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The sturdy and luxurious wagon and cart.

The horses with their shiny coats and the Snowrunner.

And even the insignia engraved on the armor of the guards.

If anyone were to see the roaring white dragon’s head emblem, they could easily guess where the commander came from and under whose orders.

In the face of such indisputable evidence, the people queuing at the castle gate politely made way for the wagon and cart surrounded by guards.

But the Gatekeeper, despite his comrade’s scolding, halted the advancing caravan and demanded proof.

He started to meticulously examine the command document.

Karem, snorting at the absurd thought that it smelled like chicken, peered out of the window while Mary peeped through the newly opened gap and whispered to Catherine.

“In Borderster or Coldon, they would have let us through just by looking at the seal. This is taking longer than expected.”

“Well, according to the rules, everyone entering the castle and city is subject to search.”

Catherine raised her head slightly and looked at Karem.

“Anyway, that’s how customary law works. But laws can often be sidestepped with money, power, and connections.”

“So, does that mean this is the usual way things are handled?”

“Yeah, but usually there are two cases where the noble caravan is stopped without any flexibility-”

Catherine’s words were cut off by the sound of furious footsteps coming from outside the wagon. Karem could see the owner of those steps.

It was someone similar to the gatekeepers who had come out from inside the castle, but this time it was a middle-aged man in a magnificent cloak who struck the Gatekeeper’s head, snatched the command document, and whispered.

“Do you even have a brain? Who do you think you are to read that document? Is your eyesight just for decoration?!”

“Ah! The chief said to conduct thorough checks even if nobles come in!”

“Idiot! You have to judge the situation first!”

“Isn’t the Felwinter Family noble?!”

“Crazy! You’re insane!”

Get lost! While he beat the downed Gatekeeper (it didn’t really matter since he was loud enough), the watch captain kicked the Gatekeeper aside.

The insignia of the caravan clearly showed above the castle gate.

Having snatched the document, he confirmed its contents.

The watch captain, who had just been angry, suddenly became deferential as if nothing had happened and formally extended his hands toward the open window of the wagon.

“I sincerely apologize. May I confirm once more the reason for your visit?”

“Sir Atanitas, Chief Magic Consultant, has arrived under the orders of His Grace the Duke of Iceland to meet with His Grace Lord Hadrian.”

“Oh, in that case, I shall guide you to the fortress.”

Mary, who answered in Catherine’s stead, retrieved the command document.

The halted caravan was soon allowed to pass through the castle gate and enter Present.

Karem immediately tried to close the window.

“Brr, it’s cold… no, it’s not that cold, is it?”

“The castle walls block the outside cold somewhat, plus it’s a city after all.”

Certainly, unlike before, opening the window didn’t plummet the temperature of the wagon. Thanks to that, Karem could gaze at the city outside.

The citadel city of Afterglow Fortress.

Aside from its size, Present had several similarities to Coldon, but there were also some differences.

First, the roofs.

The roofs of the houses were much steeper than those in Coldon.

Sometimes, there were houses with roofs nearly touching the ground.

Next, the people’s attire.

Most of them were donned in thick fur cloaks, armed in such a way that it was hard to distinguish whether they were ordinary folks, adventurers, or mercenaries.

Above all, there was a massive castle wall that lay between the two ridges of the mountain range, where Winterhome would have been visible if it were Coldon.

Not applying moisturizer made Karem realize that his skin was quickly drying out while he couldn’t tear his gaze away from the grandeur of Afterglow Fortress.

Was this the feeling of a primitive person witnessing the pyramids of ancient Egyptians for the first time? Even with the help of magic or monsters, the scale felt overwhelming, far beyond the levels of mere past technology…

Moreover, there was a pervasive smell of hot oil throughout the city.

No, this was definitely the smell of chicken.

People were seen frequently carrying buckets filled with chicken and tearing into them.

‘Is chicken trending around here?’

Just like the Fire Witch Finger craze in Winterhome?

At that moment, Karem felt a sharp pang at the back of his head.

The owner of the gaze was easy to identify.

There were only two passengers besides him, after all.

“You seem to think it’ll take a bit longer to reach the fortress. Why didn’t you keep looking?”

“Um, no. I think this is enough. Some people are just annoying me.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

Mary replied with an expression so devoid of emotion it felt eerie.

Her voice carried a hint of grievance that was hard to miss.

Karem, well aware of the emotions lurking behind her gaze, closed the window and returned to his seat.

“I was about to continue reading the book anyway.”

“It’s the gazes. It’s all about the gazes. If the eyes are smiling, how can I look anywhere else?”

“Hm, little one, I can’t quite grasp what you’re saying.”

But it was clear from the emotion in Catherine and Mary’s expressionless eyes that they were enjoying this.

In the end, Catherine shrugged, admitting she had been caught, and slammed the book shut with a thud.

“Well, I can’t blame you for finding the views of Winterhome or Afterglow Fortress breathtaking. I couldn’t close my mouth when I first saw the World Tree of Bersengzeto.”

“The World Tree…”

The World Tree. Yggdrasil. The ash tree with roots spanning nine realms. A giant that pierces the heavens and supports the universe. Etc.

Names and nicknames associated with the World Tree from his past life filled Karem’s mind, but since the worlds were different, it was evident that it was a different sort.

“But didn’t you hear it burned down at one point?”

“What?”

“Oh no, I seem to recall hearing from the Treasure Vault that the ancient Palatino Empire burned it when they conquered the area?”

Ah, Catherine nodded, as though she didn’t disagree completely.

“Well, it did burn at one time, but they say it was replanted when that neighborhood came under the rule of the Palatino Empire. In fact, there’s a record indicating that it grew even bigger and sturdier thanks to the ashes of the previous World Tree and the surrounding forest.”

“Well, it seems like a symbolic tree, so yeah, I suppose. Huh?”

Yet something felt off—does this mean there are records of it?

“It’s as if it’s saying it burned once again.”

“That’s right. There was indeed an incident before the World Tree fully grew.”

“…Was it burned once more by the ancient empire?”

“Exactly. It was burned.”

Catherine folded her arms after whisking the book away.

“However, it was done by the Demon King’s army.”

“Oh.”

Thinking about it, didn’t it say the entire region of Europa was conquered?

If it burned once more in that process…

“With the existing ashes rich in nutrients, and the ashes of the newly sprouted World Tree added to it, the third World Tree eventually devoured all that nourishment and grew so enormous it practically makes the term ‘World Tree’ seem like a joke.”

“Seems like it would indeed be gigantic?”

“Um, how should I explain this…”

While Catherine fell into thought, trying to come up with a suitable comparison, Mary picked up a book carelessly lying around.

“Well, the diameter of the World Tree is said to be vast.”

“Of course, it’s called the World Tree, isn’t it?”

“About as wide as Winterhome, they say.”

“I see. About as wide as Winterhome… huh?”

It seemed Karem had grasped something odd.

But Mary carried on with her explanation.

“Rumor has it that the highest branches touch the clouds. But then again, it’s just a rumor, so it could mean it’s that tall.”

“…At least you’re not a fairy who speaks nonsense.”

Is this not a joke? Catherine nodded firmly, confirming that it wasn’t untrue.

“Yeah, I understand that feeling. I couldn’t believe it when the old geezer told me for the first time. I only understood after I saw it for myself. That’s how typical people feel.”

Perhaps, considering experience in the castle, it was hard for Karem to dismiss what two people within the top five would say.

Suddenly, Karem’s eyes fell on the staff resting beside Catherine.

He turned to the pumpkin embedded at the end of Palatino’s third glory.

At this angle, the pumpkin seemed profound and extraordinary, emanating a soft orange glow even without light.

And soon after.

The caravan came to a halt.

As Karem disembarked from the wagon, he was startled by the temperature difference.

Then by the grand sight unfolded before him.

He gasped in admiration once more.

The breathtaking spectacle from afar was still astonishing up close.

Even with the obstacle of the Inner Castle, it was impossible to hide the sheer scale that was hard to tear his eyes away from.

An ancient fortress standing at the forefront of civilization.

What a heart-stirring phrase it was—

“How long are you going to stand there like that?”

“Oh, pardon me.”

“Why are you so dazed?”

“Well, it’s one thing to see it from afar, but seeing it up close makes it even more amazing.”

As Karem quickly stepped aside, Mary and Catherine, who had just reprimanded him, dismounted behind him.

“You felt that way even a moment ago. Are you not tired of it?”

“Honestly, I doubt I would ever tire of it no matter how many times I see it.”

Hearing this, Catherine looked up at the fortress, tilting her head.

“From the top, I bet the view is truly magnificent.”

“Certainly, the panoramic view from the fortress would be quite the spectacle.”

The watch captain, who led the caravan, approached with a smile, rubbing his palms together.

“You must have seen it from above at least once?”

“Certainly. No matter how impressive anyone may be, they appear as tiny as a pea, and the civilization of Present and the barbaric world beyond the mountain range is clearly divided, so surprisingly, competition for guard duty at the top of the fortress is fierce even at night.”

Karem found it hard to believe the captain’s claims.

After all, competing for night watch duty? Was he crazy? The times he had pulled night shifts in his past life felt meaningless if nothing happened while standing idly by, no matter how beautiful the scenery was—why would anyone volunteer for it?

“With secretly stashed alcohol and snacks, comparing the two grand views makes for effortless time on watch duty!”

“Indeed, just the view from the fortress itself would be sufficient as a drinking companion.”

“Exactly. Eating salted jerky and peeled walnuts while enjoying a cold beer…”

Suddenly, the captain froze in a stunned silence.

From behind the wagon, a tall and dapper-looking elder emerged.

The old man, dressed in luxurious leather armor and a stylish fur coat, wore monocles and held a small wooden bucket filled with chicken in one hand while munching with the other—wait, chicken?!

Karem rubbed his eyes.

It was chicken.

Before anything else, the smell unmistakably revealed it was chicken.

The elder, glaring at the watch captain, swallowed a piece of chicken before continuing.

“I don’t know what your preferences for snacks are, but drinking during guard duty? I might just have to throw all the guards from the past three months out on their heads.”

“Ah, Steward! Even so, is beer really alcohol!?”

“You won’t get drunk even if you drink a barrel, yet it’s still a brew made from barley, so brace yourself.”

At once, the watch captain was thrown into despair.

After dismissing the watch captain, the group turned to face the elder.

And then.

“And you must be that famed Sir Karem.”

“…What?”

“Um???”

“Yes.”

The elder approached, knelt down, placed the chicken bucket beside him, and quickly took Karem’s hand to shake it.

As if greeting a long-anticipated guest.

But surely, there was another guest in their party?

In that surreal moment where the steward seemed more delighted to recognize Karem than the actual distinguished guest, Catherine and the caravan fell into confusion.

However, it seemed the steward realized his blunder immediately, raising his head abruptly and returning to his previous position, speaking once more with respect and solemnity.

“I have been informed in advance. Welcome to the fortress, Sir Atanitas. I am Sir Wallace Hartman, steward of His Grace Lord Hadrian.”

The lanky steward, Wallace, resumed a dignified posture as if nothing had transpired moments before and picked up the chicken bucket to tear into it again.

The group was left stunned, unable to respond to his remarkable nonchalance. They all shared the same thought: What was that all about just now?

But Wallace ignored the questioning stares and bowed his head toward Catherine.

“And for that, I must sincerely apologize.”

“…Huh? You mean for earlier—”

“Currently, you cannot meet Lord Hadrian.”

“What?!”

With that conclusion, Wallace tossed the now-bare chicken bone behind him.

 

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