Published: September 10, 2025
Satou here. When it comes to winter, the image that comes to mind is lazily lounging under a kotatsu, indulging in manga or games. Skiing and snowboarding are tempting too, but honestly, being warm inside is just better.
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"Yuki!"
"It's serious! It's Yuki!"
After passing through Count Muno's Domain, crossing the monster territory, and beyond the mountain range, we entered the Kiwalk Kingdom of the Eastern Small Kingdoms—and were hit by a blizzard.
Since it was the first snow in this other world, I thought everyone should enjoy it, so I temporarily opened the canopy of the small airship’s observation deck to let snow accumulate.
Once enough snow piled up for everyone to play with, I went to call the group, but Tama and Pochi seemed off.
"Pochi!"
"Tama!"
After looking at each other, the two ran toward me.
"Yuki, no!"
"Master, if we don’t huddle together quickly, it’s dangerous!"
The two clung tightly around my waist, turning back to desperately beckon the others.
"Liza, hurry—Nana too—"
"Arisa and Mia, come close quickly! Lulu and Karina too, hurry! It’s urgent!"
I thought it was a game, but Pochi’s tail was tucked between her legs, and their voices sounded too serious.
"Excuse me, Master."
Moreover, Liza, called over, hugged me seriously from the front.
That was unusual for Liza.
"Master, support request accepted. I’ll guard your back."
The warmth on my back made me feel happy.
I was concerned about the beast girls, but decided to watch a little longer—they were soft.
"Hehe~ Dangerous things are no good, right~"
"Hmm, forbidden."
Arisa and Mia happily patted and hugged me.
"Um, excuse me, Master."
Lulu shyly wrapped her right arm around my neck from the right side.
She was the closest to me.
"I, I…"
"I don’t fully understand, but me too."
"Satou-sama, excuse me."
Leaving hesitant Miss Karina behind, Sera and Princess Sistina hugged my left arm.
Since they were bundled up in winter gear, the joy was a bit muted.
"Zena, hurry~?"
"Zena must hurry or she’ll die."
"No one will die, it’s okay."
Zena crouched down to Tama and Pochi’s level to ask what was going on.
"Yuki means Shinigami [death spirit]?"
"Yuki is beautiful, but if it snows, if you don’t stick together, someone will be taken away."
I didn't quite get it, so I asked Liza for an explanation.
"There was a year of heavy snowfall during the previous master’s time… and several human tribe and snakehead tribe slaves froze to death."
I see… it was trauma from the previous master’s era.
"Tama, Pochi, everyone here is safe."
To prove it, I instantly cleared the snow from the observation deck and filled the flight deck with warm spring temperatures.
Then, using the forbidden spell “Weather Control,” I stopped the blizzard raging outside the airship and blew away the clouds to let in sunlight.
"Warm and cozy~?"
"Master is amazing, amazing!"
Tama and Pochi smiled blissfully and relaxed.
While the others looked on, stunned, only Arisa looked up at me with resigned eyes.
I patted Arisa’s shoulder, signaling her turn.
"Tama! Pochi! Now, Arisa-chan will teach you how to truly play in the snow!"
"Nyuu~?"
"Play in the snow?"
"Exactly! Snowball fights, making snowmen are basic, but we’ll also build a kamakura (snow hut) to stay warm inside and eat sweet zenzai (sweet red bean soup) or oshiruko!"
"Oshiruko?"
"Does it have meat?"
"No, we don’t put meat in oshiruko, so maybe we can make kenchin-jiru (vegetable soup) together? Oden is good too, but that makes you want sake or beer, so let’s skip that."
Arisa listed the joys of the snow country one after another, and Tama and Pochi were drawn in.
Noticing Pochi’s tail wagging energetically, Arisa shifted from encouraging to action.
"You ready?"
"Yes, yes!"
"Roger that!"
Arisa firmly pointed at the snowfield.
"Then, let’s go!"
"Go~"
"Nonstop!"
From the airship, the younger group led by Arisa charged into the snowfield. Nana and Miss Karina joined them.
Maybe because the new snow was soft, they sank deep with each step.
Seeing this, Liza conjured snowshoes modeled after magical armor on her soles and ran after them.