Just before winter set in, I paid a visit to the hot spring area.
Accompanying me were three High Elves, Kuro, Yuki, and Draim. While I certainly wanted to soak in the baths, my primary goal was to perform maintenance on the facilities. After all, things inevitably wear down with use... or so I thought.
To my surprise, the place wasn't really damaged at all. Had Progenitor-san done something with magic during his last visit? That would explain it.
In that case, I decided to focus my efforts on cleaning. While the Death Knights handled the basic tidying up, their main duty was security, patrolling the perimeter of the hot springs. Recently, the lions had begun accompanying them, which significantly expanded the area they could keep under watch. That was a welcome development.
Their general policy was to hunt any monsters or magic beasts that ventured too close. Apparently, the lions were quite insistent on claiming the area as their territory, but a certain number of intruders still managed to wander in. Perhaps their pride had been wounded by these trespassers, as the lions' attacks had become quite relentless. Or maybe they simply didn't have the luxury of holding back? Either way, I made a mental note to tell them not to overexert themselves.
I also checked in on the Death Knights to make sure they knew when to pull back, though they seemed reliable enough. I asked about the condition of their wooden armor and shields, and since there were no problems, I felt at ease.
After soaking in the hot spring and letting my body cool down, I slipped my legs into the kotatsu in the inn’s main hall. Ah, there really was nothing quite like a kotatsu. I placed some mandarins on the table and spent a little time relaxing. I was eventually joined by Draim and the High Elves once they finished their own baths, and we all lounged together.
Kuro and Yuki took turns getting under the table, as it wasn't large enough to accommodate both of them at once. Even the Death Knights made use of the kotatsu after removing their armor. As for the lions... well, I felt a bit bad for them. They couldn't fit. I thought about trying to build a dedicated, lion-sized kotatsu for them sometime in the future.
Suddenly, one of the Death Knights on patrol burst into the room. He was clearly flustered, signaling an emergency. The relaxed atmosphere vanished in an instant. The Death Knight who had been resting in the kotatsu used magic to instantly equip his armor—he looked like a transforming hero from a show.
Kuro, Yuki, and the lions led the way outside, with me, the High Elves, and Draim following close behind. We found one of the lion cubs that had been out on patrol. Seeing him again, I was struck by how much he’d grown. Fortunately, the cub didn't look injured, which was a relief.
The Death Knight pointed toward a massive insect the cub was holding in its mouth. My first impression was simply that it was enormous—about a meter long, with a shape resembling a grasshopper.
But then, a sense of unease settled over me. A grasshopper? In the middle of winter? Even for this world, that felt wrong. When I glanced at the High Elves, I saw that their faces had gone pale.
"Village Head, this is bad. We have an emergency on our hands."
"What is it?"
According to the High Elves, the mere presence of this insect at this time of year was a major problem.
"This is a magic insect known as a Lof Eater," they explained.
They breed during the winter months, and when spring arrives, they form massive swarms and take flight. These dangerous creatures are capable of devouring everything in their path. They sounded like locusts, but apparently, they were much worse—they would even eat things that weren't traditionally considered food.
"This is the first time we've seen a Lof Eater in this forest... leaving them alone is far too dangerous."
"The only solution is to find their nests during the winter and destroy them."
The High Elves suggested returning to the village immediately to call for reinforcements. The Death Knights were also eager to help, gesturing that they could even summon Bone Soldiers as temporary reinforcements if needed. I was actually a little curious to see that, but one of the High Elves scolded me for being too idle.
I suppose I should have been more panicked, given how worried the High Elves and Death Knights were. However, I noticed that Kuro, Yuki, and Draim remained perfectly calm. Draim soon explained why.
"The King of Insects in this forest will not remain silent. There is no need for concern."
As if to reinforce Draim’s point, Kuro nudged his head toward the upper canopy of the forest behind us. I looked up and saw them—Zabuton's Children. There were hundreds of them, ranging in size from small to large.
Noticing my gaze, a particularly large one—Makura—raised a leg and gave me a wave. Then, the entire group began to move in unison. It seemed they were taking care of the problem before going into hibernation.
And just like that, the threat of the Lof Eaters vanished. They had probably been handling these things in secret all along. I felt a deep sense of gratitude toward them.
With the crisis averted, we returned to the hot spring and went back to lounging in the kotatsu. As for the Lof Eater the cub had brought back... oh, he'd already eaten it? Apparently, it didn't taste very good. He let me know he'd much prefer actual meat.
"Fair enough. Let's have yakiniku for dinner tonight then."
"I don't mind the yakiniku," Draim noted, "but is it wise for you to be staying out here?"
I nodded, knowing exactly what he meant. With Lu, Tia, Ria, and Hakuren away on an errand for Progenitor-san, I had no freedom at night back in the village. It made me realize just how much they had been managing things for me.
The other reliable candidates—Sena, Frau, and Rusty—were all pregnant, and I couldn't possibly place that kind of burden on them. That left Ann, Flora, and Ya. Ann was completely occupied with Alfred and Tiselle, while Flora generally kept her distance from those sorts of matters, preferring her research into magic and fermented foods. As for Ya... well, she was a bit too proactive for her own good.
To be honest, part of the reason I had fled to the hot springs was that the nighttime pressure had started spilling over into the daytime. I found myself wishing Lu and the others would return soon—though I knew that would bring its own set of complications.
After enjoying our yakiniku dinner, we took our time heading back to the village. A few days later, I consulted with Frau and officially asked Holly to take over the management of my personal schedule. It was a lot to ask, but I was glad to have the help.