Chapter CXXXI – For, behold, I create a new year and a new me.

90th of Winter 5859
Libertycave, State of Casamonu

Night had come to Gemeinplatz once more, allegedly. To the residents of Libertycave, and many others in Gemeinplatz, tonight was as light as day. The freemen had pooled together what little they had, what they could afford to expend, for the New Year. Lanterns, ranging from crude ones put together by children to art pieces crafted by expert carpenters, hung up from the countless rooves of the young town. Countless slimes had been sacrificed at the alter of candlemaking to provide the fat needed for all this. The air smelt sweet, from all the sugary slime being burnt up, alongside all the sweets which were laid out on the streets. Tables had been dragged out of houses and lined up, for an endless feast that spanned the whole town.

“So, I can just take whatever, right?” Ayomide and Shinasi were making rounds, arm-in-arm.

“Yeah, that’s the whole purpose of people lining the tables up with food. You leave out some food, you get some food from others, something about sharing the bounties of the earth.” Unfortunately, there wasn’t much bounty left to share in Libertycave. Their food stocks had run low, and most of the food on display was slime-based. “Maybe next year, you’ll see a proper new year. This isn’t it…”

“Much better than the years where I was locked inside, no?” Despite saying that, Ayomide wasn’t eager to stuff herself with slime. She had gotten sick of the blue jelly creatures. Even seeing them had become an annoyance at this point. “When we’re back in Casamonu, we’ll have to compensate for this lackluster new year.”

“Aye, Lady-Captain-Princess.” Shinasi breathed a sigh of relief. “Thankfully, I have a bit of time to save up before we get there.”

“Right… The old man’s crazy plan. Let’s not think about that right now though, for today at least.” Ayomide found a barrel of beer which had been set up by a very generous person. “Today, we celebrate!” Borrowing two mugs, she raised her newly-filled mug up.

“To… what do we cheer for?” Shinasi took a brief look around him. The food was bland, the people looking poor and ragged, the air was cold… yet everyone had a smile on their faces. Those who had been evacuated from Casamonu, those with light skin, were sharing a drink and food with the freemen of Libertycave. He hadn’t been harassed by anyone for being in the presence of a catgirl, a demi-human, that he was clearly courting. At this moment, a brief spark to be soon gone or a genuine wildfire burning the old Gemeinplatz he knew not, everyone was an equal. “To… to our future!”

“To our future!” replied Ayomide, and they downed their drinks in sync “Peh, this tastes like donkey piss.”

“May the future hold drinks that don’t taste like piss then.” They left the mugs back on a nearby table and moved on. It was hard to move anywhere though, for the crowd was way too great in Libertycave at this ungodly hour. “I miss the days when this place was quieter.”

“You think? Would you rather have stayed alone with just me and the old man then?” shouted back Ayomide. She had no choice with so many people chatting around them.

“Take the old man out of the picture, staying alone with the young lady would be more than enough.” replied Shinasi, also shouting.

“Well, you’re doing that now, just with a couple extra people around! Wanna move somewhere quieter?”

“Yeah!”

With that the young couple slipped out of the streets, to celebrate in their own way.

“Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way…”

Watanabe climbed up his newest invention: the foldable stepladder. Not that he had done much work on it other than talk about stepladders to Rabanowicz and give her the idea. For a week, the doctor had worked tirelessly to bring it to life, and on the seventh day she had said “let there be stepladders”, and there were stepladders. Now it came useful, in helping Watanabe reach the top of a fir-like tree.

“Oh! What fun it is to ride, in a one-horse open sleigh. Hey!”

He placed a star, a very crude, handmade one of crumple-up copper foil. He had to hold and adjust the star until it looked like it’d behave and not immediately fall on the floor. He had to focus so much that he briefly stopped singing and only hummed while watching the star. After he was satisfied, Watanabe jumped down on the floor.

“…Hey!” Watanabe landed, and opened his arms as if he was an Olympic gymnast looking to get applause from the crowd. All he got was confused looks from his fellow otherworlders, who had gathered in the office of the Commander-in-Chief.

“What’s that song you’re singing, Mister Watanabe? I wasn’t expecting you to be able to sing in English too.” asked Brown, enjoying a warm cup of tea that he was swirling around with his hands.

“Oh? It’s Jingle Bells. I had worked part-time in college, at a convenience store, every Christmas they played it on loop. It’s been etched into my brain. I thought you’d know about it? It’s a classic.” Watanabe continued silently humming the tune even while Brown replied to him.

Brown shook his head “I know plenty of Christmas carols, but that one… no, it’s not familiar. It’s not the good, morally-nourishing sort of carol I’d prefer anyhow.”

“What sort would you prefer then? Would you sing us one?” Watanabe rested his arms on the table, ready to listen to a 19th century American sing.

“Ahem… If you so wish.” Brown cleared his throat, and began what was perhaps the first rendition of God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen in Gemeinplatz.

God rest you merry, gentlemen

Let nothing you dismay

For Jesus Christ, our Savior

Was born upon this day,

To save us all from Satan's power

When we were gone astray.

O’ tidings of comfort and joy,

For Jesus Christ our savior

was born on Christmas day.

[…]

Now to the Lord sing praises,

All you within this place,

And with true love and brotherhood

Each other now embrace;

This holy tide of Christmas

All other doth deface.

O’ tidings of comfort and joy.

Comfort and joy.

O’ tidings of comfort and joy.

“…that is all. God bless ye gentlemen,” Brown noticed the only otherworlder woman, Doctor Rabanowicz, who was resting with a book on the corner “and ladies.” On the other corner was Nirmal, who had already fallen asleep.

Rabanowicz’s eyes snapped open upon hearing herself be mentioned “Oh? Indeed, I’m currently busy blessing you all.” She raised the small, pocket-sized prayer book that she had ended up bringing over to Gemeinplatz when she got isekai’d. “Adohe shelmiy Boczhe beraghicz koh le, hm? I don’t even know why I have been summoned here, considering I know nothing of your earthling tradition.”

“It’s for fun! You’d all be staying and moping by yourselves if I didn’t bring you all over here.” Watanabe walked around the room, trying to sound as cheery as possible “Come on, this is the only chance we’ll have to rest in a while. Have some Christmas spirit!”

“It’s way too late for Christmas, considering we are on the last day of winter, but I do agree. We’re heading to war tomorrow gentlemen… and ladies. We have to be at our best.” Brown raised a glass of wine, one of the last glasses of wine left in Libertycave. “Don’t celebrate in excess now, but let us at least enjoy what the Lord has graciously provided to us.”

“That’s my captain!” Watanabe poured himself a glass too, the third one that night actually, and raised it.

“…if you insist, I will have to partake.” Rabanowicz sighed, and joined in the glass-raising. “To our success.”

“To liberty.”

“To finding me a foxgirl wife!”