It is January 2nd, the new year. Allen and Kurena are on their way to Kurenaâs house.
âYou got a lot.â
âYeah.â
It was Kurena, speaking happily, as the two of them made their way from the residential area to the village.
Yesterday was the first day of the year, January 1st. Even in other worlds, there was a custom to celebrate the beginning of the year. At Allenâs house, there was nothing special to do. No alcohol was served, and there was no food like rice cakes in his previous world.
However, after the middle of January last year, Peromus, the son of the village mayor, began to participate in playing knights with them. Allen asked him what he was going to do at the beginning of the year.
He said that everyone in the village would be invited to a banquet at the beginning of the year. Apparently, Dogora also participates in this event every year. Dogora, who was listening to the conversation, said, âYou guys should come too.â
We were invited to the party at the beginning of the year. We stayed the night and are now on our way home in the morning. We have a lot of souvenirs in my hands.
To celebrate the success of last yearâs Boar hunt, the event was held on a larger scale than usual.
Last year, the Lord ordered to increase the number of Boar hunted to 15, 1.5 times more than the year before that. Under Allenâs long spear style of training newcomers, we increased the number of hunts and caught 18. Of course, none of the hunters were seriously injured. The quota was achieved.
The village mayor had also invited Rodin and Gerda to the banquet, but they declined because they had small children. Allen and Kurena joined instead. The village mayor was glad that the children of the people who had played a key role in the success of the Boar hunt were able to join the party.
âIâm home!â
When we arrived home, Kurena announced that she was home in front of the mud room.
âHey!â
Lily, who is now able to walk, hugs Kurena. They seem to be getting along quite well. Kurena is fondling her cheek. Mash is next to her.
âOh, youâre home.â
âGerda is here. Mitilda is there. AndâŠâ
âDid you have a good time at the village mayorâs?â
âWelcome home.â
Rodin, Teresia and Muras are also there.
âIâm back, Dad, Mom, Muras. It was fun.â
Today, we are having a sleepover at Kurenaâs house, the second day in a row that I am having a sleepover.
Peromus had confirmed in advance that there would be souvenirs. Since we had souvenirs, we called for a sleepover at the Kurena house the next day.
I give them the meat and fruit I brought back. Allen and Kurena, who have not been here for a day, play with Mash and Lily.
In the meantime, the food was ready. Although we are two families of serfs, I think we have become quite wealthy with our gifts. Thanks to the many hunts weâve been on, weâve got the meat of the Great Boar and the meat of the Albaheron that I have caught.
In the midst of all the fun, the familyâs own feast begins. The family has grown, and the room for four adults and six children is very small. The banquet was fun, but I still think a sleepover at Kurenaâs house was better.
We talked about the banquet, including the story of the village mayorâs thanks to Rodin and Gerda. (Here the mayor is thanking them) Kurena was so engrossed in her meal that she didnât seem to remember much. In the meantime, Gerda is listening to the conversation, squirming.
âHey, Allen.â
âYes?â
âYou know, that thing behind Allen, could it beâŠâ
Behind Allenâs back is a souvenir from the village mayorâs house. It was a small wooden barrel that could hold several liters of liquid.
âWhat? This? Itâs alcohol.â
Allen came home with some alcohol as a souvenir. Unlike the other souvenirs, he didnât distribute it.
âOh!â
The two of them let out a squeal. Rodin and Gerdaâs eyes shine.
(Hmmm, I caught something. I guess they both like to drink.)
I ignored the glint in their eyes and talked to Kurena.
ââWhat?ââ
âWhat? Whatâs wrong?â
Rodin and Gerda were surprised when I skipped the story of the alcohol.
âNo, itâs a souvenir from the village mayor, right?â
âYeah, itâs a souvenir I got.â
They give me a look that says, âWhat are you talking about?
âWhat? You canât drink!â
Gerda was giving his best shot. Rodin agreed saying yes, yes, yes. It seems that all he can think about is drinking. Theresia and Michilda are also looking at me like whatâs going on.
âI canât help it. Itâs my drink, but Iâll give it to you if you win in a strength-based game against me.â
(If you want it, you have to win the game.)
âHuh? Strength-based game?ââ
âBut if you donât want to, thatâs fine. I wonât give you any alcohol.â
There is silence in the living room. Kurena stuffs food into her mouth and makes a what-if face.
âAll right, the game it is.â
Gerdaâs coming on board. Heâs very motivated. This seems to be fun. I can feel the bumps on my arms. I look at Rodin. Whatâs Father going to do?
âYeah, how could I lose to my son in a strength-based game?â
âOkay, itâs a contest of strength. Iâll take on both of you, and if you both lose, I win, okay?â
âHmm? Thatâs a lot of room. Well, okay.â
Gerda was wondering if two against one is enough. Rodin nodded beside him.
âWell, if I lose from both of you, Iâll give you alcohol. And if I win, what will you give me?â
âHuh?â
They were both surprised again and questioned each other at the same time. If I win, I get a drink. They hadnât thought about what would happen if they lost.
âWhat, youâre not going to give me anything if I win?â
âBy the way, is there anything you want?â
Everyoneâs eyes were drawn to Allen, wondering what he wanted.
âSo, if I win, let me have a spear for this yearâs Boar hunt.â
ââWhat?ââ
It was here that they finally realized. Both Rodin and Gerda had been set up. The whole thing had been a set-up. If they won, they would get a drink, and if they lost, they would have to let Allen participate in Boar hunt. This liquor was brought back from the village mayorâs house to participate in the boa hunt.
Allen had confirmed with Peromus beforehand that alcohol would be served at the banquet at the village mayorâs house before he arrived. Therefore, the sleepover party on the second day was all Allenâs plan.
âWhy not? Itâs a contest of strength.â
I emphasized on the word âstrengthâ. Itâs not just a game. Itâs a game of strength.
Even if I win against Rodin and Gerda, I canât join them. Gerda gives Rodin a look that says, âWhat are you going to do?â As expected, Rodin is the one to answer this.
âYeah, if we win, we will get the alcohol. If Allen wins, he will join this yearâs Boar hunt.â
âWhat? What? Oh, you!â
Theresia was surprised. She didnât expect this to happen. Iâm not going to lose, says Rodin to Theresia.
ââWell, itâs settled then. How about a contest of strength?â
It is a game that uses power, but I havenât mentioned the details.
âItâs arm wrestling.â
ââArm wrestling?ââ
While everyone else is unsure of what to do, Kurena reacts. She had already practiced arm-wrestling at the village mayorâs house in order to make Gerda and Rodin understand it. The arm-wrestling tournament has already been held at the village mayorâs house.
âOkay, me and Kurena will arm wrestle. Come on, Krena.â
âYes!â
Allen and Kurena went down to the dirt floor and lay down. The living room was too small for them, so this was the only place they could go. All of them looked at the two people in the mud room, wondering what they were doing. They are lying face to face, hands folded.
âNow all we need is for someone to say, âStart!â. Thatâs it. Then, Mother said, âStart.â
âWhat? âŠStart?â
Theresia gave a paused signal for the start. At that moment, Allenâs and Kurenaâs hands start pushing against each otherâs. Kurena puts on a bright red face and puts in more effort.
However, Allen goes on to win by putting the back of Kurenaâs hand on the ground effortlessly.
âAaah! You are too strong. I lost again!â
Kurena is frustrated. She was also defeated at the village mayorâs house.
âYou got it? If you put your opponentâs hand on the ground, you win. Itâs all about arm strength.â
It is a simple battle. Both Rodin and Gerda seemed to understand. And Kurena, the Master Swordsman, was defeated instantly.
(Itâs not like Kurena has a lot of power. Sheâs probably only one level.)
Kurena is strong because of her swordsmanship skills. Her strength itself is not that high, as she has not advanced to a higher level.
âOkay, okay. Which way do you want to play first?â
âGerda first. Father, youâre next.â
I am going to take out Gerda first.
The battle begins for the alcohol and the participation in the Boar hunt.