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After eating breakfast, I relaxed a little bit.

It’s winter so there’s nothing big to do.

Relaxing.

However, there are still some small things to do.

Let’s check the weather outside first….yeah, it’s sunny.

The snow, that’s around 30cm deep, looks great.

However, it has already been trashed.

Given the footprint on it, it should be the younger generation kuros.

The older generation kuros won’t walk around in snow if not necessary.

Looking at the trails, there were also traces of skis.

Given the width of the trails, it should be the children’s ski boards.

Several of them.

Perhaps the children went out to ski and they were accompanied by the kuros as guards.

That’s not a problem, however, the children might have gone out without telling anyone….

I asked the oni maids and they said it was Alfred, Ririus, Riguru, and Ratte who went out. They told them they’re going out and they also said that they were going to play.

Good kids.

「In addition, they are being accompanied by two more guards.」

I didn’t find any trace of them.

I heard that the guards were high elves so perhaps they used magic or something.

I’ll ask them later.

-0-

The kids will be fine so I went outside too.

Yeah, cold.

However, the sun was shining so it was not freezing cold.

I’m wearing clothes that can keep me warm too.

My destination is the ranch.

I’m going to check the horses, cows, goats, sheeps, and pigs’ condition. I also plan to check the entire place.

We don’t want any broken things like what happened to the barn.

Hnn?

A trail of big shoe prints on the snow.

Given what they look like, they should be traces from the boots used by the high elves and beastgirls.

However, they have spikes so it should be the beastgirls.

The shoe prints are heading towards the ranch too so I’m certain it’s them.

-0-

When I arrived at the ranch, I found the beastgirls as expected.

Apparently, they were checking the barns too.

Taking care of the animals is essential even if it’s raining or snowing. Someone must look at the barn every day no matter what.

It is quite an easy job on sunny days though.

I would like to help but it looks like they’re almost done.

I guess I came too late.

「No, of course not. The animals are happy when village chief visits them.」

Is that so?

Though it’s only the goats who are rushing towards us.

I looked around again and saw that the pegasuses and unicorns were rushing toward us too.

Oohhh, what’s up? What’s going on?

Hnn?

You thought I only cared about the horses and forgot about you?

Hahaha, I haven’t forgotten about you guys.

Don’t lump you together with the horses?

Why can’t I?

Aren’t you similar?

….okay, okay.

I won’t lump you together.

I’ll treat you differently.

Is that okay?

Good.

By the way, the unicorns and pegasuses are all dressed up.

Horse coat?

The pegasuses are wearing horse coats that don’t get in the way of their wings.

They are beautifully made which is expected but, what’s with that?

It seems like Zabuton and the others made it for them.

As expected.

Did you thank them properly?

If you did, that’s good.

Take good care of them.

-0-

I look around the ranch and made sure everything was okay.

Not a lot of snow but I did remove the snow on the roof of the barns.

I also broke off the icicles that had formed.

They are dangerous.

Incidentally, something related to that happened. An animal licked an icicle to rehydrate and had its tongue stuck on it.

In order to not humiliate the animal, we are not allowed to say this outside the village.

Ah, a horse head-butted me.

I’m not telling anyone.

-0-

On the way back to my mansion, I found Alfred, Ririus, Riguru, and Ratte, wearing ski boards.

They seemed to be on their way out again.

It looks like they had just taken their lunch.

The kuros escorting them seem to have noticed me and inform Alfred and the others.

I wave to say hello.

It’s a pity we missed each other.

…..

By the way, there were strange creatures, or rather, round fluffy-looking creatures following Alfred’s group.

It’s the high elf escorts who were wearing white winter coats.

However, it’s not the winter clothes that are eye-catching but their feet.

The high elves are equipped with sticks at the sole of their feet.

Bamboo stilts….no, more like clogs with horn soles…..

Though what’s on their soles are not horns but sticks.

Because of that, their footprints are just small holes.

I see. So, they were not using magic to erase their footprints. I just overlook them.

However, those sticks are too long.

They are around 1 meter long.

I asked a passing high elf about it and she told me that it was a countermeasure against stepping on something dangerous in the snow.

「We just made it recently. We’re trying to use it this year and if it’s effective, we’ll recommend it to other races.」

I see.

At first glance, it looks like a pain in the ankle. However, the sticks are fixed as if a part of the shin so it can be removed with one touch in case of emergency.

The disadvantage is that it takes time to learn how to use it.

Another disadvantage is that it looks funny.

Well, I admit it looks interesting but given that every high elf is using it, it should be pretty useful.

「Monsters and demon beasts sometimes hide in the snow.」

I guess it’s an important safety measure.

「Yes. Well, the kuros exterminate them before we can get close to them so we never really stepped on something strange.」

Hnn?

During winter, the number of active kuros should be low, right?

Won’t that be a problem then?

「No. If you tell them you’re going into the forest, they will come with you with their usual numbers as guards.」

Is that so?

「During winter, we go into the forest less often so it seems like the number of kuros, who were our escorts, are low.」

When you put it that way….I see.

Fumu.

I’ll have to take a fresh look at Kuro and the others.

-0-

When I returned to my mansion with that thought in mind, I found Kuro snoring while lying on his back in my room.

Around him are Yuki and the others sleeping quietly.

……..

I quietly lifted the sleeping Kuro in my arms and he was quite heavy.

However, I’ll do my best and bring him out of the mansion…..

On our way out, Kuro wakes up.

Our eyes met.

……….

And he ran away.

「Father, you shouldn’t torture Kuro.」

I was scolded by Fracia who had been watching us.

Fracia is kind.

However, I’m not torturing him.

I only wanted to let him play in the snow a little.

「If Kuro doesn’t want to, don’t force him.」

Well, she’s right.

It’s just a little prank.

「No pranks.」

Okay, as you wish.

Reflect, me.

Before I knew it, Kuro, who had run away, was already behind Fracia. He looked at Fracia with satisfaction. I had to apologize and make up with him.

Yeah yeah.

You can use the kotatsu freely for a while.

You use it even without my permission though.

-0-

Spiderlings: Horse coats, we made them!

Pegasus: Horse coats….it keeps the cold and insects away!

Unicorn: Heh, it’s an insect repellant too….wait, what?

Spiderlings: T-technically speaking, spiders are not insects.

Horse: Don’t be so nitpicky in a fantasy world.