Chapter 498 – The Brothel and the Citadel

000

Unlike the street outside, the brothel, where the sun was still floating, was the time for people inside to take a break during the day.

Because the brothel’s employees start working at night, the days and nights are reversed, so during the day they go out and bathe in sunlight and sleep like photosynthesizing plants.

Among them, there were women who were lying on the bed in a state of half-naked.

With her makeup removed and her face uncovered, it was almost suspicious that she was the same person as the prostitute who seduces men at night.

Perhaps, if the guests saw this, their illusions about courtesans would be shattered.

“I see. This is why the entrance to the brothel during the day is blocked.”

It’s a little masculine tone, but a voice that can’t be doubted that it’s a woman resonates.

Wearing a black oriental style dress that exposed her legs her, she was walking modestly down the street with her hairpin in her hair.

Who could look at her and doubt that she was the original ‘man’.

The distinctive physical characteristics of the dark horse clan – her pale skin, dark hair and dark eyes – make her look like her ‘witch’ or ‘slut’ thanks to the makeup applied to her face her.

Besides, for a woman, she was quite tall enough to stand out.

It feels like a ghost called ‘Eight Cheok’ that exists as a rumor in the East, but she is a living person.

“The atmosphere is very different from the back alleys of the royal capital.”

“Yes. Unlike that place, prostitution in the brothel of Asters is legal.”

At the words of the blue-haired woman—Rio Mess, the dark-haired woman, Leona, nodded her head.

Then, sneakily, they turned around to see the three people following behind them.

Lila, Sasha, and Amelia.

Unlike Cleon, they wore clothing that covered the body so that almost no face or skin could be seen.

“Why do I, a man, have to wear the most revealing clothes like this…”

“Whoa. It’s because instructor Cleon, who has transformed into a woman, is the most suitable for a gisaeng. All three of them are either a little too young to work as a gisaeng… Or lacking in body.”

“Can you hear everything…!?”

When Lila let out an angry voice behind her, Leo Mess covered her mouth, saying it was a slip of the tongue her.

Cleon sighed and recalled the story of when he entered this place – the brothel.

001

Riomes had to tell Cleon and his party her about the details of the Asteris brothel first.

It is often said that it is a brothel that corresponds to the back alleys of the royal capital, but in fact, its internal circumstances were a little more complicated.

“Asteris’s brothel was originally a place where the subhumans who immigrated and settled in this city lived.”

In many parts of the Eastern country, originally, there were many beings who had been hiding in opposition to the kingdom and empire’s discriminatory policy from the past, and as the Eastern country developed, the caves, forests, and mines they were hiding in began to be developed.

They, too, initially clashed with the East to find the right to live.

However, the Eastern country implemented a policy of integrating and accepting them, and at that time, the group of subhumans who first settled in Asteris were those who had appearances that were not so different from humans-

No, rather, they are ‘beast-puppet children’ with more beautiful appearances than ordinary humans.

In particular, the children of fox beasts called Yoho inherited the ancient magic that had been handed down in the land of the East since ancient times.

It is said that considerable rights were guaranteed in exchange for spreading witchcraft to the shrine maidens and priests.

However, those yohos also had one drawback, that by nature, the ability to produce magic on their own for physical reasons was weak from the time they were born, so they had to absorb magic from the outside.

And, as a result of researching ways to strengthen the organs that produce magical power, it was necessary to periodically absorb external magical energy into the body.

Of course, speaking of absorbing mana from the outside, the natural way to do that is exchanging bodily fluids with others.

Sexual intercourse between a man and a woman is said to be the most efficient. In other words, it is called ‘bangjungsul’.

Originally, when the fairies lived in their own village, they received money from the other demi-human tribes around them and instead of taking care of their sexual desire, they were supplying magic power.

Even at that time, prostitution was forbidden in Asteris, so she had no choice but to avoid people’s eyes and receive affection from Asteris’ men.

Even though, at first, Yohos seduced men with their outstanding beauty and used them to maintain their magic by receiving their affection.

Gradually, as if addicted to mana supply, some demons crossed the line and became ‘erotic maniacs’, squeezing men until they were dry and twisted, and it developed into a social problem.

However, even for the Eastern country, it was a great loss to miss out on the main forces and spells possessed by the ghosts. As for the Yohos, they didn’t want to lose their position in the East due to the recklessness of their own people.

Moreover, some demons who had already gained power by teaching witchcraft in the temple negotiated with the king of the East at the time.

A bill was passed to legalize prostitution in the district where the ghosts lived.

However, as a condition, if there appears to be an entity that is poisoned by human emotions and attacks people indiscriminately among the spirits, deal with them directly with the hands of the spirits.

And, in order to prevent men from going to brothels day and night, wasting their energy, and reducing the productivity of the entire Eastern country, a strict condition was imposed that men were not allowed through during the ‘day’.

At first, it was a small street, a brothel, but among the subhumans who settled there, those who were equally outstanding in their racial appearance.

Or, children who could not find the right skills or work found jobs in brothels, and the space they needed gradually increased.

The current Asteris brothel was created in that way.

The real power is still held by the Yoho clan, and under it are the demi-humans, basically only beautiful women, such as ‘Alaune, a clan of Yohwa’ and ‘Cambion, a clan of a yoma’.

The lowest level is occupied by ordinary humans, and it is said to be in the shape of a deformed pyramid when viewed from the kingdom.

“Then. The inside of the brothel is that the Yoho’s clan understands it best.”

“That’s right. When it comes to the brothel, the fastest way would be to ask ‘Tamamo’, the elder of the Yoho family. Both good and bad rumors, if they happen inside the brothel, go through him.”

“Tamamo… Is there any way to meet her?”

When Cleon, who had been quietly listening to the story, asked such a question, Rio Mess nodded and replied.

“I know where I am. He is also my master of Chinese medicine.”

“…Can we meet? That’s it.”

Speaking of ‘Griomes” teacher of Chinese medicine, what kind of person would he be?

An unimaginable monster appeared in Cleon’s mind.

“Don’t worry. Tamamo-sama is a very caring person.”

“No, I don’t trust Riomes’ ‘kindness’ that much…”

When Lila, who was listening to her story Her from a little further back, murmured that, Riomes tilted her head.

“Why? Everyone talks like that when I introduce Tamamo-sama to others.”

“You really don’t know… Or are you just pretending you don’t?”

When Lyla asked in a bewildered manner, Riomes only laughed meaningfully.

“Ah. Ho, is that the entrance to the brothel?”

Then, when Sasha, who was walking next to Laila, raised her hand and pointed to the entrance and the wall that was as thick as a castle wall a little far away.

There, I saw two men who seemed to be the officials of the Eastern country standing guard with spears in their hands.

“That’s right. Men cannot pass through this door during the day.”

“So you’re going to become a woman?”

When Amelia asks a curious question, Riomes puts on an expression that is a bit difficult to answer.

“Originally, only a few women can do it. Those who came with the intention of working as gisaengs, or those who help her gisaengs.”

“Riomes is neither of those things, but could she pass?”

“Actually, I used to secretly… To see Tamamo-sama. Whoa. But now I can just go in.”

Rio Mes says so as if she should watch, and she goes ahead of the party and approaches her guards to talk to her.

“Thank you for your hard work. I came to see Tamamo-sama, can I get through?”

Riomes, who smiled as he said that, looked like an ordinary young lady with extraordinary beauty when viewed from the side.

Indeed, if you ask men with a face like that, few men will be able to refuse.

With that thought in mind, when Cleon and his party try to watch how the guard behaves after hearing the story of Rio Meth-

“…”

The guards looked at Riomes with a dazed expression, but he remained motionless.

“… Hey? Are you sleeping with your eyes open?”

“I don’t think so…”

When Cleon, feeling something strange, approached Riomes, the two suddenly tried to stab Riomes and Cleon with their spears.

—Of course, neither Riomes nor Cleon were people who could easily be attacked.

Immediately moving their legs and feet, the two broke the pole of the car that had been impaled.

At the same time, they dig deeper, grab the arms of the guards who attacked them, and subdue them by laying them on the ground.

“Suddenly attacking, what’s the plan? That too, the princess of the Eastern country.”

It seems that he became a little more flexible after becoming a woman, but Cleon was aware that his strength had declined.

However, if it was an opponent with a wide gap like this, I was able to deal with it without difficulty.

“I guess I’m out of my mind.”

Riomes put on a serious expression and wrapped his hand around his magic power—no, his spirit her.

Life force into magic power-When her magic power her is converted into life force, the unique light emitted when she holds it in her hand her.

As it was, she rubbed the back of the head of the guard she had knocked down and subdued.

“…”

And after a while, when Riomes removed her hand her, something sticky like black ‘tar’ran down her fingers her.

If you look closely, it looks like something like a bug.

“What is that…”

“It’s the magic that was put on these two people. It was pulled out by giving them shape using energy.”

It must have been a feat that was possible because it was her ‘ki’ her, a mixture of life force, which is tangible power, and mana, which is insubstantial power, but seeing it, Lila approached her with a frown on her eyebrows.

“What is this old-fashioned brainwashing magic?”

“Old-style…?”

“Yeah. It’s a type of magic that existed about 30 years ago, but it’s dead because it puts a serious strain on the subject’s brain.”

As she said that, Riomes released the magical power she was holding in her hand and at the same time transformed the composition of the spell into an illusion and spread it out in front of her eyes.

“The structure of the magic formula is also in rags… It seems that it is the magic of a rather bad magician.”

“…Speaking of 30 years ago- right after the Great War between the Kingdom and the Empire ended.”

When Cleon points it out, Layla lets out an ‘ah’ from her mouth her.

“Is this what Poltuk did?”

“If you’re talking about Poltuk, he’s one of the resurrected Dark Giants you’re looking for.”

“That’s right. He was fluent in science and developed various magic tools and drugs, but they say he didn’t have as much talent as ‘magic’. If that’s the case, then such terrible magic is understandable.”

Layla kicked her and gathered the illusion she had spread out to grasp the structure of her spell her with her hands her as if crumpling it, then tossed it behind her with a swish.

“It’s nothing to laugh at, Layla-san. The ‘brainwashing’ of the soldiers of the Eastern countries is already a threat enough. It’s an emergency if the demi-gods and prostitutes inside are also affected by this magic.”

“Well, that’s it. If you’re a human with more than a certain amount of strength, you won’t be affected by this spell. Did you say ‘Tamamo’? Elder Yoho. If you’re at that level, you ‘ll be able to return the curse on the contrary.”

Hearing Lila’s reply, Riomes nodded his head knowingly and replied, ‘I’m glad that’s the case.’

After that, Layla and Riomes unleash the brainwashing magic that had been put on them, but the damage to the brain was a little big as Layla said, so they couldn’t get their minds together.

In the end, it was only after contacting the temple and asking them to take the two, that Cleon and his party were able to pass through the closed door.

002

There was such a thing, but as Lila said, such a danger could only be seen at the entrance, and when you went inside, you could observe quite a variety of human groups.

Besides, unlike the soldiers outside, the soldiers of the Eastern country inside were patrolling properly to make sure they weren’t brainwashed.

Cleon gets a little goosebumps as he feels their gaze from time to time, then looks back at Riomes and talks.

“So, where is that yoho named Tamamo?”

“Tamamo-sama runs a small candy store in the back of the brothel.”

“Who is the elder?”

When Cleon heard her story about her, he absolutely thought that she would be the best courtesan in this brothel, but he seemed to be wrong.

“I’m sure you were active as a gisaeng when you were young. Now you’re over 100 years old. As far as I know, did you say you’re 130 years old this year…?”

“…130 years old? Riomes, you said you learned Chinese martial arts from him, right?”

“Yes. By the way…?”

Something, isn’t it strange? I think so, but Yohos are Ain.

It would not be strange if there were characters who lived longer than humans.

“We’re almost there. Check it out with your own eyes.”

Trusting Rio Mes who says so, if Cleon and her party her quietly follow her her —

Next to a really pompous brothel-

There was a small, shabby barn shop.

A shelf full of unhealthily sugary sweets, all sold at affordable prices.

However, the clerk who is supposed to be standing at the counter is nowhere to be seen.

“Oh. He’s not there.”

When Lila looks around her head as she talks, Riomes rings the small bell on her counter as if he is used to it.

Then, a rustling sound was heard from the inside, and soon the small paper door at the back of the store counter opened and a girl appeared.

“Oh ~ Rio Mes. It’s been a while. I heard that she went to the academy…”

Dressed in an oriental-style dress with a small pink tuxedo, she was a girl with long, straight hair that was a little closer to her orange her.

She, like Sasha, has two beast ears on her head.

And, her tail was puffy like a fox, and two tails were visible.

“…Danger of deprivation of character…!”

When Sasha muttered her words incomprehensible, she looked towards her and the girl freaked out and hid behind Riomes.

“Lee, Riomes! Why the hell did you bring something like that! Aren’t you holding something outrageous inside!”

“Don’t worry. Miss Sasha can control it.”

“What, what. If Riomes says so…”

Lyla asks Riomes, as if he can’t forgive them for having such a pleasant conversation.

“So? Where is Tamamo?”

“Ah, this is Tamamo.”

“…No matter where you look, he’s a kid of the same age as Amelia?”

Lila raised her hand above her head as if to tell her not to lie, but Riomes didn’t seem to be lying at all.

“Excuse me little boy… So? What happened today?”

“Actually, Tamamo-sama, I heard that the remnants of the empire are hiding in this brothel, so I came to find them.”

Upon hearing those words, Tamamo momentarily stiffened and looked back at her party while making a giggling sound.

“It seems the royal palace has finally noticed about him. It’s safe if Riomes brought him. Let’s introduce ourselves, starting with the dark horse clan over there.”

“Cleona. A magician.”

Saying that, when Cleon revealed his identity to her, Tamamo sniffed at her.

“What is this guy, he’s a man, but he pretended to be a woman… What a pervert! I liked it! Are you going to leave together after a while!?”

“…”

Cleon turns to Riomes with a cold face at her words her.

Riomes could only nod her head and clap her hands.