落とし穴１０８堀：年明けの戦争 (Part2)
"Hahaha. Don't praise me too much. Well then, let's drink some of Dressa's amazake."
"Yes, let's. I'll have some."
"Ah, yes. Please do."
The amazake, drunk in the cold winter air, truly warmed me from the inside out.
"Speaking of which, did the church and shops do their usual distribution of oshiruko and amazake this year?"
"Yes. Rurua and Ratz were discussing it."
"But, since it's free and held in front of the church, the crowds are incredible. Yuki and the others were waiting, so I bought mine from Super Ratz."
"That was the right decision."
Getting caught in the New Year's crowd would make it impossible to escape easily.
Ideally, I'd want them to refrain from lining up to buy lucky bags as well, but for the sake of my wives, I suppose it can't be helped.
"Ah, speaking of lucky bags, did Viria or Dressa want any particular ones? If you didn't need me for guard duty, I could have gone for you..."
"It's alright. Guarding my older brother is more important."
"You can buy up to two bags per person, so I've asked them to get the ones I want. Aslin and the others."
"Ah, is that so?"
It seems they're thorough in these matters.
It's amazing how my wives, with their many relatives, can employ such tactics.
...Why are they so fixated on lucky bags, anyway?
"So, what kind of lucky bags do you two want?"
Milly and Narjia wanted sake, Eris and Ratz wanted clothes, and Deryu and Riel wanted weapons. It seems they all had their preferred lucky bags in mind.
Or rather, what even is a weapon lucky bag? When I asked, they told me they hold a lottery every year.
The weapon shops and the blacksmith district gather, collect weapons for the lucky bags, and treat them as prizes for a collective lottery.
It depends on luck, and they don't distribute particularly outlandish weapons. It seems like a way to clear out old stock, so I wondered who would buy such weapons, but apparently, many adventurers and merchants come to purchase them.
The adventurers' opinions were that it's good for securing spare weapons or trying out new ones without the hassle of agonizing over choices, and since you get multiple items, it's a good deal. Merchants, on the other hand, can buy back unwanted weapons and procure them cheaply, which is beneficial. Apparently, Weed-produced weapons sell for a high price when taken elsewhere.
"I'll take clothes."
"Of course, weapons!! After all, they're from the Weed Blacksmith Guild!"
Both answers were understandable.
Viria was becoming more feminine by the day, and Dressa was diligently training.
...Hmm? What about Dressa, as a woman?
Well, it's rude to comment on someone's preferences.
It's not like she's committing any crimes, so it's fine.
"As for you, older brother, we know you're not interested in lucky bags, but is there anything you'd want?"
"Viria's right. We know you're not interested in lucky bags, but is there anything you'd like?"
"What I want..."
When asked, I pondered.
As an adult, the basic principle is to obtain what you want yourself.
Well, since I get a salary, I buy what I want within that range, as long as it doesn't cause financial hardship.
So, it's accurate to say there's nothing in particular I want?
Things like houses or cars are too expensive and unrelated to lucky bags.
Hmm... Ah, that's right.
"I suppose it would be delicious food or ingredients?"
"Ah, I see. That's just like my older brother."
"Yes. It's surprising, yet a typical answer for Yuki. But, you know, it's important to judge such things by seeing them, so a lucky bag wouldn't work, would it?"
"They're ingredients, after all. Putting them in a lucky bag would be... well..."
"Right. If you got spoiled ingredients, it could cause all sorts of problems."
"Well, yeah..."
No, I think I heard something about ingredient lucky bags somewhere in Japan?
Would that include candy lucky bags?
Well, candy lucky bags are sold normally...
Well, let's not think too deeply about it.
While we were chatting like this, the morning sun rose, and as we admired it, before I knew it...
"Thank you for waiting. We will now open for business!! Please note that each person is limited to two lucky bags. We appreciate your understanding."
Finally, they're opening.
Come to think of it, what kind of lucky bags does this store sell?
"Please select your Weed Jewelry Lucky Bag!!"
A jewelry store!
No wonder there were so many women.
And just how much is one bag... No way!
That's expensive! What kind of lucky bag is this for celebrities?
Ignoring my surprise, the ladies and young women who had been waiting for this day rushed forward. Pushed along by them, I grabbed two bags without much thought, headed to the cashier, and was astonished by the price.
"A-about, y-yukichi-sama. Twenty of them... that's a bit much, isn't it!?"
Many people must have gone to buy lucky bags, but I wonder if there were that many lining up?
No, well, it was amazing at the large shopping malls.
I don't know where people get the motivation to line up like that.
Well, today marks the end of the New Year's holiday, so let's get back to business!!
Ah, by the way, the New Year's pitfall will end next time.
Please wait a little longer for the main story to begin.
Well then, have a happy New Year.