Fracia was Frau’s daughter. She was a gentle girl who loved petting Kuro’s belly.
It was morning. After eating breakfast, I spent a bit of time relaxing. Since it was winter, there wasn’t any major work to do, which left my mind at ease. Still, there were tasks to attend to.
First, I checked the weather outside. It was a clear, sunny day. The snow had accumulated to a depth of about thirty centimeters and looked quite beautiful. However, that pristine snow had already been disturbed. Judging by the footprints, they were likely the younger generation of Kuro’s children. The older wolves tended to be more selective, choosing paths where the snow was thinner.
Mixed in with those paw prints were the distinct tracks of skis. Judging by the width, they were probably children’s skis. There were several sets of tracks, so I assumed the children had gone out for a run with Kuro’s children acting as their escorts. My immediate concern was whether they had slipped away without telling anyone, but when I checked with the High Ogre maids, they confirmed that Alfred, Lilius, Rigul, and Ratte had already departed. They had properly reported their destination and purpose before leaving. They really were such well-behaved boys.
“Furthermore, two additional guards have accompanied them,” one of the maids added.
I hadn't noticed any other footprints. Since the guards were apparently High Elves, I wondered if they had used magic. I made a mental note to ask about it later.
Seeing as the children were safe, I decided to head out myself. It was certainly cold, but with the sun shining, it wasn't quite freezing. Besides, I was properly bundled up in winter gear.
My goal was the ranch area. While my primary objective was to check on the horses, cows, goats, sheep, and pigs, I also planned to inspect the entirety of the ranch. I couldn't risk leaving anything damaged, like what had happened with the cow shed.
As I walked, I spotted some large footprints that hadn't sunk very deep into the snow. These were the tracks of the snow boots used by the High Elves and the beastman girls. Since there were spikes visible in the impressions, these likely belonged to the beastmen. The tracks led straight toward the ranch, so I was sure of it.
When I arrived, I found the beastman girls there just as I had expected. It seemed they were already busy inspecting the animal sheds. Caring for the livestock was a task that couldn't be skipped even in rain or snow, so someone checked the sheds daily, but visibility was often poor during storms. A clear day like today was much better for a thorough inspection.
I considered offering a hand, but they were already finished. It seemed I had arrived too late.
“Not at all, Village Head,” one of the girls said with a smile. “Just having you here makes the animals happy.”
Was that really true? I had a feeling the goats were just looking for another chance to headbutt me.
As I looked around with that thought in mind, the Unicorn and Pegasus came trotting over to me. I patted them as they approached.
“What’s the matter, you two?”
I got the distinct impression they were worried I was forgetting about them while focusing on the regular horses.
“Hahaha, I haven't forgotten you. I just lumped everyone together under the term ‘horses.’”
They seemed to give me a look that said, "Don't put us in the same category." I supposed they were a bit different, even if they looked similar.
“…Alright, I understand. No lumping you together. I’ll treat you as separate entities from now on. Is that better?”
They seemed satisfied with that.
On closer inspection, I noticed both the Unicorn and Pegasus were dressed up in what looked like horse blankets. The one for the Pegasus was specially designed so as not to interfere with its wings. The embroidery was exquisite, which gave me a good idea of their origin.
“Did Zabuton and the others make these for you?”
They nodded.
“I hope you thanked them properly. Good. Take care of those blankets.”
I finished patrolling the ranch area and confirmed there were no abnormalities. The snowfall hadn't been too heavy, but I cleared the accumulation off the shed roofs anyway and broke off the icicles hanging from the eaves. They were dangerous, after all.
Incidentally, it was a village secret that a certain animal, while trying to lick an icicle for water, had its tongue and mouth freeze to the ice, rendering it unable to move. To preserve that animal’s dignity, we had all agreed not to speak of the incident outside the village.
Suddenly, a horse nudged me firmly with its head. I hadn't even said it out loud!
On my way back to the mansion, I spotted Alfred, Lilius, Rigul, and Ratte on their skis. It looked like they were heading out for another round. Perhaps they had just finished lunch? The wolves acting as their escorts noticed me and alerted the boys. I waved and offered a greeting as they passed. It was a shame we were going in opposite directions.
However, I noticed a strange sight following behind them—some fluffy, round figures. They were the High Elf escorts, bundled up in white winter gear. What caught my eye wasn't their clothing, but their feet. The High Elves were wearing thin rods attached to the soles of their boots. They were like stilts… or perhaps more like one-tooth geta that didn't require hands.
This explained why I hadn't seen their footprints earlier; the rods only left narrow, deep holes in the snow that I had overlooked. The rods were surprisingly long, appearing to be about a meter in length.
I stopped one of the passing High Elves to ask about the contraptions. They explained that it was a measure to avoid stepping on hidden dangers or strange objects concealed beneath the snow.
“We’ve only just introduced them,” the elf explained. “We’re going to test them out for the rest of the year. If they prove effective, we might recommend them to the other races.”
I saw. It looked like a heavy burden on the ankles, but the rods were actually secured to their shins and designed to be detached with a single touch in an emergency. This minimized the risk of injury. The only real drawbacks were the time required to master them and the fact that they looked rather amusing. While I had to agree on the latter point, they wouldn't be using them if they weren't practical.
“Magic beasts and monsters sometimes hide under the snow, after all,” the elf added.
“Caution is always good.”
“Yes. Though, to be honest, Master Kuro’s children usually exterminate anything before we even get close, so we don't really get a chance to shine—or even a chance to step on anything dangerous.”
“Wait, are there that many of Kuro’s pups active during the winter?”
“Oh, yes. Whenever we mention heading into the forest, the usual number of Master Kuro’s children comes along as escorts.”
“Is that so?”
“Since we don't go into the forest as often during the winter, I suppose they’re just bored and looking for something to do.”
When she put it that way, it made sense. I felt like I needed to rethink my opinion of Kuro and the others a little.
With those thoughts in mind, I returned to the mansion, only to find Kuro lying on his back in my room, snoring loudly. Around him, Yuki and the pups were sleeping peacefully.
I quietly picked up the sleeping Kuro. He was quite heavy. I did my best to carry him toward the door, intending to take him outside… but he woke up halfway there. Our eyes met.
He immediately bolted.
“Father, you shouldn't bully Kuro,” Fracia scolded, having witnessed the scene.
Fracia was a kind girl. But I wasn't bullying him; I just thought I’d let him play in the snow for a bit.
“If Kuro doesn't want to do it, you shouldn't make him.”
“You’re right. It was just a little prank.”
“Pranks are also bad.”
She had me there. I felt a wave of regret. Before I knew it, Kuro had circled back and was hiding behind Fracia, looking quite smug as if to say, "I knew I could count on her." I apologized to him and we made up.
“Fine, fine. You can use the kotatsu as much as you want for a while.”
Though I suspected he would have done so even without my permission.
Zabuton's Child: “We finished the horse blankets!” Pegasus: “These are great! They’re warm and even repel insects!” Unicorn: “Oh, insect repellent too? Wait… insect repellent?” Zabuton's Child: “Well, taxonomically speaking, spiders aren't insects, so it’s fine!” Horse: “Don't get bogged down in the details in a fantasy world.”