Now that our population had grown, I decided to take a moment to reconfirm everyone’s roles.
Ria and the High Elves focused their efforts on carpentry, harvesting the Fields, and hunting in the Forest. When they had a free moment, they headed into the Forest to mine for Iron, which they then processed during the Winter. They were constantly erecting new structures whenever they felt the need; occasionally, I’d stumble across a building I didn’t even know existed. They had completely shattered my preconceived notions of what Elves were supposed to be like. Still, they were incredibly reliable.
Ann and the High Ogre Maids didn't just maintain my House; they visited every home in the village to improve our overall quality of life. Their primary focus was teaching cooking techniques and overseeing the cleaning. They also managed the Inn whenever we didn’t have guests. Lately, they’ve been experimenting with new dishes and processed foods using our harvests. They’re making steady progress, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s a huge help.
Daga and the Lizardmen handled most of the heavy lifting. While the High Elves and High Ogres were strong, they couldn't compete with the Lizardmen's raw power. Working alongside Ann's group, they assisted with various tasks across the village. They also volunteered to look after the Chickens and Cows, so I left those duties in their capable hands. I was truly grateful. Given their nature, they spent much of their time near the River or the Reservoir, but they made sure to sleep in proper beds at night. Interesting.
Kuro and his pack patrolled the village and its outskirts, acting as hunters to secure our meat supply. They were the village’s veteran residents. Even though we couldn't speak, we understood each other well enough that the other villagers relied on them, too. I was a bit stung to learn that one of the High Elves was better at telling Kuro’s pack members apart than I was.
Zabuton and her children were the village’s tailors. Or perhaps I should call them weaving spiders? No one had a single complaint about the fabrics or clothing they produced. Since they lived in the highest points of the village, they also acted as sentries, sounding the alarm whenever something approached. I had nothing but gratitude for them. I should probably bring them some Potatoes soon.
Then there were the three Angels: Granmaria, Kudel, and Corone. They flew over the Forest, maintaining a constant watch over the surrounding area. They were clearly exceptional at their jobs, as they had safely guided every visitor we’d received so far. Initially, they tried to keep someone in the air at all times, but I insisted they take regular breaks. A three-person rotation just isn’t sustainable for constant surveillance.
Lu, Tia, and Flora acted as my secretaries and advisors. Most of the time, they were either pursuing their own research or leading the High Elves, High Ogre Race, and Lizardmen in various projects. Lu and Flora focused on medicine, while Tia handled Magic Research. At my request, Flora was also researching how to produce Miso and Soy Sauce. Culinary interests aside, their research yielded practical results, and they effectively served as the village doctors.
We also had the Slimes, Bees, Chickens, and Cows... let’s just say they were all doing their part in their own way. The Bees provided even more Honey than last year, which was a massive help. When I look back at the days when I was doing everything by myself, the village has certainly grown.
Then there was the matter of my night life.
In the beginning, it was just Lu, then Tia joined us. Next came seven High Elves, followed by another five. I had my reservations, but I figured that much was manageable. But then, the remaining forty-two High Elves joined in, along with Flora and the twenty High Ogre Maids. Every single one of them was a woman. I tried to refuse, telling them it was physically impossible. There’s a limit to how much a man’s heart can take.
Eventually, we compromised: I would only spend time with those who were particularly insistent. Ann was a surprise; she showed a level of aggression that made me wonder what happened to her professional distance.
When Spring arrived, I was overjoyed that Daga and his group showed up alongside the new Angels. Finally, some other men! Was I being possessive? Maybe a little, but the weight of responsibility was far more daunting. Currently, I’m being pursued by enough women to fill an entire classroom, and I’ve already established relationships with quite a few of them. Thanks to the Healthy Body I received from God, I’m not in any danger of physical exhaustion, but my mental state is another story.
That’s when Daga arrived—my beacon of hope! Or so I thought. He quickly dashed my dreams.
"We’re an oviparous species," he explained. Apparently, the males provide sperm packets during a specific season, and the females lay eggs. It seemed my burden wasn't going to be lightened anytime soon.
Incidentally, Masayuki—Kuro's Grandchild—has been expanding his own harem, but he still hasn't caught up to me. Regardless, I have no freedom when the sun goes down.
And then, I received some incredible news: Lu was pregnant.
Whose child was it? Hahaha... Mine, obviously! My mind went completely blank. I started pacing around in a panic, trying and failing to stay calm. Given what we’d been up to, it was the natural outcome, but I still found myself in a state of shock.
Of course, I was overjoyed. The entire village erupted into a celebratory feast. However, that very night, the number of applicants surged. I understood their feelings, but having everyone get pregnant at the exact same time would be a logistical nightmare... Still, I did my best.
Around that time, I received a request to allow spawning in the Reservoir. It turns out Lizardmen reproduce through eggs. I didn't mind them breeding, but doing it directly in the Reservoir seemed unhygienic. So, I dug out a dedicated Spawning Area right next to it.
They only lay a single egg at a time, and since all five of the female Lizardmen laid one, we now have five perfectly round eggs lined up there. They’re mostly left in the water, but the Lizardmen take shifts guarding them until they hatch to protect them from predators. Daga and the others were thrilled, noting that with Kuro and Zabuton around, this was the safest place in the world to raise their young.
I hope they hatch into healthy children.
"Elder sister. Congratulations on your pregnancy."
"Fufu. Thank you."
"So, um... I have one question?"
"What is it?"
"As Vampires... aren't we supposed to multiply through Blood Pacts?"
"I thought so, too. But there's no sense worrying about what's already happened, is there?"