We paid for several days of lodging in advance at an inn called Lily Lalabai, located near the lower town of Schwerin, the former capital of the Former Yangus Kingdom Territory. We then secured two carriages and four horses, and began gathering information about the rebel forces, whose leader was said to be Liliana’s half-sister.
According to Count Kol, there was no possibility of Yuliana, Liliana’s half-sister, being alive.
However, there were rumors that the main force of the rebel forces, whose ultimate target was Yuliana, had not advanced as far as Schwerin.
Therefore, our immediate targets were members of a subordinate organization called the “Knights of the Azure Moon,” for whom there had been sightings in this vicinity.
The “Knights of the Azure Moon” was an all-female rebel organization composed of former female knights of the Former Yangus Kingdom, believed to be one of the vanguard units.
To search for them, we divided our “Princess Harem” party members, with Alicia and Safiya added, into three teams to gather information.
The first team was led by Elise, the vice-leader of “Princess Harem.” This team, which included Alicia, Mai, Freya, and Liliana, went to the Adventurer Guild to collect money for the monster parts they had defeated on Twin Peaks Mountain, while also gathering information.
Generally, this group consisted of individuals with low combat power. However, with Mai’s agile movements and Elise’s powerful offensive magic, walking along the main street of the town should pose no problem.
Even though they had a lot of luggage to bring to the Adventurer Guild, Elise could use space magic’s Item Box, so there was no issue.
The second team was led by Ly, and they gathered information within the city. This team included Swan Hilda, Kirika, Tirna, Edele, Dietlinde, and Astarotte, who was familiar with the lower town. Also participating was Safiya, the beloved daughter of Count Kol, who was currently provisionally governing the Former Yangus Kingdom Territory.
Safiya had struggled until the end about whether she should be with Liliana or not, but it seemed she judged that this approach would yield better results.
This group generally had high combat power, and even if they clashed with the Espana Imperial Army, Safiya would be able to handle the situation skillfully.
They were scheduled to split into smaller groups as needed and go around various places.
Finally, the third team was led by Eria, a former high-class young prostitute. I, along with Shera, who had transformed into Shera-nee-san through beastification as a bodyguard, accompanied them.
Furthermore, Holy Spirit Serena was casually perched on my shoulder.
According to Eria, the prostitutes would be sleeping at this hour after finishing their nighttime duties, so we decided to take a nap and then head to the red-light district at dusk.
Though the prospect of visiting the red-light district again after so long was exciting, with the beautiful girls surrounding me, I doubted I would have any further interest.
The former royal capital of Schwerin, which boasted the glory of the Yangus Kingdom, was a city of water, with the River Leete bisecting it.
The city had originally developed around the royal castle, the Crystal Palace, and the canals that ran throughout it played an important role.
Currently, we were in the old city area, where the ruins of the Crystal Palace and the noble district were located, and on the new city side, across the River Leete.
The Espana Imperial Army had not attacked this side, and the districts where ordinary citizens lived had been spared from the ravages of war.
And it was in a corner of this new city that the red-light district was located.
We took a gondola to the red-light district.
“For a young master of your age to venture into the red-light district… You must be quite wealthy in the future. However, this is not a place to take a well-bred young lady.”
The boatman, skillfully maneuvering the gondola’s oar, repeatedly expressed his admiration for me heading to the red-light district with the beautiful Eria and the robust Shera-nee-san by my side.
He seemed to have thought Shera-nee-san was merely a bodyguard, but he appeared to recognize Eria as a lady from a good family.
Eria had a unique past, having been one of the highest-ranking young prostitutes, the “Rose Sisters,” at “Rose Bud,” a high-class brothel in the noble district of Granza, the imperial capital of the Espana Imperial Kingdom. However, with her noble bloodline and refinement as a lady in “Princess Harem,” no one would guess her past employment.
Furthermore, Eria had awakened to water-based offensive magic and was receiving magic lessons from Elise and the others.
She seemed to have improved considerably recently, but it was probably because there were multiple high-level mages within “Princess Harem” that she didn’t stand out.
According to Elise, she was more powerful than mages in ordinary mid-level adventurer parties.
Meanwhile, Shera-nee-san, who was seen only as a bodyguard, was either playing the part of a dignified guard or pretending to be meditating with her eyes closed.
However, her fox ears and fox tail would occasionally twitch, and she seemed to be surveying the surroundings.
“Heh, I asked if I could go to the red-light district.”
In response to the boatman’s words, Eria smiled like a flower, causing the unrefined boatman’s face to redden.
As expected of a former high-class young prostitute, she knew exactly how to please men.
Our gondola then proceeded through the intricate waterways to the pier in the red-light district.
After landing from the pier, we observed the surrounding townscape and the flow of people.
The sun had already set, and twilight was approaching.
Those with legitimate occupations were likely returning home to enjoy time with their families.
On the other hand, for the red-light district, this was the peak business hour.
The men who came to buy prostitutes were searching for their preferred women with bloodshot eyes.
To attract customers, touts were calling out, and streetwalkers not affiliated with any establishment were directly trying to catch the attention of potential clients.
The buildings were also unique, painted in primary colors such as red, yellow, and blue. The two- or three-story establishments had latticed doors on the first floor, allowing customers to size up the prostitutes working there.
Another difference from other red-light districts was that due to the surrounding canals, one could enter the establishments directly from a gondola, or elegant terraces facing the canals were provided.
On some of these terraces, wealthy patrons were entertaining multiple prostitutes and enjoying performances and riverside cuisine.
“Hal-sama, this is where the red-light district starts. Shera-nee-san and I will wait a little further away. Could you try to pick up some prostitutes?”
Eria smiled and assigned me the role of bait.
Indeed, it would be impossible to catch prostitutes with Eria and Shera-nee-san accompanying me.
I decided to play the role of a youth awakened to lust, wandering through the red-light district.
“Hey, boy, buy me. I’ll send you to heaven with my special skills.”
After wandering the red-light district for a while, a distinctly prostitute-like streetwalker, with heavy cheap makeup, called out to me.
“…Unfortunately, you’re not my type. However, if you know the whereabouts of those belonging to the ‘Knights of the Azure Moon,’ I will pay for the information.”
“Is that so… Unfortunately, I don’t know. But if you become my customer, I might remember something.”
I glared into the prostitute’s eyes, interrogating her thoughts.
I judged that this prostitute likely knew nothing and left her there.
The streetwalker left behind hurled insults at me, such as “You useless bastard! Come back the day after tomorrow!”, but I pretended not to hear.
“Hal-sama, did that streetwalker earlier seem to know anything?”
“She didn’t seem to know anything. I’ll try walking down the street with more upscale brothels next.”
“Yes, please do.”
When I rejoined Eria and the others, who were waiting in the shadows of the buildings, I shook my head.
“Even for me, dealing with prostitutes is different,” Shera-nee-san also seemed a bit perplexed.
However, taverns and brothels are places where various information is gathered, so this approach was not wrong.
“There are no girls with tentacles around here.”
The Sex Spirit, who had appeared on my shoulder, also gave a wry smile.
As I went out to “fish” for prostitutes again, the Sex Spirit became invisible once more.
“Hey, big brother, won’t you play with me? I’ll give you a discount.”
This time, it was a black-haired, reasonably beautiful streetwalker.
The beauty pressed herself against me from behind and whispered in my ear.
I could feel the soft touch of her breasts against my back, and a naive virgin boy would have fallen for her instantly.
“Master, this streetwalker is a staged robbery. You’ll be lured into that alley and have all your money extorted.”
Then, I heard the whispering voice of the Sex Spirit, who was invisible near my ear.
Looking into the alley in the direction of the Sex Spirit’s voice, I saw the streetwalker who had spoken to me exchanging glances with a ruffian or scoundrel standing in the alley.
It appeared they had targeted me.
“Unfortunately, I have a reservation for tonight. Excuse me.”
“What the hell, you impotent, uncircumcised bastard!”
When I refused, the black-haired streetwalker angrily walked away, her behind shaking.
After walking for a while, the brothels became more impressive, and the level of prostitutes waiting for customers increased.
Ahead, there was a building that looked like a noble’s villa. There were no latticed doors on the side facing the passage to appraise the prostitutes.
This was likely the most prestigious brothel in this red-light district.
To enter such a brothel, an introduction from a regular customer or the like would be necessary; it was probably an establishment that did not accept first-time visitors.
The entrance to the establishment was tightly closed, confirming this assumption.
Incidentally, the name of the establishment was written as “Rose Annex: Lily’s Nectar.”
The moment I saw the name, my head started to ache.
I rejoined Eria and Shera-nee-san, who were following me from behind.
“Hey, Eria. Regarding that high-class brothel, the name is written as ‘Rose Annex: Lily’s Nectar’…”
“That appears to be a sister establishment to ‘Rose Bud,’ where I used to work. Hal-sama, you have the Crimson Card, so you can use it for free.”
“Ah, so that’s how it is…”
Eria’s confirmation served as proof.
Perhaps I should try requesting a high-class young prostitute at that establishment and ask her questions…
I had the Crimson Card in my wallet, so I was fully prepared.
“Hey, Hal-sama. A suspicious person just came out of the back entrance. They’re wearing a hooded robe pulled deep, but judging by their build, I think it’s a girl!?”
While Eria and I were having a strategy meeting, Shera-nee-san, who was standing by, reported a suspicious person emerging from the brothel’s back entrance.
Indeed, the person who came out of the brothel’s back entrance looked around nervously, walking tentatively, as if fearing being discovered.
“That girl is probably a young prostitute affiliated with the brothel, or perhaps a servant. Maybe she was sent to buy something by one of the older girls? I was often sent out on errands like that when I was starting out.”
Eria, tilting her head charmingly, analyzed the situation.
It was highly unlikely that she had escaped, so Eria’s assessment was probably correct.
Still, it might be considered abandonment of duty, and if discovered, she might face some punishment.
“Then, shall we ask that girl?”
We chased after the person who had come out of the brothel, presumably a young prostitute.
As Eria had predicted, the person entered a nearby sweet shop, bought molasses candy, and began to head back the way she came.
We stood in front of the young prostitute, who was returning to the brothel, and spoke to her.
Thank you for reading.
Episode 37-6, The Hierarchical Structure of Former and Current Young Prostitutes ②, is scheduled for automatic release at 0:00 on October 11th.
