It was just past noon when I stepped outside. It was freezing, and a shiver ran through my body. It was only natural, considering it was the dead of winter. Even though I had bundled up in heavy clothing to protect myself from the cold, the air still stung my face. I wanted to retreat back indoors immediately, but I forced myself to endure it for a little while longer.
I offered a respectful bow at the Shrine of the Great Tree. I did a quick lap around the perimeter to ensure everything was clean and in order. No problems there. Visiting the shrine used to be part of my morning routine, but because it was winter—or rather, because it was so cold—I had ended up oversleeping. No, I hadn't been asleep that entire time; I had simply put it off until later. I bowed once more as an apology for the delay.
Then, I made a dash back inside. The interior of the Village Head's Mansion was wonderfully warm, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. However, this mansion was so sprawling that it took quite a while just to reach my own room. That was its one real downside.
Once back in my room, I shed several layers of my heavy winter gear. Even without them, the room was plenty warm. My room was reasonably spacious, but a massive bed and a slightly oversized kotatsu claimed a significant portion of the floor. I had placed thick boards under the kotatsu and covered them with a rug, raising the area about ten centimeters above the rest of the floor. Outdoor footwear was strictly forbidden on these boards. Even Kuro and the others made sure to wipe their paws thoroughly before stepping up. Because of this system, most people in the mansion opted for sandals that were easy to slip on and off.
There were already guests at the kotatsu—quite a few of them, actually. First, there were Kuro and Yuki. And alongside them was Kuroni. He had certainly grown; he was now almost the same size as Kuro. Two kittens were perched on top of the kotatsu, and I assumed the other two were tucked away inside. Sure enough, there they were. Hitoe was also inside, curled up alongside the kittens.
"Yes, yes, it's cold, isn't it?"
I closed the cover for them, making sure to remind them to come out before they felt suffocated. Finally, there was my spot, marked by a floor chair. Naturally, it was reserved for my exclusive use, but Aegis, the phoenix chick, was currently sitting there with a look of utter satisfaction.
"I’m sorry, buddy, but that's my seat."
I moved Aegis onto the top of the kotatsu. He gave me a look that clearly asked "Why?" but I sat down in the floor chair regardless and slipped my legs into the warmth. Phew, that felt good. Almost immediately, Aegis hopped onto my head, and Hitoe crawled out from inside the kotatsu to claim a spot on my lap. There, there.
I noticed Zabuton's children were busy preparing something on the ceiling beams. I wondered if I should avoid looking for now. I decided to wait patiently and see what they had in store. As I sat there, a visitor arrived. It was Yoko. She let herself into the kotatsu with the easy familiarity of someone entering their own room. Hitoe noticed her mother and immediately moved over to her lap. I felt a little lonely at the sudden departure, but the Sake Slime came over to take her place. It was incredibly squishy and cold to the touch.
The Sake Slime had clearly been drawn by the sake Yoko was carrying—it was rice wine. I put some ice into a bamboo cup and poured myself a drink.
"Sorry for starting without you. Cheers."
It tasted a bit like a watered-down Japanese sake, which made it very easy to drink. I offered to pour a cup for Yoko as well. We sat there enjoying the drink, making sure Hitoe didn't sneak a taste, and I set aside a portion for the Sake Slime as well.
As we were enjoying the sake, one of Zabuton's children called out to me. It seemed their preparations were complete. They performed a display of group maneuvers using those of Zabuton's children who were still awake. They divided themselves by species and marched in perfect formation, using their silk threads to move through the air in three dimensions. It was like watching a circus performance. It was truly impressive. One of them made a small mistake, but I told them not to worry about it. What mattered was that they kept going.
I watched the children's performance for about five minutes. Yoko, watching from the opposite side, gave me a somewhat exasperated look. Was she jealous? If she was willing to trade the Hitoe on her lap for the Aegis on my head, I told her I’d happily accept that jealousy.
While I was praising Zabuton's children and sipping my sake, a High Ogre maid brought in some food. It was a hot pot for lunch. I had wondered about eating hot pot in the middle of the day, but apparently, it was Yoko's request. Well, there was no rule against it. Following the High Ogre maid, Lu, Tia, Alfred, and Tiselle all joined us for the meal. Kuro, Yuki, and Kuroni graciously moved aside to make room for everyone. The kittens staged a sit-in inside the kotatsu, but given its size, they weren't in the way.
The star ingredient of the hot pot was monkfish brought in from Shashato City. To be precise, it was a fish that looked very similar to a monkfish, but the taste was identical. When I lifted the lid, the aroma of the broth was wonderful. The Chinese cabbage and mushrooms simmering inside looked delicious as well. The only thing missing was a bit of color—some red from a carrot would have been nice—but the flavor was perfect. There was even mochi, and thankfully, there was enough for everyone.
"It’s delicious. Do you want some too, Aegis?"
I didn't mind sharing, but I told him he had to get off my head if he wanted to eat. I also warned him not to dip his beak directly into the pot; I would serve his portion on a small plate. He chirped in agreement, though he seemed to lose interest when he saw the fish head. Perhaps the eyes were too scary for him? I understood the feeling.
"Fine, I'll eat the head. Don't worry about it."
I realized I should probably spend more time talking with my son and daughter. During the winter, we spent so much of our time inside the mansion. It was a perfect opportunity to deepen our family bonds.
The next day, I managed to wake up at a proper time. I headed out toward the shrine. On the way, I spotted Kuroni sitting in the courtyard.
"What's the matter?"
Kuroni gave a single bark. Suddenly, from my left and right, more of Kuro's children appeared and began a display of group maneuvers. It was a magnificent march, and there were so many of them. I wondered if they were trying to compete with the performance Zabuton's children had given the day before. I already knew how incredible they were without a demonstration, but since they had gone to the trouble, I decided to watch until the very end. It was freezing cold, but I endured it for them.