落とし穴４１堀：夏の始まり (Part1)
**Pitfall 41: The Beginning of Summer**
Well then, since you all know the real deal, I don’t need to explain.
Please, take a look at the summer festival held in another world.
***
**The Beginning of Summer**
**Side: Tori**
Today, as always, I’m on patrol in Weed.
Well, it’s a nice change of pace from the paperwork, but we are members of the police force, after all.
No matter how high up the chain of command we get, we cannot neglect these kinds of rounds.
After all, the public safety of Weed rests on our shoulders.
"Whew, it’s already summer in Weed, huh?"
"You’re right. Before I knew it, this is our third one."
That’s right. Even though it’s a magical construct, the weather and temperature in Weed are synced with the outside world.
So, when summer comes, it gets hot; when winter comes, it gets cold; and naturally, when spring arrives, the cherry blossoms bloom in abundance.
And now, this is the third summer since we arrived in Weed.
The first time, we were so busy building the city that we didn't have the luxury to worry about such things. But the second time? I remember going to buy ice cream with Riel on a summer day.
"Yeah. It really is the third one. It’s only been a little over a year since Weed was founded. But so many things have happened, haven't they?"
"…So many things, indeed. It was tough, but it’s been so much fun. I really feel like I’m living."
"Me too. Ratz and the others have had babies, and I’m so, so happy for them. But I think there are still many more happy things to come. We’re going to have babies too, you know!!"
"Wait? Didn't you say you didn't want to have a baby because it sounded painful, Riel?"
That’s right. I remember when Seraria and Rurua gave birth; seeing them in such pain, Riel had said she’d pass on having kids for a while.
"I did say that, but… babies are just so cute, and they’d be my own flesh and blood. Plus, Yuki-san looks so happy when he’s around them… so I’ve been thinking maybe I’ll give it a try."
"Ah, Yuki-san really does look incredibly happy, doesn't he? He even checks on everyone in the hospital after birth, making sure they’re okay and casting recovery magic for a while, right?"
Yuki-san is such a worrier; he used to visit everyone hospitalized after giving birth every single day to cast recovery magic. He’d even check to make sure the babies were perfectly healthy.
…No, even on ordinary days, Yuki-san meets with us every single day.
Usually, for someone in our position as concubines, meeting him a few times a month would be considered lucky.
When you think about it that way, it’s clear just how much Yuki-san treasures us.
I know it’s not just our bodies he wants; he truly loves us from the bottom of his heart.
"Yeah, yeah. Yuki-san is so kind. …But, sometimes, I think being Yuki-san’s slave might have been better."
"Eh? Why?"
"…Be-because I wouldn't have to work."
The warm, fuzzy feeling I had while reminiscing about my loving days with Yuki-san withered away.
…Honestly, Riel, you should be grateful just to have been freed from slavery.
"…Even as a slave, you still have to work, you know."
"I-I know that. But, if you were Yuki-san’s slave, 'work' would just mean taking care of his personal needs, right? Doesn't that mean you’d be working around the clock, doing whatever you want with Yuki-san?"
"Th-that is…"
Would Yuki-san keep me by his side just to satisfy his desires?
Th-that sounds too wonderful. I wonder if I could be his little puppy forever…
"Yes, yes. You two, please stop having such lustful delusions in front of someone’s shop."
" "Eek!?" "
Before I knew it, Ratz was standing in front of us with a smile.
"Honestly, I heard from the shop manager that you two were coming, but please don't imagine such an enviable workplace as being Yuki-san’s 'pleasure slave.' If such a job opening existed, everyone would be applying. Myself included, of course. I still want to be with him plenty. But that’s beside the point. Since you’re in front of my shop, you’re here for ice cream and a break, right?"
"Ah, yeah. Ratz, give us some ice cream!!"
"Hey, Riel."
I scolded Riel for immediately begging Ratz for ice cream.
Honestly, she’s the Vice Chief of the police, yet she acts like this.
I wish she had a little more seriousness.
"Well, well. Riel is loved precisely because she’s like this, you know. Look…"
Just as I was about to continue, Ratz stopped me and pointed in a certain direction.
There, a mother and her child were walking by.
"Ah, Big Sister Riel!!"
"Hey, shouldn't you call her Vice Chief Riel?"
"Eh, I don't really get it. Yahoo, Big Sister Riel!!"
"Ah, yahoo!"
Riel responded to the child’s voice and immediately ran over.
"Looks like your injury from the other day is doing fine."
"Yeah! Big Sister healed it for me!"
"Riel-sama, thank you so much for the other day."
"No, don't worry about it. It’s part of the police’s job."
"Your job?"
"That’s right. Helping people in trouble is what the police do. Oh, but I do it because I want to, too. It’s not just because it’s my job."
"Wow! Mommy, when I grow up, I’m going to be a police officer too!"
"Oh, this child…"
"Ahaha, yeah. If you’re serious about it, you should try taking the police exam when you grow up."
"Eh? Does the exam mean I have to study like at school?"
"That’s right. If you study a lot and learn many things, you’ll be able to help that many more people in trouble, right?"
"Yeah, I got it! I’m going to study hard! Mommy, when we get home, I’m going to study!"
Riel was having such a heartwarming conversation.
"Riel is completely the 'road work' type, you see. She walks around outside like that, helping people out. Well, I do think buying ice cream and juice for the children is spoiling them a bit too much, though."
"She does things like that too?"