Preparation
When we returned to the mansion from the Great Forest, Raphael, Brigitte, and Dianne were there.
“You really came.”
“Are we not allowed to visit?”
“That’s not it… but does that mean you want to join the festival in Ayns Village?”
“Yes. Floria was making all sorts of mysterious things together with the maids, and we helped with making the cotton pouches and bags.”
I appreciated the help, but if a big group traveled all the way to Ayns Village, it would draw attention. What should we do?
We discussed countermeasures together with Brother Chris and Brother Gerald.
“We’ll have to sell the pancake buns at the village entrance and block entry into the village itself.”
“Yeah. As long as they can buy the pancake buns, people will probably complain less.”
We could limit the number sold, and the freshly baked ones would only be eaten by the villagers.
“Just in case something like this happened, I prepared plenty of these.”
Floria placed two types of long, thin boxes on the table.
Inside the boxes were pancake buns—six in one, twelve in the other.
“Are these boxes made from Pine paper?”
“Yes. I had the paper wholesaler make them along with the paper bags for the pancake bun–eating contest.”
Apparently she ordered mass production since we would probably use them in the future as well.
When I asked how she conveyed the size, she said she gave them an actual pancake bun, told them they could eat it after measuring it, and handed over about thirty of them.
“I wanted the people who make the boxes to enjoy some too.”
“‘Pancake bun–eating contest?’”
Brother Chris and Brother Gerald spoke in unison.
When we explained the outline, they said it would be better to let the Knights’ Order test the contest events rather than try it for the first time in Ayns Village.
They said the villagers wouldn’t understand without seeing a demonstration.
A rehearsal again, huh…
The next day’s rehearsal turned unexpectedly heated.
In one event, the knights kept collapsing until they figured out the trick.
We also learned that for the pancake bun–eating contest, people of similar height had to run together; otherwise taller competitors had the advantage. It was good we ran the rehearsal.
“So that’s how the things we made are going to be used.”
“Will we join the villagers during the festival in Ayns Village?”
“Is that okay?”
“But everyone will be in separate groups.”
That night, Brother Isaac and Brother Hubert arrived from the royal capital.
“Looks like we made it in time.”
“If you had already departed, we were planning to chase you down on horseback.”
“Brigitte and Dianne sent a magic bird message saying something entertaining was going to happen.”
“What? You sent a magic bird from Westland all the way to the royal capital?”
What a ridiculous waste again…
“It was worth it. The rehearsal was really fun.”
“If only you had arrived last night, you could have seen it.”
Early the next morning, we departed for Ayns Village.
The companions were: Brother Chris, Brother Gerald, Floria, Raphael, Brigitte, Dianne, Brother Isaac, Brother Hubert, and their attendants, maids, and guards.
From our house: five cooks under Guido’s command to make pancake buns—six cooks total.
Rosalina, Marissa, and five maids who had made the headbands would handle selling the boxed pancake buns to outsiders.
Damian, Rosetta, and Deputy Administrator Rosa would help me run the sports festival.
And for some reason Maria and Nanally were also coming.
Nanally said she wanted to check whether the pancake bun machine she made would operate well. It was already in use at the mansion, so of course it would, but since we would be requesting more things from her in the future, I allowed her to join.
Maria’s guards Raul and Natalia were also with us, along with Captain Kyle’s 3rd Unit—twenty-seven knights.
Georges, Atre, and all of our family’s familiars were coming too. Altogether nearly one hundred people.
We wanted to minimize carriages, so anyone who could ride would not use a carriage.
We planned for one night of camping, possibly two depending on the situation.
Because we stood out with such a large group, we avoided going through Eins Town or any other villages or towns.
It was to prevent people from heading to Ayns Village.
A knight who had gone ahead to deliver word to the village returned.
“This is serious. There are many tents around Ayns Village, and a huge number of people have gathered.”
“Chief, what is the meaning of this?”
“I am sorry. When merchants noticed the expansion of the petite wheat fields, the villagers ended up talking… people began gathering right after the harvest…”
“After we sent letters telling you not to talk about it, you kept quiet?”
“Yes, we told them that if they talked, the festival would be canceled.”
When we said we would handle the rest, he bowed in relief.
He must have been troubled since he had business partners among them.
We asked the village chief to divide the villagers into four groups—ensuring the balance between men, women, the elderly, and children—by tomorrow morning.
What do you think about this chapter?
