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Game.

If beings with intelligence exist, there are several symbols representing games created to alleviate boredom throughout the ages.

Chess is represented by a checkered board.

Gambling is represented by dice and cards.

Crossword puzzles are like encyclopedias.

Not only humans enjoy games. For example, dolphins create and pass bubble rings to each other.

As time has progressed, humans have invented virtual reality, producing countless scenarios that they could never dare to act out in reality, immersing themselves in stories and gameplay.

What could be the symbols of such numerous games?

As the number of users has increased with each passing generation, opinions may vary greatly, but one interface is necessary to play all types of games.

Status Window.

A gauge that objectively displays the status and situation of a character controlled by the player.

The data and form may differ depending on the game played.

However, any modern individual who has enjoyed games at least once cannot be unaware of the Status Window.

Karem knew it well.

Thus, he was even more horrified.

“Even though it’s coming from beyond the door, it was clearly heard.”

The Status Window is a symbol of gaming.

However, it was not solely for games.

As games, which used to be shadowy culture, have come to light, novels have been the first to reinterpret them, followed by numerous other media.

And as far as Karem knows, if an entity can utter the words “Status Window” into thin air, there’s only one possible conclusion.

Reincarnator.

Didn’t Catherine say it?

Possessors, reincarnators, past-life holders, and likewise, though few, surely exist or will exist.

“Weren’t heroes who defeated demon lords also reincarnators?”

Fitzgerald, was it? The name was so striking that the five letters were vividly engraved in his mind.

Realizing this fact, Karem…

“Hmm. A reed stuffed with filling.”

“It’s rather modest compared to its taste and appearance, right?”

“…Given the contractor’s reaction, I think it might be better to have another name.”

He didn’t particularly do anything.

For now, that is.

Trying to find out who it was would only raise suspicion on the involved party; the pile of cannoli before him was of greater importance. If fate and opportunity allowed, they would come looking.

“Let’s just call it ‘cannolo’ in singular and ‘cannoli’ in plural.”

“I must firmly refuse that.”

Regardless of the Status Window, he had only eaten it once in his past life.

This was the second time tasting the Italian dessert, and it was delicious.

As he bit into the perfectly firm cylindrical dough, it shattered like the surface of a lake with a thin layer of ice.

The pleasure of directly destroying a delicate structure.

And the insides exploded.

The intense sweetness of caramel coated on both ends hit his tongue first, but then came the shift.

With each time he ate a cannolo, the taste transformed three times.

Karem knew their identity. After all, he made them himself.

Cannoli filled with whipped cream were incredibly light, almost like lifting a feather, and the taste was as light as eating a cloud.

In contrast, the weighty cream cheese left a lingering sensation on his palate, even when he consumed the crunchy crumbs.

Unlike the cream cheese, the rather heavier lemon custard had a clean aftertaste thanks to the sourness of the lemon.

To put it cheaply, it might resemble a crispy cream puff.

“By the way, Karem junior.”

“Yes?”

Mary tilted her head while holding the half-eaten cannolo that Catherine had.

“What was it that was nothing?”

“What do you mean?”

“You stepped out briefly when you were cooking.”

Mary handed the cannolo to Catherine as she gestured.

“When I peeked over your shoulder, I didn’t see anyone passing by in the hallway.”

Indeed, no one was in the hallway at that time. There was nothing to hide, and no one was in the room.

“No, it seems like there might be a reincarnator.”

“A reincarnator?”

Catherine lowered the cup containing Alraune’s Tear. She raised an eyebrow and looked at Karem.

“Are you talking about another reincarnator besides you? From your reaction, it seems that cannot be mistaken. Do you have a reason to be certain?”

“I distinctly heard the phrase ‘Status Window.'”

Catherine and Mary exchanged looks of confusion.

Mary seemed okay, but Catherine wouldn’t know?

Well, it was said that the number of reincarnators is very small. Even if one does possess a Status Window, there isn’t much reason to announce it all over the place.

…But how far should I explain this?

Curiosity began to sparkle in Catherine’s eyes.

Now he couldn’t just gloss over it casually.

Karem felt unsure of his explanations, but fortunately, Catherine seemed to internally organize the information well enough as her expression gradually twisted into something peculiar.

“An objective gauge… experience points… growth… Huh, such a thing exists?”

After hearing it all, Catherine sighed softly.

“Given your personality, I didn’t think you would, but you wouldn’t seriously think of looking for that reincarnator, would you?”

“Ah, of course not.”

Having already denied it before the answer even left his mouth, Karem waved his hands firmly.

“Besides, you said there’s no need for you to widely publicize it. You mentioned it would only invite unnecessary attention and danger.”

“True. Anyway, a Status Window, huh? It would be convenient to have.”

For sure, the Status Window would indeed be convenient.

To a modern person, the Status Window is a romance in itself, and even Karem, reincarnated, couldn’t help but be curious about how strong he could appear as a number.

But truthfully, it wasn’t the Status Window itself that fascinated him more; he was drawn to what came with it—skill trees, inventory screens, mini-maps, and such. It would be nice to have them, but he didn’t need them.

Unless he was in a combat role… No, wait a second.

It might be quite useful when researching cooking…

“I can’t understand the contractor and junior just like that. A Status Window, huh? If such a thing exists, it could lead to great risks in depending on those numbers and convenience.”

To hear such words from a house fairy addicted to work who doesn’t even utilize the magic they possess felt both meaningful and strange.

Just then, a loud cheer echoed from beyond the window. It wasn’t lively, but it felt like something was being shouted from the inner castle. There was a sense of joy, excitement, and expectation.

“Come to think of it, I believe you said it’s still not the Crystal Jubilee.”

“Yeah. It will take a fair bit of time.”

There wasn’t really much reason beyond that.

How much time did it take to prepare Wintersend?

Though now it commemorates the reign of Inamark Yeats, the current king, rather than a god, due to various reasons like fame, the king’s vigor, and popularity, it needed to be celebrated grandly.

He thought it would be a quiet time until then, but it was a misconception.

On the day of arrival, just after enjoying snacks and before it was even dinner, numerous servants and attendants began sending invitations from all directions.

As Mary let go, a plate that had been full of cannoli had now piled high with sealed letters. There were as many as the requests often flooding into the Mage Tower.

“What a total socially popular one you are.”

“That’s only natural. The contractor is currently the most renowned Grand Wizard among mages. There are bound to be people wanting to get acquainted.”

Mary, who brought more letters, added to the pile and began rummaging through the stack, examining the seals and senders.

“Yet, I suppose it’s still not worth going to meet them directly. Can we handle it the same way as always?”

“Yeah. The serious ones will probably come tomorrow.”

With Catherine’s gesture, Mary lifted the pile of letters on a tray and flung them into the fireplace with a snap of her fingers.

Fwoosh—

“Today’s my free time. I think I’ll check out the staff of the lake after a long while.”

“Where’s that?”

“The only Wizard Guild in Bendleig.”

Without delay, Catherine stood up from her seat.

“Shall we prepare immediately?”

“Yeah.”

As soon as Mary brought the robe, Catherine draped it over herself and gestured into the air. The staff that had been leaning against the wall flew into her grasp. Karem followed Catherine, staying beside Mary.

*

*

*

There were quite a number of people going out to the royal castle, but it seemed that Catherine’s identity was already somewhat known, and the attention gathered for a moment.

As Catherine entered the bustling inner castle, where people seemed to have come for the Crystal Jubilee, those gazes dispersed.

Only Catherine’s splendid staff, the Third Glory of Palatino, caught a fleeting glance.

The staff of the lake.

It was said to be the business place of the Wizard Guild they were heading to.

Honestly, it piqued his curiosity.

Like a guild of artisans, it was a guild where wizards specialized in selling various magic materials, magic tools, and appraising and crafting artifacts found in dungeons.

“Does it feel like the Adventurer Guild?”

“It does seem somewhat similar.”

Catherine, who was walking ahead, turned her gaze back at Karem and tapped the ground softly with her staff.

“However, unlike the Adventurer Guild, which is nominally connected, the Wizard Guild has a more traditional guild structure.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Just because it’s called a guild doesn’t mean they all share a common organization.”

Mary shrugged her shoulders slightly before continuing.

“Just like there are different artisan guilds in each town. You could view wizards as artisans dealing with magic.”

“And wizards are generally arrogant.”

Ah, that much was very well understood.

“…Karem, what kind of expression is that?”

“Nothing at all.”

“Given that expression, you seem to suggest that it’s true that the contractor and Sir Olivier are arrogant. Am I wrong?”

Mary’s assessment was exactly right.

But how did she know what I was thinking?

“I inferred it from the context of the conversation, atmosphere, and expressions.”

“Oh, so you’ve concocted such a wicked thought.”

“I love you.”

Cough— cough!

Catherine stumbled over the sudden confession of love, her foot twisting awkwardly.

‘This reckless boy just blurted it out here…!’

Her face twisted into a chaotic mix of anger from the unexpected assault and joy from the confession.

But Catherine had to suppress all those feelings.

“We have arrived at our destination.”

Karem was slightly awed by the large and magnificent building seated firmly in the center of the bustling district. While the surrounding buildings were comparable, the Wizard Guild’s structure stood the tallest and most splendid.

“So, do you have plans to purchase anything?”

“…For now, I plan to browse a bit.”

Unlike the two who naturally entered through the glamorous entrance that the gatekeeper opened, Karem felt a strange excitement immediately upon entering.

‘…It has a department store vibe.’

Monsters, magic materials, magic tools, and relics were kept on various shelves and cases, with numerous wizards clad in robes carrying staffs wandering about.

“Were you impressed?”

Next to her, Mary, who was following Catherine, casually asked.

“Uhm.”

Not really?

That was to be expected; his past life was during the most affluent era in human history.

Everything felt fascinating, but that was it.

The department store he remembered had multiple floors, including a basement, offering thousands of product types, along with various leisure facilities such as theaters, swimming pools, and arcades, accommodating thousands at a time.

Compared to that, the Wizard Guild of the lake felt merely intriguing, lacking an overwhelming sensation.

The number of patrons?

At that moment, only dozens of customers were on the first floor.

Yet, all the products within this magical department store were all items he had previously only encountered in games and novels.

In that regard.

“Yes. It’s certainly fascinating.”

Catherine and Mary were surprised by his unexpectedly lackluster response, realizing it was more due to his past life and understanding rather than disappointment.

 

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