Episode 35

There is a saying that if you have to meet with guests, first serve them delicious food. When the tongue is pleased and the stomach is full, the mind tends to become more pliable.

After a while of complimenting the food and eating, the guests seemed somewhat full, slowing their eating pace and starting to chat with Catherine.

As the topic of conversation shifted from food to other matters, Karem could finally catch his breath. The initially sharp atmosphere was clearly a joke.

However, Karem still couldn’t get used to it.

Just being in the same space as someone of high status was exhausting.

That aspect was the same whether in his past life or present life.

Karem, having subtly moved away from the guests’ attention, enjoyed a moment of leisure and recalled what he had heard from them earlier.

Wintersend.

The anniversary celebrated by the Trinity Church for the day the warrior god Tútatis ascended to godhood.

He heard that all cities and villages in Iceland hold festivals and events.

He didn’t know more details beyond that.

Because the topic of conversation had changed.

However, Karem couldn’t let his guard down.

At any moment, the focus of interest could shift.

Karem just hoped the interest wouldn’t shift to him.

Because whenever the attention was on him, it felt like there was a hole in his stomach.

Although he didn’t roll his eyes like before, Godwin and Victor kept moving their utensils constantly, seemingly enjoying the food.

And the mayonnaise.

The guests’ high praise for it wasn’t empty words, as Karem had to go back and forth several times to refill the mayonnaise.

Karem’s arms felt numb, and he began to lose feeling.

However, the guests were never satisfied.

“Phew, I think I understand why Alicia praised it so much. If it’s not too much trouble, could we get more of that mayonnaise sauce?”

“It’s not a difficult request. Karem.”

Following Godwin’s words, Karem barely managed to close his mouth in shock.

They say that people in cold regions instinctively crave fatty foods, but to think they would consume most of the stored eggs and oil.

However, the guests requested it, and the host allowed it, so Karem silently complied.

Karem squeezed out his last bit of strength to make a large bowl full of mayonnaise, closed the lid, and brought it out with some instructions.

“You need to store it sealed in a cool, dry place where the water won’t freeze. That’s how it won’t spoil.”

“Hmm? There’s no need to worry about that.”

“What?”

“We’re likely to eat it all before tonight.”

Mayonnaise, huh. Seeing how much they liked it, Karem thought that instinctively.

Karem then followed Catherine and Mary to see off the guests.

When Godwin and Victor disappeared beyond the snow wall, Karem finally let out a deep sigh that he had been holding back.

“Phew. I thought I was going to die from the tension.”

“This is the third time with Lady Alicia and the Duke. Shouldn’t you be getting used to it by now?”

“No, because they are high-ranking people?”

Of course, Karem’s nervousness wasn’t entirely wrong.

In the medieval times, it was common to ruin your life by getting on the wrong side of a noble, knight, or influential person.

However, conversely, if you benefited from academic, regional, or familial ties, you could blur class boundaries or even rise in rank, so it wasn’t absolute.

And then Catherine, who was backing Karem, spoke.

“You worry too much. Just by becoming my exclusive chef, you’re almost like a semi-noble. Walk around with more confidence.”

“What? Semi-noble? Since when?”

“Since you entered Winterham.”

Even when she said it, it didn’t feel real.

In his previous life, he lived in an officially egalitarian democratic society, and before he fled the village, the only high-ranking people were the village chief, the priest, and the occasional tax collector.

Karem found it incredibly awkward to be considered a noble of any sort.

No, there was one thing he could guess.

“Come to think of it.”

“What is it?”

“The people of Drywood Village always spoke to me politely and called me ‘sir’.”

Only now could Karem understand.

Why the village chief, his son, and the villagers were so subservient.

Seeing Karem, Catherine snapped her fingers.

“Right. You’re already a fine noble. No, perhaps a semi-noble. Now, if you marry the adopted daughter or third or fourth daughter of another noble family and accomplish some feats, you could become a lower noble. Interested?”

“Um.”

Not really?

No, to be honest.

I wasn’t really interested.

No, it wasn’t that I wasn’t interested, it just didn’t feel real because it was so vague and unfamiliar.

“Well, let’s think about that later. Right now, I just want to cook and live peacefully.”

“Heh, peace. You can forget about living quietly anymore.”

“What? What do you mean by that?”

As Karem’s eyes filled with confusion at the suggestion, Mary pointed out matter-of-factly.

“It started with Lady Alicia. Duke Felwinter took an interest after hearing her, and now the heir, Prince Godwin, has come in person.”

“Oh.”

“Do you think living quietly is even possible?”

A bolt of realization struck Karem’s mind.

It was like the youngest daughter of a conglomerate family causing such a stir that the chairman took notice and the next chairman came in person.

It was an issue that would draw attention even from those who normally wouldn’t care.

As if to hammer the point home, Catherine snapped her fingers again.

“Congratulations. As of today, you have become more famous and more noticed than anyone in the duke’s household.”

“Damn it, my peaceful life of feeding a sorceress who can’t even eat alone!”

“Oh, mind your words. Saying it like that makes it sound strange.”

And Mary snapped.

“Again, again, again! Assisting the contractor’s meals is my job, Junior Karem, not yours!”

“Why all of a sudden here!?”

“Hmph, trying to reduce my vigilance like that. This is why I can’t trust you!”

“When did I ever say such a thing?!”

“Even if you say so, I will never let my guard down! Taking care of the contractor who can’t eat alone is my job! The contractor’s care is solely my duty!”

“I never said I wanted to feed Lady Athanitas in the first place?”

“Are you belittling meal assistance now!!!”

At first, Karem tried to speak calmly, but as the conversation didn’t align, he started to get angry. Honestly, how could he keep enduring being provoked over something he wasn’t even interested in?

When the 10-year-old cook and the age-unknown brownie started arguing with mismatched conversations, Catherine, who was hit by a barrage of verbal bullets out of nowhere, finally shouted in anger.

“I am your employer, you damn brats!!!”

The medieval times were essentially known for being disjointed.

There were various reasons, but primarily because transportation wasn’t developed.

Moreover, the Continent of Europa had various threats.

Still, each country on the Continent of Europa, established through loose feudal contracts, had an officially declared state religion.

‘Officially.’

However, it was common for different religions to be dominant in the provinces.

Especially if the history of the provinces was older than the state.

Iceland in the Kingdom of Seofon was such a place.

Iceland worshipped the three gods of the Trinity Church.

The winter goddess Skadi, the warrior god Tútatis, and the nameless traveler.

After hearing that explanation, Karem roughly understood.

“Wintersend is like a holiday for the Trinity Church, right?”

“It’s more of an anniversary. It’s the day that celebrates the moment Skadi’s great warrior Tútatis ascended to godhood.”

Unlike the simple holidays like Chuseok or New Year’s that Karem expected, the grand word ‘ascension’ stimulated his ears.

However, upon deeper thought, it wasn’t such an unfamiliar word.

Even the famous Greek mythology in the realm often had such cases.

Hercules and Dionysus were typical examples.

It was also known that the story of the real person, Alexander the Great, was passed down and distorted into the Buddhist god Vitachon.

“It’s a holiday where various skilled individuals from each city and village dedicate their best offerings to honor and celebrate Tútatis, who ascended to godhood through his own abilities.”

A holiday to honor a god.

This was somewhat familiar to Karem.

Like the holidays celebrated once a year such as National Foundation Day, Buddha’s Birthday, or Christmas, marked in red for their significance.

“But what about the recommender? Isn’t it better to have more offerings?”

“There’s a reason for that too.”

“What is it?”

“Tútatis is picky.”

Picky? That was quite a fresh take.

However, Catherine pointed at Karem very seriously.

“If the offerings are tainted or of insufficient quality, he will punish those who offered them.”

“…Punish them just because he doesn’t like the gifts?”

“You shouldn’t take offerings to gods lightly. Offerings are the most important things that show the god’s majesty, directly increase their power, and indirectly boost their faith. Offering substandard or tainted items is like throwing a bowl of stew at the god’s face. Doing such a thing on the god’s holiday is practically asking for punishment.”

True, compared to the two-thirds of the twelve Olympian gods who scattered curses for trivial reasons, this could be seen as a god being true to his main job.

Any budding faith that might have sprouted in Karem’s heart disappeared with Catherine’s next words.

“Of course, Tútatis is just plain nasty and picky too.”

“Uh, isn’t that quite a disrespectful choice of words?”

“What, it’s a well-documented fact in the Trinity Church scriptures.”

“Aren’t the believers a bit too harsh on their own god?”

“On the contrary, the priests of the Trinity Church take pride in it.”

“Being nasty and picky?”

“It also means not compromising with reality and being honest in actions.”

“Well, that’s not wrong.”

“Still, they say not to skip payment for bad food or to wield weapons against a scammer even if you get scammed.”

On the flip side, Karem’s face contorted as he realized there were enough people behaving that way to warrant such advice.

Both the gods and the believers were wildly uncontrollable.

“Anyway, you’re saying I can offer a gift to such a god?”

“Tútatis values skill the most, so yes. Anyway, that’s how it is, so kid, prepare diligently.”

“Uh, saying it like that makes me feel more pressured.”

“Oh, that’s it. Sometimes, when the offering is substandard, the recommenders also get punished.”

A hundred times the pressure.

Karem broke into a cold sweat.