Living in the countryside for 52 days now.

Today, I feel like exploring Grandpa's secret storage. Well, it's not just a storage - more like a traditional Japanese warehouse, or should I say, kura.

Our usual warehouse, located next to the house, is a modern structure that could accommodate a hundred people comfortably, or so they say. But hidden deep in the backyard is the real deal - an authentic kura.

**T/N: "蔵" (kura) is a Japanese word that translates to "storage room" or "warehouse." Typically a 2 story height with big space and with 1 entrance and a window high up.**

I've been meaning to take a look inside for quite some time now, but it kept slipping my mind until today. Now, here I am, standing in front of it. There's something charming about kuras, isn't there?

They'd make for a trendy setting, like an old farmhouse cafe. Not that I'm planning on doing that, though. After all, we are a traditional Japanese family, through and through!

I had thoughts like, "What if there are treasures hidden inside?" but, surprisingly, it seemed quite ordinary. There were old electrical appliances, farming tools, family mementos, and even some antiques, though their value was unclear.

But I did stumble upon something interesting - something I've always wanted to try, an event I've seen on TV but never experienced myself.

Why? Well, although I've never participated, every year around this time, it gets delivered to our home. And it's far more delicious than anything you can buy.

Grandpa used to say, "Freshly made is the best!"

Well, I might not have the skills to do it on my own, so maybe I'll ask Chronos and the others when they visit next time. But before that, do we even have the ingredients?

As I pondered these things, the day ended with cleaning up the warehouse.

It's been 52 days since I started my life in the countryside.

Today, I'm in the midst of preparations for the upcoming event!

While there are canned goods available, I want to make it from scratch since we have the ingredients. For some reason, Kinako and Kuro-Mame with Schnappy are neatly lined up on the porch, looking at me.

Are you guys hoping for some freshly made treats? Well, fine, if it turns out well, I'll share with you.

Alright, first, I'll put the adzuki beans in a sieve, stack bowls, and rinse them twice under running water. They say to wash them gently, and even though I'm tempted to be more vigorous, I resist the urge.

Next is the crucial step of removing the bitterness. This part is tricky, and I often mess it up. Removing this bitterness is crucial because it significantly influences the taste of the sweet red bean paste.

I mutter to myself, "Put the beans in a pot, add plenty of water, and simmer over medium heat for about 10 to 15 minutes." This wasn't just a matter of pre-boiling. It was a simple task of pouring off the broth. It simmers away vigorously.

As I raised my face, sensing a sudden gaze... Kuro-mame, now even closer than before, were inching towards me. But during cooking, they shouldn't be in the kitchen!

Their commitment to the rule was adorable and endearing. All three of them had sparkling eyes, brimming with anticipation. In the midst of all this, about 10 minutes had passed.

"Well, let's see... The way to determine is when the broth turns into a deep wine color. It's done!" I lifted the azuki beans with a strainer to drain excess water.

Afterward, I replaced the water and boiled the azuki beans again until they became tender, around 30 minutes.

"This is the second checkpoint. Getting the water level right is tricky! Too little, and it evaporates quickly, risking burning. Too much, and the umami seeps into the water..."

Alright, now that it's boiling, I'll reduce the heat to a gentle medium and let it simmer for another 30 minutes, skimming off the scum. Since this required constant attention to the pot, if someone were to visit now, it would be chaos.

I couldn't shake the feeling that someone might come. It seemed like I had unintentionally set a flag myself... And, as expected, my premonition turned out to be accurate.

The doorbell chimed.

For some reason, the chime sounded.

"A chime!?"

I don't quite understand its purpose, but every once in a while, someone visits through the front door.

Although I don't know how the otherworld and our home are connected, there's always a visitor at the entrance. The very first time, I had no idea who it could be, so it was a bit scary, more of a matter of etiquette, really.

Ring the doorbell and then come in! I've said that to Chronos before, but maybe it feels like it's being relayed? Perhaps those who come during that time always press the doorbell at least once.

When they come from the courtyard, they tend to skip it and go straight to the veranda. Is the doorbell something rare?

Ding-dong! Ding-dong!!

"Aren't they coming?"

"Nya, there's a nice smell, so they must be here."

"Are they making something they can't leave?"

"Curry? Is it curry?"

Chronos and you guys... I can hear all your conversations!

"I'll go around to the garden and check." I heard such a voice, but soon...

Schnappy's eyes sharpened, and he assumed a defensive stance. Unaware of such things, Noam strolled into the garden happily, swaying his beast ears and tail.

「Gyoro, gyoro, gyoro...」 The leaves and branches of Schnappy swayed in a determined dance, matching the intimidating stance of Noam.

For over a minute, the two of them engaged in a fierce stare-down. With no resolution in sight, I decided to break the tension with a few words.

"Anyone who fights will be skipping lunch today." I declared, delivering the message with a confident smile.

"Huh?" Noam and Schnappy reacted in disbelief, their faces frozen in shock at the unexpected announcement. Sensing the commotion, Chronos, wearing a menacing expression, and a bewildered Carl joined the scene.

"Hehehe... Tough luck, Noam. Looks like you're fasting today." Chronos taunted with an increasingly mocking expression.

"Captain, that's too harsh! I'm the victim here. Please say something to the Vice-captain." Noam pleaded, gracefully leaping down from a tree and approaching Carl with desperation in his eyes.

Caught off guard by the sudden plea, Carl, with a thoughtful expression, rested his chin on his hand, alternating gazes between Noam and Schnappy.

Why is it that these two have such a terrible compatibility? I pondered silently.

"Hmm?" Carl questioned, and Schnappy added a curious 「Gyo?」

In sync with Carl's puzzlement, both Schnappy and Noam simultaneously spoke, tilting their heads in perfect unison.

"..."

"Pfft~"

"Hehehe~"

In the midst of their strikingly similar antics, even Chronos and me were caught up, compelled to laugh.

"These two are rivals, huh..."

"Yes, indeed. Perhaps deep down, they acknowledge each other." said Carl, his tone brimming with amusement.

"Are you kidding me?"

「Gyoro-ro-ro!!」

Once again, both puffed up in anger, mirroring each other's expressions. It was a somewhat endearing sight. While observing this spectacle and wiping away my smile, I couldn't help but notice something on Carl's back.

"What's that... a weapon, perhaps?" It was a large, dark, and rigid object that caught her attention.

What's that... a weapon or something?

Chronos seemed to catch my gaze and signaled Carl.

"Rinsakura-san, I heard you weren't feeling well due to alcohol, so I brought this as a get-well gift. It's something we can harvest in my hometown." It was undeniably a gigantic shell—perhaps as large as a baseball home base.

There were three of them in total, two pitch-black ones and one with a striped pattern.

"Um... what is this?"

"It's a Bivalve." A kind of shell, right? Probably...

"Is it from the sea? And is this its normal size?" I was perplexed, unsure of how to react.

"Yeah, it's normal-sized. Bivalves are harvested from specific coasts. I had the young ones dig them up this morning for some training."

Such a huge shell buried on the shore? It was frightening, excessively so. And the knights... I'm sorry for involving them. They seemed to express that sentiment on their faces.

"Don't worry about it. These guys are surprisingly agile, and they have high combat power, making them perfect for training." Noam reassured with a confident smile, giving a thumbs-up.

A high combat power shell?! I could only respond with a smile that is also not a smile.

"If you boil this in a big pot and drink the soup, it works wonders for a hangover in one go. But judging by the current situation, it seems you've recovered just fine."

"I sincerely apologize for that incident. I don't remember much from that time..." My face contorted with a mix of embarrassment and guilt.

Observing my demeanor, Chronos momentarily displayed a complex expression, but it quickly turned into a smile.

"No, as long as Rinsakura-san is well, that's all that matters."

"Chronos-san..."

"For me, it was a blissful moment." Me and Chronos gazed at each other, both blushing.

In the background...

Starting with Carl and his group, confusion was barely concealed.

What on earth are we witnessing?

It's too sweet... way too sweet...

And the fact that everyone was feeling a slight embarrassment, the two were completely unaware.

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