Normally, when a person gets sent off to another world, there is usually a bit of time to get acquainted with the new circumstances of that world. Not always, but is common practice if only to help introduce readers to the world along with the protagonist. A short period of time where they can safely find their footing, in both abilities and income, in a culturally different world. It can be thought of like a tutorial level in a video game, where someone can acquaint themselves with the controls and basic gameplay mechanics
Sadly, I wasn’t that lucky when I suddenly found myself in what looked like a medieval town in the middle of winter, in a woman’s body with fox ears and tails (three of them!), and in front of a fancy cabaret where the Madam was about to speak to me. I was pretty bewildered and terrified in suddenly having my life turned upside down and panicking over being homeless in the middle of winter. I didn’t want to freeze to death while also starving to death out in the snow! I didn’t really have time to fully process what happened, long term survival and the preservation of what modern comforts I took for granted had quickly diminished any other concerns about suddenly being in a new world with a new body and suddenly remembering how to do things you only imagined before.
So I quickly found myself in talks of employment with an old lady inside an extravagant and risque cabaret that was obviously also a brothel if you paid attention; when you only have a conceptual notion of what new skills and abilities you now have that you’re also trying to sell, limited idea on the value of what little money you had, and assumptions that independent women were generally pretty limited on employment options. And then knowing you would have to try to adjust from the modern first world living standards to medieval times where plumbing was iffy at best. I don’t think I was ever more nervous or terrified in my life and it isn’t like I had a sheltered life, having gone through military basic training for one. Yet I’m told by the other ladies here that even some noble ladies weren’t as composed and elegant as I was, even when I had to perform a song and dance to show my talents. Which made me wonder if I didn’t really need to use my magical abilities as well.
So I think it was a bit understandable when I went along with trying to become a courtesan to such a risque cabaret to escape the cold winter. And I figured if I could bear with it for a while, I could save enough money to support a comfortable lifestyle and maybe find a tolerable husband. And if I could create a loving, happy family on top of that; that would be even better and I’m fine with being the wife and mother if that is what it took to have a family of my own.
Thankfully, betting everything on the new skills and abilities I gained had worked out, I knew they were based off a bard character I had roleplayed from a tabletop RPG. A fox woman by the name of ‘Yuzuriha’, she was inspired by the Japanese Oiran so her skill set perfectly matched the occupation I had applied for. At least on paper anyway, since I still had to build my own confidence with them by actually using them. Such was my nervousness that I had even ended up placing a magical charm on the Madam and a few others despite the moral reservations I had felt in doing so. That act still lingers with me in a sense of regret as I wonder if it would have been better to just gamble without doing so.
It was a few days after the ink was dry that I realized I jumped the gun when I learned I was in the world of Goblin Slayer, a manga inspired by tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons where adventurers were a common sight within the world. It would have been a viable alternative as a full time job if I hadn’t already signed a contract, though that would mean a lot less pay with the risks of death or worse. Or having to become a prostitute anyway from the low pay and the burden of debt. Regardless, it meant I was actually in a pretty egalitarian world and there were viable job opportunities for a new “woman” like me that didn’t involve working in a very fancy brothel.
Not that I had time to really investigate that possibly in depth since I impressed the old Madam of the cabaret with my skill and exotic “Asian princess” presentation, the latter aspect which was attracting a lot of samurai and nobles. The magical charm I had regretfully placed on her in our first meeting, to ensure the best terms for myself, likely played a large part in that. Either way, my musical and magical talents were impressive enough that customers, even wealthy merchants and nobles that visited this frontier town, were soon coming in droves to see me act on stage or paid more to have a private session with me; which resulted in the Madam pushing me to work even more to milk those rich customers all the more, even helping arrange private meetings with some of the local rich elite.
Thankfully, I managed to preserve my virginity at cost of not quite managing to be the highest paid courtesan, which would have been extra awkward to lose it as a woman instead as a man. I’m pretty sure I might have gotten a bad case of gender dysphoria if I had to do it so early on. I did however have to put up with being fondled and making out with men, much due to my relative inexperience in employing and trusting ‘ Oiran Yuzuriha’ skills and instincts. It actually just felt odd or simply business instead of dysphoric though, depending on if I think about it from my former male self or my ‘Oiran Yuzuriha’ perspective.
But all that constant work of playing pretend foreign princess and lovers to adventurers, merchants, and nobles finally reached a lull with the arrival of spring and I got some peace and quiet for myself. To realize that months had already gone by surprised me to a degree, so focused I was with establishing myself here. So I wanted to take this time to take off all this burdensome, yet gloriously fancy hair decorations and kimono, to unwind, and reflect on what has happened and where to proceed.
But luck had other ideas when a soft knock echoed from my door, I could only slump in a resigned acceptance that my peace and quiet was cut short. Was no rest allowed for the weary?
"Enter." I called out.
In walked a young, child maid, one of the many orphans that worked here as one of the helping hands. This one had been assigned as my personal maid after I first found her one morning hiding from the winter cold by snuggling with my fox tails, so I rather gleefully dressed her up in a maid uniform with a Japanese aesthetic that echoes the wa lolita style in order to blend in with my own Japanese kimono that looked quite cute. Managing the large amount of business I had coming became a lot easier with her help that allowed me to save up a nice reserve of funds and purchase further education for my new personal maid as a result.
"My lady, this package just came in for you," the Young Maid, who went by the name of Priscilla, said with a respectful bow, a Japanese mannerisms I taught her that she picked up passionately, offering me a wooden box held in her hands.
"Ah, thank you Priscilla. This must be the kanzashi I ordered, set them down here. I want to make sure they came out right," I replied back with a smile. The girl was quite adorable and growing up well despite the circumstances of it happening inside a brothel. “Did you remember the receipt?”
"Yes, I remembered Lady Yuzuriha,” she responds dutifully. I didn’t quite get why she treats me with such devotion I muse as she hands me the wooden box and receipt.
“What’s a kanzashi?" She asks, breaking me out of my thoughts.
"They're the hair decorations I wear. I needed some more for better variety in how I decorate my hair. I can’t always go about using an illusion," I explained as I set the box down onto the table to examine the glittering jewelry of gold and silver along that of silk flowers and set the receipt aside, something I actually had to make use of now I didn’t have an electronic bank account to track my financial transactions. I had a magic hat to disguise my appearance, which saved me a large amount of money by recoloring the same exorbitantly priced silk kimono over and over again. It didn’t work for creating physical objects, hence my rather spendy commission from a dwarven jeweler who truly lived up to the dwarven reputation for craft. I didn’t know how they compared to my home on Earth, but my opinion as ‘Yuzuriha’ was definitely pleased with their high quality.
"Since then they realize its fake when they pass their hand through it?" She inquisitively guessed, as she eyed over my various kanzashi before shifting her attention to my tails that gently swayed on the ground behind me.
"Quite right," I answered with a pleased smile, petting her hair. With a moment of thought, I picked out a pink flower hairpin and slid it into her hair, positioning the flower next to her temple. "You can keep that, it suits you. Consider it a present from me for all your hard work. And take the next few days off, I won't be taking as many clients for the next few days."
I waved her off to dismiss her for the day, turning my attention back to examine the rest of my ordered kanzashi. I sipped some water I had enchanted to taste like tea as I went over my kanzashi, idly musing maybe I should switch to some simpler hairstyles as they would be a lot easier to set up, when a soft voice startled me from my thoughts.
"Umm… can I stay with you instead?" the Young Maid Priscilla bashfully asked while sneaking glances behind me, hands nervously twitching. "You haven't taken a bath yet right? At least, let me help get undressed for the day. And why not have me comb your hair while I’m here? And your tails! All three of them!" Now she was looking rather excited as she mentions that last part.
I frowned slightly as a hot bath isn’t as convenient as in modern times, even with magic, so I had often taken to just cleaning myself and clothes with a simple Prestidigitation cantrip spell and she should know that, though having her usual help in taking off the excess clothing and jewelry along with a hot relaxing bath was tempting. Though the answer came rather easily when I looked towards what she is glancing at alongside her words; I remembered she does have a fondness for my fluffy tails and much preferred working for me than getting roped into helping with the cabaret’s servants.
"Ah, I see what this is about,” I grinned at her as I casually leaned onto the table,”You want to cuddle with my tails don’t you? Alright, you can stay and tend to my tails,” My tails didn’t actually need to be combed thankfully, which would have taken forever if they did, as Prestidigitation also worked wonders for my tails.
“Thank you m-my lady,” Priscilla stutters out, a joyful smile on her face as I handed her an ornate comb and she starts attentively removing the excess kanzashi from my hair and outer kimono layers before moving her goal of combing one of my tails in a happy cuddle. Touching the fluffy tail was definitely popular with customers as well and I earned myself a lot of easy money with them.
I quietly went back to examining my hair decorations after giving an affectionate glance towards my maid as she happily combed the soft, fluffy fur of my tails and set down some flavored water next to her. A peaceful calm passed between us as the only sounds came from the twinkling of the kanzashi I was handling while my thoughts drifted over to the handful of young children within the brothel house I lived and worked in.
The children that lived within the brothel didn’t serve customers thankfully, the madam wouldn’t allow it. Violently if need be. Most of them were orphans that the Church of the Earth Mother couldn’t take in, the occasional extra child that a poor family couldn’t afford to feed, with the rest being the children of the working women here. It felt regretful to me that they couldn’t grow up in a better environment, as while they did get some basic education from other adult women working here or the occasional visiting cleric of the Earth Mother who ensured the health and well being of the prostitutes and servants, it still meant they were exposed to a very adult world that will influence some of them to carry on the work that happens here. Which still left the awkward fact that in this pre-modern society, as I felt even the youngest adults should be in school. But any form of public education didn’t exist even though the churches would really like to change that. And the children here would have to make a sudden choice of leaving or staying at becoming an adult. At least they got a chance to learn basic math along with some reading and writing which can’t be said for some rural communities.
And then another, stronger knock on my door interrupted my reflections, to my annoyance once more. Was I not allowed to some peace and quiet to reflect on my circumstances and what I’ve done so far?
“Enter,” I called out as the door opened up and an elderly lady walked into my room. The sight of Madam of the cabaret filled me with a sense of embarrassing regret in the back of my mind as I reminded of having to charm her, not that I dare show that as I channeled the persona of ‘Oiran Yuzuriha’ with her arrival for she still not someone I could let my guard down with.
“Oiran. I have some letters for you, but before I give them to you, I wished to know what happened with the merchant you met with the previous day. He was one of our highest paying customers who now seems utterly terrified of you and convinced that you’re a demon,” the Madam asked, her expression stern and hands clasped behind her back. Her prying gaze was making the Young Maid Priscilla nervous, but I paid it no mind as my persona as ‘Oiran Yuzuriha' wasn't easily intimidated.
“He mistakenly thought he could simply buy sex from me with money, I corrected his error. He grew stubborn and then I got annoyed. So sternly corrected him and then ran out with his tail between his legs,” I replied back condescendingly, as if the matter was beneath me as I sipped some more water, while my Young Maid paused in her grooming of my tails to worriedly look back and forth between us.
“I need details of what happened as that man is quite influential within the city and insisting that the church shut down this place. You showed me to be a very promising woman and now I find myself under threat by someone who should have been easy money for you,” the Madam insisted.
“Very well,” I conceded as I reached my hand fan to hide my own amusement as I remembered what happened, “The man was more interested in just having a sexual conquest of one of the refined ladies here, so I had stringed him along while working to set him up with another lady that satisfy all parties long term. Turns out he wasn’t interested in any other women as he wanted to bend me over and slam into me until I begged for mercy which he felt he was due after all the money he spent. I had some very stern words to that, one can’t expect me to know that he happens to be a coward.”
“What exactly did you say to him?”
“Dear sir, I am not a personal sex toy to be rented for your personal pleasure. If you simply wish to achieve divine ecstatic pleasure with a partner there are other women that would consent to your wishes. Though I do recommend learning some proper manners and respect for others. Otherwise, I fear one of those poor women might confuse you for a dog or a goblin and call for an adventurer to put you down,” I gave a perfect re-enactment of what I told that merchant, with a face hidden my fan with only a scolding glare of my eyes visible. And a terrifying hannya face right behind me.
Young Maid couldn’t see the mask from where she sat, but had worked with me long enough to recognize when I was upset so was fearfully worried about me and the Madam clashing. Who was instead smirked, unfazed by my magical illusion, before let out an amused chuckle.
“If that is what happened, then you did quite well and made it so I can profit from him slandering us,” the Madam schemed. It was moments like this that she came off more like a greedy evil villain than a devout follower of the Earth Mother.
“I thought we weren’t supposed to go against customers like that. Isn’t sex what we’re supposed to be offering,” she asked. There was something wrong in my mind to hear a child say that so plainly, so matter of factly.
“We sell entertainment girl, not just sex. If a customer just wants a night of pleasure with a woman, there are the street prostitutes for them, it is within Oiran Yuzuriha and the other courtesans' discretion on if they wish to offer their bodies,” the elder woman sternly explained.
“Think of this way my dear,” I cut in gently as I grabbed one of my hand fans to use as a foci to magically create a flower prop; a beautiful flower with a smooth, green stem, “As the Madam says, we courtesans who directly serves the customers are like this flower. Beautiful and pleasant to relax our customers from their worldly worries and weary duties. But some customers aren’t here to relax by finding peace and harmony, but to find an easy target to dominate.”
And to demonstrate that point, the pretty flower I held delicately was crushed, its beauty ruined as it was smothered within a clenched fists before its petals suddenly engulfed within my mouth like a wolf that bit into its prey. I waited a moment to let this image set in within the young girl, who grew fearful as she imagined such a scenario, as I then replaced the magical flower with a red, sensual rose with thorns covering its stem.
“So we need to have thorns to protect ourselves, however too many thorns can ward off clients and we will starve. But too few means that we can still be walked over by the powerful and they may still be made useless by a patiently clever fellow who knows how to break them off,” I explained as gently placed my thumb on one of the thorns and then suddenly broke it off with a soft crack. And then broke off another. And another. Until there were no more thorns. Leaving a harmless red rose for the girl before to contemplate before I then replaced it with another rose, a pink one covered in a white, silk ribbon.
“So the most skilled of us hide our thorns, presenting ourselves as harmless until they touch where they do not wish them to touch. And removing our thorns becomes far more difficult with them being hidden and binded to us,” I then demonstrate by softly gliding my fingertips across the smooth silk ribbon, slowly revealing various thorns as they poke out of the ribbon and when I then suddenly snap the thorns like before, the ribbon holds them close still to the pink rose stem.
“What an imaginative way of explaining it. Regardless, it should be a simple matter to ask the Earth Mother temple to have an Inspector Cleric from the Supreme God verify your words and then force that man pay for slandering us,” Madam nodded in approval, “I had worried that with your skinny arms you would be defenseless to men who has no respect for women. Happy that I am that you are not, if only you would loosen your standards on sleeping with the clientele. So much more money could be made for both of us,” She let off with a sigh of disappointment.
“As I told that man, money alone won’t be enough to invite a man into my bed. I’m already making enough for my needs,” I replied, I just wanted to live comfortably, not seek money for its own stake. Though, I admit that earning more money now to retire from this place sooner has crossed my mind. Alternatively, maybe I could hire another orphan or two as a personal maid?
“I know I’ve always told my girls not to sell their bodies lightly as it is sacred under the Earth Mother and the more money we make the better, but I didn’t think I would meet someone with your position on it. Do you intend to remain a pristine and untouched little flower until marriage?” the Madam grumpily complained.
“That is part of my appeal. But yes, presuming I find someone I feel I can make it work with. I might bend a little if it someone who holds mutual respect and affection, but would likely end up with marriage anyway in this business,” I explained, though I didn't mention that I was still trying to fully accept the idea of becoming a wife and a mother if I wanted to have children of my own.
“And what if you start starving?” Madam suddenly and pointedly asks me.
“Then I’m not just getting money out of it,” I pointed out, “Though, my situation would have to become quite dire to reach that point with the skills I’ve been blessed with. And I'm likely to learn how to modify memories by that point.”
"When you say things like that, I have to wonder why you came here. You arrived here in expensive clothing of a foreign aristocrat while possessing exceptional magical and musical talents. Most girls only come here as a last resort to pay off their debts if they’re coming of their own will," the Madam exasperated, holding her shaking head in disbelief before dropping the matter, "anyway, here are some letters and some gifts for you. Your reputation among nobility is starting to rise in rank now you received a letter from a Marquess. Highest we previously ever had was an Earl.”
Being the helpful little maid that she is, my Young Maid set her comb down as she ran over to pick up the letters and hand them to me.
“Thank you my dear,” I replied gratefully as I set down the letters and gift down on the table. A fancy letter was right there on top, sealed with a red wax stamped with a house crest of a Marquess, “Because entertaining people as a paid lover is what I grew up learning to do. Seemed like the natural choice for me when I found myself outside your door.” I left out that my panicked state of mind is what made me assume that it was safest choice for me.
“You grew up in a brothel too my lady?” Priscilla asked me in surprised wonder.
“Yes, I was apprenticed to an oiran who taught me much on how to please others who desire close companionship and entertainment,” I answered simply with a technical truth as I sorted the letters and gifts, that being the vague background I gave for ‘Yuzuriha’ as oiran.
“It would certainly be nice if you taught someone like our little Young Maid here as your replacement before you finally leave with a rich husband you’ve seduced. I would even be willing to reduce the terms of your contract if you do so,” Madam replied with a smile that had a hint of greed.
“I am not ready to take on an apprentice to be my kamuro,” I stated, hiding my discomfort as I eyed the Young Maid’s disappointed expression as I opened up the letter which revealed a noble wanting me to meet with his son, apparently it was help him become a man before his arranged marriage. My thoughts return quickly to matter of Priscilla who I’ve already been teaching her the fashion and the arts to assist me in my work, but formally adopting her my apprentice would meant she was officially training to meet men like I did. Not to mention that it would be quite expensive to dress her up in fine silks as well though I might be able to get Madam to invest some of her own funds into it.
“You’re still establishing yourself here so there will be time for you to get ready. I’m sure it will be a while before you can seduce a Duke into marrying you,” the Madam confidently stated, “I have other matters to take care of so I’ll leave you now.”
“Am I not good enough to be your apprentice?” the Young Maid Priscilla quietly asked as soon as she closed the door behind as the Madam left the room.
“It is not a question of your potential, but a question of is your heart and mind set on this? To entertain men to the point of possibly sleeping with them? Your heart may desire to follow in my footsteps, but have you mentally considered fully both the consequences of what I do and the alternatives? Do not forget that most other flower women do not have it as good as I do, which I owe as much to luck and divine grace as to it is coming from my own skill," I sharply rebuked. A young girl shouldn't be dreaming to be a courtesan, at least not out of childish ignorance.
"Yes, I have! I want to be like you! I want to follow after you just like how you followed your own teacher!" She passionately countered, the decorative comb I had given earlier was held in her hands as if it was something grander than it really was as she cried out her feelings to me.
What. I looked at her in shocked disbelief as she emotionally tells just how much she wishes to emulate me. Shit. I’ve become a female role model. For young girls. Fuck. I have to reconsider my actions even more urgently if things have become like that.
“Just when did you start wishing that you wanted to be like me?” I finally deadpanned, overwhelmed with emotions to the point of feeling numb, after a moment to recollect myself.
“I don’t know,” the Young Maid replied, looking lost on how to answer my question, ”You hired me to be your personal maid, you’ve treated me well as you taught me music and helped me with lessons, and the way you so confidently handle men yet managed to avoid having to give yourself up to any of them like some of the other flower women lament having to do, you are even able to stand up to the Granny! You’re someone I really admire so, please make me your apprentice!” She rambles before finally bowing her head down to floor in the clumsy dogeza position, something I had taught to be done when utmost respect was called for.
This had put me into a pretty awkward position. I liked the girl and was already helping with her education, but something just feels wrong with officially teaching a minor, a minor even by the local standards, how to seduce men even though she wouldn’t be allowed to have sex with customers if I was to treat her as a traditional kamuro. It also highlighted the fact that while I’ve been focusing on establishing a comfortable life for myself, at least one girl here was taking my behaviors as an example to emulate.
“So you wish to learn how to seduce men from me? You could easily leave here and become a bard or anything else you wish to be once you’re fifteen instead of staying here,” I pointed out.
“But if I learn how to be an oiran like you, I can live luxuriously just like you and also be able to seduce a rich man to be a husband for myself just like you,” she confidently stated.
Dammit, did I really come off like that? Maybe it was the Madam making me out to be a gold digger, but it wasn’t too far from the truth. I felt it was the least bad in a set of bad choices when I had mistakenly assumed I was a woman with limited rights and career options, but this girl has the luxury of choice. And with the benefit of hindsight, trying to find a husband in a brothel could easily backfire on me such that I really needed to reassess my own plans now I know I have a choice. Also, I had to be honest with myself in that, I was being selfish on some level in wanting to maintain some semblance of modern living standards I was used to. Especially when I’m now a role model for young girls.
“I think you’re assuming things will work for you a bit too easily. It could still backfire on me depending on what the future holds. Remember that many of the flower women work here because they felt they didn’t have any other choice, myself included,” I replied back as I thought back on what I wanted to say next. I didn’t just want to tell her no and then she decides to try to emulate anyway once she is considered an adult at the too young of an age of fifteen.
“But if I learn to do it like you, I’m sure it will work for me as it did for you,” the Young Maid Priscilla assuredly countered.
“Maybe. But I have the benefit of being the only person like me. Other girls out there may also try to emulate me which will make things harder for you and you’re already seeing this with the other flower women right now if you pay attention to their fashion and behaviors. If you truly want to work here, then I’ll support you to the best of my ability. But I won’t accept that you truly want this until you have actually considered other paths in life for you,” I told her, if I at least get her to seriously consider other options for her future then I can honestly say I did my best in guiding her well. And if she does decide to become a courtesan like myself, then I will have to educate her as best I can such she doesn’t get taken advantage of and doesn’t become a selfish person.
“What else could I be? I don’t want to be some farmer’s wife,” She despondently said back to me as she lowered her face.
“Don’t you remember what I said? You could become a bard with what I’ve been teaching you. You can travel around playing music and dance for people, maybe give more private performances. Considering the magic I could teach you, you could even consider becoming an adventurer,” I pointed out, it's basically would of been like being a traveling music idol that could kick ass when I thought about it, before mindlessly adding, “It is what I would of done instead of contracting myself here if I had realized it was an option. And to burrow the words of a friend, ‘you don’t marry professions, you marry people’. It isn’t like your future spouse has to be the breadwinner and some of those farmers are actually pretty well off, so I wouldn’t discount them.”
Or at least, it was perhaps the most probable course of action on my part. Now I think about it, adventuring might be a good way to see if anyone else got sent to this world like I did. Would I meet a Paladin by the Keth somewhere out there? An androgynous Noble Hunter who flirted with everyone? Amonk rogue who could hide in shadows?
“That does sound kinda appealing I guess,” She puts out as she thought it over. It was mostly high ranked adventurers that came to the brothel so she should have a better impression of them beyond just being ruffians as Guild didn't let those of poor character achieve high ranks. “I would still be able to become your apprentice if I choose that? Since I still might give private performances and I still would want to start learning early if I decide to work here right?”
Dammit. And I thought I got out of a child watching me play pretend lover as part of her education.
~~~~~
Author's note: A copy of my Spacebattles fic. I thought I spread it around to see what other interest and feedback I could get.
So a plot bunny(Inspired by a What If thread) that that I've successfully been able to write after a number of iterations and I would like to express my gratitude to both friends and the Amicus/Staff for helping make this possible. I'm pretty happy that I managed to get this out and this wouldn't have happened without others both acting as a soundboard for me and reviewing my writing to help me edit this for the better. And considering the sensitive subject matter, having the Amicus give it another look was also nice to have.
Based on some of that feedback, I did decide to take a bit of a compromise on the naming styles for Goblin Slayer. While it seems fairly standard for Japanese culture and/or TRPGs(JRPGs is likely another influence) along Goblin Slayer potentially having some narrative reasons(in a more heroic fantasy story, Goblin Slayer characters are a footnote at best), having just role titles for names can be offputting for people that isn't into anime in general so I elected to try going with a role title & name for characters I felt suited it. We'll see how it works out. It was admittedly a bit of a last second change so I might of missed a spot or two.
Hopefully I'll have chapter 2 a bit quicker(though still likely be a couple of months). But that may be held up during storyboarding, as I balance more long term considerations. I haven't yet committed to writing this as long term project, so chapter 2 may be all that this story consists of in the end. Will depend on a mix of what kind of response I get and how I feel writing further into this story. As a novice writer, I feel more confidant(and thus motivated to write) if I try to keep my ambitions small.
Sadly, I wasn’t that lucky when I suddenly found myself in what looked like a medieval town in the middle of winter, in a woman’s body with fox ears and tails (three of them!), and in front of a fancy cabaret where the Madam was about to speak to me. I was pretty bewildered and terrified in suddenly having my life turned upside down and panicking over being homeless in the middle of winter. I didn’t want to freeze to death while also starving to death out in the snow! I didn’t really have time to fully process what happened, long term survival and the preservation of what modern comforts I took for granted had quickly diminished any other concerns about suddenly being in a new world with a new body and suddenly remembering how to do things you only imagined before.
So I quickly found myself in talks of employment with an old lady inside an extravagant and risque cabaret that was obviously also a brothel if you paid attention; when you only have a conceptual notion of what new skills and abilities you now have that you’re also trying to sell, limited idea on the value of what little money you had, and assumptions that independent women were generally pretty limited on employment options. And then knowing you would have to try to adjust from the modern first world living standards to medieval times where plumbing was iffy at best. I don’t think I was ever more nervous or terrified in my life and it isn’t like I had a sheltered life, having gone through military basic training for one. Yet I’m told by the other ladies here that even some noble ladies weren’t as composed and elegant as I was, even when I had to perform a song and dance to show my talents. Which made me wonder if I didn’t really need to use my magical abilities as well.
So I think it was a bit understandable when I went along with trying to become a courtesan to such a risque cabaret to escape the cold winter. And I figured if I could bear with it for a while, I could save enough money to support a comfortable lifestyle and maybe find a tolerable husband. And if I could create a loving, happy family on top of that; that would be even better and I’m fine with being the wife and mother if that is what it took to have a family of my own.
Thankfully, betting everything on the new skills and abilities I gained had worked out, I knew they were based off a bard character I had roleplayed from a tabletop RPG. A fox woman by the name of ‘Yuzuriha’, she was inspired by the Japanese Oiran so her skill set perfectly matched the occupation I had applied for. At least on paper anyway, since I still had to build my own confidence with them by actually using them. Such was my nervousness that I had even ended up placing a magical charm on the Madam and a few others despite the moral reservations I had felt in doing so. That act still lingers with me in a sense of regret as I wonder if it would have been better to just gamble without doing so.
It was a few days after the ink was dry that I realized I jumped the gun when I learned I was in the world of Goblin Slayer, a manga inspired by tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons where adventurers were a common sight within the world. It would have been a viable alternative as a full time job if I hadn’t already signed a contract, though that would mean a lot less pay with the risks of death or worse. Or having to become a prostitute anyway from the low pay and the burden of debt. Regardless, it meant I was actually in a pretty egalitarian world and there were viable job opportunities for a new “woman” like me that didn’t involve working in a very fancy brothel.
Not that I had time to really investigate that possibly in depth since I impressed the old Madam of the cabaret with my skill and exotic “Asian princess” presentation, the latter aspect which was attracting a lot of samurai and nobles. The magical charm I had regretfully placed on her in our first meeting, to ensure the best terms for myself, likely played a large part in that. Either way, my musical and magical talents were impressive enough that customers, even wealthy merchants and nobles that visited this frontier town, were soon coming in droves to see me act on stage or paid more to have a private session with me; which resulted in the Madam pushing me to work even more to milk those rich customers all the more, even helping arrange private meetings with some of the local rich elite.
Thankfully, I managed to preserve my virginity at cost of not quite managing to be the highest paid courtesan, which would have been extra awkward to lose it as a woman instead as a man. I’m pretty sure I might have gotten a bad case of gender dysphoria if I had to do it so early on. I did however have to put up with being fondled and making out with men, much due to my relative inexperience in employing and trusting ‘ Oiran Yuzuriha’ skills and instincts. It actually just felt odd or simply business instead of dysphoric though, depending on if I think about it from my former male self or my ‘Oiran Yuzuriha’ perspective.
But all that constant work of playing pretend foreign princess and lovers to adventurers, merchants, and nobles finally reached a lull with the arrival of spring and I got some peace and quiet for myself. To realize that months had already gone by surprised me to a degree, so focused I was with establishing myself here. So I wanted to take this time to take off all this burdensome, yet gloriously fancy hair decorations and kimono, to unwind, and reflect on what has happened and where to proceed.
But luck had other ideas when a soft knock echoed from my door, I could only slump in a resigned acceptance that my peace and quiet was cut short. Was no rest allowed for the weary?
"Enter." I called out.
In walked a young, child maid, one of the many orphans that worked here as one of the helping hands. This one had been assigned as my personal maid after I first found her one morning hiding from the winter cold by snuggling with my fox tails, so I rather gleefully dressed her up in a maid uniform with a Japanese aesthetic that echoes the wa lolita style in order to blend in with my own Japanese kimono that looked quite cute. Managing the large amount of business I had coming became a lot easier with her help that allowed me to save up a nice reserve of funds and purchase further education for my new personal maid as a result.
"My lady, this package just came in for you," the Young Maid, who went by the name of Priscilla, said with a respectful bow, a Japanese mannerisms I taught her that she picked up passionately, offering me a wooden box held in her hands.
"Ah, thank you Priscilla. This must be the kanzashi I ordered, set them down here. I want to make sure they came out right," I replied back with a smile. The girl was quite adorable and growing up well despite the circumstances of it happening inside a brothel. “Did you remember the receipt?”
"Yes, I remembered Lady Yuzuriha,” she responds dutifully. I didn’t quite get why she treats me with such devotion I muse as she hands me the wooden box and receipt.
“What’s a kanzashi?" She asks, breaking me out of my thoughts.
"They're the hair decorations I wear. I needed some more for better variety in how I decorate my hair. I can’t always go about using an illusion," I explained as I set the box down onto the table to examine the glittering jewelry of gold and silver along that of silk flowers and set the receipt aside, something I actually had to make use of now I didn’t have an electronic bank account to track my financial transactions. I had a magic hat to disguise my appearance, which saved me a large amount of money by recoloring the same exorbitantly priced silk kimono over and over again. It didn’t work for creating physical objects, hence my rather spendy commission from a dwarven jeweler who truly lived up to the dwarven reputation for craft. I didn’t know how they compared to my home on Earth, but my opinion as ‘Yuzuriha’ was definitely pleased with their high quality.
"Since then they realize its fake when they pass their hand through it?" She inquisitively guessed, as she eyed over my various kanzashi before shifting her attention to my tails that gently swayed on the ground behind me.
"Quite right," I answered with a pleased smile, petting her hair. With a moment of thought, I picked out a pink flower hairpin and slid it into her hair, positioning the flower next to her temple. "You can keep that, it suits you. Consider it a present from me for all your hard work. And take the next few days off, I won't be taking as many clients for the next few days."
I waved her off to dismiss her for the day, turning my attention back to examine the rest of my ordered kanzashi. I sipped some water I had enchanted to taste like tea as I went over my kanzashi, idly musing maybe I should switch to some simpler hairstyles as they would be a lot easier to set up, when a soft voice startled me from my thoughts.
"Umm… can I stay with you instead?" the Young Maid Priscilla bashfully asked while sneaking glances behind me, hands nervously twitching. "You haven't taken a bath yet right? At least, let me help get undressed for the day. And why not have me comb your hair while I’m here? And your tails! All three of them!" Now she was looking rather excited as she mentions that last part.
I frowned slightly as a hot bath isn’t as convenient as in modern times, even with magic, so I had often taken to just cleaning myself and clothes with a simple Prestidigitation cantrip spell and she should know that, though having her usual help in taking off the excess clothing and jewelry along with a hot relaxing bath was tempting. Though the answer came rather easily when I looked towards what she is glancing at alongside her words; I remembered she does have a fondness for my fluffy tails and much preferred working for me than getting roped into helping with the cabaret’s servants.
"Ah, I see what this is about,” I grinned at her as I casually leaned onto the table,”You want to cuddle with my tails don’t you? Alright, you can stay and tend to my tails,” My tails didn’t actually need to be combed thankfully, which would have taken forever if they did, as Prestidigitation also worked wonders for my tails.
“Thank you m-my lady,” Priscilla stutters out, a joyful smile on her face as I handed her an ornate comb and she starts attentively removing the excess kanzashi from my hair and outer kimono layers before moving her goal of combing one of my tails in a happy cuddle. Touching the fluffy tail was definitely popular with customers as well and I earned myself a lot of easy money with them.
I quietly went back to examining my hair decorations after giving an affectionate glance towards my maid as she happily combed the soft, fluffy fur of my tails and set down some flavored water next to her. A peaceful calm passed between us as the only sounds came from the twinkling of the kanzashi I was handling while my thoughts drifted over to the handful of young children within the brothel house I lived and worked in.
The children that lived within the brothel didn’t serve customers thankfully, the madam wouldn’t allow it. Violently if need be. Most of them were orphans that the Church of the Earth Mother couldn’t take in, the occasional extra child that a poor family couldn’t afford to feed, with the rest being the children of the working women here. It felt regretful to me that they couldn’t grow up in a better environment, as while they did get some basic education from other adult women working here or the occasional visiting cleric of the Earth Mother who ensured the health and well being of the prostitutes and servants, it still meant they were exposed to a very adult world that will influence some of them to carry on the work that happens here. Which still left the awkward fact that in this pre-modern society, as I felt even the youngest adults should be in school. But any form of public education didn’t exist even though the churches would really like to change that. And the children here would have to make a sudden choice of leaving or staying at becoming an adult. At least they got a chance to learn basic math along with some reading and writing which can’t be said for some rural communities.
And then another, stronger knock on my door interrupted my reflections, to my annoyance once more. Was I not allowed to some peace and quiet to reflect on my circumstances and what I’ve done so far?
“Enter,” I called out as the door opened up and an elderly lady walked into my room. The sight of Madam of the cabaret filled me with a sense of embarrassing regret in the back of my mind as I reminded of having to charm her, not that I dare show that as I channeled the persona of ‘Oiran Yuzuriha’ with her arrival for she still not someone I could let my guard down with.
“Oiran. I have some letters for you, but before I give them to you, I wished to know what happened with the merchant you met with the previous day. He was one of our highest paying customers who now seems utterly terrified of you and convinced that you’re a demon,” the Madam asked, her expression stern and hands clasped behind her back. Her prying gaze was making the Young Maid Priscilla nervous, but I paid it no mind as my persona as ‘Oiran Yuzuriha' wasn't easily intimidated.
“He mistakenly thought he could simply buy sex from me with money, I corrected his error. He grew stubborn and then I got annoyed. So sternly corrected him and then ran out with his tail between his legs,” I replied back condescendingly, as if the matter was beneath me as I sipped some more water, while my Young Maid paused in her grooming of my tails to worriedly look back and forth between us.
“I need details of what happened as that man is quite influential within the city and insisting that the church shut down this place. You showed me to be a very promising woman and now I find myself under threat by someone who should have been easy money for you,” the Madam insisted.
“Very well,” I conceded as I reached my hand fan to hide my own amusement as I remembered what happened, “The man was more interested in just having a sexual conquest of one of the refined ladies here, so I had stringed him along while working to set him up with another lady that satisfy all parties long term. Turns out he wasn’t interested in any other women as he wanted to bend me over and slam into me until I begged for mercy which he felt he was due after all the money he spent. I had some very stern words to that, one can’t expect me to know that he happens to be a coward.”
“What exactly did you say to him?”
“Dear sir, I am not a personal sex toy to be rented for your personal pleasure. If you simply wish to achieve divine ecstatic pleasure with a partner there are other women that would consent to your wishes. Though I do recommend learning some proper manners and respect for others. Otherwise, I fear one of those poor women might confuse you for a dog or a goblin and call for an adventurer to put you down,” I gave a perfect re-enactment of what I told that merchant, with a face hidden my fan with only a scolding glare of my eyes visible. And a terrifying hannya face right behind me.
Young Maid couldn’t see the mask from where she sat, but had worked with me long enough to recognize when I was upset so was fearfully worried about me and the Madam clashing. Who was instead smirked, unfazed by my magical illusion, before let out an amused chuckle.
“If that is what happened, then you did quite well and made it so I can profit from him slandering us,” the Madam schemed. It was moments like this that she came off more like a greedy evil villain than a devout follower of the Earth Mother.
“I thought we weren’t supposed to go against customers like that. Isn’t sex what we’re supposed to be offering,” she asked. There was something wrong in my mind to hear a child say that so plainly, so matter of factly.
“We sell entertainment girl, not just sex. If a customer just wants a night of pleasure with a woman, there are the street prostitutes for them, it is within Oiran Yuzuriha and the other courtesans' discretion on if they wish to offer their bodies,” the elder woman sternly explained.
“Think of this way my dear,” I cut in gently as I grabbed one of my hand fans to use as a foci to magically create a flower prop; a beautiful flower with a smooth, green stem, “As the Madam says, we courtesans who directly serves the customers are like this flower. Beautiful and pleasant to relax our customers from their worldly worries and weary duties. But some customers aren’t here to relax by finding peace and harmony, but to find an easy target to dominate.”
And to demonstrate that point, the pretty flower I held delicately was crushed, its beauty ruined as it was smothered within a clenched fists before its petals suddenly engulfed within my mouth like a wolf that bit into its prey. I waited a moment to let this image set in within the young girl, who grew fearful as she imagined such a scenario, as I then replaced the magical flower with a red, sensual rose with thorns covering its stem.
“So we need to have thorns to protect ourselves, however too many thorns can ward off clients and we will starve. But too few means that we can still be walked over by the powerful and they may still be made useless by a patiently clever fellow who knows how to break them off,” I explained as gently placed my thumb on one of the thorns and then suddenly broke it off with a soft crack. And then broke off another. And another. Until there were no more thorns. Leaving a harmless red rose for the girl before to contemplate before I then replaced it with another rose, a pink one covered in a white, silk ribbon.
“So the most skilled of us hide our thorns, presenting ourselves as harmless until they touch where they do not wish them to touch. And removing our thorns becomes far more difficult with them being hidden and binded to us,” I then demonstrate by softly gliding my fingertips across the smooth silk ribbon, slowly revealing various thorns as they poke out of the ribbon and when I then suddenly snap the thorns like before, the ribbon holds them close still to the pink rose stem.
“What an imaginative way of explaining it. Regardless, it should be a simple matter to ask the Earth Mother temple to have an Inspector Cleric from the Supreme God verify your words and then force that man pay for slandering us,” Madam nodded in approval, “I had worried that with your skinny arms you would be defenseless to men who has no respect for women. Happy that I am that you are not, if only you would loosen your standards on sleeping with the clientele. So much more money could be made for both of us,” She let off with a sigh of disappointment.
“As I told that man, money alone won’t be enough to invite a man into my bed. I’m already making enough for my needs,” I replied, I just wanted to live comfortably, not seek money for its own stake. Though, I admit that earning more money now to retire from this place sooner has crossed my mind. Alternatively, maybe I could hire another orphan or two as a personal maid?
“I know I’ve always told my girls not to sell their bodies lightly as it is sacred under the Earth Mother and the more money we make the better, but I didn’t think I would meet someone with your position on it. Do you intend to remain a pristine and untouched little flower until marriage?” the Madam grumpily complained.
“That is part of my appeal. But yes, presuming I find someone I feel I can make it work with. I might bend a little if it someone who holds mutual respect and affection, but would likely end up with marriage anyway in this business,” I explained, though I didn't mention that I was still trying to fully accept the idea of becoming a wife and a mother if I wanted to have children of my own.
“And what if you start starving?” Madam suddenly and pointedly asks me.
“Then I’m not just getting money out of it,” I pointed out, “Though, my situation would have to become quite dire to reach that point with the skills I’ve been blessed with. And I'm likely to learn how to modify memories by that point.”
"When you say things like that, I have to wonder why you came here. You arrived here in expensive clothing of a foreign aristocrat while possessing exceptional magical and musical talents. Most girls only come here as a last resort to pay off their debts if they’re coming of their own will," the Madam exasperated, holding her shaking head in disbelief before dropping the matter, "anyway, here are some letters and some gifts for you. Your reputation among nobility is starting to rise in rank now you received a letter from a Marquess. Highest we previously ever had was an Earl.”
Being the helpful little maid that she is, my Young Maid set her comb down as she ran over to pick up the letters and hand them to me.
“Thank you my dear,” I replied gratefully as I set down the letters and gift down on the table. A fancy letter was right there on top, sealed with a red wax stamped with a house crest of a Marquess, “Because entertaining people as a paid lover is what I grew up learning to do. Seemed like the natural choice for me when I found myself outside your door.” I left out that my panicked state of mind is what made me assume that it was safest choice for me.
“You grew up in a brothel too my lady?” Priscilla asked me in surprised wonder.
“Yes, I was apprenticed to an oiran who taught me much on how to please others who desire close companionship and entertainment,” I answered simply with a technical truth as I sorted the letters and gifts, that being the vague background I gave for ‘Yuzuriha’ as oiran.
“It would certainly be nice if you taught someone like our little Young Maid here as your replacement before you finally leave with a rich husband you’ve seduced. I would even be willing to reduce the terms of your contract if you do so,” Madam replied with a smile that had a hint of greed.
“I am not ready to take on an apprentice to be my kamuro,” I stated, hiding my discomfort as I eyed the Young Maid’s disappointed expression as I opened up the letter which revealed a noble wanting me to meet with his son, apparently it was help him become a man before his arranged marriage. My thoughts return quickly to matter of Priscilla who I’ve already been teaching her the fashion and the arts to assist me in my work, but formally adopting her my apprentice would meant she was officially training to meet men like I did. Not to mention that it would be quite expensive to dress her up in fine silks as well though I might be able to get Madam to invest some of her own funds into it.
“You’re still establishing yourself here so there will be time for you to get ready. I’m sure it will be a while before you can seduce a Duke into marrying you,” the Madam confidently stated, “I have other matters to take care of so I’ll leave you now.”
“Am I not good enough to be your apprentice?” the Young Maid Priscilla quietly asked as soon as she closed the door behind as the Madam left the room.
“It is not a question of your potential, but a question of is your heart and mind set on this? To entertain men to the point of possibly sleeping with them? Your heart may desire to follow in my footsteps, but have you mentally considered fully both the consequences of what I do and the alternatives? Do not forget that most other flower women do not have it as good as I do, which I owe as much to luck and divine grace as to it is coming from my own skill," I sharply rebuked. A young girl shouldn't be dreaming to be a courtesan, at least not out of childish ignorance.
"Yes, I have! I want to be like you! I want to follow after you just like how you followed your own teacher!" She passionately countered, the decorative comb I had given earlier was held in her hands as if it was something grander than it really was as she cried out her feelings to me.
What. I looked at her in shocked disbelief as she emotionally tells just how much she wishes to emulate me. Shit. I’ve become a female role model. For young girls. Fuck. I have to reconsider my actions even more urgently if things have become like that.
“Just when did you start wishing that you wanted to be like me?” I finally deadpanned, overwhelmed with emotions to the point of feeling numb, after a moment to recollect myself.
“I don’t know,” the Young Maid replied, looking lost on how to answer my question, ”You hired me to be your personal maid, you’ve treated me well as you taught me music and helped me with lessons, and the way you so confidently handle men yet managed to avoid having to give yourself up to any of them like some of the other flower women lament having to do, you are even able to stand up to the Granny! You’re someone I really admire so, please make me your apprentice!” She rambles before finally bowing her head down to floor in the clumsy dogeza position, something I had taught to be done when utmost respect was called for.
This had put me into a pretty awkward position. I liked the girl and was already helping with her education, but something just feels wrong with officially teaching a minor, a minor even by the local standards, how to seduce men even though she wouldn’t be allowed to have sex with customers if I was to treat her as a traditional kamuro. It also highlighted the fact that while I’ve been focusing on establishing a comfortable life for myself, at least one girl here was taking my behaviors as an example to emulate.
“So you wish to learn how to seduce men from me? You could easily leave here and become a bard or anything else you wish to be once you’re fifteen instead of staying here,” I pointed out.
“But if I learn how to be an oiran like you, I can live luxuriously just like you and also be able to seduce a rich man to be a husband for myself just like you,” she confidently stated.
Dammit, did I really come off like that? Maybe it was the Madam making me out to be a gold digger, but it wasn’t too far from the truth. I felt it was the least bad in a set of bad choices when I had mistakenly assumed I was a woman with limited rights and career options, but this girl has the luxury of choice. And with the benefit of hindsight, trying to find a husband in a brothel could easily backfire on me such that I really needed to reassess my own plans now I know I have a choice. Also, I had to be honest with myself in that, I was being selfish on some level in wanting to maintain some semblance of modern living standards I was used to. Especially when I’m now a role model for young girls.
“I think you’re assuming things will work for you a bit too easily. It could still backfire on me depending on what the future holds. Remember that many of the flower women work here because they felt they didn’t have any other choice, myself included,” I replied back as I thought back on what I wanted to say next. I didn’t just want to tell her no and then she decides to try to emulate anyway once she is considered an adult at the too young of an age of fifteen.
“But if I learn to do it like you, I’m sure it will work for me as it did for you,” the Young Maid Priscilla assuredly countered.
“Maybe. But I have the benefit of being the only person like me. Other girls out there may also try to emulate me which will make things harder for you and you’re already seeing this with the other flower women right now if you pay attention to their fashion and behaviors. If you truly want to work here, then I’ll support you to the best of my ability. But I won’t accept that you truly want this until you have actually considered other paths in life for you,” I told her, if I at least get her to seriously consider other options for her future then I can honestly say I did my best in guiding her well. And if she does decide to become a courtesan like myself, then I will have to educate her as best I can such she doesn’t get taken advantage of and doesn’t become a selfish person.
“What else could I be? I don’t want to be some farmer’s wife,” She despondently said back to me as she lowered her face.
“Don’t you remember what I said? You could become a bard with what I’ve been teaching you. You can travel around playing music and dance for people, maybe give more private performances. Considering the magic I could teach you, you could even consider becoming an adventurer,” I pointed out, it's basically would of been like being a traveling music idol that could kick ass when I thought about it, before mindlessly adding, “It is what I would of done instead of contracting myself here if I had realized it was an option. And to burrow the words of a friend, ‘you don’t marry professions, you marry people’. It isn’t like your future spouse has to be the breadwinner and some of those farmers are actually pretty well off, so I wouldn’t discount them.”
Or at least, it was perhaps the most probable course of action on my part. Now I think about it, adventuring might be a good way to see if anyone else got sent to this world like I did. Would I meet a Paladin by the Keth somewhere out there? An androgynous Noble Hunter who flirted with everyone? A
“That does sound kinda appealing I guess,” She puts out as she thought it over. It was mostly high ranked adventurers that came to the brothel so she should have a better impression of them beyond just being ruffians as Guild didn't let those of poor character achieve high ranks. “I would still be able to become your apprentice if I choose that? Since I still might give private performances and I still would want to start learning early if I decide to work here right?”
Dammit. And I thought I got out of a child watching me play pretend lover as part of her education.
~~~~~
Author's note: A copy of my Spacebattles fic. I thought I spread it around to see what other interest and feedback I could get.
So a plot bunny(Inspired by a What If thread) that that I've successfully been able to write after a number of iterations and I would like to express my gratitude to both friends and the Amicus/Staff for helping make this possible. I'm pretty happy that I managed to get this out and this wouldn't have happened without others both acting as a soundboard for me and reviewing my writing to help me edit this for the better. And considering the sensitive subject matter, having the Amicus give it another look was also nice to have.
Based on some of that feedback, I did decide to take a bit of a compromise on the naming styles for Goblin Slayer. While it seems fairly standard for Japanese culture and/or TRPGs(JRPGs is likely another influence) along Goblin Slayer potentially having some narrative reasons(in a more heroic fantasy story, Goblin Slayer characters are a footnote at best), having just role titles for names can be offputting for people that isn't into anime in general so I elected to try going with a role title & name for characters I felt suited it. We'll see how it works out. It was admittedly a bit of a last second change so I might of missed a spot or two.
Hopefully I'll have chapter 2 a bit quicker(though still likely be a couple of months). But that may be held up during storyboarding, as I balance more long term considerations. I haven't yet committed to writing this as long term project, so chapter 2 may be all that this story consists of in the end. Will depend on a mix of what kind of response I get and how I feel writing further into this story. As a novice writer, I feel more confidant(and thus motivated to write) if I try to keep my ambitions small.
