I Favor the Villainess extra 6
It’s a Christmas celebration story.
Today is the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth month.
In the 21st century Japan, it would be Christmas Eve.
However, this is the world of a game.
There’s no such thing as Christmas.
There is an event called Holy Night Festival.
“The doctrine says that Spirit God descended on this day. It’s an important holiday for the Spirit Faith.”
I knew even without Claire-sama’s explanation, but Claire-sama was so cute as she elatedly talked about it that I obediently admired her.
You may have already guessed, but the Holy Night Festival is of course modeled after Christmas.
Strangely, Japanese culture – although Christmas obviously originated in Europe – was reflected even in such an aspect.
“What kind of things do you do?”
“Let’s see. Nobles host lavish parties where they invite guest, however for common- , the public, the celebration is not that flashy.”
Claire-sama, who seemed to celebrate lavishly when she had been a noble, continued to draw the knowledge from her experience.
“As for the public, they decorate the room a little, set up a fir tree, and afterwards exchange presents between family, friends, and lovers.”
This too resembles Japan.
In the West Christmas isn’t particularly exciting, if anything, it’s typical to spend it together with your family.
The excitement of Christmas in Japan is equivalent to the New Year celebration in the West.
“We will celebrate it like the public, right?”
“Naturally. Think of just how much it costs to host a party where you invite guests.”
Hosting a party means finding a location, providing food, and entertaining the invitees.
Although we’ve generally escaped poverty, it’s not possible on a salary of two teachers.
Or rather, I’d prefer to use the money on Claire-sama, Mei, Alea over that.
“However, I want to have a family party. I want to leisurely celebrate in private.”
Even without inviting guests, I’m sure it will be wonderful to spend the Holy Night with family.
Ending the year with special people.
It’s something very happy.
“Let us make the dishes a little extravagant. Rei, could I leave it to you?”
“Of course. I’ll put all my skills into it.”
I struck my chest with pride at Claire-sama’s request.
“And then, let us prepare presents. For each other and for children.”
“Sounds good. Then, we’ll go shopping this weekend.”
We’ll have Mei and Alea stay home and go on a shopping date together.
By no means do we have impure motives.
It’s to keep secret what presents we got from Mei and Alea.
“I am looking forward to it…”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
There might have been a slight difference in nuance between Claire-sama and me.
On the day of the Holy Night Festival, Claire-sama, Mei, and Alea surrounded the table at our home.
Wearing mittens, I placed a large platter with freshly grilled chicken meat in the middle of the table.
Other dishes were already lined up on the table.
Herb-flavored grilled chicken.
Potage with edamame and burdock.
Chunky root vegetables salad.
I’ve been taught herb-flavored grilling directly from my mom in this world, but it’s an extravagant version that uses salt, pepper, and herbs abundantly.
Roast beef is the first dish I made using beef in a long time.
Potage is a warm soup made from boiling then mashing edamame and burdock, then mixing in milk and seasoning with salt and pepper.
The salad is a simple yet nutritious dish made from steamed lotus root, carrots, potatoes, and onions with a dressing.
Having been decorated by Mei and Alea, the centerpiece, decorated cake, looked a little clumsy but still tasteful.
Mei and Alea worked hard and decorated the walls of the room with many ornaments made from colored paper.
We didn’t obtain a fir tree, instead a miniature fir tree made from folded colored paper was placed on the table.
It’s a homemade Holy Night Festival that didn’t cost that much money but took plenty of time and effort.
“The potage is delicious as well.”
The dishes seem to be largely well received.
Everything except soup is arranged on large plates and everybody places their portion on a small plate, and the amount of food is steadily decreasing.
“It truly is delicious. This salad suits my fancy.”
“Thank you. Please eat a lot.”
It’s most important that Claire-sama’s fork is moving.
I also put a slice of roast beef in my mouth.
The onion sauce is handmade, but it came out okay.
Mei and Alea seem to have eaten a smaller lunch for the sake of tonight, so they ate with amazing appetite.
Thanks to that, the dishes I made completely disappeared.
The cake too, we didn’t mind our health and with two slices for each of us, we ate it whole.
While taking the plates to the sink, I smiled with satisfaction.
“Rei, postpone washing dishes, let us exchange presents first. It seems they cannot wait.”
“Ah, yes. Then I’ll get the presents.”
I went back to the bedroom for a moment and came back holding wrapped-up presents.
“Now, Mei, Alea, happy Holy Night Festival.”
The presents for Mei and Alea were chosen by Claire-sama and me.
The contents of the packages were――.
They’re a slightly nice shoes that Frater sells.
Made from carefully tanned water bison leather, they’re resistant to water and dirt.
Being sewn for children, they are lovely.
Leather goods are usually heavy, but water bison leather is relatively light.
The weight was perfectly adjusted for the feet of lively children.
“Thanks, Claire-okaasama, Rei-okaasama.”
Both Claire-sama and I happily caught them in our arms.
Saying that, Claire-sama handed me a wrapped-up package.
Our presents for each other are a secret, so I still don’t know what’s inside.
“Then, this is for Claire-sama.”
I also handed Claire-sama a package.
Both of us opened each other’s presents at the same time.
“Yes. To be exact, it’s called ‘kushi’.”
“It has a very fine fretwork.”
I gave Claire-sama a kushi to comb her hair.
Since it was carved of boxwood by the guild master of the woodworking guild, it was slightly expensive.
The meaning of a kushi made of boxwood is probably clear to some.
“I got… a muffler. Is this by any chance…?”
“Yes, I apologize for its poor quality, but I knit it.”
Claire-sama said so with a blush.
“It’s far from poor quality. The pattern is beautiful too, it’s not inferior to products of the sewing guild.”
Or rather, the argyle pattern is not an amateur’s work.
“Then excuse me… Wow, it’s warm.”
“I knit it with snowhole rabbit yarn.”
Snowhole rabbits are rabbits with fluffy hair that don’t hibernate in winter.
Yarn from them has excellent insulating properties.
“Thank you, Claire-sama. I’ll treasure it.”
“Thank you for the kushi too, Rei. I will treasure it.”
We spontaneously exchanged a kiss.
“Look, it’s snowing outside.”
At Mei and Alea’s words, I looked outside the window. From the sky, white objects were falling.
“It is pure white Holy Night.”
“Is it like white Christmas?”
“No, I’m talking to myself.”
For a while, the four of us watched the snow together.
We didn’t say anything, but it was fine.
Everybody felt the family bonds.
“This year various things happened, but please take care of me in the next year, Rei.”
“It’s I who should say that.”
We exchanged another kiss and smiled together.
That night burned hot in various ways, but that’s another story.
1) The meaning of gifting a boxwood kushi. The boxwood kushi durability and the characteristic to become glossier the more it’s used from the use of camellia oil is likened to an ‘unchanging bond’, and it’s treated as a lucky charm. It can also be used as a happy marriage or family well-being charm.
I Favor the Villainess has gotten licensed in English (and Korean)! There aren’t many details yet, but please support the official translation once it comes out in a few months. As a bonus, it will also get a physical book, unlike the Japanese ebook-only release!
What’s more, Inori-sensei announced that she’s writing part 2 of I Favor the Villainess, so please look forward to it!
And lastly, for those who have missed it, Inori-sensei wrote Rei x Claire R-18 chapter, you can read it