It was the day after our return to the Village of the Great Tree.
Now that the children were no longer grounded, they were racing through the mansion with boundless energy. I warned them not to go outside; though the blizzard had passed, it was still biting cold. I was glad the house was large enough to accommodate their play.
I decided to follow Ruincia’s advice and reward the children with Reward Medals. I’d given it some thought and realized that the best way to honor them was to treat them like adults. Those who had actually participated in the fighting received three medals each. Alfred and Tiselle, who hadn't been there, didn't get any. I worried they might be upset, but they accepted the decision with mature, understanding nods. To make up for it, I promised I would find another way for them to earn medals later.
Hiichiro and Gural hadn't been in Village Five, but since they helped defend Draim’s Nest, I gave them two medals each. It might have been a bit indulgent, but Hiichiro did bring home that Huge Bear, and both Draim and Hakuren were eager for me to praise them. Honestly, I’d assumed those two were just there as observers. Is it really okay to let them join in on fights? I suppose as long as Draim and Hakuren were watching over them, they would be fine.
Apparently, that Huge Bear was a King Bear, a creature known for going on winter rampages. When I displayed it in the foyer, Urza looked at it with pure envy. I had to remind her not to go sneaking into the Forest on her own.
I handed out the medals last night so the children could think about how to spend them over the winter. However, I felt the need to clarify one point: "I’m restricting exchanges for weaponry and alcohol."
This was met with a chorus of boos. I told them that while I understood they wanted their own gear, they were still growing. Anything they bought now wouldn't fit in a few months. They would have to stick with the equipment I provided for now. I wasn't taking the medals away, so they had plenty of time to deliberate.
Thinking back on that conversation, I made my way to the kitchen to figure out what to do with the seafood Michael-san had sold me. Most of it just needed to be categorized into sashimi, grilled, fried, or hot pot. There were a few fish I didn’t recognize, so I consulted with the High Ogre Maids.
This one looked like cod, so it went to the hot pot pile. This other one... well, it was a two-meter-long slab that looked like a ray, but it was definitely a flounder. We would try it as sashimi, and the rest would be meunière—fried in butter and wheat flour. That was bound to be good. Probably. The eel would be kabayaki, of course.
An anglerfish-like creature caught my eye. I had high hopes for its flavor. The cooking method? Hot pot, naturally.
I wanted to dry the smaller fish, so I considered asking Lu to build me some sort of magic dryer. Then I remembered I’d banned her from research for now. It wouldn't do to tempt her after giving the order. I would wait until her punishment was over; until then, I would just have to sun-dry them the old-fashioned way.
I set out some boards, lined up the fish, and angled them toward the sun. Almost immediately, Aegis landed on one. "Sorry, Aegis, this isn't a bird feeder."
From inside the mansion, Miel and Uel—two of the Older Sister Cats—were watching me with intense interest. I told them not to get any ideas; I’d already set aside fish for them. They seemed to argue that "stolen" fish tasted better, but I threatened to tell Jewel if they touched them. Instead, I put them on guard duty.
Next were the bean sprouts and asparagus. I headed down to the fields in the Great Tree Dungeon. Arako and her fellow Arachne were tending them now. I grabbed some sprouts, but the asparagus wasn't quite ready yet. There was also a field of mystery mushrooms, but the colors were a bit too vibrant for comfort. When I asked Arako if they were safe, she said they were "tingly and delicious." That "tingly" part worried me, so I took a sample to show the maids.
"This is a Labyrinth Porcini," one explained, her face pale. "Also known as the Demon King Killer."
I asked if it was actually lethal, but she said it was just so delicious that people were known to collapse from overeating. They weren't poisonous; they were a rare delicacy. When I told them the dungeon was full of them, a squad of maids grabbed baskets and bolted into the dungeon. I just hoped they would leave some for the Arachne.
The sautéed Labyrinth Porcini we had for dinner was indeed heavenly. I could see why it would lay a Demon King low. Still, the neon red, blue, and black marble pattern was a bit much for me. I found myself preferring the bean sprouts sautéed with it.
That night, I went to bed alone. Since Lu and the others were still serving their ban, everyone else was keeping their distance out of politeness. I tried to keep my mind clear of any stray thoughts. Not long after I lay down, Rael, another Older Sister Cat, came to find me. She wasn't looking for a place to sleep; she was trying to tell me something.
I sat bolt upright. I’d left the fish outside!
I hurried out with a maid to bring them in, but the count was off. Rael led me to the guest room, where I found Malbit toasting my dried fish over a brazier with a bottle of sake on the kotatsu. I gave her a light bonk on the head as penance.
Since I was wide awake now, I decided to join her. Drinking alone with her felt like a recipe for trouble, so I invited Flora and Yoko, who were still up. Then Lu, Tia, Hakuren, Raimeiren, and Ruincia all smelled the alcohol and joined in. It turned into a full-blown party.
Morning came far too quickly, and the children caught us. I apologized, explaining that we weren't intentionally excluding them, even if we had been playing mahjong, darts, and mini bowling. To make it up to them, I promised a party for the children tonight.
Then I saw Donovan watching me with those puppy-dog eyes. I hadn't meant to leave the dwarves out; it had just been a late-night coincidence. So, I settled on a plan: the kids get a party tonight, and the adults get a banquet tomorrow.