"Alright, the end of the year is finally here. It's New Year's Eve!!"
On the calendar, December 31st was circled with a red pen.
The year-end—a major event for everyone living on Earth.
However...
"Year-end? Oh, you mean when the year changes?"
"New Year's Eve, huh? Around this time every year, I remember being hungry because food would run short."
"Ah, I know what Ratz means. Back when I lived in the village, the end of the year was when food supplies kept dwindling. I was always hungry, and there wasn't much game left to hunt either."
"Yeah, it was the same where I lived. We'd conserve supplies and just endure until spring arrived."
"It's the same everywhere, isn't it? When it's cold, crops won't grow, and you have to cull the livestock. On top of that, taxes have to be lowered, so the end of the year is a miserable time for a nation as a whole."
What a tragic reality.
Well, now that they mention it, it makes sense...
In this world where civilization isn't very advanced, even if the concept of year-end exists, they don't celebrate it. I suppose it's much more logical to hold celebrations during autumn or spring when people actually have resources to spare.
Even back during the old days in Japan, there used to be a custom where people weren't supposed to step outside on New Year's Day. To be precise, things like Hatsumode (the first shrine visit of the year) are actually modern customs—or rather, marketing strategies—and the whole vibrant atmosphere only really took off within the last hundred years.
Since even Earth in its more modern era was like that, in this world it was natural that people cared more about tomorrow's food than celebrations.
"So, what's special about the end of the year?"
"Ah, well, you see. In my world, the end of the year is celebrated on a massive scale. We celebrate New Year's Eve and the transition into the New Year together."
"Together?"
"Ah, right. Normally, you go to sleep when it gets dark. In my world, as you can see, we have electricity, so it's bright all day. So people stay awake until midnight on New Year's Eve. We eat New Year's soba, visit shrines, things like that. There are food stalls too. It's a way of saying, 'We made it through another year,' and at the same time, 'Welcome, New Year! Let's do our best this year too!'"
"I see. So the entire population—or rather, the entire nation—waits together for the year to change. If clocks are as widespread as they are in Weed, I can see how that would become an enjoyable event."
Seraria immediately understood what I was getting at.
She really is a capable wife.
"In that case, it looks like we could sell a lot of items specifically meant for the New Year. What kind of things did they have?"
Ratz asked sharply, already thinking from a business perspective.
"Let's see... As I mentioned, foods include things like New Year's soba and ozoni. If we adapted it to Weed, we could use premium local ingredients in special dishes. As for products... Hmm. It might be worth working together with Lilishe."
"With Lilishe-sama?"
"I mentioned visiting shrines, right? In my homeland, people go to shrines—which are kind of like churches here—and make a small offering while praying to the gods. Things like hoping for a safe year, wishing for a lover, that sort of thing. They also sell fortune slips called Omikuji. People use them to test their luck at the start of the year."
"Hmm, hmm. So they'd sell mochi and set up stalls too. By the way, what is an Omikuji? How does it tell your fortune?"
Right.
Omikuji were mostly unique to Japan and places influenced by it.
"How should I explain it... Let's see..."
I grabbed a sheet of paper from the banquet hall, tore it into fortune-slip-sized pieces, scribbled something on them, and folded them up.
"There are different results: Great Blessing, Blessing, Middle Blessing, Small Blessing, Half Blessing, Future Blessing, Future Small Blessing, Neutral, Curse, Small Curse, Half Curse, Future Curse, and Great Curse. Basically, the higher up the list, the better your luck. 'Curse' means bad luck or misfortune. Shrines sell these. Let's say one copper coin each."
"Oho, that sounds rather entertaining. I assume there are all sorts of specific things written inside?"
"Yeah. You give a general fortune at the very top, and then you write down detailed advice for health, romance, money, and work."
"But wouldn't people be unhappy if they drew a bad result?"
"There's a solution for that too. Shrines have trees where you can tie your fortune slip."
"A tree?"
"It's not exactly the sacred tree itself, but a place where people tie them.
"The idea is that by tying the fortune slip there, the fortune becomes bound. In other words, people believe it'll come true.
And if someone gets a bad fortune, tying it there is said to ward off the misfortune."
"I see. Another convenient custom."
"Honestly, it's mostly just a game of chance. I've never heard of anyone whose fortune actually came true."
Besides, people usually forget the result after about a week.
Actually, I forgot mine the same day. I did laugh when a friend drew bad luck though.
In a way, bad luck is accurate.
"So that's what it is. It's like making a wish or a prayer."
"Something like that. Since it's done at a shrine, it feels more reliable than just any random wish."
"Now that you mention it, it makes sense. Hmm, this could be a good business opportunity."
"Indeed. Year-end tends to have less money movement and economic activity slows down, so this might be perfect. Do you think we can secure a budget from Eris?"
"Yes. We spent quite a lot during the Demon King subjugation, but we were also able to promote Weed using those funds. Trade has been thriving and Weed products are selling well. As you know, we're already in year-end, so economic activity is sluggish. This seems like an excellent idea."
Oh, looks like they are completely on board.
"We've been relaxing at home lately, so we should definitely do an event like this!"
"Right. Taking care of our bellies is important, but we want some stimulation."
Ah, I see, they're just bored from being on maternity leave.
"Please don't do any heavy labor."
"Of course. I won't put any burden on the child. But I can handle paperwork. Now then, tell us more about year-end and New Year's. We don't have much time to prepare, so there's no time to relax."
I wonder how Weed's year-end and New Year celebration will turn out.
