Chapter 9

"Ha... Today has really become quite late again..."

It's December 24th, known as Christmas Eve.

A day when many people enjoy spending time with their lovers or families.

Yet, on such a day, I managed to return to a dark, empty room in an apartment building just before the date changed. Today was particularly long for overtime.

In the office, many people leave on time to spend time with their partners, boyfriends, girlfriends, or families, but the amount of work doesn't decrease.

Of course, our company also takes a break during the New Year, so there are many tasks we want to wrap up before the holiday, which means someone has to do overtime.

So, who ends up doing the overtime? It's me, who doesn't have a girlfriend at this point in time and has no plans to spend Christmas with my family.

At my age, it's pointless to have a Christmas party with my parents, and I plan to return home for the New Year, so I can't go back today.

I have plans to meet my hometown friends during that time, and my university friends have their own plans.

Some people might not have plans, but gathering for a Christmas party with a bunch of grown men, honestly, would just make me cry, so everyone seems to spend the day working.

That's why, on Christmas Eve, I, Shin吾 Ichinomiya, had to do overtime.

The section chief, who was also doing overtime, was in a strange mood because his only daughter was planning to spend Christmas with her boyfriend. He praised me, saying, "Ichinomiya, you're a good guy," but I thought to myself, "Isn't it fatal to be praised as a man in such a situation?" I'll keep this thought to myself.

"Today isn't Christmas Eve! It's a day to eat chicken, drink champagne, and eat cake. Today is a day for feasts!"

The cake I bought from a convenience store.

The Santa Claus sticker on the container is a bit unnecessary...

Similarly, the chicken and oden I bought from the convenience store.

It's cold now, so warm oden is good.

And the sparkling wine I bought in advance.

Today is a day for feasts.

Christmas?

It's just an urban legend.

Someone created this fictional event called Christmas, and everyone believes it exists and acts on it.

Santa Claus is just a delivery person in a costume.

One Santa for the whole world?

A certain mouse-themed park schedules its characters to appear one at a time, considering time zones and other factors, right?

That's how it works.

But, such fantasies are the bread and butter of our company.

Still, it's not as significant as the New Year.

About a week left.

I'll work hard towards the holiday!

Ah, the oden is delicious.

"Compared to my past life, where I was mostly complaining and escaping reality, I now have three fiancées. And I'm only fourteen! I tried to enjoy something Christmas-like with this reality, but this is terrible!"

"Vendelin-sama, is something wrong?"

"No, it's nothing. Elise."

"Is that so? The Reverend Grief's sermon is about to begin."

Why do I have to listen to a monk's sermon until the date changes, even though I have such a cute fiancée?

This year, I didn't have to participate in the carnival where meat is distributed to the poor, but I ended up attending the after-party at the church.

Elise is a serious and devout believer, and as a priestess, it's natural for her to attend.

In my past life, I thought, "Even though it's a strict religious event, they get to eat feasts and have fun! They'll be punished eventually!" I'm sorry for thinking that.

I think the light-hearted Christmas of my past life is much better!

"A man finally got the ingredients to bake ten loaves of bread for a dinner party hosted by a friend. On his way to his friend's house, he encountered ten hungry children. He gave each child one loaf of bread, but this left him with nothing to bring to his friend's house."

"He could have given each child half a loaf, and he would have had five loaves left."

"......"

It seems I shouldn't comment on the content of the sermon.

I ended up receiving many disapproving glances from the devout people.

"Ahem! The man, who was worried about going to his friend's house without bread, wandered around his friend's house. His friend found him and welcomed him in, listening to his story. The friend then said, 'The bread you gave to the children is the best feast for us.' The other invited friends agreed, and they had a very enjoyable party, even without the bread."

It's like a moral lesson.

"Vendelin-sama, what a wonderful story."

"Yeah."

I admit it's a wonderful story, but it's the same every year. The old priest will continue to tell similar stories for the next three hours.

There's a limit to everything.

Moreover, there aren't that many different stories in the Bible.

By the third year, it's just the same stories over and over again.

Everyone else seems very moved, but I'm not.

Elise and others seem to enjoy it a lot.

I'll just think that the people in this world are very pure.

After that, we had a simple meal at the after-party, and the Christmas-like event ended.

For how many more years... I'm really starting to appreciate the secular Christmas of my past life.

"El, you're so cold."

"No, a lowly person like me can't attend the sophisticated after-party where the Baron Baumaster and his future wife are present."

"You're saying that just to be polite..."

"Indeed, I don't think it at all."

The next day, I complained to El, who didn't attend the after-party, at a café.

It wasn't necessary to attend, but I had to complain about something.

"Besides, not many nobles attend the after-party, even though they do attend the carnival."

The carnival is a charity event where meat is provided to the poor, so most nobles attend, including the High Priest, who enjoys hunting.

However, attending the after-party is rare.

Even priests have various reasons not to attend.

Only the most devout believers attend, and Elise is one of them.

"If you don't like it, you don't have to go."

"It's hard to say no to Elise..."

I immediately rejected Iina's suggestion.

I don't know what she finds enjoyable, but Elise always attends the after-party.

In this world, married couples and fiancées are considered the smallest social unit, so it would be strange for me not to attend if Elise does.

"Elise doesn't have to attend either."

"Unlike Louise, who is all about fun, Elise enjoys attending the after-party."

If it were an obligation, we could have made a secret agreement not to attend.

But since Elise enjoys it, we can't choose not to attend.

"Ugh, it's not about being serious or not. I just can't understand why Elise enjoys attending the after-party every year, hearing the same stories."

"They are the same stories. I'm tired of the bread story."

It's always the same story every year.

I suspect they're trying to encourage donations by telling these stories.

"Would you give bread to the children, El?"

"No. The party is a potluck, right? Wouldn't it be hard for the guests if there's no bread? You could buy something and bring it."

If El were there, he would have faced cold glances from the crowd.

"That's the setting. Everyone is poor, and the ten loaves of bread are all they have."

"Don't talk about settings."

Iina likes reading books and knows the Bible, but she doesn't seem to enjoy the stories.

"We don't need to give charity when we're poor ourselves."

"If you say that, it's the end."

"But I've never seen a priest like that. They all seem to eat all the bread and get fat."

In recent decades, people recognize the importance of the church but are somewhat disillusioned. The number of participants in the after-party is gradually decreasing.

It's more common for families to have a slightly more luxurious meal at home.

"So, that's fine!"

Just add chicken and cake, and it's Christmas!

If Elise attends, I'll be part of the "real life" crowd!

"Elise won't skip the after-party."

"Indeed..."

As Iina pointed out, Elise enjoys attending the after-party.

Forcing her to stop would be wrong.

"But, do people really enjoy such a boring event?"

"What do you mean?"

"Elise might be serious, but she might be pretending to enjoy it on the surface."

"I see."

That makes sense.

Elise is serious and is the granddaughter of Cardinal Hohenheim.

She might be attending out of a sense of duty.

"In that case, the key is Cardinal Hohenheim."

"If she's attending reluctantly, he could subtly suggest, 'You don't have to attend the after-party, you know.'"

I see.

That way, Elise can attend a Christmas party without causing any trouble.

Then I can prepare and join the "real life" crowd.

"I'll consult Cardinal Hohenheim right away."

"That's a good idea."

Encouraged by Iina, I hurried to Cardinal Hohenheim's residence.

"Son-in-law, is something wrong?"

"Actually, I have a private matter to discuss. It's about the after-party..."

Today, I started the conversation directly with Cardinal Hohenheim, who was at the Hohenheim Viscount's residence.

I didn't want to waste time.

Sebastian, the capable butler, was also present.

"After-party? That was yesterday. It's boring."

"Huh?"

I didn't expect a powerful church figure to criticize the after-party.

"It's an old tradition, so we do it out of inertia... but almost no one enjoys it. Everyone is just good at pretending."

"Come to think of it, my father told me that you felt the same way when you were young."

"I used to think it would end sooner with Sebastian's late father."

"The food served is also mediocre."

"I used to complain about the food every year when I was young."

"You're so frank..."

I see.

That's why Cardinal Hohenheim doesn't attend the after-party anymore.

He's in a position where he doesn't have to.

"So, what about the after-party?"

"I'd like you to tell Elise, in a kind grandfatherly way, that she doesn't have to attend the after-party if she doesn't want to."

If Cardinal Hohenheim says it's okay not to attend, Elise won't have to, and I'll be happy too.

"Elise... I can't do that."

"Why not?"

Maybe he's concerned about his reputation because he doesn't attend the after-party himself.

If so, what a mean grandfather.

"The church people won't say anything if you don't attend the after-party."

"Really?"

"Baron Baumaster, there are hardly any high-ranking priests at the after-party."

Now that he mentions it, Elise is one of the highest-ranking figures at the after-party.

"Elise is my beloved granddaughter. I won't force her to attend an unnecessary event. For some reason, Elise loves the after-party."

"I've been taking care of Elise since she was born, and I can't understand why she likes it. I probably never will."

"So, I can't tell Elise not to attend the after-party. Son-in-law, I think it's good for people to have a day of endurance once a year."

"Baron Baumaster, it's a time of trial."

"..."

Elise is a good girl, but this is her only problem.

I wish someone would abolish the after-party.