447-Kotatsu





 After Tory left the village of Coriat, I went to Erman's workshop and asked for more battle pencils again.

 As long as we're offering them to the king, we can't just give him one pencil and be done with it. I should have enough to play with the people around me.

 I can't give you enough for me to play with, so I'll have to order more for you.

 I'm having the elements made, but I won't be able to finish them until I hear back from the king.

 I've already made other Battle Pencils and plans for the King's original specifications, so there's no need to panic.

 So my usual routine is coming to me.

''Hmmm, it's a bit cold.

 The fireplace was running, but the air in the living room was somewhat cold. I guess I had just lit the fire, but the air in general wasn't warm enough.

 I'm a cold person, and I don't like being cold, so I tried to generate a fireball to warm up the room, but I suddenly came to my senses.

'Yes. I had a kotatsu this year!

 I struggled to make this kotatsu in the winter before.

 The best way to recreate a safe kotatsu is to rely on magic tools.

 However, last year, I was too young in age and had never entered the royal city to buy a magic tool, so I spent the winter with fire magic and a fireplace.

 Of course, it is comfortable enough to have fire magic, but if you want to get warm in the winter, it was decided that the inside of the kotatsu was the way to go.

 If you decide to do that, you need to act quickly.

 I hurriedly jumped out of the living room and moved upstairs to my room.

 I used spatial magic to take out the table and quilt for the kotatsu from the subspace and took out the fire magic tools I bought at the magic shop.

 The fire magic tool for the kotatsu is a very thin silver plate with magic letters painted on it.

 If you pour magic power into it, it's a system that generates warm heat for a while.

''........Set this on the back side of the kotatsu, cover it with an insulating cover so that it won't be safe for your feet to hit it, and you're done!

 I had originally prepared it last winter with the intention of putting it out last winter, so it was ready in no time at all.

 A stunning kotatsu reigned in my room.

 However, a kotatsu is something you set up in the living room. It's not something you should keep in your room.

 Some people say that I should leave it in my bedroom, but I don't think so.

 Because I have a bed in my bedroom. I don't need the same resting place indoors.

 I have an objection to lounging around in the large living room, which is not a bedroom.

 I lifted the kotatsu with my psychic and went straight down the stairs to the living room.

 I set up the kotatsu in the middle of the living room, ignoring Silvio's suspicious glances at me.

 There's also a carpet on the floor just so I don't have to worry about damaging the floor.

 After setting up the kotatsu, I immediately go inside and pour magic power into the magic tool.

 Then the magic letters engraved on the board glowed red and heat was generated from it.

 At first it wasn't so warm, but the sealed interior gradually became warmer.

''Hoah... it's warm...''

 I felt my lower half of my body being warmed up with, and I involuntarily let out a flaccid cry.

 Ah, this is it. I'd been waiting for this feeling.

 A warmth that was different from a stove, a heater, a fireplace, a fireball. It's so much warmer than a stove, a heater, a fireplace, or a fireball.

Al, do you have a futon in between the tables?

Yeah, I do.

You don't think it's to sleep under the table...?

 For those who don't know Kotatsu, they might think that's the intention behind it.

'That's one of the reasons, but it's not the biggest one. Brother Silvio, you should come in and try it.

 As I say this, Brother Silvio comes over with a book, tilting his head slightly.

 Then he flips the covers over and puts his feet in the same way I did.

'Whoa!'

 Perhaps surprised by the warmth of the kotatsu, Brother Silvio backed away.

 I chuckle at such a smile.

''There's a fire magic tool inside.

Oh, so it's some kind of heating system.

 Perhaps relieved to find out that it was a heater, Brother Silvio put his foot in it again.

''Wow ... it's warm.''

 Then, Brother Silvio's expression immediately relaxed.

''Okay, here.''

'Yeah, I'm surprised you came up with this. My feet get cold easily, so this is really helpful.

 I can relate to my brother Silvio's thoughts. We're the coldest people in our house.

'Al, do you mind if I sit here and read a book?

Okay.

 At the kotatsu, you are free to talk, read a book, or just zonk out as long as you don't bother others.

 One of the best parts of reading a book while lounging on the kotatsu is the warmth of the kotatsu.

 While brother Silvio opens his book, I use my psychic to borrow some dried fruit from the table. I also pulled in a slime pillow.

 I used earth magic to generate a cup for two people and filled it with water magic.

''Yes, slime pillows and water.

Thank you.

 I knew I needed these tea treats on the kotatsu, right?

 After picking the dried orange fruit, I lay down on my stomach with the slime pillow as it was.

 Then, just out of the corner of my eye was the entrance to the living room, where Erna's mother was looking at something curious.

 As our gazes clashed at odd angles, I popped an orange into my mouth.

 Oh, the concentrated sweetness is so good.

'Are you playing snails? It's not very polite to sleep under the table.

No, he's not. He's just warming up in the kotatsu.

Cottage?

It's a heater.

 I wonder if she's curious about it when it's called a heating device, or if Mother Erna's expression becomes serious.

''........I can certainly feel the magic in it.

 Mother Erna muttered, and then she walked up to us and rolled up the covers of the kotatsu.

''There's a magic tool under the table that emits heat. By covering it with the comforter, you can seal the heat and maintain the temperature.

That's what I mean.

 As expected of Mother Erna, it's helpful to understand these useful tools quickly when you see them.

 Surprisingly, it's a pain to explain them over and over again.

''........Hmmm.''

 Mother Erna looks at me while letting out a meaningful word.

 It must be hard for him to get into the kotatsu by himself before I told him he wasn't well-behaved at first.

 He's not a son who doesn't know what Mother Erna wants.

I'd like to hear from Erna's mother about her comfort with the kotatsu.

Yeah. Well then, let me see what it's like.

 Having been given the title of being asked by her son to use the kotatsu, Mother Erna can get into the kotatsu without hurting her own pride.

 Neatly putting her feet in the kotatsu while trying to keep her clothes from getting wrinkled, Mother Erna puts her feet in the kotatsu.

''-- Ah!

 With the breath-like words and expression that escaped from Mother Erna's mouth, she realized everything.

 .........You've fallen.

 Mother Erna's expression is becoming softer and softer with the heat that is gently transmitted to me.

 And then, Erna-mom is on her face, just like me--

'Ha! Don't! Before I knew it, I was going to be a snail just like Al!

 That's my mother, Erna! I didn't know you were suddenly going to try to get into the advanced kotatsu position.

 It was like your body unconsciously shifted into the most restful position instead of thinking about it.

 After all, Mother Erna must be depraved to the core.

'That's good, Snail.'

No, you can't. Bad manners.

 Nevertheless, he'll definitely try it without us seeing it. Not only me, but Brother Silvio must be convinced of that as well.