落とし穴１５７堀：合同の忘年会 (Part1)
**Pitfall 157: Joint Year-End Party**
**Side: Kaya**
"…No issues. All documents and schedules are in perfect order."
As I said this, I tapped the documents I had been checking into a neat pile, and...
"Yay! We’re done!"
The Agriculture District staff erupted in a collective cheer. We had finally finished drafting the year-end schedule and all the documents required for submission to the various departments. Now, all that remained was to carry out the work as planned, leaving the tedious paperwork for next year.
"We’ve finally finished. Though, for those of us in charge of farm work, there’s no such thing as a holiday..."
"We have no choice but to rely on the usual year-end rotation and special bonuses. It’s the same every year."
Indeed, whether it’s the Obon festival, the end of the year, or New Year’s, as the Representative says, farmers don’t get holidays. If we don’t tend to the land every single day, good crops won’t grow. Facing the earth daily is the vital work of us farmers.
However, since we conduct agriculture as a national project of Weed, we are able to take turns and get proper time off, and the staff members receive special bonuses for working through the holidays, so it isn’t much of a problem.
Besides, as I mentioned earlier, this is an annual occurrence. That wasn’t why the staff were so happy...
"Alright, everyone! As planned, it’s time for the year-end party!"
"Yahoo!!"
Yes, they were excited about the year-end party. For us in the Agriculture District, the completion of the year-end work schedule and related documents marks the start of the "Year-End Party," where we celebrate our hard work over the past year.
Well, it basically means we get to drink. It’s only natural they’d be happy. The expenses for this party are properly incorporated into each district’s budget. In other words, it’s an officially sanctioned drinking party by Weed.
It’s not just our Agriculture District; year-end parties are held in the Adventurer District, the Commercial District, the General Administration Building, and various other places. It would be incredibly difficult to coordinate schedules to have every district hold their party together, so we don’t do that, but this year...
"A joint year-end party with the General Administration Building. I’m glad we made it in time."
"…Yeah. But I’m worried about whether Eris and her team will finish on time."
That’s right. This year, we’re having the party with the General Administration group. As I said that, perhaps they heard me, because a call came through immediately...
*“Kaya. We’ve finished right on schedule. Will the Agriculture District staff make it to the party today?”*
"…Nice timing. We just finished here, too."
As expected of Eris. She never misses a beat. No, wait—Eris is the Vice Representative now; perhaps I should be praising Tefa, who is coordinating things as the Representative?
*“I see. Then, the party will be at the Narjia Super Public Bath as planned.”*
"…Understood. Looking forward to it."
When I finished the call, the Representative was looking at me with a serious expression...
"They finished on their end, too."
"I see. Alright! Everyone, it seems the General Administration Building is done as well. We’re drinking tonight!"
"Yeah!!"
The staff cheered even louder at the Representative’s declaration.
"…Are you that excited to drink with Eris and the others?"
"Well, when we’re here, we don’t often get the chance to talk to people from other districts. Some of the staff are hoping they might find a good partner on an occasion like this."
"Ah, I see."
Looking for a lover, huh? Indeed, I’ve heard from Milly and Ratz that there’s that side to it as well.
"…I have Yuki, so."
"The Representative is always talking about Yuki-san."
"That’s right. Yuki and I are lovey-dovey. And Representative, I am the Vice Representative now. Don’t keep making that mistake."
"My apologies. It seems I haven’t broken the habit yet."
"…I won’t be here to help if you struggle, you know."
"That would be troublesome. I suppose I’ll have to do my best."
"…Do your best, Representative."
Soon, I will be stepping down from my position as Vice Representative of the Agriculture District. Before that happens, I need to make sure this Representative becomes capable enough to stand on his own.
Yes. Since this party is with the General Administration Building where Eris is, Tefa—the Representative of Accounting and Eris’s junior—will be there, so I’ll have them talk a bit.
Thinking this, I returned home to prepare for the party...
"Oh, Kaya. You’re late."
"Eris, are you already ready?"
"Yes. I’m all set. You should hurry up and take a shower and get changed, Kaya."
Eris was waiting at the entrance, having already changed from her work clothes into her casual attire. We were supposed to have finished work at the same time, so why...?
Still, there wasn’t much time left until the meeting, so I put that question aside for now, scrambled to get ready, and headed toward the super public bath with Eris, who had been waiting for me.
"…It feels wrong to take a shower right before going to a super public bath."
"You can’t go there covered in mud, can you? Narjia-san will be angry, you know?"
"…Narjia-san is scary, so it can’t be helped."
That woman truly loves baths; she is even called the Empress of Baths in town. She is famous as the person who established the "30 Rules of Bathing in Weed," and she is renowned for it.
The reason she is renowned is that when a certain famous adventurer came to Weed’s super public bath and acted arrogantly, treating the bathhouse poorly, Narjia-san immediately flew out of her office, kicked the adventurer out, and then stormed into the Adventurer’s Guild, roaring at them to teach their people how to use a bath.
The famous adventurer challenged her to a duel, but of course, he couldn’t win, and Narjia-san overwhelmed him with magic alone. She managed to get the agreement of not only Milly, who manages the Adventurer District, but also Rock, the Adventurer Guild Master, Kina, the Vice Guild Master, and even the Grand Master himself.
Thus, the hierarchy was established where Narjia-san, representing the Commercial and Blacksmith Districts, stood above the Adventurer’s Guild. Since then, not only has the number of people defying her plummeted, but the Adventurer’s Guild has diligently begun teaching bathing etiquette and enforcing manners.
"Well, that’s mostly correct, but the reason the Adventurer’s Guild started teaching bathing etiquette properly is also because the Grand Master loves baths, you know?"
"I know. Narjia-san and the Grand Master are bath buddies."
While we were chatting about such things, we arrived at the super public bath. The employees were already gathered in the lobby...
"Oh, Vice Representatives. You’ve arrived."
"Eris-san, Kaya-san, hello."
Everyone who noticed us greeted us. The Representatives were mixed in among them.
"…Tefa, glad to see you’re doing well."
"Well, it’s the year-end party today, so it was a real last-minute battle."
Tefania, the Representative of Accounting and Finance who holds the purse strings of Weed, said with a wry smile. She is the rising star who is now said to have even more ability than Eris.
"Just retire and leave it to us."
"No way. I need you seniors to keep working as active members."
"…Tefa, you know this, but we’re struggling with the diplomatic side of things. So, think of it as helping us out."
"That’s all the more reason why it would be a hassle if you left the front lines. We’d have to wait for your approval for everything. Especially with the budget—if Vice Representative Eris leaves, it really won’t pass that easily, you know?"
"Muu."
That was certainly true.