"Welcome back, Master."
"...!"
I was startled.
Yuria vaguely knew that I traveled between worlds.
The items I brought from the real world were not from this realm, and I had never bothered to hide them from Yuria, who was always by my side. That's how much I trusted her.
However, I never explicitly told Yuria about my trips to other worlds.
From Yuria's perspective, it's not like I actually disappear.
The time that passed in automatic progression was only a few seconds at most.
When I returned to the real world, this world didn't simply pause; it immediately entered automatic progression. The first thing I did upon returning to reality was to stop the automatic progression using the Pleasure World App. It would be disastrous if my avatar started trolling while in automatic progression.
From my perspective, it's only been a few days, but for Yuria, it was less than ten seconds. Yet she realized I'd entered this world?
I knew Yuria was sometimes so extraordinary she seemed inhuman, but I never imagined she was this perceptive.
"...How did you know?"
The Plum Blossom Sword Saint world minimizes automatic progression. After all, I want to enjoy my time with the maids in this mansion. It's too precious to let slip by through automated advancement.
"Master, you've always had moments when your demeanor suddenly shifts. It used to feel vague, but now it's unmistakable."
A sudden curiosity struck me.
"What about the other me? Is he very different?"
"Not much different. Though sometimes it feels like I'm just a machine performing predetermined tasks."
Well, the avatar was merely mimicking my actions. Calling it machine-like wasn't entirely wrong.
I sipped the black tea Yuria had prepared. I didn't particularly care for tea, but Yuria's brew was an exception. Her tea, perfectly tailored to my taste, was more delicious than any other. It was a blend made solely for me.
"How's the Head Maid position? Are you busy?"
"The maids are all doing such a good job that I rarely need to intervene."
Just a few months ago, Yuria was the only servant in this mansion. She single-handedly handled everything cleaning, maintenance, and attending to my needs. To be honest, I worried she might collapse from overwork.
Even when forced to rest, Yuria would be back cleaning the mansion the next day. After bringing in the new hires, she had been incredibly busy teaching them, as many arrived knowing nothing.
Now, however, the mansion housed over fifty maids. Thirty of them were full-fledged maids working in various roles, while the remaining twenty were adult trainees undergoing education.
With the increase in full-fledged maids, Yuria's duties as Head Maid had significantly decreased. She had completely stopped doing menial tasks, focusing instead on managing the mansion's accounts and overseeing the maids' training. Yet, during her remaining free time, she seemed to either attend to my personal needs or engage in private training.
"No problems within the mansion, right?"
I gestured to Yuria, and she approached me at my signal.
"No, sir. Everyone is adhering to the mansion's rules."
She gathered the hem of her long skirt in both hands and lifted it above her waist, revealing her shapely legs encased in white stockings and her pure white panties.
Yuria always knew exactly what I wanted, even without me having to say it explicitly.
"I've heard there are some maids showing exceptional talent lately?" I asked as I slipped off her pristine white panties. The fabric stretched tautly between her thighs.
Yuria's pussy, always meticulously clean, was a flawless shade of pink, no matter how often I saw it.
I examined her pussy and reached out. Yuria had recently been growing her pubic hair at my command, shaped into a heart .
I rubbed the mound of her pussy with my hand. The silver pubic hair was still short, too sparse to grasp between my fingers. As I rubbed it, I felt a rough, prickly sensation.
"Yes, Amanda and Cheysey. As members of the AM Unit, they are undergoing special training."
Special training didn't carry a negative connotation. It simply meant providing talented maids with training tailored to their aptitudes.
The AM Unit had two meanings:
One was Assault Maid, and the other was Assassin Maid. In short, it was a special forces unit composed entirely of maids.
The AM Unit still has a long way to go before it can truly shine.
I used my fingers to gently pull back and roll Yuria's clitoral hood. Before long, her pussy began to moisten.
"Haaah..."
She was getting wet so quickly, even without using Sensual Amplification.
Nepia, with her silver hair similar to Yuria's, was a face I remembered.
"...Yes. In a few years, Nepia will become the maid Master favors most. Aang!"
A light flick to Yuria's clitoris made her body tremble.
"If Yuria says so, I'm already looking forward to seeing her in a few years. But how are the preparations for tonight's party coming along?"
Not long ago, I had bullied the Dwarves into building a banquet hall on the left side of the mansion. It was a massive structure, large enough to accommodate over 1,000 guests with room to spare. As its name suggested, the building was solely for hosting banquets.
I plan to host parties at the banquet hall roughly every two months. Of course, I won't be inviting any outsiders these parties are just for me and the maids.
"Yes, preparations are nearly complete. Haaah... We can proceed with the party as scheduled."
"Heh heh. I can't wait for evening to come. Do the maids have any requests for me?"
I'm willing to consider a few requests for the maids who serve me.
"Some of the girls want a swimming pool."
"A swimming pool? Ah, right. Swimming in the bathhouse isn't ideal."
The bathhouse does have a pool, but it's not very large not really suitable for swimming.
I felt the same way last time.
I realized this about two weeks ago, according to this world's time, when the adult maids invited me to join them in the bathhouse for a swimsuit outing. For the record, several of the maids had chosen micro bikinis that barely covered their vital areas.
The bathhouse was too small for the various games we wanted to try.
"I'll need to build a proper swimming pool. Well, I can just bully the Dwarves into doing it."
I planned to build a pool on par with modern luxury swimming pools. Once it was finished, I could create all sorts of ahem... interesting scenarios with whichever maids willingly joined me.
I could even film variety-show-style videos using the pool as a backdrop.
Squeak, squeak.
While my mind wandered to the future, my hands, guided by years of accumulated technique, worked with ruthless efficiency.
"Ah...?! Hngaaah!"
Yuria leaned forward slightly, her body trembling. Clear vaginal fluid dripped onto the floor with a soft patter.
I withdrew my hand from her pussy and brought my fingers, soaked with her fluid, to my mouth. The taste was more familiar to me than anything else.
"How is the Territory?"
Yuria had been managing almost all of my Territory, Tevra. To be precise, the Administrators I had appointed handled the details, and Yuria managed the Administrators.
"The Territory is developing smoothly," Yuria said, pulling down the white panties draped over her thighs. The fabric was slightly damp with fluid that had dripped from her vulva.
"Thanks to the Citizen Tier System you created, Master, the Territory Residents are actively striving to raise their tiers."
Citizen Tier System.
Citizens are assigned tiers, with higher tiers granting greater benefits.
"However, cases of the Upper Class bribing Administrators have been increasing."
"Bribery... Those tax-evading bastards..."
My brow furrowed involuntarily.
The Upper Class has been using various loopholes to pay less in taxes. Less than 10% of them pay their fair share.
If I were to round up and execute the Upper Class, confiscating their wealth, the city would collapse. The city maintains its current standard of living precisely because of their existence. At least for now, they're untouchable.
"The Administrators are being cautious, mindful of Master's gaze. But in a few months, they'll likely start accepting bribes again."
"I should perform a sword dance later. How's the Korea Merchant Guild doing?"
"The Korea Merchant Guild is currently focused on promotion. The number of merchants coming to Tevra after hearing about the guild has increased slightly."
"There must be some downsides too. What's the problem?"
"Other merchant guilds are starting to interfere."
"Interfere? There aren't any guilds in Tevra large enough to challenge the Korea Merchant Guild."
"It's the guilds based in the port city of Slawed. The Senif Merchant Guild is particularly aggressive."
My face immediately soured at the mention of Slawed.
Slawed was a nearby port city. While both Tevra and Slawed were port cities, Slawed was a metropolis with over forty times the population of Tevra.
"Could this be Count Slawed's doing?"
"We have no proof, but it's highly likely he instigated the Upper Rank merchants. Currently, the Korea Merchant Guild is Tevra's most vital asset. If they collapse, Tevra itself will likely fall."
"Assassinating Count Slawed and his heir?"
"Possible," Yuria replied calmly. If I ordered it, she would assassinate Count Slawed without hesitation.
But I had no intention of assassinating him. If we did so now, the surrounding nobles would immediately suspect us, and a new noble would likely take over Slawed City in his place.
"Count Slawed isn't the only one keeping Tevra in check."
Even so, we couldn't simply ignore these attempts to restrain us. If we did nothing, the Korea Merchant Guild no, Tevra itself would be seen as an easy target.
"Count Slawed is dealt with. What was that other guild called? The Senif Merchant Guild? Kill their leader."
Though the death would be hushed up publicly, it would serve as a potent warning.
"Yes, Master. I'll handle it within two weeks."
I stared intently at Yuria.
She lifted her skirt again. Vaginal fluid streamed down her thighs, soaking her stockings.
"Master," she whispered, "my pussy craves your cock. Please, grant my pussy your cock."
"If Yuria's pussy desires it, then of course."
I spread my arms wide while still seated in the chair.
Yuria rushed into my embrace.
After a delightful time with Yuria, I left the room. As I walked down the corridor, I pondered the Territory.
According to Yuria, a rumor has been circulating among the Territory Residents that if a beautiful wife or adult daughter chose to spend a night with me, her household's Citizen Tier could quickly rise.
I considered tracking down the source of the rumor and punishing them, but ultimately decided against it. On second thought, it wasn't entirely unwelcome. I hoped the rumor would encourage more willing beauties to seek me out for a night.
Besides, it's not exactly a false rumor, is it?
I had already spent nights with several beautiful adult Territory Residents who accepted my invitations of their own free will. In a few cases, I later approved Citizen Tier promotions for women who had already earned them through their standing or contributions, then cited those reasons openly.
I was a Territorial Lord known for my leniency toward Beauties.
My ultimate goal is to turn the old idea of the Right of the First Night into nothing more than a consensual fantasy between adults.
To have every Beauty in my Territory, of her own free will, choose to spend that night with me, not her husband, was both my dream and my ambition.
Achieving this dream required more than simply obtaining the Count of Prucus title. I needed absolute power, untouchable even by the King.
Dreams are meant to be realized! I will achieve this no matter what.
As I reaffirmed my ambition, I encountered my butler passing through the corridor.
He appeared to be a handsome man with a neatly arranged navy blue ponytail.
Of course, he wasn't actually a man. I would never allow a man into my mansion. Despite wearing a butler's uniform and being tall, he was a woman.
Her name was Hayden.
Originally a beautiful woman with androgynous features, she used makeup to transform her face into that of a handsome man. Thanks to Yuria's training, her voice and mannerisms were also convincingly masculine. Her breasts were a B-cup, which she compressed as tightly as possible with cloth.
If you stripped off the makeup, she'd be quite a sexy woman.
During the day and at formal occasions, Hayden dressed as a man and acted as a butler. At night, she reverted to her role as a maid.
"You seem to be in good spirits today, Master," she greeted me.
I nodded in response. "Hayden, show me your pussy."