落とし穴１３５堀：男たちの正月 (Part1)
**Pitfall 135: Men’s New Year**
**Side: Yuki**
"Ah, it’s so cold. I want some hot *oshiruko* or *amazake*."
"I want some hot love, too~."
Such voices drifted through from the call screen.
"Seraria, Rurua. Are you telling me to bring some over right now?"
"Oh? Did it sound like that?"
"We were just stating the current situation, weren't we?"
"That’s right. Surely, you, being eaten away by guilt, are thinking of bringing it yourself."
"Indeed. My husband is so kind; he must be heartbroken thinking of us out here in the cold."
"…I told you I wouldn't be joining you for the lucky bag scramble this year. I have to look after Sakura and the others, so I’m hanging up."
"You’re so heartless~."
"Husbaaaand~."
"Yes, yes."
I gave a perfunctory reply and cut the call.
"Are you sure about that? Not taking them any drinks?"
"Yeah. If it’s about the kids, we could take care of them for you, but… well, they’re just sleeping anyway."
"That’s true. You know, Yuki, if you aren't kind to women in these moments, it’ll come back to haunt you later."
That was Taiki, Taizo, and Sota offering their advice.
The year has turned, and today is January 3rd.
For women like Seraria, this is the ultimate battlefield. They have thrown themselves into the fierce, high-stakes zone of lucky bag sales.
Thanks to choosing the job of watching the children, I managed to avoid being deployed into the "Bag Retrieval Operation," but it seems the situation has become difficult enough for them to reach out.
"It’s fine. Their real intention is just to have someone wait in line for them. Besides, Taiki, do you really think they don't have hot drinks in their item boxes?"
"Ah, that’s impossible, isn't it? So, it really is a sacrifice they’re looking for?"
"Likely. They just want someone to stand in their place in this freezing weather."
As much as I love my wives, I can’t go along with this.
I was the one who introduced the concept of lucky bags and suggested selling them in Weed, but since my wives are on the management side of Weed, there is absolutely no need for them to buy them.
After all, we can cover it with DP; there’s no need to stand out in the cold.
At first, I thought it was just out of curiosity, but seeing them participate every year, it’s clearly become a hobby. The magical power of the lucky bag is truly terrifying.
As I was talking with Taiki, Taizo and Sota were chatting nearby.
"Lucky bags, huh? Hifie hasn't asked me to stand in line for her."
"Well, unlike the old hag back home, Taizo-dono’s wife seems to be a good woman who respects her husband."
Hifie is the type to respect her husband, so she likely doesn't want to drag Taizo out just to secure a few extra bags.
Does that mean my wives don't respect me? Not necessarily. They respect me plenty, but the problem is that because I have so many wives, they can utilize human-wave tactics.
Normally, a couple is limited to two bags, but my wives have the numbers, and this year they’ve even roped in Kagura and Eoid’s group, allowing them to aim for a massive haul.
Their solidarity in these moments is incredibly high; they’ve spent time confirming where and what kind of bags will be available before today arrived.
"The fortunate thing is that I banned all-nighters."
"Ah, come to think of it, didn't you used to line up from the middle of the night?"
"Yeah. Before, the first sales including the lucky bags were all held on the 1st, so after the first shrine visit of the year, we’d go straight to the lines. We’d be standing for about eight hours."
"Ugh..."
I still wonder where that kind of grit comes from. Thanks to that, we even had to deploy people like Steve, which was a real headache.
"Well, this year, I’m just letting the women go, and I’ll be here to welcome them back and have the food ready."
"That’s good to hear. Though, preparing the food is still a lot of work, isn't it?"
"Not really. I’ve already done the prep work, so I just need to do the final touches before serving. It’s not that bad."
Cooking is basically about doing the prep work and then quickly assembling it at the last minute. The more elaborate the dish, the more time it takes, so you can't neglect the preparation.
"I see. So that’s how you’ve been preparing feasts for your wives and us every year, Yuki."
"That’s great. A man who can cook. And for me, it’s a nostalgic *osechi*."
"You guys are first-timers, after all. The only question is whether it suits Enor’s palate."
"No, Enor has been enjoying Japanese food since coming to Weed, so it’ll be fine. She quite likes it."
I see, so Enor is no problem.
Still, I’m preparing hors d'oeuvres for the kids as well. Honestly, I prefer the hors d'oeuvres over the refined flavors of traditional New Year’s food, but Seraria and Deryu seem to love that classic New Year taste. Well, since I’m preparing a variety of things, at least no one will go hungry.
"Speaking of *osechi*, Yuki-san. There have been many dignitaries—or rather, kings—from various countries here since before New Year’s. Don't you need to take special measures for them?"
"Ah, that’s fine. The intercontinental conference is scheduled for the 3rd, as planned. They’re probably just meeting up beforehand to exchange greetings and conduct diplomacy before the official New Year’s meetings begin."
"I see. So even as the scale grows, the most important thing is the groundwork."
"Exactly. No matter how much time passes, human relationships don't really change."
You can't communicate without speaking, and these kinds of formal greetings are essential.
"Oh, Taizo-san, is Hifie working after this?"
"No, she’s already finished the preliminary meetings. But what about you, Taiki? Aren't you here as a representative of Ranks?"
"Ah, well, yes. But I’m mainly here to greet everyone from the Rogali Great Empire. It’s tough for a small nation like Ranks to step up to the If Continent and the New Continent."
"Hmm. I see. So you’re in the position of a small nation."
"We don't have the leverage that the Hifie Holy Nation has, like sending out healers to the great powers. I could try to push my status as a Hero, but if I do that, I’m no different from the previous Ranks royal family."
Well, if Ranks, a mere small nation, participates alone, the jealousy from other small nations is intense. They’d be asking how they can act so high and mighty after causing so much trouble until now.
It’s true that Taiki rebuilt the country as a Hero, but that doesn't erase the fact that Ranks caused trouble for the surrounding countries. That debt has to be repaid steadily.
"So, the turn for small nations like Ranks comes during the New Year’s greetings at each great power after the main ones are finished. Though, it seems many are just here in Weed for tourism, too."
"That’s to be expected. Unlike the If Continent or the New Continent, the Rogali Continent doesn't restrict movement within the continent. It’s only natural for small nations to seize this opportunity to make connections."
"That’s true."