Tia’s wings weren't just for decoration; she could actually fly.
For that reason, she always wore trousers under her white dress. She wasn't about to go around flashing her panties like a character in a manga or an anime.
Flap, flap, flap...
Her flight speed was apparently decent, but since it was physically draining, she didn't take to the skies very often. This was especially true after she had flown too close to the fields and gotten tangled in the silk spun by Zabuton and her children. After exposing herself in such a pathetic state about three times, she had become much more cautious.
The wings on her back were retractable, appearing and disappearing at her whim. I didn't understand the logic behind it, so I decided not to think too deeply on the matter. Between "another world" and "magic," those two concepts made just about anything possible.
Similarly, Lu could also fly. In her case, she could stay aloft even without wings. However, she claimed she wasn't particularly good at it, so that was likely the truth. I occasionally caught her practicing whenever she thought I wasn't around.
Incidentally, just like Tia, she had caused quite a bit of trouble for Zabuton and the others by getting caught in their webs on several occasions.
When it came to cooking, Lu, Tia, and Ria were all roughly on the same level. Their repertoire consisted almost entirely of either grilling or boiling. However, the crops grown here tasted significantly better than anything found elsewhere, so no one ever complained. On the contrary, I received nothing but praise.
I was happy to hear it, but I knew it was all thanks to the Universal Farming Tool. I offered a prayer toward the Shrine I’d built into the large tree. I had no intention of forcing my faith on the others, but after seeing me pray, Lu and the girls began to treat the Shrine with respect as well.
Come to think of it, I wondered what the religions of this world were like. I suspected Tia might be knowledgeable on the subject, given she was of the Angel Race. I decided to ask her whenever we had some free time.
Beyond just grilling and boiling, I knew how to steam and deep-fry. I also knew variations like stir-frying and simmering. My options were limited due to a lack of proper utensils and seasonings, and the fact that I still didn't have milk or eggs, but it meant I ended up being the primary cook more often than not.
I didn't mind the work, but I did wonder why none of the women ever tried to learn the techniques from me.
As an aside, I’d realized a mistake I had made: pepper. That was a plant. I should be able to grow it with the Universal Farming Tool. It was too late to start this year, but I definitely wanted to get my hands on some pepper next season, along with lemons, wasabi, sesame, chili peppers, ginger, and olives. Thinking about it, almost all seasonings came from plants.
Then came winter.
I holed up in my sleeping quarters, the cabin, doing side work like carving wood and stone tools. With Lu and Tia living there too, things felt a bit cramped. I had originally only designed the place for one person, after all. Next spring, I would have to build a much larger house to serve as our home.
Lu and Tia spent their time on magical preparations that I didn't quite understand. To my eyes, it looked like they were making herbal medicine. They had gathered the materials during the summer and autumn and stored them in the Cellar. Apparently, those two also felt the current living situation was too tight, as they had been pestering me for a new house and a cabin to serve as a Research Room. We spent our evenings discussing the potential floor plan.
Ria and the other High Elves also stayed inside their Log House during the winter. I had distributed food and Firewood to them before the snow began to fall, so they were doing fine. I’d made arrangements for them to contact me if any problems arose.
During the winter months, Ria and her group spent their time making small items out of grass and straw. They were mass-producing Baskets and Bags. Since the wooden trays and boxes I made were quite heavy, their lighter crafts were a huge help.
Kuro and the pack were in full relaxation mode in their shed. Zabuton herself wasn't anywhere to be seen, likely hibernating for the season. However, she had produced a large amount of absorbent towel-like cloth before she went under, which was a lifesaver. You see, things tended to get a bit... messy when the girls and I were being intimate.
Now then, I wasn't just silently doing manual labor all winter. Entertainment was a necessity. With Lu, Tia, and Ria’s group around, there were many more things we could do together.
I tried making a Reversi set—a staple of another-world stories—and it was quite well-received. It became especially popular among Ria and the other High Elves. I also made a Chess set, which caught the interest of Lu, Tia, and even Kuro’s pack.
To my surprise, Kuro and the others actually understood the rules of Chess. They seemed to grasp Reversi as well, but the flat pieces were difficult for them to pick up with their mouths, so it didn't catch on with the wolves. Chess pieces were much easier to manipulate, so I made a special version with pieces shaped and sized for them to bite and designated it specifically for the pack.
Sometimes, I’d see a fair number of them gathered around a board, enjoying a game. From what I could see, they were probably stronger than me. I decided it was best not to challenge them; I needed to maintain my dignity as the village head. Kuro and the others were smart, so they might have let me win to save face, but I felt like my heart would break if I knew they were going easy on me. Playing terrible Chess with Lu or Tia was more my speed.
"Ah, hey, Lu. Don't try to challenge Kuro."
She didn't listen. She got absolutely destroyed. Mentally, I mean. She stayed depressed for about three days after that.
On clear winter days, I’d go outside to check the Log Fence and the moat for a change of pace. Without Zabuton’s children on patrol, I couldn't afford to be careless. The likes of Kuro and his pack could jump right over the Log Fence or the moat if they really wanted to. I started wondering if it might be better to build a taller wall to surround Ria’s group's house.
I occasionally went into the Forest to see if I could find fresh meat, but I rarely ran into any prey. Usually, the walk just ended as a simple change of scenery.
During one of those outings, I gathered some of the light snow and built a Snowman. Tia’s eyes sparkled when she saw it. From then on, she spent every spare moment she had making her own. I was worried she might get chilblains on her hands, so I used some leftover cloth to sew her a pair of Gloves.