"Wow, that's fast!"

"Kyaaaah!"

"Let's go!"

The children's cheers echoed through the plaza of Nido Castle.

While the adults were having a New Year's Eve feast, the children were excited to welcome the new year.

"Phew!

It's so cold!

"Wow, it's in my stomach!"

What are the children doing?

The children are playing with sleds on a makeshift slope made from snow gathered in the square.

They ranged from one- and two-person sleds to five-person sleds. The children were playing with sleds of different colors and designs, choosing the sleds they liked best.

"Oh, I'm thirsty," "I'm hungry," "I'm thirsty," "I'm hungry," "I'm thirsty.

"I'm thirsty," "I'm hungry," "I'm thirsty," and "I'm thirsty.

And if they were thirsty, they would drink hot tea or moderately cold juice.

If you are hungry, there are snacks such as baked april and oshiruko (sweet red-bean soup).

If you get sweaty, the golem maids will wash your clothes for you while you sweat it out in the underground hot springs of Nido Castle.

It is a playground that offers everything you need, such as .......

"Onii-chan!"

And Hannah was also playing with a red jumper that Jin had given her.

"Come here, big girl!"

"Okay, let's go!"

"Come on, Elsa and Reiko!"

Yes, Hannah.

Okay, let's go.

Jin and the other four climbed into the sled, which was large enough for five children.

The slope was 20 meters high, with an average slope angle of 30 degrees.

"Let's go!"

Hannah, Hitoshi, Elsa, and Reiko sat down in the sleigh.

It resembled a snowboard in shape and was made of flexible GS (ground spider) P (plastic). The width of the sled is about 30 centimeters.

If they put their feet on the snow, it would act as a brake, but all four of them do not do this.

"Kyaa, that's fast!"

"Wow, it goes faster than I thought it would!

The GS (Grand Spider) P (resin) is stain-resistant. In other words, the coefficient of friction is low, so it slides well on the snow.

The sleigh slides down the 50-meter slope and stops after 30 meters of sledding.

"One more time, little one!"

"All right."

Jin carries the sled up the stairs built on the backside of the slope. He's getting stronger these days, even without strengthening his body.

（Reiko, give me a little boost with the force generator.)

（Yes, Father!)

Before placing the sled on the snow and sitting down, Jin gives instructions to Reiko.

"All right, let's go!"

This time, the sleigh goes about 30% faster than before.

"Wow, that's fast!"

Hannah is excited.

This time, after sliding down, she slides about 60 meters down .......

"Whoa, that was close!"

She stopped just before falling into the Ermee River. Of course, Reiko, sensing the danger, used the force field generator to stop her.

If she fell into the river, she would not be able to get away with it in the middle of winter.

"That was a close call. ......"

"Hmm."

"But it was fun!"

Jin and Erza patted their chests, while Hannah looked unconcerned.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Then, they invite the children to a snowball fight.

The children were divided by the that Jin had taught them. Jin's call is .

As for Jin, he was pitted against Erza and Hannah. Reiko is not allowed to participate in the game, and is asked to watch over the game.

The rule is that the first one to capture the flag (made by Jin in a hurry) placed at each position wins.

Ten golem maids are assigned to each pair to make snowballs. The snowballs are not too hard, not too brittle, and large enough for a child's hand.

They are to hit each other with these snowballs.

Jin provided gloves for all the participants. They were made of leather imported from the demon territory, and were warm with fur inside.

"Let's begin!"

Reiko shouted, and the children began throwing snowballs in unison.

"Bloop!

It's cold!

Kurt, a mischievous kid in Jin's group, jumped out of the way, aiming at the flag. Naturally, the snowballs were concentrated.

"d*mn!　I can't lose!"

But he couldn't take the concentrated fire from more than 10 kids.

"Remember me!

He decides to make a tactical retreat.

"Ah, ah, ah ...... ah, it's cold."

Kurt comes back into position and shakes the snow off his body. He looks like a little dog.

"Whoa!　Here comes Mario!　Come on, guys, get a shot!"

Mario, the son of Rock, zigzags his way around, making it harder to get a good shot. But...

"Too bad."

No matter how much he tried to blind them, his target was the flag, so the closer he got, the narrower his range of movement became.

"Psst!　d*mn, it's coming back!"

Mario also retreated.

"Now ...... Erza!

Somehow, Erza runs straight into him. Of course she's a target. She's bigger than the kid, so she's an easier target.

"...... Kya!"

"That's it!　Go for it, go for it, go for it!"

"...... p,p,p......"

In the blink of an eye, snowballs are thrown at Elsa's hair, face, chest, stomach, hands, and feet.

Immediately, Elsa's body was covered in white snow.

"Ha-ha-ha!"

The children were relentless. When Elsa stops dead in her tracks, more attacks are made on her. Elsa is now a snowman.

Jin's hands have indeed stopped. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees something red.

"Oh, Hannah!

Erza was a decoy. She had concentrated her attack on Erza's side, and Hannah, who had made a wide turn, had come running toward the flag.

The Jin camp was distracted by the concentrated attack on Erza and was slow to react.

Jin was the first to notice her and hurriedly threw snowballs at her, but they were easily evaded.

"Oh, Hannah-chan!

"No, no, this way!"

By the time the children realized it, Hannah was within five meters of the flag.

The snowballs are concentrated on her ......, but she doesn't stop.

No, her speed had slowed down a little, but she was able to dive and slide in the last meter to capture the flag of the Jin team.

"Yes!

She was beaten!

The victory was decided. The Jin camp has lost.

"...... won!"

Erza, who had become a snowman, blurted out.

* * * *

"...... come back to life.

After the snowball fight, everyone warmed up in the underground hot springs of Nido Castle.

Erza, who was covered in snow up to her back and pockets, soaked in the hot water and let out a small sigh of relief.

"It's so warm, isn't it, girl!

Hannah came up to her.

"Yes, it feels so nice.

"Erza-sensei, you have such nice skin!"

Elsa, who still occasionally teaches the children, was called by some of the children.

Children in the village of Kaina are a little more wheat-colored than Elsa, probably because they play outside and help out in the fields.

Erza's fair skin makes her the object of admiration among the girls.

She says, "Hey, hey, Sensei, I'm going to be a lady soon!

"Yeah, it'll be fun."

"Yes!"

The baby rush seems to continue this year due to the improved environment since Jin's arrival.

"Babies ......"

Elsa pats her belly.

"......"

Of course, it is not swollen.

"Someday, me too."

And then she thinks of her future child, whom she has not yet seen, and she realizes that she is turning red, but no one notices the change in her because she is in hot water.