落とし穴１０５堀：年越しの贅沢 (Part1)
The 105th Pitfall: A Year-End Indulgence
Year-End Indulgence
Side: Yuki
"Brrr..."
"It's cold, isn't it?"
"It really is!"
"It's quite chilly."
"It feels even colder today than usual."
As we exchanged these words, Asurin and the other four of us walked through the streets of Weed. Despite the biting cold, the commercial district of Weed was bustling with activity. It was no surprise, really. The date was December 29th, just two days before the year's end.
Weed's New Year's celebrations were already a well-established tradition, and its residents were in a frenzy of preparations for the upcoming festivities. Even the shopkeepers were eager to capitalize on the season, with many businesses advertising year-end sales to draw in customers. The sight of staff braving the frigid temperatures to solicit passersby was a testament to their dedication.
"Everyone's getting ready for the end of the year!"
"And for New Year's too!"
"That's right. We've already done our big cleaning."
"Now we just need to stock up on groceries."
Indeed, like everyone else, we were here to buy ingredients for our New Year's feast. The suggestion of ordering through DP was no longer voiced by my wives. They understood that this was a time to use the money we received as salaries. While one might normally try to save, we, as part of Weed's management, received a substantial salary. Not spending it could be seen as hindering Weed's economy, but more importantly, our presence and purchases in the commercial district stimulated the desire to buy and created a positive ripple effect. It would also be awkward to encourage extravagant year-end spending and then refuse to participate ourselves.
"Today, we need to get mochi and sake. We'll check the market for fish and meat."
"Fish markets are so interesting!"
"I've seen fish there that I've never even seen in books!"
"They have unusual meats too!"
"The Adventurer's Guild also releases quite a variety."
Thanks to the simplified distribution channels established since Weed's founding, the availability of fresh fish and meat had increased dramatically, bringing prices within reach for ordinary households. This, in turn, had expanded demand, not just within Weed but also for countries exporting fresh seafood and meat, leading to significant profits.
Currently, the Adventurer's Guild was the biggest earner when it came to meat. The meat from monsters slain by adventurers had become a major source of income for the guild, as it could be sold before spoiling. Since Weed only had dungeon monsters, obtaining meat was impossible. In dungeons, monsters only dropped items, making this a unique revenue stream for the Adventurer's Guild outside of dungeons.
While breeding farms for pigs, cattle, and sheep had been established, they were still in their early stages and would take several years to become fully productive for consumption. As for fish, the availability was limited to regions with access to the sea or large rivers due to geographical constraints. This was simply unavoidable. On the other hand, the need for flood control measures in such areas offered a balance of benefits and drawbacks.
However, some countries, lacking this understanding, envied those with coastlines or rivers, leading to various disputes. These matters were best left to the four major powers – Roschur, Gartz, Litea, and Rumel – to resolve. If Weed were to interfere, it could create further problems. It was crucial for Weed to maintain its stance as a small nation merely providing distribution services, lest other countries become uneasy. Ultimately, international issues on the Logari Continent were to be decided by the five major powers, including the demon realm of Last. Any nation that dared to challenge this united front would undoubtedly be crushed, which was why large-scale conflicts were unheard of, with only minor border skirmishes reported.
Regardless, our primary diet consisted of fish and meat from Earth, so exploring the markets of this world was always an enjoyable experience. While Ratz and Milly were accustomed to such sights, Asurin and I found them novel. We planned to take our time, enjoying the sights while shopping for ingredients.
In truth, the ladies had not joined us because they were engaged in strategic planning for securing New Year's lucky bags. The thought of being dragged along again this year made me sigh, but since these lucky bags were a significant source of my wives' enjoyment and spending, I supposed it was my duty as a husband to accompany them.
With that in mind, we first headed to Super Ratz in the commercial district to secure mochi and sake. It seemed even more crowded than usual, likely due to the approaching year-end.
"Oh, it's Nana-chan!"
"Nanaaa!"
Asurin and Firia spotted Nana, the shop manager and a fairy, and ran towards her. She appeared to be restocking shelves.
"Hmm? Oh, Asurin-chan, Firia-chan. Welcome. Shopping?"
"Yeah. We came shopping with big brother."
"We're here to get New Year's mochi and sake!"
"I see. Oh, Yuki-san, Rabiris-chan, Shera-chan, hello."
While chatting with the two girls, Nana noticed us approaching and greeted us. As expected of a manager, she continued her work while talking. She was a model employee for the other staff.
"Oh, hello."
"Hey, Nana. You look busy."
"Hello. Nana-san, is it really that busy because it's year-end?"
"Yes, it is. I'm even out here restocking shelves. Normally, I'd be in the back handling orders and paperwork."
I figured as much. For a large supermarket like this, the manager was typically occupied with daily procurement, shift management, and accounting, usually behind the scenes. The fact that the manager herself was out front doing a job that other employees could handle was a clear sign of how busy they were. Prolonging our conversation would only add to Nana's burden.
"Sorry to bother you when you're busy. We'll just browse and pick up some mochi and sake."
"Alright. Even if I recommend something, it'll mostly be items from Yuki-san's homeland, so it's difficult for me to guide you or make recommendations."
"No, I'm sure you know more about Japanese products than I do. Let's talk about it when things calm down."
After all, Nana had been working at Super Ratz since its inception in Weed, with over three years of service. My own retail experience was limited to occasionally minding the shop for the old woman at the nearby candy store. It was clear that Nana possessed superior product knowledge.
"I'm glad you think so. Let's chat more after the New Year, perhaps. Sorry, Asurin-chan, Firia-chan."
"No, it's okay. Keep up the good work!"
"I will! And we'll have plenty of time to talk after the New Year!"
"Okay."
Just as we were about to part ways, a question popped into my mind, and I decided to ask it.
"By the way, after we finish shopping here, I was thinking of heading to the fresh market to buy some unusual fish, meat, or fruits. Do you have any recommendations?"
"Hmm. You mean you want to buy local items, not Earth ones, right?"
"Exactly."
I figured Nana, who lived here and was familiar with the local products, wouldn't recommend anything disappointing.
"Hmm... Ah, how about Ruby Balls? What do you think?"
"Ruby Balls? That name makes me imagine something like grapes or cherries."