Chapter 332 Strong Candidates
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Project Harvest¹ was officially in full swing.
Originally, the goal was simple: recruit some volunteers for the experiments. But right out of the gate, I was getting an earful of some surprisingly educational stories. At the same time, a cold realization hit me: “I might actually have to take this seriously,” I thought.
”Alright, let’s keep the momentum going!” Lily said.
”Indeed. It wouldn’t do to keep the applicants waiting. If we dawdle, the sun will be down before we’re halfway through,” Muse added.
Beside me sat my beloved slave Lily, and Muse-the head maid for Her Majesty the Queen. We were the panel of judges for today. Looking at the thick stack of interview sheets they’d handed me, it was clear we needed to hurry. If this was just one pile, I wondered what the total number of applicants actually was.
Truth be told, I still didn’t have a clue about the full scope of Project Harvest. Lily and Muse were being tight-lipped about the whole operation. “It’ll be more fun if it’s a surprise,” they’d told me. But looking at the next person to walk through the door, I realized they might be right.
”Wait… Miss Suu?”
”It has been a while, Mr. Kento. Or should I say… Lord Harvest?”
Twin cat ears twitched atop her head, and a tail traced a supple, elegant wave behind her. Pushing up her glasses with a sharp, professional glint in her eyes, it was Suu-the personal secretary to Chairman Chromans of Association Beast-person².
”Kento is fine, really. You did so much for me back during the Inquisition,” I said.
”Is that so? Well then, Mr. Kento, I look forward to your appraisal today,” she replied, sitting with her spine perfectly straight.
She was a beauty, as always. We’d first crossed paths back when my “Tremble-Ddo-Buddy³” adult toys were being dragged through a literal heresy trial. She’d been a key participant in our clinical study on the efficacy of the device during the beast-kin estrus cycle. Essentially, she was the savior who stood up in court and testified about just how well those toys worked.
Naturally, that meant I’d also had the privilege of watching her use one to vent her desires during her heat. Seeing her now, poured into a professional, tight-fitting suit, I couldn’t help but swallow hard.
”Right, then. We have a few questions for you,” Lily began. “We can skip the basics, so let’s start with your motivation for applying.”
”Ah, I see. So this is how you conduct your selections. How enlightening,” Suu replied. “As for my motivation, there are several factors… but primarily, if Lord Harvest is in a bind, Association Beast-person simply cannot sit idly by.”
As Lily questioned her and Suu answered, it felt less like a job interview and more like a high-level corporate negotiation. There was an air of mutual respect-an equal footing. Since they’ve been long-time collaborators, I suppose that was only natural.
”We truly appreciate the sentiment,” Lily said. “If I may follow up-could you be more specific about those ‘various factors’ you mentioned?”
”Certainly. It’s no secret. Of course, we wish to use this opportunity to deepen our ties with Lord Harvest. While we’ve had connections at the member level-like with the A-Rank adventurer Laika-we’ve lacked a direct pipeline to the management side until now,” Suu explained.
And there it was. I’d been warned that if I started recruiting, every organization under the sun would come knocking for a piece of the action. It was a flattering thought, but still…
”The Association doesn’t need to go through all this just to stay on my good side, you know?” I chimed in. “I’m not the type to forget my friends.”
”We are well aware of that, Mr. Kento. However, word is that you are exceptionally soft on your inner circle. So, we figured we might as well try to dive straight into your good graces,” Suu said with a small smile.
So that’s how people see me. Well, I can’t exactly deny it. Between Aerith’s Merchant Guild Garou, Tina’s Badcage family, and the Royal Family themselves, I’m on incredibly close terms with everyone. Not that I was trying to neglect Association Beast-person, but… as I was lost in thought, Lily let out a huff of dissatisfaction.
”That’s all business talk. I want to hear something more personal,” Lily pressed. “That sounds like the Association’s reason. What about your own feelings, Suu?”
”…Is that the kind of appeal you require?” Suu asked.
”It is,” Lily smirked. “Knowing our Master’s tastes.”
”In that case… let’s see,” Suu’s tone shifted. “I heard a rumor from Captain Merluza of the Royal Guard. She mentioned that Mr. Kento is… exceptionally skilled at working the hips.”
”The hips…?” I stammered.
”To be precise: the very base of the tail,” Suu clarified.
”Ah…”
”Furthermore, I’ve heard from Laika and Aerith that your talent for stroking one’s head, scratching behind the ears, and rubbing one’s belly is… quite formidable,” Suu continued.
The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. Suu’s eyes took on a predatory, beast-like glint. Was being good at “petting” really that high of a status symbol among beast-person women?
”Oh, absolutely,” Lily added. “He’s also devilishly good at scratching the inside and… well, crushing the depths.”
”Don’t forget the way he whispers sweet nothings in your ear,” Muse chimed in. “Or the way he loves to tease and be mean right when you’re at your limit-“
”Lily, Muse… Stay,” I ordered.
”My, my… I’m truly looking forward to passing this exam,” Suu purred. “Honestly, it was a struggle to maintain my composure during the last experiment. As a woman of the beast-kin, when a man looks at you with those eyes… I felt it would be almost rude not to sink my teeth into his throat.”
Suu was a powerhouse, plain and simple. The interview turned into a heated discussion about our shop’s inventory, and she ended up bonding with Lily and Muse over their shared tastes. Eventually, she left the room with the same cool, collected expression she’d arrived with.
”Suu is definitely a pass,” I sighed.
”Naturally,” Lily agreed. “Her Majesty mentioned we should take at least one person from the Association anyway, so this works out perfectly.”
”You said ‘at least one’… how many of them actually applied?” I asked.
”How many? Master, Association Beast-person had the highest number of applicants by far. Thanks to Laika, the reputation of your wicked touch has spread like wildfire,” Lily said.
”Is that so?” I muttered.
It didn’t feel bad to hear, but I felt a bit restless, like my private preferences were being put on public display. It was fine, though. As a die-hard animal-ear lover, this was basically the dream. I just preferred being the one doing the teasing, not the one being teased.
Unfortunately, the interviews that followed were a non-stop barrage of the same. It turns out our customer base is intense. These were women who had survived my repeated customer service sessions; they were simply built different.
Broadly speaking, the candidates fell into two camps. First, the pure fans-regular customers who just loved our products. Second, the representatives-people sent by various organizations to act as a bridge. Often, they were both.
The former were like our first few applicants; the latter were like Suu. Beyond Association Beast-person, we had people from the Adventurer’s Guild, the Church, rival Magic Circuit shops, various Merchant Guilds, and even relatives or vassals of noble houses. Naturally, there were familiar faces and total strangers alike. Let’s just say that hearing every single one of them describe their intimate affairs in graphic detail was highly educational.
In the end, I selected a handful of candidates-just enough so I wouldn’t end up sapped of my vitality. We’d send out the acceptance letters later. If they could pass the third stage-the practical application-they’d officially be part of the team.
”Master, the next one is our final applicant for the day,” Lily said.
”Phew. Finally…”
I was happy about the turnout, but an entire day of this was exhausting. We’d started at the crack of dawn, and now the sun was dipping below the horizon. I stretched my shoulders, watching the orange glow through the window as I waited for the last one.
”E-excuse me…!”
The woman’s voice was high and tight with nerves. She had brown, medium-length hair tied into twin braids, oversized round glasses, and a dusting of freckles across her nose. She had that “Class President” energy that just made you want to tease her. The final applicant was Sera, from Merchant Guild Tasogare⁴.
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Summary:
Kento begins the recruitment phase for ‘Project Harvest,’ interviewing various women for mysterious future roles. The session features a high-tension interview with Suu, a cat-eared secretary from the Beast-person Association who displays a mix of professional negotiation and primal desire. The chapter concludes with the introduction of Sera, a nervous ‘Class President’ type from the Tasogare Merchant Guild.
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Trivia:
- Suu was a crucial witness in a previous heresy trial regarding Kento’s adult goods.
- The Beast-person Association is looking for a direct ‘pipeline’ to Kento’s management.
- Kento is noted for being ‘soft’ on those in his inner circle.
- Beast-person women view Kento’s petting techniques as a significant mark of status.
- The sheer volume of applicants suggests Kento’s reputation is reaching legendary (or scandalous) status
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Character Insight:
Kento struggles with his public reputation, finding himself in the crosshairs of the very ‘teasing’ he usually dish out. Suu demonstrates that even the most professional figures in this world harbor intense physical reactions to Kento’s techniques.
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Behind the Scenes:
The term ‘built different’ highlights that Kento’s clientele has developed a high tolerance for his specific brand of s*xual harassment/service.
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TL Notes:
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.
• 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.
• 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. Wears glasses and a tight suit.
• 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.
• 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.
• Laika – The beastwoman dog.
• 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.
• 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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