Otherworld Company Chapter 217: Welcome The New Year Peacefully. That’s A Normal Wish In Life

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　December is something that is often called the Season for Teachers.

　It feels like the time from the beginning of December until today has gone by in the blink of an eye.

　Christmas is over, and the TV is all about New Year’s Eve, and I’m resigning myself to the atmosphere.

　Soon the bells will be ringing, and the TV will be showing a special program counting down to the New Year’s Eve.

　At such timing, I am with my beloved lovers.

　This past year has been a difficult time of transition.

　I relax in the living room, taking care of myself, saying thank you for your hard work.

“Are you sure you liked it? It seems that Mr. Kaido has invited you to an event for the second year.” (Memoria)

　Suela and Memoria are by my side.

　Rather than the usual, after work, I devote my time to family service, or rather, to communication with my girlfriends.

　It’s just an everyday time for me, but because I do combat work for a living, I feel that these ordinary times are really important.

　Sometimes we cuddle, sometimes we touch each other, and sometimes we have friendly conversations.

　I answered Suela’s question, thinking that one of the few hobbies I have at the moment is the time I get to spend with my girlfriends.

“Oh, no problem. I’ve had a lot going on this year. I need to take it easy once in a while or my body will get tired.” (Suela)

　Suela has been pregnant for over six months now, and her belly is quite prominent.

　The doctor’s diagnosis is that the progress is good, and if things continue as they are, there will be no problems.

　I am relieved by this and hope that things will continue to go well.

　I hope that things will continue to go well for her.

“It’s true that Jiro has worked a lot. He has visited my shop many times, so I would like to thank him for his hard work.” (Memoria)

　That’s not the case.

　Sometimes we get together with several people like this, and sometimes we try to be with them individually, having meals together.

　In the otherworld, polygamy is the norm, but adultery, cheating on one’s spouse, and groping a married woman are all considered wrong, but as long as the relationship is clear, there is no problem with dating multiple women in this way.

　I think I’ve fallen in love with these women when I feel a sense of security and comfort in their presence next to me.

“It seems that thanking me for my hard work also includes a thank you for my continued patronage.” (Jiro)

　Well, I’m confident that I’m loving them well, even if equality is impossible.

　I’m not saying that, but I think I’m doing well on that front, too.

　Unless.

“I’ll leave it to your imagination.” (Jiro)

“You are such an honest person.” (Suela)

　I wouldn’t have been able to create a scene where Suela takes my arm and pats Memoria’s head, looking at the scene with a smile on her face.

　I think this is a result of my continuous efforts to satisfy these women.

　It may be hard for me to say this myself, but I try to organize my schedule even in the evenings so that I can do it evenly.

　It may be a luxury for me, but my girlfriends are proactive at night.

　I’m also a man, and there’s a part of me that is hungry for that kind of action when I’m in the fight.

　I never thought that I would experience the results of strengthening my body with magic demonic crest.

“Now is the time to remember the past year.” (Jiro)

“Master! Suela! Memoria! The New Year’s soba is ready.” (Himiku)

　Now that I think about it, I’ve been having trouble ever since I joined the company.

　I think that’s why I’ve been blessed with this kind of happiness.

　My mother used to say that hard work is not rewarded, but rather gained, and after that, things like this always happen.

“People are only as happy as the amount of effort they put in.” (Jiro)

　My mother, she was telling the truth, wasn’t she?

　I was puzzled at first, but I guess it makes me happy to be able to have relationships with three women like this and to want to make them happy.

“Hmm? What’s wrong, Master, you suddenly looked kind.” (Himiku)

“No, I just thought about me being a happy person.” (Jiro)

“I see, if the master is happy, I’m happy!” (Himiku)

　It’s embarrassing to say thank you out loud, but it’s the least I can do to say this.

“Thank you all three for being with me. See you next year.” (Jiro)

“Yes, thank you for giving me happiness. Jiro, I look forward to being with you next year.” (Suela)

“If possible, please give me that happiness as well. I look forward to having that next year.” (Memoria)

“Hmm! I’ll be with you forever, not just next year!” (Himiku)

　The girls smiled happily and answered me, although they were embarrassed, and their smiles were a little broken.

　It had been a long time since I had spent time like this relaxing because of my work.

　Unlike my previous company, I had less time to spare and more of a desire to challenge myself in every way.

　Maybe that’s why.

　Suela, who has entered the stable period and her stomach is beginning to show, sits leisurely next to me drinking tea.

　All the shopping streets, which have become quiet due to the end of the year testers returning home, are now closed for the year-end holidays, and Memoria is also closing its shops and sitting under the kotatsu to peel the mandarin oranges.

　Then Himiku, holding a tray with four bowls of food, gently sat down and placed the bowls one by one in front of us.

“This shrimp tempura is wonderful.” (Jiro)

“Yes! I got some nice shrimp. They’re freshly fried and hot, so be careful.” (Himiku)

　Shrimp tempura for the New Year’s Eve soba that was placed in front of me.

　I was surprised to see a dish that would have cost more than 2,000 yen if I had eaten out.

　I would have laughed if the batter was just a pretty face-lift, but that was not the case.

“It’s best to eat less oil with Suela, so I made it with wild vegetables.” (Himiku)

“Thank you. Yes, the flavor of the soup is nice.” (Suela)

“Yes! Masaru taught me that the soup is important when making soba.” (Himiku)

　There was a magnificent shrimp tempura on top of mine, Himiku’s, and Memoria’s, and wild vegetables were on top of Suela’s.

　Suella was grateful for Himiku’s thoughtfulness, and when she thanked Himiku in the kotatsu, we all said “Itadakimasu” and began to eat.

　We eat quietly, and although there is little conversation, the atmosphere is not unpleasant.

　The background music of the TV and the casual conversation that comes out at a moment’s notice.

　I liked the calmness of the space where we only talked without any sense of awkwardness.

“It’s the first time for me to celebrate New Year’s in this world, but I see that even in the otherworld, they do this kind of celebration.” (Himiku)

“It’s an event that only happens once a year. Do you do it there too?” (Jiro)

“The Demon King attends the ritual, prays for the peace of the people and the development of the country, and rings the bell to bless the people. We have been doing this for hundreds of years.” (Suela)

“So, it is like a New Year’s Bell?” (Jiro)

“What is the New Year’s Bell, Master?” (Himiku)

“Oh, to explain it simply, there is a bell that rings one hundred and eight times to get rid of all the bad things that have happened during the year.” (Jiro)

“Is it some kind of magic tool?” (Memoria)

“Well, maybe, I don’t know, but it’s just a metal bell. The person ringing it is someone called a monk, something like a priest, but I’ve never heard that they have any special ability.” (Jiro)

　I had no way of knowing or thinking about the true nature of the monks, who has only taken care of me at weddings and funerals, so I never asked them if they had abilities like those on mangas, or even like those of the company over here.

　As I sipped my soba soup, I looked at the TV and saw a slightly larger shrine on the screen.

“Oh, so this is a Japanese temple, quite the wonderful building.” (Himiku)

“The shrine, but, well, this isn’t that big of a shrine.” (Jiro)

“Is that so? It looks like a fine building even to me.” (Himiku)

“There are places that are better than this one, like the famous Ise Grand Shrine. The reason why this place is in the picture this time is because it was the setting of a popular drama this year.” (Jiro)

“Drama, that is like a play, right?” (Himiku)

“Yeah, that’s right.” (Jiro)

　Himiku is in awe, impressed by the Japanese architectural techniques, and names the shrines that come to mind quickly as a result of Suela’s questions.

　But the shrines on the other side of the TV screen would be large in scale.

　However, having seen temples on the other side of the world, they seem small in scale.

　That is why I mentioned famous places that can be cited and why they are shown on TV.

　Even now, the lead actress and the announcer are broadcasting the event in good humor, waiting for the year to change.

　The event was naturally crowded with people, since the stage was set up around the shrine and various celebrities came to the event.

“If I remember correctly, this was the shrine Kaido and the others said they were going to.” (Jiro)

“Really?” (Himiku)

“Yeah, I’m sure.” (Jiro)

　Although I said “Kaido and the others”, it wasn’t Masaru or Minami and the others, but rather a year-end party-like gathering of people who had become close to us at the previous company.

　Even though they became good friends at the company, most of them quit.

　They shared hardships and joys, but eventually parted ways, leaving behind a strange bond.

　It’s not bad to talk about the old days with them, but since this was my first New Year’s Eve with my brides, I chose to spend it with Suela and the others, and declined to join them until another time.

　I really wanted to relax, as I told Suela and the others.

“Unexpectedly, if things continue like this, Kaidou might appear on the other side of the TV.” (Jiro)

“It would be interesting if that happened.” (Suela)

“Should I record it?” (Memoria)

“…” (Himiku)

“Himiku, what’s wrong? I don’t think Kaido will come out even if you stare at the screen that long.” (Jiro)

　I thought I was going to spend the rest of the year relaxing in this laid-back space, but I noticed that Himiku had stopped eating and was silently staring at the screen, so I called out to her.

“Master, I would like to ask you something.” (Himiku)

“What is it?” (Jiro)

“Is this shrine a place where carrying weapons is allowed? I heard that Japan is a place where people don’t carry weapons.” (Himiku)

“Eh?” (Jiro)

　Before I could respond to  Himiku’s words and ask her what she meant, I heard a single explosion through the screen.

　I thought it was a firework or something, but apparently it was not.

“!?!?” (Jiro)

　I looked at the screen and saw the announcer who had just been talking and was looking around to see what was going on, and again, I hear what sounds like multiple explosions.

　And what follows is a scream.

　Just as he was sure that something was wrong, they appeared.

“We have risen up to change this world!” (Terrorist)

　A masked group appeared on a platform where only celebrities stood, guns in their hands.

“You are to be hostages and witnesses of the world changing. If you resist, my people will bring you to justice!” (Terrorist)

　The leader of the group raises his hand to reveal the contents of the coat worn by the masked men behind him.

“A bomb!” (Jiro)

　Something so obvious was wrapped around his body that I wanted to ask what terrorist group they belonged to, and in his hand was holding something that looked like a detonator switch.

“Tsk.” (Jiro)

　The moment I saw that, I reached for my smartphone.

　After a few rings it connects.

“Kaido!” (Jiro)

“Ah, Senpai, it seems like we got caught in a dangerous situation.” (Kaido)

“Can you escape?” (Jiro)

“No, I don’t think so. They were not only on the stage, but also around the venue, and they have surrounded the venue.” (Kaido)

“Wow, they did it early in the new year.” (Jiro)

“Well, they don’t have any shame.” (Kaido)

“It’s not anyone’s fault. Just hide your phone so you can contact me, and be careful about how much battery you have left. Also, don’t get into trouble.” (Jiro)

“I understand.” (Kaido)

　But it was too late.

　Kaido informed me that he was surrounded by a terrorist group and was stuck in a very bad situation.

　Suela and the others looked at me with concern, and I glanced at the TV to see the group of criminals instructing the cameraman not to stop filming.

　It may be too late to stop now, but I ask Memoria to record it for me.

“ If anything happens, call me and I’ll do what I can to help. But don’t get your hopes up.” (Jiro)

“I’m afraid even Senior can’t move here. I understand. I’ll just sit tight and wait for the danger to pass.” (Kaido)

“Please do that.” (Jiro)

　Fortunately, Kaido, who is well-acquainted with the situation, has the fortitude to not be shaken by this level of turmoil.

　He won’t get confused and act poorly.

　I could rest assured of that.

　Slowly, I hung up my phone and pressed my hands against my face.

　The time on the wall clock, visible through the gap between my hands, is only a few minutes after the New Year.

　I’m hoping for a break from the troubles early in the ew year, but it doesn’t seem like that will come true.

　But this is not within the company.

　The most I can do is pray to the god who brought me this trouble.

“Master, I might be wrong.” (Himiku)

“Yeah?” (Jiro)

“I saw Masaru, Minami, and a woman I don’t know on camera earlier.” (Himiku)

　God damn it.

　It seems like god hates me.

“Oh?” (Jiro)

　Then it vibrates again.

　I open it gingerly, as it’s a notification from a communication app.

“Sorry. Looks like I got involved in an incident.” (Karen)

　I received a message from Kitamiya.

　I stand corrected.

　It seems like god really fuck*ng hates me.

Note for the Day

Please, let me take it easy at least during the New Year’s holidays!

T/N: Welp. Time to get the Mineral Tree and hack some terrorists.