After dinner, most of the women were away on various errands. Most of them had gone to the hot springs. It had been a while since I was truly alone. No, they were probably just giving me some space. I appreciated the gesture.
I settled into the kotatsu in my room. It was nothing more than a table with a quilt draped over it, but that was enough to keep me perfectly warm. It felt incredibly cozy. Spread across the table were mandarins, dried sweet potatoes, and a small barrel of sake. If I had a TV, I’d likely be zoning out to a variety show, but we didn't have those here. It was a minor shame.
But it was fine. I wouldn't get bored anyway.
The kittens were the first to join me. Since they were born this spring, they were about nine months old now. They’d certainly grown. Even though they’d crawled into the kotatsu after me, they were spoiled enough to swat at my legs whenever they thought I was in their way.
"Yeah, yeah, how's that?" I adjusted my position. All four of them were getting so big.
Their father let out a meow and lowered his head as if bowing in apology.
"Don't worry about it," I said. "Aren't you getting in? You don't have to hold back."
I lifted a corner of the quilt to invite him, but the kittens inside immediately erupted into a chorus of protests. I wasn't sure if they were complaining about the cold air or if they just didn't want their dad intruding on their space.
...Being a father is a thankless job.
"Fine, come up here onto my lap instead."
Next came Kuro. He lay down beside me as if it were his birthright, so I reached out to stroke his back. I knew what he wanted.
"A little firmer, right?"
Kuro shifted from a prone position onto his side. He wanted his flanks rubbed after his back. What a needy boy.
Before I knew it, the Sake Slime had appeared. It was eyeing my sake on the table.
"Hey now, don't drink straight from the bottle. That’s my cup. If you want some, go get your own."
...Ah, it already had one. Talk about being prepared.
"Fine, fine, let me pour you a drink."
While I was pouring, a piece of dried sweet potato lifted off the table and floated into the air. Looking closer, I spotted a thin silk thread. I looked up and saw several of Zabuton's children perched on the ceiling beams, each clutching a heat retention stone. They probably weren't actually trying to steal the potato; they just wanted to let me know they were there.
"I know, I know. There’s no way I’d forget you guys. You don't have to dance to get my attention. Look, the one on the end is about to—whoa!"
A thread caught him just in time.
"Don't give me that 'Yeah!' pose. That was straight out of a comedy routine. Don't do anything dangerous. You can have the sweet potatoes, but make sure you share."
I reached for a mandarin myself—only to find Draim sitting across from me, already peeling one. He didn't even flinch when the kittens attacked his legs under the table. Is that why they've switched to attacking me?
"Alright, alright, I'm moving my feet." I looked at him. "So, what happened, Draim?"
"I went to see my granddaughter, but my daughter treated me like a nuisance."
"...Would you like another mandarin?"
"Much appreciated."
I understood why he was so obsessed with Lananon, but she was still a baby. He shouldn't fuss over her quite so much. This was Rusty's first child, after all. If one were to ask about Raimeiren doting on Hiichiro, well, she was practically acting as a second mother. Hakuren didn't seem to mind, either. Meanwhile, Gral—who clearly had her sights set on Hiichiro—had to contend with two formidable mothers. She certainly had her work cut out for her. Hahaha.
I wasn't particularly worried about Hiichiro, but I did worry about Lananon. When the time comes for her to marry... no, let's not go there. I’m not letting her marry anyone.
I suddenly realized that Yoko had joined us. She slid into the kotatsu without hesitation, unceremoniously evicting the kittens from their warm spot.
"Don't be so mean to them," I started to say, but before the complaint could leave my mouth, she placed an extra barrel of sake and some snacks on the table.
...I had no further complaints. Sorry, kittens. I'll take the heat for this one. Displaced from the table, the kittens began to settle themselves on top of the lounging Kuro.
"Are you okay, Kuro? Aren't they heavy?" I patted him. He really was a kind uncle.
Yoko gave me a brief status update on Village Five. Everything was proceeding smoothly. As for the matter regarding the civil officials we’d discussed, plans were underway to establish a document processing agency in Village Five. Once that was up and running, it would significantly lighten the load for the Civil Official Girls. Frau was also delighted, mentioning she had several acquaintances she could recruit to Village Five without reservation. Perhaps it was because Village Five was officially part of the Demon Kingdom Territory. I had a feeling that agency would become a pivotal institution.
The snacks Yoko had brought were boiled white asparagus with mayonnaise and some mochi. Since we grew white asparagus in the Great Tree Dungeon, she must have harvested some on her way back. It was delicious. The mochi was from the batch we’d pounded at the beginning of winter. It looked like she’d just grabbed some of the raw, pre-portioned pieces.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll toast them."
I gently moved the cat off my lap and stood up. The moment I vacated my spot, the kittens that had been sleeping on Kuro made a mad dash for it. It seemed I no longer had a seat to return to.
As I toasted the mochi on the wire rack over the brazier, I caught sight of a large, grey shape racing through the darkness outside. It was the Fenrir. It was hard to believe how much that little pup had grown; she was over three meters tall now. I suppose the main differences between her and an Inferno Wolf were her sheer size and the lack of horns.
She had given birth to two pups at the end of the summer. Both took after her, with fur as white as snow. They were about three months old now, but still quite small—roughly the size of house cats. One of Kuro’s children was the one looking after them. The father. There had been rumors about the two of them for a long time, but it looked like they had successfully bridged the gap between their species.
Come to think of it, between myself and Lu, Tia, Ria, and Ann... wait. I hadn't fathered a child with anyone of my own race—that is, a human—yet.
...Well, it wasn't a problem. I already had plenty of children. Although, I was well aware that more were expected of me. Children are a gift from God. I'll just leave it to luck.
Anyway, the Fenrir pups were being raised in a corner of the hut used by Kuro's children. They seemed completely unfazed by the cold, running around outside with boundless energy even in the dead of winter. It looked like the father was having a rough time of it. Ah, that blur I saw earlier must have been him chasing one of them down. He was now trotting back to the hut with a white cub dangling from his mouth. I'm sure the mother has her hands full, too.
I glanced back at Yoko and Draim, who were busy drinking together. They looked like they were taking it easy. Well, maybe just for the moment. I was sure they both had their own struggles behind the scenes. Yeah, definitely.
When I brought the toasted mochi over to the table, Yoko reached out and ate them without a second thought. She polished off two in an instant. She looked like she was enjoying them, so I didn't mind.
Just as I was about to start on the next batch, I heard a flurry of loud, energetic footsteps approaching. Urza, Alfred, Tiselle, Gral, and Hitoe all burst into the room. They were supposed to be at the hot springs with the rest of the women, but they must have come back a bit early.
The moment Hitoe spotted Yoko, she rushed over. Her tail was wagging so frantically it was hilarious. Seeing that, Alfred and Tiselle came to my side.
"Hahaha. There, there."
Urza and Gral dove into the kotatsu without a moment's delay. Once again, the kittens were evicted from their warm sanctuary. Their meows of protest were quite loud.
Hahaha. It really was a relaxing night.