With the weather taking a turn for the worse, the Eagle arrived to tuck Aegis, the Phoenix Chick, away inside the kotatsu in my room. Why my room, of all places? And it wasn't as if Aegis was being particularly quiet about his new hiding spot, either.
Actually, that wasn't even the point. Seeing the Eagle settle in beside him convinced me that the storm was the real deal, and I hurriedly sent word to the villagers. Shortly after, Ria the High Elf and Tia of the Angel Race confirmed the anomaly, and a report arrived from Village Four high above.
Half a day later, the world outside the mansion was unrecognizable. A massive blizzard had descended, the snow raging with terrifying intensity.
I was glad I’d already ushered the livestock—the cows, horses, goats, sheep, and chickens—into their sheds. It would have been far too dangerous for them to be outside in this. They were safe in their stalls now; it might be a tight fit, but I hoped they’d bear with the cramped quarters for a while.
It wasn't just the livestock, either. I’d brought Kuro’s children, who usually patrolled the grounds, into the sheds and the mansion. When I was ushering them in, they’d looked at me as if I were being overly dramatic about a bit of wind, but now, watching the whiteout through the windows, their faces were filled with relief. I couldn't say for sure about Kuro or Yuki, but this was likely the first time the younger generation born in the village had seen a storm this size. It was certainly a first for me.
The Forest Bees were proving their resilience, having already prepped their nests with extra boards to block the wind and snow before winter hit. As for Zabuton, who was sleeping soundly atop the Great Tree, her children who were still awake assured me she was perfectly fine. That was a weight off my mind.
Red Armor and White Armor, our usual gatekeepers, had retreated into the mansion as well. I didn't mind one bit—I told them to carry out their sentry duties from somewhere warm.
The mansion itself stood firm against the gale. However, since the windows might be vulnerable, we’d sealed them with wooden boards. The interior was now lit only by magic and enchanted tools, but that didn't bother anyone. We had plenty of food and fuel stockpiled; even if the blizzard lasted a month, we’d be fine. Though, if it did last that long, I’m sure other problems would crop up.
Travel for the Centaur liaisons was officially suspended. We’d luckily established protocols for this in advance, so everything went smoothly. They seemed eager enough to brave the winds, but I’d insisted they avoid unnecessary risks. Village Four was high enough to be unaffected by the weather, and Village Five was far enough south that the conditions were different, so there was little cause for concern there.
What I really worried about were Village One, Two, and Three. I worried for the hot spring area as well. The Death Knights would likely be fine, but I wondered about the Lion Family. I’d told them to take shelter in the guest house if things got bad, but in a blizzard like this, there was nothing I could do but pray for their safety. Once the storm died down, I planned to check on everyone immediately.
Until then, we were essentially under siege by the snow.
In the hall, the sheltered wolves had split into groups to pass the time. Chess was the big hit, with crowds of spectators gathered around the limited number of boards. Ball games were the next favorite, though they tended to get rowdy until a sharp glare from one of the High Ogre maids quieted them down—at least for a few minutes. Among the groups taking naps, I spotted several kittens curled up with the wolves. They really did get along wonderfully.
In the guest room, Dos, Raimeiren, Giral, Malbit, Ruincia, and Progenitor-san were huddled around a kotatsu, happily working their way through the alcohol supply. It was a scene that made the blizzard outside feel like a distant dream. Still, if the absolute worst happened, they were a formidable line of defense. Since I preferred to think of them that way, I really wished they’d slow down on the drinking—especially Malbit. She seemed well past her limit.
I’d asked Yoko to stay at Village Five, since the trek back through the dungeon to the teleportation gate would be impossible now. The children had also been moved there with their mothers. The kids hadn't minded the move, but the mothers had put up a real fight; they weren't happy about leaving me behind.
However, I felt that a leader’s place was in his village during a crisis. My sense of duty might be a bit unconventional, but I couldn't just abandon the wolves and spiders. I’d braced myself for a struggle, but since the mansion was so sturdy, my anxiety had faded. In fact, I was almost enjoying the spectacle, much like a child getting excited during a typhoon. Of course, since most of the residents were still here, daily life hadn't actually changed that much. The High Ogre maids were already busy prepping dinner.
In my room, besides the Eagle and Aegis, I was joined by Kuro, Yuki, the Sake Slime, Raigiel, Jewel, and a large group of Zabuton’s children. They cleared a spot for me in one corner of the kotatsu, and I gratefully crawled in.
"Hahaha. Sake Slime, I appreciate you bringing me a drink, but where exactly did you get this? This was from my private stash hidden in the room, wasn't it?"
I looked closer; nearly half the bottle was already gone.
"Wait, it wasn't just the slime?"
When I looked around, Kuro, Aegis, and Raigiel all averted their eyes, suddenly finding the walls very interesting.
You guys...
The blizzard had begun around noon, and it didn't let up until the following evening.