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The Crystal Jubilee festival, burying a bit of chaos and unexpected truths, lasted for a week.

However, Karem wasn’t just idly dating during that time.

When Catherine briefly stepped away due to royal duties, he secured a delivery contract for Henry’s Jajangmyeon with the Royal Kitchen. Along with some soy sauce and gochujang, of course.

But the Royal Kitchen, after all, is a place where people live. Considering the value of soy sauce, doenjang, and gochujang, there was always the possibility of them being siphoned away.

“Oh God! The day of your departure is approaching moment by moment. It truly saddens me.”

“So please, stop with the god talk already.”

“Even if you don’t believe yourself to be a god, I do, so it’s all good.”

So, he prepared Michael as an intermediary and overseer for the smooth delivery.

The reason he accepted was obvious, but there was no better person for preventing theft.

Although that overseer does tend to worship him face-to-face and also worships when he isn’t looking.

In addition, the royal event was entirely dull for Alicia, who barged in with Henry. Likewise, Godwin and William followed suit, equally bored.

And the incident occurred after the festival concluded successfully.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaah!!! Ari-! Yo! Yo! Aaaaaaaaah!”

“Our little lion. Be good now, Princess Alicia has to go home.”

“Begggggggggggg-!!!”

The first friend Henry ever made was leaving, and he began wailing as if witnessing the end of the world without having slept a wink.

Yet, leaving was not an option.

Eventually, Henry’s cries triggered Alicia’s tears as well, and it was only after Inamark and Alfred promised they would find a way to reunite that they could actually depart.

“What a tumultuous affair.”

Karem peered out the window. The capital city that had been visible just days ago was no longer in sight. Meanwhile, Karem’s hand rolled the rune stone given by Wales in his palm.

“So.”

With a sigh, Karem closed the window. Catherine had momentarily vacated her seat on Alfred’s wagon, leaving only the two of them inside.

“In the end, which part of the dragon will the meat come from—”

“I received the tail.”

“Not any other part, but the tail?”

“Yep. Why?”

“I was just surprised it was such an unexpected part.”

“Isn’t it noticeable when you ask which part you want?”

“Who would ask for your meat in front of a dragon?”

“Right. Besides, they said they’d tear off pieces generously since it regenerates anyway.”

Karem deeply empathized with the absurd look on his face that said, “Is that really regenerating?” He never thought he would receive it in such a ridiculous manner.

Even now, a chuckle escaped him. The sight of the tail being ripped off so gallantly, and after finishing the meal and flexing, like in an animation, the tail magically regrowing was something else.

“I received some warnings too.”

“Warnings? Are you talking about the toxicity?”

“Not just that, there were many restrictions.”

Most notably, it was true that if one smeared themselves with fresh dragon’s blood and ate the raw meat, they would be endowed with powerful strength alongside the dragon’s magic.

However, dragon blood and flesh carried magical toxicity, meaning those unworthy would die upon consumption.

Moreover, if the eater lacked sufficient strength due to the influx of magic and life force, it could backfire and kill them if the symptoms were severe.

“Indeed, it’s no wonder that myths and legends declare heroes as heroes… But is it safe to eat?”

“Yes, they advised cooking it thoroughly to avoid any traces of blood.”

“…”

“So, while the efficacy might be reduced, there’s a chance for those consuming it for the first time to have enhanced magic and physical capabilities, and they won’t suffer from minor ailments, with ordinary poisons being ineffective.”

Mary was taken aback by her nonchalance.

Seriously, what kind of health food is this?

‘No, wait.’

Healthy thoughts, healthy thoughts.

Regardless, if it’s a warning, it’s better to know. It might sound like she’s dealing with a health supplement ingredient, but after all, it’s dragon tail.

Scales, leather, spikes, bones, and flesh are all intact.

…Speaking of which, will there be blood left?

A severed lizard tail doesn’t have blood, after all.

Anyway, Mary decided to think a bit more practically.

“Then, grilling it into a steak won’t work.”

“If any meat is fully cooked, it becomes tough, and all I’m thinking of is steaming… no, wait.”

Steaming isn’t bad, but suddenly, a cooking method much more fitting than steaming struck Karem’s mind like lightning.

“Barbecue…”

A method that can be proudly claimed as a traditional cooking technique in the United States, known for its short history.

Simply grilling or boiling won’t suffice as it’s famous for being tough enough that your teeth can barely get a grip; yet, it transforms even brisket into something that melts in your mouth with a battle against time.

The problem, however, is that very time itself.

A hurdle of maintaining a consistent temperature for over ten hours.

“But there’s Mary.”

Additionally, because of the requirement to maintain a consistent temperature, the salamander egg warmer purchased for barbecuing was loaded onto the cart.

Even though he had never even once used it for a trial. Isn’t that how it goes with newly bought cooking devices?

“…By the way.”

Mary suddenly started peeling shells from a basket filled with nuts that she had no clue where she got from.

“Weren’t there ultimately two wishes?”

“Yes, but…”

“About that empty dragon’s tail as the second wish.”

Mary paused peeling the shells, slightly tilting her head.

“Isn’t it possible to break the curse too?”

“…Curse?”

Upon hearing the word curse, Karem immediately recalled Catherine’s drought curse wrapped around her hands.

Mary’s assertion wasn’t wrong at all.

The drought curse must also be a kind of magic, after all.

Just like the curse of aging that Karem himself had suffered.

Then, the Dragon Lord Wales, whose magic is so intricate that even Catherine finds it hard to gauge, could have easily resolved it, couldn’t he?

Karem merely needed to lightly wish for it.

“The drought curse, you say?”

“Oh my.”

A gasp escaped him involuntarily. They say a person should not narrow their view. Karem finally realized what kind of trouble he had gotten himself into.

“…Just in case.”

“Yes.”

“If I ask Wales again—”

“Will it work?”

It probably wouldn’t. Though he poked it out of curiosity, as expected, a firm negative reply came back.

“Even if he agrees, won’t he ask for a toll in return?”

“…What kind of tributes should I offer?”

“How would I know? I’ve heard dragons love shiny treasures and valuable magic tools.”

Mary stopped speaking halfway through as she shrugged with walnuts and needles in her hands, but the unspoken words were evident.

Indeed, could treasures and magic tools that would catch a dragon’s eye be obtained that easily? If they rummaged through Felwinter’s treasure vault, they might find one or two.

But there’s a more pressing issue.

“…Will Catherine find out about this?”

“It seems she hasn’t thought of it until now, but—”

“Phew. Thank goodness—”

“I don’t think it will be that easy.”

“Really?”

“It’s the contractor. She might have been too busy with the festival to have time to think, but won’t she realize it soon?”

That’s true. Would Catherine truly not come to that conclusion?

Karem pondered briefly while looking at the magic stone lamp stuck to the cart’s ceiling.

The chances were slim.

No, it was almost non-existent.

*

*

*

“First hit before you swing.”

Karem decided to speak up before Catherine could figure it out.

“So that’s why you were groaning?”

“I’m sorry for being distracted by dragon meat!”

However, Karem still lay flat in the wagon, which was wider inside than outside.

“First, sit down.”

“Yes.”

An unexpectedly dry response.

Yet Karem didn’t let it show and quickly complied with the order.

“Whaaat… If you have an excuse, I might listen.”

“Will you listen to me?”

“I’m in a hurry before my mind changes.”

Karem hesitated for a brief moment.

And came to a conclusion.

“…I won’t make excuses.”

In truth, he really had nothing to say in his defense.

After all, the meat of a fantasy creature, especially that of a dragon, would stir curiosity in anyone who had read even a bit of fantasy novels.

Karem thought for a moment to put it nicely, but it turned out to be futile. If he were to return to the past in his current state, perhaps.

…

But the hellish silence dragged on.

Eyes devoid of emotion.

“Ha.”

“…Yes?”

“The reason I swept my face was, what do you think? And Karem, how many times have I seen you jumping at materials you couldn’t even imagine?”

“So you’re forgiving me—”

“Well, what should I do?”

Catherine’s expression manifested some indecision before she smirked and gestured toward the corner of the wagon.

Were they meant to go sit over there? So thinking, as he sat down, Catherine, who had been next to Mary, got up and rested her head on her thigh, closing her eyes.

Thud—

“Well, I expected as much.”

Catherine fidgeted a bit, clearly uncomfortable, but then settled down as if she had found just the right position.

“That’s a bit hurtful, you know.”

“What’s that to you when you could go back to the past? How would you act?”

“It would be different from when my eyes were clouded. Knowing what I know now—”

“Hmm?”

“…I might think about it a bit longer…?”

“Contractor. Your hair is getting messy.”

As Catherine was getting her hair arranged by Mary, she let out a light scoff.

“Yeah. To be honest, being straightforward is better.”

“But still, it’s a dragon’s tail with scales, spikes, leather, bones, and flesh intact.”

“…Hold on, that’s something I haven’t heard before.”

“Didn’t I mention it?”

Thinking back, it seemed he had neglected to say that. With her eyes still closed while getting her hair sorted, Catherine let out a deep sigh, seemingly incredulous.

“Alive dragon material, huh.”

Even if it was just the tail, considering its value and utility, Karem couldn’t help but agree.

However, Catherine didn’t show any sign of it.

Her pride wouldn’t allow it.

After all, she had just been poking him with that fact, and if she were to accept it right away after hearing it was just a tail, what would that kid think of her?

Instead, Catherine decided to divert the topic.

“Then, have you already decided what to make with the tail?”

“Taking into account various restrictions and warnings… I’m leaning towards barbecue for now.”

“Barbecue?”

Upon hearing that, Catherine recalled talking about teriyaki barbecue and such. Karem denied the disbelief in her eyes.

“To summarize, I’ll place charcoal in the salamander egg warmer, supplementing moisture while slow-cooking it at a consistent temperature for most of the day.”

“…Huh.”

“Then the meat will turn out absolutely amazing.”

Catherine, of course, understood that meat cooked long in the oven turns tender.

Add to that the irresistible aroma from the firewood smoke, rehydrating the meat to keep the juices intact, resulting in meat that is as soft as butter?

“Then, no, I can’t eat it now.”

“Yes.”

“You can’t go around telling the townsfolk about dragon tail.”

That’s right. It was none other than Catherine, the very one who devised the plan to bury that truth.

In the undeniable reality, Catherine’s disposition screamed at her reason. Did she plan to just let this slide? Reason also answered, saying there was no alternative.

In that brief moment.

Karem noticed a fleeting disappointment flicker across Catherine’s face before she reverted to her usual demeanor and gently stroked her head.

“Should I let you taste some pig?”

“…Should I?”

“If you’re staying in the city or village, that is.”

That opportunity arrived sooner than expected.

 

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