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No matter how arduous the march was, and despite the size and might of the caravan, people couldn’t afford to let their guard down.

It wasn’t because of the thieves, wildmen, or barbarian tribes.

It was the notorious Hunter Drake, known for testing opponents regardless of their size.

The famished Ice Trolls and Owlbears with nothing visible but hunger in their eyes.

The Griffins, Hippogriffs, and Wyverns that lusted after human livestock.

When tension relaxed, beasts and monsters would inevitably appear.

The moment even the slightest gap was visible, one could feel the piercing glares and hear the howls.

But that was about to change.

The current strongest being in Iceland had joined the caravan.

Despite its size and strength, the Wild Childs, who had been waiting for a chance to strike at the long gaps along the line, instinctively sensed the top predator and turned away.

Now, the only beasts and monsters daring to attack the caravan were mindless hordes of lower undead or those in desperate need.

The caravan had become exceedingly safe, to the point where the youngest princess of the Duke’s family could play on the Giant Dungeon Hamster outside the wagon.

No, in fact, Alicia felt safer than anyone else.

Even more so than Alfred, whom the caravan was meant to protect.

Squish-squish—

“Hehehee— hehehehehehe—”

“Our little cutie. Do you like your gift that much?”

With her eyes sparkling, Alicia nodded her head, flushed red as if about to explode. Seated in the saddle alongside Richard, she eagerly petted the enormous creature’s fur.

Human preferences are as varied as the stars in the sky, but the threshold for cuteness is surprisingly low.

Even fierce beasts are regarded as cute by humans.

And here was the Giant Dungeon Hamster.

Large, round, and fabulously fluffy.

With innocent eyes that seemed to draw one in like a cow’s gaze.

Barely any aggression to speak of.

Truly, it was a colossal creature fully armed with adorableness, chomping away with its relatively small mouth compared to its size.

Even the men lowered their guards, and the women found its appearance irresistible.

Alicia was utterly captivated.

There was no way she could resist.

“It’s so fluffy and soft, like a cloud!”

“I’m glad my precious likes it.”

“But grandpa, what does fluffy cloud eat?”

“This little guy?”

Richard, holding onto the Giant Dungeon Hamster—whom Alicia had named Fluffy Cloud—fixed the reins with one hand.

“As one who lives in dungeons, it’s omnivorous. However, its favorites are fresh grass, fruits, and seeds.”

“Eh? So Fluffy Cloud eats meat too?”

“Not just meat. It even gnaws on bones.”

This cute, fluffy creature eats that?

Alicia was aghast. She seemed unable to comprehend the fact and cocked her head, wide-eyed, staring at Richard.

“Eh.”

“The reason is simple. Look at this monster’s size.”

“It’s not ‘this guy’; it’s Fluffy Cloud.”

“Right. Fluffy Cloud.”

Richard stroked the soft fur of the Giant Dungeon Hamster that spilled outside the saddle with his empty hand.

“Could this guy, larger than a horse, really sustain its bulk just by eating grass, fruit, and seeds?”

“A horse?”

“Cows and horses.”

“Is that so…?”

To survive in the limited ecosystem of dungeons, being omnivorous was inevitable. Still, Alicia seemed hesitant, trailing off her words.

“Well, cows and horses will eat plenty of meat if necessary, so it’s not that unusual.”

“…Eh? Grandpa is lying. Cows and horses are herbivores, aren’t they? You just said that.”

“Alicia has one misconception.”

Just as the serious truth that herbivores can survive solely on grass was about to be revealed, a soldier rushed in from the front.

“What’s the matter? I was having a good time here.”

“Your Grace the Baron. The Duke suggested it might be time for the princess to come inside the wagon.”

“You’re trying to rob a father of his only son’s joy! Not a chance!”

“Not a chance!”

Alicia, too, did not seem particularly eager to get inside the wagon and shouted along with Richard.

“Alicia will ride Fluffy Cloud a little longer!”

“Lady Popins said that’s enough and to come back now…”

“Ugh… uh… But I’m tired of the wagon now. It’s boring.”

The excitement of traveling was something that would ignite curiosity in a child like Alicia for only a day or two.

Considering all she could see was the repeating scenery of half-melted meadows and forests while stuck inside the wagon except for brief stops, it was no wonder.

Though enjoying new and delicious dishes and snacks every day was nice, it would only last for so long. Boredom quickly returned.

Alicia’s patience had reached its limit.

“Well, since Alicia says so, find an excuse for me.”

“Your Grace?”

Richard grinned as he stroked his well-groomed beard.

“Just in time, I also wanted to spend more time with our little cutie. I couldn’t see you last year, so this year I must make some time.”

“Is that so?”

“Popins will understand if I say this.”

No matter how strict the education overseer Popins was, there was no way she could force Richard, who wanted to spend time with his grandchild after two years, to do otherwise.

Most importantly, as Richard gestured for him to go, the soldier had no choice but to hurry back to the front of the caravan.

“Uh… Grandpa. But does Fluffy Cloud eat snacks too?”

“Of course! It would probably love them even more.”

In the wild, where calories directly correlate to survival, a noble’s snack packed with butter and sugar is a true delicacy.

There’s no way a Giant Dungeon Hamster would dislike that.

“So, does it eat jerky too?”

“Why? Are you wanting to offer this fellow a treat?”

“It’s not ‘this fellow’; it’s Fluffy Cloud.”

“Right. Fluffy Cloud.”

Seemingly satisfied with Richard’s correction, Alicia nodded and pulled out a small pouch from her pocket. It was a snack pouch stuffed with jerky and cookies.

Sizzle?

Fluffy Cloud, trotting along behind the caravan, perked up, turning its nose and snout as if detecting the scent of treats. Its thick, fluffy fur rippled.

“Indeed, it’s a hamster that can sniff out snacks well.”

“Eh, so Fluffy Cloud is a hamster?”

“Right. But that’s not what’s important now.”

“Ah, just wait a moment, Fluffy Cloud.”

Alicia extended a cookie towards Fluffy Cloud, which was staring at the pouch.

Nom—

The Giant Dungeon Hamster kept twitching its nose and snout. In a flash, its long tongue snatched the cookie. It devoured the snacks, emptying the pouch full of jerky and cookies before dropping its head once more.

“Was Fluffy Cloud really that hungry?”

“It stores a lot of food in its cheeks to eat when its home or surroundings are safe.”

“In cheeks? Hmm… I wanted to see it eating.”

Alicia sighed sadly as she continued petting its fur.

“Well, don’t worry. It’s almost dinner time, so the caravan should be stopping soon.”

“But Fluffy Cloud isn’t at home here.”

“Ha, with this grandfather around, how dangerous could it possibly be?”

As Richard said, the caravan did not stop long before it halted for the night.

*

*

*

Iceland is cold all year round.

Even during summer, the wind is chilly; spring is no exception. It had been quite a while since departing from Coldon, yet snow and cold still filled every direction.

During such times, what people sought was simple.

Hot, spicy, and rich broth.

It’s instinct.

As soon as the campsite was set up, the smoke and sparks from campfires ascended into the sky, and soon the spicy aroma of Fire Witch Finger mixed with the scent of rich broth spread out.

Karem was also preparing a greasy and spicy soup dish under Catherine’s orders in the kitchen tent.

“Jjamppong, huh? I’ve heard it a few times, but that’s quite a unique name.”

Not the style of any country in Europa, but an unusual name indeed.

Mary rolled and folded the dough while keeping an eye on the cuts of the giant Mimic’s flesh that Karem was preparing.

“But don’t you think we’re eating it a little too often?”

“Well, what can we do if the person themselves want to eat it?”

“Still, it seems a bit too frequent for a single menu.”

Ever since leaving the coastal cliffs, they had been eating it every day. In fact, not even one meal had gone by without it both morning and night.

“Don’t you think the giant Mimic we brought is noticeably dwindling? Maybe we should reduce the frequency.”

“Even so, if they want to eat it, it’s hard to tell them not to.”

“I can take out intestines and gallbladders.”

“Surely you wouldn’t do that.”

Mary sighed deeply as if resigned, but Karem opposed that opinion. At least he held tightly to the stomach.

“So, how about you? Is everything going well?”

“Want to take a look?”

“Let’s see your skills then.”

At those words, Mary scoffed and cut the dough into smaller pieces. The pieces of dough were quickly flattened by the rolling pin and soon covered the entire cutting board.

“Look at this.”

The dough was proudly lifted by both hands. The wide beige pastry was reflected in Mary’s impassive face on the other side.

“What do you think?”

“…I didn’t think it would fail at all, but now that I see it, I’m confused.”

“What do you mean?”

The paper-thin dough was layered onto a greased tray, smeared with butter.

“No matter how excellent your baking skills are, making it that skillfully just from a cookbook isn’t believable.”

“If you’re so jealous, you should’ve been reborn as a house fairy.”

“I don’t want to live a life addicted to work.”

“How pitiful, Karem, for not knowing the beauty of work.”

What nonsense is this person spouting?

In a daze at the first-ever absurdity he’d heard, Karem found himself grounded.

The thin dough continued to cover the tray.

“Karem, your hands have stopped.”

“What kind of nonsense are you talking about?”

“My brownies, all house fairies, likely feel the same way as I do. If you don’t understand the charm of work, it seems communication with the non-house fairies is futile.”

As more absurd remarks followed, Karem found himself rendered speechless once again, while Mary laid down a generous amount of pre-ground walnuts and pistachio powder onto the tray.

Then stacking pastries and buttering them, repeating until there was no more dough left.

As the light green pistachio powder disappeared, Mary picked up a knife and cut the dough into grids. She then drizzled hot butter on top.

“Ugh. I don’t get it. I’ll just keep cooking.”

“By all means.”

As the tray was placed into the preheated makeshift oven, Karem began frying vegetables in a pan.

Sizzle-sizzle-sizzle—

“So, about reducing Jjamppong, what have you thought for a substitute?”

“That’s the problem, really.”

Karem flipped the vegetables in the pan while pondering.

Ultimately, the chilly weather made them crave spicy, rich broth. Initially, he thought about making gamjatang (potato soup), but he didn’t have the most crucial ingredients: perilla seeds and perilla leaves.

“How about making meat stew with Fire Witch Finger and lots of bell peppers?”

Just last year, Fire Witch Finger was treated as a poison in this town, so there’s no Goulash. Perhaps there’s the original stew, though.

“With those two, it’d result in something bright red and spicy.”

“Adding tomatoes too for enhancing the umami.”

“That sounds pretty good.”

Mary paused in her syrup-making, narrowing her eyes as if imagining the taste.

Karem stir-fried the vegetables just enough to give them a smoky flavor before promptly tossing them into a pot along with the seaweed broth he had previously soaked.

He then placed the pot over the campfire.

“By the way, just with those pastries baking, the smell’s already to die for.”

“I can already imagine pouring that hot syrup. It’s hard to resist.”

“I’ve thought this for a while, but nations of the desert— huh?”

“F-Fluffy Cloud! No!!!”

A familiar voice squeaked loudly just as claws crawled into one segment of the tent.

Whoosh! Sizzle—

And then, with a single tearing motion, a furry snout burst into the tent.

Startled by the sudden intrusion of the unexpected guest, Karem and Mary were thrown into a fluster. The enormous Dungeon Hamster, ignoring its owner Alicia’s commands, had invaded the tent. Items that were neatly organized tumbled over.

“Ah! Karem, hello! Mary, hello! So, Fluffy Cloud! Calm down! No!”

“Good day, Princess Alicia. This— no, the oven—!”

Right after Fluffy Cloud bumped into the makeshift oven, Mary was sent rolling backward. The option to magically throw it away was impossible because of Alicia and the tent.

“…Ah, damn it. Jjamppong.”

“Is Jjamppong really the priority now?! Quick! Go call someone!”

“Alright, understood. Huh.”

Mary was evidently holding back the enormous Giant Dungeon Hamster that was clearly larger than herself.

It was likely using house fairy magic.

Karem was about to step outside the tent for help, but then he saw a colossal figure stepping through the opened flaps and halted.

“What’s happening here—”

The strongest being in Iceland.

Richard Felwinter entered.

Sizzle—!

“Fluffy Cloud! No! Listen to Alicia! The smell of butter may be sweet, but the oven is hot!”

“At this point, the Giant Dungeon Hamster just…”

“Not you too, Mary!”

Even though the supreme predator entered, Fluffy Cloud, enchanted by the treat Alicia had given it, had completely lost itself in the aroma wafting from the oven.

“Um… Your Grace the Baron. Could you lend a hand?”

“Well. It’s simple enough.”

Upon Karem’s request, Richard strode boldly into the chaotic kitchen tent.

Sizzle! Sizzle—

“If the owner hasn’t given permission, you shouldn’t just use your front paws like that.”

Thunk.

Then Richard lightly bopped Fluffy Cloud on the head.

But for the massive creature, it was anything but light.

Thud-!

“Woob.”

The indeterminate impact rocked Fluffy Cloud’s head from within, and the colossal creature collapsed onto Mary, burying her in the process.

“…Grandpa killed Fluffy Cloud!”

“No, we’ll just say Fluffy Cloud… um, right. Has taken a little nap—”

“I hate you, Grandpa!”

Richard Felwinter is the strongest in Iceland.

To become that way, Richard has overcome countless enemies and endured innumerable battles to hold his ground even in old age.

Injuries were no surprise to Richard.

From minor scrapes to serious wounds.

However, the words from Alicia just now…

That single phrase from Alicia struck Richard more painfully than all the beasts, monsters, and other entities he had ever faced.

“I hate you, Grandpa!”

“Ahhhh—!”

Even Karem, who had been watching in silence, felt his heart fall, and Richard collapsed on the spot, clutching his chest.

Richard had fallen.

His vision turned dark.

Sugar, salt, and flour swirled aimlessly.

Within the chaotic kitchen tent, Mary managed to struggle out from under the giant fluffball, quickly glancing around in a panic to check the baklava she’d placed in the oven.

“…It feels like my heart’s breaking, but I can’t eat this.”

“Huh? What happened? Oh… you’re right.”

It looked as if it had been shaken, covered in soot as if someone had generously sprinkled pepper.

 

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