Episode 106

Giant Food/Dish.

It’s something that most people wouldn’t even dare attempt to try.

And yet, it’s also rare for someone to charge ahead to finish it off. It’s a dream that excites people just by its mere presence.

Because of this, people naturally gleam with excitement when they see giant roasts weighing tens of kilograms on video or are intrigued by giant food in cartoons and animations.

A sandwich, too, can easily be such an object of fascination.

Anyone who eats sandwiches has dreamed, at least once, of a thick, long sandwich.

Karem was no different.

And the Fool’s Gold Loaf was a sandwich that fully satisfied Karem’s dream.

A thick bread, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

The bread was hollowed out, filled with an entire jar of grape jam and peanut butter, and layered with dozens of crispy bacon slices.

Although it wasn’t peanut butter, and almond butter had been used as a substitute, Karem could vouch for the taste.

Sweet grape jam, salty and crispy bacon, and savory almond butter.

The sweetness and saltiness combined with the nuttiness created a flavor beyond the realm of truth.

“Mmm! Usually, sandwiches are too small and leave you wanting more, but this big one is very satisfying.”

“Ah…”

The leader of the rescue team sitting next to Catherine.

True to his name, Sir Giant Churchill’s enormous hands grabbed the sandwich, and it was disappearing at a noticeable speed.

(Though the cooking time was short) Karem felt a sense of emptiness as the carefully prepared food disappeared in front of him in an instant.

“Kid. Kid! Why are you so flustered?”

“Ah, sorry.”

Startled by the words urging him, Karem quickly grabbed a piece of the Fool’s Gold Loaf (which he had cut before Sir Giant could grab it) and handed it to Catherine.

Catherine smiled as she took a bite, savoring the harmony of flavors spreading in her mouth, before promptly chewing and swallowing the contents.

“So, Sir Churchill. What’s so important that the leader of the rescue team came all the way here personally?”

It was only natural for Catherine to ask such a question.

A leader’s footsteps, after all, must be weighed with purpose.

However, Karem thought that Catherine had been moving around quite frequently, but considering the circumstances (lack of hands, emergencies, etc.), it couldn’t be helped.

A leader’s every gesture and movement hides meaning within it.

What Catherine was pointing out was precisely that kind of meaning.

But…

“Hmm? I just came to check out the chef of Lord Athanitas, who’s said to be excellent.”

That wasn’t the case.

Sometimes, there are wild cards who do whatever they feel like, regardless of the situation.

Sir Giant casually answered while stuffing the last piece of the sandwich (much larger than Catherine’s portion) into his mouth.

“Wh-What?”

Catherine was also taken aback by his firm words.

Her long years of intuition and experience were confirming that everything he said was true, which naturally made her even more flustered.

“So you came all this way without any contact just for that?”

“Hmm? I’ll ask you instead.”

“What do you mean?”

“Why would there be a reason not to? I’ve heard that Lord Godwin visits here often as well.”

Our cute little princess too.

When he added that, Catherine couldn’t deny it and fell silent.

As days passed, Godwin’s imposing presence grew, and Alicia, breaking through the latest security systems set up in the Mage’s Tower, had become a regular occurrence there.

“In that case, this… Karem, right?”

“Yes. That’s right, Sir Churchill.”

“Right. What’s the name of this sandwich bread?”

“It’s called Fool’s Gold Loaf.”

“Hmm? This delicious and giant sandwich is named that way?”

Karem couldn’t answer that question.

Well, he had a guess.

But he didn’t speak it out loud.

It was a huge sandwich that seemed like no one but a fool would try to eat all at once, but it was so delicious that it made sense for it to be named that way.

“Well, it’s called that because no one but a fool would eat the whole giant sandwich in one sitting.”

Karem flinched at Catherine’s clear answer.

Could she have read his mind?

Of course, that wasn’t the case.

It was just that Catherine had thought along similar lines to Karem.

“Hmm, it feels like you’re pointing me out directly.”

“I never singled out anyone specifically.”

Catherine urged Karem, taking another bite of the sandwich.

“So, the only reason you came all the way here was for that? Just to try a dish made by my personal chef?”

“Well, actually, there is one more reason—”

“Hmm, alright. Finally, some serious talk—”

Sir Churchill—

Suddenly, a vague yet thunderous voice echoed from outside the lodging.

The voice’s owner was calling out Sir Giant’s name repeatedly, looking for him.

“Oh no, have they really come this far?”

Calmly dusting off the flour from his palm into a plate, Churchill, seemingly flustered, leapt towards the window with a speed that belied his giant size and was fitting for a Swordmaster.

“Keep it a secret that I was here!”

And then he slipped out through the window.

It was an utterly ridiculous scene that unfolded in an instant.

Both Karem and Catherine looked at each other, puzzled, as if to ask what on earth was happening.

Knock knock knock knock—! Knock knock knock knock—!

Soon, someone politely, but quickly, knocked on the door repeatedly, and Karem turned his gaze to open the door.

“Good afternoon!”

“Sir Limus?”

“So, you’re the famous chef Karem!”

Karem, greeting Limus, Sir Giant’s kin, quickly got to the point.

“I’m sorry for the sudden situation, my apologies.”

“By the way, what’s the reason for such urgency?”

“Hmm! Could Sir Churchill have come here to escape—excuse me—visit?”

“Oh.”

Finally, Karem realized the true purpose of Sir Giant’s visit.

He discreetly pointed towards the inside of the lodging, indicating his employer sitting at the table.

“Lady Athanitas? Sir Limus said so.”

“Sir? Just call me Limus.”

Catherine accepted it and turned towards a corner of the lodging.

Specifically, she was looking towards the window that had just been opened wide.

The curtains of the window fluttered faintly towards Limus.

“Oh no! Did I miss him by a step!”

“He was just sitting here a moment ago, stealing Lady Athanitas’s snacks.”

“Hmm, as Sir Giant’s kin, I’ll apologize for this rudeness.”

“No, what on earth is going on?”

At those words, Limus, who was only a few years older than Karem, suddenly looked ten years older with wrinkles appearing on his face.

“Sigh, I’m sorry for the rudeness, but Sir Churchill, to put it bluntly, left the thinking to his advisors and subordinates, and has run off.”

“Wh-What?”

“Then, I must track down Sir Churchill. I apologize for the intrusion, Lady Athanitas.”

He bowed slightly to Karem.

Limus, bowing his head to Catherine as well, moved swiftly like a gust of wind, true to being Giant’s kin.

Karem briefly thought about the unique master-servant relationship and then closed the door.

He awkwardly closed the window as well before returning to his spot.

“So, is that what a Swordmaster is like?”

“Don’t generalize too hastily. That mercenary had a light attitude, but he wasn’t like that.”

“Right?”

“Yeah. Anyway, I should finish this sandwich.”

Karem immediately brought the sandwich that had been left untouched to Catherine’s lips, when he suddenly thought.

Wait, this isn’t really as unusual as I thought, is it?

Now that I think about it, it’s not so strange compared to Catherine and Olivier, who are always throwing magic at each other.

Comparing it to those two, neither Gordon nor Sir Churchill seemed all that special.

Karem finally accepted it.

Feeling much lighter, he grabbed a handkerchief and wiped the crumbs from Catherine’s lips.

The occurrences of the rescue team’s leader running away in the middle of meetings continued unabated.

However, the mission itself was progressing normally.

From the beginning, the purpose of the rescue team was clear, and Alfred hadn’t really expected Sir Giant to lead the team anyway.

The reason Alfred had arranged for Sir Giant Churchill, a Swordmaster, to be part of the rescue team was not to have him lead it.

The only reason he held the nominal position of leader was because of his high rank and exceptional skills.

It was purely because of his strength.

Not because he was good at commanding.

In reality, the rescue team was being led by the advisors.

There was nothing really hindering their progress.

The strategies of the advisors were all executed under Giant’s name.

Even if there were no high-ranking individuals, things still ran smoothly in the field.

Unlike Sir Giant, Catherine had no time to enjoy any freedom or leisure.

It had been two days since they arrived at Blackwood Village.

During that time, invitations kept coming in from one lord after another, and each day a noble would host a small banquet and send an invitation.

Once again, Catherine had been invited, and after spending some time and observing the atmosphere, she returned to her lodging, sighing repeatedly.

“If it’s that bothersome, can’t you just refuse the invitations?”

“I was thinking of doing that starting tomorrow.”

Taking a deep breath, Catherine glanced at Karem, who was holding the gifts she had received, and nodded.

“Well, I’ve met all the necessary people by now, so after this, it won’t matter if I refuse any future invitations.”

“Then, should I politely decline any future invitations?”

At that remark, Catherine waved her hand dismissively.

Even without words, it was obvious what she meant.

Karem didn’t know why Catherine was accepting all these invitations and running around from one noble to another.

Her position was equivalent to Alfred’s direct commander of knights.

In fact, her position was higher than that of most earls, so if she declined the invitations, it was the other party who would feel regret.

Of course, Karem wasn’t curious enough to ask Catherine about it, so he racked his brain to think of a way to lift her spirits.

“Lady Athanitas, do you have a craving for something sweet as a snack?”

“Yes, something sweet enough to melt my tongue and brain.”

“Hmm, that might not be enough with what we have right now. Should I go raid the supply room again?”

“No need for that. Just dig through the pile of gifts in the lodging.”

Catherine tapped the ground with her staff.

“There’s sure to be honey or sugar in there somewhere.”

“Oh, the gifts for Lady Athanitas?”

“Yes, the piles of boxes that have been sent since the first day.”

“Me? Take them?”

They’re gifts from someone else, but still, they’re gifts.

Karem wasn’t sure if that was okay.

But Catherine, without any hesitation, was firm in her decision.

Seeing that, Karem had no choice but to accept.

He decided to think of it as taking care of a random box gacha, and his mind lightened considerably.

Of course, if there were any food in those gifts, they would instantly crumble and disappear when Catherine touched them, so it was a perfectly reasonable choice for her.

“Mm? What?”

“Nothing.”

And then Karem understood why Catherine, despite finding it bothersome, had been attending invitations nonstop from dawn to late night over the past few days.

To invite someone of high status, a reward is expected.

And Catherine, of course, was a diplomatic treasure. The powerful were desperately trying to please her, unsure of how to act.

After all, she was one of the five closest aides to the de facto ruler of Iceland, and the dynamics of the lower power players in Iceland were painfully obvious.

The murmuring grew louder—

As Karem followed Catherine back to the lodging, the loud noise from the nearby stockade also grew louder.

“Hmm, something’s noisy.”

“Do you think monsters have come near the village?”

“We’ve sent out so many search parties and adventurer groups from the rescue team, haven’t we?”

“Who knows, let’s go take a look.”

It has been quiet until now, I wonder what’s going on.

With curiosity, Karem followed Catherine towards the stockade.

As the noise from the stockade grew, the number of soldiers, mercenaries, and adventurers atop it also increased.

Thanks to the soldiers who recognized Catherine, Karem was able to see the cause of the commotion at the stockade.

It wasn’t something they could have missed.

After all, if the forest ahead was shaking as if the wind itself was blowing, and a cloud of dust was rising, it was impossible to miss.

“Could it be a monster attack?”

“Perhaps. But I don’t think it’s something I need to step in for.”

Then, someone sprang out from the dark forest.

Not just one or two, but in a group.

The ones running as though chased by something spotted the stockade and the village where Karem stood, and their expressions changed with hope as they ran faster towards it.

And shortly after, a chubby old man wearing slightly dirty priest robes, looking like a Santa Claus, popped out of the forest.

“That’s… isn’t that Elder Iona?”

“That heavy build and the thick, bushy beard. It’s definitely him.”

And Karem was witness to a shocking sight.

Iona’s fist, emerging from the forest, collided with an ice attack.

He immediately stopped and grabbed a nearby tree.

Then, with a grunt…

He uprooted it, throwing the tree to the ground.

“Huh? Wait? What?”

“Even with his age and physique, he was still an Elder of the Trinity Church.”

“Can it really be explained just like that!?”

“Then how do you think one could manipulate a religious elder’s position with politics and money? Outside the city, the axe comes before the law in this harsh land of ice—”

Before the sentence even finished, the tree was split in half and crashed to the ground.

Through the falling tree, a man wielding a longsword rushed out—someone Karem would never forget, a benefactor.

“Wait, isn’t that Gordon?”

“It seems like he came to make some money. Anyway, the cause of this ruckus is showing up now.”

Thud—Thud—Thud—Thud—

And everyone at the stockade, including Karem, could feel the tremors.

No, it wasn’t just a tremor.

It was the sound of countless creatures marching.

And the dust cloud rising over the forest indicated the scale of the creatures.

Then, a massive swarm burst out from the forest.

They had a massive build, as large as bears, and thick fur that seemed to match their size.

Though not as fast as horses, their powerful charge, fueled by their bear-like mass, was formidable.

Their thick and wide tails swung like huge blades, capable of breaking old trees with a single swing.

They held crude stone spears in their mouths, their massive, square-shaped teeth glinting threateningly in the sunlight.

“Grizzly Beaver?”

“Grizzly Beaver! Is it that time of year already?”

“Huh? What did you say?”

Grizzly what?

A name that sounds extremely threatening but is actually quite absurd.

Karem thought he might have heard wrong, but the scene in front of him was all too real.

The first Grizzly Beaver that appeared, holding a spear, pointed towards Blackwood Village.

AAAHHHHHH!!!!!!

It seemed like that was a signal, or perhaps it was meant to be.

Dozens of Grizzly Beavers, and even more rushing out from the forest, each armed with crude stone weapons, charged forward.

On the wind, a sweet and alluring scent began to spread.