For the next period, Kitahara returned to his routine life at Kasamatsu, revolving around three points: dormitory, training ground, and cafeteria.
Resting in the dorm, studying, designing training plans, researching races; eating in the cafeteria, chatting with the horse girls and Kyoko Miyamura; and guiding Oguri Cap and the others on the training ground.
Outside these three points, he would also take time to check on the progress of the "weighted equipment" at Belno Light's family workshop.
The concept of the equipment was not complicated. When they had first discussed it, Kitahara had already explained most of the idea, and Belno Light had even sketched a few drafts that day.
The final design would be modeled after a "tactical suit."
From the sketches, it resembled a special forces assault uniform, with slots resembling pockets on the arms, shoulders, chest, back, waist, thighs, and calves.
Compared to a real tactical suit, this version was much slimmer and more fitted. Most of the "pockets" were simplified into rectangular shapes.
Since it wasn't meant for combat, the pockets only needed to hold the "weighted alloy plates" without concern for multifunctionality.
Still, converting the concept into reality required settling many details. Every time Kitahara visited Belno Light's family factory, it was to discuss or refine these design points.
This day, he was once again in the factory office. But today wasn't about design discussions—the finished product was already ready.
Present in the room were Kitahara, Belno Light, Kyoko Miyamura, and Belno Light's mother, Tomomi Konan.
Tomomi Konan was a middle-aged woman over forty and not a horse girl.
In this world, horse girls are all female, and there's no reproductive isolation with humans. A daughter born from a horse girl and a human male would always be a horse girl. A daughter born from two humans might be a horse girl, but the probability is very low.
The URA Association distinguishes them: horse girls born from other horse girls are called "Colt Horse Girls," while those born from humans are "Filly Horse Girls."
The general impression is that "Filly Horse Girls" have slightly lower talent. The Twinkle series even has special races for them.
Kitahara had visited the factory a few times, so Tomomi Konan felt no need for formalities and directly addressed the topic of the day.
"Thank you for coming again, Mr. Kitahara. Several sets of the weighted equipment have already been produced. We'd like you to take them back first for Oguri Cap to try."
Unlike Belno Light's gentle and introverted personality, this middle-aged woman, who ran a horse girl sports goods store and a supporting factory, spoke and acted decisively.
She had already brought the weighted suits into the office and placed them on several mannequin stands.
The mannequins were about 1.6 meters tall, obviously chosen to match Oguri Cap's height. Their proportions matched a young girl, and the tactical suits fit perfectly on them.
At the feet of the mannequins was a large black plastic box.
"In addition to the suits, this box contains the weighted components."
Tomomi Konan opened the box.
Inside was a toolbox-style arrangement. Opening the lid revealed several layers, like unfolding a staircase, with neat rows of square compartments.
Inside, silverish-yellow metal plates were arranged neatly. Most were square, with a few curved.
The bottom of the box held not metal plates, but mechanisms resembling pulleys and locks used in extreme sports, with over ten types roughly counted.
There were also various wooden and nylon ropes.
"These metal plates are the weighted components," Tomomi Konan explained, pointing at the silver plates.
"They're made from high-density alloy, commonly called heavy alloy. The main metal is tungsten, alloyed with high-density nickel and copper, and the surface is nickel-plated. The density is roughly 16.5 g/cm³."
"This was chosen after consulting with Belno Light. It's durable and relatively inexpensive. If worn out, replacements are easy."
She picked up a palm-sized tungsten alloy plate and held it near a mannequin's arm slot.
Pfft—
As it approached the mannequin's arm, without her applying force, it snapped into place.
"Many parts of the weighted suit have embedded metal and magnets," she patiently explained. "Tungsten itself isn't magnetic, which is why it's nickel-plated."
"Nickel is magnetic, so the weights adhere firmly to the suit, preventing them from shifting during movement."
"The suit also has straps for fixing. Some use Velcro, some use rope locks, all easy to operate. You'll see when you try them."
She flipped through the suit a bit, pulling out sturdy-looking black straps.
Impressive. Belno Light's technical talent might well be inherited from her mother.
Kitahara grew increasingly impressed as Tomomi Konan introduced the equipment and finally praised her:
"Ms. Konan, I'm truly grateful…"
"Wait, I haven't finished. Please don't rush, Mr. Kitahara."
Her name sounded gentle, but her style was assertive. Ignoring Kitahara's fleeting awkwardness, she rummaged in the black plastic box at the mannequins' feet.
She took out the pulleys, locks, and a section of nylon rope.
"These are designed according to your 'drag training' concept, Mr. Kitahara."
She flipped the suit again, revealing a small loop, attached a lock, and tied on a section of nylon rope.
"The suit is made of composite polyester, strong, durable, and lightweight, weighing 114 g."
"The tungsten alloy weights total 245 kg, exceeding Oguri Cap's maximum load. But since they're modular, you can adjust the weight as needed."
"All drag mechanisms can use ropes. These specially-made nylon ropes are only finger-thick but don't worry—they can support up to 10 tons in total. This is the calculated theoretical minimum."
"Depending on physique, horse girls generally drag 1–5 tons. Like the weights, adjust during training as appropriate."
At this point, Tomomi Konan finally smiled gently.
"I trust you, Mr. Kitahara. Belno Light has praised you more than once before, and your abilities are well-known. My earlier reminders were somewhat unnecessary."
"This is the introduction to the equipment. If you have questions, I can explain further." She bowed deeply.
Kitahara had nothing more to ask.
Tomomi Konan had already explained thoroughly, and as her daughter, Belno Light certainly knew how to use the suit. There was no need to trouble her further.
"If there's anything left, it's only my gratitude, Mrs. Konan."
Kitahara bowed deeply, grateful. "This request was presumptuous of me, yet you've been so attentive… oh, and I hadn't yet discussed costs. This is a good time—"
"No need to mention costs," Tomomi Konan smiled and shook her head.
"This design is interesting. I was planning to launch new horse girl training equipment, and you've provided such a great product. I'm truly delighted."
"If possible, after Oguri Cap personally tests it, I'll do market research. Perhaps we can launch this as a new product."
"When that time comes, I hope you and Oguri Cap can be the product's endorsers. Regarding fees, I'd actually hope you'd give a discount on the endorsement!"