Chapter 8

〈 Chapter 8 〉 I Decide My Own Gender (3)

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Player.

Although I played as a male character to form a harem of female characters, some players occasionally chose to play as female characters themselves.

This usually happened when the female character design was exceptionally well-drawn, and the male character design was poor, but *P.A.O.* wasn't quite that extreme.

The male characters had their own cool vibes, and the female characters had their own charm.

However, once a gender was chosen, it was impossible to change it by any means, and some players who had spare time would create and level up a separate account of the opposite gender.

I didn't do that.

I played as a male character and simply accepted the female character as she was.

But now, the female character, a player character, stands before me, about to take my viscount title and become the ruler of this Fermaton.

“So, what’s your name?”

“Laura… that’s my name!”

Despite standing before a person of power, she still had a spirited and bright smile.

Her lively voice and radiant face were like a golden retriever, exuding positive energy just by looking at her.

Her bright personality was so captivating that it made your eyes shine and your heart warm.

She was a paragon of a 'just and good hero,' embodying a righteous heart and character.

Most importantly...

‘The only one capable of reaching 6-star limit break.’

While others would remain at 5-star, she could grow to 6-star, fitting for a protagonist.

Of course, to go from 5-star to 6-star, it would require the resources of about 20 5-star max-level characters, but a 6-star protagonist was essentially a 'god.'

To what extent?

To the point where she could clear the Infinite Dungeon with just a 1-star 1-level Rudi.

She became the ruler of Fermaton not just because of her companions' support, but because she was incredibly strong.

A powerhouse that even kingdoms and empires couldn't touch.

Of course, with updates, more 6-star characters would be added, but I got a gacha jackpot before the next character update.

“Um...”

This 'chosen one' is looking at me like a stray dog asking to be adopted.

“...So, Miss Laura, how did you end up like this?”

“Oh, well... I went into the Infinite Dungeon with other party members, but I got sucked into a different transfer gate...”

“Different transfer gate?”

“Yes. Thanks to someone’s help, I managed to escape. My equipment was all destroyed, and I only had the items I had in my lodging... but at least I survived.”

“A random gate, huh.”

A random event that occasionally appears while navigating the Infinite Dungeon.

The Infinite Dungeon is structured like a roguelike with infinite random levels, and among the transfer gates that lead to different rooms, there are both treasures and traps.

Laura must have encountered a trap room.

But...

“What about the companions you went with?”

“Oh, um...”

She seems to be hiding something.

Not that she can't speak frankly, but she stammers and can't bring herself to say it.

‘She must have been taken advantage of by those companions. She’s trying to cover for them, or maybe she thinks it’s pointless to say anything and just stays silent.’

I don’t know the full story.

I don’t need to know.

What’s important is that I’ve met Laura now.

“Do you have a place to go?”

“Well, I plan to request an emergency commission from the Adventurer’s Guild. For now, I’ll mine mana stones on the first floor to gather funds, then buy a sword and hunt monsters.”

She’s capable of taking care of herself.

She was probably squatting in front of the guild because it wasn’t open yet.

‘I did come out early this morning.’

It was around 8:20 AM.

Actually, the Adventurer’s Guild isn’t open at this time.

I just came to the guild early, and the guildmaster rushed out.

Time commitment?

Prior engagement?

Fermaton makes the guildmaster run out barefoot without needing any of that.

...I should send someone ahead next time.

“Hunting monsters... What about your skills?”

“I, I’m pretty good! Although I did fall behind... I’ve been to the third floor with my companions!”

‘Level 3.’

The floors of the Infinite Dungeon correspond to levels.

The max level is 100.

Reaching the 100th floor is considered a ‘clear,’ and below that, it was just a loop of the 100th floor before I possessed this body.

In other words, Laura might be around level 3 now, but she will eventually be able to farm mana stones alone on the 100th floor.

I can’t let her slip away.

While individual ability is important, first...

‘She’s a real catch.’

My member stiffens.

After taking off her robe, the figure under the adventurer’s tunic is nothing short of a goddess.

Her chest isn’t bursting, but it’s full enough to hold and shake, and the hip line visible under the tunic is a work of art.

So, how do I make this woman ‘my woman’?

How do I seduce her and eventually bring her to bed?

“Alright, Miss Laura. I’ll hire you.”

“...What?”

“I mean to hire you.”

I leaned back and interlaced my fingers.

“I plan to directly hire adventurers for Fermaton.”

“Huh?”

The guildmaster, not Laura, was shocked.

“Sir, what do you mean...?”

“I want to run an adventurer party directly under Fermaton.”

The Infinite Dungeon isn’t exclusive to Fermaton.

It’s too large for one family to monopolize, and due to pressure from the entire continent, it has become a public resource managed by the Fermaton family.

Some might complain that directly sending adventurers is overstepping.

Fermaton already collects a significant amount of taxes and fees from the mana stones and transactions within Fermaton.

Until now, Fermaton has had considerable restrictions on securing military power.

If Fermaton becomes too powerful, it might monopolize the Infinite Dungeon.

Various groups are wary of Fermaton becoming too strong and monopolizing the Infinite Dungeon, so Fermaton, despite being a viscount, has a relatively weak military force.

‘Collecting so much in taxes and fees, and now military power too? That’s not acceptable.’

Even recruiting a single knight is difficult.

We have a lot of money, but our military force is lacking.

Even if we do have some, they are not pure Fermaton forces like Jenis.

Most are influenced by the kingdom or are from the empire.

In this situation, forming a knight order or directly hiring adventurers could be politically problematic.

“It’s not that difficult. I just want to collect some gems, and you’ll work for that.”

So,

I’ll use the image of the ‘reckless Rudi.’

“The name is ‘Bunny Girls.’”

“...What?”

“Bunny Girls.”

Laura’s face immediately turned red, and Bernhardt’s expression said, ‘I knew it.’

“...You mean the bunny girls from the casino?”

“Exactly.”

“...”

Yes.

Bernhardt.

That’s the exact expression.

“Of course, I won’t just dress you in bunny outfits. I’ll ensure they have solid defensive enchantments and will look for very special magic to make sure the outfits are never a problem. There are gems that can protect you from explosions, and we’ll find them as we delve deeper into the Infinite Dungeon.”

Right now, they might think I’m just a reckless guy trying to form a harem, but in a year, I’ll have a powerful military force that even the kingdom and empire won’t dare to mess with.

“What do you think? It’s not a bad deal. You’ll get a salary, and you’ll be safer in the dungeon. At least it’s better than being a miner digging for mana stones.”

“Um, I have a question...”

“What is it?”

“By ‘Bunny Girls,’ do you mean we have to wear bunny outfits?”

“Yeah.”

Laura [Bunny Girl]. ☆☆☆.

A separate character from the vanilla player character, she was the culprit behind many players’ financial tears.

I never got her.

I only had a male character pickup.

...I didn’t expect they would sell a [Bunny Boy] for male characters.

But now, it’s different.

The woman in front of me is clearly a woman.

As long as she doesn’t have a ‘hidden surprise’ down there, she’s the perfect candidate for a bunny outfit.

“What do you think?”

If she wears a bunny outfit, I can raise her.

I am Fermaton, after all.

“So, then... What does Sir want? Just... a bunny girl?”

“No. The bunny outfit is just a hobby. What I really want is something else.”

I lower my voice.

“I personally want to reach the end of the Infinite Dungeon.”

If there’s a way to return to my original world, this is the most likely path.

“What treasures await at the end of the dungeon? Is the Infinite Dungeon truly ‘infinite’?”

Whether I return as Rudi.

Or as Rudi but in my original body.

Or if this is a virtual reality and I can wake up by clearing the Infinite Dungeon.

“I can’t enter the Infinite Dungeon, but I want to know more about it. So...”

If not, I’ll live as the ‘tyrant Rudi’ here.

“Contract with me and become my bunny girl.”

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