Wataru's Christmas present—the advanced wind magic Tornado Scroll—was first handed to Nerune, then eaten by Soto, before finally being duplicated and used by Nerune.

… Well, it made sense because that way Nerune would be able to use the scroll without limit. Still, it was a Christmas where Nerune's usual dryness was palpable as she didn't hesitate to let Soto eat the precious present she'd been given.

(The Christmas present we gave—the intermediate space-time magic Retrieval Scroll—was treated the same way, so it doesn't seem like Wataru's favorability was low.)

About a week had passed since Christmas…

Surprisingly, Wataru was still in Golen.

"Hey Wataru, so you're going to be staying longer this time?

"

"Hehehe. Actually, I got a winter break from Haku-sama! I'm planning to spend New Year's in Golen as well.

"

Wataru seemed proud of himself.

It seems that after defeating the 10th core, which had a significant connection, Haku-san had some more breathing room on her end and could afford to give him an extended vacation.

… Apparently, the meddling from the Holy Kingdom has significantly decreased.

That meddling was most likely led by the Core Number 10, their Pope.

By the way, they were currently in the middle of an election to decide the next Pope (according to Narikin's investigation).

It's believed that they didn't have the luxury to pay attention to the Empire right now.

"Let's make rice cakes! Oh, they'd be dango if we don't use sticky rice though, eh?

"

"Rice cakes, huh…

"

I hadn't eaten them in a while, so let's do him a solid and make it so that sticky rice starts dropping..

I want to eat some with red bean paste.

"The gate decorations became traps last time, but let's collect and decorate them this time! It'll definitely feel very New Year's-like!

"

"Imposing one's culture isn't good… but most things from a hero's origin world are generally accepted. Sigh, Wataru, you can do whatever you want if you take the lead.

"

Golen, known as an adventurers' village with many adventurers, was very open-minded towards the culture from a hero's origin world. Even Christmas was accepted normally all said and done.

"I've heard a little about it from my parents, but I don't know the details.

"

"Hmm. Then let's start with the basics of what comes to mind when talking about New Year's!

"

"Do that with Nerune and the others. I'm going to sleep.

"

I left the work to Wataru and Nerune and decided to sleep.

"Happy New Year's, Goshuujin-sama. I heard there's something called 'otoshidama'?

"

"Happy New Year! Papa! Give me some New Year's money please~!

"

"… Good morning to you both. Wataru told you two, didn't he?

"

Damn you, Wataru. You've gone and done something unnecessary.

Well, it's not like I was short on money, so I didn't mind giving them some extra spending money for the event.

Let's see, one silver coin each should be reasonable for Niku and the others?

"Please give me one that's wrapped up like a ball in a sock!

"

"Hey, Soto. What kind of New Year's gift is that? Did you hear about that from Wataru too?

"

"I came up with it myself!

"

I knew it.

I wonder how I could go about teaching my daughter some self-restraint.

"You should be reserved when asking for spending money. Here, I'll give you one silver coin.

"

"Che. But I'll accept it gratefully!

"

When I handed Soto a silver coin, she muttered how she'd use it to buy more socks. Well, how they use their New Year's money is up to them. I won't interfere.

"I desire meatballs.

"

"Actually, the silver coin would probably buy you more meatballs.

"

"The silver coin then.

"

Yeah, yeah. Happy New Year, Happy New Year. I handed a silver coin to Niku as well.

"Alright. Now that it's New Year's, I guess I'll go back to sleep. It's Sleep-In New Year's for me.

"

"Ah, Papa. Kinue-san made osechi.

"

"Hoh, osechi?

"

Osechi was a collection of dishes that lasted a few days, packed into a tiered box, perfect for lounging around during New Year's.

Spending the first three days of the year snacking on osechi and relaxing was a definite fit with the spirit of Beddhism.

Even the workaholic Kinue-san might have finally succumbed to taking it easy during New Year's.

"I also heard there's ozoni, Papa.

"

"Wataru did manage to get his hands on some sticky rice then. Good, good, everything's going according to plan. Well, I guess I'll go take a look.

"

"… I'm a bit shocked that it would take priority over you going to sleep, Goshujin-sama.

"

Don't complain, Niku. Even I get hungry, you know.

"Hey, Kinue-san. I heard you made osechi?

"

"Master, Happy New Year. Yes, please have one, Master.

"

"Oh, thank you… Wait, you made a bunch of the same thing?

"

"Yes! I'll be making osechi for the first three days of the year!

"

It seems that after trying to recreate the osechi dishes Wataru told her about, they became very popular as Hero Lunchboxes that people wanted to buy.

… No one seemed to get the concept of taking time off for New Year's… despite being the most important part.

"Osechi isn't something you make for all three days, you know? It's fine either way though.

"

"I heard from Wataru that some of the dishes in osechi don't last very long. Seafood like shrimp, for example. I got them from Pavuera, but…

"

Well, it can't be helped if the dishes relied on modern Japanese transportation and refrigeration technology. Wataru, such a modern kid.

Thanks to that, Kinue-san was having to work with gusto even on New Year's Day.

"Ah, we also have ozoni and other rice cake dishes, so please enjoy them.

"

"I was hoping to try some.

"

Well, service industries, especially hotels and inns, did work during New Year's.

It could even be considered their busiest time. I'd never tell them to take a break.

"Rei is also keeping the church open for the first shrine visit of the year.

"

"I see. I guess it can't be helped if it's for the first visit of the year…

"

Shrines also made a lot of money during New Year's, after all. Can't be helped. So many hard workers…

"By the way, where's Nerune?

"

"I asked her to help Wataru with the development of the osechi, so she's taking a break now. She was enthusiastic about having magical elements in all the dishes, or something like that.

"

"Ah, right, osechi is supposed to have a feeling of praying for health and longevity.

"

Shrimp, for example, was a symbol of living a long life with its curved back.

"Is there mashed sweet potatoes with chestnuts in it? It's really good.

"

"I did add some melon bread.

"

Why though?

"Melon bread is for living a long life, like the wrinkles in the melon bread's net pattern.

"

"That seems a bit far-fetched.

"

"Yes, that's true, since Rokuko-sama doesn't have wrinkles.

"

… It's probably because melon bread was Rokuko's favorite. Even though Rokuko could eat melon bread anytime she wanted.

"Others include shrimp, shellfish, kelp… Hmmm. I'm surprised you found so many.

"

"The ingredients were easily available because they were being studied in relation to Ishida's recipes. We might as well say it's thanks to the Food God.

"

Hero Ishida was truly formidable. By the way, it seemed that Wataru did all the shopping while on a date with Nerune.

I wonder if he properly paid for the ingredients?

"By the way, is this squid cut into the shape of a sock? What kind of reason did you come up with for this?

"

"… Well, when Soto-sama was trying to put real socks in and we pleaded that we couldn't eat them, so as a compromise… um, so we could live as long as a sock?

"

"Wouldn't it be better to say that it's to be able to walk on our own for a long time?

"

"I see, let's do that.

"

Changing your reasoning after making it, huh? Well, that's fine.

"Next year, I'll try to include some of those mashed sweet potatoes that you mentioned earlier in the osechi, Master.

"

"That sounds great. It's a lucky item for financial fortune holding the meaning Golden Bed, it fits well with Beddhist teachings.

"

"I'm all the more determined to include it in the menu now. Master, if there is some in the DP catalog, could I have it for reference?

"

"Sure, I want to eat it too, let's do it.

"

It sounds delicious, doesn't it? Please do your best.

By the way, the ozoni was just ordinary ozoni. It was the basic kind made by cutting up leftover vegetables and using rice cakes, it was quite delicious though.