"Put the goods over there...that one's on hold for now...over there, soldiers! What are you doing?"
"Y-I'm sorry! Lady Celestia! We're just rearranging our armor..."
"Don't do anything that could cause misunderstandings. This is contraband, punishable by immediate execution." The day after the discovery of the Serpent's Fang gang's drugs in the Demon King's castle's underground.
The soldiers, following Celestia's orders, moved the drugs, even blocking passageways to prevent civilians from approaching.
Eek...immediate execution? Is it really necessary...?
While it's true that things are stricter with drugs...it's still quite frightening.
Celestia's serious demeanor is unexpected; I didn't expect the kingdom to be so strict about drugs.
"...Master. Is it alright? We can just discard them all like that?"
"Hmm...Actually, if it's something that enhances mating pleasure, I might consider it...but there's absolutely no need to touch that stuff."
When I first heard about drugs, I thought they were just addictive substances that made you dizzy...but the drugs I discovered this time, I heard, aren't just dizzying, but extremely vile types that completely turn people into useless junk.
In the kingdom, it seems like they're executed if caught! Those guys are insane for daring to touch that stuff, those snakes' fangs.
No wonder those guys are abnormally wealthy.
I didn't expect they made their money through drug smuggling...In short, a bunch of filthy bastards.
Look at me!
How clean and honest my business is!?
I don't need to touch those dirty drugs at all; my sluts and livestock will naturally make money for me!
Don't learn bad things!
Don't harm others; live an upright life like me!
"That's true. After all, we already secretly kept a bag..."
Oh dear!
Lisbeth!
People will misunderstand if they hear!
It wasn't secretly hidden; it was just a little bit that Ceres and you used for research, right?
I don't want to do business with such dangerous stuff. My horse semen is practically an aphrodisiac for females.
Why would I need drugs?
Besides, it was personally approved by Lord Ceres.
Well, although nobody else knows about it except us. Hehe... But that was only because you two said you wanted to use my horse semen to develop products. We basically do legitimate business.
"Lady Celestia. The drugs on the first floor have been cleared. The second basement level contains legal tobacco and alcohol; these should also be seized..."
"Oh? The Serpent's Fang is gone, so those naturally belong to the discoverer, Lord Semo. Don't touch a single thing, keep them safe."
"Yes, yes?... Ah, I understand...?"
That's right. The Serpent's Fang, as its master, has fallen, so everything inside, except for the drugs, is naturally mine.
Clean and honest, isn't it? Celestia.
But tobacco... tobacco... um...
"Leaving aside the contents for now, we also need to consider how to utilize that basement."
As I tried to recall the past upon hearing the word "tobacco."
Looking at the soldiers who seemed to have finished their work, Claire wore a thoughtful expression.
Basement... those windowless basements are usually suitable for bars... but don't we already have bars on the second and fifth floors?
Esendia can't open a karaoke bar or an arcade.
I was initially disappointed about not having a basement, but now that I suddenly do, I'm at a loss for what kind of shop to open.
"Claya. Didn't we already decide on the basement?"
"Heh. That's true, Liz. Of course, it might be a little difficult right now..."
Huh... for some reason, I feel like they're both secretly watching my reaction...?
"What's wrong? Have you already decided on the use of the basement?"
"...Hehe♡ It's a secret for now. Isn't that more fun, Claya?"
"Heh...♡ We'll tell you when the time is right. Could you please wait a moment, Master?"
Huh? What? So there's something that could scare me that they haven't brought out yet?
Hmm... that's true. I really can't think of a suitable shop for the basement right now... Let's just use it as a warehouse for now, and we can repurpose it later when we find a more suitable use.
"Hehehe. Well, let's look forward to it then. For now, we'll just use the basement as storage. I'm really curious to see what interesting things you're planning."
"Hehe♡ It'll definitely become a necessary place eventually. Maybe we'll even sense the need before Master says anything?"
"Master probably can't imagine it right now♡... Ah. Ceres-neechan. Is it all over?"
Just as the conversation was making me increasingly curious, Ceres walked over with what looked like documents tucked under her arm. It seemed it was over.
"Hehe. Yes. It's over... Master. Here, everything that now belongs to you is here♡"
"Oh. Okay. Let me see..."
Hmm... 50 cases of rather expensive liquor... stock for the adult store... and some other odds and ends, plus 200 cases of tobacco...
"...I'm asking out of curiosity. Is tobacco something you don't smoke because it's expensive? Or because it's bad for your health? I don't think I've ever seen it in Ladia..."
"In Ladia, because the taxes are quite high, it's considered a luxury item for nobles. I've never heard of it being harmful to the body."
"Huh, is this the first time you've heard of it?"
"Ah. I heard about it by chance when I was at magic school. Someone was researching how to make tobacco from magical herbs and found that it was harmful to the body. Apparently, it's not good for the lungs?"
"That's a strange study. Even so, Master. The church should be able to cure that kind of problem, right?"
Ah...Is that so?
Well, this isn't Earth... so tobacco is just something you don't use in Esendia because it's expensive?
"Why is tobacco heavily taxed?"
"In my great-grandfather's time... the king then loathed tobacco smoke and ordered a tax increase in all cities within the kingdom. Later, seeing no need to lower it, it remained in effect until now."
"If a lord enjoys tobacco, the cities under his jurisdiction would probably lower the tax. Rolling herbs and inhaling the smoke isn't a problem... but why ask this, Master?"
Oh... I see... Although I haven't mentioned it, I have some painful memories from my cramped single-room apartment on Earth.
Sigh, this damned life made me addicted to tobacco and alcohol, and I was eventually forced to quit tobacco due to lack of money. Those days were truly unforgettable.
Afterwards, I would occasionally crave a cigarette, suffering terribly... *sigh*. But now that I have a different body, it doesn't matter anymore.
But thinking back to those days rummaging through my bag for lost cigarette butts, I'm curious about what Eisencia's tobacco tastes like. I want to have a good smoke!
It seems my beasts were right; tobacco isn't harmful in Esendia. It's just rolling herbs into incense smoke… It's been a while since I've tasted tobacco. Want to try some?
"…Someone go get a pack of cigarettes?"
"Yes! I'm going right now!" I turned around and saw one of the animals waiting for drug seizures outside the Demon King's castle raising his hand and running towards the basement.
"Oh… Master, did you used to smoke?"
"Yeah, I used to smoke for a while… Hearing you guys talking about tobacco suddenly made me want some."
"Hey… Master, you actually smoke…" Actually, I didn't have high expectations. I just suddenly remembered the past and wanted a cigarette.
I'd heard that tobacco on Earth has all sorts of additives.
If it's just dried herbs, wouldn't Esendia tobacco just taste like grass?
But if it's alright, since I already have it, I might as well have one.
After all, it's been a long time since I've experienced that blissful aftertaste.
"I'm back! Master!"
"Oh. Thanks." Opening the box in front of me, I found it crammed with strange boxes that didn't look like tobacco.
So this is Esendia's tobacco... Let me see...
"Oh... the shape is about what I remember." Opening the flat box, I saw 20 tobaccos neatly arranged inside.
Unlike the tobacco I remembered, these looked like old-fashioned cigarettes without filters, long and thick.
Right. How could there be filters here? Probably quite pungent. This...
But the elegant packaging with its subtle patterns suits my taste.
"Hmm... where's the lighter..."
"I'll light it for you, Master." My lecherous beasts, who had been wearing amused expressions since earlier, for some reason.
Just as I put the tobacco in my mouth, Lisbeth leaned in, drawing a shimmering magic circle with her hand, creating a small flame.
With a hint of anticipation, I brought the tobacco close to the flame and took a puff.
Accompanied by a not-too-strong plume of smoke, the long-lost aroma of tobacco spread through my nostrils and throat.
"...Oh...this is not bad!?" As I slowly savored it, exhaling smoke rings, although it differed slightly from what I remembered, the unmistakable tobacco flavor spread with satisfying ease.
What is this? In some ways, it's even better than tobacco from Earth?
While slightly rough, the rich aroma is truly...wow.
This far exceeded my expectations!
"Hoo...! God, the long-lost taste of tobacco is so special...!" Inhaling another smoke ring, I began smoking with a cheerful mood.
The lewd beasts watching me nodded with smiles.
"...The things to prepare next have been decided, haven't they?"
"Aha...♡That way, the lone survivors of Ladia can easily...♡"
"Besides, this might even become our indulgence♡ We should adjust the tobacco tax rate immediately, right? Hehe...♡" Watching me exhale clouds of smoke, my lewd beasts chatted merrily.
After a long hiatus, they finally took a satisfying drag on a cigarette, but their plan had already incorporated tobacco.
Cherish life, stay away from drugs.