Chapter 216 Counterfeit Goods
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”It looks like knockoffs have started to pop up,” Tania said.
When I heard this from Tania, the adventurer elf who had just returned from the Canarias Convent¹, my first thought was: “Isn’t that a bit too late?”
In this world where things like capitalism and the global economy haven’t spread yet, the speed at which goods move and are made is simply slower than in my old world.
I always knew that if I made things like the items in our shop, fakes and copies would be made. Because of that, I had been on guard since the very beginning, but it turned out to be a bit of a letdown.
Well, I guess it’s possible that the bar for making adult magic tools is just really high…
”What!? That’s bad, isn’t it! Should I go over there and beat them up!?” Laika asked.
”Calm down, Laika. That would only make you feel better for a moment before the guards haul you away,” I replied.
Laika, the adventurer dog-beastman, leaned forward while saying those dangerous words. It was a suggestion that fit her muscle-brained personality, but there was no need for that.
”Then what are we going to do, Kento!? Momo-chan was just born, too…!” Laika cried.
”Our items aren’t that easy to copy. Our sales network is growing, and it won’t be easy to cut in here,” I said.
Yes, it wasn’t easy. You can’t break into our shop’s fortress with a lazy ‘let’s try copying that popular item’ attitude. That’s because the first-mover advantage is very strong.
Of course, there is also the idea of the late-comer advantage, but that is difficult in its own way. To be honest, there were times when it felt like fakes were being sold here and there. But every one of them was a poor copy.
They would break easily or melt into a mess if left in the sun—they were just cheap trash. They vanished from the market quickly without us even needing to worry.
While late-comers usually benefit from easier manufacturing and market growth, every copycat so far had failed at points much more basic than that.
I wonder about this time, though… Since Tania went out of her way to tell me, I think it must be something significant…
”Umu. To be honest, I am a bit unsure if this should even be called a ‘similar product’ or not…” Tania said.
As she spoke, Tania pulled out a bundle of fibers that looked like they came from a plant, with a brownish color. There was a rod-shaped phallus, but there was also something that looked like a small ‘shimenawa’ ring.
The moment I saw those ‘counterfeits,’ I couldn’t help but shout out loud.
”Higo Zuiki²! Isn’t that Higo Zuiki!?” I shouted.
Let me explain! ‘Higo Zuiki’ is an adult product used in the old days of my old world. Wait, was it used for food too…?
If I remember right, it’s made by drying and bundling the stalks of taro plants. The stuff inside them is supposed to stimulate the parts of both men and women to increase blood flow. Maybe the fact that it works for men too is what makes it different from our shop’s items.
And this ‘shimenawa’ ring… it’s a total c**k ring… Oh, it even has bumps meant to stimulate the clitoris!
It’s a traditional item that was once even given as a gift to the Shogun. To think I’d get to see something in another world that I never even saw in person back on Earth!
Eh? Why do I know so much about it if I’ve never seen it? Well, I mean, doesn’t everyone look up the history of adult goods at least once? The history of vibrators, or the history of strokers… Eh? It’s just me? I… I see…
Anyway, I was a little moved. You could even call it respect.
This was certainly a ‘similar product,’ but it wasn’t a ‘copycat.’ Looking at the high quality of the work and the cleverness of the different versions, the maker didn’t just make this on a whim.
Actually, it didn’t look like it was made because they saw our shop’s items. This was likely something that has existed in this world for many generations…
As I was thinking, Laika looked over my shoulder and spoke plainly.
”Wait, those are just ‘Helping Sticks’ and ‘Helping Rings.’ Why are they here? Are these the knockoffs? I mean, they’re used the same way, but…” Laika said.
”You know about these, Laika!?” I asked.
I grabbed her shoulders and pressed her for answers. ‘Helping Sticks’ and ‘Helping Rings’!? What a modest way to name them! It’s a great name that shows how this item has survived in the shadows without people knowing it’s an adult toy!
Of course, I don’t regret naming my own item ‘Ddo-Buddy³.’ But this is a good name that makes me think, ‘So there was a path like that, too.’
Surprised by my energy, Laika looked away with a slight blush on her cheeks and explained.
”U-um, well, in my ‘pack’… or the area where my pack is, everyone knows about them? I think a lord has been making them for generations. Man, this brings back memories—my mom and the others used them,” Laika said.
”Fumu. So it was an existing product… I haven’t seen them in the Royal Capital, though…” Tania muttered.
Just as I thought, they weren’t copying our shop. It made sense; you couldn’t make something this good overnight. For some reason, I found myself nodding in approval, taking the side of the ‘Helping Stick.’
”Does that mean these are also used for beastmen during their ‘heat’?” I asked.
”Yeah, well. But instead of just a ‘heat’ fix, I think they’re mostly for just having fun? I think there were even versions with medicinal vines woven in for girls using it for the first time,” Laika replied.
”That’s amazing… Wait, don’t tell me Laika, you too…?” I asked.
”No, I’ve never used one. In my pack, we usually just used wooden sticks we carved ourselves. These aren’t exactly cheap, you know,” Laika said.
I had accidentally heard a lot about local sexual culture, but I see—they’re expensive… Indeed, looking like traditional crafts, they don’t seem fit for mass production.
Wait, if that’s the case, then what does it mean that they’ve ‘started to circulate’…? Our shop’s items aren’t exactly cheap either. Specifically, they’re priced so a normal worker can buy one a month if they try a little hard.
I put a lot of thought into the pricing. Since we get materials from many places, costs are high. Selling a lot for a small profit was out of the question, but if I was too greedy, I’d never build the ‘adult goods culture’ needed for the shop to work.
That’s why I picked that perfect price: you can get it if you try, and it’s easy to buy a second or third one to keep people interested. I’m proud that the plan worked well.
Competing against our shop with this Higo Zuiki—or rather, the ‘Helping Stick’—would be tough. That’s true for the price, and especially for the quality, which likely changes from piece to piece.
”Tania, where did you get this?” I asked.
”Umu. As I was leaving today, Mother Marian gave it to me. It seems she got it from Archbishop Trantestar…” Tania replied.
I see. The Church of Demon-Subjugation⁴ really has a nose for these things. They found out about our shop’s items early on, too…
Still, should I see this as a warning or a request to look into it? It’s hard to tell. I can’t help but feel that the Archbishop is pulling strings in the background again.
”Did Mother say anything else?” I asked.
”‘I’m sure you’ll be fine, but be careful, okay~? ne-n♡’ …or so she said,” Tania replied.
”Pfft! What was that? An impression?” I laughed.
”Pfft! It’s perfect, Sis! You nailed it!” Laika giggled.
”Heh. Is that so?” Tania asked.
Laika started laughing at the sudden mimicry, and Tania looked pretty happy with herself. Mother certainly has a distinct way of talking that’s easy to copy, but seeing it done with such a serious face made me lose it. Tania really has softened up.
Anyway, Mother seems to be worried about us, and I agree with her. I’ll take it as a warning and stay on my guard, just in case.
—
Summary:
Tania brings home a traditional ‘Helping Stick’ that Kento recognizes as a high-quality local version of Earth’s Higo Zuiki. Laika explains that these items are traditional in her home region and used by beastmen, though they are quite expensive. The discovery that Archbishop Trantestar sent the item via Mother Marian suggests the Church is keeping a close eye on Kento’s business competition.
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Character Insight:
Tania shows a rare playful side by impersonating Mother Marian, indicating she feels more at home with Kento and Laika. Kento reveals his deep respect for traditional craftsmanship, showing he isn’t just a businessman but also a genuine enthusiast of adult tool history. Laika provides a bridge between her pack’s rustic traditions and Kento’s modern market strategy, highlighting the cultural depth of the world’s beastmen.
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Behind the Scene:
The author introduces ‘Higo Zuiki’ as a grounded historical reference to give the world building more texture, moving beyond generic fantasy items. This chapter focuses on the economic landscape of the story, showing how the protagonist maintains his market lead through strategic pricing and ‘first-mover’ status against traditional alternatives.
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T/L:
Notes:
• 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.
• Laika – The beastwoman dog.
• 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.
• Momo – The newborn daughter of Kento and Lily. She has pink hair and her father’s ear and eyebrow shapes.
• Trantestar – The middle-aged man Archbishop of Canarias and the initiator of the current trial. He is an alleged ally of Kento but remains suspiciously neutral.
• Marian – A ‘Mother’ and supervisor from the Church of Demon-Subjugation. Her appearance and demeanor defy the Church’s purported ‘chastity,’ instead she has wavy purple long hair, busty, black nun, tear mole under eye, and monroe walk. She has arrived with a clear purpose: to confront Kento about the ‘Devil’s Stick.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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