Isekai Nonbiri Nouka

TN: I didn’t expect this chapter’s title will be connected to the previous one. The previous chapter should have been titled “This and That in the Village This Winter”.

The kuros had taken over the kotatsu.

Not only the one in my room but the kotatsu in the other rooms too.

It was especially cold today.

There was nothing to be done about it.

I wanted to get into the kotatsu as well but…… no, it was fine.

I did not need to force a space open.

They were packed in tightly.

I took off my shoes, stepped up onto the floor raised for the kotatsu, sat in a free spot, and placed the blanket over my knees.

Yes, this was enough.

I would just use the kotatsu table a little.

Hm?

One of the kuros slipped out from the kotatsu and crawled under the blanket on my knees.

Hahaha, there you go.

…………

They were all coming.

I knew it.

All right, take turns.

Share nicely.

-0-

The Demon King came to visit.

Greeting him were the four imoutonekos…… and also the four anenekos.

That was unusual.

I thought the anenekos were always glued to Sougetsu the tiger…… right, today was Sougetsu’s rest day.

Sougetsu’s rest day was a day set aside for Sougetsu’s physical and mental well-being, where he could spend the day alone and relax.

The anenekos protested fiercely but because it was Sougetsu’s own wish and thanks to Jewel, their mother, convincing them, it was scheduled once every few months.

Sougetsu was surely relaxing in his room right now.

And the Demon King, being welcomed by the anenekos for the first time in a while, was extremely pleased.

Of course, he also doted on the imoutonekos properly.

Hmm.

They were more attached to him than to me.

When the flame of jealousy rose in me, Aegis, the phoenix chick, came over to say I could dote on him as much as I wanted.

His guardian, the eagle, came…… bringing a brush.

Um…… I supposed the correct response was thank you.

I used the brush the eagle brought to dote on both Aegis and the eagle.

-0-

A menu for children.

When I checked with the acting managers of each shop, they said there was no problem serving it and that they already had been.

Huh?

Wasn’t there talk that a children’s menu was being requested?

I went to Kuro and Yuki in Village Five and asked for details. It was not written on the menu…. but they were prepared to handle requests for more or less food.

The price was…. flexible.

Is it because the people who ask about portion size are basically nobles?

Ah. Right.

The Demon King’s Kingdom had a noble society.

If they were not flexible with noble demands, it would cause trouble.

If they lowered the price, nobles would complain about pride, but if the amount was changed and the price stayed the same, the shop would have problems.

So, the acting managers decided the price.

In Kuro and Yuki’s case, if the customer acted high and mighty, the price stayed the same as a full serving even if the amount was reduced.

If they increased the amount, they raised the price accordingly.

If the customer acted normal or was clearly an ordinary person, they adjusted the price to match the portion.

I see.

No, there was no need to change the method.

I asked them to keep doing it as they had been.

The civil servant girls who investigated must have seen the menu and assumed there was no children’s menu.

-0-

I returned to Big Tree Village and confirmed with the civil servant girls.

「We know the portions can be adjusted for nobles. But for ordinary people it is hard to order. At normal shops it seems you are not supposed to request more or less food」

Is that so?

「Yes. If you have complaints, they say you do not need to eat here so please leave」

I see.

Since the seller and buyer are equal, it ends up like that.

No, if they started taking requests about portion size, some people would say a normal portion was too small.

That would cause more trouble.

「It will be fine in Village Five. But we thought having the option listed on the menu would help the residents」

Got it.

For now, I thought the safest plan would be to add one children’s menu item.

-0-

At the time I thought that was the right idea, but it went in a strange direction.

A family restaurant.

It seemed they were going to build a place that served various dishes.

Ah, I spoke like it had nothing to do with me, but the capital for the plan was mine.

The plan itself belonged to the civil servant girls.

First, they would build the first location in Village Five and focus on management and staff training.

If they had the resources afterward, the plan was to open in Shashaato’s city, the royal capital, and the town near the fortress to the west of the capital.

They had already spoken with all the necessary people and were moving to secure land.

In Village Five, it would be near Patisserie Fairy Fairy at the foot of the mountain.

Well, even though they said they would provide various dishes, they would start with a small menu.

But they would properly include the original goal, a children’s menu.

Also, a kid’s lunch plate.

The civil servant girls in charge were enthusiastic about making it the signature item.

Good luck.

-0-

Alfred came back to Big Tree Village.

But something was strange about him.

Even though snow had piled up in winter, he was outside at the shrine praying.

Was he ever that devout?

Also, he seemed to have some sort of regret or remorse.

Was he all right?

Should I call out to him?

If I did, how should I talk to him?

While I was worrying, Alfred consulted with Loo and seemed to resolve it.

He brightened up and headed out with ancestor-san.

I was glad, but a little lonely.

「There there」

Loo comforted me, but she did not tell me what Alfred had asked about.

「It is not about romance」

Hmmm.

-0-

I managed to learn what Alfred had been worried about.

The source was ancestor-san, who had heard the story from Fushu’s son.

Apparently, while Alfred was walking through the city, three strong men approached him.

「Hey, lend us some money. We are in trouble here」

It was something like a mugging.

In response, Alfred snorted.

He grabbed a handful of coins from his coin pouch and scattered them on the ground.

「If you want them then pick them up」

That was what he told them.

Even I understood that he had provoked the three men who confronted him.

I thought he was reflecting on that, but it was not that.

Then was it because he had thrown money on the ground?

It was not that either.

The coins in his pouch were earned by Alfred himself.

He was not regretting that he had tossed away Big Tree Village’s funds.

Then, though I did not want to ask, did he get into a fight with the three men and go too far?

That was not it either.

What?

Then what was it?

Was his concern not about regret in the first place?

Ancestor-san told me, looking uncomfortable.

When Alfred scattered the coins, the three men thanked him and picked them up.

…

They picked them up?

Apparently, they did.

They were in real financial trouble and had younger siblings who were starving.

The three men cried with gratitude because they could finally give them a proper meal.

……………..

Alfred deeply regretted that he had scattered the coins while only thinking about his own posture toward such people.

I see.

Well, what should I say?

They confirmed it was not a sympathy scam?

I am not doubting him.

I was just wondering how I should speak to Alfred.

No, since he did not ask me for advice, it might not be good for me to say anything.

Maybe pretending I do not know is best.

Hmm.

I should be glad that Alfred learned something.

-0-

Jewel 「Keeping the pressure on is not good. You need to pull back sometimes」

Anenekos 「Eeeh」

Imoutonekos 「This is useful to learn」

-0-

Three Men 「He tossed the coins so we would not feel burdened in our hearts… we are grateful」

Alfred 「…………」