We had a large room prepared for us, but once you are in the box garden, it doesn't matter where you are.

　This box garden is really convenient.



"Hi, papa. It looks like you've had a hard day outside.

"Hi, Patra. It's okay. What did you do today?

　Patra comes running in, jumps up and hugs me.



"I was harvesting vegetables. We're having a delicious vegetable soup tonight, Mr. Gargoyle!

"I'm looking forward to it!"



　The other orange-antes came running up to me, all of them hugging me.

　They are really cute kids!

　When I gently patted their heads, they smiled with a big smile on their faces.

　Just looking at them is a blissful moment that soothes me.



"I'm home, everyone."

　I take them to the table and sit them down one by one on the chairs.



"Welcome back, Mr. Locke."

Welcome home.

"Welcome home."



　They each called out to me, but Domorte and Ciel had not returned yet.

　They will come back soon.



　Domorte is a surprisingly sensible person, as he was with the mermaids. He rarely causes problems when he is free.

　Sometimes it's better to let him follow his curiosity.



　Mr. Gargoyle and Shannon are waiting for me to come back and put more and more food on the table.

　Today's dishes were chicken with tartar sauce, salmon carpaccio caught by a mermaid, sesame flavored and salted cavetto salad, a soup filled with fresh home-grown vegetables, and a fluffy pudding.

　Everything looked so delicious that I could feel my mouth filling with saliva.



"Thank you. The dishes are getting more and more sumptuous."

"Thanks to the increase in the number of people, we have more and more vegetables to cook, and we even have a surplus. Patra and the others have been working hard to cultivate the fields, and thanks to Mr. Mellow's efforts to catch and release a large number of fish into the sea, we have a good supply of fish as well.



　Lucky looked fidgety for some reason, and when I looked at him, he suddenly looked away.

"What's wrong, Lucky?"

----"No, Rock, I'm trying to help.



　I guess Lucky is not good at working in the field because it's hard for him to control his strength.

　But it's okay if he can't work in the field, because he's working hard enough elsewhere.

　I go to Lucky's side and hug him as hard as I can.

　His fur is as fluffy as ever.



"Don't worry about Lucky. Some people are good at some things and not so good at others, and it's best if you can do it with others, but that's not a guarantee. Just do what you can do in what you want to do, Lucky."

----Rocko----



　Lucky hugs me with all his might, and I almost drown in Lucky's sea of fluff.

　It feels so good that if I could die here, I would have no regrets. I want to sleep like this forever. I'm so happy.



"Mr. Locke, when we're done skin-to-skin, let's have dinner."

"I'm sorry, I just got under Lucky's fluffy spell ......"

--When we're done eating, you can fluff me up as much as you want.

　Lucky lifted me up and set me down at the table.



"Pa-pa-pa, you look like a little boy."

"You look like a kid," I said. I'm sorry for keeping you guys waiting. Let's eat."

　I sat them down, and they were delighted to see me sitting down.

　The smiles on the children's faces are so comforting.



　We eat together and I ask them what they have been doing today.

　Apparently, Patras had been building new furniture. They were also working on the basement of the hut, but I haven't visited it recently. I'll go there later when I have more time.



　Mellow, the newest member of the group, is doing a great job building a fish pond.

　I am relieved to see him talking happily with the others.



　They are all good kids, but it's not easy to get along with others when you have more and more friends.

　Mr. Gargoyle says he has something to show me later.



"Papa, there's lots of snow outside. I want to play in the snow later."

"Great. "Okay. Let's all go snow sledding or have a snowball fight or something. Lucky, when you're done with your errands over there and shopping, will you take me to the top of the mountain?"

--Yes.

　Lucky's tail is wagging, and he seems to be looking forward to it.



　After the meal, Domorte and Ciel return with Lucky, who is enjoying his fluffiness.



"Rock, that was quite a productive day.

"Domorte, Ciel, welcome back. Shannon, do you want to have dinner with us?



"Yes. Yes. I'll get it for you. Mr. Locke...... are you and Shannon talking like a married couple?

　Shannon said a little playfully, and Mellow got in on the fun.



"Mr. Locke, that's not fair. Please talk to me too, like a married couple.

"Shannon and Mellow will talk to you later.




"Yes, sir."

"See you later."

　Once they start fooling around, it never ends.

　It's good to have fun.



"Ciel, I'm sorry I'm late. I'll ask you later to show me where they went.

　Ciel nods broadly and leans against me.



　I opened the lid of the bottle of restorative medicine, which he dexterously lifted and began to drink.

　I stroke Ciel's body gently, and she presses herself against my hand.



　It felt good to touch her body in a different way from Lucky's. I slowly stroked her body, and she began to drink from Domo's cup.

　I slowly stroke her and ask her about Domorte's situation.



"Are you going to be able to manage the dragon's warding?"

"The old woman is quite a trickster. She seems to be a top-notch warding expert, but I'm not sure if she's going to do anything about it ....... She's got the seal on the surface, but it doesn't look like she's going to strengthen it any further. The dragons sometimes look like they are in a lot of pain and are acting out of control, which may be making it difficult to keep the seal on them. But it is very interesting. I never thought I could use crystals like that."



"When I touched the dragon crystal earlier, I heard a voice in my head. I didn't want to be here anymore. But how is that possible?"

"I suppose it's not impossible if it's a voice or ...... rock. With this unusual group of people here, I wouldn't be surprised if we could hear the dragon's voice through the seal."



"I see. ......"

"Even if you did, you're not going to release the dragons on your own at this point, are you?"

"Yes. I'm sorry about the dragons, but I'm not going to destroy the crystal.

"Then we'll leave the dragons alone and do what we can for now."



"Yes, Mr. Domorte. Ciel, you're welcome.

　Just then Shannon brought the food to the table.



　I just noticed that Shannon was wearing a new apron. Patra must have made it. Patra is a genius at bringing out the cuteness in Shannon.

.

Thank you Shannon!

"Well, Domorte and Ciel, take your time. I'm going outside to the hot springs.



"Hot spring?"

----Hot springs.

"Hot springs..."

"Rock, I'll go with you, just wait until we finish eating.

　Everyone's love of hot springs had been growing ever since they had built a hot spring inside the box garden.



　The smiles on everyone's faces when they heard the word "hot springs" were a little scary.

　Shannon quickly took off her apron and brought a hot spring set.

　She's too obsessed with hot springs.