CH 98.2

The person performing such an obvious trick is an ordinary old man wearing a high hat with a white painted face.

He probably doesn’t do it on a regular basis but has been preparing it for a year end performance.

I don’t know if he can make any money from this kind of amateur show but the drunks who are watching him are enjoying themselves.

The power of alcohol is great.

-0-

We make our way through the crowd, stopping at various places before finally arriving at the headquarters.

There, Chicken dressed in a tight suit, and a sheepkin, a managerial position candidate, was waiting for us.

「Welcome, master, madam. The new year’s gift ceremony has already been prepared.」

「Thanks. It must have been quite tough given all these people here.」

「Thanks for your hardwork」

「It’s not a problem at all」

Chicken bowed her head while smiling at me. However, she must have been very busy with all the planning and preparations.

As I was about to offer more words of thanks, Chicken quickly raised her palm and pointed at the sheepkin next to her.

「This time, I had Trolis take care of it.」

She bowed after that introduction, looking somewhat stiff, nervous, and tense.

Her fuzzy fur was bouncing in all directions. Anyone could immediately tell she’s very tired.

So, I cast healing spell on her.

「I know it must have taking you a lot of effort, from setting up tent from the rooftop and everything so, thank you for all your hard work.」

「Your words are wasted on me.」

I couldn’t help but smile as she replied in a way that mimicked Chicken, albeit nervously.

I guess she’s this generation’s Jiren who already has grown.

「So, Chicken, are we just going to throw new year’s balls from the stage like we did before? We were told that they would like us to do it again this time……」

「Last year……no, it was already this year back then. The New Year’s Eve gift ball was so well received that we kept getting inquiries from the neighborhood children and their parents all year long. They ask, “Will you do that again next year?”.」

「Ah, the kids love it.」

The New Year’s Eve gift ball is a kind of new year’s gift throwing that I held earlier this year at a building raising ceremony for an apartment building on Schenker Street.

I threw ohineri, twisted paper with coins or sweets wrapped inside, from the stage.

The adults were happy about it but I think it was the children, who were picking them like crazy to the point of rolling around the ground, were most excited.

「The children who didn’t come last year came today because they heard the rumors.」

「Come to think of it, I thought there were a lot of children here today, so that’s the reason……」

The fact that you don’t know what’s in it until you open it may have been fun for the children.

The children over here don’t have anything similar to a lottery so it’s very new to them.

Whether the price was sweet beans or pennies, they were probably overjoyed with all their hearts.

Maa, whatever makes you happy is fine but I’m a little worried that some of them might get themselves into trouble with betting in the future.

「We are also planning to have a New Year’s Eve gift ball this year with other volunteers in addition to master and madam. Are you alright with that?」

「Volunteers!? What do you mean?」

I don’t think it’s really as much fun for the throwers to make people do it……

「I heard that several of them have made personal commitments to their children so they begged us to let them do it……」

「Well, I don’t mind……」

The new year’s eve gift ball is that popular with children!

Ah, no……even in my previous life, the New year’s gift ball was popular……

「Right, there’s something that’s not related to the new year’s eve gift ball ritual.」

「What is it?」

「It’s about the new year’s eve udon that’s on sale at the late night store for this night only. Should it be eaten before the year ends? Or should it be eaten when new year arrives? I heard that the clerks are sometimes asked by customers……」

Chicken said and pointed at the late night store that had moved to the second floor of the new Schenker Headquarters building.

「Ah, that’s, uh…..according to various theories…..」

「Master, you’re the one who thought of it, whose theories are you talking about…..?」

She tilted her head in confusion.

I’m not sure.

「Then, before the year ends.」

「I’ll let the clerk know later.」

「Yeah, thanks.」

Incidentally, our new year’s eve udon is an udon topped with burdock, onion, and bacon cooked to a kakiage.

It’s not a particularly new menu item but it’s not a good idea to serve sharp food at times like this.

I looked up at the late night store that was selling them and saw they were doing quite well with many people coming and going incessantly.