Chapter 51 – Ladimerie the hat maker

“Why do you think that person won’t listen to Weiss? He’s a nice man, and really strong too.”

The old man told Weiss and Ririi where the hat maker is, and they left.

It looked like it didn’t really bother Weiss, but what the old man said stuck out to me. I can’t help but feel like Weiss is getting involved in something dangerous.

“Of all people…”

The old man empties his glass and whispers with a serious expression. I quickly make him another and place it in front of him.

“Are they not going to be able to get a new hat for Ririi…?”

Weiss said he came all the way here from the capital to get a hat for her. I don’t know exactly where the capital is, but I’m sure it’s far away.

He came all the way to Anheim… So it’s sad to think about him leaving empty handed.

And more importantly… I want to see Ririi with a cute hat. He even said he would come back here after they got the hat.

“It will be difficult. After all…”

“After all…?”

“Ladimerie… Hates humans.”

◆

There’s a shelf that covers the whole wall, decorated with many different kinds of hats. None of them have really eccentric designs, but one look is enough to tell me they’re not just normal hats. It looks like this extraordinary hat maker is as good as they say.

Deeper inside the room are magic books and many magic tools. And also, in this room that feels like both an atelier and a store, there is a woman reclining on her chair, and I’m standing in front of her.

“A hat? That’s all right.”

The woman calls herself Ladimerie. She’s probably around Fuuka’s age, meaning way older than me, but young for an elf. Above all else, that confident expression on her face like she has no doubt that she’s as good as she thinks is fitting of a young person.

She’s wearing something that I can’t really tell if it’s a robe or a dress, but it does a good job revealing her chest and her long white legs. If I was in my teens, I’d be worried about where to look.

Her curly and long purple hair is busting out of her long brimmed hat, and is almost like a cloak. Fittingly for a hat maker, she’s wearing a good quality hat. I’m thinking I can count on her.

“…Are you sure?”

This is the opposite of what I heard from the old man in the bar, so I end up asking that without even thinking.

Ladimerie’s store is pretty far from the main street, right on the border between the forest and where people live. On the way here, I thought about dozens of negotiation patterns, and I was confident I’d get her to make a hat no matter what she said.

“What kind of reaction is that? Didn’t you come here to buy a hat? Or is it to have one made?”

Ladimerie chuckles, and looks over at Ririi before I can react. Once Ririi notices that, she straightens her back.

“She’s so cute. Is she your daughter?”

“I’m Ririh!”

“Ririi, that’s so great. Do you like your daddy?”

Ladimerie leans forward while still sitting on her chair to look Ririi in the eyes.

“Yes! Ririh loves daddy!”

“I see. I see… That’s so great.”

Ladimerie pats Ririi’s head, who starts twitching like it itches.

I don’t know if it’s because she’s an elf like her, or if Ladimerie just likes kids, but she’s clearly happy to see Ririi. Ririi herself doesn’t seem to be wary of Ladimerie at all, even though they’ve never met. I guess they really do feel some sort of bond because they’re the same race.

I’m just glad she feels like a friendly elf.

“Well then Ririi, can we take your measurements in the other room?”

Ladimerie signals with her eyes to an elf waiting in the back, who looks like her assistant. The assistant takes Ririi by the hand, and takes her to the other room.

Ladimerie checks to see if the door has closed completely, and…

“Human father… Sorry, but I’m taking your daughter.”

She says with a pure black darkness painting her glaring eyes.