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Karem had completely forgotten an important schedule due to overlapping business and travel.

It was a commitment that he made at least once a week. Thanks to this, he was often mistaken for a devout believer. Not that he minded much.

Indeed.

He had forgotten to offer a meal to the Three Gods.

What a grave oversight, truly a serious oversight.

Of course, it did seem like he forgot it quite often, but that was just how it was. Isn’t it human to forget even important matters every now and then?

Still, he couldn’t just let it slide, so Karem decided to prepare a feast for the Three Gods, unlike any other time.

He planned to cook four kinds of seasoned fried chicken and dishes made with Ship’s Claw Crab. For this, he enlisted Mary’s help and borrowed a spatial expansion pouch from Catherine.

Just as he was about to prepare the dishes.

[Ahem, it’s been a while.]

“What, the copper scale is talking?!”

[Copper scale, you say? Haven’t we met briefly before?]

“Hm? Wait, Yustitia?”

The copper scale Karem often used flickered briefly, as if affirming his words.

“Uh, excuse me, but may I ask what your business is?”

[That’s a rather strange tone you have.]

Yustitia’s voice emerged from the copper scale, sounding like the sound of crushed glass underfoot as she hesitated.

It was understandable to hesitate. From now on, what Yustitia was about to say was an act that diminished her pride as a god.

However, a young ascended god belonging to the Three Gods told her that sometimes you have to be brazen to achieve your goals.

Of course, that young god Tutatis didn’t mean it that way at all, but it sounded that way to Yustitia.

[I want to eat too.]

“Uh, do you mean you also want to eat, Yustitia?”

[Didn’t I bestow you my blessing? Isn’t one time too few?]

“Now that you mention it, that makes sense.”

It was impossible to logically refute her.

Yustitia’s blessing was the price for the Croquembouche, but brushing it aside wasn’t an option, considering the significance of a god’s blessing.

Of course, he hadn’t wanted such a blessing, but thanks to it, he had managed to narrow the gap with Catherine, so Karem decided to overlook it.

So, since he was going to make a lot anyway, he added Yustitia’s share to the feast. Normally he would have needed Mary’s help, but thanks to the blessing, there wasn’t much difficulty.

‘This is a good thing.’

He didn’t need to seek Mary’s help.

This meant a great deal to Karem.

After all, she would jump at any chance to take over tasks, so concealing that chance was a nice advantage. Of course, he would still accept her help with baking.

Then, suddenly, Karem discovered a rather serious problem. No, it was just a serious problem.

[Hmm? Did you forget something?]

“Uh? Well. It’s nothing.”

Karem mumbled evasively.

In reality, it wasn’t nothing at all.

A temple fundamentally signifies “this is a realm of gods created in the mortal world.” Essentially, it’s a border. Therefore, even if a criminal escapes, they cannot be recklessly captured.

So let’s think about it.

Is it right to offer sacrificial rites to Yustitia, a distinct entity – no, a foreign god, in the temple of the Three Gods?

Karem pondered seriously as he mixed the divine power-purified crab meat with chopped vegetables.

Of course, Yustitia on the other side of the scale had no such serious thoughts at all. She was just fixated on how tasty the chicken looked.

This is why people need conversation.

Karem decided to ask Yustitia directly.

[Hmm? Of course, that’s unacceptable.]

“I thought so. Then what should we do?”

[Why not use that?]

Yustitia was merely speaking from the other side of the scale, but somehow Karem recalled what she meant by “that.”

“The Portable Shrine? Oh, I do have it.”

[So you were worried about that.]

Karem looked at Yustitia as if it was natural to be worried, but Yustitia, brazen as always, only continued to shine softly like the copper scale.

Karem paused for a moment, deep in thought, then ultimately reached a conclusion.

‘If there’s a problem, the gods will handle it themselves.’

He placed the finished dishes into the spatial expansion pouch, and after packing the copper scale, Karem picked up the folding portable altar from his room and stepped out.

A moment later, he returned to his room to grab Eranos’s pot overflowing with cola and left again.

To sacrifice a god in the temple of the Three Gods would be rude.

Then it was simple. He could perform the sacrifice somewhere that wasn’t a temple.

Fortunately, the Wizard’s Tower was long and spacious, and the unused empty rooms greatly outnumbered the mages in the tower.

‘Wait a moment, wouldn’t I just be able to sacrifice separately?’

As soon as he closed the door behind him upon entering a suitable empty room, this thought crossed his mind, causing him to pause, but he shook his head and locked the door.

If he were going to do it, he should have done it earlier while cooking. He couldn’t afford to keep waiting with guests on the way.

‘If there’s a problem, you all will adjust accordingly.’

Thinking that, Karem set the dishes on the table in the empty room, placed the scale on top, then set up the folding portable altar beside it.

And then he prayed.

[Hmm, this time, oh? This isn’t a temple. What’s this annoying little brat doing here?]

[A mortal, only following your words. I’ve brought a sacrifice, and since it’s given willingly by the reincarnated, I’m making the offering.]

[Well, hmm. I did say that.]

[So, as you said, I’ve chose to be shameless. Heir of Allfather, you don’t have any complaints, right?]

[Would I chase away a valued guest? You must have been wanting this for so long, feast away.]

[Ugh, ahem!]

Meanwhile, the dishes placed before the scale and the portable altar were disappearing one by one. This meant the gods were taking them into their domain to eat.

‘Well, whatever the case. I’m relieved it turned out well.’

Karem had considered the worst-case scenario where a mini divine war broke out in the Mage Tower, but such a catastrophe did not occur. Skadi, Tutatis, and Yustitia simply enjoyed the food noisily as they chattered away.

An unnamed traveler had already seated themselves beside the table. A gloved hand pointed to the spatial expansion pouch.

…….

“Yes? But that’s all the food there is. Ah, wait.”

Karem reached into his pouch again and pulled out the last divine object, Eranos’s pot.

……

“One moment. I just realized I hadn’t given drinks.”

Karem placed his hands on either side of the pot’s opening and infused it with divine power. The previously empty pot filled with bubbling dark liquid. Once it was full, he fetched a cup and set it before the altar and scale.

A faint but clear breeze filled with nostalgia swept through, marking the return of the familiar divine power.

[Eranos’s pot. Indeed, I would never have thought I’d see Eranos’s last divine object in this realm.]

[I heard you lent one out to seal the Dragon Lord.]

Yustitia, without a care, took the filled glass and held it in both hands, bringing it to her divine realm.

[Eranos, Aunt.]

The goddess of the campfire was unique in that she could control the wind of the primordial god Astraea while other gods of the temple meant solely the Palatino Empire gods.

Yustitia closed her eyes for a moment. Thousands of years had passed, but against the backdrop of Europa’s sky, the image of Yuno wielding a chef’s knife and the goddess’s wife, chasing after Astraea wielding a cooking tool, remained vivid in her memory.

[Are you okay?]

A worried voice from Skadi brushed past Yustitia’s ears.

[It’s nothing. That was just something in the past.]

[How dignified.]

[This isn’t something you should be telling me.]

Yustitia grimaced slightly and shook her head. She had to stop feeling gloomy; what if Eranos saw her acting this way before the delicious food?

[She’d probably tell me to shut up and eat.]

Yustitia gathered fried foods through the scale and stuffed them into her mouth, chomping down on them while pushing the gloomy feelings aside.

[Ugh. Mmm, it’s getting stuck.]

“Uh, there’s plenty of food. Take your time.”

[Mortal, be quiet!]

[Well, it’s nice seeing a young one eat heartily. What of it?]

[Mortal, keep your mouth shut!]

Yustitia suddenly remembered there was a mortal present. Enjoying Tutatis’s satisfaction, she let out an exasperated sound and tipped her glass.

Suddenly—

[Hmm? What?]

The taste and stimulation wafting through her mouth, the pleasant sensation breaking through the stuffiness of her insides in one gulp caused her to glance down at her glass.

[What is… this…?]

Yustitia quickly tipped her glass again, recalling the earlier rush of stimulation. This time, she slowed down.

Though similar to beer, it was an even stronger stimulation filling her mouth.

If beer was a smooth, fluffy foam, then the cola crashing in like an ebbing tide was like a powerful spray of water.

And then came the sweet rush that hit her throat. Each bubble burst, combining into a refreshing flavor she couldn’t quite describe.

Glug— Glug— Glug—

[Ugh. It’s sweet like beer, so it isn’t bad.]

Meanwhile, Yustitia heard Tutatis’s mad exclamation about cola being inferior to beer from the other side of the scale.

She flared up for a moment but decided to defer her rebuttal for later.

After all, what was more urgent now was to enjoy the refreshing liquid rushing into her mouth.

[Hmm, wait a moment.]

Yustitia paused her drinking. Then she chewed through each piece of chicken covered in sticky seasoning.

With each bite, the crispy fried coating crumbled, and the savory oil and juices burst forth, starting with the fried chicken and moving on to the various seasoned chicken dishes.

The more she chewed, the stickier the sauce made her mouth, causing her teeth to feel like they were glued together.

Now was the time.

Glug— Glug— Glug—

The amplified refreshment spread throughout her mouth.

The carbonated bubbles burst in succession, thoroughly cleansing the greasy remnants lingering in her mouth.

Was it the divine nectar permitted to the gods of the temples?

From now on, cola had firmly established itself as a drink worthy of a god, suiting Yustitia.

As soon as she emptied the glass, Yustitia sent it back through the scale.

[Ugh. Fill me up another full glass.]

“Well, I’m glad you like it.”

[Next time, bring beer for my share.]

“Yes, yes.”

Karem replied while filling Yustitia’s glass with cola, casually responding to Tutatis.

“I’ve received the blessing from Yustitia, so starting today, I plan to offer sacrifices to Yustitia as well. Is that okay?”

[That doesn’t really matter to me.]

[You’re doing well.]

Except for the unnamed traveler who was busy picking at crab meat, two of the Three Gods approved. The unnamed traveler merely nodded in response.

Even with Karem preparing more food than usual for Yustitia, the plates and bowls before the folding altar and scale were emptying at the same speed as always.

[Remember, my share is enough with beer.]

[For next time, may I request something sweet as a snack?]

[Dessert! Ahem. I’ve received the offerings well.]

……

With that, Karem bid farewell to the gods and collected the scattered items before leaving the room.

“Ugh, well, I’ll leave the dishes in the sink, put the scale back where it belongs, then start on my research—”

“Oh, Karem! There you are!”

As Karem headed towards the kitchen, Mary approached briskly from the corridor, looking as if she had been searching around.

“Yes, I just finished offering something in an empty room.”

“Offering? Sacrifice? Weren’t you doing that at the temple all this time?”

“Well, something came up. By the way, how did you find me here?”

At his gesturing for her to explain, Mary nodded slightly, saying “Ah,” and pointed downwards, towards the lobby.

“The head chef is urgently looking for you.”

“Sir Zigmeser? Why?”

“I don’t know. I just heard it was urgent.”

“Right. I understand. But, what’s that in your hand? A letter from my sister?”

Mary promptly held out a letter for him to see.

“Yes. It’s a letter sent by Sir Stark to the contractor.”

“To my sister?”

“More importantly, shouldn’t we hurry down?”

“Oh no.”

Karem couldn’t quite guess what was going on, so he shrugged and handed Mary his pouch and cleaning duties before making his way to the lobby.

Sure enough, Zigmeser was anxiously moving about, looking at the guests with apprehensive eyes.

“Oh, Karem! You’ve come! Can you lend me a hand?”

“What, for Alicia’s snack?”

“No, it’s about my uncle. He’s not eating or drinking at all.”

One eye raised involuntarily.

Zigmeser’s uncle was none other than Sigurd IV. But not eating or drinking? Why so suddenly?

“…Why?”

Karem couldn’t comprehend.

 

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