This time, I came to Jered-papa’s shop to have a saddle made.
A lot happened with knives and various other things, but the real reason I came all this way was for the saddle.
「A saddle? You mean for that giant rat… Jade, was it? A saddle for Jade?」
「Ah, yes. A saddle for Jade-kun.」
The Jered father and son call my Friedrich-kun 『Jade』. Well, I suppose I’ll go along with that name here too.
As for Jade-kun’s saddle, I talked it over with him before, and we agreed it would probably be better to have one.
He seemed a little hesitant about it, but it would likely make things easier for both the rider and the one being ridden.
「Now that you mention it, I often see Nana-jou-chan riding him.」
「That’s right. So, I thought it might be easier to ride if he had a saddle.」
「I see.」
「Ah…… Speaking of which, it seems Nana-san caused you some trouble again the other day…」
「Yeah…… That girl really is something…」
About a week ago, Nana-san was showing Mikoto-san around the village, but apparently she caused some kind of commotion in this shop and ended up getting thrown out.
I had completely forgotten about it… Well, something even bigger happened afterward, after all…
「Um, I’m very sorry for all the trouble she caused.」
「Eh, don’t worry about it. It’s the usual with her.」
「The usual…」
Being thrown out as a usual occurrence doesn’t sound like a very good situation…
「Ah, and also, I think another woman came with Nana-san at the time. What was she like?」
「Yeah. I think her name was Mikoto or something like that. There was a girl like that.」
「A girl…」
Mikoto-san is probably much older than Jered-papa… but well, I guess that’s fine.
「That girl was kinda strange too.」
「Oh? Was she?」
Father described Mikoto-san as having a somewhat divine presence.
Maybe Jered-papa felt something similar?
「She suddenly started calling me ‘Jered-papa-san’ and all…」
「…………」
Even here, Mikoto-san. She spread it here too…
「What’s that about anyway? Whose fault is it? Yours, kid? Or Nana-jou-chan’s?」
「Well, who knows…」
「I mean, lately even people who’ve known me since before Jered was born started calling me ‘Jered-papa’. That’s just weird, isn’t it…」
「That’s actually happening…」
Before I knew it, the way I address him had spread that far…
「Well, um… anyway, that’s why I’d like a saddle.」
「You… well, whatever.」
When I obviously changed the subject, Jered-papa decided to let it slide. As expected of Jered-papa. He’s an adult.
「So what? You gonna make the saddle yourself too, kid?」
「Eh, that’s a bit much…」
Somehow, Jered-papa keeps trying to make me craft everything myself…
But a saddle is a bit too much, even for me…
「If I make something poorly and Nana-san ends up falling off――falling off a horse? Falling off a rat? Well, whatever you’d call that, it would be a problem. So, I’d like you to make a proper one, Jered-papa-san.」
「Yeah, that makes sense. In that case… I’d like to measure Jade’s size first. Can you bring him out now?」
「That’s fine. Then――『Summon: Giant Rat』」
「Kii.」
And so, I summoned Jade-kun.
As usual, he rose up smoothly from the floor. When he noticed Jered-papa, he gave a small bow.
As always, he’s such a polite child.
…If Nana-san had brought Jade-kun along, maybe she wouldn’t have been thrown out.
「Alright, Jade-kun. Like we discussed before, I’m thinking of having a saddle made. Jered-papa-san would like to take your measurements.」
「Kii.」
「He says, 『Understood. Please take care of me.』」
「Yeah, leave it to me.」
Now then, it’s finally time to make the saddle. What kind should it be? For now, I’ll just say all my requests and see what happens.
「Ideally, I’d like something as light as possible, sturdy, easy to put on, comfortable to ride, and comfortable to carry a rider. And I’d like the design to look cool as well.」
「You’re asking for a lot, aren’t you?」
「Well, as much as possible is fine. ――Ah, and also, I’d like a handle on the saddle so the rider won’t fall off.」
For a horse, you’d probably use reins attached to the mouth or head to control it, but with Jade-kun, that won’t be necessary. As long as there’s something to hold onto on the saddle, that should be enough.
「And I’d also like you to attach some rings.」
「Rings?」
「Like, hanging from both sides of the saddle. I’d like loops where you can place your feet.」
In other words――what you’d call stirrups. I definitely want those attached.
「Ah, stirrups.」
「…Eh?」
「Stirrups, right?」
「Uh, well… yes. Stirrups…」
Wait, really? Stirrups already exist in this world?
…Oh. I see. And here I was, acting like I was about to unlock some special knowledge cheat.
…Well, whatever. If he already knows about them, that makes things easier.
「So yes, please include stirrups.」
「Got it.」
「Stirrups are amazing, you know? With stirrups, you can absorb the horse’s power through your lower body and fight while riding.」
「O-oh. Is that so?」
I feel like I heard something like that in my previous life.
「Not sure I get it, but anyway, I’ll measure Jade now. He’s wearing something, but can I lift it?」
「Yes. …Huh? With your bare hands? You’re not using any tools?」
「Don’t need ’em.」
「Wow.」
Jered-papa was fluffing around Jade-kun’s torso with his bare hands. Apparently, he didn’t even need a measuring tape. That’s actually impressive.
「…This guy feels oddly nice to touch.」
「Hehe, impressive, isn’t he?」
It’s his pride and joy, that fur. I’m even considering getting rid of his clothes just to show it off properly. That’s how proud I am of it.
「Alright, that’s about the size… Now, can you take the posture you use when running?」
「Key.」
「I see… Okay, I’ve got a general idea of his size.」
「Wow. That was quick.」
He figured it out just by lightly fluffing him. As expected of Jered-papa. The finest craftsman in all of Meiyu.
With Jered-papa around, Meiyu Village will be safe for another two hundred years.
…Wait. This saddle is for Nana-san to sit on, right? Wouldn’t he need Nana-san’s measurements too?
Measuring the part where Nana-san sits? And doing it with his bare hands…?
Which means――
「No, no, no… I absolutely cannot allow that. That’s not okay. We don’t do that here.」
「What are you talking about?」
「What do you mean what…? That’s just… I can’t possibly say it out loud…」
「What the hell are you even saying…」
next chapter: Divine Tree-sama’s Gift
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