Homeward Bound

For Paul, who had grown up in Northwest Bay, Crystal Radiance's winters were somewhat boring.

In both his previous life and this one, he had loved heavy snow that filled the sky, preferably deep enough to reach his calves once it piled up on the ground.

Whenever such weather arrived, Paul liked to light a roaring fire indoors, set up a grill for roasting meat, or cook hot pot—which others considered his invention—while admiring the snowy scenery outside and enjoying the warmth of the flames and the delicious food.

If howling winds were added to the mix, the mood became even better: the world outside was harsh, while the people inside lived in comfort.

In the past, however, only a handful of people in Arda could enjoy such pleasures. During the first few years, living conditions throughout Northwest Bay had been poor, and in the eyes of the Southern Nobles, it had been a savage wasteland. To the common people, the heavy snow Paul enjoyed was an outright natural disaster. Whenever it came, countless elderly, weak, sick, and disabled people failed to survive it. As a transmigrator from modern society with even a little humanitarian concern, Paul inevitably felt some pangs of conscience at times like that. After all, he was the local lord.

Fortunately, the economy had improved later, and no one would starve or freeze to death during winter anymore. Only then could Paul indulge in his small hobby with a clear conscience.

Compared with Northwest Bay, however, Crystal Radiance's winter was somewhat brief. It rarely snowed heavily, and even when it did, it was not the wild sort of snowfall that filled the sky and seemed intent on shrouding the entire world.

Paul was beginning to miss his days in Northwest Bay.

He set down the cards