We were riding in Griz's horse-drawn carriage to the village of Colon.

　It started to snow around the third day after our departure, and by the fourth day today, snow had begun to accumulate on the road. The wagons are still moving forward.



"How much further?"

"We're only halfway there."



It's going to take a long time.

Oh, I'm really sorry about that.

I'm really sorry... for the love of papa Grizz!



　In the carriage is Grizz, his squire Marquis, me, Shannon, and Patra on my lap.

　Everyone else is free in the box yard.

　Shannon and Patra were dressed in fuzzy, cute clothes to protect them from the cold.

　I can't say that I'm glad I came to help them ...... just to see them.



　Outside the window, the snow was getting heavier and heavier.

　In the forest, the wagon we were riding in leads the wagon carrying Grizz's goods.



"Mr. Locke, I'm so sorry. I think he's back.

"Okay, okay."

Yeah, that's the second time today.

I'm sorry. Thank you.



　The wagon with Grizz on it was last in line to protect him at first, but there were too many bandits and demons on the road so we had to ride in the front.



　It might have been better to leave it to Grizz's men, but that would have taken too much time.

　Not too many soldiers were patrolling this area, and the demons had not been thinned out.



　Lucky comes out of the box yard about the same time we come out.

--I'll go get some exercise.

"You sure?"

----"You sure?

"Okay. --As always, please keep the demons you kill in the box yard.

--Yes, sir.



　Lucky ran and attacked a melon bear in the middle of the road.

　The melon bear is a strange creature with a green body and a web-like pattern on it.

　It is said to have the effect of making one's body look bigger, but more importantly, it tastes very delicious.



　Melon Bears, especially those in this cold region, are a highly prized demon because of their high fat content.

　Apparently, Lucky hasn't been ...... taking it easy lately.



　Right in front of our eyes, a melon bear burst into flames.

　He must have slipped on the snow and gained too much momentum.

　Lucky also hit a nearby tree and a big tree fell into the road.



　Luckily the wagon was unhurt.

----Sorry, I didn't mean to do that. It was unexpectedly slippery underfoot.

"Oh, it's all right. ------Sorry, I didn't mean to do that...--" "Oh, I'm fine.

--Of course!　As you can see, he is in good health.

　Lucky seemed to be enjoying the snow, jumping up and down several times and diving into the snow.

　His tail was touching left and right violently, and the snow was fluttering in the air.



"That's good to hear," he said. Let's put this tree ...... in the box garden and see what it can do."

　I touch the tree and put it away in the box garden.

　This is when the box garden comes in very handy.



　There are limits to what can be removed, but it can be done in an instant.

　Melon bears are no good at ....... Neither the fur nor the meat seems to work.



----Rock, can I go play for a bit? ----

"Sure. Take care."

--Yes, sir.



　Lucky runs off into the snowfield.

　In no time at all he is out of sight.



　When he returned to the carriage, it was stuck in the snow and could not go any further.

"Domorte, I'm sorry, but could you please come outside?

"Yes. Did you call for me?

"I'm sorry, but there's a lot of snow. Can you help me melt some of it?"

"Sure."



　Asking Domorte, the great sage, to do a simple job of melting snow seems like a luxury, but I don't know how long it will be if I ask other ordinary wizards to do it.



"Stay away then."

　Domorte puts his hands out in front of him and launches a fireball into the snowy path without chanting.

　It seems smaller than the magic we usually see, but still much larger than what a normal wizard would fire.



　Above all, the duration of the fireball is quite different.




　Domorte's fireball melted the snow from the road in a matter of seconds.



"Domorte, thank God!"

"It's okay. It's no big deal.

　On top of the melted snow, Grizz's men started to scatter something at once.



"Grizz, what are they doing?"

"They're spreading used combustible stone powder to keep the snow from piling up.

"Combustible stone dust?"

"Yeah, I know that crushed combustible stone powder melts snow. So when we put it on the ground, it keeps the snow from piling up for a few weeks. So when we come back we won't have to shovel snow anymore."

"I see. I see... such a convenient way to use it.



　Combustible stone is said to be a flammable stone, which can produce explosive firepower when it is enchanted.

　It is often used in daily life, but it was unfamiliar to my village where it did not snow much.



　Griz's men quickly and roughly spread the powder on the road, and the muddy road dried up little by little. It was not a very large amount of powder, but it seemed to be very effective.



　The wagon, which had been stuck in the mud, got out of it in no time, and we were on our way to the village of Koron.