Character Introduction
Nart: The daughter of Gatto (Beastman) and Naci (Human). A beastman girl. She serves as the leader for the children remaining in the village.
Night.
While I was relaxing after dinner, Hitoe—Yoko’s daughter—came to see me in a visible huff.
Her mother hadn't returned from Village Five yet.
It wasn’t as if she’d disappeared unexpectedly; I had explained to Hitoe a few days ago that Yoko’s schedule wouldn't allow her to return for a little while. However, Hitoe was convinced that the ice maze was the reason her mother was stuck.
Given that the maze's exit was located right near the Great Tree Dungeon, it was a reasonable assumption for a child to make. Personally, I figured Yoko would just walk over the top of the walls to get back, since the maze didn't have a roof.
"Is that cheating, though?" Hitoe asked.
She insisted her mother wouldn't do such a thing and would take on the challenge fairly. I was quite certain Yoko would prioritize efficiency and just walk over the top, but I wasn't about to say that to a daughter who had such absolute faith in her mother’s integrity.
I simply nodded and petted Hitoe’s back as she transformed into a fox and curled up on my lap.
The next day.
The ice maze had been upgraded.
While the entrance and exit remained in the same spots, yesterday’s escape route had been sealed off, forcing everyone to find a new path. The difficulty felt significantly higher now, featuring transparent walls, tunnels, stereoscopic intersections, and one-way paths created by ice slides.
According to the Ice Monster, the children had complained that yesterday’s version was too easy. Personally, I’d thought it was plenty difficult already.
Regardless, the children were delighted with the update. Curiously, though, they didn't go rushing inside immediately.
When I watched to see what they were doing, I realized they were ব্যস্ত confirming the regulations with the Ice Monster.
The destruction of walls was prohibited.
Climbing over the walls to clear the maze was forbidden and would result in an automatic forfeit.
Jumping down from or leaping onto the stereoscopic intersections was dangerous and therefore banned.
Climbing up the slides in reverse was also prohibited for safety reasons.
There were no malicious traps like pitfalls, nor were there any traps designed to lock people in using the one-way paths.
Furthermore, receiving information from the air was forbidden as it spoiled the fun.
If anyone wanted to forfeit, they were to signal the Angels waiting in the sky.
I see. Confirming the rules is indeed a vital step.
Once I thought they were finally ready to begin, the children set up a Capture Headquarters in front of the entrance and organized themselves into a Capture Team.
Since they had a large sheet of paper at the headquarters, I assumed they intended to draw a map as they went. Then, to ensure the Capture Team didn't get separated, they prepared ropes—no, wait. They tied themselves to a rope anchored at the entrance and began unspooling it as they entered the ice labyrinth so they wouldn't get lost.
They were proceeding with extreme caution. Despite being told there were no pitfalls, they were even checking the ground as they moved. I’d expected them to charge in with a childish shout, but they were far more methodical than that.
I wasn't sure if this was due to Nart’s leadership or the influence left behind by Alfred, Urza, and the older children who had moved to the capital, but it was certainly impressive to watch. As long as they were having fun, I was happy.
"Good luck," I thought. "Just make sure to dress warmly so you don't catch a cold."
That evening.
After dinner, the Ice Monster came to consult with me. Apparently, the Dwarves had opened a bar inside the ice maze.
The Ice Monster didn't necessarily want to evict them, but since they had actually modified his ice walls to build the place, he wasn't sure if he should let it slide.
In other words, the decision was up to me.
As a rest area, it might actually be quite useful, so I decided to overlook it. However, I gave strict instructions that they were not to serve alcohol to children. I also told the Ice Monster to inform them that they should provide warm soup and other non-alcoholic drinks. Finally, though I was sure they knew better, I gave a stern warning that no one was allowed to drink themselves into a stupor and fall asleep outside in the cold.
After sending the Ice Monster off with my decision, Hitoe came to see me again, looking even more upset than before.
Wait, was Yoko still not back?
It seemed so.
"There, there," I said, patting my lap. "I'm sure some urgent work just came up. It doesn't mean she likes you any less."
Hitoe nodded, seemingly understanding, but she still curled up in her fox form on my lap so I could pet her back.
The reason Yoko hadn't returned yesterday was because of a grand assembly at the Village Five Shrine. She had grumbled that she couldn't miss it because it involved a gathering of not just the foxes, but various other animal groups.
Kon and the others who live at the shrine had invited me to attend as well, but I’d declined. Yoko had told me the primary topic was the territorial boundaries of the animal gods, and I felt I’d be entirely out of place there. I did, however, provide plenty of food and sake as a gift for the participants.
I heard that Odette and Odile—the Messengers of the Swan God—as well as Niz the Snake Apostle, Seiten the Monkey Sacred Beast, and Sangetsu the Tiger Sacred Beast were all attending.
Yoko had told me she’d stay for the meeting one night, work in Village Five the following day, and return before dinner this evening. I assumed some sudden business had cropped up, but it was strange that she hadn't sent word if she was going to be this late.
Should I have someone go check on her? I could go myself, but if I went looking for Yoko in the middle of the night, it might lead to some awkward misunderstandings.
While I was debating what to do, Yoko finally returned.
Hitoe, who had been sulking on my lap, immediately bolted toward her.
"So, Yoko," I started. "You're late. Did something happen?"
"Ah... well, you see... that ice maze was there, wasn't it?"
"Yeah."
"I felt I couldn't return to the house unless I conquered it first."
"What?"
She could have reached the mansion without going through it. The original version of the maze was built directly in front of the entrance, but we’d added a detour path since then. We’d even put up guide signboards. I thought anyone would be able to find their way, even on their first visit.
"Did you miss the signs?" I asked.
"No, no. I saw the signs clearly."
And yet she’d chosen the maze anyway.
"Umu. I couldn't simply ignore such a blatant provocation."
"Provocation?"
"The sign said: 'The ice maze can be enjoyed safely even by children.'"
I’m pretty sure that was meant as a helpful guide, not a challenge to her pride. Regardless, she’d taken it as a slight, entered the maze, and had been stuck there until now.
"It was surprisingly formidable. I found myself going around in circles in the same spots over and over..."
Since the winter sun sets so early, visibility must have been poor.
"When I stumbled upon the Dwarves' bar inside the maze, I was so happy I almost cried," she admitted.
Ah, I see. So the reason she was so late was that she’d stopped to drink there. I could smell a bit of sake on her breath.
"I-I was just trying to warm myself up! Besides, it didn't look like I was going to make it back by dinner anyway."
"Wait, could they even serve food there?"
"The High Ogre maids were helping out. They served ramen."
It was inside a maze, wasn't it? I could imagine the Dwarves hauling sake in there, but did the maids carry ingredients and cooking equipment all that way?
"No, there’s a staff passage nearby. If you use that, you can get in and out of the maze instantly."
Huh. I wonder if that passage was the "wall modification" the Ice Monster was worried about. I felt like I should scold them for it, but considering how much easier it made things for the staff, it was a bit of a dilemma.
"Wait... Yoko, did you use that passage to get out?"
"A-Ah, well, I had been drinking, you see. It was for safety. Yes, purely for safety."
I see. Well, I was once rescued from the previous version of the maze by the Angels myself, so I wasn't in much of a position to lecture her. At any rate, as long as she’d eaten, it was fine. I left her to handle Hitoe.
"Of course... Ah, I see."
The Flying Carpet was currently occupying my lap. It had been washed recently, and because the texture felt different, Kukulkan had started ignoring it, leaving the carpet deeply depressed. I figured Kukulkan would eventually warm up to it again, but for the time being, the carpet was sticking close to me for comfort.
Or so I thought.
By the very next day, Kukulkan was once again gripping the Flying Carpet and refusing to let go.
I felt a little lonely seeing that, but perhaps sensing my mood, Kuro and Yuki came over to pamper me instead.
"There, there. Thank you."
Lilius and the others are doing their best over in Village Five.