morning and afternoon shifts, just being a deadbeat. She wasn’t overly sweet to me this time, though. She did give me a good ‘there, there’ pat after I actually earned some points with her, which was something.
When I told her about the Queen’s ban, Lily just said, ‘Well, I rather expected it, Master. You’re always making such dangerous things…’ All of ’em are just adult goods, though!
”So, what’s your plan going forward, then?” she inquired, ever the pragmatic one.
”Hmm, well, first I’ll have to wait for Tania and the others to bring back the ‘Fire Rat Pelts’, won’t I? Then I’ll make the heating magic tools with the Court Mage. I guess the ‘Hot-Hot Ddo Buddy’ won’t be back on the market until the war’s over…” I trailed off.
”It is quite frustrating that we just have to wait on both the ‘Tremble-Ddo-Buddy’ and the ‘Hot-Hot Ddo Buddy’, isn’t it?”
”Tell me about it! The Queen’s been generous, so we ain’t exactly starving for cash right now, but you can’t just wait around forever, can ya?”
”The only thing we can do, I suppose, is that experiment to check the ‘Tremble-Ddo-Buddy’s’ effectiveness during the ‘heat period’¹, yes?”
”Yeah. And that’ll have to wait until Tania brings Laika back, too…”
I casually pulled Lily closer, burying my face into her chest for a deep breath. Ah, this is when I know she’s actually pampering me. Usually, she’d dryly remind me, ‘That is outside the terms of my contract,’ but right now she was just stroking my head. She’s gonna turn me into a useless mess of a man if she keeps that up…
We spent a little time like that, messing around, and had just finished lunch. I was about to open the shop when the doorbell jingled from the back entrance. It wasn’t the day for the Twilight Merchant Guild deliveries, so who the heck could it be?
”Hello, there, you scamp!”
”S-sorry, Kento…”
When I opened the door, standing right there was Laika, the Dog Beastman, baring her canines and holding her tail rigid while she glared at me, and right beside her was Tania, the Adventurer Elf, looking utterly apologetic as she tried to calm Laika down.
* * *
”Wow! To actually get to meet Lily-sama, I’m so honored!” Laika exclaimed.
”Hmph, the path of the Adult Magic Tool is not paved in a single day. You must continue to apply yourself,” Lily instructed.
”Yes, ma’am!!!”
Laika, who had charged in with her nose flarin’, immediately started wagging her tail like crazy the moment she saw Lily. I knew some customers practically worshipped Lily, but I never expected this much devotion.
”R-really, Kento, I am so sorry…” Tania kept sayin’, her pointed ears drooping low. “Don’t worry, I actually am doing scamp-like things, so it’s all good,” I mumbled. However, I wish she’d stop going bright red and backing away whenever I tried to get close.
This wasn’t like the first time, when she’d blush just at the mention of my products, and it wasn’t like the recent times when she’d gotten used to me. What the heck happened in the few days she was out Fire Rat hunting?
”H-here, anyway, this is the ‘Fire Rat Pelt’ you asked for. I apologize for the delay. We got back yesterday, but it took time to find someone to buy the meat and to dry the pelts, you see…”
”Oh, you sold the meat? That’s good. I was worried about the hide processing, so thanks for that, I appreciate it.”
”N-no, I should thank you. It was a really helpful request, and we got an unexpected income from it.”
”I should give you your reward now, shouldn’t I? I was gonna give the kid a little bonus since she helped out, but you managed to hunt so many, and even handled the annoying processin’…
”A-ah, don’t push yourself, okay? Some of the hides aren’t in the best condition, and I can adjust Laika’s share myself…” Tania stammered.
Even as she spoke, Tania flinched, dropped the pile of pelts, and bolted when I took a step closer to accept them. If I casually tried to pat her head, like I always do with Lily, she’d dart back into the corner of the room, avoiding even the slightest touch to her green hair. When someone avoids you so obviously, it’s just human nature to wanna chase after them!
”K-Kento…? W-why are you inching closer like that!? Y-your eyes are scary! S-stop wiggling your hands! Why won’t you answer me!?”
Tania shivered and blushed crimson. Her eyes were filling up with tears, and the look on her face—partly shy, partly terrified—was genuinely attractive. My inner pervert was completely fired up! Unfortunately, my fun was blocked by an orange blur shooting between us.
”Hmph! Stay away from my Big Sis, you beast!!!” Laika snapped.
Was she really calling me a beast, when she’s a Beastman? Laika must’ve picked up on Tania’s distress while she was chatteng with Lily. She’d bristled her fur and was giving me a full-on threat display. Seriously, her attitude toward me is a complete 180 from how she acts with Lily or Tania!
Well, when I objectively look at my behavior, I do harass my regular customers, and I was absolutely fixated on harassing Tania just now, so I guess I deserve it. If I think about it, there’s not a single reason for Laika to like me… Maybe the only thing is that I developed the ‘Tremble-Ddo-Buddy’? But it seems like my repeated sexual harassment has completely canceled out that good deed, hasn’t it?
”S-stop it, Laika! It-it’s fine, Kento’s sexual harassment is just… normal for him!” Tania pleaded.
”No, it’s not! Because of this guy’s harassment, my easily-distracted Big Sis has totally turned into a girl in love!” Laika shouted, pointing an accusing finger.
”Laika?! I told you not to tell Kento!” Tania whispered, mortified.
”Like I would ever keep quiet! You have to talk tough to guys like this, or they’ll start pulling the ‘I didn’t mean anything by it’ or the ‘Wait, we’re just friends with benefits, right?’ garbage!” Laika ranted.
”K-Kento isn’t that kind of guy… well, maybe he is, but it’s okay!” Tania desperately tried to defend me.
Laika’s pleas were filled with a strange kind of emotion, and Tania didn’t even try to deny it. Whew, dating a Beastman must be rough. I remember hearing all sorts of rumors when I was an adventurer. Stories about guys who specifically targeted rookie Beastman girls during their ‘heat periods’², stuff like that. The information usually came from Aki-sis, the Tiger Beastman, and those scumbags always got smashed by her, apparently.
”Uh, sorry to interrupt your little moment, but Tania, is that… how you really feel?” I asked cautiously.
”N-no! T-th-this is just Laika saying things on her own!” Tania insisted.
”See! She’s trying to play coy! This guy is the ‘I didn’t mean anything by it’ type!” Laika yelled.
”No, I just need to hear it from the person herself…” I tried to reason.
”You don’t need to see anything! Look at her! Look at my adorable Big Sis, completely thrown for a loop by the first feelings of love she’s had in hundreds of years! Take responsibility, you hear me, responsibility!” Laika demanded.
”Laika! Stop talking about my age! Besides, Kento has Lily-sama! He’ll be totally disgusted if I bring up something as heavy as ‘responsibility’!” Tania wailed.
Laika and Tania were getting more and more worked up. Ah, so that’s what was going on, huh…? Tania’s a long-lived Elf, so I always figured she’d been through a thing or two, but I guess I was dead wrong. I wouldn’t call it bothersome, not in the slightest. If anything, I was happy—I could feel my cheeks twitching into a smirk—but still… I glanced at Lily, who had quietly come to sit next to me.
”Um, Lily-san? Would it be okay if I took responsibility?” I asked her.
”Why would you ask me that, Master? I am merely your slave, and furthermore, I was the one who encouraged her to come here in the first place. I think if you were to simply abandon her after all that, that would be far more questionable to your character,” Lily said with a small, knowing smile.
”No, it’s just… I guess I need to make an honest commitment, is all.”
”Well, I suppose that is the kind of man you are, Master.”
I’m not sure what kind of man she thinks I am, but Lily smiled sweetly when she said it. Whatever. I guess I’ll just have to do my best not to get abandoned by either of them.
”Alright, you got it! Since that’s the way it is, I’ll definitely take responsibility. Come here, Tania.” I beckoned her.
”Eh!? N-no, it’s really not like that, Kento!” Tania squeaked.
”Just come here, Tania,” I insisted.
”N-no, um… U-ugh…”
Face bright red, eyes darting around in a panic, Tania scurried over to me on all fours. I stroked her head, gently rubbed her pointed ear, and then lifted her up for a tight hug. She hesitantly wrapped her arms around my back.
”From now on, I promise to get you pregnant many times so you won’t be lonely even after I’m gone, and I’ll earn enough money to make sure you never have to worry about a thing. How does that sound, Tania?”
”Th-that’s too much! I just… want you to be nearby, that’s all…”
”Oh, Big Sis…! My Big Sis has the face of a married woman now! Shopkeeper, if you ever make her sad, I’ll never forgive you!” Laika wailed, tears welling up.
”Don’t worry, you can count on me!” I promised.
And just like that, in the middle of a bizarre commotion, I ended up taking on a new responsibility. I ignored the fact that the sales bans on the ‘Tremble-Ddo-Buddy’ and ‘Hot-Hot Ddo Buddy’ were still unresolved, and I totally forgot that I still needed to ask Laika for help testing how to relieve the sexual urges during the ‘heat period’…
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Summary:
The Queen’s ban on the ‘Hot-Hot Ddo Buddy’ is the second product ban, leaving Kento feeling cursed. His lunch break with Lily is interrupted by the return of Tania and Laika. Laika immediately calls Kento a scamp, exposing Tania’s deep crush on him. After a dramatic argument where Laika demands Kento ‘take responsibility’ for making her Big Sis fall in love, Kento accepts, sealing the deal with a hug and a wild promise to provide for her. The chapter ends with Kento taking on his new partner while momentarily forgetting all his previous problems.
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Character Insight:
Kento’s inner scamp loves the drama, but he’s also a man of his word, readily accepting the ‘responsibility’ for Tania’s feelings, which shows his commitment to his growing harem. Lily is the cool, knowing anchor, subtly encouraging Kento to be honorable. Laika is fiercely protective, and her aggressive facade hides a desire for her friend to be happy. Tania’s long life as an elf didn’t prepare her for her sudden, overwhelming love for Kento, reducing her to a completely flustered mess.
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Behind the Scene:
The ongoing sales bans are the main plot driver for Kento’s financial stability, but the immediate crisis is always solved by an expansion of his love life. The reference to the ‘heat period’ sets up a direct, necessary plot point for Kento’s next experiment with the ‘Tremble-Ddo-Buddy,’ which involves Laika.
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T/L:
The ‘heat period’ (発情期) is a common concept in fantasy settings, usually referring to a time of heightened sexual desire for beastfolk and demi-humans. ↩
The mention of ‘heat periods’ and exploitation of new adventurers adds a darker, more realistic layer to the fantasy world’s underbelly, which Kento is aware of. ↩
Notes:
• Lily – the sl*ve and primary experiment subject for the magic shop, ‘Harvest.’ She has striking pink hair, Blue eyes, medium breasts, which the Protagonist associates with being ‘wanton’. She has a working knowledge of magic, which she kept hidden from the slave trader.
• Tania – An Elf adventurer who, despite her race’s reputation for low sex drive, is secretly quite passionate. She initially seemed ‘wasted’ (emotionally dry) to her friend Raika, but was easily introduced to the pleasure-items sold at ‘Harvest.’ She is easily embarrassed and attempts to maintain a dignified facade, despite her recent, frequent purchases. She wears practical but light armor over a simple cloth tunic and short pants, highlighting her grace and agility. Her primary relationship is one of friendly senior-junior with Raika.
• Kento – The owner of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest,’ which discretely sells adult goods. He’s a former overworked, ordinary salaryman from modern Japan who was suddenly transported (isekai’d) to this fantasy world. He has dark hair and an unremarkable appearance, typically wearing a plain, slightly suspicious-looking shop owner’s clothes looks like Kazuma Satou from certain series. He has a minimal amount of magic power, enough to craft his specialty items.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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