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“Ugggh! I’m so stiff.”

Catherine returned to her private room in the tower, dragging her exhausted body along.

Her hair was a mess, not even having been tidied, and she slumped in her chair like a cat whose limbs had been all tied up.

And in that position, she stretched her arms and legs, yawning widely.

Over the past few days, tasks had relentlessly fallen upon Catherine.

No, to be precise, it all started with the wagon returning to Winterhome.

In fact, she had already anticipated it from Blackwood Village.

Specifically, when Karem created a dessert with vanilla, she had a hunch, and when Iona asked her for refining, she was convinced.

Her lord was busy moving for the prosperous Iceland.

There was no way Alfred would miss out on the revolutionary spice called vanilla.

Unless it required sophisticated magic or alchemy to refine.

What she did was merely spread the vanilla refining recipe to the wizards under her command and share some precautions.

Teaching that to her subordinates, as per Iona’s wishes, was their job.

Of course, if that were the only thing, she wouldn’t be this tired.

Compared to the workload bomb from last autumn and winter, this was merely laughable.

Catherine also had to prepare for the appointment ceremony.

If it had simply been a regular appointment ceremony, she wouldn’t have needed to be involved. Just the subject, a few witnesses, and some knights would have sufficed, along with Alfred to receive the subject’s loyalty.

But this was the appointment ceremony of a wandering mercenary swordmaster.

She couldn’t let it end casually, considering other people’s gazes.

Catherine understood that.

After all, if the ceremony were shabby and the subject felt dissatisfied and left, Alfred would be the one to suffer.

Moreover, this wasn’t an ordinary knightly appointment.

It was for a baron. Moreover, they were preparing to confer a title along with territory.

Yet, if the subject was a swordmaster, what could she say?

The only complaint was that the swordmaster in question was Gordon, who was brimming with thoughts of making light of the Grand Wizard’s prestige.

Even though it was a title conferral, it was barely anything worth putting her heart into, without the grandeur of a large festival like Wintersend.

Still, she had to check the leftover Flour Orbs (as Karem called the fireworks) from Wintersend, and also inspect the various magic tools to be used in the ceremony.

But then it hit Catherine.

Such menial labor was not something a Grand Wizard like her should do.

However, her subordinates who should take care of such things had long since left the castle to train.

Right now, only three people could be called to check.

Her, Olivier, and Prince Robin.

Even with Olivier’s reprimand over having to do such things at her age this time, Catherine had no words to defend herself.

At least Robin was blissfully naive, thinking of it all as training.

“If I’d known it would be like this, I should’ve made them do it. Well, at least it’s a relief that it’s not grandiose and is going ahead in the Great Hall during dinner time.”

Anyway, after two days, she finally welcomed a moment of rest.

Compared to the back-to-back all-nighters from last year and the beginning of this year, it was ridiculous to consider this work exhausting, but tired she was nonetheless.

By the way, she craved a snack.

The little one was probably in the kitchen—

Ah.

“Speaking of which, they said the little one seems to have turned to religion lately.”

During the all-nighter, Catherine hadn’t had time to see Karem.

However, through Mary, who came to deliver the lunch Karem made, she was able to catch a glimpse of recent happenings.

Unless something special was going on, he’d just been spinning around the tower, the castle’s kitchen, and the warehouse.

Adding suddenly that a temple had been set up within the stronghold?

Moreover, he immediately returned to the tower to get holed up somewhere.

She heard from Mary that he had been visiting every few days with various dishes.

“Hmm, is he having some sort of dilemma?”

For a moment, Catherine felt it was irritating.

If he had a concern, he should tell the master first.

To rush to a third party (though it’s generally a place for concerns) like that was absurd.

“Well, rather than all this, I suppose I have no choice but to go ask him directly.”

Coincidentally, she wanted a snack too.

Like a cat melting in the sun, Catherine swiftly pulled herself up, rising quickly and darting out of her private room.

Just moments ago, her body had been weary, but the thought of a snack injected energy into her brain, temporarily paralyzing her fatigue.

“Hmm, hmm, hmm~♪”

Without meaning to, Catherine hummed a little tune.

It was annoying that he hadn’t opened up about his worries.

Still, Karem undeniably contributed positively.

The dishes delivered to her whenever she pulled an all-nighter.

At first, she felt uneasy to hear he had innovatively adapted the fire witch finger into a new tomato product, but much to her surprise, they were all exceptionally delicious.

Who would have thought that simply stacking tomatoes and cheese and drizzling olive oil and balsamic vinegar would taste so good?

Yet, what Catherine appreciated most wasn’t the cooking but rather the subsequent snacks.

And these weren’t just any snacks.

They were upgraded versions of the desserts she had previously eaten.

“Was it Castoss? Could it be that he’s cooking Castellan again?”

Castoss.

Originally delicious Castellan, coated in egg batter, tossed in syrup, and rolled in sugar, all bite-sized.

It had the unmistakable sweetness and savory crunch that melted through her tired brain.

Of course, if Karem heard this, he would recall his previous life and insist it’s not Castoss but Casdos. However, Karem wasn’t here, and as far as Catherine was concerned, Karem’s naming sense had fallen out of favor long ago.

“How can the cooking be so perfect while the naming skill is so…”

Still, Catherine was broad-minded in her understanding.

After all, with his age…

The shortcomings of a subordinate could always be complemented by the master.

Normally, the tower would be filled with the sounds of minor explosions and sizzling from various experiments.

Now, as she descended the eerily quiet steps of the empty castle, Catherine suddenly realized.

“Oh, it shouldn’t be snack time yet.”

She paused briefly but continued down the steps.

No matter how pristine and youthful her appearance might be, she was an adult.

Having surpassed her childhood long ago, this ‘fucking’ adult had every right to indulge in snacks whenever she wanted.

Of course, with that privilege came responsibility, but who really cared?

She wasn’t the type to gain weight!

If the subjugated wizards had been there, especially the women like Narque, they would have been weeping tears of blood just thinking about how casually Catherine approached the kitchen.

And then—an unmistakable whiff of scent.

“Ugh!?”

A smell that defies description brushed by.

“What, what is this!?”

And moments from the past flashed through Catherine’s mind.

Garem, Fire Witch Finger, Grizzly Beaver vanilla!

What on earth had he been up to while she was away? Was he conducting another suspicious experiment!?

However, the source of the smell wasn’t the kitchen.

Nor was it Karem’s room.

As she moved deeper down the hallway, the smell intensified.

When it dawned on her that it was coming from the empty storage room that nobody used, she could no longer hold back.

Catherine lightly channeled magic into her fingertips and waved it in the air.

The surrounding magic gathered like a spell woven into the air.

It formed a barrier and enveloped her nose.

After adjusting her handkerchief, Catherine gently touched her nose.

Although it was a half-hearted attempt, she verified that the magic had worked properly and headed towards the source of the smell.

And as she got closer, her anger and bewilderment exploded within her.

The numbness spell had worked perfectly.

Yet, what on earth was this odd taste that lingered on her tongue with every breath…?

Just how powerful was this smell that it was detectable by taste, even at such a distance?

Despite that, the taste on her tongue wasn’t all that bad.

If she had to describe it, hmm… how would she put it? Yes.

A savory essence endlessly condensed with a hint of acidity?

“Alright, here goes.”

Without waiting any longer, Catherine burst through the door.

The first thing that caught her eye was a room filled with dark-stained cloth, a large basin smeared with black liquid, and a single wooden barrel sealed among heaps of straw.

And there, seated in the center of the room, was Karem.

Clutching the Oak of Abundance, Karem held in his hands a brown mass dotted with green, emerging white mold and bound in straw.

No, looking closely, it wasn’t just one.

Brown lumps covered in white mold.

They were stacked neatly behind a pile of straw.

Clang!

The subtle magic she placed over her nose snapped back.

Having activated it lightly, she couldn’t overcome the overwhelming stench.

And with a gentle rebound that rattled her senses—

“….Ughhh—”

Stumble—thud!

For an instant, Catherine almost lost her mind.

Finally managing to move her suddenly limp legs and arms, she steadied herself, clenching her teeth.

This smell.

It was rather a familiar one.

“A-Ata…nitas?”

The pain deepens when expectations are shattered.

With the anticipation of a delightful dessert dashed, two flames blazed in Catherine’s eyes.

*

After a chaotic situation ensued.

Having chased away the lingering metallic odor with various magic tools and spells, the foul smell still faintly remained within the room, and Catherine shook her head.

Then, glaring at Karem, who was kneeling and trembling with raised arms, she scolded.

“Good. Unlike last time, at least you’re standing straight this time.”

“I-I won’t make any pathetic excuses!”

In contrast to the time he was properly scolded by Catherine, Karem stood firm this time.

What he had going for him was that, at least, he didn’t feel wronged this time.

At least, not like that incident back in Fungusbee.

Back then, the chicken had just disappeared for some ‘mysterious’ reason, and that was indeed unfair.

This time, he acted with unwavering determination.

Despite his legs and arms trembling, the defiance in Karem’s gaze was far from pleasant for Catherine, who clicked her tongue.

“Seriously, when did all this start?”

“It’s been only a few days. It started the day before Ata…nitas was buried in work…”

“What? And this disaster emerged just from that little time?”

“There weren’t many successful attempts to begin with…”

What’s with this talk about successes and failures?

Catherine glared suspiciously at Karem and the abominable result(s), momentarily catching a whiff of a familiar odor.

Not the awful metallic odor, but rather a savory smell.

And a hint of something divine.

Could it be that all that white powder on the surface was all yeast?

“No, that’s not the point. Where’s Mary? She wouldn’t overlook such a terrible smell, would she?!”

“Er… I bought her off.”

“Bought her off? How on earth did you buy off a house fairy—ah, no way…”

“Yeah, well. It’s something Mary loves, obviously.”

Karem shrugged, still clutching his arms.

Catherine’s brows furrowed dangerously.

So, it wasn’t bait to satisfy him for his late-night labor.

This whole ordeal took place just to hush Mary over his pungent experiment?

Any fondness she had entertained over Karem evaporated in an instant.

Disappointment flared up inside her.

But why did she feel disappointed about such trivial matters?

No, before that.

“What on earth is this white yeast-coated monstrosity?!”

“Uh, it’s boiled peas mashed together with flour and yeast, fermented right. It’s called Meju.”

“Fermentation? But it hasn’t even been a few days?!”

“Fermentation inherently takes a long time. Fortunately, I had something that could speed it up a hundredfold—”

“The Oak of Abundance?”

“Yep. These are what remain after throwing away dozens upon dozens of failures until I hit upon a successful batch. The results are inside that barrel.”

“No way. With a smell this dreadful… how?”

Catherine had a sudden realization.

Just as she hadn’t been in the tower for several days, all the wizards—including Narque—had left the tower to learn the vanilla extraction process as well.

Given that there was one person left in the tower—not counting the house fairy, who had willingly been bribed to indulge in extravagant desserts in his absence—it was hardly surprising that Karem felt no restraint.

Karem shook his head and shrugged again.

“It’s not that big a deal. The failed products stunk worse than this, and fortunately, Mary tidied them up. She hasn’t come today yet.”

“If those things aren’t failures, what are they?!”

“They’re actually successful products.”

“….Alright. For now, I’ll settle the score with Mary later.”

“Hey! You will change your mind after tasting the results. How about a taste?”

“What? The results?”

Karem seized the opportunity and straightened up, stretching his stiff limbs.

He hadn’t even been sufficiently punished yet, but he jumped up without his master’s permission, and Catherine was affronted.

However, Karem was faster.

Pock!

The lid popped open.

 

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