Ahhh.........it's cold.......
Why do I have to go outside on such a cold night........
I want to stay home and eat Orangue on the cotta........
If I were to be extravagant, I'd want to roast rice cakes in a net with charcoal, wrap them in seaweed, and eat them with soy sauce........
But we have rice, but not sticky rice..........

And then there's the ice cream, I guess.
It's a strange, indulgent taste, the perfect combination of cold ice cream in a warm room.
It's a combination that Reidiana-sama also recommends, so this is a no-brainer.
In the meantime, the ideal thing to do is to take a bath in a hot spring to warm your body to the core.
Of course, you're going in with everyone........

But in reality, unlike the warm and welcoming fantasy, it's so cold that you can't help but meditate when the wind blows....

''Lord, are you cold?''
I don't know, it's too cold...
Come on down here. I'm extra warm.
Oh please....

As I slowly approached Aina with my freezing body, she squeezed me from in front of her.
Aina was right, there was also the warmth of Aina's body heat, but even more than that, the fire-like warmth, which was different from her body heat, doubled up and wrapped around my body.

''Hmph. Looks like you've cooled off quite a bit, my lord.
'Uh ... warm ...'
Hm?　Should I be stronger?

As I exert myself to get Aina's body closer to mine, she responds by pressing harder against me.
Aina is not wearing any armor today, so the soft feel of her tits and the warmth of her breasts is going to make me feel warm and fuzzy inside and out.

''Mmmm ... that's not fair, Aina-san.
'Didn't Wendy use her own body to cool her lord down during the Lowcak?　It's called being in the right place at the right time.
Yes, that's true, but...
Hmm. White is a kid, so I'm sure he has a high body temperature. The right person in the right place.

It's true that White's body is always warm as he often climbs on my lap.
But unfortunately, I'm a little undersized....
I'm not completely warmed up yet either.

''Oh.
Hmm. Then I'll give you a ride in a little while. I'd hate to be separated from my master's body.
Hm. Thanks, Aina. I'll give you a hand with something else.
"Hmm. Thanks.

Ahhhhhh ... it's warm and soft.
It's not that I don't care about the gazes of the people around me, but I'm not in a situation where I can say four or five things right now.
It's cold despite the fact that I have a magic ball in my pocket instead of a warmer.

This is the world's way of welcoming the New Year.
It is said that this is our way of welcoming the new year in this world, where everyone in the town goes outside to celebrate the moment.

Well, even in the original world, there are similar things like praying, but I've always preferred to spend New Year's Eve at home in the warmth of a house....
It's my New Year's style to visit temples when there are no other people around.
But they say to do as they say when in Rome, and Aina and her friends have been doing it this way for a long time, so I've decided to follow their lead.

There were quite a few stalls, and although there were many hot drinks and food for sale to protect against the cold, everyone seemed to be shivering with cold.
Then, only three people came rushing towards us.

''........Hey, I bought drinks for everyone, why are you making out with each other!
'That's right!　Why are you guys hugging each other?　Aina, that's not fair!
'Huh it's cold. Yes, sir. Hot limpet.
"Thank you Mizera.........

Solte, Renge, and Mizella, who had been sent to buy, returned with hot limple liquor and hot limple juice in their hands.
White took the juice and sipped it, but it was unexpectedly hot, or bleep!　And then he stuck out his tongue and turned his tail upside down.
Cat tongue, after all.....

''Hey, you can tell us that!
'That's right!　It's so cold and the lines were long!

No, well, I'm still in my normal clothes with Renge and my thighs fully open, that would be cold.......
'The way you train is different!　As long as I'm moving in my normal clothes, I'm comfortable! And then I said.........

'Oh. Thanks, both of you.
That's it?　Come on!　Thank you so passionately and physically for turning this cold weather upside down!　Specifically, squeezing like you're doing to Aina right now!　Squeezing so tightly that it gets entangled!
Come on, then!　It was cold as hell with all that airflow!　You can at least warm them up with your Lord's body!
'Unfortunately it's White's turn next. You'll have to keep your turn.
'Why not?　You didn't do anything!
'White's job is to guard the Lord. The Lord had nothing to do with it, so White is doing his job properly. Ho.........sweet and delicious.

White let out a hoarse white breath from the hot limple juice he'd drank.

'Right. White was doing his job, and in order, White would be first.'
'Oh, and I'm next, right?　And next to that is Mizera.
'Why not?　At least you're equal to Mizella!
'I was just handing Mizella a drink for her master, you know. Order is important.
I'm not the last...
Really?
'Hmmm... oh!　I don't mind if I'm the last!　They're going to have plenty of time for you to sleep in at the end!
A sponge?　In case you're wondering, there's a second round, okay?
'What?　Then no!　The sooner the better!

Ahhh ... it's warm.
Instead of Aina to White, I stick with White to cover her from behind, and she's warm too.
In terms of warmth, Aina is warmer than I am, but White is inside my coat and only exposes his face, so it's hard for the drafts to get through.

I sit down on a chair with a table and watch the people in town.
Everyone looked cold, but they were happy to welcome the New Year's Eve, and children, who rarely go out at night, were excited as if it didn't matter how cold it was.
But since it was nighttime, the guards seemed to be keeping a close eye on them, and their parents must have been relieved to know that they were safe.


As I was thinking this, a woman passed in front of me with her long black hair swinging.
The impression of a kimono-like atmosphere, and a slender weapon, which appears to be a sword, is lowered at the waist.
And that person's breasts were tits.

''Hm?　Oh, the one there is, I believe, a friend of Hayato-dono's...
'　Hmm?　Oh, Yuki!　Long time no see!

For a moment I wondered if I had noticed the look she gave me at the bad tits, but the dark-haired titty girl was Yuki.
She is the daughter of a wealthy merchant in Amatsukuni, and she is a woman who regularly sends me rice.

It's been a long time. Oh, you must be Shiro-dono.
Hmm?　Who?

Come to think of it, I'd never met White before.
Or maybe I'm the only one who's ever met him.

Ha-ha. As expected of Shiro-dono. A person participated in the martial arts tournament, but he was defeated by Hayato-dono without a second thought. Then it's nice to meet you. I am Yuki, an adventurer from Amatsukuni.
Hm. Amatsukuni?　Oh, the one who mainly sells us rice. White likes rice too.
'That's it!　Rice is the specialty of Amatukuni. Please come to Amatukuni and taste our top-quality, non-exportable rice!
Oh ... the top rice Lord.
Oh. We'll be there.


It's the highest level of rice that is precious and valuable enough to eat....
Of course I'm going to eat it.
Amatkuni I'm looking forward to it in more ways than one!

Hmm?　Oh!　Aren't you guys from the Red Front (Red Line) over there? Could it be that you knew your brother?
No, they're all my lovers.
Oh my...!

Yuki-san alternately looks at me and the three of us with a shocked gaze as our faces open at the mention of being called lovers.

''Could it be that the two of you are also...?
'Yes, sir. That's right. My name is Wendy.
'Oh, it's Mizera. Well........just in case, yes....
Oh ... five lovers.
Hm. And White. They're still kids, but they'll come around.
Six people..... I see. You are indeed a loyal man of desire, aren't you?
It was Oligor who said that, wasn't it? ...Didn't he say anything else that wasn't absolutely unnecessary?
'Oh, um ... don't get too close to me ... I'm going to drop you ...'
Nyarrow.

You've been embedding your scepticism in me since I haven't even met you....
It's true that Yuki has nice tits.
Furthermore, she is definitely a beautiful dark-haired girl.
But that doesn't mean I'm a soft man who would mess with anyone, no matter who they are!

Well my preference is for strong men so I'm sorry!
'I didn't do anything and he dumped me.... Hm?　Does that mean Hayato is your favorite?
What!　No, not like that!　It's true that Lord Hayato beat me to it, and he's called a hero in addition to his good looks, and he's kind, and I admire him, but I don't know if it's presumptuous of me to like him that much.......

Uh ... yeah.
You'll love this one already.
In the blink of an eye, I'm holding my cheeks and my face is so red that I feel as if steam is rising in this cold air.

'.........Ah, Hayato.
What?　I don't believe it!　This is Ains Hale!　Why is Lord Falconer in Ainsdale--
Itzki-san!
Nah!

It's true. In fact, Hayato had called for him, too.
It was colder than we had expected, and we had all gone to buy winter clothes.

'Huh?　Isn't that Yuki-san? Good evening.
Hey, hey, good evening...


This time, steam is coming from his head.

''What's going on?　Are you unwell?
'No, no, no, no, no!　Duh, I'm fine!
Is that so...?
'Yes, sir!　Yes, of course!　Well, it's still cold. When it's so cold, don't you want to bake rice cakes on a warm oven?　I happen to have it with me, so let's bake it!

Hahaha.
Brilliantly impatient....mochi?

'We have rice cakes!'
"Yes, there is...!　Shall I bake it?!
A lot?
'What?　Yeah, well, it's full...
Let's burn it. We'll burn it now. I'll get the oven!

Smelting, kneading, charcoal pudding, burning, and completion.

Yes!
It's too soon.

Mizella's rush is through.
Right now, baking rice cakes is my top priority!
Other people are also gathering around the heating mages and bonfires that the city has prepared, and some people have brought simple cooking utensils with them, so I think they'll be allowed to at least have a shichirin.
Or rather, even if Origor is angry at me, he will forgive me if I share the rice cakes.

''Rice cakes, huh? It's certainly nice to have rice cakes for the New Year.''
''You like it too, don't you Lord Hayato....... Well then, I'll take the form of offering it to you. Please enjoy it as you wish!
'Thank you. You've been too good to me, Yuki. Let me thank you for something next time.
Oh, don't thank me...
'No, I'll be sure to do it. What would you like?

Maybe it's something that gives the two of them a good vibe, but that's not the point, it's the rice cakes!
Well, what shall I make?
I'm sure I'll make Isobe mochi with soy sauce, but I'd also like to make soup with sweetened red bean paste that Daifuku-ya gave me before, and zoni (soup stock) with dashi.
It's not dumplings, but I could make mitarashi, too.....
Ah, now that it's come to this point, I'd like to have some kinako (kinako flour) as well, but it's too much of a luxury!

The charcoal from the shichirin is heated and the rice cakes are scorched and inflated.
In the meantime, a separate shichirin-like device is prepared for cooking, and firewood is added to this one.

You're too fast. You can't use it as a reference...

No, Mr. Mizella?　This isn't really something to refer to, so I don't have to refer to it, okay?

Get Aina to fire and make hot water, and take the broth with dried seaweed and dried vegetables.
And one more thing: put the anko on the fire and pour the water over it and add a pinch of salt while stretching it out with a wooden spoon.

'Um, can I help you with something?'
Oh, Chris, thank you. Mix this up for me, then.
'Yes. It smells sweet and delicious.
Yeah. You can get anko (sweet red bean paste) over here too, so I think Hayato will like it if you get it. By the way, if you ask for it, Yuki-san might be able to prepare it for you since it comes from Amatucuni.
'Oh. I understand. I'll make sure I get it next time.
Master. I have something....
Me too....
'So, Wendy, would you mind slicing the chicken into bite-sized pieces?　It would be helpful if Misela could have enough plates washed for a few people.
Yes. Leave it to me.
Got it. That's quite a bit...
I can help you with the dishes!
Yeah. I can do that.

Okay, okay. That's fine.
In the meantime, I'll cut up the vegetables.
It's a new year's greeting, so I'll be cutting up decorations.
Autumn leaves, stars, rabbits, swans, elephants, dragons, goddesses, you name it, I've got it!

You're very clever.
Hmm?　Oh, are you done thanking me?
Wha........well. I will be invited to Sir Hayato's house next time....
Oh. I'm glad. Should I thank you for something, too...?
'No, no, that's enough!　Yes, really, I should rather say that something happened that we should be thanking you for........ I didn't expect to be able to celebrate the New Year with Lord Hayato....

I can see from her expression that she can't hide her joy.

He's still the same guy you can't put in the corner.......

Good. Well then, take your pick!　The black ones are sweet. The clear ones are the sour ones. There's not enough for everyone, so take what you want. If there are some left over, the first one to go first. Oh, and chew the rice cakes well in small bites. You'll choke on it.

They all responded well, so we're probably okay, but we'll see what we can do.
Mochi can be dangerous if you don't.
You're probably not even used to eating them on a regular basis, and it's important to be warned.

We each take what we like, but oshiruko is still popular.
The ratio of girls is overwhelmingly high, and girls like sweet....
I'm a zoni, but Hayato is an oshiruko.
And there's a lot of isobe-cakes.

''Huh........the oshiruko is warm and sweet and delicious. The mochi is also very elastic. Delicious.........''
That's right. The zoni here tastes good too. But it would have been nice if you guys could have come too. What a waste.
It can't be helped. We can't even contact you if you're in the dungeon.

Unfortunately, Shin and the others seemed to be in a dungeon, so they couldn't come this time.
It's only on days like this that we have events like this to eat rice cakes, so it's very true.......
Yuki-san gave me more rice cakes to eat next time.........

'This is delicious. I'd love to get the recipe from you.
Oh, so you're a fan of zoni. That's fine. I'll teach you as much as I can.

The basic idea is just to take the broth and season it with salt.
It's not what I'd call a recipe, but I'll just tell you that because you're free to arrange it.

Thank you very much. 'We have oshiruko in our homeland, but you add a pinch of salt to it. I wanted to try that one too, but alas, let's give it up this time.
Oh, would you like a bite?　It's going to be my meal...
Wha...

When Hayato lifted up the rice cake, the rice cake, which was tightly covered in grainy sauce, stretched out and Hayato's smile was behind it.
After looking at the rice cake and Hayato, Yuki-san looked at me for some reason and asked me what to do, so I indicated with my hand that I was welcome to try it, and she opened her mouth with a bright red face.

''Yes, ah,''
........ahhhh....

Yuki mumbles in a voice that may or may not be audible, takes a small bite of the rice cake and repeats the chewing firmly.


''Master. Would you like to eat this one as well?''
Oh. Thank you, Wendy. I'll take it.

I was only tasting it, too, and I wanted to savor the feeling of eating it with the mochi.
I thought about exchanging it with Hayato, but I can't say that now under the circumstances.
Please take your time.

''........then mine is fine too, right?
I'm the black one over here!
Hmm. When it comes to warmth, I'm the warmest of them all, aren't I?
Hmm. White's got more rice cakes. You can have it, Lord.
'....Me too. I can't eat this much....
No, wait. I can't eat that much, okay?　Come on, stop it. Stop it!　Don't everybody lift it!　If you eat it all at once, I'll get choked!　Because even though each one is small, when they're combined, they'll be a big chunk!　Order!　At least put them in order!

I tried my best to get away from the danger that was fast approaching me.
Of course the girls knew it was dangerous too, so they pulled back quickly....
As for Hayato, Yuki and everyone else who had noticed Hayato's condition, they were doing exactly that aang.

So, after that........I did my best.
I formed a line and tried my best to chew as quickly as possible to answer the expectations of the people standing in line.
Under that pressure, before I knew it, it was New Year's Day... I didn't know what the soup tasted like.