Maoyuu:Volume 20

A Wintering Village blanket by snow.

Small Villager: He~y! Hey!

Middle Age Villager: It's really cold.

Welder: Yeah.

Small Villager: It really snowed a lot this year.

Middle Age Villager: The cold's making my lips tremble, the temperature might quickly drop after this year.

Welder: Have you prepared for the winter?

Small Villager: Ah, we were extra serious when doing the preparations.

Middle Age Villager: My household's the same, and we made 2 times more bacon than last year. Not only that, we have 3 times the amount of pigs this year.

Welder: Is it because of the turnips?

Small Villager: Yup, and we also caught a lot of wild pigs in this year.

Middle Age Villager: I wonder how many years were like this, with such a bountiful winter.

Welder: It's great, the same goes for me, all my farming tools were sold out just in this winter alone.

Small Villager: I should make a small hovel for the pigs.

Middle Age Villager: In this kind of weather? You should hurry and do it!

Welder: Anyway, it's already been more than a year since Scholar came here.

Small Villager: Ah, you're right.

Middle Age Villager: She really took great care of us.

Welder: Ah, yes, yes, I've gotten more customers after they built a monastery here.

Small Villager: Come to think of it, the amount of people in this village also increased.

Middle Age Villager: Ah, you're right, the festivities this year would be very lively as well!

Welder: The New Year Festival?

Small Villager: The New Year Festival!

Middle Age Villager: Yup, I'm looking forward to it!

Welder: It's the best day in a day.

Small Villager: Though many left for the battlefield.

Middle Age Villager: Ah, yeah. The monastery would be collecting the New Year Festival stuff for those who left.

Welder: Really, would it help if I give them a tankard?

Small Villager: A tankard made by a welder is really popular!

Middle Age Villager: For me, I'll gift some bacon, we still have a lot this year.

Small Villager: I better find something as a gift.

Wintering Village Mansion

The eve of New Year Festival

Little Maid Sister: ~♪ Fufun~♪

Head Maid: How goes the cooking preparations?

Little Maid Sister: It's already done~♪

Head Maid: Don't drag your last syllable.

Little Maid Sister (hehe): Okay~

Head Maid: Oh my... Are you really that happy?

Little Maid Sister: I'm very happy!

Head Maid: I find it hard to understand you.

Little Maid Sister: That's because spectacles big sister is new to this place, New Year Festival is the biggest festival in this country~

Head Maid: I see.

Big Maid Sister: That's the truth.

Head Maid: Oh right, Big Maid Sister. How's the categorizing of the books?

Big Maid Sister: The accounting book and the treasury has already been tidied, those books in the luggage are have been sorted out by tags, I'll get someone to carry them into the monastery shed tomorrow.

Head Maid: Thank you, and then...

Big Maid Sister: Yes?

Head Maid: Is this festival supposed to be that lively?

Big Maid Sister: Rather than lively, but it's not only that... Because of the winter here, sometimes people don't go out for 4 months. During this time, people spend their time taking care of livestocks. Of course, some of them also do some handicraft and patch up their clothes. They do things that people don't tend to do during the summer. In this long period of winter, if an adult doesn't find something to do, it'll be really boring. They also tell their young some stories or teach them how to care for livestocks like sheeps. Girls of this age already started learning how to weave woolen blankets. Of course, these applies to the farmers.

Head Maid: ...

Big Maid Sister: Although serfs have a harder time in comparison, but everyone is equal in this harsh winter. The time is long and you don't get to go out, do you just wait by the fireplace till spring's arrival? This is the greatest pleasure in the long winter...

Little Maid Sister: And there's also the New Year Festival♪

Big Maid Sister: The 4 days before the next year is the New Year Festival. We hold a huge party and exchange presents, though it's a little difficult for serfs to acquire presents, but even they try their hardest to hold a small party. It's only during this time the landowners join in the festivities, and sometimes generously hand out cured meat or beer. Everyone sings together, and if they're lucky they get to hear stories from bards or travelers. This is the happiest day for the people of this country who have to experience the long winter.

Little Maid Sister: Spectacles big sister, spectacles big sister!

Big Maid Sister: Little sister, address her properly.

Head Maid: You can call me big sister if you want.

Little Maid Sister: Although you get mad when I call you an auntie...

Head Maid (stare): You want to be hanged and beaten up?

Little Maid Sister: ...E-eh, spectacles big sister, can I go join the dancing?

Head Maid: Sure, go ahead. If you say so, then you should really go.

Maou: Hmm, I should really go watch.

Head Maid: Ah, mistress, you were here?

Maou: Really, I didn't know there was such a great festival.

Big Maid Sister: Yes.

Head Maid: What's the matter?

Maou: Nothing, the village head and priest came by and invited me, but I came up with an excuse.

Little Maid Sister: Eh. You can't do that.

Big Maid Sister: Hey.

Maou: You're right, I did a bad thing, I should reflect on my actions.

Little Maid Sister: Mistress big sister why don't you come along? There's a lot of boys there. Big sister has big and beautiful breasts, so you'll be really attractive?

Big Maid Sister: H-h-h-hey!

Maou (scratching her head): Erm, thanks for the compliment, but I'll think about it.

Little Maid Sister: Eh-

Maou: Head Maid.

Head Maid: Yes?

Maou: Could you help me deliver this pitcher of apple wine to the village head's house? See, this is the one the merchant wanted us to have a taste.

Head Maid: Is that alright?

Maou: Why not? It's not like we're drinking it.

Little Maid Sister: Let's deliver it by carriage!

Big Maid Sister: She's right, we can't carry it by ourselves, let's get the driver to do it.

Head Maid: So the Merchant's bribe is wasted. Well, he might be crying and regretting right now.

Maou: ?

Little Maid Sister is fidgeting around.

Head Maid: What's the matter?

Little Maid Sister: Donjyan!!

Little Maid Sister: Erm.

Head Maid: ?

Little Maid Sister: This is a present for the New Year Festival!!

Big Maid Sister: Though we couldn't prepare something better...

Little Maid Sister: For mistress big sister, this!

Maou: This is...?

Little Maid Sister (happily wobbling her head): A wobbling Hero doll!!

Big Maid Sister: It's embarrassing.

Maou: Ahahahaha, isn't this great! Is this really for me?

Little Maid Sister: This is a present.

Big Maid Sister: From me, a perfume made from Suzuran. I started collecting them in autumn, there was information about making it in the monastery...

Maou: Ah ah! I'm delighted, thank you both.

Head Maid (gentle smile): Ara ara, maa maa.

Little Maid Sister: This is for spectacles big sister! Both of us made this~!!

Head Maid: Huh? Me too?

Big Maid Sister: Yes, this is a new apron.

Head Maid: This...

Little Maid Sister: The embroidery is Suzuran, big sister sew it on! Desu!

Maou: These 2 presents are a pair, right?

Big Maid Sister: Yes.

Head Maid: But, this.

Big Maid Sister: Ah, i-is my embroidery not good looking enough?

Head Maid: No no! But...

Maou: That's because we didn't prepare anything. Sorry about that, we totally forgot about festivals these kind of stuff.

Little Maid Sister: That's fine with us~♪

Big Maid Sister: Yes, please don't worry about it.

Head Maid (touched): ...

Maou: But...

Big Maid Sister: It's already enough for us to work in such a gentle and warm house. The happiness is as though we're receiving a present everyday.

Little Maid Sister: We're really happy right now~♪

Maou: ...Both of you.

Little Maid Sister (giggle): And~, this year.

Big Maid Sister: Mou.

Little Maid Sister: Ehehe~

Big Maid Sister: This girl only has thoughts of food in her brains, if she experience anymore happiness, she'll become a piglet.

Wintering Village Mansion

...The night of New Year Festival

(I want to give Hero a lap pillow!)

(He's here.)

-Hero

(Hero's head is so soft and nice to the touch.)

(Demon Queen smells good too.)

-To Hero

(Really? Don't find me fat?)

(Feels good for sleeping.)

～♪～～♪ 

Maou: ...Um.

Maou: Um... Looks like I fell asleep.

Maou: What time is it now, it looks like the sun has already set... Is someone there... Anyone... They're all out. I did send them to the village head's.

Maou (fidgeting): ...

Maou: There's still a ton of material.

Maou: Um~... My back hurts, I shouldn't have slept in that position.

～♪～～♪ 

Maou: ...Hero.

Maou: ...

Maou: It's already been, a year.

Maou: ...

Maou: Haven't touched him, for a year.

Maou: I really want to hear your voice.

Maou: Though Hero belongs to me...

Maou: And I belong to him.

Maou: Hero, I've become a coward. I'm starting to fear the world changing around me. I didn't realize wars were such a scary thing. And I, I have the warring blood of a demon tribe flowing in my veins.  I shouldn't bat an eye and let blood flow...

Maou: I... Worked really hard? Hero. Hero is working really hard right now as well? I really wanted to be praised by him.

Hero: Oh. -You did a great job, Demon Queen.

Maou (hits something): Hero!?

Hero (smiling): Osu.

Maou: Hero, Hero! Hero.

Hero: Oh, what is it?

Maou: You stupid jerk, where have you been for the past year? You're like a flying kite with broken strings!

Hero: O-ouch, Maou. Stop hitting me!

Maou: Ei! This isn't enough for to relief my anger!

Hero: Okay. I'm sorry. It's my fault.

Maou: There's not a hint of sincerity!!

Hero: P-p-p-please!

Maou: Hmph.

Hero: Didn't I send in my reports all the time?

Maou: That kind of stuff isn't a report, it's more like a drawing diary!

Hero: D-d-drawing diary?

Maou: Yes. And couldn't you drop by to see me.

Hero: It can't be helped, I had a lot of things to do. The incident at Gateway City is taking up all my attention. Now I have to wonder how to get supplies into the northern strongholds.

Maou: Why are you doing those.

Hero: Demon Queen you said it yourself, I'll have to uproot all the extremists. Did you forget?

Maou: Since you're the Hero, why don't you use some magic of mass destruction.

Hero: How can I do that!

Maou: ...?

Hero: Everyone's living their own lives, and they're working hard. Everyday, even if not much. But they're not giving up hope. For me to destroy their lives, I can't do it.

Maou: Hero...

Hero: The Fairy Queen and the Forest Tribe Singer.

Hit's Maou nerves.

Hero: Grand Princess of Fire Dragon, Armored tribe female, and that girl at the bar.

Maou is angered.

Hero: Everyone's trying their best. Since my role is a hero, how can I bear to destroyed such beautiful lives?

Maou: The way you make it to be, why don't you admit you're just hanging around girls?! You're really popular aren't you!

Hero: N-No that's not the case!