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The 54th day of my life in the countryside continued, and chaos had taken over.

I found myself face to face with the Knights Order and the Royal Guard, seemingly locked in a fierce standoff.

"What on earth is happening?" I wondered aloud, feeling the weight of the sudden and unexpected appearance of the Royal Guards.

Chronos, a member of the group, looked at me with a mix of surprise and exasperation. "Rinsakura-san, do you have any agreements or promises with these people?"

I shook my head, genuinely perplexed. "No, not at all. I have no idea what's going on."

Chronos sighed, seemingly frustrated. "So, today is supposed to be a day of enjoyable time with us... Would you mind leaving us?"

The request was made with a hint of rudeness, and I hesitated, unsure of how to handle the situation. The hawk-like beastman and the cook looked visibly uneasy.

However, in response to their uncertainty, a member of the Royal Guard spoke condescendingly, his words cutting through the tension.

"Still such a narrow-minded man. This isn't your home, yet you speak so boldly. How uncouth."

The speaker was a slender figure spoke, draped in a finely tailored uniform that bespoke sophistication. Long peach-colored hair was elegantly braided with a single golden swirl on each side of the head. In his slanted, single-lidded eyes, amethyst-like jewels sparkled, fixated on Chronos.

He seemed to be a sheep-like beastman named Cyril.

"Is that Cyril, the captain?" someone exclaimed in surprise, and Noam's eyes widened in shock. The other knights were also stirred by the sudden appearance of Cyril.

Curious, I whispered to Carl, "Who is that person?"

With a furrowed brow, Carlos quietly replied, sharing the secret. "He is Cyril August, A Marquis and the Commander of the Royal Guard. The eternal rival, as they say. Normally, He don't make public appearances."

The members of the Royal Guard have visited many times before, but come to think of it, it's my first meeting with the Commander...

"So, what exactly does 'rival' mean?"

"Just as the word implies. Since childhood, they've been competing in academics, magic, swordsmanship, and even positions. Perhaps even in popularity with the ladies. It's like an ongoing fate from our student days."

Apparently noticing our conversation, Cyril paid no mind to Chronos and approached me.

"Pleasure to meet you, Lady Rinsakura. I am Cyril August, the commander of the Royal Knights. Let us get acquainted." He said, taking my hand and nonchalantly planting a light kiss on the back.

His graceful gesture caught me off guard, and I found myself accepting it without much thought.

"Wha...!" Chronos' angry aura reached Cyril a few seconds later.

While Carl and the others were tense about Cyril's actions, there was an undeniable acknowledgment of his status. Indeed, this man was a true aristocrat, living in high society. His conduct towards women was undoubtedly flawless. This was a piece of cake for him, no doubt.

Unlike Chronos, he lived in the social world, and his behavior towards women was impeccable. Chronos and Cyril were polar opposites.

"I apologize for the sudden visit today. However, we heard rumors of a delightful feast, and I couldn't resist joining. I hope it wasn't too much of an inconvenience." Cyril expressed, a hint of sadness in his eyes.

Oh... he suddenly became so humble. Begging from a handsome man feels unfair...

"Lady Rinsakura, please enlighten us about the wonders of mochi as well." The hawk-like beastman pleaded with a similarly forlorn expression.

An old man's plea... This is a different kind of troublesome.

I looked at Chronos with a puzzled expression, unsure of what to do.

"Sigh..." Chronos also sighed, lowering his gaze.

Even the admirable Chronos couldn't easily dismiss Gladeon's plea. After all, Gladeon was a direct attendant to His Majesty. Meanwhile, the members of both groups were glaring at each other. However, simply accepting the situation felt somewhat irksome.

Chronos pondered on what to do. Then, he noticed a mortar and pestle in front of them. "All right, let's settle this like knights, in a competition," he said with a fierce grin.

A few minutes later... For some reason, an intense mochi-pounding battle between the Knight Order and the Royal Guard's elite had begun. They decided to take turns pounding mochi twice each, and the side that produced the most delicious outcome would win—simple rules.

This way, they could engage in a test of strength and, at the same time, familiarize themselves with the art of mochi-making. As for the judges...

Chronos, Cyril, myself, Gladeon, and Carl comprised the panel. After drawing lots fairly... The first round started with the Knight Order.

Apparently, a pair of a tiger beastman and a wolf beastman were assigned to pound the mochi.

"You guys understand, right?"

"Yes."

The two saluted Chronos with a serious expression as if heading to the battlefield.

"Alright, let's begin!"

In perfect synchronization, the two started pounding the mochi with impressive coordination.

"Woah... you guys are impressively skilled," I couldn't help but admire their practiced movements. Despite witnessing it just once, they handled the mochi pounding with remarkable finesse.

"The way you adjust your strength is just perfect."

"Fantastic!"

"As expected from the top pair of the elite squad!" The Knight Order side was cheering enthusiastically, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.

On the flip side, the Royal Guard stood frozen, their expressions echoing a sentiment of, "Are we supposed to do that too?" as they observed with a resigned air.

Oh... their animal ears and tails are drooping. The Royal Guard really gives off a prince-like vibe. Sweating and such seem to be out of their comfort zone.

Even I wore a sympathetic look as she observed the young men. Even Cyril seemed to have a slightly strained expression, and I don't think it was just my imagination.

And then, a beautifully pounded mochi was completed. I swiftly distributed the mochi to the judges.

"Dig in right away. Freshly pounded mochi is an absolute treat." Cyril and Gladeon hesitantly tasted the mysterious white substance for the first time.

"........!! The chewy texture is delicious!" Cyril exclaimed in surprise.

"It's hard to describe, but this is something else. The red bean paste and kinako are doing an incredible job. It's truly a delightful combination!" Gladeon was also savoring the flavors.

"Delicious, you guys did great." Chronos praised with a thumbs up and a warm smile.

"It's fantastic!" Carl also nodded approvingly.

"All right, now it's your turn." Chronos said, narrowing his eyes provocatively at Cyril.

A graceful cat beastman and a fox beastman with a lustrous coat timidly stepped forward.

Is it okay... with these two??

Surely, everyone there must have had the same thought. However, regardless of concerns, the mochi pounding began without hesitation. As expected, a few minutes later, a mushy and watery mochi was ready.

"........" Chronos and Carl silently put down their chopsticks.

"Hmm..." Even Cyril frowned slightly when he took a bite.

"Depending on the maker, it can be this different." Gladeon also regretfully put down his chopsticks.

"Captain, I apologize sincerely." The two looked like they were on the verge of tears, ears drooping behind them.

"No, you did well." Chronos gently patted the young men on their shoulders as if praising them. Then, turning immediately to me, he said, "Rinsakura-san, I'm sorry for wasting the ingredients."

He bowed deeply to her. It seemed like he thought they couldn't eat it anymore. Certainly, the outcome was quite disappointing.

"No, it's okay. It might have been a bit of a failure, but... we can use it in the New Year's soup." Upon hearing this, the members of the Royal Guard visibly relaxed.

"Hasn't the match been decided already? Are you going for a second round?" When Chronos said this, Cyril briefly showed a regretful expression, but he quickly changed it to a confident one.

"Of course, we'll continue. We won't let you win that easily."

"Very well." Chronos had a smirk on his face.

"Next, I'll pound the mochi. Vegalta, provide some support."

"Yes!" The man called Vegalta was a muscular giraffe beastman, fitting for the Royal Guard.

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