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Late morning.

Catherine finished her brunch and got up to create the barrier, a housewarming gift.

“Can I go along and watch today?”

“No, just stay back and watch from a distance.”

Catherine shook her head at Karem’s dull expression as Mary quickly tidied up her disheveled attire.

“Is it because of the Divine Power?”

“It’s not the Divine Power that’s the issue; it’s just that you’re an unrelated party who has nothing to do with magic. Unless there’s a zero chance of messing something up, it’s just how it is.”

“What happens if I mess something up?”

“I don’t want to see the trouble of dealing with things twice.”

Just imagining it made her shudder, yet she couldn’t say she’d go along regardless.

‘It’s not that I don’t understand.’

So simply put, it meant no entry for outsiders. If something were to go wrong, it’d create a hassle.

“Well, there’s no need to be too disappointed. It’ll all be over in three days.”

“No. Well, if that’s the reason. What about lunch—”

“Mary has already taken care of lunch.”

“What?”

Wait, when did my territory get invaded?! Just when Karem was stunned by this shocking fact, Mary proudly held up a basket covered with a gourmet lid.

“Karem, I’ve already prepared the Contractor’s lunch, so rest assured.”

“…Karem will remember this.”

“At any time.”

Mary boldly provoked.

“So for now, you can just be bored to your heart’s content.”

“…Given this situation, I might as well go along, ah.”

“Well, it’s also because it’s a housewarming gift from the mercenary, so just endure for three days.”

Catherine lightly flicked Karem’s nose with her finger.

“I’ll play with you later tonight.”

She strutted toward the castle wall. Mary, following behind her, discreetly turned her head.

“Heh.”

Then she returned her head to its original position.

That damn house fairy, did she predict this situation?

Nonetheless, Karem had no way to act. Excluded from the intricate operations, he stood in front of Bolton Castle, staring into space for a moment.

“Sigh. So what do I do now?”

Is this how a child who loves to read feels when stuck in a playroom at the department store, being told to just wait until it’s time to go back?

He briefly thought about making something in the kitchen to kill time, but considering the existing cooks who were protesting against intruders were brain-fogged by Mary’s special house fairy magic sauce, it felt awkward to barge in alone.

‘This damn house fairy is no help at all.’

Karem himself proposed the idea that led to that brain-fogging, but nobody was around to point it out.

Suddenly, Karem bowed his head. The colorful Bolton Forest in the middle of the yard caught his eye.

“…Maybe I’ll just take a look around.”

There wasn’t much to see, just a wide lawn and a few buildings.

Compared to the dreary forests of Iceland, the Bolton Forest looked like a section of Winterhome’s greenhouse.

‘Speaking of which, I haven’t stopped by the greenhouse since I came back.’

He usually visited the greenhouse every few days for various reasons. Mainly because of Alicia. After his recent return, he had been so busy with things that he hadn’t found the time.

Creeeeeak—

As he gazed at the forest in a daze, he heard the sound of a door opening from behind.

“…Poring? Poring~♪”

“Flora. You’re awake?”

With disheveled hair and droopy cotyledons, Flora, stretching her arms in her dress, looked tired just by appearance.

“Wow, I feel like I’m in a daze. It’s such a daze.”

“Poring? Pororong?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Remembering Gordon’s grumbling about almost getting squeezed, it was clear why Flora was tired despite the sun shining high.

“Poring? Pororong~♬ Poring?”

“Okay, Flora. I’m not Alicia or Mary, so I can’t understand what you’re saying.”

“Poring.”

Flora puffed up her light green cheeks as if she had never been tired. It reminded him of Alicia.

“I get this one too.”

“Poring, Pororong.”

“Uh? What? The forest? You want to show me around?”

Was that the right answer? Flora grabbed Karem’s hand and started pulling him toward the Bolton Forest.

The forest was colorful due to the blooms and leaves of the three seasons, except for winter. Just breathing felt refreshing.

“From this angle, it’s got a vibe like Winterhome’s greenhouse.”

“Poring~!”

Flora nodded vigorously with a cheery “poring.” Petals from the flowers in her hair fluttered.

“Well, should I send a letter to Alicia or Corvus?”

“Poring? Poring…?”

That expression meant—what? You haven’t even sent a single letter until now?”

“Poring!”

Flora seemed pleased to have realized the deeper meaning of the forest’s creation, smiling widely but then suddenly stiffened, her eyes wide open, as if she just recalled something.

“Poring….?”

“Um, Alicia would definitely be upset.”

“Pororong!”

But! But! She seemed flustered as if her words were being conveyed by hand motions and gestures, and she crossed her arms in an X shape.

“What, you can’t read the letters?”

“Poring!”

“Then you should’ve at least drawn a picture to send.”

“…!”

That thought seemed to catch Flora off guard, freezing her as if struck by lightning. While she still couldn’t understand the words, she was starting to grasp the content through actions and expressions.

‘Is that how Alicia and Mary communicate?’

Although it felt like they genuinely understood each other without having to infer anything, he decided to ask later.

When Flora, who had been pulling his arm, stopped, they arrived at a small clearing. Under the towering Amadeus Tree, a small cabin, a huge nest, and various kitchen facilities and items were set up alongside a spring.

“This is Corvus’s nest and the surrounding scenery.”

“Poring~♬”

Correct! As if to signify the right answer, Flora pointed with two fingers and dashed over to the nest beneath the Amadeus Tree.

‘…I’ll take a look around until she returns.’

The small clearing felt compact, like a mini forest, but everything seemed adequately arranged. Oven, kitchen, shelves, cooking utensils, and more.

However, he began to worry about what would happen if it rained since it was outdoors, unlike the greenhouse. There might be a way around it, though.

‘Let’s see…’

The cooking utensils and facilities showed signs of use, suggesting they were well-loved and maintained.

“Poring~!”

“What did you rush over for?”

Flora came bounding back excitedly, a bundle of thick parchment and charcoal in her hands.

“Were you planning on writing a letter now that you remember?”

“Poring♬!”

Rumble—

With a clear bell sound, a hearty growl echoed out. Silence. At the sudden noise, Karem and Flora looked down at Flora’s belly.

Rumble—

Flora’s stomach rumbled, as if asking for attention.

“…Poring?”

“…Did you just wake up after lunch?”

“Poring.”

“What did you eat last night besides the meat stew I made?”

Ah, so that’s why she was hungry! Flora’s eyes widened in realization, and her mouth dropped open.

‘Dryads age including the seeds, huh?’

That remark seemed off base. The Dryads, which went extinct with the fall of the Palatino Empire. If one counted the years spent as seeds, it must have been thousands of years…or not. From her silly actions, she seemed more like a kid around Alicia’s age.

“So then, should I make something?”

After all, he couldn’t just leave a hungry kid to fend for herself.

*

*

*

Karem, who told Flora to draw a picture letter while waiting, headed straight to the warehouse.

The Bolton Forest’s clearing was like a miniaturized version of Corvus’s nest and surroundings in Winterhome’s greenhouse, and the warehouse was similar.

Inside, a variety of food supplies were crammed in.

Boxes, bags, and large sacks containing an assortment of food items were arranged on the shelves and storage compartments.

Though he had never formally taught cooking, the state of the kitchen and warehouse implied that it looked like Gordon had consistently been cooking for some reason or another.

“But why is this here…”

Karem’s eyes fell upon a huge sack filled with not potatoes, but—

Earth Apples!

‘Didn’t they say this wasn’t a food item?’

Of course, considering he had fried and eaten what they called Eurovia potatoes, he wasn’t in a position to say anything. But that’s what Jerika and Catherine had mentioned.

The Earth Apples piled up before him were the gifts Flora received from the tree spirits.

As a forest fairy and the one who awakened the nearby tree spirits, it was natural for Flora to receive many gifts from them.

Usually, when the stockpile grew, Gordon would find it and send it to Shen or sell it through Robelio, but now Karem had stumbled upon it.

“…Well, this is convenient.”

He didn’t need to worry about what ingredients to use for cooking.

Rather, the real concern now was figuring out which of the many potato dishes to make.

Among the two crops that changed the history of earth and humanity, potatoes were definitely one. The other being corn.

Known as the “vegetable of the unyielding earth,” these naturally refined carbohydrates grew in inhospitable soil and had spread their influence across the world.

As proof of that, you could find dishes using potatoes everywhere in the world.

Even in the old continent, where potatoes had never existed, they boldly claim “This is my traditional dish!” whenever potato dishes are served.

“Since there’s cheese, how about cheesy fries, mashed potatoes, potato gratin, or even cottage pie…”

With one sack filled with Earth Apples in hand, he swept various ingredients into a nearby basket.

“Pororooong!”

Just when he was wondering if he could fit anything else in, Flora’s scream came from outside the warehouse.

“What’s the matter?”

“The last dryad!”

Followed by voices exalting Flora. There was only one person he had seen or heard doing this.

Creeeeeeak—

“Porong! Pororooooooong!”

“Although you look more lively than before, considering you’re staggering, your condition doesn’t seem too good! Please let me check your health—!”

Flora was darting back and forth between the nest, Amadeus Tree, and cooking facilities.

Shen was closely in pursuit on all fours.

As Karem stepped outside, the scene he had seen yesterday unfolded again in the clearing.

“Poroooooong! Pororong!”

“Right. Well, I can’t just stand by and watch.”

Flora darting around glanced over at him and gave a worried “poring.” It looked exactly like a face seeking help.

Wooosh—

“Huff!”

Bang! As Karem stomped down his foot, gathering Divine Power, the ground rapidly froze straight ahead. The chilling blast formed an ice wall, blocking Flora and Shen’s path.

Boom—!

Just before the impact, Shen’s light green barrier collided with the ice wall.

“So you’re a no-good brat!”

Watching him behave like that, it was understandable why the Arberni family cut ties with the lifelong assembly.

 

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