The Stocking Craze and the Baroness's Ambition
At the very moment Pahou was busy refining existing products and testing new inventions, evening had already descended upon Spica Castle. Thanks to word of mouth, the general store had sold out of its stock and closed its doors for the day. The item that had sold the most was, without a doubt, the stockings. While many were lured in by the shock and awe of the bunny girls, the fact that there was a limit per person, that they wouldn't be available after a certain period, and that they could be purchased for a mere Low Grade Magic Stone made people rush to buy them.
And, as with any large crowd, there was a brief moment of commotion.
"These people!!" *Slap!* The female adventurer who had been trying to clear out the store slapped the clerk. The clerk, her cheek flushed red, smiled and cracked her knuckles.
"Dealing thoroughly with troublesome customers. That is the mission given to us fairies."
"You bitch, just because you have a pretty face—" *THWACK!*
The fairy clerk drove her fist into the woman's abdomen. The attack was as fast as light—far beyond the strength and speed of an ordinary clerk, leaving the adventurer unable to even react.
"What was that just now?"
"Did she... hit her?"
"I didn't even see it!"
No one had seen the fairy clerk throw the punch. She twisted the corners of her mouth into a smirk, her face completely unfazed. "I used to be an adventurer just like you, you know. But I had to quit because I got injured down below. Heh. Do you know what?"
The fairy clerks began to approach, one by one, clenching their fists. Their expressions, previously all smiles, suddenly hardened into the visages of battle-hardened warriors, causing the adventurer and the other customers to tense up.
"We are all retired adventurers. Hoho, if you cause trouble in our shop one more time..." The fairy clerk pointed to the guards patrolling outside the store. "We will personally drag you over and report you to the guards."
"What is going on?" As if they had heard their names being called by a ghost, the guards rushed over in a single stride and began to sort out the situation.
"That lady hit the fairy!"
"What? Isn't that assault? Good heavens, look at the handprint on her face!"
"Th-that bitch hit me harder—"
"You were the one causing a scene by being unreasonable in the first place! This won't do. The nature of the disturbance is grave, so get up at once!"
"What about that bitch?!"
"...No one here is saying the clerk hit you?"
"What? Hey, you! You were messing around with that bitch last night, weren't you?! That's why you're taking her side!"
"You have no shame!"
Having heard the circumstances from those around them, the guards immediately hauled away the adventurer who had been punched in the gut. After that, the only remaining commotion was from people desperately trying to buy the few items left.
"We apologize. The 'allotted amount for today' has been completely sold out."
With the pink-haired manager's announcement, the doors of the general store were firmly shut. People chewed over what she had said, and only then did they realize something. 'They aren't planning to sell everything in just one day!' Only then did the people let go of their impatience and find some peace of mind. With nearly 200 receipts issued throughout the day, people had truly bought a massive amount of goods. And as news spread, centered around the guard unit, that the building had been purchased rather than rented, people realized that as long as they didn't cause trouble, they could reliably purchase stockings.
"Geez, if they were going to do that, they should've just sold them all on the first day..."
"Tsk, you fool. Don't you think they're trying to make money too?"
While some grumbled, others defended the merchant guild. And the number of people mentioning problems with their business tactics was very small.
"I don't know what this is, but I bought it anyway, so what now? ...Oh, I can wear it! It's a bit tight, but... it's not unwearable! Ah, but the front part... Aaaah! It ripped!"
There was a young man who bought them out of curiosity and ended up wearing them himself.
"Good heavens, you idiot! I told you to buy clothes for winter, and you brought back this piece of cloth! If I'm cold when I wear this, you're dead... wait, it's warm?!"
"I told you it was warmer than cotton clothes! Otherwise, how could those ladies have walked around in this weather wearing only that?! Hehe, didn't I buy it well? It didn't even cost 2 gold for two boxes. If you wanted to go to the Leo Marquisate to buy winter clothes, it would cost over 10 gold, right? Haha."
"Honey, I'm going to go wash up for a second."
"What? Why are you washing... no, why are you washing while wearing clothes!!"
While some were surprised by the functionality and economic efficiency of the stockings as clothing, reducing their household financial burden, others had different ideas.
"Oppa, what is this? It covers my leg hair... it's amazing. Hoho."
"Ah, that is called a 'stocking.' It's a magical tool that can make our married life more enjoyable and happy. And according to rumors... like this."
"Kyaa! Why are you ripping that part!"
"Because I bought it to rip it!"
One young couple was putting the seller's original plan into practice. As the entire Virgo Barony began to go wild for stockings, Baroness Virgo sat deep in thought, staring at a pair of stockings placed before her.
"Hmm..."
She wasn't wearing them at the moment. To be precise, she had put them on and then taken them off. 'They were certainly pretty.' Looking at herself in the full-length mirror after dismissing all her retainers and wearing only the stockings, she felt that even she herself would fall in love with her own beauty. The stockings neatly folded in front of the Baroness were the very ones she had worn and then removed.
"The number of children celebrating their birthdays today will increase. Thank you, Goddess."
The Baroness offered a prayer of gratitude to the Goddess for the increase in newborns. "Thanks to the pink-haired angel you sent, it seems our territory has found a foothold to rise again."
If the number of children increased, the number of the Goddess's followers would also increase, naturally leading to an increase in the number of territorial residents, which would in turn increase tax revenue. And since the residents would have children, they wouldn't be able to run away anywhere. 'Just thinking about it myself is like this, but what would happen if this spread to other places?' It was no exaggeration to say that it could change the paradigm of high society; the destructive power of the stockings was limitless. The Baroness swallowed the thought of whether she could seduce G-ei Cancer and advance to the center if she wore the stockings underneath her clothes.
"My Lady, are you in there?"
"Ahem, come in."
As the door opened, the old knight who could be called the only one who trusted and followed the Baroness entered. The Baroness was able to welcome him with a slightly more relaxed heart at his appearance. She quickly tucked the removed stockings back into the box.
"Welcome, Sir Namstark."
"Excuse me. ...Were you in the middle of something?"
"Hmm? No. I was just thinking about this."
"Ah, you mean the stockings. Did you try them on...?"
"I did. I tried them on one by one to see if there were any defects in the product. So, what is the matter?"
"I have taken measures against all those who caused a disturbance at the general store you mentioned, My Lady. They will be confined in the guard post's prison throughout tonight, and they will all be released with a reprimand tomorrow morning under your special instructions."
"Good. We must not extinguish the spark of hope that can revive the territory. ...By the way, Sir Namstark."
The Baroness did not miss the black color peeking out from under the old knight's trouser hem at his ankle.
"...Did you happen to put one on?"
"Yes."
Old Knight Namstark was completely unbothered. At his overly confident voice, the Baroness became unsure.
"...Aren't stockings made for women?"
"I didn't buy them myself, but when my granddaughter bought them, I heard there was no problem with men wearing them. That child bought them, saying she wanted to give them as a gift to her grandfather. Hahaha."
Old Knight Namstark was laughing with a relaxed face.
"My granddaughter insisted I wear them, so I couldn't refuse. So I just tried them on once... and aren't they better than I thought? When I wear them under my plate armor, my skin doesn't chafe at all."
"...Does that mean they can also be utilized as strategic supplies?"
"......Does it work like that?"
Both the Baroness and the old knight realized another possibility for the stockings. Although they were relatively slower than the adventurers, realizing the potential of the stockings, even by chance, was certainly not something to be laughed off.
"Tell me, Sir Namstark. How much is a pair?"
"From what I heard, it is certainly..."
The Baroness gulped at Namstark's words. As someone running a territory struggling economically, she couldn't keep the territory running properly without pursuing efficiency.
"...Sir Namstark. I'm sorry, but I'm going to give you an order."
The Baroness picked up the stockings she had worn.
"If I were to arm all the guards and the territorial army with these, how much would the budget be? No, no. This is not the time for that."
The Baroness placed the stockings on the table and quickly rose to her feet.
"I will go meet Meari right now. If it's not stockings but an undershirt... this is practically the same as full-body leather armor!"
The Baroness hurried out of the office.
"......Hmm."
Old Knight Namstark Inpetei quietly placed the stocking box he had brought as a gift for the Lord on the Baroness's desk. And thinking of her back as she ran to her room, he shed a tear.
"She has grown up so beautifully...!"
"Haa, haa."
"My Lady?"
The Baroness returned to the office, panting. Namstark was momentarily frightened, fearing that his display of regret might be seen as strange.
"I, I shouldn't just go like this...!"
The Baroness strode to the table and grabbed the stockings she had taken off. "I'm going to wear them. Wait for me!"
The Baroness left the office carrying the stocking box. And Namstark's heart sank at the stockings the Baroness had taken with her.
"......."
He remembered something someone had said. That it wasn't a crime if you didn't get caught.
"Ahem, ahem."
Namstark quietly picked up the stocking box that had been under the office desk and tucked it into his arms.
* * *
"Stockings worn on top...? I'm sorry, but we don't have anything like that." Meari, dressed in a robe, stated firmly. She was finishing up at the general store and preparing to move somewhere.
"Stockings are items made for the lower body to begin with. We didn't consider an undershirt."
"Th-then, do you have any intention of making an undershirt?"
"Well..." Meari let her words trail off. Although she had heard some ideas about the product, she only knew about things corresponding to tops through hearsay, as she hadn't heard them directly.
"If you need women's underwear, wouldn't it be better to buy them from the capital for now...?"
"You all, did you not think to utilize this item in other ways? Did you really only think of it as lower-body wear or underwear?"
"Of course. Did you happen to think of other functions?"
"......No."
The Baroness barely managed to calm herself and regain her composure. As someone who had to extract the so-called 'maximum profit' by deceiving the other party, she didn't want to show any weaknesses.
"It's just underwear, then... In that case, Meari. Is it possible to obtain them in large quantities in our territory? If this winter approaches, I would like to at least have people who are shivering in the cold wear stockings."
"Oh my... I am moved by the Lord's benevolence, which is like the vast sea. However, to give them away for free..."
"Of course, I will pay the price. ...Although it seems it will take some time to pay."
"Since you are purchasing in bulk, I should naturally give you a discount. Don't worry, if you tell me the quantity, I will make sure to supply it properly within the deadline."
The Baroness and Meari quickly exchanged a contract regarding the supply of stockings. They were able to trade at a reasonable price, and before they knew it, it was dinner time.
"Then, I'll leave it to you, Meari. ...It's time for dinner, would it be alright if I invited you to the Lord's castle?"
"Oh my. I would like to accept with joy, but since you've come all this way, how about you have a drink with us?"
Meari pointed to the building next door where the lights were out. What he had thought was a warehouse seemed to truly be intended to function as both an inn and a pub.
"Once I go in, business starts. May I welcome you as our first customer?"
"Ahem, of course."
The Baroness followed Meari's back with a dignified face and exited the building. The Baroness, who had circled around and stood in front of the building's main entrance, felt her heart pounding for no reason at the face of Meari, who was holding the doorknob.
"Please don't be surprised when you see it."
*Creak.* With the sound of old hinges, the pub's dining room was revealed. It was no different from any other pub, with wooden planks on the floor and all furniture made of wood, but the appearance of the clerks moving around in that pub was distinctly different.
"W-what is that...?!"
"...Because sweat builds up quickly if you keep wearing thick stockings."
Meari slightly lifted her robe. Meari also had an appearance not much different from the clerks, but the kindness of her overwhelming heart was enough to make the Baroness feel intimidated.
"To reduce costs, I reduced the fabric part as much as possible. Yes, it's called 'fishnet stockings.' ...How is it?"
Under the bombardment of overwhelming skin color, the Baroness lost her mind. In the final moment, the fact that she buried her face in the two huge hills between Meari's black fishnet stripes was by no means something the Baroness did on purpose.