Checklist
“Wow…!”
My jaw dropped at the sight outside my window. Overnight, the entire landscape had transformed dramatically. The castle looked utterly unfamiliar, as if I were seeing it for the very first time. Snowflakes sparkled gently in the wind, blanketing the castle in a dazzling layer of white. It was breathtakingly beautiful.
It really has been ages since I’ve seen snow.
In fact, this was my first time seeing this much snow since arriving in this world. Briel’s hometown had always been warm, rarely experiencing snowfall. Even though I’d long outgrown the excitement of snowy days, I couldn’t deny feeling a bit giddy. Unfortunately, as an employee, I couldn’t just enjoy the scenery.
“Today, please pause your usual tasks. We’ll all clear the snow together.”
Butler Squawk, who had gathered everyone first thing in the morning, spoke with grave seriousness. The other employees nodded solemnly. I was puzzled—why did everyone look so grim? Seeing my confusion, Marianne leaned closer and whispered softly.
“Snow can be dangerous if it isn’t cleared right away.”
“Dangerous? How?”
“Roofs and decorations might collapse under the snow’s weight, and snow piled on paths can melt and refreeze, becoming extremely slippery. That’s why we need to clear it quickly.”
Marianne’s explanation reminded me of my friends from back home, who’d curse endlessly whenever snow fell during their military service. I had never experienced it myself, having been exempted.
“Still, it feels a bit wasteful to clear it all away immediately. Snow is meant to be enjoyed when it piles up.”
“Enjoyed? How exactly?”
“Snowball fights, building snowmen, sledding—things like that.”
“Snowball fights…?”
“Wait, you’ve never heard of it?”
Marianne shook her head, genuinely curious. Watching her tilt her head, ears flicking gently, an inexplicable sense of duty surged within me. I raised my hand immediately.
“Butler Squawk, I have a question!”
“Yes, Briel? Go ahead.”
“Other than dangerous spots like rooftops and pathways, we don’t have to urgently clear all the snow, right?”
“Correct. There’s not even a suitable place to put all the snow anyway.”
Perfect. Hearing his answer, I turned back to Marianne with a playful grin.
“Look forward to it, Marianne. I’ll make sure you anticipate snowy days from now on.”
Afterward, I threw myself into clearing the snow with extraordinary zeal. I finally understood the phrase “working until your soles sweat.” Thanks to everyone’s combined efforts, we finished clearing the snow quicker than expected.
Of course, it wasn’t something I accomplished alone.
“Haha! So, is a snowman something like an ice sculpture? I’d be more confident carving it from wood.”
“Young one, I don’t know what you’re planning, but be careful not to hurt yourself.”
“Ho ho ho, this sounds delightful!”
Once my coworkers heard about Marianne’s and my conversation, they eagerly joined in, excited about the prospect of experiencing snow games for the first time.
Elizabeth was the sole exception. She firmly declined, despising the cold and the snow sticking to her elegant fur. Instead, she promised warmly to prepare delicious hot soup for everyone. With a gentle wave and encouragement to have fun, she returned to her room.
And then…
“Snowball fight, huh? That’s a pretty straightforward name. Almond, do you know anything about it?”
“No, this is my first time hearing about it as well.”
As Kalz casually joined our group, I quietly muttered to myself.
“This guy was nowhere to be found when we were clearing snow, but he sure knows when it’s time to play.”
“How long are you going to keep us standing around? Aren’t we starting soon?”
“Alright, alright. I’ll explain the rules first, so watch closely.”
I scooped a handful of snow from the ground with my gloved hand and packed it tightly, forming a neat snowball.
“The rules are simple. Just gather snow and shape it into a ball like I just did, then throw it at your opponent. Easy, right?”
“Wait, seriously? That’s all?”
“Yep, that’s everything.”
The eyes that had sparkled with anticipation dimmed slightly in disappointment, but I confidently straightened my shoulders. Sure, it might sound boring right now, but once they tried it, they’d see how fun it was. After all, the simplest games were often the most exciting with lots of players.
Then, Marianne raised her paw cautiously.
“Um, how long do we play this snowball fight?”
“Great question, Marianne! Actually, the rules can vary depending on the region, but we’ll play until only one survivor remains.”
“Survivor? Does that mean the others…die?”
Her adorable eyes widened in genuine shock, and I couldn’t help but laugh softly.
“No one actually dies! You just surrender once you’ve been hit too many times to continue playing. The last one standing is the winner.”
“Ahaha! I see! That makes sense. So, is there a prize for the winner?”
A prize, huh? Even though the main purpose was to have fun, offering a prize definitely would boost enthusiasm.
“How about this? The first person to surrender—the loser—has to fulfill one small wish for the winner.”
“A wish?”
“Yes, within reason, of course. Sounds fair, right?”
Hearing my suggestion, everyone’s enthusiasm visibly reignited.
“Sounds great to me!”
“Indeed. Then picking the loser might be just as important as the winner.”
“We’ll need to choose our first target carefully.”
Um, Beast? Why exactly are you baring your fangs while staring directly at me? Feeling a sense of danger, I hurriedly added another rule.
“One more thing! Absolutely nothing besides pure snow goes into the snowballs. No rocks, sand, or anything dangerous. Got it?”
“Yes!”
Surrounded by my seniors, whose cheerful replies reminded me of kindergarteners, I noticed Kalz still grinning ominously at me. Alright, note to self: start as far from Kalz as possible.
I had everyone spread out at a reasonable distance.
“Alright, I’ll give you some time to prepare your snowballs. When I say ‘start,’ the battle officially begins!”
The seniors eagerly began crafting their snowballs. Marianne delicately shaped small snowballs with her tiny paws, while the Pitt couple cheerfully rolled one together. The sight warmed my heart.
Incidentally, the Pitts were allowed as the only team entry due to their obvious size disadvantage, their age, and the fact that as a married couple they were inseparable.
Once everyone had a decent pile ready, I raised my hand high and shouted.
“Everyone ready? Start!”
The moment the word left my mouth, I quickly grabbed one of my prepared snowballs and lifted my head. But before I could even take aim, my vision instantly turned white.
“Ugh!”
Papapapat! A rapid-fire barrage of snowballs came at me from all sides. They struck my face so relentlessly that I didn’t even have time to recover.
No! Even if I can’t win, I refuse to lose first!
Desperately imagining the nightmare scenario of Kalz claiming victory, I tried fighting back—but…
“Ack! Cold!”
Someone had already crept close enough to shove a snowball down my collar. I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Aaargh! I surrender! I surrender!”
“Woohoo!”
Wait—wasn’t that cheer from at least three different voices? Hastily wiping away the snow plastered across my face, I opened my eyes to find everyone clapping happily. It felt as though they’d secretly wanted me to lose from the very start.
