Chapter 297 Project Harvest
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The next day. Muse-sama headed back to the Royal Palace, her legs trembling like a newborn fawn. Well, at any rate, I’m just glad I could secure such a high-quality test subject.
It seems I successfully kept my promise to “make it a night she’d never forget.” As she left, she threw a parting jab my way: “I’ll remember this for the rest of my life…!” Whether that was a threat or a confession of love, I honestly couldn’t tell.
Naturally, her maid uniform and underwear were far too soiled to wear back, so my beloved slave Lily-san lent her a change of clothes. I have to say, seeing her in something other than those maid frills was a refreshing change of pace.
She mentioned she’d swing by for the maid outfit during our next “experiment” or whenever she has a free moment. I’d love for her to take it home and wear it while reminiscing about our time… but I wonder if I could just keep one? I’d love to see Lily-san and the others in them. Then again, she’d probably skin me alive.
”So, can you finally tell me what kind of plan you girls came up with?” I asked.
I shook the lewd thoughts from my head and questioned Lily-san. After all, the whole reason Muse-sama came by yesterday was to discuss our shop’s public recruitment of test subjects.
For some reason, I was barred from the meeting yesterday, but I’d at least like to hear the gist of it. I trust Lily-san’s judgment, especially since her ideas were being incorporated, but still…
”Hmm, let me see… I think Master-sama would have much more fun if I kept the details a surprise for now,” Lily-san replied with a playful look.
”Hey, surprise or not, I need to know when the subjects are arriving so I can manage my schedule,” I argued.
I wasn’t sure what she meant by “fun,” but if Lily-san said so, it was usually true. Still, as the guy in charge of production planning, I couldn’t be left entirely in the dark.
”Oh, very well. In that case, I shall start by announcing the most important part: the name of this project,” Lily-san said.
”Hmm?” I muttered.
”The name is, quite simply… ‘Project Harvest’ ¹!” Lily-san declared.
”Whoo!” Tania and Laika cheered.
Lily-san struck a grand pose, standing tall as she made her declaration. Right on cue, Tania-san the elf adventurer and Laika-san, our resident “good girl,” broke into a round of applause. Seriously, what is this…
”Isn’t that a bit much? It’s just a simple recruitment drive, yet you’re crowning it with the shop’s name. That’s my family name, you know,” I said.
”Naive! You’re far too naive, Master-sama! Don’t you dare underestimate this as mere recruitment! The true objective of this plan is… well, it’ll be more amusing if I keep my mouth shut, so I’ll do just that,” Lily-san teased.
”Hey…” I groaned.
I shot a skeptical look at Lily-san, who seemed to be having the time of her life, while I nearly face-planted at her antics. She, however, acted completely unfazed, happily scooping up her darling daughter Momo-chan.
”I personally thought ‘The Freshly Squeezed! Great Harvest Festival’ had a nice ring to it,” Tania-san remarked.
”I was rooting for ‘The Flesh and Booze⭐Carnival’ myself!” Laika-san added.
”You guys, seriously…” I sighed.
While Tania-san and Laika-san doted on Momo-chan in Lily-san’s arms, they continued to showcase their god-awful naming sense – names where I could almost guess the lewd subtext. Honestly, their taste was just as terrible as my own haphazard style.
”We had so many candidates. But in the end, we decided that the double meaning of ‘Harvest’ was the most elegant,” Lily-san explained.
”Is that what you girls were busy discussing all that time…?” I asked.
”Hehe, but Master-sama, you’re the one who always says names are vital. Especially that simple and clear is best,” Lily-san giggled.
Apparently, they had a grand old time coming up with names they thought I’d actually pick. Whether “Project Harvest” is actually ‘simple and clear’ is debatable, but they seem happy, so I’ll let it slide.
”So, how are you handling the recruitment? We can’t exactly put up posters all over town, right?” I asked.
”Correct. We’re planning to stick to word-of-mouth for the most part. It fits the ‘exclusive’ vibe of our shop better. However, for those we feel should know about this, we’ll be reaching out personally,” Lily-san replied.
”Yep! I can cover the Beast-person Association ², and maybe the Adventurers’ Guild and the Monastery too. I’ll go have a chat with Big Sis about it!” Laika-san chirped.
”I mean, that’s fine, but are you up for it? How’s your health?” I asked.
”I’m totally fine! Kento, you’re so overprotective. Not just overprotective – you’re like, over-over-over-over-overprotective!” Laika-san laughed.
Lily-san and Tania-san nodded in vigorous agreement with Laika-san’s teasing. Luckily, Laika-san and Tania-san’s morning sickness hasn’t been nearly as brutal as Lily-san’s was, so I figured a little outing wouldn’t hurt, but still…
”As for the nobles and wealthy merchants looking to get in our good graces, Aerith-san and Tina-san will handle spreading the word in those circles,” Tania-san said.
”Wait, that’s getting a bit out of hand…” I noted.
”It’s fine. They don’t have to move a finger; their staff will handle the logistics. Besides, it would be worse to exclude them. If things get too wild, that Wives Association ³ can act as a buffer. And if all else fails, the Queen herself is involved,” Tania-san explained.
I started to protest Tania-san’s casual inclusion of high society, but they just gave me a look that said, “Just leave it to us.” Unlike Tania-san, Aerith-san (of the Merchant Guild Garou ⁴) and Tina-san (daughter of the Duke of Badcage) have many rough days due to their condition, and I don’t want them overexerting themselves. I’ll have to keep a close eye on them during my daily visits.
Still, this has ballooned into something massive. The Beast-person Association is one thing, but getting the Wives Association – full of powerful noblewomen and the wives of merchant moguls – involved? By the time this is over, every woman in the Royal Capital is going to know about our recruitment…
”…So, I’m guessing you’re not going to tell me exactly who you’re reaching out to?” I asked.
”Hehe, just look forward to it. Honestly, even if we didn’t lift a finger, I think the news would find its way to the people who ‘need’ it most,” Lily-san said confidently.
I couldn’t help but wonder who on earth “needed” a job as a pharmaceutical test subject, but Lily-san seemed incredibly confident.
Is this really okay? Wanting to be a guinea pig in a shady magic circuit shop like this… any way you slice it, the applicants are either going to be after the money, the connections, or they’re just going to be dangerously perverted women.
”As for the selection process, we’ll start with the document screening you mentioned before, Master-sama. After we weed out the suspicious characters or anyone who isn’t quite your ‘type,’ we’ll move on to the interviews. We’ll be there, of course, but we want you to participate as well,” Lily-san said.
”Are you sure that’s a good idea?” I asked.
”Of course. You enjoy this sort of thing, don’t you? Sifting through resumes and ‘appraising’ the women who show up specifically to be subjects for your lewd ‘experiments’?” Lily-san smiled knowingly.
”……”
I felt a surge of arguments rising in my throat, but since I couldn’t exactly deny the truth of it, I kept my mouth shut. Fine, yeah, I’m looking forward to it – the ‘s*xual harassment interview.’ I’m going to grill them on their motivations. After all, this is basically going to be a grand exhibition of every perverted woman in the Capital.
”The Royal Palace will be handling the administration. We’ll be involved, but Muse-sama is the expert when it comes to sniffing out suspicious individuals,” Lily-san added.
”Yeah, I suppose she is,” I agreed.
Apparently, Muse-sama handles the darker side of the Queen’s business – investigating suspicious characters and the like. I’d heard it was her and her subordinates who were monitoring Lily-san when she first arrived from the Coalmine. Though, I assume she does normal secretary work too.
She’s the perfect person to gatekeep against organizations or individuals the Queen wants to keep in the dark. Above all, after last night, I’ve thoroughly “educated” her on the nature of the work. Having her on the selection committee is definitely a weight off my mind.
”Then there are the specific terms of employment. For now, it’s the same as Muse-san: they’ll assist with an ‘experiment’ once or twice a month in exchange for a stipend. Although, the ‘experiment’ itself is such a reward that I suspect we’d have plenty of applicants even if the labor were free…” Lily-san noted.
”It’s simpler if we just frame it as a paid position,” I replied.
”Precisely. I’m sure you’ll handle things your way, Master-sama, but do try your best not to get stabbed, alright?” Lily-san warned.
”…Yes. I’ll be careful,” I answered.
I recoiled at her sharp final warning. And so, our shop’s recruitment drive – otherwise known as “Project Harvest” – set sail, already ballooning into something far beyond my original imagination.
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Summary:
Following a vigorous night with the royal secretary Muse-sama, the shop crew finalizes ‘Project Harvest.’ The plan, led by Lily-san, aims to recruit female test subjects for Kento’s magic circuit ‘experiments’ via high-society word-of-mouth. Kento prepares for the interview phase, anticipating a flood of eccentric applicants.
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Trivia:
- Muse-sama’s role as a clandestine investigator for the Queen.
- The ‘Project Harvest’ name is a double meaning involving Kento’s family name.
- Multiple main female characters (Tania, Laika, Aerith, Tina) are currently pregnant and experiencing various levels of morning sickness.
- The Wives Association serves as a powerful social ‘buffer’ in the capital.
- Lily-san was originally monitored by Muse-sama when she arrived from the Coalmine
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Character Insight:
Lily-san demonstrates her tactical dominance by keeping Kento out of the loop until the plan is set, while Muse-sama shifts from investigator to a somewhat compliant ‘educated’ participant.
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Behind the Scenes:
The author uses the ‘test subject’ framing as a recurring trope to introduce new female characters into the harem while maintaining the business-focused narrative structure.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• 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.
• 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.
• Laika – The beastwoman dog.
• 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.
• Momo – The newborn daughter of Kento and Lily. She has pink hair and her father’s ear and eyebrow shapes.
• 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.
• 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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