Little Merlin bit her lip, tears clinging to the corners of her eyes, and staggered toward the magical beast. A distance of just over ten meters felt like walking a tightrope to her.
Every time she lifted a foot, her heel would slide slightly out of the shoe, the precarious sensation of almost falling making her scalp tingle. Every time she put a foot down, the stocking-clad sole would slide heavily into the toe, crushing her toes.
Finally, Little Merlin shuffled in front of the weakened Ice Cream Monster.
“Hurry up!” Lucia urged.
Little Merlin raised the Holy Sword with both hands. The slash pulled every muscle in her body, and the stockings on her legs were yanked upward along with the motion. A tightness as if cut by silk threads made Little Merlin almost drop the sword.
“Ha…!” Little Merlin shouted. Her legs trembled violently, the white stockings at her knees becoming so taut that the pink skin beneath showed through.
She couldn’t hold on any longer and let the Holy Sword fall forward.
“H-Here…!”
thump
The Holy Sword, rather than piercing, smashed into the monster’s fragile Soul Core. With a crisp breaking sound, the Ice Cream Monster shattered into countless sparkling ice crystals and dissipated in the air. The ricocheting Holy Sword then struck another monster, ending the battle.
Due to inertia, Little Merlin pitched forward. Mahina caught her with a quick hand.
“Watch out!”
Little Merlin fell into Mahina’s arms, her white-stocking-clad legs still kicking weakly in the air from exhaustion. Even so, the high heels and pantyhose on her feet refused to come off.
“So tired…” Little Merlin sobbed, feeling the lingering coolness on her stockings and the residual warmth from the exertion.
As if remembering something, Little Merlin pulled away from Mahina and smiled.
“We three are really amazing.”
Lucia looked at Little Merlin.
“Yeah.”
Mahina walked to the perimeter and began casting a barrier to block the magical beasts.
“I’ll set up a barrier around this area first. There really are still magical beasts.”
Mia walked over to Little Merlin and began healing the scraped skin on her arm.
Lucia looked at Mia and said sarcastically, “Looks like we can win even without the Saint Lady.”
Mia didn’t mind at all. “You are very strong, but since you decided to let Little Merlin finish it, why didn’t you beat the monster until it couldn’t move? It’s because you rushed the baby. Little Merlin fell because you rushed her. You’re so old, yet you can’t care a bit more about the baby.”
Little Merlin looked at the white stockings on her own legs, not denying it, just quietly lowering her head.
Mia continued to press the point. “You should pay more attention to our hero instead of just yourself. See, Little Merlin is hurt. She’s not used to this outfit yet.”
This time Lucia was left speechless, and could only leave with a final remark.
“I’m going to take a bath!”
Mia looked at her, still calm but with an exasperated expression. “Can’t you be quieter? Why are you shouting so loud! Can’t you have a better attitude? You’re going to attract more magical beasts again.”
“Then go find Ophelia.” Lucia headed toward the fountain she had found earlier. Soon, steam rising from her body, she returned.
“Little Merlin, go take a bath. We’ve been walking all day, and your fight earlier got you covered in dirt.”
Mia followed behind Little Merlin. “I’ll help bathe the baby.”
Perhaps because she had lost the argument, Lucia didn’t pick a fight this time, just quietly watching from the shore.
Little Merlin walked to the edge of the hot spring. “I want to take a bath… I want to soak in the water…”
She reached out her small hand and, by habit, grabbed the waistband of her pantyhose to take them off. However, when her fingers pulled hard, the transparent white stockings stretched and showed large patches of skin. No matter how hard she pulled, it clung to her skin like a living thing, refusing to let go.
snap
Her hand slipped, and the stockings snapped back violently, slapping against her thigh and leaving a red mark.
“Ow… boohoo…”
“Merlin, what’s wrong?” Mahina leaned in with concern. “Let me help you.”
Mahina’s fingers probed the stocking’s waistband, trying to peel it off. But the stockings seemed to have become part of her skin, impossible to separate. Mahina was shocked.
“This… what’s going on?”
“I told you, didn’t I?” Ophelia’s voice sounded again. “Until the Demon King is defeated, the Lady’s Attire absolutely cannot be removed.”
“But… but I need to take a bath!” Little Merlin broke down crying. “How can I bathe wearing stockings! It’s disgusting!”
“Then bathe in them.” Ophelia’s voice was cold and merciless.
There was no other choice. The sailor uniform was left on the shore, leaving only the white pantyhose. Little Merlin could only shakily step into the hot spring.
When her legs entered the warm water, the white pantyhose that had already been clinging tightly to her skin became even heavier, more transparent, and tighter after absorbing the water.
…!!
The water flowed unhindered through the fibers of the stockings, instantly wrapping her legs in a hot, slippery sensation. The white stockings became almost completely transparent in the water, clinging tightly and seamlessly to every inch of her skin, even the gaps between her toes were tightly constricted by the wet fibers.
Little Merlin sat in the shallow area, looking at her legs wrapped in the soaked white stockings. “So strange… my legs…”
The pantyhose now felt like a sticky film, writhing and contracting on her skin with every ripple of the water. She tried to scrub her legs with her hands.
The wet silk stockings had become abnormally slick; her fingers could not get a grip, and she could only clumsily rub her skin beneath the slippery fabric. The frustrating sensation, mixed with the numbing heat of the water, made her involuntarily press her legs together.
Mia laughed softly and stepped into the water. The hot spring soaked her skirt, but she didn’t care. Holding a sponge soaked in soapy foam, she came to Little Merlin’s side.
“Come on, straighten your legs. Big sister will help you wash.”
“Ugh… but with the stockings on, I can’t really wash…” Little Merlin sobbed but obediently straightened her legs.
In the clear spring water, the white-stocking-clad calves appeared especially slender due to refraction. The wet fabric had become completely transparent, tightly adhering to the skin, revealing the pink flesh underneath. Only the faint white weave of the fabric reminded of the binding layer.
“It’s okay. As long as we wash the stockings clean, the baby will be clean too.” Mia coaxed gently, pressing the sponge lightly against Little Merlin’s thigh.
squeeze… splish…
Rich foam instantly covered the slippery surface of the stockings.
“Ah!” Little Merlin’s whole body trembled, her toes curling and gripping the bottom of the pool. “Ugh… no… it feels so weird…”