Galf’s wife welcomed his son’s childhood friend with open arms—more like an enthusiastic embrace—and the marriage was settled on the spot.
I wondered if it was really okay to proceed without Galf’s consent, but his wife told me with a bright smile that a husband who abandoned his home during the height of winter had no right to complain.
Galf himself was currently in the middle of some intense training a short distance from Village Five. I honestly thought he should probably just come back home immediately.
Galf’s son and his new fiancée were to stay at an inn for the remainder of the winter. His mother had been so adamant about the arrangement that she even used a Reward Medal to secure it. It wasn’t that she disliked them; it was actually a sign of her consideration. Or, to be blunt, she was clearly hoping for grandchildren.
Hang in there, Galf’s son.
I decided to give him some of the medicine Lu had made. Don’t worry, it wasn't anything suspicious... well, actually, it was. It was exactly that kind of medicine. I’ll leave the details to your imagination, but I’m sure you can guess.
"This should help you out," I told him. "But don’t go drinking it all at once. Save it for when you really need it. That’s a promise between us."
I might have been worrying too much, but even though it had only been three days since they moved into the inn, Galf’s son already looked haggard. I told him that if he had any troubles, he should come talk to me or Gatto. It wasn't good to keep things bottled up.
Indeed, things should not be bottled up.
Back at the Village Head's Mansion, I stood before the women and made a formal declaration.
"Let’s talk," I said. "I believe the village has enough children for the time being."
The result of that discussion was that two more women of the Beastman Race were now pregnant.
Why?!
It happened because we did what we did. I lamented my own lack of willpower.
The snow began to fall. Watching the flakes drift down while soaking in a warm bath was a singular pleasure. For some reason, the Sake Slime had followed me in and was currently lounging in a small wooden basin floating on the water. A bamboo cup filled with sake sat right next to it.
I wondered if I could have a little. The slime obligingly nudged the basin toward me.
"Thanks. Hahaha."
Since it gave it to me so readily, this was almost certainly sake it had "borrowed" from the stores without permission.
"I get it. We’ll go apologize together later. So, how about one more cup?"
I was in the water so long that Kuro eventually came by to check on me. I thanked him for his concern and decided that as long as he was there, I might as well wash him.
"Hahaha! Don’t be shy, Kuro. If I don’t get you clean, Ann will glare at you later. Besides, wouldn’t Yuki be happier if you were nice and scrubbed?"
He seemed to think he was fine since he hadn't been outside lately, but everyone thinks that at some point. Even if you just sit still, your body gets dirty. I told him to give up and let me wash him.
I was definitely a little drunk.
Once Kuro was clean, we both settled into the kotatsu. The Sake Slime had already vanished. I made a mental note to go apologize for the stolen alcohol later.
There were cherry tomatoes on top of the kotatsu. I had left them outside to freeze slightly, making them a refreshing treat for a body warmed by the bath. When I first came up with the idea of growing cherry tomatoes, Kuro’s children had made a huge fuss, thinking the crop was failing to grow properly. It had been quite a chore explaining that they were supposed to be that size.
I personally recommended them because you could eat them without making a mess, but Kuro and the others seemed to prefer the regular-sized ones. That didn't stop them from eating these, though. Kuro waited with his mouth open, so I tossed in about three of them.
The High Ogre maids mentioned they liked them because they didn't require any slicing, which saved on prep time. They seemed perfect for adding a splash of color to a plate, though I couldn't think of a single dish where cherry tomatoes were the main ingredient. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe such a dish just didn't exist.
I noticed a basket of mandarins had appeared on the table. I’d been craving some, so I was grateful. On the other side of the basket, the Fairy Queen had somehow slipped into the kotatsu and was nibbling on a piece of dried sweet potato.
"Hey, don't tickle my feet under there."
Wait, were the kittens in the kotatsu too? That was dangerous. They wouldn't hesitate to attack my feet, even if they were mine.
The four kittens were being unusually clingy and sweet. The reason was simple: their mother, Jewel the Jewel Cat, was pregnant. I’d noticed she’d been unusually quiet lately, and that explained it. I didn't mind, but I really wished they wouldn't do this every single year. Still, I was secretly looking forward to the new kittens.
I didn't dare say that out loud, though. I’d be in trouble if one of the wives asked me with a smile, "Oh, so you're more excited for the kittens than your own children, is that it?"
My thoughts must have leaked out, because the kittens suddenly looked annoyed.
"No, no, even when the new ones are born, you guys will still be important. Hahaha. You’re all going to be big sisters soon, so you have to be reliable."
I turned my attention to the guest. "So, Fairy Queen, what brings you here today?"
"I just came to play," she replied. "But they kicked me out of the other room, saying it was study time."
A High Ogre maid brought the Fairy Queen a cup of warm tea. It wasn't sweetened with sugar, but rather a generous amount of honey; the sweet aroma reached all the way over to my side. I preferred my tea a bit less sweet, but then I realized I didn't have a cup.
"Wait, where’s mine?"
The maid gave me a look.
"Th-The one who stole the sake was the Sake Slime, not me! Well, okay, I drank it too... And yes, it’s technically my sake, but I shouldn't take it without telling the person in charge. I’m sorry I was late to apologize."
The warm tea they eventually brought me was delicious.
While I sipped my tea, I invited the Fairy Queen to a game of Reversi. She turned out to be incredibly strong. Even when Kuro, the kittens, and I pooled our collective wisdom, we couldn't touch her. She was a master.
"Kuro," I whispered. "Go get Kuroyon."
I didn't care about the methods anymore. I only cared about victory. I had no pride left.
Yeah, I was definitely drunk.