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I find it hard to get out of the kotatsu.

As if my thoughts were read, dinner was served in the kotatsu.

That made me not want to get out of the kotatsu more.

The only time I get out of it is when I’m going to the toilet.

The dinner was chicken nabe with lots of wild vegetables.

I enjoyed it with citrus seasoning.

Sharing it with me in the kotatsu were Loo, Tier, Ria, and the phoenix chick Aegis.

Every time like this, I wonder if it is really okay for Aegis to do this?

No, I’m not asking about not using spoon or anything.

I mean, we’re going to eat chicken nabe.

No, well, I guess carnivorous birds eat other birds.

I’ve already said this a number of times?

You want me to stop saying it every time?

Ah, okay, okay, do you want some yuzu pepper?

Here you go.

「Ah, that, I was about to ask for that too. Give me some.」

Loo asks for a small plate of yuzu pepper which Aegis handed her.

「It is both fragrant and spicy which is great.」

Tier, who already got some, compliments yuzu pepper.

Thanks.

Ria helped me.

「I did my best to combine various ingredients to make this yuzu pepper. Well, the finished product isn’t even pepper.」

Ria looked a little annoyed so I asked Loo what was wrong.

「Actually, that yuzu pepper was made without the use of any pepper.」

「Eh? Really?」

「Yeah. After all the experiments, what passed through village chief’s taste was something that didn’t use any pepper. I think we should change its name.」

「I agree. We shouldn’t call something a pepper if it doesn’t have any pepper in it, right?」

Ria and Loo say so but this is the yuzu pepper that I know.

Should I add a small amount of pepper?

I guess.

「There, there, you don’t have any complaints about the taste, right? I’m sure it was called like that to confuse everyone and make it a secret seasoning, right?」

Given what Tier said, I decided not to add pepper.

And the name of the seasoning remained the same.

-0-

After eating, we continued to relax in the kotatsu.

We chatted while drinking tea which was brewed by the oni maids.

We are talking about sending Torain to the academy.

I have my doubts but I’m sure it will be fine.

One of the mountain elves will accompany him after all.

Yeah, she’s the one who often hangs out with Torain.

If possible, I would like to send a few more adults in addition to her….

The angels are certainly able to send some of their people if they want to but it seems like their race is not very welcomed in the Demon King’s Kingdom.

The demon king himself said that it would cause trouble even in Village Five or Shashaato City, let alone the royal capital.

Thus, I am in the process of consulting Beezel, Randan, and Glatts to see if they can think of anything.

I’ve talked to Hou about it but I have already asked her to take care of Gol, Sil, and Bron.

I know that they are already married and have families of their own but I can’t help but think about how much trouble they caused in the village in the past.

Right, they only started making trouble when Ursa came to the village, right?

It must be Ursa’s influence.

No, I think that’s a good influence.

Probably.

While we were chatting, one of the fenrirs came to the kotatsu we were using.

What’s the matter?

Do you want to go in the kotatsu too?

No?

Blizzard?

A strong blizzard is coming tomorrow night?

I see.

Understood.

It’s already dark today so we’ll start preparing for the blizzard tomorrow morning.

Thanks for the head up.

I pat the fenrir’s head.

Well, it has no horns so it’s easy to pet.

I’m not going to tell that out loud or else, Kuro and the others will get upset.

Now, Loo, Tier, and Ria, you heard that, right?

My apologies but I need you to inform everyone.

We’re going to be busy tomorrow.

「Kay, I’ll take care of that.」

「Us, angels, will do our best.」

「The high elves won’t be outdone!」

…….

I’m glad of your cheerful reply but, when do you plan to do it?

「Ehehe….I can’t get out of the kotatsu.」

「J-just wait until it’s a little warmer.」

「I agree.」

I really don’t mind, just don’t forget about it.

「Okay」

-0-

The next day.

I look at the sky from the mansion.

It’s already dark.

The fenrir was right, there’s going to be a blizzard tonight.

「Village chief, I’ve checked the barns in the ranch area again and found no problem. We will gather the animals together early this day.」

A beastgirl reported to me.

Yeah, good.

Gather all of them after noon.

「Village chief, we reinspected the buildings in the residential area and found no problem. However, we can never be too sure so we plan to gather people in some of the bigger houses.」

A high elf reported to me.

Understood.

The inn will be open and you are free to use it.

You are welcome to stay in my mansion too.

「Affirmative.」

The high elf said that and went to the residential area. After that, the centaurs came.

It’s time for their regular report.

「Village chief, thank you for contacting us. Village One, Village Two, and Village Three began preparing for the blizzard. There are no food or fuel shortages. We can hold on even if the blizzard lasts until spring.」

That’s very encouraging but I don’t want to experience a blizzard that will last until spring.

Ah, you already know this but please stop your regular contact report during blizzards.

I don’t want to put you in danger.

「Understood. We will wait for the weather to improve before resuming.」

Please.

The centaurs saluted and left the mansion.

After seeing them off, the next person to arrive was Tou from Village Four.

「Village chief, the last flight to Village Four will be in a few minutes. Do you have a few more words?」

Nothing.

I don’t think you’ll be able to use the universal ship for some time so do some maintenance in Village Four.

「Understood. However, if you need me, just say it and I’ll be there as fast as I can.」

Of course.

I’ll count on you.

「Please. Ah, right, I heard that the hot spring area is fine but Yoru was lamenting the need for weapons that can be used when there’s a blizzard.」

She’s still the same.

「Yes, she’s still her. Well, I guess that’s what makes her special.」

Hahaha.

「By the way….I’ll just ask for the last time, are you sure you won’t let Ann-neesan and Ramurias-neesan go to Village Four?」

I told the two pregnant onis to evacuate to either Village Four or Village Five but they said they wouldn’t.

They said that the village was important and that they would never run away.

Well, they can still freely move by themselves.

If it had been just before they gave birth or something, I would have evacuated them with or without their consent.

However, given they’re still okay, I wouldn’t be able to persuade them.

So, I asked them to stay in the safest place in my mansion.

Yeah, my room.

That’s what happened.

「My apologies for the unnecessary confirmation.」

No no, thank you for your concern.

-0-

I looked up the sky as I saw Tou off.

There was a proposal of evacuating the children to Village Five along with the evacuation of Ann and Ramurias but that plan was also rejected.

Of course, it was not because of the trouble that happened in Village Five in the past when we evacuated them there before.

The village structures have been proven to be sturdy and it was also pointed to me not only by Loo and Tier but also by Dors that it was not a good idea to flee every time something happened.

It is also important to make an effort to deal with disasters head-on.

And I believe that’s true.

However, I was afraid that the children who remained in the village might get injured or even worse.

According to Dors, you can even get killed while walking on a sunny day.

Well, that’s true.

As a compromise, we set up a short-range teleportation gate made by Loo in the basement of my mansion.

The destination is the Big Tree Dungeon.

Once there, we can easily evacuate to Village Five.

The gate was installed but not yet activated.

It was a preparation for the worst-case scenario.

Without it, I would have asked Ann, Ramurias, and the children to evacuate at Village Five.

No, would I be able to persuade them?

We’re talking about me.

Ah, I shouldn’t let my guard down.

I still need to prepare for the blizzard.

-0-

AN: There’s no pepper in yuzu pepper.