Chapter 38 The D✱✱do-Buddy Summit꞉ A Most Formal Crisis Meeting
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”So, what kind of folks are we actually meeting with right now?”
I straightened up, having left Lily in charge of the shop, and asked Aki-nee as we made our way toward the meeting with the big shots from the Beast-person Association. As it turned out, following my chat with Guild Manager Badatt of the Twilight Merchant Guild yesterday, I was once again on my way to a high-stakes gathering with powerful people.
”Beats me, to be honest,” Aki-nee replied, not even bothering to look back at me. “Even I don’t know exactly who’s showing up. For now, it’s a few of the younger females who can give testimony, and word is the President will make an appearance, too.”
Aki-nee had gone straight to the Association’s headquarters, a building they called the Kaikan¹, right after she heard my story yesterday. This Kaikan also served as their main office, with permanent staff members, and acted as a sort of sanctuary where the Beast-people of the Royal Capital could go if they were in trouble. When she explained the situation there, a fire of rage erupted among the female staff. Before anyone knew it, this meeting had been set up for today.
”Half of the Beast-person Association’s membership is female, Kento. And a fair number of those women are the wives or daughters of the male members, so this isn’t something they can just sweep under the rug, see? Right about now, the big shots are probably getting hassled by their own mates and daughters.”
”That’s… uh, both incredibly helpful and kind of a miserable situation for them,” I mumbled, a sense of awkwardness settling in.
Aki-nee let out a dry, short sound of amusement. “Heh. Don’t talk like it’s got nothing to do with you. This is all for you and the items you create. You better understand that you’ve got the influence to move that many people now.”
”Yes, I’ll engrave it on my mind,” I promised her.
Aki-nee glanced over, a canine tooth flashing in a quick, wry smile. I mean, who would’ve thought the Tremble-Ddo-Buddy would turn out to be this valuable? I knew it would sell, and I knew it was a huge business opportunity.
That’s why I’d pushed Lily and Tania to their limits to set up an increased production system, and I was planning on selling, selling, and selling some more without a break for a while. It had seemed like that opportunity was crushed, but it felt like the Goddess of Fortune was smiling on me again.
Now wasn’t the time for a man to hesitate. I decided right then and there. I’d use the Beast-person Association and Amelia for all they were worth. I’d use anything and anyone else I could find. With that firm resolve, I followed Aki-nee into the building.
* * *
”Wow, so many Beast-people! It’s a paradise of animal ears!” I breathed in amazement.
”Of course it is. What are you even saying?” Aki-nee retorted, rolling her eyes.
The Kaikan, the headquarters of the Beast-person Association we were led to, was a veritable paradise of animal ears for those who appreciated such things. Cat ears to the right, dog ears to the left. There were bear ears, rabbit ears, and even some more unusual types like sheep ears and mouse ears, all twitching and wiggling.
Unfortunately for the kemomimi musume² enthusiast in me, there were men mixed in, too, but maybe this was a sight that the Elder Sisters in that particular field couldn’t get enough of. While thinking that, Aki-nee quickly sorted things out, and we were guided to a conference room.
”Alright, over here. They’ve been waiting for us, apparently,” she told me.
”Ah, yes!” I responded quickly.
We were guided by a Beast-person, naturally—a sharp-looking, secretary-type Elder Sister with cat-ears and glasses. I should mention that following her swaying tail was a truly magnificent experience. She was probably the President’s secretary or something. The President clearly had excellent taste.
”Please come this way.”
”Thank you.”
I was ushered into the conference room. Seated around the table was another animal-ear paradise of faces, though unfortunately, about half of them were animal-ear uncles and animal-ear grandfathers. These were, I assumed, the ‘big shots’ I’d heard about.
”You are welcome. Come, please take a seat.”
”Yes, sir.”
The largest and most imposing old man in the room motioned for me to sit. On his head sat round, cute bear ears, but the sooty brown color of those ears, his bushy beard, and his hair showed he was quite advanced in years.
However, his body looked perfectly healthy, and I could tell there were thick muscles packed underneath his expensive gown. The look he shot me was sharp and penetrating, showing a gentleman who definitely wasn’t slowing down with age. The Bear-ear Grandfather waited until Aki-nee and I were seated, straightened his back, and began to speak.
”First, allow me to introduce myself. I am Chromans, President of this ‘Royal Capital Beast-person Mutual Aid Association,’ and Manager of the Grizzly Merchant Guild. Am I correct in believing thou art the Master of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest’?”
”Yes, I am Kento. It’s an honor to meet you, President Chromans. I was told you are lending your efforts to my shop’s cause. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
”Hmph, it is well, it is well. This is a matter that we, too, cannot afford to ignore.”
President Chromans narrowed the corners of his eyes, wearing the face of a good-natured elderly man. The Grizzly Merchant Guild, I knew, was one of the foremost weapons and armor shops in the Royal Capital. Their main trade was selling equipment to the Royal Army, but they also owned several retail shops for adventurers, handling a wide variety of goods beyond just weapons and armor.
They were known for their reasonable prices, and I myself had relied heavily on their stores back in my adventurer days. I was surprised that the Manager of the Grizzly Merchant Guild also served as the President of the Beast-person Association.
But thinking about it, it made a lot of sense. Many members of the Beast-person Association are soldiers or adventurers. Profits from the army are cycled back to the adventurers who are trying to rise up. The Grizzly Merchant Guild, in turn, gains influence with both the army and the adventurers, and the Association benefits from that as well. It was a perfect, well-oiled machine.
As I considered this scheme, I looked at President Chromans, and I saw something flash in his eyes that I had thought were simply smiling—a sharp, glittering light. Yep, I thought. That’s definitely a man you don’t want to cross.
”Now, we shall introduce the others as they become necessary. Let us proceed at once to the main topic! The Tremble-Ddo-Buddy that is produced and sold at Kento-dono’s shop!”
The sight of the imposing, bear-eared old man, President Chromans, saying the name Ddo-Buddy with a completely serious expression caused the people in the conference room to make complex, hard-to-read faces. Me? I was biting my lip so hard I thought I might draw blood, just to keep from bursting out laughing.
”Mr. President, here is the actual item.”
”Hmph.”
The secretary-like Cat-ear Elder Sister who had guided us earlier presented the Tremble-Ddo-Buddy to the President on a tray. He grasped it firmly and pressed the switch on the base. A “VEEERRRRR!” of vibration echoed through the conference room.
”As you can see, the Tremble-Ddo-Buddy is a mere shaped tool. However, just like this, it suddenly begins to shake violently with a simple operation! This is a truly original concept, and a highly precise piece of engineering. I’m sure some of you gathered here have yet to see the real thing. I have had a few prepared, so take a look for yourselves.”
At the President’s command, the Cat-ear Elder Sister and other staff members went around distributing the Tremble-Ddo-Buddy to the big shots. It was a truly hellish scene: well-dressed animal-ear uncles and animal-ear grandfathers holding a Ddo-Buddy, clicking the switch to check the vibration, and examining it closely in their hands.
Yet, not a single person in the room scoffed at the Tremble-Ddo-Buddy as ‘just a mere shaped tool.’ The only signs of distress were the young women who had been called to give testimony flushing deep red with embarrassment, and me pinching my thigh to endure my urge to laugh.
”Mr. President, you mean to say that this vibration brings great pleasure to the females?” one of the gentlemen inquired.
”Indeed. While I have not seen it in use myself, that is the word. It is said to have an absolute effect, especially on females in their rutting season, easily calming that strong excitement!”
”Oh, really!”
”Incredible!”
”As all of you know, the rutting season is sacred and a time of joy for Beast-people. However, it has always been a constant source of headaches for those of us living among the common Human society. This Tremble-Ddo-Buddy is truly a savior that has appeared in our time!” Chromans declared.
The distinguished gentlemen looked greatly impressed by the President’s exchange. Their gazes shifted from the President to the Tremble-Ddo-Buddy in their hands, and then finally to me. The sense of respect they held for me was palpable, and it made me feel a strange, ticklish awkwardness.
I mean, I was happy, right? But being praised by such important, powerful people for simply making an adult magic tool felt incredibly unsettling. I’m sorry, I thought, but half of my motivation is just pure perversion….
”However, a problem has arisen. The Mother of the Church of Demon-Subjugation appeared at Kento-dono’s shop the other day and ordered the suspension of the Tremble-Ddo-Buddy’s sale!”
”W-what did you say!?”
”That’s tyrannical!”
”Why would they do such a thing…!”
”Kento-dono, from here on, I have only heard the story second-hand. Wouldst thou be so kind as to tell us the details?” the President requested.
”Of course, President Chromans. Though what you’ve told me is pretty much the entire story. Some time after the Tremble-Ddo-Buddy went on sale, a Mother suddenly appeared and ordered me to stop selling it. She claimed that the Tremble-Ddo-Buddy was far too dangerous…”
”Hmm. And what was the basis for that claim? To this old man, it simply seems like a slightly more aggressive shaped tool,” Chromans mused.
”Yes. It seems that the Tremble-Ddo-Buddy had become quite popular among the Sisters of the Church of Demon-Subjugation. As a result, self-pleasure, which they called ‘training,’ had become rampant among the Sisters…”
”What! The Sisters of that Church of Demon-Subjugation…!?”
”My word… It is medicine to us, but poison to the Humans, then…”
”Exactly. The Mother was adamant that a temptation even the Sisters could not resist could not be allowed to run free. Furthermore, as of yesterday, my shop is actually undergoing an ‘audit’ by a Sister who was dispatched by the Church. She herself is friendly and said she wants to investigate the actual effect on the rutting season, but…”
When I finished my testimony, the faces of the people in the conference room grew troubled as they sunk into deep thought. Many animal ears twitched restlessly, and tails swayed back and forth. Even they, it seemed, could not simply ignore the judgment of the Church of Demon-Subjugation.
”Hmm, an investigation, thou sayest. Indeed, that is something we must verify as well. We males, after all, inevitably have a weak grasp of the sensation. Very well, I shall ask for some testimony. First, from the Wolf Merchant Guild’s representative. Wilt thou do so?”
”Of course, Mr. President,” the Wolf-eared man affirmed, his voice respectful.
—
Summary:
Kento is dragged to a bizarre, high-level business meeting with the powerful Beast-person Association to discuss his adult toy, the Tremble-Ddo-Buddy. President Chromans of the Grizzly Merchant Guild is surprisingly enthusiastic about the product, seeing it as vital relief for Beast-people’s rutting season. The meeting turns serious when Kento reveals the Church of Demon-Subjugation banned sales because their own Sisters were using it too much, proving how disruptive and potent his invention is. The Association, while sympathetic, now has to figure out how to navigate the Church’s intervention.
—
Character Insight:
Kento is deeply awkward but professional, secretly relishing the chaos and the need to break rules for the sake of his business. Aki-nee is an excellent political operator who knows exactly which buttons to push to help Kento. Chromans is a powerful, surprising ally who genuinely cares about his people’s needs, even if it involves discussing a vibrating toy formally.
—
Behind the Scene:
The ‘Beast-person Association’ is acting as a political force, using the internal pressure from their female members (wives/daughters) to push the male leadership into action. The meeting is a direct response to the Church’s ban, showing the adult magic tool has become a symbol of the conflict between the Beast-people’s needs and the Human Church’s moral restrictions.
—
T/L:
¹ Kaikan: A term for a large hall, meeting place, or association headquarters. Here, it functions as both the main office and a community sanctuary. ↩
² Kemomimi Musume: Literally ‘animal-eared girl,’ referring to a girl or woman who possesses animal ears, often a fan-favorite trope in Japanese media. ↩
Notes:
• Badatt – The 7th-generation manager of the long-running Tasogare Merchant Guild. Despite his fat, oily, ugly bastard, have multiple rings appearance, he is a competent and respected manager who listens to his employees. He is a man of ‘good sense’ but is overwhelmed by the explicit nature of Kento’s products and the ensuing chaos.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Amelia – The Sister of the Church of Demon-Subjugating, who usually buys from Kento, has light blue hair.
• 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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