---

The day after a spontaneous purchase and a light date, Catherine’s schedule became as busy as she had mentioned.

Unlike the mountain of invitations that were ruthlessly burned by Mary on the day of arrival, the invitations delivered from dawn were unavoidable for even those who might have turned a blind eye. The schedule was coordinated by Mary.

“Counts and below have been made flat.”

In other words, the hosts of the invitations must be people that Catherine couldn’t just burn without a second thought.

Karem did not follow the busy Catherine around. After all, someone had to ensure that Catherine and her escort, Mary, were fed.

Of course, if one mentioned it in the Royal Kitchen, meals and snacks would come pouring out, but as previously noted, even ordering those meals would delay their arrival significantly.

For Karem, this was good news.

Or rather, it wasn’t particularly good at all.

“I’ve got enough on my plate already.”

Thanks to this, Karem’s daily life, while Catherine and Mary were away, was simple and dreary compared to the bustle in Winterhome.

“You’re here again today.”

“Weren’t you taking a break?”

Perhaps that’s why Karem had become quite accustomed to such remarks, to the point of deducing rank or position. Going by this logic, he must be at least a count.

“Your lordship mentioned personally arranging meetings and coordinating schedules, you know.”

Catherine, seated at the table, seemed to find it all bothersome, leaning sideways as if about to topple. She accepted the snacks Mary offered her.

Today’s snack was Bersengzeto Cookies.

Otherwise known as Florentine Cookies.

However, these were not made by Mary. Karem had received them as a gift from Lumierecks, the head chef of the Royal Kitchen.

“Directly from Your Grace? Couldn’t be a count. So, who’s the counterpart?”

“Beregreen Forester.”

“Hmm… and who might that be?”

“The Duke of Mirkwood.”

Catherine, who appeared to find everything tedious, had Mary respond in her stead.

“I planned to refuse all invitations today, but since your lordship set this up and the other party is a duke, coupled with pleading letters, it’s hard to say no.”

“Should have been easygoing in Winterhome… hmm.”

Karem instinctively closed his mouth. Since the autumn of the year before last, Catherine’s life had been summarized by overnight shifts and overtime.

“No need to bring those times back up.”

Yet, feeling embarrassed for his stammering, Karem grabbed a snack filled with caramel and nuts. It crunched delectably.

“Why stop mid-sentence?”

“Nothing. So it’s your first invite from the duke, right?”

“Well, now that I’ve just arrived, yes. You do remember the warnings, right?”

“Always greet everyone first, and keep quiet until the other person speaks. You’ve told me countless times.”

“Yes, you remember well.”

Aside from that, Catherine’s warnings continued. Karem heard those warnings daily. Well, it had only been a few days since his arrival.

Regardless, Karem, concerned due to her warnings, engraved Catherine’s advice firmly in his mind once again.

“Knowing you’re worried and nagging, I assume you’re not thinking about anything else.”

“Advice?”

Karem blinked, halting in chewing on an almond coated with caramel that had fallen onto his plate. Mary spoke up while Catherine munched on cookies.

“The Duke of Mirkwood is the most representative wizard born with a golden spoon. He was expected to become the youngest Grand Wizard and sage even before the Contractors.”

“Oho…”

“But at some point, he stagnated and now seeks teachings. He’s said to be a permanent Grand Wizard.”

“…Hmm? Permanent?”

Even though he wasn’t on the level of sages like Catherine or Olivier, he was still a Grand Wizard. The permanence wasn’t a mark of talent.

“Well, you can ignore much of anything related to magic, but he is a high noble of the same rank as your lord.”

“Hard to refuse then.”

“Good luck with that.”

“Understood.”

The counterpart was, after all, a Grand Wizard. Moreover, it was Alfred, Catherine’s lord, personally arranging the meeting. This was effectively an invitation from the duke.

Accommodating Catherine’s schedule felt a bit excessive.

Perhaps the next level was crucial.

While lost in thoughts, Karem found his plate empty. Catherine seemed to be preparing to meet Duke Forester, rising from her seat.

“May I suggest dinner menus before you go?”

“Hmm. I can’t think of anything in particular. I’ll leave it to the chef’s recommendation.”

“Received your challenging order well.”

Karem saw off Catherine, accompanied by Mary, and immediately dove into his own room—right next door—falling onto the bed.

There was plenty of time until dinner.

Even the unknown night felt further away.

Had it been Winterhome, he would have had plenty to do, but here, it was not Winterhome but Winchester Castle located in Bendleig.

Karem’s cooking class was temporarily suspended due to the absence of his sole student, William. From what he gathered, he seemed to be wandering around with Godwin, following Alfred. They had discussed resuming regular cooking classes starting tomorrow.

Lying on the bed, Karem turned to the outside, where through the balcony window, he spotted the gloomy sky. Below unfolded the view of the inner and outer castles, with the coliseum and Grand Sanctuary of Seophone standing out prominently.

And amidst the slightly humid wind wafted an intriguing scent of creature meat sizzling away.

“Come to think of it, it’s been quite a while since I last made an offering.”

Back in Coldon, he offered meals regularly to the Three Gods, but since joining the caravan and arriving in Bendleig, he hadn’t made a single offering.

But it felt daunting to go to the Grand Sanctuary of Seophone in the distance. Unless accompanied by a guide or companion, venturing to such a gigantic structure alone would be a bit bothersome.

Suddenly, he caught sight of the salamander egg preservation system he had impulsively bought for barbecue and left in a corner.

“…Hmm, the barbecue will have to wait… did I put the Portable Shrine in the wardrobe?”

Barbecue takes time after all.

Rolling off the bed, Karem opened the wardrobe.

Though it was called a Portable Shrine, it was nothing grand compared to the ample altar reserved in Afterglow Fortress.

A collapsible case that opened on both sides. Inside was a simple engraving of the Three Gods. A souvenir-like object that tourists might buy.

It had been stuffed away amidst the clutter, so it was surprising it remained intact.

As Karem turned his body, he froze.

The cause lay outside on the balcony.

Caw-caw!

A black crow resembling the night sky and a pure white owl representing a winter wonderland perched on the balcony railing. He didn’t know since when.

Suddenly!

Next to the white owl, a giant eagle landed. It was so enormous that it seemed it could easily catch a child by each leg.

The owl and eagle were unfamiliar.

But the crow was all too familiar.

Above all, a divine power emanated from the three birds.

“…Traveler?”

The words slipped out of Karem’s lips unconsciously as the crow… transformed traveler nodded, spreading its wings.

Flap!

As the black wings brushed against him, the white owl whacked the crow’s head with its wing.

Despite the difference in shape and situation, it reminded him of the two gods he was familiar with. If his guess was right… No, this wasn’t the time.

“Then that eagle must be… well, come on in, all of you. What’s so pressing?”

As Karem opened the window, startled at the sudden flapping, the crow, eagle, and owl promptly settled on his shoulders and head.

[It’s been a long time since we met directly.]

The voice was clearer than when he had heard it in dreams. Above all, hearing a voice he had encountered in the sanctum solidified Karem’s conviction.

“My apologies, Lady Skadi.”

He started with an apology.

[More importantly, haven’t you taken your sweet time recalling?]

“No, but we were in the middle of a caravan—”

[You! Stop arguing with me. That isn’t important right now. Fold your wings!]

[Ah, right indeed.]

The white owl that was Skadi folded her fluttering wings at the eagle’s deep voice.

“Actually, it’s good that you remembered. This came at a good time; I’m a bit hungry.”

With them around, it wouldn’t be needed anymore. Karem reached back into the wardrobe to put the Portable Shrine back inside.

[No, take it out again.]

“Lord Tutatis?”

[The lady atop your head was quite insistent that we take what we’ve missed out on—]

[You!]

Hoo-hoo!

Caw-caw!

The balance had already been tricky, but as Skadi and Tutatis flapped their wings on his head and one shoulder, Karem felt himself wobble dangerously.

“Please calm down! Ugh, my neck and shoulder are about to snap!”

Caw-caw! Caw-caw!

Struggling not to topple over, Karem yelled that, and the two gods, realizing their antics, cleared their throats and folded their wings.

“Now… phew. Let’s start with chicken.”

[Cough. Alright then.]

Anxiety swept over Karem. With a crow, white owl, and a giant eagle larger than a child seated on him.

‘This is just perfect for attracting attention.’

Naturally, the attention drew… but it didn’t seem to be a worry when he stepped out of the room.

[You’ve just hidden your appearance behind the shadow, that’s all.]

Hearing the inquiries bubbling in his chest, Skadi’s voice reverberated in his mind.

“Then… is it you, Lady Skadi?”

[Not me. It was that nameless traveler with the horse-sickness.]

“Caw.”

The nameless traveler’s avatar on the left croaked quietly.

[Think it over in your heart. Your appearance remains intact.]

The servants and attendants passing through the corridors, halls, and stairs of Winchester Castle seemed to carry on with their tasks as if they couldn’t see the three divine avatars.

‘How intriguing.’

Karem clutched the Portable Shrine more tightly and slowed his steps.

If that was the case, there was no need to rush.

[Why are you taking your time? Hurry up!]

‘Understood.’

With such a majestic voice ordering him made Karem feel slightly drained, but anyway, since that was the case, he quickened his pace. He had almost reached his destination, so it didn’t take long to arrive.

Click! Creak! Bang!

“…Phew. Now, let’s settle down.”

As soon as Karem entered Lumierecks’s private chamber, he unceremoniously dropped the three gods onto the table. Especially, the eagle, Tutatis, who had been perched on his right shoulder, made it stiff.

“For now, there’s only monster and beast meat available in the kitchen, but I’ll make something similar to offer.”

[Cough. You can take your time.]

Even if they said this, Karem felt a bit pressured to keep the gods waiting. He pulled out some unidentified fruits he found from the kitchen and placed them before the three birds.

‘Whatever they are, I assume they’re edible if they’re from the kitchen.’

While the embodiments of the Three Gods pecked at the fruit, Karem immersed himself in assembling chicken in the somewhat awkward kitchen. He set a pot of oil on the cooking range and opened the storage compartment resembling a wardrobe.

“…Something like chicken. Something like chicken.”

Countless labels were written before the meat in the compartment.

As he brushed his fingers over each one, he halted.

“Wyvern.”

He distinctly recalled that the last time he ate it roasted, it tasted akin to chicken. If that was the case, he would choose it.

Karem pulled out a piece of wyvern meat whose cut he didn’t recognize and began slicing it.

*

*

*

Karem soon plated the wyvern chicken coated in soy garlic sauce on three plates.

‘Come to think of it, how do you all eat?’

The nameless traveler often visited himself and devoured meals cleanly. Well, he cleaned up everything, bones included.

Meanwhile, Karem realized that aside from the time spent in the divine realm, he’d never seen Skadi and Tutatis eat anything. He’d always been left with remains and empty dishes.

[Yeah. This time, I’ll agree with you. How on earth did that lady manage to eat anything tasteless until now?]

[…You. Eat all of this and return with an offering.]

The answer was simple.

The three gods began tearing into the wyvern chicken utilizing their talons and beaks, much like their avian forms.

Despite being hastily fried in a watery batter, thanks to the double frying for that crunch, the sound of crunching filled the air as they pecked through it.

What can I say…

‘The sight is quite… well.’

Karem was expecting something slightly different. Curiously or gracefully consuming food like the nameless traveler.

Crisp! Crunch! Crunch!

[Hmm? Why are you staring at us? Are you not going to eat that chicken?]

“…For now, I’ll let you all fill yourselves up. I’ll wait until you’re full to combine it with the offering. You may have this in the meantime.”

[Oh, that sounds good!]

By the way… it seemed the divine avatars, despite resembling birds, had a different jaw structure. Now that they were pecking at it, it seemed more like they were chewing than tearing it apart.

 

---