Nart: A Beastman girl. Gatto’s daughter. Urza’s younger sister figure? Torain: A High Ogre. Ann’s son. Isree: Urza’s schoolmate. Aurora: An Angel. Tiselle’s younger sister. Rosemaria: An Angel. Daughter of Granmaria. Laladel: An Angel. Daughter of Kudel. Tolmane: An Angel. Daughter of Corone.
Alfred seemed to be heading out again with Lilius, Rigul, and Ratte. They were apparently visiting Village One today, and the number of Kuro’s children acting as escorts was quite high. I warned them not to fall into the river on the way and told them to be careful.
The High Elf escorts followed a short distance behind. The poles they were using to walk over the snow were longer than the last time I had seen them; I wondered if they were truly all right. Their gait was exaggerated, lifting their legs high with every step, and combined with their thick, puffy winter gear, they looked like entirely different creatures. Still, perhaps it functioned as a proper form of camouflage. I left the children in their care.
After seeing Alfred and the others off, I headed to the mansion’s recreation room. A crowd had gathered in one corner. In the center was a mahjong table surrounded by Isree, Urza, Nart, and Torain.
"Is this a children's tournament?" I asked.
"No. It is the Strongest Position Deciding Match," Draim, who was watching nearby, informed me. Apparently, the table consisted of the top players from recent sessions.
I was impressed. Leaving Isree aside, it was surprising to see that Urza, Nart, and Torain had become so proficient. I watched for a while, but there were many drawn hands where no one managed to go out. Even when someone did win, the points were minimal. It did not seem particularly exciting to watch.
"What are you saying? This is a battle of the highest level," Draim countered. "Look, whenever someone is about to put together a large hand, the other three move to crush them. Right now, Urza has the advantage. Realizing that, Nart and Torain are calling 'Pon' and 'Chi' to skip her turns and reduce her chances. In the meantime, Isree is looking for an opening."
"Won't that just result in Isree winning?"
"If Isree ignored their teamwork and won big right now, the other three would focus on her exclusively for the rest of the game. Even she likely wants to avoid that. She is intentionally sabotaging her own hand’s value to win cheap."
I see. But then, how did the match ever reach a conclusion?
"Naturally, it won't settle like this forever. Eventually, someone will make a break for it. Everyone here is waiting to see when that moment arrives."
Even spectating required a certain degree of skill, it seemed. It was entirely over my head.
"By the way, Draim. What about that table over there?"
Dos, Giral, Domaim, and Kuorun were gathered around another table. I wondered if they were being taught the game.
"That is the Weakest King Deciding Match. Technically, my father was designated as the loser, but he refused to accept it. He dragged in some people who aren't familiar with mahjong to keep the match going."
Ah, I see. So Draim had managed to escape.
"I have lived here for a long time, after all. I have had more practice than the others."
"That is good to hear."
"Let me ask you something as well. What are Alfred and the others up to, walking around like that?"
"Oh, they're going around telling people about their lives at the Royal Capital. Not everyone stays in the mansion, after all."
"He is personally going around to tell them?"
"He said that's what he wanted to do."
"I see. He truly is being raised as a king."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. It is a wonderful thing. I won't withhold my cooperation, either. Let me know if you need anything."
"I will. Thanks."
"No need for hesitation! Hahaha!"
I thanked him and watched Isree's match for a little longer.
In one of the mansion’s guest rooms, the cats were gathered in full force—a rare occurrence. There was the father cat, Raigiel, and the mother cat, Jewel. The older sisters were there: Miel, Rael, Uel, and Gael. The younger sisters were present as well: Ael, Hael, Zeel, and Sael. Sougetsu the tiger was nowhere to be seen. It looked like some sort of feline conference.
Actually, it wasn't a meeting. It was just Jewel scolding the sisters. Raigiel looked as if he wanted to escape, but he remained perfectly still, likely fearing that any move would draw Jewel's wrath toward him as well.
Ah, they noticed me. Don't send me "save me" signals, Raigiel. The sisters noticed me too and immediately rushed over to hide... No, they weren't hiding. They were pushing against my legs, essentially offering me up as a distraction to Jewel.
Don't pull me into this. So, why were they being scolded? I checked out the window as they seemed to suggest.
The courtyard was covered in snow, but nothing looked out of the ordinary. Wait. Down there? There were several lumps of snow.
Ah, I see. Snowmen. What must have been a group of snowmen had been brutally demolished.
Did the cats do it? They used them as magic targets, apparently.
Good grief. I did not know who built them, but they had surely put effort into the task. Destroying them was wrong.
"Come on, look like you're actually repenting."
They protested to me.
"Just stay in your reflection pose and listen to Jewel."
Raigiel tapped me. What was it? The snowmen were built by the Angel Race? They had apparently worked hard on them for the young children in the village—Tiselle, Aurora, Rosemaria, Laladel, and Tolmane. They had already finished showing them to the kids, but it would be heartbreaking for the children to see the wreckage. He asked if there was anything I could do.
He had a point.
"Fine. I'll fix them."
I did not know what they originally looked like, so I called out to the Angels. Raigiel came along to apologize with me.
Once I explained the situation, Tia fixed them in an instant with magic. It was impressive.
"It is just an application of Golem Operation magic," she explained.
"Still, those cats are quite something."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I cast defense magic on them so they would not break easily, and I even found traces of explosive gimmicks that would trigger if they were destroyed. The cats managed to break through the defense magic while avoiding the traps. That is no small feat."
What on earth are we building in this village? Don't set up hazardous materials!
"Oh, casting defense magic so snowmen last through the winter is standard practice."
"And the explosives?"
"It is about 'scattering beautifully' when the time comes. Even if you were hugging the snowman, the blast would not be lethal."
"Is that the truth?"
"I would not lie. There are chickens in the courtyard and children walking around."
"I see. Regardless, no more explosive gimmicks. Make sure everyone is informed."
"Yees."
My opinion of the sisters' actions shifted slightly. Perhaps they had attacked because of the dangerous traps inside. They might have been protecting the village's safety. As I thought this while holding Raigiel, he shook his head. No, that was not it at all.
Shortly before sunset, Alfred's group returned. The High Elf guards were walking normally now.
Had something happened? Apparently, the residents of Village One had mistaken the High Elves for monsters and attacked them. Well, even if they were just watching over the kids, from another perspective, it probably looked like monsters were stalking them.
Were there any injuries? None? Alfred had stopped the confrontation immediately. That was a relief. I would have to apologize to Village One later for the scare.
Torain: "Tsumo! Three thousand, six thousand!" Village Head: "That's a massive win. I think the momentum is shifting to Torain." Draim: "No. He did not say 'pardon me' when he went out. Not yet." Village Head: "What does 'pardon me' have to do with anything?" Draim: "It's a declaration! Wait—this is bad! Torain's back is getting sooty!" Village Head: "What? Why? How? Suddenly?" Urza: "Reveal one part, and the rest follows... Chi!" Draim: "Urza’s chant has begun! The tide is about to turn!" Village Head: "I'm asking what you mean by that!" Draim: "Just watch!" Nart: "I think I'll join in now. Pon! And now for a fluid discard of a safe tile." Isree: "Don't announce it's a safe tile as you toss it... Ron. One thousand three hundred." Urza: "Gah, I was shut down." Torain: "That was close... I need to clear the soot from my back while I can."
It was going something like that.
Angel Race A: "Behold, the snowman!" Angel Race B: "Incredible! So majestic!" Angel Race C: "Let's build many massive snowmen to wish for the children's health!" Angel Race D: "Right! Let's give it our all!" Angel Race E: "But since it's snow, won't they break easily?" Angel Race F: "Defense magic is a basic requirement, obviously." Angel Race G: "I see." Angel Race H: "They're finished! Amazing! We did great!" Angel Race I: "But they'll melt come spring, right?" Angel Race J: "Well, that's snow for you." Angel Race K: "It would be unsightly to let them melt into a half-dissolved mess. Let's install self-destruct explosives." Angel Race L: "Great idea! Like this?" Angel Race M: "Perfect! Let's show Tiselle-sama and the others!"
Rosemaria, Laladel, Tolmane: (Squealing with joy) Tiselle: "Wonderful! What beautiful defense magic!" (Very happy) Aurora: "And such precise gimmicks inside!" (Very happy)
—When the snowmen were shown to them.