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I was a fool to think that sleds were safe.

It is true that sled takes time to increase speed and it is easy to slow down its speed by leaning backward.

However, it doesn’t mean that you won’t go fast nor you can stop anytime you want.

Furthermore, unlike skiing, which is meandering while moving downhill, a sled takes a straight path downward.

And going straight downhill makes it faster and faster.

…..

I’ll say it one more time.

Sledding is also dangerous if you go too fast.

That’s what I thought while riding a sled that went straight down the mountain and didn’t stop even after traversing on the flat ground for some time.

-0-

Late afternoon.

I went into the big kotatsu set up in the guest receiving room.

Sitting on the tatami feels good.

On the kotatsu table is a basket of tangerines.

Nice, looks great.

I was served with black tea.

I think green tea would be better for kotatsu but there is a basket of tangerines.

I guess it’s personal preference but I think black tea goes well with tangerine than green tea.

Well, I guess it also depends on the type of green tea and black tea.

Today, I enjoyed it with black tea.

-0-

The demon king came in and sat opposite of me.

He is accompanied by the four imoutonekos.

The anenekos were so attached to the tiger Sougetsu that they were no longer that attached to the demon king.

I rolled up the kotatsu a little and tapped my thigh to see if at least one of them would come this way….

It was Kuro who came.

Yeah, heavy.

It’s a pain to let him rest on me.

He got off and put his chin on my thigh.

Good good.

I put a cover on Kuro’s horn so there’s no danger.

And I like the cover of his horn.

He also no longer has to worry about damaging the kotatsu when he uses it.

While I was petting Kuro’s head, Yuki came over.

She has a horn cover like Kuro.

I guess she was delayed because she had to put on her horn cover.

And as if to line up with Kuro, she put her chin on my shin because my thigh is already occupied.

I know you two like to be pampered but now I can’t even put my legs on the kotatsu.

Also, Yuki’s head is too far and I’m having trouble petting your head.

Yuki seemed to have noticed it and turned her gaze to Kuro.

He looked back at her.

…..

I think Kuro did a great job.

Yeah, I think he should be proud.

If it were me, I would have given up my position instantly.

Here, you can get in the kotatsu.

You want to stay next to me?

I don’t mind.

Okay, okay.

Yuki’s fine too.

However, you have to consider Kuro from time to time.

-0-

I got into the kotatsu again.

Kuro and Yuki are in the kotatsu while sandwiching me.

The demon king on the opposite side of me is relaxing with the imoutonekos while drinking a cup of coffee.

Then, Youko came in.

She entered the right side of the kotatsu.

It’s unusual to see Youko in the village when it’s only almost evening.

Is there something wrong?

「I promised to eat lunch with Hitoe but I just finished my work today and went back. She said we should eat here in the village.」

Youko is so sweet to Hitoe.

「It is normal for me to spoil her since she’s my daughter. Besides, Hitoe has prepared kamakura and nabe udon for me by herself.」

It should be quite difficult for someone as young as Hitoe to prepare kamakura and nabe udon by herself so she must have asked for someone’s help.

Honestly speaking, I’m envious.

The demon king seemed to feel the same.

In response, he shared a story about his daughter (Yuri) who worked hard to make a flower ornament for him when she was young.

When I was about to counter it….

「Ah, wait a minute, village chief. I have something to discuss with you.」

Youko stopped me.

「It’s about the monster investigation team that village chief asked me to form a little while ago.」

Ah, the monster investigation around Village Five?

Was there a problem?

「It’s not really a problem about that but, when we investigated monsters around, we found scattered villages throughout the remote regions. And we obtained information from there….」

Youko then unfolded a map.

A long horizontal map.

It’s a map of the outskirts of Village Five and Shashaato City.

The reason why the map is so long horizontally is because the north is the mountain range where Doraim’s nest is located while the south is the sea.

The demon king also looked at the map with interest.

「According to the information we have gathered from the villages around here, there are stories of plague outbreaks that occur every forty years.」

Plague?

「The disease is a prolonged period of fever and vomiting. It is said that those who are physically weak will die.」

TN: Sounds familiar.

By chance, are we nearing the cycle?

「Next winter to be exact.」

Next winter?

That’s a whole year away.

We have plenty of time.

「There is enough time to prepare medications and treatments. However, there’s something that bothers me.」

Something’s bothering you?

「Yes. There is a story about a monster that becomes active every 40 years in a certain village northeast of the one where the plague was reported…..」

A plague that occurs every 40 years and a monster that becomes active every 40 years.

Are they related?

「I don’t know but according to the information we got, it will be active this winter.」

This winter?

「Yes, what should we do?」

What else do we have to do aside from finding it out?

If it’s the cause of the plague, we’ll have to exterminate it. If not, leave it alone.

It’s okay to leave it alone, right?

Or could it be a rabid monster?

「I did not receive any information like that. I’ve only heard that it’s a rare demon that can only be seen every 40 years.」

Then, check it out.

I think I should be the one to handle this but since Alfred and the others are here, I don’t want to leave the village.

I could investigate with them but since there is a plague involved, I’d better not.

I’m afraid of the possibility of an epidemic.

Can I leave this to Youko?

「Of course. I’ll ask the adventurers’ guild to send adventurers. However, I want to minimize the risk to the investigation team.」

Of course.

「It would be up to the adventurers’ fate if they were attacked by monsters but it would be bad if they approach the adventurer guild if they’ll actually be infected. Thus, I would like your permission to use the leaves of the world tree to treat them if they’ll get sick.」

Yes, I’ll allow it.

Take as much as….that would be an exaggeration.

Take a hundred or so.

「As you wish. Also, it would be helpful if village chief could inform the silkworms of the world tree first.」

I don’t really mind but, don’t silkworms hibernate?

「They are special silkworms. If you knock on their cocoon, they will come out.」

I-I didn’t know that.

Okay, I’ll inform them.

In the meantime, tell them you have my permission to take some.

「Okay. I’ll do that tomorrow before going to Village Five. I’ll take the rest of the day off.」

After saying that, Youko took the map she had spread out and went out of the kotatsu.

Seeing that, the demon king bowed to me.

「Excuse me, village chief. Since this is about a plague, it should fall under the jurisdiction of the kingdom. We will investigate this matter as soon as possible.」

Okay….

Well, since you didn’t know about the 40-year cycle, it can’t be helped.

It’s not like it’s your fault.

Just let me know if you need any leaves from the world tree for treatment.

I’ll give you some.

「I could not ask for more. And while we’re on the subject, can I…..」

What?

「Can I have a copy of the map Youko-dono was carrying? There’s no map as elaborate as that in the kingdom.」

I’ll tell Youko.

However, I’m sure you’ll have to pay for it.

「I know the effort one must take to make a map. I never planned to take it for free. I’ll prepare a sufficient price for it.」

The demon king got out of the kotatsu…the imoutonekos complained so he walked back into the kotatsu.

After apologizing to the imoutonekos for around 30 seconds, he finally left.

I guess he’ll return to the capital to order an investigation about the plague.

He looks like a proper demon king who’s not crazy about cats.

-0-

AN: Regarding the treatment of the leaves of the world tree.

Outside Big Tree Village, it is never called “world tree leaf” but has names like “Village Five Elixir” or “Demon King’s Kingdom’s Secret Medicine”.