Chapter 133 An Impossible Task
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”My monthly period has not come.”
”Seriously…?” I asked.
”Seriously.” Lily replied.
It was just as winter was beginning to fade. Those words suddenly flew from the mouth of Lily, my former experimental slave. After I let out a dazed response, I pulled her into a tight embrace.
”Hmm, finally then. Congratulations to you both.” Tania said.
”Congrats, Lily-sama, Kento!” Laika shouted.
Tania, the Elf adventurer, and Laika, the Dog Beastman adventurer, offered their blessings. As I listened to them, I buried my nose in Lily’s hair with a strange sensation. We had done it so many times that I figured it was about time, but when the moment actually arrived, I didn’t know how I was supposed to react.
”Congratulations. You can use our poorhouse for the diagnosis, so please rest easy.” Amelia said.
”Congratulations. Kento, you’ll have to work even harder from now on, won’t you?” Satsuki added.
Sister Amelia spoke of the medical care provided by the Church of Demon-Subjugation¹, and the Court Mage Satsuki showed concern for the shop’s future operations even as they congratulated us.
That’s right, things were about to get busy. I couldn’t have Lily working too much, and we needed to prepare for the coming child. I needed money; I needed supplies. I had to avoid unstable management and ensure that Lily wouldn’t suffer any mental strain.
If I asked Aerith from the Garou Merchant Guild², most things could probably be settled. She should be willing to work hard for the sake of her “turn.” Should I also talk to the folks at the Adventurer’s Guild? Big Sis Aki, the Tiger Beastman, would be a reliable senior to depend on.
And then there were the business partners like the Tasogare Merchant Guild³? The young lady Tina Duke Badcage would surely offer her blessings too. And then, and then… No, before all that, what I should say is…
”Lily, thank you…”
”Fufu, you’re getting ahead of yourself. It’s only just beginning.”
The woman in my arms said that with a laugh, happily hugging me back.
* * *
”The start of the war is finally drawing near.”
It was not long after that when I was summoned to the royal palace for the first time in a while and heard those words from Her Majesty the Queen.
”Uh… isn’t today’s talk about adult magic items…?” I asked.
Feeling perplexed that such things were being told to me, a mere owner of a magic shop, I posed that question. Her Majesty’s complexion, which had improved somewhat thanks to the high-grade ‘Slime-kun,’ had returned to its previous state with sharp eyes and prominent dark circles.
Beside her stood the maid Muse-san and the Captain of the Royal Guard, Merluza, as usual. I had presented the high-grade ‘Slime-kun’ to them as well a short while ago, but their expressions were even grimmer than before. Most likely, the extra energy they gained from the ‘Slime-kun’ effect was being entirely poured into their work.
”I am very interested in your new products equipped with magic circuits, but unfortunately, I am in no position to focus on that right now.” Her Majesty said.
Ah, yeah, good. She seems busy, but this “typical Her Majesty” vibe is very much like her. However, the fact that she was “in no position” was also true; after all, people who were not usually here had gathered in this place.
”To think I would cross paths with you again…” Dan Samoro muttered.
Marquis Dan Samoro, the Prime Minister. At the social gathering Tina held previously, I had ended up exposing the rectal circumstances of his wife and daughter. And he wasn’t the only one.
”Queen, get on with the talk. I’m not that free either.” Ulgate barked.
The head of the Adventurer’s Guild, Mr. Ulgate. This was an unexpected person. A sense of fishiness and a bad premonition finally began to loom. War, the Adventurer’s Guild, and then our shop. I didn’t want to hear it if possible, but I suppose I have to…
”I know. I’ll be blunt. Kento, owner of the magic shop ‘Harvest’⁴, you and your shop will lend your strength to the war against the Coalmine Kingdom⁵. Having laid hands on the daughter of our country’s highest-ranking noble and a Court Mage, surely you won’t say no…”
Queen Cecile narrowed her sharp eyes even further and spoke while glaring at me. If I hadn’t met her several times and known she was a fan of our shop’s products, her expression was terrifying enough to make me piss myself.
Or rather, it seems the matter of Tina and Satsuki has been completely found out. I wasn’t hiding it, so it’s fine, but I wish she wouldn’t glare so much.
”Of course. Even without the matter of those two, I have the debt of gratitude for Your Majesty siding with me during the ‘Trial,’ and I will not do anything to forget the repeated favors you’ve granted me. Besides, the only reason my shop can leisurely sell adult magic items is because of the peace in this country.” I replied.
I spoke my true feelings. I didn’t want to get involved in wars and such, but it would be more troublesome if this country fell into ruin. Especially now that Lily is pregnant, the shop can’t move easily.
Moreover, there probably isn’t a ruler who favors our shop more than this person, and I have an attachment to this country and its people. I definitely don’t want to see us invaded by another nation. That’s why I nodded strongly.
”Hmph, very well. First of all, some products in your shop have become impossible to produce due to a shortage of materials, right?” Her Majesty asked.
”Ah, the Samon Mushroom related products? I managed to get some through the Wives Association⁶ so we’re okay for a bit longer, but they will certainly go out of stock during the spring…”
”They have become impossible to produce!” Her Majesty snapped.
”Ah, yes…” I muttered.
Apparently, she wants me to “make it so.” As of today, our shop can no longer produce or sell the ‘Womb Throb’ and ‘Fevered Vagina Hole, Burning Clitoris.’ It might cause some inconvenience since it’s sudden, but since stock is very low anyway, it was only a matter of time.
”And you have sought my help. Is that correct?”
”Uh… yes…” I replied.
”When I put out a request to the Wives Association in the future, I will use your name and the shop’s name. Don’t be so wary. It’s just to the extent of mentioning, ‘By the way, there was a petition from the magic shop Harvest…’ in case of an emergency. I won’t burden you.”
”Yes, well, since it’s true that I want something done about it quickly…”
Though it was a somewhat hesitant reply, Her Majesty seemed satisfied. The influence of the Wives Association, where the wives of the upper class in this country gather, is large. Most likely, she will ask for the help of the Wives Association to persuade nobles who are not enthusiastic about taxation or conscription. And our shop will be used as the bait…
”Good, let it be so. Prime Minister, work on the Wives Association through your wife. You know who they are, but especially Count Gosse and Count A-Sera. I don’t care if you use Harvest’s products as bait, have the talk brought up from multiple sides.”
”As you wish. But to think that I would be made to act like a salesman for such vulgar magic tools…” Samoro sighed.
”You were the one who taught me to use whatever is available, were you not?”
”Indeed, that is so…”
Marquis Samoro, who looked even more haggard than when I saw him last, nodded with a sigh and left the room.
I feel like I heard a lot of things, but I wisely pretend not to have heard. Well, I can’t do anything about the circumstances of the nobles anyway, and it’s true that they are vulgar magic tools.
Using products as bait shouldn’t lead to being hated as long as the war ends safely. If anything, it might lead to an increase in customers, so it should be fine, right… if I’m in trouble, I’ll have Her Majesty take responsibility or protest through Tina.
”Phew, will this take care of the financial side then…?”
”Cecile-sama, it’s still only half over.” Muse interjected.
”I know…”
Her Majesty the Queen sighed and brushed back her bangs as Muse-san prompted her to continue. Apparently, there’s still something she wants to say to our shop. That makes sense; the short-tempered Guild Master Ulgate has been standing there with his arms crossed and a grim face for a while now.
”Secondly, Kento. That… don’t get angry, okay?”
”I can’t say until I hear it…” I replied.
This time, Her Majesty made a somewhat weak expression instead of her stern one. I am self-aware that I’m weak to that kind of face on a woman, but there’s a limit to what I can do. I hope it’s not an impossible task…
”…In your shop, there are two A-rank adventurers and two first-class mages, right?”
”Yes, Tania, Laika, and Satsuki…”
Hearing it again, it’s an amazing lineup. Laika is an A-rank adventurer, Satsuki is a first-class mage, and Tania is both. If they felt like it, taking down a small town might be nothing to them. Since the names of those three are coming up in this flow of conversation…
”Regarding those three, I would like them to be mobilized for this war.”
Unfortunately, that was a truly impossible task that threatened the production and development of our shop…
—
Summary:
Lily reveals to Kento that she is pregnant, sparking a moment of joy and a resolve to provide for his growing family. Shortly after, Kento is summoned to the royal palace where Queen Cecile reveals that war with the Coalmine Kingdom is imminent. The Queen maneuvers to use Kento’s popular adult magic items as leverage to gain political support from noblewomen. Finally, the Queen drops a bombshell by requesting that Kento’s powerful employees be drafted into the war effort.
—
Character Insight:
Kento shows significant growth in his sense of responsibility; the news of Lily’s pregnancy immediately shifts his mindset toward financial stability and long-term security. Queen Cecile’s character is further fleshed out as a pragmatic, albeit exhausted, ruler who isn’t above using ‘vulgar’ products to ensure her nation’s survival. Her hesitation and ‘weak’ expression when asking for Kento’s staff suggest she values her relationship with him but prioritizes the state’s military needs.
—
Behind the Scene:
This chapter marks a major shift in the story from a slice-of-life shop management focus to a high-stakes political and military conflict. The ‘Wives Association’ acts as a humorous but realistic depiction of how soft power and luxury goods can influence hard political decisions in a fantasy setting.
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T/L:
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.
• Laika – The beastwoman dog.
• Amelia – The Sister of the Church of Demon-Subjugating, who usually buys from Kento, has light blue hair.
• Satsuki – A talented Court Mage who was forced to analyze the shop’s adult magic tools. Miranda’s granddaughter. Now she’s the new worker at Harvest, a development she finds both humiliating and surprisingly fulfilling due to the rapid progress in her research under Kento’s guidance. Has long black hair, palace mage robe, and staff.
• 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.
• Merluza – The Captain of the Royal Guard, a veteran soldier and Lion Beast-person. She testifies to the military necessity and effectiveness of the ‘Tremble Ddo-Buddy’ (which she calls ‘Bob’) for female beast-person soldiers, ensuring job performance isn’t compromised by ‘heat’. Have dull yellow hair, large feline ears, wearing armor, and large scar over the right eye.
• Muse – Cecile’s trusted attendant and chief maid, Muse handles sensitive, discreet tasks like espionage and product acquisition. Have sharp, black eyes, wearing maid uniform, and have expressionless face.
• Samoro – A middle-aged Marquis and Prime Minister with a lot of white hair, a magnificent mustache, and luxurious attire. He is a key figure in the court who has supported the Queen since her enthronement.
• Ulgate – The head of the Adventurers’ Guild. Using rough words.
• Cecile – A high-ranking, powerful woman in the capital who possesses the authority to regulate business and commerce, particularly concerning moral or public order issues. She is currently investigating Kento’s shop, ‘Harvest.’ Have long golden hair, elegant, and wearing expensive white dress with gold accesories.
• 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.
• Soi – An old professor from Ajire seminary, the first to raise a question. Looks like wizardly.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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