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72. The Dogs Run Around the Garden Happily

It had already been two months since the rice harvest, which was a large undertaking of the Wolf’s Hidden Village, came to an end.

「Listen well, Koe-san.」

「Yes, master.」

「When water cools and solidifies, it becomes ice. Snow is water that turns into ice and falls from the sky.」

「I see. When small pieces of ice gather together, it looks white.」

「That’s right. So no matter how beautiful the snow is, if you carelessly stick your hand into it–」

「Master, my hand is itching like an insect bite.」

「I was just about to say that you’d get frostbite from the cold.」

Winter in the mountains comes early. The fruitful autumn season had passed and the smell of winter had begun to mix in the air. This morning the first snow had already fallen in the village.

「With this, all the preparations for winter are complete.」

I looked around the village while rubbing Koe-san’s fingers, which turned red after sticking it into the fresh snow. Houses prepared for the cold were painted white. There were no reports of snow being swept into the houses. We will be able to live through the winter without any problems.

Once winter sets in, it will be nearly impossible for outsiders to enter the mountains.

There are rumors that the Knights Order is still secretly searching for our village. But if they can’t physically step into it, then there’s nothing they can do about it. The harsh winter is a blessing for those who live in hiding.

「I am okay now. Thank you, master.」

「Even though you saw the world through my eyes, you can’t directly experience things like temperature and sense of touch. Please keep that in mind throughout the year.」

As for the people in the village, they were largely divided into two factions.

「Now that there is no farming or hunting, it’s a good time for training! The ones with energy head to the training ground!」

The werewolf faction, centered around Shizuku, was not succumbing to the cold. Apparently, they were troubled by food shortages until last year, but there was no need to hold back this year as we have sufficient reserves. In fact, they were even more energetic than they were in the summer.

「We’re going to start training for snowball fights!」

The werewolves gathered at Shizuku’s command. They ran around under the cold sky while doing a unique battle training in which they hurled snowballs at each other.

The other faction was… I guess we could call them the outsiders faction? That faction was behind me… They barricaded themselves in a house that’s been tightly padded to prevent drafts and has a sign that says “[Top Secret] Geli’s Lab [No Unauthorized Entry]”.

The faction included the three members of the Bellman squad, a few elderly, and Angelina, the first-class alchemist.

「They are all very strange… It’s warm inside the Farthest Ends Of Blue, so we should all just live there instead… Why would Geli go to the trouble of living in this cold place…」

「Fuhahaha, Geli-dono, why don’t you take this opportunity to join the Bellman squad and work up a sweat in the dungeon together with us?」

「Since Mello left, there are only three of us now.」

「There’s a fourth slot available. Shall we work together at the dungeon, where it is rich in nature, cool in the summer and warm in the winter?」

「Geli specializes in brain labor!」

The werewolf race is resistant to cold. It seems that temperatures like these are not a problem as long as they can properly eat every day. One of the reasons why the ancestors of the werewolf tribe who were chased off from their land chose this area as their hiding place was probably because the climate was suitable for cool summers and extremely cold winters.

However, for the average person, especially one who grew up in a city, this environment was completely covered in snow, signifying an area of ”extremely cold” weather.

「Angelina, you can go live in the dungeon if you want. There is enough space to build a small house.」

As I ushered Koe-san into Angelina’s house before she froze, an immediate sharp reply came.

「Skill Lender-san, please close the door quickly when you open it!」

「Yes, yes, we’re home.」

「Also, Skill Lender-san, don’t you think you’re being inconsiderate forcing a woman to live in a cave all by herself.」

In short, Angelina doesn’t like the cold, but she hates living alone in a cave even more. In the past, I think she said it was fine because she had her golems by her side. But even she, who traveled alone for two months to get here, may have had some changes in her state of mind after living together in the village with everyone.

「Ugh… so, so frosty…」Angelina.

「Frosty…?」

「It seems to be the word locals use for feeling cold, Koe-dono.…Oh?」

The door opened once again after we entered. The person who hurriedly closed the door at the sight of the snowy wind blowing in and Angelina’s sharp gaze was Shizuku’s father and former village head, who is in charge of the village’s internal affairs.

「So you were here, Marge-dono.」

「Asagi, what’s the result?」

「All measures to protect the houses from the cold are perfect. Let’s get through this winter smoothly.」

「That’s good.」

「…In line with that, Marge-dono.」

「What is it?」

As if making up his mind, Asagi knelt down.

「The dwarf woman who is being interrogated and tortured by the Knights Order. I would like permission to go and rescue her.」

「…Did you find out their location?」