Morning.

  I wash my face and get dressed.

  I think I’ve made a fair amount of noise since I woke up but even so, Kuro and Yuki are still sleeping.

  Well, I won’t bother them and wake them up.

  In the kotatsu of my room are…a dozen or so spiderlings.

  These guys are already awake and are warming up before starting their tasks.

  Ah, don’t overdo it.

  You can just stay there and warm yourselves.

  Me?

  I’m going to do my usual round in the mansion.

  Thanks, I’ll work hard-

  0-

  The tour around my mansion ended without a problem.

  Well, it never had a problem.

  However, we can never be too careful.

  Besides, if I don’t make my rounds like this, I won’t be able to greet some people.

  There are more and more people living in my mansion.

  When I returned to my room, I found the disgruntled Kuro and Yuki in front of my room.

  It seems like they were woken up and kicked out by the oni maids since they were in the way of their cleaning.

  Don’t be so angry.

  You know that it will be cleaned every morning, right?

  Come on, let’s have some breakfast.

  The spiderlings, who were in the kotatsu, greeted me…from the top of the beam in the hallway.

  Looks like they left the room before they were kicked out.

  Good.

  You guys join me for breakfast too.

  Ah, don’t be shy-

  0-

  It was a lively breakfast.

  I regret saying goodbye but I have to.

  Today, after this, I’ll go to Village Four also known as Sun Castle.

  Kuro and Yuki are going to…go back to sleep again in my room.

  The spiderlings have…their own jobs.

  Understood.

  Good luck.

  However, that means I don’t have any companion…ah, wine slime.

  Would you like to tag along?

  Yeah, Village Four.

  ……


  Wine slime refused to accompany me even though I’m being considerate.

  Right, there’s no reason for wine slime to go to Village Four.

  There’s also alcohol in Village Four but it’s a closed environment so production and consumption are strictly calculated.

  As expected, the wine slime is not so vicious to steal and drink in such a place.

  However, that doesn’t mean that stealing in Big Tree Village is allowed.

  You are given more alcohol than any other resident on a regular basis, right?

  In addition, you’re doing a job of measuring the quality of alcohol made by the dwarves.

  You can drink more if you steal?

  That may be the case but……


  You share the alcohol you get with the other slimes?

  No, I certainly didn’t give any alcohol to other slimes other than you but…


  Not all slimes drink but there are slimes who do.

  I see.

  Then, we have to distribute it properly.

  Hnn?

  You’ll take care of the alcohol that will be distributed to the slimes so I should leave it to you?

  Okay.

  Understood.

  Then, I’ll leave it to you.

  If you need more, just let me know.

  The slimes are working behind the scenes to ensure the sanitation of the village.

  If they want their share of alcohol, they deserve to be given.

  However, as I have said many times, that’s not an excuse for stealing.

  Even if I forgive you, Ann and the oni maids will not.

  Yeah, be afraid.

  Do it in moderation-

  0-

  As I watched the wine slime leave, I wondered what I should do with my companion.

  There’s only one person, or rather, a sailor on the universal ship, and the destination is Village Four which is not a place with a lot of people.

  If I were asked if I needed companions, my answer would be I don’t. However, my wives don’t like the idea of me going alone.

  Dors and others say that I should not be afraid of my wives but given that it was Dors who said it, it doesn’t have any persuasive power.

  Besides, for me, it’s not like I’m following my wives’ orders, I just don’t want them to worry.

  Thus, I concluded that I need companions.

  Hnn?

  The flying carpet was fluttering around.

  ……


  And Himiko, me and Hakuren’s daughter, was riding it.

  What’s going on?

  Himiko has been holding you for a while?

  You left her when she fell asleep but before you knew it, she’s already there?

  The flying carpet slowly lowers Himiko to the floor and tries to distance itself from her but…she grabbed it immediately.

  She’s not even a year old but her grip seems to be pretty strong.

  I guess it’s because she’s a dragon.

  The flying carpet tried to shake her loose but it didn’t work.

  Well, the flying carpet is not using much power since it doesn’t want Himiko to get injured.

  「I finally found you.」


  Hakuren came in with Hikaru in her arms.

  Hikaru looks like it wants to get to the flying carpet too.

  Hakaru and Himiko are twins.

  When they were born, Hikaru was so bright that I couldn’t open my eyes to him and Himiko was so dark that I couldn’t see anything.

  I thought they had learned to control it but I guess they’re still in their infancy.

  So, when I approach, Hikaru glows while Himiko is enveloped in darkness.

  Yes, it’s because they are still infants.

  It’s not because they hate me.

  I think I should increase the communication time between parent and children.

  「Don’t mind it. They’re just embarrassed. Himiko, come with me.」


  Hakuren took her in her arms and went back to her room.

  The flying carpet is already a very important part of our family’s life.

  The flying carpet apologized for not being able to accompany me.

  No no, there’s no need for you to apologize.

  It’s the thought that counts.

  ……


  However, as a father, I can say that I’m jealous of the flying carpet that my daughter, Himiko, likes.

  I wonder if Himiko would like me if I could fly too?

  I’ll do my best to learn magic-

  0-

  Anyway, back to searching for companions.

  It’s just after the harvest and before the martial arts tournament so everyone’s busy with various things. Everyone aside from me.

  Kuro and Yuki are currently sleeping but when noon comes, they will be hunting with their children in tow to secure food for winter.

  While I was wondering what I should do, an unexpected group volunteered to run for the position.

  The fenrirs.

  The first fenrir was picked up from somewhere by a kuro.

  When he picked her up, she was still a cute puppy.

  The kuro took care of the fenrir and before long, the fenrir and the kuro became partners and had a lot of pups.

  Now, the fenrir and her pups are the cornerstones of our winter defense.

  Good, good.

  Let’s go together.

  Or so I’d like to say but…


  We can’t take them all.

  You’ll have to narrow down your number.

  Yeah, you’re a little too many……the fenrirs are big after all.

  Ah, you lot want to try boarding the universal ship.

  Got it.

  Let’s all go together then.

  However, we’re going to limit the number of those who’ll accompany me in Village Four.

  Okay, what do you think?

  Good reply.