December 30th. It was the last day of the year 3457.
Jin had returned to Kaina Village, bringing Elsa with him.
"Now that I think about it, this is the first time I’ve actually been mindful of the transition into the New Year."
It was true. From the end of last year through the start of this one, Jin had been forced to evacuate from Kaina Village to Hourai Island because of Earl Walter. Between creating the Golem Maid subordinates and building the Glider Golems to map the island, the year had turned before he even realized it.
"This year, I should be able to see the year out properly."
Here in Kaina Village, the traditional year-end custom involved the villagers taking turns visiting the village chief’s house to offer their final greetings for the year.
Since they would be coming to greet Jin this year as their lord, he decided to put some thought into the occasion. He set about preparing for a banquet at Nidou.
He also summoned Barrow and Belle from the mansion in Loizart to assist.
While he had reached out to the rest of the Jin Family, Reinhard chose to spend the time with his beloved wife, Berche, and Toa and Stearena likewise wished to be alone together. Vivienne had apparently taken an interest in the Shouro Empire's New Year's traditions and was staying over at the home of a new acquaintance.
Jin wondered if Saki might join them, but it turned out she would be spending the holidays with her grandfather, Marquis Theoderic.
Consequently, only Jin, Elsa, and Mine from the inner circle would be spending the New Year in Kaina Village.
"Jin-sama, everything is ready."
"Ah, thank you for the hard work."
As dusk began to settle over the village, the Great Hall of Nidou was filled with rows of kotatsus. The heater units were magic tools with a structure similar to magic stoves.
Even for someone like Jin, there hadn't been enough time to install proper sunken kotatsus.
Baskets of citrans sat atop the tables. This was a result of Jin's stubborn insistence on recreating the classic "mandarin oranges at the kotatsu" experience. The Cat Golem had also wandered in and curled itself into a ball.
To round it out, Jin had fully utilized his vast financial resources to gather food and alcohol from all across the Allied Kingdoms, which were now laid out in every available space. The plan was to let the guests eat and drink to their hearts' content.
While he didn't intend to force the tradition of year-end soba on them, he had prepared a variety of noodle dishes just in case. Thanks to the Five-Colored Golem Maids he had summoned from Hourai Island working with practiced efficiency, the preparations had been completed in short order.
As the stars began to twinkle in the sky, the people of Kaina Village started to gather in small groups.
"Oh! Jin, it's been a while!"
"You've been quite busy, haven't you? We're going to enjoy ourselves tonight!"
"Jin, and Elsa-chan, it's good to see you two looking so close!"
The villagers arrived, calling out to Jin—and occasionally Elsa—as he stood at the entrance of Nidou. By the time it was pitch black, nearly everyone had arrived.
"Nearly," because the mothers with newborns had stayed home.
"Everyone, thank you for gathering here today."
Sensing the timing was right, Jin stepped up onto the dais at the back of the hall and addressed the assembled villagers. The noisy crowd fell into a hush, listening intently.
"Today, I've prepared a variety of things for this year-end banquet. There are souvenirs for those who have family waiting at home, and please feel free to take some food back with you if you'd like."
As Jin finished, a burst of applause erupted.
"That's our Jin!"
"How generous!"
However, the chatter stopped instantly as Jin spoke again.
"Now then, I'll put an end to the long speeches. Everyone, thank you for all your hard work this year. I look forward to working with you again in the next."
With that simple message, Jin stepped down from the dais.
Applause and cheers followed, with everyone shouting things like "Good work!" and "Count on us!"
Then came the time to indulge in the feast.
"Ooh! This alcohol is incredible!"
"This meat... the seasoning is just perfect."
"This fruit is so sweet and delicious!"
Jin himself was huddled around a kotatsu with Martha, Mine, and Hanna. Hanna sat on Jin's lap, with Elsa to his right, Mine to his left, and Martha across from him. Reiko and Edgar sat directly behind Jin and Elsa, respectively.
"Jin, thank you for your hard work this past year," Martha said, offering her appreciation.
"Thank you. But honestly, I had a lot of help from Reiko, Elsa, and everyone else around me."
Those were Jin's true feelings. He felt he could never have accomplished everything on his own.
"Hehe, that's as it should be. No one can do much of anything all by themselves," Martha replied with a warm smile. Then, looking back and forth between Jin and Elsa with searching eyes, she added, "More importantly, don't you have something to tell us?"
"E-Er, yeah. Well... Um, the thing is... Elsa and I... we got engaged."
Hearing this, Martha didn't look very surprised at all.
"Finally, then. Congratulations, Jin, Elsa-chan."
"Thank you."
"...Thank you."
Jin and Elsa both gave their thanks, their faces flushing slightly.
"Eh? Onii-chan and Elsa Onee-chan are getting married?" Hanna piped up. "Even though I promised to be Onii-chan's wife someday..."
Seeing Hanna look a bit dejected, Elsa made a bold declaration.
"Hanna-chan, I'm sorry. But Jin-nii is a lord and a noble, so it's okay for him to have as many wives as he wants."
Whether Elsa was being sincere or simply naive was unclear. Either way, the smile returned to Hanna's face. Jin wore a strained smile, though Hanna couldn't see it from her spot on his lap.
"Really? Then both Onee-chan and I can be Onii-chan's wives?"
"Mm-hmm."
Jin and Martha smiled, assuming Elsa was just comforting the girl, but Mine, as Elsa's mother, could only manage a wry smile. She knew Elsa well enough to realize her daughter was being perfectly serious.
(This girl... well, I suppose as long as the parties involved are fine with it, it doesn't matter...)
Since both Jin and Elsa were the types not to fuss over such things—or perhaps they were simply focused elsewhere—Mine thought it might actually work out surprisingly well. She let out a soft, internal sigh.
Even Reiko, hearing Elsa's words, found herself considering this new perspective on such matters.
As the night wore on, the villagers dispersed into different states: some went home, some fell asleep at the kotatsu after drinking too much, and others continued to drink quietly, reflecting on the year.
Then, at midnight, the moment the day changed, the Bell of Time installed at Nidou rang out once, loudly. It had been rung three times a day—morning, noon, and evening—on a trial basis, but this was the first time it had been used to mark the stroke of midnight.
Those who heard the bell knew the date had changed.
"Come to think of it, the date change happens at midnight here," Jin mused while listening to the chime.
"What do you mean?" Elsa asked beside him. Hanna had long since fallen asleep, and Martha had carried her home on her back.
"Oh, in the world I used to live in, I heard they used to use sunrise or sunset to mark the change of date a long time ago."
"I see. Since you can see it with your own eyes, that makes sense."
"But it changes slightly between summer and winter. In that regard, the time of the sun's culmination—noon—remains constant throughout the year. And the exact opposite, midnight, is the same."
"That's convincing. If you are calculating a calendar properly, that is far more rational."
Watching the two of them continue their conversation, which was almost entirely devoid of romance, Mine let out a yawn.
"I'm going to bed now. Jin-sama, Elsa, good night."
"Ah, good night."
"Good night."
Before they knew it, only Jin, Elsa, Reiko, and Edgar were left in the Great Hall. It was already nearing dawn.
Jin urged Elsa to leave the warmth of the kotatsu, and they went up to the top floor of the keep. Reiko and Edgar considerately waited one floor below.
"This year... no, I guess it's last year now. A lot happened."
"Mm. Meeting Jin-nii, the race, traveling... being kidnapped, and then being rescued."
"For me... meeting Beena, meeting Marcia, meeting Elsa, meeting Reinhard... I met so many different people."
"...Why did you say Beena's name first?" Elsa asked, her voice tinged with a sulky note. Her face was slightly flushed from the alcohol.
Jin realized belatedly that she must have turned off the function of her Detox magic tool.
"Hm? It's just chronological order."
Since it was the simple truth, Elsa had no choice but to fall silent.
"I see. But this year... please look at me first."
In her tipsy state, Elsa spoke bold words she would normally never utter.
"Yeah, you're right. Elsa, you are the most important woman to me."
Jin turned red the moment the words left his mouth. Elsa nodded with a satisfied look and closed her eyes. Jin leaned in toward Elsa, closing the distance for a kiss.
The first light of dawn illuminated their profiles.
"Happy New Year, Father, Elsa-san."
Having witnessed the first sunrise of the year, Reiko arrived to offer her New Year's greetings. Jin and Elsa sprang apart in an instant.
"A-Ah, Happy New Year, Reiko. I'm looking forward to working with you this year, too."
"Yes, of course, Father."
"Happy New Year, Reiko-chan."
What kind of year would 3458 be for Jin?