『World Tree-sama’s Dungeon』 Area 6-1, commonly known as the snow area.
It is a newly implemented area that was added shortly before the start of the second world journey.
「Oh, snow」
「It is snow」
「Kii」
As soon as we passed through the area door, a vast silver world spread out before us. Beautiful. Very beautiful.
Originally, we planned to inspect this snow area together today with Nana-san.
Since I was away on the world journey, this is actually my first time visiting Area 6-1 with snow piled up like this.
「…But it is cold」
「Of course it is. If the snow melted, it would defeat the whole purpose」
「Well, that is true. For now, let us put on more layers」
I pulled out clothes from my magic bag and started putting them on.
I already knew this area would be cold, so I had prepared winter clothing in advance. Time to bundle up.
「…Hmm」
「What?」
「No, I thought short pants were your policy, Master. I assumed you always aimed to show off your knees」
「It is not like I was trying to show them off…」
It is not a policy, and I was not trying to show them off, so I simply put on long pants.
Even I cannot wear shorts here. I cannot expose my knees.
「Ah, what about Friedrich-kun? The giant rat, Friedrich-kun, is he alright? Is he not cold?」
「Kii」
Seems like he is fine. Nana-san and I only started feeling warm after layering up and becoming all puffy, but, well, Friedrich-kun is fluffy by default.
「Still, there are quite a lot of people here」
「Yes, it has increased quite a bit… In the beginning, it was completely empty」
「Well, that makes sense…」
Right after Area 6-1 was implemented, children under twenty among the elves were, as expected, prohibited from entering, but Nana-san pretended not to be a child and inspected the area anyway.
I checked the number of visitors through the dungeon menu, but instead of increasing, the number of people in Area 6-1 kept decreasing.
That is only natural. Right after its implementation, Area 6-1 only had a wide open land and a giant slope.
Most importantly, there was no snow falling.
Because of that, it was even called the 『Slope Area』.
Although the area itself was large, it lacked any real features, so the usual one-month restriction on child elves was shortened to just two weeks.
…Of course, if I wanted to, I could have made it snow from the very beginning.
I could have made it an area where people could enjoy snow play and winter sports all year round, but I chose not to.
Just like the 4-1 lake area, I wanted this place to become something tied to the seasons.
I wanted it to be like this: 『Enjoy water activities at the lake area in summer, and enjoy snow play in the snow area in winter』.
「…Yeah. That was a good decision, even if I say so myself」
「Yes?」
「I am glad I made the snowfall limited to certain periods」
「Ah, that is true. If you lowered the temperature and made it snow even in summer, it might affect the number of visitors to the lake area」
「Exactly. I wanted people to enjoy water at the lake area in summer, and snow play in the snow area in winter, 」
「But it is autumn right now?」
「…………」
Now that she mentions it… she is right.
Somehow, I completely lost track of the seasons…
It is still autumn right now. I set it so that snow falls in this area from around late autumn to early spring.
If I limited snowfall strictly to winter, then it would not be a snow area anymore, it would just be a slope area…
「Hmm. Maybe the current setting is a bit too long? This would not really feel like a seasonal feature」
「Shall we shorten the period starting next year?」
「Hmm… I will think about it later」
Maybe I should limit it to winter only after all. It is a tough decision.
「Well, whatever. I will think about that later. For now, let us enjoy this area. Let us return to our childlike selves and have fun playing in the snow」
「Childlike?」
「Yes, let us return to that」
「Return? By age, I am currently in that state」
「Currently? Well, if you put it that way, I am too, 」
「Is that really true, Master? Your actual age is that of a middle-aged man, is it not?」
「Hey」
What a way to put it, Nana-san.
I am still in that stage too. I am only sixteen. Definitely not forty-three. My past life’s age does not count.
「And considering age, Friedrich-kun has not even reached that stage yet」
「Kii」
「…Now I am starting to lose track of what childlike even means」
Friedrich-kun is currently eight months old. Considering that, it is true that he is not even at the stage of having a childlike heart yet…
「Anyway, let us do something」
「Hmm, shall we start with a snowball fight?」
「That is… let us not do that」
I can only see a future where I get completely beaten down.
「Then what should we do? Shall we make a snowman, or maybe build an igloo?」
「Hmm, that sounds good. I like that. Personally, I would like to try making an igloo」
An igloo sounds nice. I want to build one and go inside. I want to sit in that small space and relax.
「Understood. Then let us try building an igloo」
「Let us do that….Though, it feels like we do not necessarily have to make one ourselves」
All around us, there are countless snowmen and igloos already built.
Some igloos are occupied, but many are empty.
It feels like we could just borrow one and move in without asking…
「It seems the villagers have been diligently making them」
「I see…」
Even now, I can see people rolling snowballs and others piling up and digging into snow.
What is driving them to go that far…
「Even so, this kind of thing is fun because you make it yourself. Let us build our own」
「That might be true… Alright, let us build one」
「Yes, let us do that. We will do our best」
「Yeah, let us do our best」
「….Now then, to the igloo」
「O-okay」
◇
And so, it is finally time to build an igloo.
The three of us moved a little away from the area entrance and took position.
「So, how do we make one?」
「Leave it to me. I know how. I asked someone in the village」
「Oh? Then I will count on you. What do we do first?」
「First, do you have anything bulky?」
「Something bulky…?」
That is a sudden question… Well, I do have a lot of things.
「I have a float ring?」
「That did give you trouble because of how bulky it was…」
When asked about something bulky, I cannot help but think of a float ring first.
「If not that, I also have a lot of lumber. That is pretty bulky too」
「You carry lumber around normally… Well, that is just like you, Master. Then, could you place that lumber here?」
「Hmm? How much?」
「Since we are making an igloo that can fit three people, we may need a fair amount…. Ah, the arrangement does not need to be very precise」
「I see, I see」
So, following Nana-san’s instructions, I took lumber out of my magic bag and arranged it in place.
「Then, we pile snow on top of this. Do you have a shovel? I prepared one in advance, thinking we might build an igloo」
「A shovel? Hmm… Ah, yeah, I have one. It was just in there」
When I searched through my magic bag, I found one without any trouble.
Even I have to admit, I really do throw all kinds of things in there at random.
「Alright then, Nana-san and I will pile up snow with the shovels, so Friedrich-kun, can you shape it for us?」
「Kii」
「Good. Then let us begin」
「….Now then, to the igloo」
「O-okay」
◇
After some effort, we managed to build a snow mound nearly two meters tall.
「That was pretty tiring…」
「It really feels like we did actual labor」
「Kii」
I am genuinely tired. That was proper hard work.
But still, I think we made a pretty good snow mound. It has enough height, and Friedrich-kun shaped it nicely.
Yeah, it is a good snow mound. I am sure this good snow mound will become a good igloo.
「So, what do we do next?」
「We wait」
「Wait?」
「We wait for it to harden. About two hours, I think」
「Eh…」
So we wait here… for two hours…
Igloo-making is more demanding than I thought…
「…..Now then, to the igloo」
「What is that you keep saying?」
◇
We passed the time by making snowmen and getting completely beaten in a snowball fight.
Somehow, we are really enjoying the snow.
Before we knew it, two hours had passed. I confirmed it through the dungeon menu, so the timing is exact.
「It seems the snow has hardened properly. Next, we insert branches from the top of the mound」
「Branches?」
「About thirty centimeters long. We insert branches. By the way, I grew a few trees in the area for this purpose」
「Now that you mention it, there are quite a few. I do not think they were here before」
「Since branches are also used for snowmen, I thought I might as well grow them」
「I see…」
Instead of preparing branches, she just grows trees. That really is a Dungeon Master way of thinking.
Slightly impressed, I began sticking branches into the mound one after another.
「And next, we dig into the hardened snow mound」
「Alright, here we go」
Nana-san used a shovel to mark out the entrance, so I used that as a guide and started digging.
Carefully, very carefully, so the snow mound would not collapse.
「Oh, can I take out this lumber now?」
「Please do」
As I dug, the lumber we buried at the very beginning appeared. Once I remove it, the inside becomes hollow.
I casually tossed the excavated wood into my magic bag. It is convenient not having to carry it outside.
「Oh, now I can see the branches?」
「Then that is far enough」
As I dug further, I could see the branches we inserted from above.
The branches are about thirty centimeters long. That means the wall thickness is also thirty centimeters.
By continuing to dig while using the branches as a guide, we complete the interior, and once we remove the branches,
「It is complete」
「Oh…」
「We have successfully finished it. Thanks for your hard work」
「Yeah, finally done. That was quite a bit of work. Nana-san, Friedrich-kun, thanks for your hard work」
That really took quite some time.
I casually said I wanted to build an igloo, but actually making one was very difficult.
Still, it was fun. It was hard, but fun.
The three of us worked together and built a fine igloo. Looking at it now, I feel a sense of accomplishment.
「Alright. Let us move in right away」
The three of us excitedly entered the newly completed igloo.
Now then, what kind of wonderful space is inside?
Well, we were inside the whole time while building it, so we already know what it looks like…
But entering it for work and entering it after it is complete feel different somehow. That is what I think, at least…
…Well, whatever. Let us go in.
Let us go inside and relax in this small, quiet space.
Now then,
「…To the igloo」
「…To the igloo」
「Kii」
next chapter: True D-Mail
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