Chapter 152 – Spice's Second New Year

Last night, аftеr giving Yаtаgаrasu a shouldеr mаssage in VR Sрacе аnd аgrееing tо meet uр again in thе еvening, wе disbаndеd.

Sрiсe rеturned tо Shogo аnd саmе back tо reаlity.

“Whoa, mу lеgs are still wobbly!”

“Аh, уou’re back, senраi. Happy Nеw Yеar~”

“Yeаh, Hарру New Year~”

“From hеre on оut, уоu should spеnd timе fоr your wifе, right~”

“Understoоd.”

Since I’d been аllоwed to wоrk, it wаs time fоr my turn at fаmily servicе.

‘Mаstеr’s double life seems tоugh! Well, with just bеing а strеamеr and evеrуdаy life, it shоuld still be mаnаgеаblе! So, hоw is еvеryоnе? Did you grasp anything from that VR Space thing?’

‘Fuh fuh fuh fuh fuh’

‘Marinna with a menacing laugh!!’

‘I can now call the sea from VR Space over here! With this, I can move to VR Space from anywhere and even drag opponents in! Furthermore, if I study the mechanisms a bit more, I’ll probably be able to interfere with devices connected to the network!’

The Grimoires stir with excitement.

While watching New Year’s programs and eating mochi with just Mashiro, I couldn’t help but be more interested in the Grimoires’ conversation.

As for Mashiro, she seemed happy just being able to snuggle up close to me and relax.

Sorry I can’t give you more time.

Please wait until the first three days of the New Year are over!

Around then, I’ll have a proper collab with Little Ira, and that’s when I should finally have free time.

Wait, the collab with Little Ira is after the first three days, so I can relax during those three days, right?

‘Mm, I’m getting better at burning data. With this, I can directly counterattack if there’s an attack from the other side!’

‘Ignite has learned a little trick!!’

‘Grimoire of Flame, if left as is, tends to lack variety, you see.’

‘Mm, I was concerned about that too.’

‘As for me, I can edit the ambient sounds of VR Space to give them a hypnotic effect…’

‘Whoa, that’s powerful!! Not bad at all, huh~’

‘Being praised by Flota is creepy, you know… You, perhaps, devised some outrageous Magic…’

‘Fuh fuh fuh… I devised a Magic that unravels electronic data bonds. Depending on future research, I plan to be able to induce pinpoint malfunctions in various functions~’

‘Flota being that skillful…!’

‘That’s no small trick either!’

‘Well, that was unexpected.’

‘You thought I was just a brute-force gorilla Grimoire, didn’t you!? Grrr!!’

They’re lively, these Grimoires.

Even after the New Year, they’re the same as ever.

The four of them held a discussion on the floor and, seemingly satisfied, returned to the bookshelf.

It got quiet, so I guess they went to sleep.

“Grimoires sleep, huh…”

“Probably because they have nothing to do, so they shut down their functions. They’re like AIs powered by Magic. By the way, our real AI, Floppy, is currently charging.”

‘Did you call?’

Floppy, who had been lying on the wireless charger, sat up.

“Ah, no, it’s fine. You can go back to sleep~”

‘Yes, in that case, I’ll take you up on your offer.’

And with that, Floppy toppled over again.

Mashiro, after clinging to me extensively, seemed satisfied after about two hours.

“Well then, I’m going to sleep…”

“Ah, me too. If I sleep now, I’ll wake up around noon.”

“A sleepy New Year’s, huh… Ah, I have to give New Year’s greetings to my parents too…”

And so, we fell into a deep sleep.

As expected, my wake-up time was 10 AM.

Even after becoming Spice, I basically maintained a life of waking up in the morning and sleeping at night.

My schedule shifted a bit, and I feel kind of sleepy!

Now, from here, I’ll get ready and go to Mashiro’s parents’ house to give New Year’s greetings.

“Happy New Year.”

“Happy New Year.”

At the entrance, we both bow our heads.

And then, from noon onward, I ended up drinking.

Well, well, this first one is otoso (spiced medicinal sake), so it’s safe.

From the second cup onward, it’s beer.

Mochi and beer, huh…!

Mashiro’s family’s New Year is unique.

“Dad doesn’t really drink sake, huh.”

“Because he gets bad hangovers…”

So bad hangovers were in Mashiro’s family genes.

Apparently, they’re not very strong drinkers, with beer limited to about two glasses.

I also matched them and kept my drinking moderate.

I have a stream tonight too.

And while chatting about recent events, we had mochi and osechi (New Year’s feast).

This is osechi from a pretty nice hotel.

Delicious.

“Next year, maybe we could buy osechi for our home too.”

“That’s true…”

“Next year, there might be one more person.”

Mashiro’s mother let that slip.

After thinking for a moment, I also nodded.

“That’s very possible.”

The expressions of Mashiro’s parents brightened instantly.

“Is that so, is that so! Then we need to build up our strength…! Eat as much as you like!”

“That’s right, that’s right! Mr. Shogo, your body is your capital!”

“Ah, yes.”

And so, I ended up eating the osechi to my heart’s content.

Well, since becoming Spice, I need a lot of calories, so I can eat a lot.

I ate about half the osechi by myself, but was that okay?

It was probably okay.

When leaving, Mashiro received some otoshidama (New Year’s money).

She’s an adult woman~!!

“Apparently, it’s like an advance investment otoshidama for the baby.”

“Ah, that kind! Then we have to do our best too.”

“Yes, we’ll do our best!”

A new resolution for the New Year has been born.

Make one person!!

A great goal related to the origin of life.

I’ll also do my best not to be too consumed by Spice’s consciousness.

Within my limits.