#337
January 1st
After finishing all the cleaning.
Amidst everyone gathering, the pot filled to the brim with beef and various hot pot ingredients begins to bubble.
It was a traditional Japanese hot pot commonly referred to as Sukiyaki.
Before making the Sukiyaki, Kusunagi briefly interjects.
“Master! I really want to eat Yamianabe!”
There was a disaster where she tried to suggest Yamianabe, almost leading to that unfortunate meal.
“Yamianabe? Huh? Kusunagi-chan, what’s with that ridiculous suggestion? What are you trying to say? It feels like the handle of a millstone has just disappeared. This is absurd, Haru!”
Thanks to Haru’s sharp retort, the disaster of eating Yamianabe was averted.
Yamianabe.
A mishmash stew where participants throw whatever groceries they bring into a pot in the dark and boil it.
Naturally, there’s no limitation on the ingredients, so the resulting creation often includes things that shouldn’t be eaten, creating a chaotic mess.
If we were to refer to Korean cuisine, it would be akin to a birthday stew.
In Japanese light novels, Yamianabe is often exaggeratedly portrayed as a toxic dish, and scenes of characters collapsing after eating it have become clichés.
In the 16th volume of ‘The Weakest Hero’, there was an episode where they made Yamianabe and ended up with a purple hot pot, resulting in someone collapsing after eating it.
Toxic dishes are dreadful.
That’s more than enough from the purple Kimchi Stew Rin made back at Imgan School.
“Oh, okay, Miss Haru.”
Kusunagi instantly shrinks back from Haru’s criticism.
Although I’m not particularly fond of Kusunagi, it’s hard to tell how Haru usually behaves to have such an intimidating effect with just one remark.
Anyway, after that minor episode, we decided on having a proper hot pot, which was the Sukiyaki now bubbling on the table.
With beef and various vegetables simmering together, a delicious aroma wafts through the air.
“Ahh, the delicious scent of the hot pot filled with the master’s care and affection tickles Kusunagi’s nose!”
Kusunagi fusses, her eyes sparkling.
Whether it’s really filled with care and affection, I’m not quite sure, but protagonist Yuji, having lived alone for 10 years, had developed decent cooking and housekeeping skills.
It’s the classic “homely man” trope, and thanks to that, a rather edible hot pot was successfully prepared.
It’s completed.
“Alright, now you can eat.”
Yuji says with a smile.
In front of me is a bowl with a yellow raw egg.
They say Kanto-style Sukiyaki is eaten by dipping it in raw egg.
Is it really tasty when you dip it?
I’ve only seen hot pot parties in anime, so seeing it in person is fascinating.
The only hot pot I’ve ever had was a prepared Millefeuille Nabe sold online.
“Hehehe. Deok-Sung Oppa, I’ll give you some meat. Here, eat this.”
“W-wait, what are you doing?! Hmph! Feeding him is my exclusive right as Lady Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte, his personal maid! Hey you! Why are you just sitting there with your mouth closed?!”
And just like that, a godforsaken competition to feed erupts.
Claiming that feeding him is the exclusive right of a personal maid is quite the novel nonsense I’ve heard.
The raw egg dipped beef I got to eat was actually quite tasty.
It wasn’t the spicy and hearty Korean style, but the combination of vegetable broth and soy sauce made it pretty good.
After finishing the whole hot pot and then adding udon at the end to clean everything up, we settled down in front of the TV.
On the TV was the famous Kohaku Uta Gassen.
A music program that symbolizes the end of the year in Japan, featuring popular celebrities divided into the red team and white team to sing.
It’s like an end-of-year concert in Korea, but despite the fame, I didn’t feel that interested in Japanese entertainers, so I wasn’t moved even though the host was making a fuss.
Haru and Kusunagi were focused on watching it well.
“It’s almost January 1st.”
Olivia says while checking the time on her phone under the kotatsu.
Time has flown, and now it’s night.
Only a few hours are left in this year.
“Hehehe. I’m definitely going to be Deok-Sung Oppa’s favorite character in the new year!”
“Who gave you the right to say that?! Hmph! As his personal maid, I absolutely cannot allow that!”
Haru and Olivia are bickering in front of the TV while the Kohaku Uta Gassen plays.
Just when Haru narrowed her eyes at Olivia’s comment.
“Alright. I’ve brought the New Year’s noodles.”
Clink.
Yuji places the freshly boiled New Year’s noodles on the kotatsu.
New Year’s noodles.
Despite the grand name, it’s simply boiled buckwheat noodles topped with warm tsuyu broth.
An essential item in Japan’s New Year’s episode.
Seeing that really makes me feel like the year is coming to an end.
Slurp.
I swallow the buckwheat noodles.
On the TV, the New Year’s Eve bell ringing event is now airing.
I had no idea they also ring bells in Japan.
The scene of continuous ringing and the sound of bells resonate from the TV.
As the 107th strike ends and the 108th begins, the date changes.
January 1st, 00:00.
The new year has begun.
“Finally, it’s the new year!”
“Please take care of me again this year, Kim!”
“Hmph… Wishing you a lot of luck in the new year.”
“Master’s master. I also look forward to this year together.”
Haru, Yuji, Olivia, and Bella’s New Year’s greetings are heard.
Kusunagi doesn’t say much.
[Partner. Let’s do our best this year too.]
The Black Prince’s voice echoes in my head.
The Black Prince’s voice echoed within.
It was New Year.
I had aged another year, not that it meant anything since this isn’t even my original age.
To think I’ve ended up celebrating the New Year in this damn light novel world.
It’s been nearly a year, if not a full one, but this world still feels strange and unwelcoming.
But soon enough, I’ll get used to this light novel world.
The timeline of the weakest hero starts in the first grade.
The prologue of the original work is the entrance ceremony of Shuo Hero Academy, and the epilogue is the graduation ceremony of the first grade.
Once the ski trip is over, the third semester will begin with the start of classes.
We’re almost at the conclusion, the final chapter is not far off now.
“Alright.”
I really need to put in a solid effort.
To win until the very end.
After the bell tolled at midnight, I headed to the assigned guest room after chatting with Yuji, Haru, Bella, and Olivia.
I was lucky that the mansion was so spacious, or I might have ended up sharing a room with Yuji.
“Haru! Haru wants to sleep with Deok-Sung oppa! Haru is super scared at night, like, really pure JK vibes, so I get super uneasy if someone isn’t next to me!”
“W-we’re sleeping together?! Wh-what nonsense are you spouting?! Sharing a bed with a guy! That kind of unhealthy behavior is absolutely unacceptable for a personal maid!”
“Nishishishi. Isn’t it true that you also want to sleep with Deok-Sung oppa, Olive? You secretly want to serve him at night, right?”
“W-what nonsense are you spouting?! I’ve never even thought about such an unhealthy thing like serving at night!”
“Oh? Olive’s face turned super red! According to Haru’s JK radar, all of Olive’s words are lies, right?”
“It’s not a lie!!”
There was a brief squabble between Haru and Olivia before I went to sleep.
Haru wanting to sleep with me and Olivia trying to stop that.
Their argument only ceased when I intervened.
“Enough already, I’ll sleep alone. You two figure it out and sleep.”
Thud, clack.
I shut the sliding door behind the two arguing women, and it finally became quiet.
Tomorrow is finally here.
I thought to myself as I closed my eyes.
[Good night, partner. You worked hard today.]
As I listened to the Black Prince’s farewell, I drifted off to sleep.
*
The next morning.
Having polished off the osechi cuisine prepared by Yuji along with chewy rice cake soup, we set off for New Year’s shrine visit to Kanda Myojin nearby.
The Kadomatsu decoration in front of the Kurosawa Mansion waved us goodbye.
Olivia and I were in casual clothes, while Bella wore a maid outfit. The Japanese, Yuji and Haru, along with the spirit, Kusunagi, were dressed in kimonos.
“Deok-Sung oppa, how do I look in this kimono? Super pretty, right? Totally cute!”
Haru, in a red kimono, twirled around and spoke to me.
Unlike her usual side ponytail, she had her hair elegantly styled up, giving her quite a different vibe.
“Uh, yeah. It suits you well.”
I casually threw out a hollow compliment.
Olivia shot a sharp glare at Haru, who responded by sticking out her tongue and making a face.
Zapping and glaring at Haru, she sticks out her tongue and makes a face.
Just then, my phone in my pocket buzzes.
[I’ve dropped the information that Mr. Kim Deok-Sung is going to Kanda Myojin for New Year’s worship to the other cooking club members and Saionji Aris as instructed.]
The shrine from the original story where the protagonist and the heroine went for New Year’s worship is Kanda Myojin.
But unlike the original where all the heroines went with the protagonist, now they’re not gathered in one spot.
To bring them all together, some groundwork was needed, and as always, Han Seo-Jin executed my orders perfectly.
[Thanks for your hard work. Happy New Year to you too.]
[Thank you, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung. Wishing you a happy New Year as well.]
As I send my New Year’s greetings, Han Seo-Jin replies.
When we arrive at Kanda Myojin, though not as crowded as Meiji Shrine, there are still plenty of New Year’s worshippers in kimonos.
It’s going to be hard to find the heroines like this.
Just as I was thinking that.
“Oh! Master? It’s the Master!”
From afar, I hear an embarrassing title.
Turning my head, I see Eri, a beautiful girl in a bright orange kimono and a fox mask, similar to what she wore at the festival, with her twin tails.
At the mention of “Master,” everyone turns their attention this way.
“Master? Who is that?”
“It’s the Universe’s top beautiful girl, Eri Ling!”
“If Eri Ling calls someone Master… could it be the Black Beast?”
“The Black Beast came to worship for New Year?”
“Eek! Scary!”
“They say he sends women away with just a glance…”
“What’s it like living a life where the Universe’s most beautiful girl calls you Master? I’m so jealous.”
Hearing the voices of the extras again muddles my head.
This is why I didn’t want to meet anyone outside.
No choice now.
“Master! Happy New Year!”
Next to Eri was Makoto, holding a lucky bag.
All the worshippers’ gazes converge on us.
“Eri Ling! I really missed you, Master!”
“Master, me too!”
Makoto and Eri rush over to join me.
My face goes hot.
Damn it, this is just like a light novel world.
Just then, I hear a familiar, high-pitched voice.
“No way, right? It can’t be her…”
Even though I know the voice, I want to pretend I don’t.
But I can’t help but turn and confirm the identity of the voice.
With a sense of dread, I turn my head.
And there she was.
A beautiful girl with snow-white skin in a white kimono, with white hair and red eyes.
Yoshizaki Seira.
Behind her was a slender girl with icy features in a sky-blue kimono, possessing silver hair and silver eyes.
It was Saionji Aris.
Approaching me, Seira licks a giant candy in her hand and asks,
“Seira-chan wanted to see you, Deok-Sung oppa. But Deok-Sung oppa, is it true that you met sister Wilhelmina?”
