217 213 火のないところに煙は立たない。だけどその煙を気にする人は少ない (1/2)

”Are you talking about some kind of weird religious recruitment?

I stopped drinking and listened back in a slightly sober tone.

A quick listen to the content is definitely something that may or may not work, such as a lucky pot or an amulet pendant.

The story of Kaido is like an urban legend that is often seen on Twitter and social networking sites.

If that was all, it would just be one of the articles you see as a gossip story.

No, that's not true. It's a true story. Some of our testers have been talked to.

If you have actual experience, you can't trust that it's true.

Kaido's story also sounds like second-hand hearsay.

It falls into the category of rumor.

I've heard that story too.

”Kitamiya too?

”Yes, I heard about it at the wizards' meeting.

Yes, I don't know about that, that I do.

”You wouldn't come to a gathering

But the more people who know the story, the more credible it becomes.

If you turn your head toward Kitamiya, who will take advantage of the opportunity to tell you that she has heard the story, you can put your finger to your chin as if to recall its contents and start talking.

I haven't heard the details, but it seems that he spoke to me suddenly and told me that something bad is possessing him. He didn't mind me at first, but he was persistent and asked me to come to the shrine.

That's not peaceful.

I thought it would be a joke if it was a poor-quality religious solicitation, and it's not a topic of conversation at Christmas.

Well, as I suspected, the Kaido story ended up being a load of crap.

”Hey!　Senpai, isn't that a bit harsh?

”Dumbass, why do I have to listen to some weird religious recruiter on Christmas. Pick a different topic.

It would have been better to talk about something a little brighter.

”Yes, Kitamiya-chan also got into the conversation, didn't she?

I'm just going with the flow.

I thought it was wrong to cut off the conversation just because it was an unpleasant topic, but I didn't think it would be a good idea to discuss such a topic at the celebration, so I decided to just keep it in a corner of my mind.

I was going to talk about the next topic, but I was just trying to keep it in my memory. I'm late!

”Oh, win!

The late arrival of Katsura made that topic unnecessary.

”Excuse me, Himiku-san. I couldn't help with the cooking.

”It's fine. You've been busy, too. Okay.

While watching Katsu go to apologize to Himikku, who was going to prepare with you first, you see Minami approaching with juice in hand.

”It's late, that it is - is something wrong?

I just had to run a few errands for the house.

”Is that so?

”Oh.

That's fine, that it is. Then you will have a glass, that you will have a glass!

”Oh, thank you.

Minami is trying to get the reason for the late arrival, but Katsura says it's nothing serious and doesn't say why, which makes me feel strange.

”Everyone - hold the glass, that is!　Cheers to that, that is!

I also raise my beer to match the excited Minami.

Merry Christmas! 」」」」」

The glasses are clinked with the high spirits of the members, and finally the Christmas party is in full swing.

The time passes while you are playing a light game of cards and the king's game, though it is not a party.

Then, it's time for the main event, the gift exchange!

Let's go, that is!

And when alcohol is involved, a little shame disappears.

I feel like my tolerance for drunkenness increases with each rise in status, but I do get drunk.

But I do get drunk. The drunkness is not enough to dull my thinking.

But maybe because of each person's constitution, Kaido and Minami's tension is the highest among us.

You're in a good mood, but you can't be a little more subdued, I'm looking forward to the events that will follow, and I'm smiling as I watch the momentum of two people who are about to unleash their crackers and go wild.

Then a box was brought out that Kaido could hold.

There's a numbered capsule in here. The number is paired with the present from the other side, so the number you draw becomes the present!　I would like to draw ladies first, but that would be boring, so I prepared this. Minami-chan!

”Yes, that I do!　Come on, bingo machine!

And Minami, who was standing next to Kaido like an assistant, cheerfully placed a larger bingoma scene on the table.

As you can see, it's just an ordinary bingoma scene, that it is!

”It's not like a giant homemade bingoma scene or anything, is it?

No, I thought about it, that I did, but I didn't want to have a joke, so I gave it a miss this time, that I did.

”You thought of that?

Since it was surprisingly solidly made, I thought that some giants who wanted to give it a demerit might be involved, but this was not the case, and it was just a normal product that was sold.

The scene of those giants with their perverted ideas seems to shave off something important every time you spin it, so you had better check it out.

Kaido and Minami explain to the otherworldly group as they receive a piece of paper to be used for bingo and look at it curiously.

Now, turn this to make a hole in the numbered area.

If there is a line for that, bingo!　You will get a prize raffle from the person who wins bingo, that is!

The otherworldly group of Suela, Memoria, Himik, Shyk and Myk nodded their heads in silence and stared intently at the paper as the two of them got into a groove that made me wonder which variety show they were hosting.

I hoped that the party would continue to go on in a harmonious manner.

First up was a pair of twin angels who had the luck of heaven on their side.

This blank bingo sheet with five rows and five columns and twenty-five squares in the middle, and the shortest way to play bingo is with four balls, but Sikh and Meek completed it with four and five balls, respectively.

What is this?　You know what, Meek?

I don't know, Sikh. Is this one ...... a weapon?

”Sheng, there is no cookware for a present, that it isn't. No pressure cooker either, that it is not.

No, I've heard that people don't cook for themselves, so I thought it might help in some small way.

No, it's not much use for a beginner cook, that it is.

But it's useful to have it, right?　Himik also bought a new one before and said it was easy to use.

What would have happened if it had hit me, that it did?

”...... was a blind spot,

”Win

Sheikh won a pressure cooker prepared by Katsu.

It was a top-notch product bought at the expense of part-time work.

With this, not to mention stewed dishes such as stewed pork and potatoes, and even rice can be cooked, according to a housewife's recommendation.