Rodi's coronation ceremony was in full swing at the duchy's capital.
I had been invited as an honored guest.
…Or at least, that was the plan.
"What kind of guest has to work like this—?"
Instead of sitting back and enjoying the event, I was stuck making wine for the guests. Barrels and barrels of fruit wine.
"What even is a guest anymore?"
I kept magically producing more, filling barrel after barrel and sealing them. Thirty barrels in total — roughly 1,800 liters.
"This should be enough, right!?"
After coming to this world, I realized how blessed I actually was with the people around me. Sure, there had been troublesome guests, employees who stole from me, and multiple robbery attempts… but compared to the nonsense in front of me right now, those were nothing.
"Are you all idiots!?"
Nobles and high-ranking guests were literally pouring the expensive wine I had just made onto the ground to create decorative "wine pools" as part of the extravagant celebration.
*Is this where the saying "wine pool and meat forest" comes from?* I don't remember exactly, but seeing it in person made my blood boil.
*Just drink it, you bastards.*
Of course, thirty barrels weren't nearly enough. More orders came flooding in immediately.
"Ba~ka ba~ka ba~ka ba~ka ba~ka~"
Someone was even singing the Japanese "idiot" chant in the background.
Rodi — now the new duke — was too busy to complain to, so I saved my grumbling for later. I couldn't ruin the entire ceremony just because the guests were wasteful idiots.
*These aristocrats are the worst. I'm starting to sympathize with the British girl's revolution.*
In the end, my "honored guest" role turned into unpaid labor. Mentally exhausted, I was finally released.
Rodi came over personally to apologize.
"I'm truly sorry. I wanted to treat you properly, but things got out of hand."
As long as he acknowledged it, that was enough.
While we were talking, a quiet-looking man approached.
"Big brother Rodi!"
"My older brother," Rodi introduced him.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Izumi."
The brother bowed politely.
"My brother is very shy around people. Please don't mind him."
I considered leaving them alone, but the brother handed Rodi a letter.
"May I read it now?"
The brother nodded.
As Rodi read, his brow furrowed.
"Brother…"
"I wish you wise rule."
With those simple words, Bizaal left.
Rodi sighed with a wry smile.
"…It was that obvious, huh? Maybe I should just embrace it."
He turned to me. "Izumi, I'll definitely make this up to you. I won't forget the favor you did by enduring all this for my coronation."
---
When I returned to the City of Knowledge, Avael immediately called for me.
"We need to expand the cabaret."
Seriously?
The cabaret she managed was already at capacity with 19 girls, and we were still planning to add more. Controlling that many in one location was becoming impossible.
"Plus, everyone wants shifts! The work is easy, the pay is good, but we can't fit everyone at once! The scheduling is a nightmare!"
I understood, but…
"Avael-san, there's no one else I can trust to run another shop…"
She lowered her voice.
"…Exactly. This kind of shop relies heavily on looks and age. That's why…"
She suggested moving Annie and Souna to behind-the-scenes roles.
Annie, the oldest at 17 and natural leader of the former low-rank candidates, had strong leadership skills. Souna had a plain but gentle face and was shy — not the best fit for the front lines, but excellent with numbers thanks to her privileged upbringing.
Both girls were thrilled with the change. Annie especially had always wanted to be on the management side.
---
The guild chairman insisted on holding proper interviews even though we planned to hire all four original low-rank candidates.
"Interviews are fun!"
*Sure, for you…*
The original four were guaranteed, but then the brothel owner showed up looking extremely apologetic.
"I brought the four as promised, but… the mid-rank girls from our place, plus girls from neighboring brothels, all came rushing over…"
Outside, roughly forty women were waiting.
"Chairman, no repeat of last time! No boob attacks for mass hiring!"
Last time we had ended up hiring almost everyone because of that.
In the end, we conducted proper interviews.
The first girl broke down crying.
"If I become a low-rank prostitute, I'll be killed… and my little sister will be sold too… uuu…"
*This world is too harsh.*
I couldn't say no.
"…Hired."
The ratio was now brutal.
Next came a short girl with massive breasts that bounced with every step.
"Hired."
"Chairman!? Didn't you hear me!?"
"You idiot! You'd reject THESE tits!?"
After a loud argument, we continued.
The next girl wanted to move into management.
"Hired."
Another special case.
Then an elegant, beautiful 22-year-old upper-rank prostitute named Mendusa appeared.
She wanted to become an educator for the new girls.
"Hired."
Special case again.
In the end, Avael scolded me.
"We were supposed to add four, plus three more… but you hired eleven special cases!?"
Even after rejecting half, we still ended up with 18 new girls.
---
**(Mio's Perspective)**
A giant penguin was speaking Japanese.
"…Izumi? Some kind of prank?"
Or a pervert in a costume?
But the texture looked far too real. It really was a giant penguin.
"You're in trouble, huh—."
A lazy, drawn-out voice.
"That guy isn't coming back—."
That guy…
"…You know Izumi?"
"Yeah—. His sake is delicious—."
Sake?
What is this thing talking about?
"Where is Izumi?"
"Where—? 'ცოდნა ქალაქი'—"
"Huh?"
I couldn't understand the words.
Then I noticed something even stranger.
"…You're floating?"
"Yeah—. Didn't want to break the floor—."
Its feet weren't touching the ground.
This couldn't be real.
A dream? This has to be a dream.
"Dream. That's right—."
The penguin touched my head.
And then—
『I'm not coming back.』
Izumi stood in front of me.
"I-Izumi…"
It was a dream. It had to be a dream.
『Be happy, Mio.』
This dream… this was really Izumi.
No mistake.
『I won't be able to see you again. Tell Ikeda-san and Kondo-san I'm sorry.』
Ikeda and Kondo — the names of the people at his soba shop.
Very Izumi-like.
"Where are you right now?"
Izumi smiled faintly.
『ცოდნა ქალაქი』
Izumi vanished.
The penguin was back.
"It was Izumi's wish—. I'll make you happy—."
It patted my head.
Suddenly, my phone rang.
"Answer the phone—. Go back to work—."
It was a business client.
"H-hello…?"
The moment I answered, the penguin disappeared completely.
A dream?
A daydream?
The call was from a client announcing a massive new contract — one that named me specifically as the negotiator. The company was overjoyed and gave me an emergency promotion.
"…A promotion, huh."
It was sudden, but still nice.
But more than that, that penguin… that dream…
What was it?
That night, I went back to Izumi's apartment again.
Neither Izumi nor the penguin was there.
Where did they go?
I didn't know.
But I felt certain the dream was real.
Izumi wasn't coming back.
I was sure of it.
"…I'm tired."
I collapsed onto his bed and fell asleep.
『Huh? Why is Mio here?』
Izumi was standing in front of me.
"Another dream?"
So many dreams today.
『…Yeah, it really is you. Um… which Mio is this?』
"Which Mio?"
"The Mio from one month after you disappeared."
『Disappeared!? Ah, right. Of course I'd be considered missing if I got summoned and never came back.』
And then—
"You look older?"
He seemed more mature overall.
『Six years will do that. I have kids now.』
"…Huh?"
Six years?
Kids?
『Time flows differently, maybe?』
"…Where are you?"
『In this world… or rather, where even is this place?』
Izumi suddenly went quiet, then nodded.
『The penguin says this is neither Earth nor my world — some kind of in-between space.』
"Huh?"
What does that even mean?
『You're sleeping on my bed, right, Mio? Apparently, when you sleep on that bed, you can meet me here.』
What is this?
『So it really is you… The real Mio. There's so much I want to talk about.』
He smiled gently.
But more than anything—
"You have kids?"
That was what I wanted to know.
『Yeah. Almost the second… or maybe the third soon.』
Huh?
『I've knocked up quite a few girls since coming here.』
He became a total player, huh.
"…Honestly, I expected that."
Izumi's sexual stamina and size were insane.
『…Hey, Mio.』
I already knew what he wanted.
"I have a lot to talk about too…"
I took his hand.
『Let's have sex.』
This was real. This Izumi was the real one.
『Hey… you really haven't been with any other men? With a body this erotic?』
"I haven't♡ Because my pussy became yours exclusively, remember♡♡♡"
I writhed happily, squirting as my body burned with need.
『Mio, you've become so lewd… You used to be so cool and composed.』
I pulled him into a sloppy kiss, sucking on his tongue shamelessly.
"I'm a female now♡♡♡ You turned me into a female♡♡♡"
My body was insanely aroused.
『Can I do whatever I want with you in this dream?』
"Yes♡ Do anything you want♡"
What would he do?
Suddenly, large cat ears appeared on my head.
『The penguin is good at preparing things. I have a cross-dressing beauty as a sex friend over there. I love dressing her up cute and fucking her.』
Sounds nice. I want to be your sex friend too.
『Cat ears look good on you too. Say "nya" for me.』
"…Nya♡♡♡"
I meowed cutely, acting spoiled.
『Good girl. Beg lots. I'll fill you up.』
"Nyaaaaah♡♡♡"
Izumi's massive cock pushed into my pussy.
Pussy, pussy—
"Nyaaaaah♡♡♡ Nya♡♡♡ Nya♡♡♡"
Cock, cock, I love it so much♡♡♡
The real Izumi's cock I've been waiting for♡♡♡
I spread my pussy shamelessly wide, desperately taking him in.
『You're so vulgar, Mio. I'll creampie you deep.』
"Nyaaaaah♡♡♡"
So happy♡
I love acting spoiled♡
I want to live as Izumi's sex slave in this world forever…
---
Morning.
On Izumi's bed.
The sheets were soaked with my juices.
"…That dream again?"
『The recent dreams are my fault—』
The penguin appeared again.
『The dreams for the past week were because of me—. I interfered to find Izumi's hometown, and there were side effects—』
I didn't understand.
『But yesterday's was real—. You can meet the real Izumi—. But only when you sleep on this bed—. It's a space that's neither Earth nor this world—』
The real Izumi.
『My interference ends here—. Take care—』
The penguin vanished.
I sat on the bed, lost in thought for a long time.