Kuro’s children had completely taken over the kotatsu.
They weren’t just in my room, either; they had occupied every kotatsu in the house. It was a particularly bitter day, so I suppose it couldn’t be helped. Still, I’d been hoping to crawl in myself...
"Ah, no, don't worry about it. You don't have to force yourselves to make a spot for me."
They were packed in quite tightly. I took off my shoes, stepped onto the raised flooring, sat down in a convenient spot, and draped a blanket over my lap. This was enough. I just needed a little space on the table.
One of Kuro’s children eventually climbed out of the heap and crawled under the blanket on my lap.
"Hahaha, there’s a good boy."
I should have known. Soon, they were all trying to squeeze in.
"Hey now, one at a time. Make sure you take turns and get along."
Then the Demon King arrived. He was greeted not only by the four younger sister cats but by the four elder sisters as well. That was rare. I’d always thought the elder sisters were glued to Sougetsu the tiger, but then I remembered: today was Sougetsu’s rest day.
The rest day was a concept established for the sake of Sougetsu’s mental and physical health—a day where he could relax in solitude. The elder cats had been vehemently opposed to the idea, but between Sougetsu’s own wishes and a bit of persuasion from their mother, Jewel, we’d settled on a frequency of one day every few months. At this very moment, Sougetsu was likely lounging in his own room, undisturbed.
Being greeted by the elder sisters for the first time in ages left the Demon King looking utterly satisfied. Of course, he made sure to dote on the younger ones just as much.
I watched them with a hint of envy. Honestly, they were more attached to him than they were to me. As the green-eyed monster reared its head, Aegis the phoenix chick hopped over, offering himself up for doting without hesitation. His guardian, the Eagle, even brought a brush along.
"Er, thank you... I guess?"
I spent the next while using the Eagle’s brush to groom both him and Aegis.
Regarding the matter of kids’ menus, I checked with the acting managers of each shop. They told me that not only was it possible to serve them, but they were already doing so.
That struck me as odd. Hadn’t there been a report saying people wanted children’s menus?
I headed to Kuro and Yuki in Village Five to get the details. They explained that while they didn’t have a specific "kids' menu" listed, they were always prepared to adjust portions upon request.
The pricing, however, was discretionary. This was because the people asking for portion adjustments were almost always nobles. The Demon Kingdom was, after all, a noble-led society. If the shops weren't flexible with their demands, it would only lead to trouble.
The reason for the discretionary pricing was pride. If the managers lowered the price for a smaller portion, the nobles would complain that their dignity was being insulted. Conversely, charging the same price for a larger portion was simply bad for business. Thus, the acting managers used their own judgment.
At Kuro and Yuki, for example, if a customer acted haughty, they were charged the full price even if the portion was reduced. If they asked for more food, the price went up accordingly. If the customer was polite or clearly a commoner, the price was adjusted to match the actual amount of food served.
"I see. In that case, there’s no need to change how you’re doing things. Please continue as usual."
I suspected the Civil Official Girls had looked at the menus, seen no specific children’s items, and assumed they didn't exist. When I returned to the village and asked them, they gave me a different perspective.
"We are aware that portions can be adjusted for nobles," one of them explained. "But for a commoner, it’s difficult to even ask. In a standard shop, making demands about portion sizes is considered rude."
"Is that right?"
"Yes. Usually, the owner will just tell you that if you don't like it, you can leave."
I suppose it made sense in a world where the seller and the buyer stood on equal footing. Besides, if you started listening to every request for a little more or a little less, you’d eventually run into people complaining that a standard serving was too small. It was a recipe for constant friction.
"In Village Five, it might be fine," she continued. "But we felt that having it explicitly stated on the menu would be a great help to the residents."
I understood their point. I initially thought that adding a single children’s item to each shop would suffice, but the project had already started moving in an unexpected direction.
A "Family Restaurant."
It was to be an establishment that served a wide variety of dishes under one roof. I made it sound like I was an observer, but I was the one providing the capital. The Civil Official Girls were the ones behind the plan.
They intended to build the first branch in Village Five, focusing on management and staff training. Once they had a solid foundation, they planned to expand to Shashato City, the Royal Capital, and the town near the western fortress. They had already begun coordinating with the necessary people to secure land.
The first branch in Village Five would be located near the Western Confectionery Shop Fairy Fairi at the foot of the mountain. While they would start with a limited number of items, the original goal—a children’s menu—would be a core feature. They were particularly enthusiastic about making a "Kids’ Meal" their signature dish. I hoped they would put their all into it.
Alfred returned to the Village of the Great Tree around that time.
However, he was acting strangely. Despite the winter snow, he spent his time praying at the outdoor shrine. I hadn't realized he was so devout. He looked like he was deep in reflection—or perhaps drowning in regret.
I worried if he was all right and debated whether I should say something. Before I could decide on how to approach him, Alfred consulted with Lu and seemed to find some peace. He cheered up and departed again with Progenitor-san. It was a relief, though I felt a bit lonely seeing him go.
"Now, now," Lu said, comforting me. She wouldn't tell me exactly what they had talked about, though. "It wasn't anything romantic, if that's what you're worried about."
Eventually, I managed to learn the truth. My source was Progenitor-san, who had heard it from Fouche’s son.
Apparently, while Alfred was walking through a town, three burly men had accosted him.
"Hey, kid, lend us some cash. We’re in a real bind here."
It was a blatant shakedown. In response, Alfred had given a derisive snort, grabbed a handful of coins from his purse, and scattered them across the ground.
"Pick them up if you want them," he’d told them.
I’d assumed he was reflecting on his decision to provoke them, but I was wrong. I then wondered if he regretted scattering the money, but that wasn't it either. The coins were his own earnings; he wasn't mourning the loss of village assets.
Finally, I braced myself and asked if he had gotten into a fight and gone too far. Again, that wasn't the case.
Progenitor-san explained it with a look of awkwardness. When Alfred threw the coins, the three men had thanked him profusely and scrambled to pick them up.
They weren't just thugs; they were genuinely desperate. They had starving younger siblings at home, and they wept with gratitude, realizing they could finally provide a decent meal for the first time in ages.
Alfred was devastated. He had been so focused on maintaining his "pose" that he hadn't considered the reality of the people in front of him. He was drowning in guilt for his arrogance.
I see. Well... had anyone confirmed it wasn't a sympathy scam? Not that I doubted Alfred's judgment, but still.
I didn't know what to say to him. Since he hadn't come to me directly, it was probably best to pretend I didn't know. I would just have to be happy that my son had learned a valuable lesson.
Jewel: "You shouldn't always push. Sometimes you have to know when to pull back." Older Sister Cats: "Aww." Younger Sister Cats: "That’s so deep." Three Men: "He threw the coins so we wouldn't feel the burden of charity... we are so grateful." Alfred: "..."