New Year Resolution

Uh... do you have something you want to say, or...?

H-Happy New Year!

Oh, I get it! You wanted to be greeted as the innkeeper.

W-We were a bit careless, weren't we, Ria?

That's not it.

Letters have arrived for all of you. Quite a lot of them.

Letters?

Hah! Heh, heh...! They must be letters praising my exploits. I have fans all across the continent, after all.

It's the opposite. These are denunciations.

Denunciations?! Someone's trying to smear us?!

We're fighting to save everyone. There shouldn't be any complaints...

Hmm... nothing comes to mind?

Obstruction of business, 3 counts. Property damage, 7 counts. And dine-and-dash... a whopping 14 counts...!

Ah. Morgana, why did you do that?

I-It's my fault?!

Calm down. We're only just getting started.

Do you know how important it is for adventurers to receive quest rewards and daily support supplies?

Of course.

What do you think happens if they don't receive them properly?

Don't tell me... you mean that incident?

T-That was probably just a prank from the gods, Princess. It's not like it was our fault...

What incident? What is it? Am I the only one who doesn't know?

Someone at the Adventurers' Guild messed up, so adventurers received what they were supposed to get the next day a day early, and everything got tangled up...

I heard it was such chaos the Guild's operations were practically paralyzed for a while.

Who made that horrible mistake... and what happened to them?

They were punished severely for failing to clarify the reward system.

I heard the person in charge couldn't even eat after that, and has been working like livestock ever since.

The adventurers' journey is currently managed by the Guild. As long as we're cooperating with them, this is also your responsibility.

Uh... when you put it like that, I've got nothing to say...

Y-Yeah...

Small talk later. There are still more issues.

More?

The Colosseum held regularly to hone adventurers' skills...

A major event where fighters can be rewarded for their hard work. Construction was done to add new quests and rewards, but...

Don't tell me...?!

The construction was left incomplete and problems arose. They suffered for quite a long time.

The fighters must've been furious...

Oh my...

Sigh... messing up that badly... That's something you can't avoid taking responsibility for.

The staff worked late into the night to fix it, but the damage was already done.

It's a sad story, but... that's got nothing to do with us, does it...?

No. It does.

They prepared gifts for the participants as an apology, but Morgana went into that storage and tore it up.

...

Morgana...

Mgh! I was hungry back then! I was just looking around to see if there was something to eat!

I mean... normally you don't flip a storage room upside down just because you're hungry...

Grrr...!

Hmph! Whoever it is, that's too much! They don't even know how hard I work...

If you'd fed me on time, that wouldn't have happened! You could've done at least that much for me!

Hey!

Aaaah!!

M-Morgana... still, that was a bit...

Morgana, you were in the wrong...

You idiot. Just admit you messed up and do better from now on. Are you the Fairy Queen or just a dumb brat now?

Anyway... for those reasons, we'll be postponing the New Year party. I'll decide after seeing what you do.

Ngh... the booze I had my eye on...

Dessert... looked so good...

They're the public who always trusts us and supports us. We should be thinking about how to work harder so we don't get denunciations like this.

As a sign of reflection, go and wipe out every monster near Ramsbury Forest.

We did make mistakes... In the new year, let's try harder... and pay attention to public sentiment too.

I'll work harder too, Princess...

Yeah... for a happy new year, we've gotta get moving...!

Let's go...!

Ugh... take me with you too...

Whew, we've finished clearing this side.

Orcs and whatever else just keep pouring out endlessly. What, is there a monster factory somewhere?

I can't blame you for feeling that way. Monsters are like shadows.

As long as there's light, they can't be helped...

The World Tree's power has weakened, so the energy of darkness has grown more active too.

Yeah...

Even that supposedly incredible Fairy Queen is in that state.

Ah!

Bedi, what's wrong?

We can't rest for long. A whole group of orcs is coming this way, led by a bunch that look pretty strong...!

It's cold, so are they looking for food and trying to raid a village?

It started as a punishment extermination, but it's good we came out.

If we'd been enjoying the New Year party without knowing, it might've been even worse...

Yeah. Let's hurry up and deal with those ugly things.

Hey, get up! Morgana!

Sigh...

Heh-heh... Don't blame me. It's not like I'm getting serious because of food...!

Wait! Don't tell me you're...!

Brace yourselves, you ugly, oinking monsters!

Morgana! You're not going to let it all loose here, right?

I-If you use big magic in the forest, it'll be a disaster! A-And if that happens... sniff...!

Let the afterlife be your last boast, slain by the power of Fairy Queen Morgana!

H-That brat isn't listening at all!

Damn it! Everyone, fall back!

This is my true power!

True power my ass!!

Heh-heh... ohoho... ahahaha!

Before the blow of this unbelievably gorgeous Fairy Queen... ack!

Why are you cackling like some mastermind?! What the hell are we supposed to do about that? Huh? What about the forest?!

We were sent here to reflect and work harder, and you go and cause another incident... even I don't know how to make excuses for this...

Grr... you idiot, Ethan! What do you want me to do if I'm just that strong?!

Ugh... I skipped breakfast... so my mana's already hit rock bottom...

Because you used your power without thinking, that's why...

M-Morgana collapsed!

It's fine, Bedi. It's a familiar sight.

Auuugh... I'm stiff.

Who told you to go all-out like that? Stop spacing out and do something about that.

I don't know. I just did what you told me to. Got that? Don't forget it.

Ethan...

...Yeah?

I'm starting to wonder... whether Morgana is actually helpful at all.

You're agreeing with me now? Honestly, that alone is comforting.

Still, she worked hard enough... shouldn't we head back now...?

Morgana must be out of her mind because she's hungry...

We did wipe out the monsters...

Nnng... ngh...

Sigh... let's go.

Good work. You've finally earned the right to eat.

I realized we impact more people than I thought...

It's true... In the new year, I'll work even harder...!

If you understand, that's enough. I'll go prepare the New Year party now.

I'll help you!

Thank you. But...

She looks especially unwell today. Did something happen?

Ah, well...

Morgana is still unstable.

Understood. Leave Morgana there, and you go wash up.

It feels like the lobby I just cleaned is dirty again because of the orc stench.

Got it.

Phew...

Ethan! Welcome back!

Please save me, Ethan!

What the hell is going on...?

Can't you tell? They're customers who came to enjoy the New Year.

If you're done washing, come help.

The grilled fish is ready!

Gah... the liquor barrel's empty! I'll go get more from the cellar!

Ugh... why... why must I suffer this humiliation...!

Is there nothing else for me to do...

Since you're late, go prep vegetables in the kitchen. There's also a mountain of dishes piled up.

Our party is...

On hold.

Aaaah...

Why is business so good?!

Move it! Your hands are idle!!

Ngh!

Fighting monsters isn't everything. In the new year, you should be grateful to the customers who came and work hard.

Yeah, I get it...

Welcome! Happy New Year!

Sigh...