New Year And The Tortoise

1

Tepsekemei was very busy after moving in with the Magical Girl. They had to renovate the house to improve and stabilize its defense. The Magical Girl said that they would not be able to live on without finishing that work, and so Mei pitched in to help. In her daily life with the Magical Girl, Mei came into contact with all sorts of food, drinks and activities.
与魔法少女一起生活，蒂普赛柯梅变得很忙。为了让防御更加稳固而对家进行改建，魔法少女说了不完成这件【工作】就无法生存，因此小梅加入帮忙作业。在与魔法少女的日常生活中，蒂普赛柯梅接触了各种各样的饮食以及活动。

Gradually, Mei came to understand a lot of essential things.
逐渐地，小梅明白了非常多不得不学的东西。

She observed the places where people gathered, watched television shows, read books and literature, and learned the language. She understood that the objects called “books” were books, and that the object called “a television” was a television. There were also things like “the news” and so on, but those were more difficult for Tepsekemei to comprehend. If she continued studying, surely she would be able to fully understand the concept of “the news”.
观察人群聚集的场所、收看电视节目、阅读书本文章、学习语言。明白了被称为书本的物体是书本，明白了被称为电视的物体是电视。其他还有新闻之类的东西，对目前的蒂普赛柯梅来说还比较难以理解。如果继续深入学习，就能将新闻这个概念理解透彻吧。

The news was all well and good, but there were other things more worthy of her attention than the news. Tepsekemei’s surroundings - her home - were gradually changing.
现在新闻这点怎么样都好，与新闻比起来有更值得蒂普赛柯梅关注的事。蒂普赛柯梅的周围——家的附近有什么正在渐渐变化着。

The television channels were changing, the places where people gathered were changing, but the books did not change. On one or two occasions, Tepsekemei decided to float in the air above her home from the time the sun rose to when it set, certain that she would understand what was going on if she was airborne. In front, behind and to either side - there was additional lighting everywhere, and they sparkled brightly. The humans walking in the distance looked very happy, and their faces were filled with the “smiles” which were somewhat tricky for Tepsekemei.
电视节目在变化，人类聚集的场所也在变化，书倒是没有变。蒂普赛柯梅决定从太阳升起到落下这段时间里一次或两次在自家上空漂浮，如果在上空就一定能明白发生什么了吧。前面、后面、左边、右边，无论哪边都增加了装饰灯具，一闪一闪地发出耀眼的光芒。在远处行走着的人类看起来很高兴的样子，每个人脸上都挂着对于蒂普赛柯梅来说还比较困难的【笑容】。

One cycle of the “morning” which made the sky bright and the “nightfall” which made it dark constituted one day. As many days went by, it became hot, and then cold. This repetition of heat and coldness made a year. As many years went by, living creatures would die. This was a life. Mei had picked up these concepts from books.
让天空变得明亮的【早晨】和让天空变得黑暗的【夜晚】重复一次就是一日。一日经过多次重复就会变得炽热、变得寒冷。炽热和寒冷重复着就是一年。一年经过多次重复，生物就会迈向死亡，这就是一生。小梅从书本上明白了这些概念。

When she had been raised by humans, Tepsekemei did not possess such concepts. The humans considered Mei the tortoise to be very important. They had controlled the temperature so Mei would not die, they had given Mei food so she would not die, they had provided water and oxygen so Mei would not die, and thanks to their care, Mei had survived until now.
被人类饲养的时候，蒂普赛柯梅从来没有这些概念。人类好像把作为龟的小梅看得很重要，为了让小梅死不了而调节温度、为了让小梅死不了而投放饲料、为了让小梅死不了而提供水与氧气，多亏了他们的照护，蒂普赛柯梅才能存活至今。

However, compared to the time when humans had looked after her, Mei preferred her current life. She was very happy, so something amazing had probably happened. Happiness usually accompanied a big occasion, the television had said, and so she paid more attention to the kids.
但是与被人类看护的时候相比，蒂普赛柯梅更喜欢现在的生活。很快乐，所以大概发生了不得了的事。快乐通常都是伴随大事而发生，电视上也是这么说的，所以多多注意少年少女们吧。

The plants and insects in the yard lost their vitality. This was because the weather had grown cold. However, the gathered people and the mood on the television shows did not show any signs of losing energy; or rather, they had become even more lively. The town was filled with the sounds of clamor and lights were everywhere, giving it a sense of energy and activity. The humans changed their clothing endlessly in order to live in both the heat and the cold. When the weather turned chilly, humans would increase the amount of fabric on their clothing to resist the cold. However, this did not seem to be solely for resistance purposes, because the humans looked more energetic as well. In any case, it seemed quite strange how a simple change of clothes could have such an effect. Tepsekemei wanted to figure this out, so she asked that question of the Magical Girl she lived with.
庭院的草木、昆虫，全都失去了活力。这是因为天气变得寒冷的关系。但是集会的人们和电视节目的气氛并没有活力减退的迹象，不如应该说变得更加精力充沛才对。城镇到处都是嘈杂的声音，到处都是闪闪的灯光，看起来充满了活力。人类的【服装】在不断变换，在寒冷的时候、炎热的时候为了生活而改变。天气变得寒冷的时候，人类就会增加服装的布料来对抗寒冷。可现在这不仅仅起到对抗作用，人类们看起来还变得精力充沛。再怎么说只是变换服装就能起到如此作用多少有点奇怪。蒂普赛柯梅为了弄个明白而向一起生活的魔法少女发出提问。

“Why is that?”
“为什么？”

“Ah, that’s because Christmas is coming.”
“啊，这是因为圣诞节就快到来的关系。”

“Christmas?”
“圣诞节？”

“It’s when Santa rides his sleigh pulled by reindeer and gives everyone presents.”
“圣诞老人会坐着驯鹿牵引的雪橇来给大家派发礼物哟。”

“Why?”
“为什么？”

“You’re asking why… because it’s tradition.”
“你问为什么啊……那是惯例活动。”

“If he’s giving out presents with no conditions at all, he must be a fraudster.”
“什么条件都不需要就派发礼物，这样一看不就是骗子嘛。”

“You’re pretty alert about the strangest things, good on you for understanding such a difficult phrase.”
“你在某些地方还真是微妙的警觉，真亏你能明白这么难懂的词语。”

“Pie-in-the-sky ideas like these don’t exist in this world, so he must be a con artist.”
“这世上不会有这么好天上掉馅饼的事情，那家伙是欺诈师。”

“You’ve been watching too much TV, haven’t you...:”
“电视节目沉迷过度的了吧……”

“Pity Frederica is someone like that.”
“比缇·菲列特莉嘉就是那种人。”

“Not really, well, it might be as you say… speaking of which, you can remember the enemy’s name, but you haven’t been able to remember mine until now.”
“不对，嘛，也许正如你说的那样……说起来为什么你能记住敌人的名字，却到现在也记不住我的名字啊。”

“Santa Claus is a conman.”
“圣诞老人是欺诈师。”

“That’s not true. Hang on… yes, there are conditions. Santa only gives presents to good kids. Bad kids don’t get presents.”
“不对。慢着……对了，是有条件的。圣诞老人只会派礼物给好孩子哟，坏孩子是得不到礼物的哟。”

“Good kids.”
“好孩子。”

“Yes, good kids. This is to encourage children to work hard to be good kids and make the world develop in a better direction. See, Santa Claus doesn’t give presents out for nothing, you should be able to understand that straight away, right? He gives out presents to make the world a better place, so it’s okay, Santa Claus isn’t a conman.”
“对，好孩子。这是为了促使孩子们向好孩子的方向努力，让世界往更好的方向发展。看吧，圣诞老人不是无偿派发礼物的，一下子就明白了吧。那个人是为了让世界变得更美好而派发礼物哟，所以没问题，圣诞老人不是欺诈师。”

“Mei’s a good kid too.”
“小梅也是好孩子。”

“That was a quick conclusion…”
“马上就断言啊……”

2

Several days had passed since she had understood the concept of Santa Claus from the Magical Girl. Then, one morning, Tepsekemei found that the long stocking beside her lamp was filled with treats, and a card which said, “To Mei the good girl--Santa Claus”.
从魔法少女那里明白了圣诞老人的概念开始，经过几次的日夜转换。后来有一天早晨，蒂普赛柯梅发现了油灯旁边的长筒皮靴中放满了点心，并附加了一张【给好孩子蒂普赛柯梅——圣诞老人】的卡片。

Chocolates, milk candy, sweets, all of these were wrapped in shiny film. She opened the wrapping and the treats inside sparkled as well. They looked beautiful, but they were not just beautiful, but delicious when she put them into her mouth. Whether she licked them slowly or crunched them noisily, they were very sweet.
巧克力、牛奶糖、糖果，被闪闪发光的纸箔包裹着。拆开纸箔，里面的甜点也闪闪发光，非常的漂亮。另外不单单只是漂亮，当放进嘴里就能感受到非常美味的口感。不论是慢慢地舔舐、还是嘎嘎地啃嚼，都很甜。

After Tepsekemei finished the treats, she understood that Santa Claus had come here. The person who gave out food as gifts and secretly took care of the world’s children most certainly existed.
蒂普赛柯梅吃完甜点所以明白了，圣诞老人来过这里。以饲料作为礼物在世上暗中照料着孩子们的人确实是存在的。

She had unravelled the mystery of Santa Claus, but mysterious things kept popping up over and over again. The mood of the gathered crowds and the television shows did not fade just because Christmas was over. Rather, everyone seemed as lively as ever.
圣诞老人的谜团已经解开，但是不可思议的事情依然一次又一次地出现。聚集的人群和电视节目的气氛并没有因为过完圣诞节而丧失活力。倒不如说感觉大家一如既往的精神满满。

“Why is that?”
“为什么？”

“Ah, that’s because the New Year is coming.”
“啊，那是因为临近正月的关系啦。”

“New Year? Santa Claus?”
“正月？圣诞老人？”

“No, Santa Claus won’t be coming this time.”
“不对，圣诞老人这次不会来。”

“Then who will it be?”
“那什么会过来？”

“Who’s coming, huh… well, it’s hard to say. All sorts of things could happen, all sorts.”
“有什么会到来啊……这可一言难尽，各种各样的事情会到来哟，各种各样的。”

There was probably some kind of “work” she had to take care of, because the Magical Girl returned to her room without properly explaining herself. She left Tepsekemei by herself to contemplate the concept of the New Year. Before long, Tepsekemei realised that this was something which she could not understand through words alone.
大概有什么【工作】要忙，魔法少女还没好好地说明清楚就回到了自己的房间。留下了蒂普赛柯梅一个人在思考关于正月的概念。没多久，小梅只明白了这不是仅用语言说明就能够让小梅明白的事情。

3

There were several ways to figure out exactly what the New Year was. She could read books, watch television, or ask the Magical Girl. In addition, she could ask people other than the Magical Girl. The Mage who sometimes came to the Magical Girl’s house as a guest only visited occasionally, so she could not be relied upon. There were many humans outside, so all she had to do was ask them to teach her, Mei thought.
为了搞明白正月是什么，有几个方法可以运用。读书、看电视、向魔法少女请教。再加上一个，向魔法少女以外的某人请教。偶尔会来家中作客的魔法使只是偶尔会到来，所以不能期待。外面有数量众多的人类，所以向他们请教一下就好，蒂普赛柯梅是这样想的。

The Magical Girl disliked Tepsekemei going outside as Tepsekemei, but Tepsekemei wanted to go outside in this form. What should she do, the Magical Girl thought and thought, and finally she figured something out.
魔法少女讨厌蒂普赛柯梅维持蒂普赛柯梅这个样子外出，但是蒂普赛柯梅想就这样维持这个姿态外出。究竟怎么办才好，魔法少女苦恼地想了又想、想了又想，最终想到了一个办法。

She glued a stick to a wooden board which read “Beware of Thieves” and thus she made an object called a “sign”. The Magical Girl said that if she held this item, it would be fine even if she looked a little different from normal people. Mei was forbidden to fly, multiply, get bigger, and so long as she adhered to those restrictions and walked on her feet, there would be no problems.
将写着【注意小偷】的木板与木棍粘合，制成了被称为【招牌】的物品。魔法少女说了，如果拿着这个物品，就算和普通人类的外表有点不同也没关系。禁止飞行、禁止增殖、禁止变大，小梅若遵守以上几点以及用脚走路就没有问题。

Tepsekemei took the sign from the bottom of the big chest which contained her lamp, her Christmas stocking, and her treats. Then she stepped out the door and headed for a place where humans gathered. Once there, all she would have to do was ask them to enlighten her.
蒂普赛柯梅从放着油灯、圣诞靴子、点心的大宝箱的底部拿出招牌，离开了家门，走向人类聚集的场所。在那里向他们请教就好。

As she followed the human practice of walking on two legs, she sensed a man looking at her halfway through her journey. Tepsekemei decided to question the man.
暂且就按着人类的习惯用双脚行走，在途中察觉到了男人的视线，蒂普赛柯梅就向男人发出了提问。

“New Year? New Year visiting is kind of a pain, I wish I could slack off. Now that you mention it, have there been thieves spotted around here?”
“正月？拜年也挺麻烦呐，真想偷个懒。话说回来这附近有小偷出没吗？”

She tried asking a woman.
试着向女人提问。

“Ara, how adorable. Eh? The New Year? New Year cakes with bean soup? Making New Year cakes? New Year cakes? Ah, some New Year cakes are hand made. Speaking of which, your skin is so soft, I’m really envious.”
“啊啦，好可爱。唉？正月？说的也是，年糕小豆汤？煮年糕？年糕？啊，年糕的话也有捣制年糕。说起年糕，你有一身柔软肌肤呀，真让人羡慕。”

She tried asking a child.
试着向小孩子提问。

“The New Year is for playing games, of course. You're supposed to do things like things like ouija boards, blindfolded guessing games, top spinning, kite flying and so on, but nowadays, anything goes. What’s more important is getting red packets, but I have to give pay half of what I get every year upwards  to my parents. They say they’re helping me save up for the future, that’s pretty weird, right?”
“正月当然去玩耍啊，说起玩耍就有毽子板、蒙眼摸像、转陀螺和放风筝之类的，可是现在那些怎么样都好啦。比起这些果然还是得到压岁钱更好，但是每年都要拿出一半上交给父母。父母说了这是为了将来的储蓄金，很奇怪对吧。”

She tried asking an old man.
试着向老人提问。

“It’s for Hatsumode. I want to pray at the shrines, because the year is decided at the beginning.”
“初诣，我会想着去参拜，因为一年之计在元旦。”

She tried asking a male and female couple.
试着向雌性和雄性的组合提问。

“It’s for the Hatsuyume… right?”
(TL Note: 初梦 = first dream of the New Year)
“初梦……吧？”

“But before that, we need to have hime-hajime.”
(TL Note: 姫始め = first fuck of the New Year)
“但在这之前要进行新年初夜吧。”
（原文注：【姫始め】指新年后的首次房事。）

“Hey, don’t talk about such things!”
“慢着，这个话题就别说出来啊！”

She took the various answers she had obtained and wrote them down one by one on a piece of paper with a pencil. The lead gradually shortened, so Tepsekemei used a wind blade to sharpen it. As she had expected, conducting investigations outside was more rewarding than staying inside the house.
得到了各种各样的情报，一个一个地用铅笔在纸上记下来，铅笔的笔芯渐渐变短，于是小梅用风之刃将其削尖。果然在外面调查比在家里有更多的收获。

Compared to Christmas, which only had Santa Claus and presents, there were many things related to the New Year, which made it very confusing. She had to understand more, and grasp more things. Learning was very important for living among humans. If she did not know anything, Mei would be regarded as nothing but food, the television programs had said. She rushed to compile the information she had learned about the New Year, then used books and television to aid in her understanding of the New Year. However, humans changed faster than Tepsekemei could gather information.
与仅有圣诞老人和礼物的圣诞节相比，正月的情报实在太多太过复杂。这说明正月这个概念要比圣诞节复杂得多。不去了解更多的话是不行的，不去掌握更多的话是不行的。为了在人类之中生活，学习是非常重要的事情。如果什么都不知道，小梅就只会被当成食物看待而已，电视上是这么说的。赶紧把获得的情报整合，利用电视和书本辅助思考，以加深对正月的理解。但是与蒂普赛柯梅的情报收集相比，人类们的变化更加迅速。

Before Tepsekemei had become Tepsekemei, she had spent her days crawling around slowly, with no worries whatsoever. She ate her feed quietly within her personal space, excreted, and observed the scenery outside her tank. At that time, she had not realized that the scenery outside the tank was scenery, nor was she aware that humans were raising her, and she certainly did not even know that she was herself, merely living life lazily.
蒂普赛柯梅在还没成为蒂普赛柯梅的时候，整天缓慢地爬着，也没有任何烦恼。在自己的空间里静静地吃着饲料、排泄、看着水槽外面的景色。当时并没有水槽外面是水槽外面这种自觉，也没有自己被人类饲养着的自觉，更没有自己是自己的自觉，仅仅是慢悠悠地活着。

The humans were unlike the air and food given to Tepsekemei; they had no reason to conform to Tepsekemei’s life. In the land of the humans, change progressed more swiftly than a dried leaf falling off a withered branch. The buildings called “shops” changed Their door decorations were hard, white-colored objects stacked two or three layers deep, and below them were accessories of red and white papers. There were huge weapons that were hung with pretty ornaments.
人类们跟给予的空气和饲料不同，并没有配合蒂普赛柯梅生活的理由。在人类的地盘中，变化比木叶枯萎落下的过程更快。与【店】有关的建筑在变化着。门面的装饰品是个二段三段重叠并排着的白色硬物，下面有红色与白色的混合纸张作为修饰。巨大的武器挂上了漂亮的饰物。

It was not just the exterior of her house which had changed, but the interior as well. The Magical Girl worked hard as always, carrying out the task known as “spring cleaning” and making the dishes known as “New Year goodies”. These were probably all preparations for the New Year, and Tepsekemei helped the Magical Girl out as well. Right now, she was not too sure what exactly she was doing, but it must surely be essential for the New Year, Mei thought.
不单只是家外面，家里也有变化。魔法少女一如既往的忙碌，在干着【大扫除】的工作，制作着名为【年菜】的料理。大概这全部都是应对正月的对策，蒂普赛柯梅也跟着给魔法少女帮忙。现在，虽然自己在干什么这点还没有搞明白，但是这一定是为了正月而不得不做的事情吧，小梅是这样想的。

The sun appeared and vanished several times after this, and the weather grew colder and colder. It became livelier outside, and so did the television channels. Something was changing. The change spread slowly, up and forward, rising and advancing. Where would it go? The sky? Or higher? Somewhere even greater than that? Mei thought.
在这之后太阳重复了几次出现与消失，天气变得越来越寒冷。外面变得热闹、电视节目也变得热闹起来。有什么在变化着。变化一点点地、一点点地蔓延到上方、前方，上升着、前进着，究竟会到达什么地方，天边吗，还是说更高的、很厉害的地方，小梅有这种感觉。

4

When the sun was not around--in other words, during nighttime--a ringing came from somewhere in the distance. The Magical Girl called it the New Year’s Bell. Apparently, ringing it once was enough to clear away one’s “troubles”. Humans were so hard to understand, Mei mused as she slurped on her soba. Tepsekemei was very pleased with the soba, which was filled with spring onions.
太阳不在的时间——夜里的某个地方传来了响声。魔法少女称之为【除夕夜的钟声】。好像说过敲响一次钟声就能带走【烦恼】的样子。人类真的是难以理解的生物，小梅这么想着一边吸食着荞麦面。蒂普赛柯梅对于加满青葱的荞麦面喜欢的不得了。

“Is it the New Year yet?”
“现在就是正月吗？”

“It’s New Year’s Eve right now, it’ll be a while before the New Year.”
“现在是大晦日，正月还差一点点啦。”

The sound of humans celebrating came from the television. Tepsekemei understood that phenomenon. It was what they called singing and dancing. Humans sang and danced when they were excited or happy. They were probably excited and happy because of the New Year.
电视机传出了人类们欢快的声音。这种情景蒂普赛柯梅是知道的。这是被称为歌唱、跳舞的行为。高兴的时候、快乐的时候，人类就会唱歌跳舞。大概是因为正月的到来而高兴、快乐吧。

Therefore Tepsekemei continued asking the Magical Girl: “Is it the New Year yet?”

“Soon,” came the reply. This exchange repeated countless times, until it was the New Year before they realised it.
因此蒂普赛柯梅继续向魔法少女发问。“正月还没到吗？”“就快了。”的对话不知道重复了多少次，然后在不知不觉中等来了正月。

“Is it the New Year yet?”
“现在就是正月吗？”

“Yes, it is. Happy New Year. Let’s have some New Year cake and soup.”
“是的，新年快乐。现在来碗年糕汤吧。”

It was the New Year. Santa had come when it was Christmas. Then who would come when it was the New Year? Tepsekemei was unprepared for the impending New Year. Just like how one could not receive presents at Christmas if one was not a good girl, did that mean she had to make certain preparations for the New Year as well?
正月已经到来。圣诞节的时候，圣诞老人会到来。正月的时候究竟会有什么到来呢。蒂普赛柯梅对于正月的来临毫无准备。就像不成为好孩子就不能拿到圣诞老人的礼物一样，在正月是否不做某些准备就不行呢。

“What does Happy New Year mean?”
“新年快乐是什么？”

“It’s a greeting, like the New Year’s version of 'how are you?’”
“是打招呼的问候语。是你好的正月版本。”

“Happy New Year.”
“新年快乐。”

“Yes, Happy New Year.”
“对，新年快乐。”

5

The New Year had crept up on Tepsekemei before she had realised it. She had not yet decided what she should do. She picked up her notebook and began considering her future course of action, but before she had decided, the Mage showed up.
似乎在蒂普赛柯梅还没察觉的时候，正月已经到来了。该怎么做，该做些什么才好，还没有决定下来。拿着笔记，考虑着正月的对策，就在这时魔法使出现了。

“Mana-san, Happy New Year.”
“麻奈小姐，新年快乐。”

“Happy New Year.”
“新年快乐。”

“Happy New Year, I’ll be in your care this year as well.”
“新年好，今年也请多多指教。”

“Tepsekemei, pour some tea for Mana-san.”
“蒂普赛柯梅，快给麻奈小姐递杯茶。”

The person who had come for the New Year was not Santa, but the Mage. Tepsekemei gave cup of tea to the seated Mage, and then stared at her face.
在正月的时候来的不是圣诞老人，而是魔法使。蒂普赛柯梅给坐着的魔法使递过茶杯，并凝视着魔法使的面孔。

The Mage went “Huh? What?” and then her face changed after some thought. Tepsekemei knew human faces, and she had paid particular attention to the way they smiled. This ought to be a smile.
魔法使发出了“嗯？怎么了？”的疑问，想了一会后表情开始改变。蒂普赛柯梅是知道的，人类的面孔，特别是笑的时候小梅有做过研究。这个果然应该是笑的表情。

“Do you want a red packet? Hmph, I've already.prepared one. Accept it with gratitude!”
“是想要压岁钱吗？哼，我当然已经准备好了。心怀感激地接受吧。”

The Mage produced a paper packet from her bag, and handed it to Tepsekemei.
魔法使从荷包里拿出一个纸袋，递给了蒂普赛柯梅。

Tepsekemei recalled what had been written in her notebook. There was an entry called “Red Packet” in there. Since the Mage had given it to her, it was probably a red packet. She had to be on her toes in order to come through this New Year safely, because carelessness was death for a Magical Girl. Tepsekemei recalled what her notes said about receiving a red packet. After that, there was this.
蒂普赛柯梅想起了笔记上记下的事情。这里面放着的是【压岁钱】。既然魔法使递过来了，那大概就是压岁钱吧。为了安心度过正月，绝对不能大意，对魔法少女来说大意可是会招来死亡。蒂普赛柯梅的头脑回忆着笔记中提到接过压岁钱的情景。接着，就是这个。

“Red packet.”
“压岁钱。”

“Mm.”
“嗯。”

“I have to pay it upwards.”
“要上交。”

“Eh? Really? To 7753?”
“唉？是这样吗？交给7753？”

“For future savings.”
“为了将来的储蓄金。”

“Ah, that is quite important.”
“啊，这确实是件重要的事情。”

It would seem she could fluently carry a conversation. Making the notes had been the right decision, after all. Now all Tepsekemei had to do was follow her notes and she would be able to get through the New Year perfectly. Then, she continued the conversation.
似乎能流利地对上话的样子。果然笔记是正确的。蒂普赛柯梅现在确信只要按照笔记的对话就能完美度过正月，然后接着继续话题。

“Hatsumode.”
“初诣。”

“Hm? Ah, those are good, aren’t they? You’re surprisingly confident.”
“嗯？啊，不是挺好吗。你这家伙意外的有信心啊。”

It did not seem quite right, as though it were lacking a little something.
还是觉得不太合适。总感觉差了点什么。

“Soft and silky skin.”
“柔软肌肤。”

“Hah?”
“哈？”

That was not it.
不是这个。

“Blindfolded guessing games.”
“蒙眼摸像。”

“What’s with you?”
“怎么了？”

That was not right either.
不对。

“Hatsuyume.”
“初梦。”

“What are you saying all of a sudden…”
“突然之间说些什么……”

That was wrong too.
这个也不对。

“Hime-hajime.”
“新年初夜。”
（原文注：姫始め）

“Huh? Ehhhh? You…”
“呵？唉唉？你这家伙啊。”

The intelligent Tepsekemei immediately noticed that the Mage’s voice had risen in pitch by quite a bit. This was a completely different reaction from when she had heard “soft and silky skin”, “blindfolded guessing games”, “New Year’s shrine visit” and other such phrases.
聪明的蒂普赛柯梅马上就察觉到了魔法使的语调提高了不少。这是与听到柔软肌肤、蒙眼摸像、初梦等词语时，完全不同的反应。
（原文注：もち肌、福笑い、初夢）

In other words, this was it.
也就是说，就是这个。

“Hime-hajime! Hime-hajime! Hime-hajime! Hime-hajime! ”
“新年初夜！新年初夜！新年初夜！新年初夜！”

“Stop saying that over and over!”
“不要连续这么说啊！”

“It is essential for the New Year.”
“这是在正月必不可欠的。”

“No no no no!”
“不不不不。”

“Come to me.”
“来吧。”

“What do you mean, ‘come to me’, why, you… stay away! 7753! 7753! Hurry up and stop her! Oi! Stop! Keep away from me!”
“来什么来，为什么，你……你这家伙，别靠过来啊！7753！7753！赶紧过来制止这家伙！喂！快停手！别过来！”