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In other words, it is still cold outside.

Very cold.

However, the children rushed outside as if to relieve the frustration of being confined for so long because of the blizzard.

They look very energetic.

Well, they were forced to wear thick clothes by the oni maids before they started running outside so I guess I don’t have to worry about them catching a cold.

They are also wearing scarves and gloves.

The kuros are following them as guards so they run without holding back.

They look courageous.

However, one of them immediately came back and asked another kuro to replace him.

Seeing that, Yuki scolded it so it immediately chased after the children.

As for Yuki who scolded it….she went into the kotatsu.

I stared at her.

She stared back at me as if saying “What?” and I told her nothing.

-0-

Ah, winter.

According to the spring forecast of the nyunyudaphne in Village One, it will still be long before winter ends.

Because of that, I changed my plan and put on my hanten.

Hanten has always been a popular winter clothes especially among the angels.

This year, many angels have arrived so there’s not enough hanten to be used.

Some of the spiderlings, who were still awake, have been working hard to make additional ones.

It seems like they were having trouble finding cotton to put inside the hanten so we purchased from Village Five. Actually, Village Five had ordered a lot of cottons some time ago and that’s what they’re currently using.

Not only cotton but we also purchased wool, silk, and linen.

Each of them is stored in its own big warehouse.

Youko had arranged it that way in case Zabuton and the spiderlings had an emergency request.

Youko said that this is part of the financial management scheme of Village Five but she looks like she’s hiding her embarrassment.

In any case, Village Five has enough materials for making clothes for tens of thousands of people.

There’s no problem if we use some of it.

Incidentally, a good number of spiderlings are secretly stationed as guards in the special warehouses of those said materials.

I told the demon king about it and he just laughed at me.

Well, I’m afraid of fire and those are highly flammable.

I don’t think it’s a bad idea to put some guards.

While thinking about it, I moved to the 2nd floor of my mansion where there is a nice view out of the window. When I was about to ask for a cup of tea, I was stopped….

By Youko.

Areh?

I thought you were in Village Five.

What’s wrong?

「My apologies. There’s trouble.」

?

-0-

I moved with Youko to Youko’s mansion in Village Five.

We went to the guest receiving room beside the office Youko is using.

What awaits us are two strangers, a man and a woman.

The man is small like a boy but he has a beard so he should be older than he looks.

The woman is a little taller than me and she has beast ears and tail so I guess she’s a beastkin.

「Then, village chief, let me introduce them to you. This one is Seiten, the monkey holy beast, and Kon, a silver fox.」

Seiten bows his head in response to Youko’s introduction.

「I am the monkey holy beast, Seiten desu.」

「It’s an honor meeting you, I’m Kon of the silver fox desu.」

Seiten and Kon greeted me while bending their waist politely.

Seiten then stepped forward.

「I apologize for calling you while you were away from the village. Normally, it would have been me who should go to the place where you are but Youko-dono insisted I wait here.」

Kon-san took a step back so I guess it is only Seiten who wishes to converse with me.

「We apologize for getting your son, Gol-sama, and his wives in the dispute of us, the monkeys, and the goblins. On behalf of the monkeys, I sincerely apologize.」

Seiten said that and handed us a letter.

Youko took the letter and handed it to me.

The letter seems to be a catalog.

I was told that it was a token of apology.

I’ve heard about the trouble between the monkeys and goblins but since they went all this way to me….I guess it’s not completely irrelevant. Well, it’s related to Niz after all.

But I don’t want to make the matter worse.

Furthermore, I heard that they had already gone to Gol and the others to apologize before coming here.

Thus, I don’t really have anything to say about it.

I’ll just accept the apology and be done with it.

Eh?

Youko told me that it doesn’t end with just that.

She said we need to have a banquet with Seiten as the main guest.

Youko said she already made a reservation at Niz Alcomeat.

Understood.

I thought we just needed to relax at the banquet next but it looks like another thing needs to be discussed.

However, it’s no longer from Seiten but from Kon-san.

Because of that, Seiten will go to Niz’ store first.

Ah, you have to apologize to Niz too?

When I told him he has it hard, he smiled with a tired face similar to an office guy.

Ehto….

Let’s talk some more at the banquet.

I’ll have the best sake prepared for you.

After saying that to him, Seiten left.

-0-

Now, let’s talk with Kon-san.

「Yes. Again, I’m Kon from the silver fox race.」

According to Youko’s explanation, silver fox is a kind of fox and not a beastkin.

It seems like foxes can transform to a humanoid form and that’s what Kon-san is currently doing.

The silver fox is said to be living in hiding in various places.

And the name “Kon” is the name of the chief of the silver fox race, similar to how the demon king is named.

So, the person in front of me is the current silver fox chief?

「Yes, I’m the current chief.」

So, what does the silver fox chief have to do with me?

I asked fearfully.

Youko called me saying that there’s some trouble.

Seiten doesn’t look like the trouble although she really needed to call me to meet him.

In other words, the trouble is Kon-san.

I prepared myself.

「Before I say what I need to, there is something I would like to confirm.」

Hnn?

What is it?

「Is village chief Youko-sama’s boss?」

Boss?

I am the village chief of Village Five and Youko is the acting village chief.

In terms of job grade, yes.

「I see. Thank you for answering. Then, the reason I’m here today is to ask Hiraku-sama a favor.」

A favor?

「Yes. There are a total of 92 silver foxes in existence including me. Of these, only 23 can transform and work as a person but if you turn blind eye to a few inconveniences, 84 can fully work. Would you please hire our whole race?」

Hnn?

Hire?

「Yes」

You’re not requesting to relocate to Village Five?

「The silver fox race is not very good at living among other races.」

Okay, but you said you can work, right?

What kind of job can you do?

「Assassination desu」

…….

………………

「Assassination desu」

No, it’s not like I didn’t hear you.

Ehto, please leave.

The moment I said that, the AFT in spear form suddenly appeared in my hand and pieced through Kon-san’s chest.

Eh?

What’s happening?

And Youko is already gripping the spear-pierced Kon-san’s neck before I knew it.

「Kon, I told you that if you dare do something to village chief, I won’t forgive you.」

「I don’t think I managed to do anything.」

Kon-san looks at Youko, not caring about the spear that’s still pierced through her chest.

「Think of what you have done. If you continue to speak nonsense, I’ll annihilate your entire race.」

「….I know what I did. Even so, I’m in a position where I have no choice but to do it.」

「I understand. Village chief, I’m sorry. Let me explain what’s happening.」

Ah, yeah.

Please.

But she’s pierced through her chest…..

When I took back the AFT in spear form, I saw a hole in Kon-san’s chest.

「She’s okay. This much damage isn’t enough to kill her.」

「Ah, I have to say something, Youko-sama.」

「What is it?」

「Actually, I received quite a lot of damage and I’m already reaching….my limit. Cough」

Kon-san fell down and turned into a big silver fox. Youko panicked.

「She can’t even maintain her form! Ah, village chief, may I use the big silkworm food(leaves of the world tree)?」

Use it.

After all, I’m the one who stabbed her.

I can’t let her die like this.

-0-

Why did it go from apology to banquet?

Apology

↓

Send an apology. (Burden on the apologizer)

↓

Banquet will be hosted. (Borne by the victim)

By inviting them to the banquet, the apologizer shows that they have no hard feelings and by accepting the invitation, the victim will also show that they have no hard feelings.

This is also a mean to give back for the apology given by the apologizer.

Incidentally, being silent at this banquet will ruin the banquet. It is necessary to show that both parties had a proper discussion.

If the wrongdoer apologized one-sidedly, the victim might not take it and reopen the topic in the future. It can also be used by those who hate the wrongdoer. It is a troublesome culture where the victim has to bear some of the burdens to close the deal.

This method is not used by individuals but by organizations or forces.