#676 The Five Hard Workers

My name is Neyote, and I am a fourteen-year-old human boy.

I was born in a poor village where even young children had to work to earn their daily meals.

I, too, had to start working as soon as possible to provide for my younger siblings.

I did all sorts of jobs.

Jobs like helping with the crops, caring for the livestock, carrying goods for merchants, helping with housework, and even babysitting.

My parents said I didn’t have to work so hard, but I couldn’t be lazy because the more I earned, the easier life would be for my younger siblings.

People in the neighborhood teased me for willingly taking on so much hardship, but that’s just my nature.

I guess I’ll never be able to change that about myself.

* * *

One day, my family decided to go out together. 

We weren’t a wealthy family that could afford to travel, but there was a lot of snow this year, so there wasn’t much work for us.

Thus, we decided to go out and have fun instead of just sitting at home.

We headed to a festival that was being held in the neighboring territory.

It had gained quite a reputation over the past few years as it was held every winter, but I had been too busy with work to participate.

Despite the heavy snow this year, they were still going to hold it.

“It must have been tough for them, doing it in this heavy snow,” I thought to myself as we arrived, but it didn’t take long to figure out the truth.

I realized that the festival was only possible because of the snow. 

There are all sorts of snow sculptures that I had never seen before. 

My parents and siblings are overwhelmed by the spectacle and are glad we came.

Imposing is the snow tower that boggles us out of our minds.

It seems almost impossible to build with just snow. My younger sister was scared it would collapse on top of us, but they explained that it was being held together by magic. 

Still, it didn’t feel all that reassuring.

There are also events that visitors could participate in, so we went there.

The older guy from our neighborhood who was with us said he’s been coming to Orkubo’s Castle every year and boasted, “Those are actually the main attractions!”

My younger siblings loved the snow-made slides and mazes, and they had so much fun going back to them over and over again.

As for me... I decided to participate in an event they called the snowball fight.

Apparently, Orkubo’s Castle gives out prizes to people who clear their obstacles.

They’re supposedly super luxurious prizes, too.

I thought that if I could do well and win one of those prizes, it could help out my family’s finances! 

And so, I decided to participate.

But it turns out that snowball fights are team sports, and you have to form a team to join.

What about me, who doesn’t have anyone to team up with? Will I be disqualified due to a lack of players?

I was worried, but it seemed that the organizers matched up the participants randomly and formed teams for them.

I was teamed up with random people, and we were to fight together. 

Yes, in this event called the snowball fight!

Anyway.

I ended up on a team with two demons, one mermaid and another human (?) like me.

All in all, there are five of us.

But even though we’re supposed to be a rag-tag team brought together by chance, I can’t help feeling an incredible bond that seems too strong to be a coincidence.

After all, one of my teammates is no ordinary person.

He appears human (?), but a bizarre-looking one.

Actually, I do know him.

Even though I normally only care about my family’s finances, anyone from the human race would recognize him.

He’s Silver Wolf, an S-rank adventurer!

That canine head covered in silver fur is an unusual sight you won’t find anywhere else!

He’s the strongest of the human race, and when it comes to the ability to “survive,” he’s unbeatable by any elite of other races.

What’s more, he even became the master of the Adventurer’s Guild last year, so he’s one of the most powerful guys around, both in terms of strength and authority!

To think I’m on the same team as such a prominent individual! 

Is this okay? Won’t I be a burden to him?!

Not to mention, our other teammates, like the demons and merfolk, seem to be pretty impressive individuals too. I can hear snippets of conversation about the Heavenly Four and Prime Ministers.

Did I... join some elite group? 

Won’t I stand out as a commoner among all these top-class individuals?!

What kind of mess has God thrown me into?!

“Don’t worry, kid. You have the qualifications to be with us,” says the merlady.

What’s that supposed to mean, ma’am?

“You emit the same kind of scent as us. It’s already been proven that like attracts like.”

Yes, but what’s that supposed to mean?

And then, another person chimes in, “To show the qualities of a hard worker at such a young age... Should we praise your talent or pity your struggles?” 

That demon seems to be the oldest-looking member of our team.

“You’re probably going to live a life full of hardships like us, but now isn’t the time to lament our fate! Let’s forget about all our troubles today and show off our grit as hard workers!!!”

“YEAHHHHHHHHH!!!”

Everyone’s getting hyped up...

I’m not sure what’s going on, but they’ve all been through struggles of their own, huh?

I may still be young and not have any experiences of such struggles, but will I go through the same hardships as them if I live a long life?

Will I start building up stress until I can’t take it anymore and need to let it all out in some way like them?

I kind of don’t want that...!

“Here gather the five hard workers!”

“We’re all at the mercy of our whimsical colleagues and suffering the brunt of our bosses’ laid-back attitude, but we know we still have to get the job done!”

“Let’s welcome our new comrade and celebrate the birth of the new Selfless Workaholics team!”

What’s with these people...?

I can’t help but feel anxious from the moment the teams were formed.

* * *

My anxiety only kept worsening, but when the snowball fight started, I had a fantastic experience.

As I thought, my teammates are really something!

I had heard about Silver Wolf’s greatness, but the others were impressive too!

Miss Zoth Syra seems to be one of the top-tier mermaids, and her strategies were spot on.

Sir Mamoru is apparently one of the Heavenly Four of the Demon King’s Army.

I’m not sure what that means exactly, but he’s an important person for sure.

And then there’s Grandpa Lucife Focale.

They say he’s the Demon Kingdom’s Prime Minister or something.

Isn’t the prime minister like...

 The person who assists the king?

What kind of snowball fight is this, with people of that caliber participating?!

On top of that, Grandpa Lucife Focale is insanely strong.

He’s crushing the opposing team with an endless barrage of snowballs.

I feel like I shouldn’t even be getting involved with these amazing people.

But I understand now.

At first, I didn’t get what they were talking about, but as we competed together, I finally understood.

These people are the same as me, shouldering their own struggles and hardships!!!

“Though, to be more precise, it was an incident caused by your father-in-law, right...?!”

“Hahaha, yes! I’m sorry for my father-in-law!”

“If we’re not completely immersed to the point where we can’t tell what’s happening around us, we can’t relieve stress...!”

“If Sis Mahi had participated...well, we’d just get our butts handed to us!”

...

Everything they’re saying expresses the hardships of people like us.

I’ll watch over everyone and become a strong, hardworking person too!!!

“No, you mustn’t!”