The Birth of the Stocking Armor

The dream world has a certain comfort to it, offering access to the advanced facilities of modern civilization that are so lacking in our current reality. It had been a long time since I’d felt that, and Shaitan—or rather, Saidan—was enjoying it to the fullest in this dream.

"Saidan, do you like things like this too?"

"Hehe, aren't you enjoying it, Master?"

Saidan, no, Shaitan, was facing me in the same bathtub, using her feet to stroke my cock beneath the water. It felt good, certainly, but having her constantly remind me of the modern world made reality feel all the more inconvenient.

"Playing in the bathtub... I’m sure you find it quite pleasurable, Master."

"We can only do this in dreams, not in reality."

"Then we should simply build such a facility. We could create a steel box, fill it with water, and have the Flare Panteras breathe fire underneath it."

"...Isn't that just an orc-pot?"

"I suppose so. Then you would be boiled meat."

"You little..."

As I grabbed Shaitan’s feet, she twisted her body with a troubled expression. It looked so much like she was acting cute that I punished her by pulling her body toward me along with her feet. "Do you think I’m the only one being boiled? You’re going into the broth with the lavender herbs, too."

I thrust into Shaitan without further ado. Entering her in the warm water felt fresh and new. I don’t know if it would be the same in reality, but for now, it felt like I was in a hot spring.

"This is nice. I should build a facility like this in Avalon, too. It’s going well, right?"

"Of course. The succubi who left as the second wave have entered the underground through the tunnels. They must be constructing the space with magic right now."

The method was simple: Lime and the Slime Dragons would ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dig the earth to create the space, and the waiting succubi would then build the underground facilities using their magic. The succubi had suddenly become construction workers, but fortunately, they were in a position where they had to unconditionally obey the Madame—Shaitan’s—orders.

"Once the underground portal is established, I intend to set up remote communication equipment as well. That way, we can respond immediately."

"We can choose between fleeing through the portal or escaping through the underground tunnels if we get caught. A binary choice, then."

If we were discovered, we’d have to collapse the building itself, but that would put that guy Gei in danger. I realized I’d need to take some measures for him soon.

"Hehe, good. Very good. The Avalon Project has taken its first step properly. Very good indeed."

"The rest... *huff*, we just have to wait for time to pass."

I pulled Shaitan’s waist closer. I could feel my vital energy being drained by the cock buried deep inside her, but if I could taste Shaitan without worrying about anyone else’s eyes, I didn't care.

"But, Saidan-ssi."

"Yes, *ha-ah*, Master..."

"I believe the dream play I ordered was a wedding dress play, wasn't it?"

"......."

Shaitan hesitated, bringing her face close to my ear.

"Th-that is for reality..."

"Fine. If that’s the case, it can’t be helped."

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠patted Shaitan’s hip with one hand and turned her face toward me with the other. "In reality, we’ll hold a joint wedding at the Goddess Church temple, and here, we’ll rent a wedding hall and march down the aisle, just the two of us. How about that?"

"......It will be the best wedding ever."

Shaitan wrapped her arms around my neck, closed her eyes, and quietly leaned in. *Chu.* A deep scent of lavender enveloped my entire body, and I slowly began to wake from my sleep, filled with happiness.

Morning arrived. The talk of Spica Castle was still the newly arrived group of bunny girls, and the rumors that had spread overnight only drew more attention.

Even though they hadn't opened yet, rumors were rampant, and people waited for the shops to open. People from Spica Castle gathered near the shabby back alley, to the point where even the knight Gei had to step out with guards.

*Creak.* The door opened, and a woman in a black uniform appeared from within. She was still wearing stockings, but her short skirt and suit-style top were more modest than the robes of a Goddess Church priestess.

"Wait, that woman...?"

One of the people felt a sense of déjà vu upon seeing her appearance. The woman, who was just about to flip the sign, waved and greeted the man who was pointing at her.

"Th-that, that!"

"Do you know her?"

"The bunny girl from yesterday?!"

"What?!"

The crowd was shocked. Those who had gathered since morning to see the bunny girls were disappointed, but at the same time, they couldn't help but drool at the sight of the woman in the uniform.

"I see. So that's how it is."

A young man with glasses nodded to himself, muttering. "They pose as modest women in the morning, but become rabbits at night when the drinking starts... I don't know who the merchant guild leader is, but their business sense is incredible."

The young man approached the front of the general store with a confident stride. No one else dared to approach easily, but he felt no hesitation.

"Oh my, welcome. Welcome to our 'RS24'. As our first customer..."

The woman standing at the door picked up a box placed nearby and handed it to the young man. "This is an opening commemorative gift. Please, take it."

"What is this?"

"Ah, that?" The woman whispered into the young man’s ear. "It’s men’s underwear."

"......*Ahem*."

The young man tucked the small box into his chest. The clerk giggled as she opened the door. The young man felt a strange sensation looking at the name tag hanging on her chest: .

'Does she become a rabbit in heat when night falls...?'

"There are baskets inside. Please, take a look around."

Fairy Tina pushed the young man into the building. He was dumbfounded by the sight of the goods displayed in categorized sections. The general store, which he thought would just be a pile of random items, was neatly stocked with a wide variety of goods.

'Stockings.' That item in question. He had to grab them quickly before others came in and swept them all up. As it happened, the stockings were in a hard paper box just like the one he’d received, and by some magic, the picture of a woman wearing the stockings was printed on the front.

"What on earth is this...?"

The young man picked up the stocking box. There was a hole at the bottom, revealing the rolled-up stockings at a glance. 'I hope no one steals this.' The moment a wicked thought crossed his mind, he felt intimidated by the gaze of another fairy clerk watching him. The fairies were guarding the stalls everywhere.

"......Hmm."

The young man picked up two boxes of stockings. The price was 1 gold. It was quite expensive for clothing, but the fact that the price was written on a small sign appealed to him. Since there were several pairs in one box, the price per pair was about the same as a slightly expensive shirt.

'But there’s something written at the bottom.'

"......Whoa."

Overwhelmed by the incredible discount, the young man instinctively grabbed one more box. As if possessed by a ghost, he carried the two boxes to the counter. The pink-haired woman standing at the counter smiled brightly and bowed to him.

"With the discount, it’s 1 gold and 60 silver. Will you be paying now?"

"Ah, yes, yes."

The young man handed over 2 gold, and the woman gave him 40 silver in change as if she had been waiting. He felt like he had gained 40 silver, but at the same time, he felt like he was losing something.

'Isn't it much better to buy them with magic stones?'

15 low-grade magic stones? They were rare to come by, but if he had them, they would be worth less than 1 gold.

"Excuse me."

"Yes, please go ahead."

The woman ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was scribbling something on a piece of paper.

"Is it really possible to purchase them with magic stones?"

"Of course. Our merchant guild buys magic stones and supplies them to the Magic Tower. They’ll be used to defeat the Demon King’s army, I’m sure. Hoho."

"......."

The young man brainwashed himself. To think that buying stockings could contribute to the peace of humanity—what a rational consumption this was!

'I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠think Mom had some magic stones tucked away somewhere.'

"Th-then, goodbye!"

"Wait a moment, customer."

The pink-haired woman handed the young man a thin piece of paper. It was a paper with the items he bought, the money he paid, the change, the date, the time, and even the woman’s name—'Meari'—written on it. Meari’s movements were so swift and precise that he wondered when she had even written it.

"What is this?"

"Ah, this is called a receipt. ...Hehehe!"

"A receipt...?"

"If there is a defect in the product after purchase, please bring it back with this receipt within a week, and we will refund you. You must, you absolutely must bring the receipt, okay? Otherwise, exchanges and refunds are impossible."

"What...."

The young man instinctively shoved the receipt into his pocket. Then, clutching the stockings in his chest and the underwear he’d received as a gift, he hurried out of the building.

'How many magic stones were at home?'

No matter how he thought about it, buying with magic stones was far more profitable than gold. The young man pushed past the 2nd and 3rd customers who had just entered and escaped outside.

"Oh my, customer. Your purchase...?"

"I’ll bring magic stones!"

"If that’s the case. Ufufu."

The fairy waved at the young man as he left. The young man ran straight home.

"Where have you been?"

"Mom, how many low-grade magic stones do we have?!"

"I’ve collected about 100 to supply to the Magic Tower in the Leo Marquisate later... why?"

"Mom, this, this!"

The young man pulled out the stockings and detailed everything he had experienced at the general store. His mother took the stocking box and quietly pulled out one pair.

"...You used the 2 gold I gave you to buy academy textbooks for this?"

"Th-that’s?! W-wait a minute, Mom!"

The young man’s mother immediately grabbed the stockings with both hands.

"You spent precious 2 gold on this kind of trashy, shameless thing?!!"

*Stretch.* The young man’s mother twisted the stockings left and right. But the stockings did not tear.

"......This, this!!"

*Stretch.* No matter how much the young man’s mother tried to tear the stockings, they wouldn't rip. The young man’s mother flushed red with anger at the stockings, which were tougher and firmer than most leather, yet thin as paper.

"This won't do! I have to cut them all up!"

"M-Mom!"

*Swish.* The sharp dagger didn't cut the stockings; it just grazed them. The young man’s mother’s expression stiffened.

"Hey, hey. Hold this right now, quickly!"

"Like this...?"

The young man held the stockings out long. His mother raised her dagger toward the stockings—

"Haa-!"

She struck down. But the stockings didn't cut, and the dagger slipped, nearly cutting the mother instead.

"Th-this is insane...! What kind of defense is this...!"

An item as thin as paper wouldn't be cut by a dagger. As an adventurer, the young man’s mother quickly realized the utility of the stockings.

"Inner armor...."

"Yes?"

"You, you said how many magic stones?!"

"15 low-grade ones...."

"Watch the house!!"

His mother grabbed the 15 low-grade magic stones she had stashed in the warehouse and left the house. The young man muttered helplessly toward his mother, who had run off before he could even follow.

"It’s 2 boxes, so that’s 30 stones...."

It would be less with the discount, but his mother was already gone. The young man picked up the stocking box that had fallen to the floor.

"What on earth is this... huh?"

The young man checked the back. He was dumbfounded by the stylishly written text in slanted font.

"True armor is proportional to the degree of exposure...?"

The young man gulped at the firmness of the stockings, which showed no damage—not even a single thread coming loose—no matter how much he stretched or cut them with a knife. His mother had called it inner armor. If one wore this under their armor, minor attacks could be blocked twice over—perhaps the stockings alone could even replace the role of armor!

"Are they crazy...?"

The young man’s desire to have his girlfriend wear them, his mother’s anger at him for buying useless things, and their experience as adventurers all mixed together, leading them to discover a new use for the stockings.

"Real armor...?"

It was the signal flare announcing the beginning of the era of 'Stocking Armor'.

"Ah, this part tears?"

The young man gulped as he saw how easily the crotch of the stockings could be opened.

"...It really was made for fucking, wasn't it!"

The young man hurriedly hid the stockings with the torn crotch.

"......I can't refund this."

Even if there was a receipt, how could he be embarrassed enough to ask for a refund? The young man swallowed his tears.