落とし穴２８掘：雪がふる季節になりました
**Pitfall 28: The Season of Snowfall Has Arrived**
Well now, we’ve officially surpassed 20 million PV and 2.6 million unique visitors!!
I’m genuinely surprised that the story has become this popular.
I’m nowhere near running out of ideas, so I hope you’ll continue to stick with me on this journey.
Now then, on with the story.
***
**The Season of Snowfall Has Arrived**
**Side: Yuki**
I woke up at my usual time in the morning.
It’s been nearly ten months since I arrived in this other world.
The situation regarding the Demon Lord linked to Liliana has settled down, and the New Continent is still under investigation, so I can’t make any rash moves.
There have been some movements within the Zilba Empire, but since the soldiers who escaped have to relay the news and bring back reinforcements, that’s still a long way off.
"Ah, Big Brother is up!"
"Brother, look outside!"
For some reason, the little ones were already awake before me.
"Outside?"
Prompted by the excited Aslin and Firia, I looked out the window.
"Huh, it’s snowing."
The snow was falling quietly and steadily.
Incidentally, the climate within the dungeon basically matches the outside world, including weather like sun or rain.
Therefore, it means it’s snowing outside the dungeon—that is, outside of Weed—just like this.
"Does it snow and accumulate much in this region?"
"I’m not sure. Just like you, Brother, this is our first winter in Weed."
"Ah, I suppose that’s true. In that case, have you two ever seen snow before?"
"We have. But this is the first time we’ve seen so much of it, Brother!"
"Yeah, I wonder if it’ll pile up?"
"Who knows. But at this rate, it might."
"I want it to pile up! I’ve never seen the ground covered in snow before."
Hmm, I see. Aslin and Firia are excited because it’s their first time seeing such a heavy snowfall.
I then called out to the busty little girl who was smiling at the two of them.
"So, what about you, Labyris?"
"It’s not my first time. More importantly, it’s cold, so I want you to hug me."
Labyris demanded a hug just like that.
She’s as opportunistic as ever, but I don’t mind, so I picked her up.
It’s less of a romantic embrace and more like holding a koala. It feels more like a child and an adult than a couple.
"That’s rude."
"No, I’m just talking about how it looks."
Still, I don’t know if it’s because they’re excited or if it’s true that children are children of the wind, but Aslin and Firia don’t seem bothered by the cold.
I, however, am not so lucky. It’s freezing. I should hurry up, make breakfast, eat, and warm up.
Mornings are going to be tough from here on out.
Thinking this, I made breakfast as usual and carried it to the banquet hall, where I found all my wives wearing layers of thick clothing and lounging around with the heater on.
"What are you all doing?"
"It’s cold. So we’re just relaxing in our layers with the heater on," Seraria answered on behalf of the group, and everyone else nodded.
"Air conditioning is so convenient, isn't it? Being able to get warm this easily."
I’m glad they appreciate the technology from my homeland, but this feels a bit different from what I intended.
"Anyway, we’re about to eat breakfast, so take off those extra layers, everyone."
" " "Okay~" " "
The wives started sluggishly peeling off their clothes.
Let’s see, they were wearing three to five layers each?
They each set aside a pile of clothes that looked like a small mountain and headed toward the breakfast table.
" " "Itadakimasu!" " "
After breakfast, everyone spent the day lounging at the inn.
It was an OFF day—a day of rest.
Of course, I have a Doppelganger stationed on the New Continent, so I can respond immediately if anything happens.
"Still, to think it would snow... Is snow rare for you, Brother?"
"No, it falls quite often where I’m from, and it piles up when it does. There are even games you can play using snow."
"Oh? What kind of games?"
As I chatted with everyone, time passed, and by the time noon approached, I had an idea.
Looking outside, it was still snowing, but since it was midday, it didn’t seem to have enough momentum to accumulate yet.
Aslin and the others seemed to have grown tired of waiting for the snow to pile up, as the three of them were whispering about something.
Perfect timing.
"Hey, Aslin, Firia, Labyris, come here."
" " "Yes~" " "
The little ones gathered around immediately.
"It’s almost noon, but I’m thinking of making a slightly different lunch today."
"Yes! What kind of dish is it, Brother?"
Aslin, who has been working hard alongside me ever since we came to Weed, asked with excitement.
Even though she’s small, she’s helped me make so many things that I honestly think her repertoire might be the best in Weed.
Of course, compared to what’s served in restaurants, it’s more of a "home-cooked" flavor.
Wait, I need to explain.
"For today’s meal, first, let’s gather the fallen leaves in the middle of the garden."
" " "Eh?" " "
"What do you mean by that?"
The two were surprised, and Labyris tilted her head.
"Well, consider it a surprise. I’m going to go gather the ingredients, so in the meantime, please gather the leaves... oh, and some dry branches would be good too, enough to make a small bonfire."
"Is this really cooking? It sounds like you’re just asking us to prepare a bonfire."
Labyris said that, but she still took Aslin and Firia to the garden to start gathering leaves.
Now, time for me to go get *that*.
Most Japanese people would probably know what I’m talking about. Usually, it’s an autumn thing, but it’s delicious even when it’s snowing.
"Seriously, are you sane? Eating outside on a cold day like this?"
Seraria complained.
The preparations were finally finished, and *that* was freshly made.
"Eating like this on a cold day is the best part. Here, roasted sweet potato."
I tossed it to Seraria.
She caught it without issue and finally realized it was a potato.
"R-really, a potato. How is this a dish?"
"Come on, just try it. It’s not just any potato."
Yes, when you think of roasted sweet potatoes, you think of *satsumaimo*.
"It’s sweet and delicious!?"
Exactly, it’s a unique kind of potato.
And it’s one of the dishes you can make alongside a bonfire.
"Nom nom, it’s delicious."
"It’s delicious, Brother!"
"Yeah, it’s strange. Even though you just roasted it."
The little ones were stuffing their faces with the roasted sweet potatoes.
The other wives were surprised at first, but now they were eating them normally too.
Yeah, gathering around a bonfire, pulling out a hot roasted potato, and eating it while chatting.
It’s a classic.
Now, time for me to have one too.
"Hot!?"
That’s also a classic part of the roasted sweet potato experience.
Roasted sweet potatoes!!
I haven’t had them in a while.
It’s the kind of food that reminds you of the cold season.