Chapter 41 Theater Profits and a Pervert’s Request
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Beneath the surface of my theater, [Star of the Desert], lay various areas designated for different purposes.
The luxurious room I currently occupied was a space specifically designed for audiences with important guests and intimate, small-scale performances.
Polished ebony tables and deep crimson velvet sofas were arranged neatly throughout the room, while a magnificent chandelier hanging from the ceiling cast down a soft, shimmering glow. Tapestries depicting exotic foreign landscapes adorned the walls, and the faint, delicate aroma of agarwood filled the air, giving the space a heavy, dignified atmosphere perfectly suited for clandestine meetings.
With soundproofing and counter-espionage measures fully implemented, it was the ultimate haven for secret discussions. I leaned back deeply into the sofa, facing the man seated directly opposite me.
Behind me stood Cecilia and Lizel, both clad in the passionate garb of exotic dancers and equipped with their [Ring of Transformation]. The glittering ornaments on their outfits caught and reflected the light, adding a splash of vibrant, alluring color to the corners of the room.
And standing behind my business partner, Balthazar Zaitz, was his loyal butler, Gregor, who stood at attention with a face that looked as though he were nursing a severe ulcer, just as he always did.
Years of perpetual stress and mental exhaustion seemed deeply etched into the lines of his face.
”—And that concludes the balance report for our first month since opening, sir. To put it simply, our operations are running exceptionally smoothly. If we continue at this current trajectory, we are on track to fully recover the initial investment of eight hundred thousand gold coins provided by Xenos-sama within a year and a half at the very latest, I assure you.”
Gregor concluded his report with perfect elegance, his voice steady and deferential. His paperwork was always flawless.
Every single digit was meticulously aligned, mapping out the future with absolute precision across the pages. His smooth, unwavering voice echoed through the room, falling pleasantly upon the ears. Having received the report, I proceeded to lay out our new directive.
”Good work on the report. Regarding our future strategy—any revenue received in the form of royal promissory notes issued by the crown must be prioritized toward paying down our bank loans. Any other revenue collected in hard currency, such as gold coins or silver coins, must be stored physically within this facility as much as humanly possible,” I commanded, my voice flat and unyielding.
At my sudden instructions, both Balthazar and Gregor knit their brows slightly.
It was only natural. There was no way they could possibly comprehend my true intentions. I silently observed their bewildered expressions.
I couldn’t exactly tell them the truth—
But I held complete knowledge of this world’s future.
If events unfolded precisely according to the game’s script, a massive war engulfing the entire continent was bound to break out in the near future. A vivid tapestry of wartime destruction played out inside my mind—cities consumed by roaring flames, masses of people fleeing in sheer terror, and above all else, the utter collapse of the royal family.
Within that chaos, I would stand against the crown as part of the rebel army, ultimately aligning myself with the faction that would overthrow the monarchy.
Once that happened, the promissory notes backed solely by the authority of the royal family would see their value plummet the exact moment the war began. The instant the kingdom fell, they would turn into nothing more than worthless scraps of paper. I had absolutely no intention of keeping such volatile trash on hand.
That was precisely why I needed to divest from these fluctuating paper notes while I still could, securing assets of universal value like gold coins in physical form.
Granted, physical gold coins were bulky, making them highly inconvenient for large-scale transactions without relying on a bank. However, considering what would happen to those very banks once the fires of war broke out, nothing was guaranteed. It was entirely possible to end up in a situation where they tell you, “We apologize, but the gold coins you deposited cannot be withdrawn at this time.”
I had briefly considered platinum coins, but the value of platinum itself was intrinsically tied to the credit of the crown. The risk of a sudden crash wouldn’t be any different from the paper notes.
When all was said and done, gold coins remained the superior choice for long-term preservation. And keeping them physically within my own grasp was, without a doubt, the safest option available.
The only value I could truly rely on was the tangible wealth I could touch with my own hands, resting right before my eyes.
Fortunately, beneath the underground levels of this facility lay several hidden chambers that even Balthazar and his associates knew nothing about. These spaces, concealed deep behind thick stone walls, maintained a chilly, crisp air—making them the absolute perfect location to hoard mountains of gold coins.
Preparing myself for the impending storm, I steadily accumulated my power.
”…By the way, Xenos-sama.”
Now that our primary business had reached a temporary stopping point, Balthazar spoke up, directing a greasy, lingering gaze toward the two women standing at attention behind me—Cecilia and Lizel.
His eyes were completely transparent, swimming with blatant desire.
”I see you have acquired a pair of extraordinarily beautiful slaves—this truly leaves me quite envious, I must say.”
I had kept the two of them standing guard without offering any explanation regarding their identities. From his perspective, they undoubtedly looked like nothing more than high-grade domestic slaves I had purchased for the establishment.
”I took an immediate liking to the two of them the moment I laid eyes on them. I made them mine without a second thought,” I replied smoothly, leaning back into my seat.
The moment those words left my mouth, I could sense the presence behind me shifting as Cecilia and Lizel flushed dynamic shades of crimson. That subtle reaction told me everything I needed to know about how deeply my words had touched their hearts.
Hearing my declaration, Balthazar’s mood seemed to sour slightly. The corners of his mouth twitched in a faint, strained grimace.
”Our Zaitz Merchant Guild also boasts a wide selection of high-quality slaves, meticulously vetted and selected by our most discerning appraisers. Should you ever consider purchasing more slaves in the future, I implore you to contact our merchant guild first…”
The man was a merchant to his core. He never missed an opportunity to pitch a sale.
Yet, a subtle hint of anxiety bled into his tone.
”Even so, the sheer beauty of those two is practically in a league of its own. It is completely understandable why you purchased them on the spot, Xenos-sama. In particular, that… pink-haired woman over there is, heavens, an absolute sight to behold.”
”Oh? Is that so? It seems you have a decent eye for quality after all,” I remarked, a faint smirk playing on my lips.
Well, it made sense, considering he was originally infatuated with Lizel in the game. Even with the [Ring of Transformation] warping his cognitive perception, he was likely still drawn to the core essence of her soul—or perhaps he simply possessed an unyielding fixation on the pink-haired attribute itself.
I could see Balthazar’s eyes hungrily tracking Lizel, practically licking over every single strand of her pale pink hair.
He looked exactly like a predatory beast pricing out its captured prey.
”Therefore, uh… Xenos-sama. I am fully aware that this is an incredibly, deeply insolent request, but… Would it be at all possible to allow me a small, brief ‘taste’1 of her?”
”Young master! What in the world are you blathering about now, sir?!”
Gregor immediately interjected, his voice cracking like a desperate shriek that completely shattered his composed demeanor.
His reprimand echoed loudly through the confines of the private room. His face turned utterly pale, radiating an intense, visceral aura of pure exhaustion.
However, I held up a hand to silence him, gesturing for Balthazar to continue.
As always, this man was remarkably honest about his own depraved desires, making him an absolute treat to observe. There was almost a certain refreshing purity to the depths of his obsession.
”A taste, you say? Meaning what, exactly?”
”I-I would like to… sample her scent. Just a brief check, if you will. Y-Yes… Since she is your precious property, Xenos-sama, I shall naturally refrain from touching any of her delicate zones… B-But the armpit! Yes, I would be profoundly honored if you would allow me to check the aroma of her armpit!” Balthazar pleaded, his eyes practically sparkling with degenerate hope.
Objectively speaking, the request itself was the very thing he should have refrained from, but I decided to grant him permission anyway.
This level of nonsense fell well within my threshold of tolerance. If anything, it promised to be highly entertaining.
A cold, detached observer’s curiosity took root in my mind. I wanted to see exactly what kind of ridiculous display this man would put on next.
”W-Wait, are you serious?! You’re joking, right?!”
Faced with my executive decision, Lizel frantically hissed a desperate protest from right behind me, her composure entirely lost. Her voice trembled violently, a chaotic mix of sheer humiliation and utter bewilderment.
”Think nothing of it. I simply found myself wanting to show off a prized possession to a friend. Surely there’s no harm in letting him have a quick sniff?” I reasoned, looking back at her with an amused expression.
”Urgh… P-Prized possession… Showing off… O-Oh, fine, I guess I have no choice…! But this is strictly a one-time thing, okay?!”
Perhaps finding herself pleased by the phrasing of my words, Lizel’s mood took a sudden turn, and she ultimately yielded with a look that wasn’t entirely displeased. She was as easily swayed as ever—and incredibly cute. I watched her expression shift in the span of a single heartbeat from sharp indignation to begrudging acceptance, before finally settling into a faint, nervous flush. The complex whirlwind of emotions mapped themselves beautifully across her face.
”W-Well then, if you will excuse me… You there, young lady, please raise your arm.”
Balthazar stepped forward, halting directly in front of Lizel before bowing deeply.
A palpable aura of intense excitement and raw anticipation radiated from his very spine. Blushing fiercely from the sheer embarrassment of it all, Lizel hesitantly, timidly raised her arm.
An electric tension seemed to run all the way down to her very fingertips. She kept her eyes glued firmly to the floor, completely unable to look up.
Balthazar pressed his face close to her utterly defenseless, exposed underarm.
”Inhale… Exhale… Inhale… Exhale…”
The sound of his deep, heavy breathing echoed clearly through the otherwise silent room.
Then, with an expression of pure, unadulterated ecstasy contorting his features—as if he were savoring the absolute finest delicacy in existence—he uttered a single word.
”Ugh, this is… s-so incredibly rank…!♡”
In an instant, Lizel’s face exploded into a violent, burning crimson born of pure humiliation and raw fury.
Her cheeks flushed bright like a ripe apple, and the corners of her eyes glistened with the faint, trembling threat of tears. An intense wave of rage radiated from her entire body, looking as though she might literally start producing steam.
”Hey now, Balthazar. That’s a terribly rude thing to say to a young lady.”
Though I had originally intended to just watch in silence, I couldn’t help but offer a mild scolding. The man possessed absolutely zero decency.
—And that right there is exactly why you’re single.
When I gently rebuked him, he looked up from his sniffing, entirely unfazed.
”C-Cosmic misunderstandings, Xenos-sama! For a man of my refined tastes, that is the highest form of praise imaginable! Inhale… Exhale… Inhale… Exhale… Ooooh, I can’t take it, it’s absolutely foul…!♡”
His voice trembled with sheer, unbridled joy. There wasn’t a single shred of malice in his words—only pure, unadulterated euphoria.
…Praise? Seriously?
Despite calling it foul, Balthazar continued to sniff away with a blissful, rapturous expression plastered across his face. He looked completely entranced, the corners of his mouth slacking into a dopey grin.
Well, if he says it’s praise, I suppose it must be true within the confines of his own mind. It was a bizarre, incomprehensible world to me, but as long as the man was happy, I suppose there was no real harm done.
I glanced over at Gregor, who had buried his face in his hands while staring hopelessly up at the ceiling, and brought the matter to a silent conclusion. Gregor’s expression was a beautifully tragic portrait of total resignation and absolute despair.
I couldn’t help but wonder just how many times the poor man had been forced to witness this exact same scene unfold.
—
Summary:
Xenos instructs his business associates to cache physical coin assets in anticipation of a game-scripted continental war. Balthazar shifts focus to the dancers and requests a taste of the pink-haired woman’s scent. Lizel succumbs to absolute mortification when Balthazar pronounces her armpit completely rank with absolute ecstasy, leaving an exhausted Gregor to witness the degenerate display in total despair.
—
Trivia:
- The hidden underground vaults are intentionally kept secret from even close commercial associates like Balthazar to safeguard long-term assets against systemic banking collapses.
- Balthazar remains instinctively drawn to the core signature characteristics of Lizel despite the perception-warping influence of the [Ring of Transformation].
- The setting utilizes agarwood accents specifically to indicate a heavy and secure space ideal for sensitive corporate and political counter-intelligence activities.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• de – A particle used in the aristocratic name of the Margrave Albion de Blanchefort.
• Cecilia – The eldest daughter of the Vermillion Duchy is a graceful noble with crimson hair and cobalt-blue eyes. Outwardly cold and status-driven, she masks her secret love for beastfolk advocacy and cosplay with a refined, superior demeanor. Though she plots to annul her engagement to Xenos, she privately acts timidly around him, bound by his crest while harboring complex, teasing affections for him.
• Lizel – A petite, graceful Blanchet count’s daughter, this magic academy student is known for her vibrant pink twin-tails, purple eyes, and defensive tsundere nature. A powerful wind mage, she masks her genuine joy and vulnerability with a prickly, snapping exterior. Fiancée to Luca Dalton and Kai’s master, she also harbors deep feelings for Xenos, whom she shadows with a mix of aggression and devotion.
• Balthazar – The arrogant, sweating heir to the Zaitz Merchant Guild is a short, plump man reeking of pastries and stained finery. Son of a slave trader and proxy for the Grimlocks and Xenos, he hides his cowardice behind bluster and unethical business proposals. As a business partner known for traumatic, perverted eccentricities, he manages the transport of summoned goblins for his illicit trade network.
• Gregor – A lean, sharp-eyed butler, he has served the merchant guild since Balthazar’s father’s time. Though stoic and professional, maintaining composure in even the most illicit settings, he is now perpetually exhausted and stressed by his master’s eccentric antics. A loyal companion to Balthazar and Xenos, he is typically cool-headed but can still be visibly shaken by unexpected developments.
• Zaitz – The Zaitz family name is carried by Balthazar, a prominent merchant guild member. As Xenos’s primary commercial business partner, Balthazar is essential to the firm’s operations, with the two scheduled to meet regularly for critical financial balance sheet reviews.
• Xenos – Reincarnated as House Grimlock’s “Zero-Mana” heir, this cynical, calculating villain masks immense power and a Magic Seal constitution behind an incompetent facade. Using game-script knowledge and specialized artifacts, he builds a commercial empire while manipulating politics and the underworld. He acts as a dominant protector to his slaves and noble allies, orchestrating their lives as a master strategist.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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