Chapter 22: Brothel - 1
—–CROW—–
"Why am I here...?"
A grumbling voice came from behind me. I decided to pretend I didn't hear, partly out of guilt.
"Leoric-nim, would you like some tea?"
"Mm. Please."
Inside the carriage, which surprisingly offered a comfortable ride despite its rattling, I sipped the tea Neria had poured. I savored the sweet taste as I looked out the window. The buildings lining the street gradually became more ornate.
"Are we almost there?"
"Yes. We'll reach our destination shortly."
Zeke, sitting across from me, replied with a troubled expression. He seemed displeased that I was coming here. But I thought it wouldn't hurt to visit once.
"Um... why am I here?"
"Hahaha."
I had met Isabelle on the way. It was a complete coincidence. It seemed today was her day off. She was wearing casual clothes instead of the practical attire I had seen her in at the Adventurers' Guild.
"Is it your day off today?"
"...Yes."
"Where were you going?"
"...T-to the market."
I saw a small bag in her hand. She flinched as my gaze fell on it, trying to hide it, then stopped. Neria, Zeke, and Chloe all looked at Isabelle. She sighed softly and held out the bag. Chloe took it, considered it for a moment, then handed it to me.
Grinning, I opened the bag and took out the contents, since I had already received permission.
*Rustle.*
"Oh."
A pair of white panties with a small bear printed on them. The fabric was luxurious and soft, the panties small enough to fit in my palm. A cute bear was printed on the back. I had thought this before, but this world was definitely not medieval. What was with this inexplicable technology? I glanced at Isabelle, whose face was bright red.
"It's Belluti."
"Belluti?"
"It's a lingerie brand."
Neria explained, pointing to the bear printed on the panties.
"It's a popular brand among young women because of the cute designs."
"Aha."
Apparently, the prices were reasonable enough for even commoners to afford. While they couldn't buy them regularly, they would save up their allowance or wages to buy them as special lingerie.
"*Sigh*."
Zeke turned his gaze to the window, as if he had just seen something unpleasant. Isabelle blushed and lowered her head. Only Chloe and Neria were looking at the panties with me.
"Do you wear these kinds of panties, Chloe?"
"..."
She glared at me. Chloe, who was wearing a skirt, wasn't wearing any panties at the moment. Oops.
"What about you, Neria?"
"Unfortunately, I wear the undergarments provided by the castle."
From hair ties to undergarments, she could only use items provided by the castle. Only personal maids were allowed to use their own belongings.
"Really?"
"Shall I show you?"
Chloe and Isabelle looked horrified as Neria slightly lifted her skirt. Zeke was still looking out the window.
"No, it's okay."
Was it my imagination that she looked slightly disappointed? Chloe sighed and pointed to the panties still unfolded in my hand.
"Isn't it a bit rude to stare so openly?"
"Oops. Sorry."
Chloe sighed again as I continued to examine the panties. Had I been looking at them for too long? I carefully folded them and placed them back in the bag. Panties were precious. I handed the bag back to Isabelle, who took it gingerly, her face still red, and clutched it to her chest.
"I apologize."
"It's alright."
I smiled at Isabelle, who sighed, looking resigned, and told her our destination.
"We're going to the red-light district."
"The red-light district? ...Is it for security matters?"
Isabelle's expression shifted, becoming more like that of an adventurer. Now that I was in charge of maintaining order in the town, there were three main areas under my jurisdiction.
First, the Adventurers' Guild. While there were several guilds, this one managed adventurers who wandered around with magic power, making them a potential security risk. That's why I had met Isabelle previously, as the guild fell under my supervision.
Second, the gate. It was like a military checkpoint. Often depicted in fantasy novels as the place where guards inspected luggage and checked identification, it was also frequently portrayed as a vulnerable point, easily infiltrated by protagonists or villains. Thankfully, that wasn't the case in reality. It was where they checked for magic users and criminals, so it was staffed by soldiers and knights, similar to modern military officers, making it safer than even inside the castle. I sometimes worked in the office near the gate.
And lastly, the red-light district. A place of entertainment frequented by commoners, travelers, adventurers, and all sorts of people. While it typically had a shady reputation, here it was directly under the lord's jurisdiction. While it was true that gangs affiliated with the lord operated in the back alleys, it wasn't illegal. These were legitimate businesses. Prostitution was legal, and the workers paid taxes.
There were several reasons why it was directly managed, but the main one was sexually transmitted diseases. Once an outbreak occurred, it was difficult to contain and trace the source of infection. Merchants and adventurers, who often traveled between regions, could easily spread the disease, paralyzing the local economy. Treatment required a significant amount of magic, usually only possible for knights, and their resources were limited. It was also difficult for nobles to use their magic for healing.
Therefore, all workers in the red-light district underwent regular STD checks, and the organizations managing them were strictly regulated. Competition between establishments was allowed, but crossing the line resulted in punishment.
The second reason was magic users. Since more than half of the clientele were adventurers, children born with magic were not uncommon. Contraception was left to the prostitutes' discretion, and as long as they took responsibility for their children, there were no restrictions. The reason adventurers were sought after was because of their potential to produce magic users. Any child born with magic had to be reported to the lord.
Hiding a magic-wielding child and raising them in secret to strengthen the organization was considered treason, so the system was relatively clean.
"We could have handled this visit."
Zeke's words echoed that sentiment. While it was important, it wasn't a place I needed to visit personally. Occasional inspections by officials were sufficient.
"You're not curious about prostitutes, are you?"
Chloe asked, looking at me suspiciously. Zeke and Neria also looked at me, and Isabelle, tucked away in the corner, gave me a curious glance.
"No, that's not it."
Curiosity wasn't the only reason. Although it was a significant part of it.
"When we go to Muller, I'll have to clean up their red-light district, so it's good to see how things are run here."
Really? Could they stop looking at me like that? Especially Chloe. My treatment of her was getting progressively worse.
"We're almost there."
At Zeke's words, I looked out the window. The streets, which had been somewhat grimy, were becoming cleaner again. Or rather, more luxurious.
"They seem to have invested quite a bit."
"The red-light district generates a significant amount of tax revenue. And soldiers frequent it as well."
Indeed. As Zeke said, the taxes collected here were substantial.
"How often do adventurers visit?"
I looked at Isabelle.
"Third-rate adventurers come with the spare change they have after a day's work, second-rate adventurers come with what's left after buying equipment, and first-rate adventurers come with what's left after saving."
"So, all adventurers visit brothels."
They were truly living day-to-day. Did they live for their lower bodies? ...Chloe, why were you looking at me like that?
"There must be plenty of female adventurers."
"There are quite a few."
"Do they visit brothels too?"
"There are many establishments catering to female adventurers."
I see. ...I was just talking to Isabelle. Why were they looking at me like that?
"I've never been to one."
"...I didn't say anything."
I refrained from retorting. A brief silence fell over the carriage before it came to a rattling stop.
"We've arrived."
At Zeke's words, I looked out the window. The largest organization in this area. A building with a striking red exterior. It was the tallest building in the vicinity, with a luxurious interior. A brothel frequented by wealthy merchants and the town's elite. Even among adventurers, only a few first-rate ones could afford to visit.
The Red Flower Garden.
The street was quiet. Several knights stood guard around the carriage as I stepped out.
"Welcome."
Numerous women greeted me at the entrance. Among the ornately dressed women, one stood out, her appearance both elegant and dignified. A blonde woman in a low-cut dress. A beauty mark near her eye added to her charm. I had heard she was in her late thirties or early forties, but it was hard to tell. The madam of the Red Flower Garden, whose services were said to be beyond the reach of even the wealthiest clients.
"I am Beatrice, madam of the Red Flower Garden."
"The renowned flower of the garden, known as the most beautiful and enchanting woman in the establishment. It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Leoric Franz."
This was going to be a good night.
—–CROW—–
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