I'm Not That Poor
"I'm not that poor. So go ahead and use it without worrying."
Can a woman really be this cool? My dick swells up grandly, and my balls start trembling.
"What bullshit."
"...Ahem."
Kernax gently released my hand and turned around at Meris's voice from behind her.
"That guy must be that good for you, huh? A miser who won't spend a single coin except on buying swords, handing over her entire pouch like that."
Meris snorted, glaring at Kernax with genuine disgust.
"Just pay up already. Smith."
"Uh, yeah."
Because Kernax had grabbed my wrist and pulled me forward, a dumb sound slipped out of my mouth before I knew it.
"Seven silver each."
"Wasn't it five last time?"
"Seller's call. If you don't like it, shop somewhere else."
"Haa... When are you gonna widen that narrow mind of yours?"
Meris propped her chin on her hand with a pout and flipped Kernax off crudely.
I pretended not to hear their bickering as best I could and pulled out 14 silver coins from the pouch Kernax had given me.
Meris swept up the increased silver indifferently and stood.
"Now take that and get lost. And next time, come when the sun's up. Show up while I'm working one more time, and I'll smash your skull with a hammer."
She stormed back into the workshop without a backward glance.
Kernax clicked her tongue briefly and, just like last time, effortlessly lifted the pouch containing the iron ingot with one hand.
"First, we gotta swing by the guild."
"Yeah, pretty much. Gotta explain the situation."
"I'll handle that part. Alright, let's get going."
As expected, no one got seriously pissed about my unauthorized absence.
Of course, Kernax standing beside me, glaring daggers with both eyes while giving the detailed excuse, probably helped a ton. Whatever.
It was possible because of my usually solid track record.
Though even with Kernax there, I couldn't dodge Amelia-noonim's backhand smackdown.
Anyway, long story short: we cleared it up without issue and headed back to her place together.
"Whew, a walk like this once in a while isn't bad. Got to see the city nightlife after ages, thanks to you."
"Glad you think so."
I couldn't tell if she meant it, but since she'd said it with me in mind, I replied earnestly.
"By the way, Smith. What're you planning to use this iron ingot for?"
"Uh... yeah. Let's sit first."
"Sure."
Kernax and I headed to that reception-room-like space as usual.
This time, instead of across from me, she dragged her chair right up next to mine and sat.
She plunked the pouch with the ingot on the desk.
I stared at the pouch on the desk.
"Kernax. What you're about to see here? Absolute secret from everyone else."
"Mm... a secret. I won't breathe a word, even if it kills me."
"Nah, not to that extreme. If shit really hits the fan, just spill it all."
"Ahem, if you say so, Smith."
Kernax's lips twitched upward.
"From here on, no matter what happens, just watch quietly."
"Got it."
She leaned back in her chair, arms deeply crossed, signaling she wouldn't budge an inch.
I opened the pouch and placed my hand on the still-ugly iron ingot.
Then I activated my granted abilities in order.
Material Storage
Holy Artifact Creation
Recall Stored Holy Artifact
Having used it once before, my hands moved smoothly, and in a flash, I'd produced a Night Fairy = pantyhose (black) containing 1kg of pure iron on the desk.
Holding the finished Night Fairy, I turned to Kernax.
She was staring back and forth between me and the Night Fairy in my hand, eyes wide with shock.
Her face screamed she had a ton to say, but thankfully, she honored our deal and kept quiet.
How do I even explain this? I figured if I just came clean to Kernax or Siron, they'd probably believe me straight-up, no questions asked.
Of course, no plans to spill right now. Someday I'll lay it all out, but not this moment.
"Kernax. Lots to say, I bet, but I can't tell you everything. Just know this is a special ability passed down only to certain people in my tribe."
"......Your tribe's. Smith... are you a descendant of the ancients?"
"Eh, something like that."
I had no clue what "ancients" even meant, but if it'd convince her, I'd gladly play descendant.
"I see... that explains it......"
Sure enough, Kernax muttered to herself, nodding repeatedly.
I waited patiently until her soliloquy wrapped up.
"Ah, sorry."
"No biggie."
Once she'd sorted her thoughts and noticed my gaze, she apologized for her non-mistake.
I waved it off lightly and got to the point.
"Kernax. I showed this to Amelia-noonim first, right?"
She took the Night Fairy I handed her without hesitation.
"Incredibly soft."
"Wear it over your underwear."
"Hmm. This... thing?"
"Yup. Wanna try it on?"
"......Alright."
Kernax's cheeks flushed faintly as she stood at my words.
She slipped off her short pants, revealing plain black panties.
"Just slide your feet in."
"Like... this?"
"Yeah, perfect. Now pull it up nice and smooth."
As the stockings rose, her thighs and ass jiggled heavily.
Like with Siron, women here seemed to favor black undies for some reason.
Black stockings over black panties weren't as stimulating as I'd imagined.
Next time, white stockings, or maybe custom ones matching Siron and Kernax's colors.
"How's it feel? No discomfort or anything?"
"Mm, a bit odd at first, but not really uncomfortable. Felt a little cool initially, but that faded quick. Feels just like before putting them on—no sensation at all."
"That's a good sign, right?"
"Positively, for now. So? Something the women in your tribe wore?"
"Kinda. But it's not just undies—it's defensive gear too."
"......This?"
Kernax pinched the stockings clinging to her thigh and tugged lightly.
"Told ya, showed Amelia-noonim first. She said you could sell these for 25 silver each and still not keep up with demand."
"For... 25 silver? Amelia really said that?"
"Yup. She tested it herself. Blocks light stabs or arrows."
"......Smith."
"Hey, it's fine. Test it out—no need for that puppy-dog face."
I chuckled at Kernax's guilty-puppy eyes, like she'd done something wrong.
"Ah, don't take 'em off. I'll make a fresh pair."
I whipped up a new Night Fairy quick and handed it over.
"Can't test here, so... be right back from the training room."
"Training room? All the way to guard HQ?"
"Nah, basement one's private."
"Whoa... Mind if I tag along?"
"Of course. Let's go together."
Kernax smiled and agreed readily.
As thanks, I sneaked a soft stroke of the ass cheek peeking from her panties—crotch wide open, ass swaying as she walked, oblivious.
"Eek... ahem!!"
"Heh, so cute."
"......Not cute......"
I arrived at the basement training room, groping her shy-but-compliant, seductive ass.
Click.
Kernax flipped a wall switch, and sun-bright light flooded the dim space.
Magic never ceased to amaze me.
Like Amelia-noonim, she slipped the stockings over a wooden dummy near the wall.
"Lightly first......"
Unlike with noonim, Kernax grabbed a sword from the rack and swung gently at the dummy.
"Hoh...?"
Same as before—clang of metal on metal.
"Not a single scratch. Absorbs impact too? Incredible."
Kernax peeled off the unscathed stockings, eyes wide with admiration as she examined them.
She redressed the dummy, then swung harder.
"Hmm......"
Her diagonal slash cleanly bisected the dummy.
But unlike the wood, her blade halted halfway through the stockings, not tearing them.
Kernax sheathed the sword, removed the torn stockings, and approached me.
She stopped in front, gazing down at them briefly.
I waited tensely for her to speak.
"Smith."
"Yeah. Be honest."
"Honest... yeah. Straight up: I get why Amelia priced it like that. This is... astounding. Nothing else comes to mind—it's that shocking."
Her blue eyes sparkled as she stretched the torn stockings, parroting almost verbatim what Amelia-noonim said back at the guild about their merits.
"Anyway, you're planning to sell 'em, right?"
"Damn right. I'd pitch extra budget tomorrow to equip every soldier—that tempting!!"
Kernax's eyes gleamed fiercely, rapid-fire questions flying: "How many can you make at once? Tougher versions? Sales timeline?"
Like noonim, she was hyped as hell.
Great that she was into the product, but that wasn't the interest I craved.
I wrapped my arms around her waist mid-ramble, slid my hands down, and gripped her plump ass firmly.
"S-Smith?"
"Kernax."
Squish squish squish.
Each knead sent ass flesh spilling between my fingers.
The non-stop chatterer went dead silent, honey-mouthed.
I spread my hands wide, slipped inside her panties, dug deep into her crack, and groped even more blatantly.
Kernax's lips parted, but no resistance—just flushed cheeks and quiet stares.
"Kernax."
"......Listening......"
While kneading, I rubbed my rock-hard cock—straining through my pants—against her lower belly.
"This gift? It's what a man gives a woman he likes. Know what it means?"
"......N-No......"
"Really don't?"
Poke poke.
I straightened my dick and prodded her belly.
Kernax gulped hard.
"......Don't...... know."
"Guess I'll have to show you."
Plunge♥ My finger pierced her already slick, sopping pussy.
"I'll make sure you never forget what it means."