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The Afterglow Fortress was noisier than I had ever imagined.

Of course, that was to be expected.

I mean, if it wasn’t noisy, that would be a problem in itself.

After all, the expedition team had returned.

And not just any team, but the vassal lord’s main expedition team.

And when an expedition team returns, there’s only one thing that’s bound to happen.

A banquet.

A time for those who struggled to relieve their fatigue and honor their fallen comrades.

Mountains of meat stacked high and endless dishes pouring forth.

Barrels of alcohol piled up to the point where the entire city could drown in it.

Celebrating those who accomplished great deeds and wishing for their safe return…

But right now, there was no time for that.

Not even a moment to rest.

“Where is the ballista that was here!”

“The fortress is fine for now, so the guards should return to Present!”

“Oil! How many barrels are stocked in the fortress? You don’t know? Quickly find out!”

The city located at the northernmost point of Iceland.

Undead hordes were slowly approaching from Present.

But the fortress wasn’t exactly taking it easy either.

“Damn, a horde? No, it’s not just a horde. An undead army is approaching! Battle stations! Highest alert!”

“Understood, my lord!”

Undead were also gathering beyond the mountain range.

Numerous creatures had perished under the law of survival of the fittest.

Creatures that had once been alive.

If that were all, the situation wouldn’t be dire.

The daily life at Afterglow Fortress was a continuous cycle of expeditions, battles, and regrouping.

With the speed of at least once a year. At most, every few years.

There had been many moments more dangerous than this one.

But this time was different.

We had confirmed that an army was rising and who was leading it.

There was a command structure in place.

To compare the undead horde approaching from Present would be an insult.

It truly resembled an army.

Typically, battles at Afterglow Fortress revolved around defending against monstrous hordes that came without regard for cooperation.

And it ended by either breaking the endless momentum of the horde, or the horde retreating satisfied with the corpses created from their initial charge, or by wiping them all out to the last.

The third scenario was precisely the case with the undead.

And it was the easiest kind of defense.

Natural undead might come in hordes, but they could not threaten the fortress.

However, if the undead were raised and controlled by someone, the story changed.

Undead are tireless.

They can rise again even when broken.

But what’s even more burdensome is the fact that those who die on the battlefield may rise again and attack their former comrades.

A well-ordered army that obeys the commander’s orders without feeling fear, pain, or compassion, and without a single doubt.

“Phew, have I given all the urgent commands?”

“Yes, my lord. I will control the command room. How about you take a rest? When the undead arrive, you won’t have time to rest.”

“Yeah. Then I’ll leave the rest to you. Call me if something urgent comes up.”

The walls and shelves of the vassal lord’s office situated in the middle layers of Afterglow Fortress were mostly adorned with various weapons, monster trophies, and animal skins.

Richard, the owner of it all, lounged in a massive seat as he reached for a bucket piled high with Fried Chicken.

“It’s a bit embarrassing in front of my son’s subordinates, but I’ll ask for your understanding. According to Wallace, it’s a priority to take a bit more time to rest.”

“There’s no need to be modest.”

“Really?”

Half-buried in an oversized guest sofa, Catherine replied.

Well, if you excluded Gordon, Mary was in a similar state.

Even Karem was essentially invisible aside from his hands, feet, and face.

Richard widened his eyes and stroked his beard. Then he picked up a chicken leg and chomped down until only the bone was left.

Chomp, crunch. Munch-munch—gulp.

“Now, let’s get to the main topic.”

“Since you called my party, it seems what you desire is—”

“Right. I’m asking for cooperation, just in case.”

As Richard mumbled through his food, he snapped his fingers and fried batter flew into the air.

“I’m not keen on making use of guests, but this is an unprecedented situation. Not to mention, the fortress isn’t fully equipped right now.”

“By the way, what happened to the expedition team from Highland? They haven’t been wiped out, have they?”

Gordon asked while reaching for Fried Chicken and Tiramisu piled on the guest table.

“I believe not. I just sent out crows a moment ago, so I don’t know their situation yet.”

Richard, having cleanly eaten to the bone, pointed with the chicken leg at Catherine and Karem.

“The Grand Wizard and the Swordmaster. Quite formidable individuals, I hear. I’ll duly compensate you, so please lend us that power when needed.”

“We’re also in a situation of isolation, so we can’t help that. But…”

“Hm? Is there something strange?”

Catherine raised one eyebrow.

“Your request seems quite… lenient?”

“Lenient?”

“Given the atmosphere, I expected you to ask for full cooperation. Was I mistaken?”

“Ah, I see what you mean.”

Richard lifted his head to look at Catherine, tossed the bone toward the fireplace, and waved his hand.

“I did ponder that for a moment, but I can’t just exploit a guest sent by my son. And indeed, I’m keeping my secret weapon for shoving it into the enemy’s belly until the very end.”

And like a predator waiting to pounce, he snatched a leg.

“I’ll strike with surprise.”

“Wow, a Grand Wizard fully prepared to unleash magic at any moment.”

Karem accidentally mumbled at the count’s response.

Just the thought of it was terrifying.

He understood Catherine’s strength well.

A light movement. Binding a mammoth with shadowy arrows, causing localized weather anomalies accompanied by physical effects, and even countering breath attacks head-on?

What would she do against a human-like strategic weapon?

“Just give it enough time to prepare and launch when opportunity arises?”

The mere imagination sent chills down his spine. Gordon and Mary, who had been listening nearby, seemed to shudder as well.

“Still, when to act is up to you. We can’t know how the situation will progress. But…”

Richard, wiping fried batter off his beard, raised an eyebrow.

“I’m sorry I didn’t notice earlier since you were small and concealed by Sir Stark’s body. Is that Atanitas’ servant over there?”

“He is my personal cook. He also doubles as a servant in public.”

“Hmmm? Wait a moment. Your personal cook?”

Richard, who had been chewing on the meat between chicken pieces with indifference, paused.

Then, spitting the bone into the bin, he rose.

“If it’s a young personal cook, that would be Sir Karem, right?”

“…Yes. I am Karem, the personal cook of Sir Atanitas. To Lord Richard—”

“Oh, don’t stand up. You’re a guest and an honored one at that. Please, relax.”

Richard awkwardly pulled Karem, who was about to stand up for a greeting, back down to sit.

…Catherine just calls him by his title, but adds honorifics for me?

Karem’s body trembled involuntarily out of unease.

“Oh, right. This isn’t it.”

He sprang up from his chair, rummaged behind it for a while, and came back with a fairly thick hardcover book, striding toward the guest table.

Specifically, toward Karem.

“Please sign here inside.”

“Hik! Yes?”

The unexpected request combined with the added honorific and the palpable pressure caused Karem to involuntarily stutter.

“Sign. Uh, do you mean a signature?”

“Right. A signature. If you don’t have one, just leave your name. Ah, is there no quill?”

“Um, quill. Quill. Ah.”

Swoosh—Karem received the quill that Mary subtly offered and dipped it into the ink bottle she provided. He was able to see the title written inside the hardcover as he scrawled his signature.

“Treasures of Chef Karem, the Young Culinary Genius…?”

“Right. This book compiles the recipes you’ve developed.”

“I don’t recall making such a thing.”

“Well, no wonder.”

Huff—huff, blowing to dry the ink in one go, Richard closed the book with satisfaction.

“This is something I had custom-made.”

“Ha? A special order?”

This time it was not Karem who was flabbergasted.

Catherine, munching on the Tiramisu that Mary had offered, looked shocked.

Not just her, but Mary and Gordon also wore expressions as if they couldn’t understand what they were hearing.

Richard laughed wickedly, ignoring the astonished gazes from the guests.

“Muahaha, once the gods visit, I’ll have something to brag about. At least those with Sir Karem’s signature will be a rare find aside from me.”

“Okay, now this is becoming seriously burdensome.”

Karem couldn’t hide his shock.

Thanks to the numerous servants at Afterglow Fortress, including Steward Wallace and Chief Cook Borgo, he realized he was gaining celebrity chef status in Highland.

He understood it to some extent.

But then, for that vassal lord and those deities? If deities are involved, does that mean influential figures like chieftains or barons are also included? Huh?

“Oh, by the way. I almost forgot.”

“…Contractor? You mean regarding the quasi-contract?”

“That’s for later, once the situation is resolved. This is something much more personal.”

Mary’s question was soon answered. Catherine pulled out a bundle of letters tied with a small knot from her coat pocket.

“Lord Richard, letters from your family.”

“What? Alicia sent a letter!!!”

Richard threw the beloved hardcover book into the bookshelf with force and rushed over, stopping abruptly. He carefully received the letter, cautious of any potential damage.

And without caring about the guests’ gazes, he tore the knot in one go, reading the name on the letter while flipping through it frantically.

“Alfred. Next. Godwin. Next. William? Robin? Why so many letters!”

The confusion on Richard’s face turned to delight only when he picked up the last letter from the bundle. Like a bear finding honey.

“Ah, there it is at the end. Our lovely Alicia!”

His initial image had completely transformed. Karem cast a lukewarm glance at Richard, who was reaching for the Fried Chicken.

Richard, towering over warriors flaunting their deadly prowess while wearing checkered knee skirts, truly looked astounding.

At least Sir Giant Churchill resembled a human.

If legendary divine generals like Einherjar exist, would they resemble this?

Moreover,, his main weapon, a dragon-head hammer, looked so enormous that one could question if a human could realistically wield it. The hammer’s end was larger than Karem curled up.

Such a being was now showering kisses on a letter right in front of him.

Well, every grandfather wishes to be doted upon by their youngest grandchild.

But…

What should I say?

“He seems a bit… airheaded.”

“Shh. Bold as brass.”

“Agreed.”

As Gordon pressed his finger to his lips to caution him, Karem immediately shut his mouth.

Fortunately, lost in the letters, Richard didn’t seem to have heard.

“…I just can’t watch this anymore.”

However, even Catherine seemed to nod in agreement slightly.

“He seems to be distracted. I should probably talk about the quasi-contract later when the opportunity arises. Let’s go.”

“Um, is it alright to leave just like this?”

“Do you think that man is paying attention to anything else right now?”

Catherine said that while pointing at Richard, still showering kisses on the letter.

Karem, Mary, and Gordon immediately understood and grabbed the basket of chicken and Tiramisu from the table.

Bang!

The office door swung open as if it was about to break.

“Richard! You bastard! Sir Karem is here!? Oh, are there other guests as well? Pardon my intrusion.”

A plump, but robust elderly man with a checkered knee skirt fluttering like a dangerous flag hurried in.

So it’s another warrior in a skirt. But really, Tutatis, what’s with the skirt?

I could not get used to such an appearance and the dangerously hidden absolute territory.

Right in front of my eyes lies a pair of massive legs—

Karem felt his mind going blank.

 

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