Chapter 217 Viscount Nixfen
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
A few days have passed since the stir over the fake goods began. The seller of the “Helpful Stick,” that adult item that looks like a Higo-zuiki¹, hasn’t been found… well, I haven’t really been looking, but there has been some progress.
It turns out the house making and selling the item is the house of Viscount Nixfen². It’s a strange coincidence that they have the same rank as my house, Harvest³, but they are a landed noble family with their own territory.
The Nixfen domain is a small land in the west of the Canaria Kingdom⁴. Officially, it has no famous local products. In a country that pushes for abstinence, they probably couldn’t sell adult goods in public anyway.
Also, the western part of the kingdom isn’t as rich as the south, but it is more peaceful than the north or east. This means they don’t need much military power. Because of that, living a quiet life—by noble standards, anyway—is easy. People say the territory is a lucky find.
Of course, some western nobles have grown lazy because of the peace. For people who want to move up in the world, the place is too boring. They have their own problems. To a commoner, these sound like luxury problems, but they are just plain.
Because of this, even among plain western nobles, the Nixfen family is very obscure. Many fellow nobles don’t even know they exist. Most people think, “Now that you mention it, did a house like that exist…?” Those were the real words of Lady Tina Duke Badcage.
To be fair to her, it’s not because Lady Tina doesn’t study. For a daughter of a Duke’s house to remember even a little bit about a plain Viscount from the west is actually a sign that she is very knowledgeable.
Now, the ones who gave me info on this weak noble house were Aerith from the Garou Merchant Guild⁵, Sera-chan from the Tasogare Merchant Guild⁶, and Mr. Chromans, the head of the Grizzly Merchant Guild⁷ and chairman of the Beast-person Association⁸.
This information came from the merchant guilds that work with my shop. They all told me things separately, so to clear things up, we needed to meet.
So today, we rented a room in the Assembly Hall of the Beast-person Association to share what we know.
* * *
”Erm, thank you all for coming today. I want to talk about the Nixfen house and the ‘Helpful Stick.’ Let’s put our information together and figure out what to do next. I’d appreciate your help,” I said.
”……”
Sadly, nobody clapped or cheered. Aerith, who knows how our meetings usually go, started to clap, but she stopped when she saw the serious faces of Sera-chan and Chairman Chromans.
Yeah, I guess this is how a normal meeting looks. Instead of a cheer, Ms. Suu, the cat beast-person secretary, put tea in front of everyone. Once she was done, I started to talk.
”Well then, Aerith, can you go first?”
”Yes, I understand,” Aerith replied.
Aerith began to tell everyone about the Nixfen family. It was thanks to her that we found out they were a weak family from the west.
Aerith’s family shop, the Garou Merchant Guild, is a high-end place for nobles and rich merchants. Anyone who visits is put on a list. Aerith and the staff remember every face. Actually, if you aren’t famous or rich, you can’t even get in.
”The Nixfen house has been a customer for four generations. We have worked with them since we first became a luxury shop. Even though the family heads changed, they visit us whenever they come to the capital. They don’t come often, though…” Aerith explained.
”But it was different this time, right?” I asked.
”Yes. This was the first visit from the current head, but Viscount Nixfen didn’t come to buy anything. He came to make a deal. He wanted us to sell his products, like the ‘Helpful Stick.’ I heard he seemed very desperate,” Aerith replied.
This is report number one. It’s not a bad plan. Unlike our Ddo-Buddy⁹, the ‘Helpful Stick’ looks hard to make, so they want to sell it for a high price.
Going to a luxury shop like the Garou Guild makes sense. However…
”Since we already sell your products, Master, we said no. Also, the item has no brand name and it is hard to sell anyway,” Aerith said.
It happened just like I told Laika the other day. The ‘Helpful Stick’ is interesting, but our shop is too strong.
”Thanks, Aerith. Sera-chan, you’re next,” I said.
”Yes. Our story is pretty much the same…” Sera-chan replied.
Sera-chan told us about Viscount Nixfen bringing a deal to the Tasogare Merchant Guild.
”But we don’t have a history with the Nixfen house. They work with our western branches for normal things, but the branches didn’t tell us he was coming…”
In the end, the Tasogare Guild also said no. If I were him, I would have asked the branch to talk to the head office first. Is he so desperate that he can’t even do that?
”Also, we aren’t the only ones he asked. He even went to the Akatsuki Merchant Guild¹⁰ for some reason…” Sera-chan added.
”The Akatsuki Guild? That’s Gerald-san’s place. Did he say you can eat the stick if you get hungry?” I asked.
”That’s exactly what he said…” Sera-chan replied.
The Akatsuki Guild sells food. I met them at a party Lady Tina held. In my old world, Higo-zuiki was actually eaten in soup or stir-fried…
”He’s got guts,” I said.
”He is desperate. If he asks everyone, some shops will eventually say yes. But I think shops where the wives are in the Wives Association¹¹ will say no,” Sera-chan said.
The Wives Association is a group of rich ladies. They have a lot of power in the kingdom, and many of them love our products.
our position is very strong. I’m not trying to be a monopoly, but it looks like one anyway.
I’m starting to feel a little sorry for Viscount Nixfen. Just as I thought that, Chairman Chromans twitched his bear ears and spoke.
I don’t know if I should call an old man’s bear ears ‘cute’ or not…
”But small stores are different. He came to us too, saying they were ‘military food,’ so I kicked him out. But some other shops are starting to sell them,” Chairman Chromans explained.
”Really?” Sera-chan asked.
Chairman Chromans told me this before. Some shops that can’t sell ‘Harvest’ products are starting to sell the fake ones.
”Mostly shops that weren’t allowed to sell your goods. We have the exclusive rights, so they are bitter. More shops will probably start selling his items soon,” Chairman Chromans said.
This is because of my plan. I only sell to guilds I trust. It wasn’t a mistake, but you can’t make everyone happy.
The only other place selling them is the Church of Demon-Subjugation¹². I bet Archbishop Trantestar told me about the fakes because the Viscount went to them too.
”Also, the military says a man who looks like Viscount Nixfen is selling them himself in the red-light district,” Chairman Chromans added.
”What? A noble is selling things on the street in the red-light district?!” I shouted.
Chairman Chromans nodded. Ms. Suu, who was standing behind him, spoke up.
”They are selling well. I went to check. The man looks very handsome. the harlots are buying them and making their customers use them…” Ms. Suu said.
Ms. Suu’s cat ears twitched—flicker-flicker—which was definitely cute. I wanted to hear more about her trip to the red-light district, but the story was getting weird…
A handsome man who is popular with the girls of the night? They wouldn’t buy from me at first, but they are buying from him?!
”M-Master, your face is scary…” Aerith said.
”Sorry, Aerith. I’m fine. Chairman Chromans, are the police doing anything?” I asked.
”They were. They investigated a suspicious man in the district. But he isn’t breaking the law. Also, he is very fast and they can’t catch him. They say they will wait until someone gets hurt,” Chairman Chromans replied.
That’s too late! I wanted to scream, but I didn’t. I see. If that’s the game, then fine. I, Viscount Kento Harvest, will bring down the hammer of justice—and a personal grudge—on him!
—
Summary:
Kento meets with his allies to investigate the ‘Helpful Stick’ copies. They find out Viscount Nixfen is the creator and is so desperate he is selling them in the red-light district. Kento finds out the Viscount is a handsome man who is succeeding where Kento once struggled. Fueled by a personal grudge, Kento decides to stop his new rival.
—
Character Insight:
Kento’s competitive nature shows as he moves from pity to anger. His pride as a businessman is hurt by the Viscount’s success in the red-light district. This highlights his very human, sometimes petty, motivations despite his high noble status.
—
Behind the Scene:
The Higo-zuiki is a real historical item from Japan. The author uses it to add a layer of realism to the fantasy world’s adult trade.
—
T/L:
Notes:
• Nixfen – A viscount aristocrat who has started manufacturing and selling adult goods similar to Kento’s products in the Royal Capital’s pleasure district. He is described as a ‘pretty boy’ or ‘gentle-looking man’ (yasao) but is a territory-holding noble likely trained in combat.
• Chromans – President of the ‘Royal Capital Beast-person Mutual Aid Association’ and the manager of the ‘Grizzly Merchant Guild,’ a top-tier weapons and armor dealer. He’s powerful, influential, and very business-savvy. Have round, cute bear ears (sooty brown), bushy beard and hair (sooty brown), and large build with muscular physique under a expensive gown.
• Aerith – A wolf beast-person and Ouka’s daughter. She is intensely attracted to Kento’s creative genius and is not shy about showing her interest. Have gray fur hair and tail, wearing elegant dress.
• Sera – A young, earnest salesperson from the Tasogare Merchant Guild, Kento’s supplier. She is characterized by her braided brown hair, large round glasses, and freckles. She’s serious about her job and easily flustered, especially by Kento’s adult goods business. Looks like Onodera from certain series.
• Suu – Secretary for the Royal Capital Beast-person Mutual Aid Association and a cat beast-person. Sample No. 19 in Kento’s report. She steps up as the first witness for the defense.
• Laika – The beastwoman dog.
• Gerald – Manager of the Akatsuki Merchant Guild. Described as round and fat with a friendly smile.
• 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.
• 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.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply