落とし穴外伝：２０２４年明けスペシャル 年明けの午後
Side: Yuki
Before I knew it, the New Year had arrived, and the sun was already beginning to set. It had all gone by in the blink of an eye.
"Man, it’s exhausting having to make the rounds right at the start of the year."
Indeed, we had spent the very beginning of the New Year visiting shrines, hunting for lucky bags, and trailing after the children as they darted between the food stalls. Everywhere we turned, the crowds were immense. Exhausting didn't even begin to cover it—I was just plain tired.
"It couldn't be helped, could it? We are the leaders of Weed. Even if the official New Year's greetings are set for the third, we still had to inspect the various districts. And we had shopping to do, besides."
Seraria had been with me the whole time, acting under the guise of a queen inspecting the New Year’s state of Weed, though in reality, she was mostly focused on securing those lucky bags. I, meanwhile, had been tasked with keeping the children occupied once they grew restless. Of course, it wasn't exactly "playing"—it was more of a diplomatic tour, soothing the populace and showing that the ruler and the people are one and the same. I understood the necessity, but did it really have to be the first thing on the agenda for the New Year?
Thanks to all that, the kids had crashed the moment we got home. They’d been up all night, after all; they were like engines that had run at full throttle until the fuel ran dry. Now, Kirue, Sasari, and the monsters were looking after them.
"Well, we’ve had it easier than most. With Rurua leading the charge, Senal, Enora, and Hairen have been tied up with work at their respective churches."
"Come to think of it, Suzuhikohime is working hard as both a head priestess and a shrine maiden, trying to bring Shinto practices over here, isn't she?"
Currently, Weed is home to a multitude of religions. That said, there’s no conflict between them; people mostly just want to hedge their bets and gather as many blessings as possible. The mainstays are the Litia, Enaria, and Haire churches, with the addition of the Japanese-style shrine. There are no temples yet. Incidentally, there are plans to build a Serafina church—the largest sect in the Zuraburu region—but we’re still stuck on the logistics of who will staff it. The conclusion is that Senal will likely take the post, but there’s still the usual song and dance of "official" negotiations to get through.
And so, my wives and the other members who hold positions near the top of those religious hierarchies were completely occupied. It seems that even in a different world, people are just as eager to offer their prayers at the start of the year.
"Praying to the gods, huh? Man, I used to do that a lot when I was younger, but these days..."
"Hahaha..."
The five attendants—Prol, Orelia, Hobis, Yayui, and Lyushi—could only laugh at my comment. They’d met those goddesses, after all, and knew that most of them were essentially walking disasters. If you prayed to them and they actually listened, it was a guaranteed recipe for a new catastrophe.
"Anyway, sorry for dragging you five into my New Year's schedule."
Nina had spent the turn of the year with the Holy Sword members, but these five had ended up spending it with me, my wives, and the kids. It’s usually a miserable experience—like a punishment game—to spend the holidays with your boss, his wife, and his children instead of your own peers.
"There is nothing to apologize for, sir. I was able to bathe as I pleased and enjoyed delicious meals. It was quite comfortable, actually. Besides, I’ve been staying here lately, so this is nothing new."
"As Prol says. We are here to serve as your guards, Yuki-sama, so there is no issue at all. We have received plenty of time off."
"That’s right~! If anything, living here with you and the others is easier. We can play games and stuff~."
"Yes, exactly. Laundry is simple, and I have time for my books and hobbies, so I actually prefer living here."
Starting with Prol, Orelia, Hobis, and Yayui all claimed they had no complaints about living with me. I truly hope they mean it. I don’t restrict their time off, and I’ve told them to do as they please, so I’d like to think it isn't a burden. And then there was Lyushi...
"I am your personal attendant, Yuki-sama, so I’m with you regardless. Wouldn't it be strange for me to live somewhere else? I’m actually surprised I was given a private room. Back in the village, we all slept huddled together on the floor. It’s far too luxurious. Honestly, I wonder if you even realize what my station is supposed to be."
I felt like she was pointing out that my common sense was skewed. Deryu and Seraria nodded along with her.
"It is unusual, to say the least. Though, knowing the common sense you were raised with, Yuki, I understand why you treat them this way."
"I understand it, but that doesn't mean people from this world will find it normal. If anything, Lyushi’s reaction is the standard one. Oh, Lyushi, would you like a mandarin orange? We have quite a few."
"Yes, thank you."
With that, Seraria and Lyushi began chatting while passing the oranges back and forth. Yeah, they’ve settled in just fine. Looking around, everyone was tucked into the *kotatsu*, snacking on sweets and sipping drinks. It was pointless to ask if they were comfortable.
"Come to think of it, you were holding an Othello tournament yesterday, weren't you? Who ended up winning?" Seraria asked, as if just remembering.
Ah, right. The Othello tournament had been quite the hit last night. Though...
"Well, the number of participants kept growing, so it all got a bit muddled. We decided to hold the matches properly again tonight. Lyushi didn't even know the rules at first, you know."
It had started with just me, Lyushi, and Labyris, but as everyone finished their work, they all jumped in, and the winner became a total mystery. The goal was just to have fun, which was fine by me, but someone insisted on crowning a champion, so we were doing it all over again tonight.
"It was my first time, but it was fun. I’ve learned the rules and I think I’ve gotten a bit stronger, so I won't lose tonight."
"Heh heh. I’m just glad to see Lyushi having fun."
"Oh? Are you not participating, Deryu-sama?"
"I think not. I’ll be on the side of those relaxing with food and drink. It’s better to watch."
It seemed Deryu just wanted to take it easy. It wasn't a mandatory event, and plenty of the other wives weren't participating either, so it wasn't particularly strange. Milly, for instance, was firmly in the "I’d rather be drinking" camp.
"Is that so? I was hoping to play against you..."
"Hmm? Well, tournament or not, I don't mind playing a casual game. But in a tournament, I’d have to play at full strength, and I can't do that while I’m drinking. That’s why I’m sitting this one out."
"I see."
"Well, that makes sense. It’s hard to play a strategy game while you’re drinking, isn't it?"
"Does that mean you aren't participating either, Seraria?"
"Indeed. You all go ahead and have your fun. I’ll play a casual game while drinking, though."
"In that case, shall we play, you and I?"
"Sounds good."
They were going to do their own thing. The tournament was just for fun anyway, but I suppose it’s a matter of mindset.
"What about you, Yuki-sama?"
"Oh, I’m in. And I’m setting the rules—or rather, the time limits. Is an hourglass okay?"
"I think that’s a good idea. Some people think forever. We spent way too much time waiting yesterday."
"Exactly. As Prol said, ten minutes was too long; three minutes should be plenty."
"Otherwise, we’ll never finish by tonight~."
That was the mistake from yesterday. I hadn't thought the games would be that complex, but some of the members really took their time. That’s why we were implementing a shorter time limit today.
"What shall we do about snacks and drinks?"
"Hmm. How’s everyone feeling? We have leftovers from the *osechi*."
"To be honest, I’m stuffed. I’ve had enough food... maybe just a snack."
Yayui is small, after all—the smallest after Prol. She’d been eating non-stop since last night: New Year’s buckwheat noodles, *ozoni* soup, and *osechi*. It was no wonder she was full.
"Well, I’ll leave that to Kirue and Sasari. They’re experts at gauging appetites."
"Yes, leave it to us."
"We’ve got it covered~! Besides, we have the Item Box, so it’s fine if there are leftovers~."
And so, the afternoon of the New Year passed by in a blur.
Happy New Year. Since this is being posted at midnight, this might be a story from the near future. Whether you wake up in the evening or are still sleeping, take care of yourselves and don't catch a cold. I look forward to your continued support this year.