Chapter 44: Visitor in the Deep Snow

Snow had begun to pile up, decorating the trees in a blanket of white. Every day, nestled under the kotatsu placed in the corner of the living room and staring out the window, I found myself once again reminded that this truly was the northern countryside.

"Here you go, hot soup."

"Thank you very much."

I took the vegetable soup Yuria brought over and took a sip. The warmth and the perfect amount of salt seeped deep into my body.

Oh, right—the diet. Bizarre as it may seem, my Master's nightly fitness ambitions have actually started to show some results.

Well, I end up drenched in sweat because the room’s so warm, and after going through all that, I want to believe it’s having some effect. That said, even if it is effective, I can't say I feel entirely okay with it. More than anything else...

"I’ve been thinking—subcutaneous fat is necessary to endure the cold, don’t you think?"

"What are you, a bear preparing for hibernation?"

Bonk. My Master, sitting next to me in the kotatsu, gave my head a light chop.

Yuria, having finished setting the table, slipped into the kotatsu too and let out a relaxed sigh. Outside the window, I could see the cat excitedly playing in the unfamiliar snow, building a snowman. Meanwhile, the fish—scarf fluttering—was using water to sculpt an absurdly realistic ice phoenix. How are they so lively in this freezing weather?

"Don’t you want to go play outside, Ojou-sama?"

"I don’t like the cold."

The cold's a bit milder thanks to the barrier surrounding the house, but still, I’ve got no desire to go outside just to suffer in it. I’ve already committed to never leaving the kotatsu.

"That’s exactly why your belly’s gotten like this. You should reflect on that a little."

Ack! Please stop suddenly hugging me and rubbing my stomach. It'll go back to normal come spring, so it’s fine. Just let me be for the winter.

"This is an invasion of privacy. Please stop rubbing my stomach."

"And yet, despite rubbing it every day, it’s still not going down..."

"...Don’t touch my chest either. I will bite you."

I don’t need your concern...!!

---

Some time passed as we continued our lazy winter days. Then, on one of those rare, windy nights when the snow had stopped falling—

On my way back from the bathroom, draped in a thin blanket like a cloak, I suddenly heard a loud pounding on the front door.

Startled, I tensed up and turned toward the sound. Sure enough, I heard more knocking and a man’s voice. But there’s supposed to be a barrier... I hesitated, unsure what to do, when my Master, now changed into his casual clothes, stepped out from the bedroom.

"Master?"

"It’s fine. Stay in the room."

He gently placed a hand on my head, then headed toward the entrance.

He probably noticed something while we were all asleep and had been keeping watch. As I watched his back disappear, I quietly returned to the bedroom and closed the door, burrowing into the big bed still wrapped in the blanket.

Today, it’s not just Lulu and Yuria here—even Fere showed up. That means everyone in the house is present. Not that she ever joins us properly, but once everything’s over, for some reason, she just... hangs around.

As for Chris, I’m sure Kasai-san is protecting her well. I just hope nothing like what happened with me happens again...

"Hnn... Soraaa..."

"Did I wake you?"

Fere, who had been sleeping beside me, clung to me. I grabbed her head and peeled her off as I spoke, but all I got back was some incoherent mumbling. Just sleep-talking, I guess.

"...Did something happen?"

With a bounce—or maybe more of a wobble—Yuria asked, her voice carrying a certain presence. After earlier ganging up on me with Master, the pervy Holstein girl now calmly listened as I explained what had just happened. After a short pause, she woke Lulu, then started putting on the pajamas she had left strewn about.

"Ojou-sama, Fere—please rest easy. We’ll protect you."

"Nyaaah..."

...Lulu looks incredibly sleepy. Is she going to be okay? Well, either way, the most I can do is keep still and not get in anyone’s way.

Guess I’ll just doze off again in the warmth of the futon.

I don’t know how many minutes passed after I lay down, but I must’ve fallen asleep for real—because when I opened my eyes, morning sunlight was already streaming in. Master, Yuria, and the others were nowhere to be seen.

The soundproofing really makes it hard to know what’s going on outside. Sure enough, I woke up Fere—still clinging to me—got dressed, and stepped out of the bedroom.

The hallway was filled with the chill of morning air and was eerily quiet. There wasn’t a hint of anyone’s presence. For now, I washed my face with warm water in the washroom, and when I went to the dining room, I found two portions of food and a handwritten note.

『We have to go to the hidden village for certain reasons. We plan to return before noon, so stay here with Fere. If something happens, evacuate to the shelter under the bed in the bedroom.』

It was written in Japanese—most likely left by Master.

Something about it carried a faint sense of danger. Still, charging out into the snow after them would be suicidal, so I decided it was best to stay put and wait for their return.

I just hope this doesn’t turn into another situation where they don’t come back, like last time...

---

“I’m back.”

While Fere and I were finishing breakfast and chatting over tea about songs from Earth, Master and the others returned, looking a bit tired.

I served them hot tea to welcome them back, but Yuria and Lulu only had one cup each before saying they were going to bed and disappearing into their rooms.

According to Master, who seemed to have a bit more energy left, apparently some beastfolk—and one human—had crossed the barrier and entered the winter forest.

Naturally, it was reckless, desperate, nearly suicidal. But upon hearing the full story, it turned out that the kingdom had started hunting demi-human settlements just before winter. With nowhere else to go, they had no choice but to cling to rumors of the hidden village and made the decision to flee into the forest.

The one who came to us wasn’t a worn-out fugitive like the others—they were a young human man who still had some fight left in him. Moved by his tears and his plea to save his lover, they hurried to the hidden village for advice and got the acceptance process started.

After that, they quickly set up a temporary shelter in the multipurpose hall—like a community center—that had been built before the snow began to fall, letting the refugees rest there for now.

Still, to begin a demi-human hunt at this time of year… I can’t believe it’s unrelated.

“…It’s not your fault. Don’t dwell on it.”

As I listened with my head down, Master placed a hand on my shoulder.

I hesitated, but nodded. I’m not some saint willing to sacrifice myself for strangers. Besides, that… um… what was their name again?

Well, never mind. In any case, every time I recall the lecherous noble who once targeted me—his filthy hands, that vile face—I break out in goosebumps. Even if people call me selfish, I’d rather die than be used for that man’s pleasure…

“At the very least, none of the ones we accepted were beyond saving, even if many were injured. Riala-san is also preparing to support the intake, and with what we’ve stored, we should just barely make it through winter as long as we’re careful.”

By the numbers, it’s tighter than before, but with some frugality, we should be able to last the season.

…That’s a relief. Still, when I think about those who didn’t make it—those who died before they could reach us—it hurts, even if I tell myself it’s not my fault.

“There are babies who were saved thanks to you, you know. You should be proud.”

“…?”

As Master stroked my head, I tilted it in confusion. I didn’t do anything—I was just asleep the whole time. Maybe that’s why I still feel so guilty.

“Good thing we had the stockpile, huh?”

As his hand, which had been petting my head, slipped downward and started poking my flat chest with a soft, squishy poke poke, I flinched.

I was about to protest and ask what he was doing, when the word “stockpile” triggered a memory. I looked up at Master’s face—he wore that smug, teasing grin he always had when a prank landed perfectly.

“N-no way.”

“Honestly, I was surprised too, this was the first time I let someone else drink it. Some of those people looked like they were about to die, but after a single bottle they recovered enough to walk around.”

I have no objections to it being used—on the contrary, I think it’s only meaningful if it helps others. But still… why am I feeling this embarrassed? My face feels like it’s about to catch fire. Also, what’s with you casually opening up my shirt without asking!?

“Hey, that’s not fair, President!”

“What are you doing!?”

Fere, who had stayed quiet since she didn’t understand the complicated stuff, finally spoke up in protest—but Master completely ignored her. He quickly and efficiently undid my clothes like it was just part of his routine. With one hand holding my arm in place, he had me restrained before I could even react.

“I’m pretty exhausted too, so I’m just gonna take a little.”

“You can’t just take a little—use the stock we have!!”

You’ve got plenty in storage, even if not as much as Yuria! It’s not like we’re gonna run out just because you used a bit on some sick people, right!?

“I want to conserve it as much as possible. Plus, drinking it straight has a stronger effect.”

“Then I want some too!”

“Fere, you’re perfectly fine!”

Wait—why are these people acting like everything’s totally normal in this situation!? Someone please apologize to Mr. Serious—when you do something wrong, you’re supposed to say sorry! So—wait, hold on, don’t—no, stop—don’t suck—

---

◇◆ADVENTURE RESULT◆◇
【EXP】
BATTLE TOTAL 13
MAX Combo 3
◆【Sora Lv.87】+4
◆【Lulu Lv.36】+5
◆【Yuria Lv.34】+4

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
Sora Lv.88 [883] → Lv.88 [887]
Lulu Lv.36 [361] → Lv.36 [366]
Yuria Lv.34 [347] → Lv.35 [351] <<Level Up!!

【RECORD】
[MAX COMBO] >> 34
[MAX BATTLE] >> 34

【PARTY-1 (Main)】
[Shuuya] [Lv.95] HP 2100/2100 MP 3460/3460 [Normal]
[Sora] [Lv.88] HP 44/63 MP 1253/1253 [Normal]
[Lulu] [Lv.36] HP 835/835 MP 40/40 [Normal]
[Yuria] [Lv.34] HP 1840/1840 MP 89/89 [Normal]

【PARTY-2 (Sub)】
[Fere] [Lv.30] HP 282/282 MP 1030/1030 [Normal]

【PARTY-3 (Sub)】
[Makoto] [Lv.66] HP 3450/3450 MP 150/150 [Normal]
[Chris] [Lv.13] HP 200/200 MP 20/20 [Normal]

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

“What even is this ‘President’ thing!?”

“President of the Sora Appreciation Society!”