In the morning, I wake up at my usual scheduled time.
It has already been nearly ten months since I came to this other world.
The situation with Liliana regarding the Demon King has settled down, and things on the new continent are still in the research phase, so we can't recklessly make any big moves.
We've spotted some movements from the Jilva Empire, but by the time the soldiers we let escape report the situation and return with reinforcements, it'll still be quite a while from now.
"Ah, Onii-chan is awake~"
"Anii-sama, look outside!"
For some reason, the little ones were already awake before me today.
"Outside?"
Prompted by the excited Aslin and Filia, I looked out the window.
"Heh, it's snowing."
Thick, heavy snow was falling steadily.
By the way, the dungeon's climate is synchronized with the outside world, including sunny and rainy weather.
So if it's like this here, it means it's also snowing outside the dungeon, which is to say, outside of Weed.
"Does snow accumulate a lot in this region?"
"I'm not really sure. This is our first winter in Weed too, just like you, Onii-chan."
"Ah, right, that makes sense. Then, have you two ever seen snow before?"
"We have, but never this much, Anii-sama!"
"Me too, Onii-chan... I wonder if it'll pile up."
"Who knows, but it looks like it might."
"I hope it does! I've never seen snow piled up before!"
I see, I see. Aslin and Filia are just really excited because it's their first time seeing such a heavy snowfall.
I turned to the one person who was smiling while watching the two of them and called out to her.
"So, what about you, Labyris?"
"I've seen it before. More importantly, it's cold, so I want you to hug me."
As usual, Labyris immediately demanded a hug. I didn't particularly mind, so I picked her up.
It felt less like lovers embracing and more like a child clinging to an adult—like a koala.
"How rude."
"Hey, I'm just talking about appearances."
Asurin and Filia seemed completely fine with the cold, whether because they were excited or because kids are like the wind.
I, however, was not.
It was freezing. I wanted to quickly make breakfast and warm up.
Looks like mornings are going to be rough from now on.
While thinking that, I made breakfast as usual and carried it to the banquet hall. There I found all my wives bundled up in thick clothes, sprawled out near the heaters.
"What are you all doing?"
"It's cold. So we turned on the heating and are relaxing in warm clothes."
Seraria answered on behalf of everyone, and the others nodded.
"Air conditioning is so convenient~ You can get warm so easily."
It's nice that they appreciate the civilization from my homeland, but this feels a bit off somehow.
"Anyway, we're about to eat breakfast, so take those extra layers off."
"""Okaaay."""
The wives started peeling off their clothes. Each had anywhere from three to five layers on.
They piled up their clothes into small mountains beside them and headed for breakfast.
"""Itadakimasu!"""
* * *
After breakfast, everyone decided to spend the day relaxing at the inn.
It was an OFF day—a holiday.
Of course, I had doppelgangers placed on the New Continent, so we could respond immediately if anything happened.
"Still, to think it would snow... Is snow rare to you, Onii-san?"
"No, it falls pretty normally where I'm from, and it piles up when it piles up. There are even games you can play using the snow."
"Heh, what kind of games?"
We chatted casually while time passed.
Around lunchtime, I hit upon an idea.
Looking outside, the snow is still falling, but since it's daytime, it doesn't seem to have quite enough momentum to really accumulate yet.
Aslin and the others seemed to have grown tired of waiting for the snow to pile up and were talking among themselves.
Perfect timing.
"Hey, Aslin, Filia, Labyris! Come here for a sec."
"""Yeees!"""
The three little ones quickly gathered.
"It's almost lunchtime. I'm thinking of making something a bit different for lunch today."
"Yes, Onii-chan! What kind of food?"
Ever since coming to Weed, Aslin—who has been working hard by my side the entire time—asks with twinkling, expectant eyes.
Despite her size, she'd probably accumulated the largest repertoire of homemade dishes in all of Weed from helping me cook so often. Of course, it was different from restaurant food. Home cooking had its own charm.
Ah, I shouldn't get distracted. I need to explain the plan.
"First, let's gather the fallen leaves in the garden and pile them up in the middle."
""Eh?""
"What do you mean?"
The two were surprised, while Labyris tilted her head.
"Well, look forward to finding out. I'm going to go grab the ingredients, so in the meantime, go gather the fallen leaves... Let's see, just gather enough to make a light bonfire, and some dead twigs would be good too."
"Are you sure this is cooking? It sounds more like you're preparing a campfire."
Despite saying that, Labyris led Aslin and Filia outside to start gathering leaves.
Now then, time for me to go get 'that'.
I'm sure almost any Japanese person would know exactly what I'm making. Usually, it's an early autumn thing, but it tastes amazing even when it's snowing.
* * *
"So, are you seriously telling us to eat outside on a freezing day like this?"
Seraria complained.
The preparations are finally finished, and that item is piping hot and freshly made.
"Eating like this on a cold day is exactly what makes it great. Here, roasted sweet potato."
I toss one over to Seraria.
"I-It really is a potato... How is this cooking?"
"Just try it. It's not just any potato."
That's right—today's dish was roasted sweet potatoes.
"So sweet and delicious!?"
Yes, sweet potatoes have that unique sweetness.
And it's one of the classic dishes you can make with a bonfire.
"Munch munch... it's delicious!"
"Onii-chan, it's so good!"
"Yes, it's quite mysterious. To think it tastes like this just from being roasted."
The little ones were devouring the roasted sweet potatoes.
The other wives were initially surprised too, but now they were happily eating them as well.
Sitting around the bonfire, pulling out roasted sweet potatoes from the ashes, chatting while eating.
It's a classic scene.
Now then, time for me to eat one too—
"Ouch!?"
Yep, burning your fingers a little is also a classic part of the roasted sweet potato experience.
