落とし穴１５９堀：目前の年末に向けて (Part1)
**Pit 159: Facing the Year-End**
Side: Yuki
Well, today is December 27th.
It’s safe to say we’re right on the doorstep of the new year.
Naturally, the world is in the thick of the usual year-end hustle and bustle, preparing for the transition.
Shops like Ratz’s are facing their busiest season, caught in the middle of a grand struggle.
The busyness is at its peak.
And because goods are moving due to this year-end and new-year trade, international commerce has become incredibly active as well.
With the inauguration of the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance, we’ve made the stable supply of various goods possible.
Until now, during the harsh winters, people were barely scraping by, rationing their stored supplies little by little, and the new year was something welcomed in quiet solitude.
In the first place, even if you wanted to go buy supplies, your neighbors were in the same wintery straits, and there was nowhere to go to procure them.
It was common sense in this world that even if you had the money, you couldn't shop because the things you wanted weren't sold in the neighborhood during winter.
Well, with the distribution systems of this world, just transporting goods was a struggle to begin with, and the types of food available were almost entirely limited to the local area. No, wait—regional specialties being limited to certain areas is the same on Earth, isn't it?
Anyway, putting that aside, thanks to the opening of the gates brought about by Weed, we can now interact with distant places in an instant, regardless of the weather. This has made securing and distributing supplies for each country during the winter extremely easy.
As a result, we’ve been able to mimic the year-end and new-year events we always held in Weed, forming large-scale markets.
Well, there are still places where transporting goods to rural areas and farming villages remains difficult, but the situation where business becomes impossible due to a lack of supplies in winter has decreased significantly.
Since countries are now supplementing each other with what they lack, there is no longer a need to lament the shortage of winter supplies.
"Yes, yes, you’re saying such grand things, but the war in our own home is about to begin, you know?"
"……Please, just let me escape from reality."
In response to my talk about the world heading in a good direction, Seraria hits me with the harsh, harsh reality.
"We must clear away the dust of the year so that we may welcome the new year with a fresh spirit. We must do a proper deep cleaning."
Rurua says this, brimming with enthusiasm.
Is it her pride as a doctor regarding cleanliness and hygiene? Or is it just natural behavior for a devout follower of her god? I don’t know, but there are always people who get fired up for spring cleaning.
However, while there are those who are highly motivated, there are others…
"B-but, you know? This inn has Kirue and Sasari managing the trash and such properly, so isn't it fine if we don't try *that* hard?"
Riel, like me, seems to be bad at deep cleaning and offered a dissenting opinion in an attempt to avoid it, but she was grabbed firmly by the shoulders from both sides by Tori and Kaya.
"That’s true. The hallways and common spaces of the inn are always clean. But the private rooms are different, aren't they? Especially your room, Riel."
"……It’s time you finally cleaned up those snack bags and crumbs."
"I-it’s fine, isn't it? T-that’s, you know, interior decoration? And I like having sleepovers in your rooms, Tori and Kaya!"
Riel’s room is quite a mess, after all.
Every year, this battle plays out during the deep cleaning season, but…
" "Have you forgotten that the children tried to eat those snack crumbs you left on the floor the other day?" "
"Yes. I’m sorry. I’ll clean up properly."
It’s no use. When they bring up the hygiene of the children, even Riel can’t resist.
"Hmm. Everyone, do your best."
"You do your best too, Deryu."
"R-Ria? I have work to do, you see…"
"Nope. That’s not going to fly."
And so, it seems even a Demon Lord has no way to escape a Hero.
"Well, we were busy this year, so it’s a good opportunity. So, Eris, Ratz, please help me."
"You’re just casually assuming that we’re going to help clean Milly’s room, aren't you?"
"Indeed. Although, as usual, I expect it’ll be scattered with a mountain of sake bottles and aluminum cans."
"Ahahahaha!! Now! Let’s clean!"
Despite her appearance as a capable office worker, Milly is the type of adult whose private life is a total disaster.
However, the fact that she’s successfully secured Eris and Ratz as labor shows she’s quite clever, I suppose.
"Agil and Cleena are also eagerly awaiting the cooperation of Jessica and Samantha!"
"……Yeah. Most welcome."
"Sigh. It’s good that you two are enthusiastic about research and studies, but let’s clean properly, too."
"I knew about Cleena, but Agil, you haven't been in Weed for that long, have you?"
"Because this place, Weed, is full of fun things!"
"……Yeah. The world just keeps expanding and expanding."
"No matter how nicely you put it, it won't work."
"Indeed. While we’re at it, let’s throw away everything unnecessary in the room. That way, it won't get so messy."
" "There is not a single unnecessary thing in our room!!" "
They’re the type who can’t throw things away.
The cleanup of the Agil and Cleena combo’s room seems like it’s going to be a very difficult endeavor.
They’re the type who can’t even judge what is necessary and what isn't in the first place.
"It looks like we’ll finish quickly."
"……E-eh, um."
"Hey, Mikos. What’s with that reaction? Don't tell me your room is messy?"
"No, Mikos’s room just has a lot of magazines. Earth’s fashion magazines, weekly magazines, and newspapers, I suppose. Well, it seems like it’ll be a lot of work to organize them."
"Wait!? Stasia! You shouldn't have said that!?"
"Oh? Was that a secret? I thought you were just very studious."
"Ugh. Stasia is too much of a natural airhead!?"
"Sigh. Enora, we’re gathering at Mikos’s room."
"Understood. Mikos, make sure you separate the things you don't want thrown away."
Mikos has been saying she wants to become a journalist for Weed, so I’ve been teaching her about those kinds of materials. I’m glad to see she’s working hard.
Well, the year-end cleanup looks like it’ll be tough.
"Yes, yes. You go ahead and clean your own room, too. It’s not as bad as those girls', is it?"
"Well, yeah. I only have games to organize, after all."
My room’s usage rate has been extremely low lately.
I only play games on the occasional day off, and I rarely use it for anything else.
On top of that, since my wives come and go so often, Kirue and Sasari clean it diligently, so there’s almost no dirt at all.
"For now, I’ll just organize the shelves."
"Do that. And when you’re finished, you’re helping everyone else or preparing dinner."
"Yes, yes."
I could just stay holed up in my room playing games, but if that gets found out, I’ll earn the resentment of my wives.
And above all else.
"We’re going to clean up now~"
" " "Ooh!" " "
The children are also fired up to clean, working hard to tidy up their own shared space.