Right after the historic feat of summoning the Servants was complete.
Kay was the first to secure the apron strings tied around his waist.
"All right, everyone, take a seat at that table over there. We've done introductions, so it's time for a proper welcome feast. Sending guests off empty-handed just isn't Britain's etiquette."
Kay rolled up his sleeves and shouted.
Scáthach crossed her arms and, wearing a mock-stern expression, scolded him—but her fingers were already tracing intricate runic symbols in the air.
Wooooong~
A rift opened, and out poured the choicest cuts of demon-beast meat, rare mountain greens and mushrooms harvested deep in the Shadow Realm Forest, and the highest-grade wine jars Scáthach had been saving—all in a cascading heap.
Kay stood before a massive flat rock that served as his chopping block. The blades in his hands gleamed beneath the ashen sky.
"All right, let's show off a bit after so long."
In an instant, his gaze switched to that of a seasoned commander directing the battlefield.
Of course, it was really the look of a head chef.
"Oh my? Master, this kitchen is my domain. I'll demonstrate the epitome of a perfect housewife. Master, you just sit right there…"
Tamamo approached, her fox tails swaying as she practically vibrated with enthusiasm, but Kay shook his head firmly.
"Nope. Today I'm the host. Speed is the lifeblood of my kitchen. Sit back and watch."
No sooner had he spoken than Kay's hands blurred beyond sight.
tadadadadak!!crack!chop chop chop!
It was less cooking and more martial art.
He struck the bones and joints of the colossal beast with pinpoint accuracy, separating them in a single motion, skinned the carcass, then sliced the stubborn muscle fibers into paper-thin sheets.
In one enormous cauldron, a rich broth boiled like lava over simmered bones. On a heated stone slab, dozens of thick steak-sized cuts sizzled with raw violence as they cooked simultaneously.
His sprinkle of spices was as precise as a mage's casting, and the timing of adding logs to control the fire was flawless.
Kay unleashed his massively practical field-cooking skills honed by feeding eight ravenous siblings and a hungry mercenary company for years.
"…My goodness."
Tamamo's fox ears perked up as her eyes went wide.
As an undisputed culinary master and the top student of Benienma, she was unmatched in refined Japanese or delicate court cuisine—but Kay's overwhelming performance existed on another level.
Refined dishes might have been Tamamo's specialty, but in this harsh environment, producing dozens or hundreds of servings at consistent quality under time constraints, Kay was the undisputed field-cooking champion.
That level of skill was something only Benienma herself surpassed—at least among people Tamamo knew; Kay ranked second only to her revered teacher.
"That's superb. Not a single wasted step, the power and technique to master each ingredient's nature completely. When it comes to mass cooking… I honestly have to concede defeat. You might even outshine me."
Tamamo wagged her tail and uttered genuine admiration.
Meanwhile, Jeanne Alter sat crookedly in a corner chair, resting her chin on her hand with a bored look.
"Hmph. Speed and volume—what good are they if the flavor suffers? No matter how great a chef, mass production always chews into taste… huh?"
Before her eyes, Kay set down a massive wooden platter with a thud.
On it lay a mountain of smoked meat enough to feed ten grown men, alongside butter-sautéed Shadow Realm mushrooms and wild greens arranged as garnish, all looking mouthwateringly perfect.
The rich, fatty aroma hit her like a wave, making Jeanne Alter's nose twitch instinctively.
"Jeanne, you remind me a lot of our Orta in how much you can eat. If it isn't enough, just let me know. There's more in the pot."
Kay grinned slyly, patted Jeanne Alter's head, and moved on. It was a habit he'd unconsciously carried over from how he treated Alter.
"Hey! Who told you to treat me like a kid! And don't you dare touch my hair!"
Jeanne Alter's face flushed bright red as she yelled, but her gaze was already locked on the meat platter, her mouth filling with saliva.
"Hmph… fine. I'll eat it begrudgingly so it doesn't get cold. Consider it graciously accepted."
She huffed, speared a piece of meat with her fork, and shoved it into her mouth.
At that instant, her golden pupils dilated wildly.
Juices exploded. The exterior was crisply smoked, the interior astonishingly tender. Not a trace of gamey odor remained, and Kay's secret spice blend filled her mouth with a perfect sweet-and-spicy symphony.
It was an overwhelming flavor that instantly conquered her picky, skeptical taste buds.
"…W-what is this? Not… bad. Actually, this might even be delicious."
Despite turning her head and huffing in tsundere fashion, the speed of her fork-wielding hand grew frighteningly rapid. Her cheeks stuffed with meat was a dead ringer for the various Artorias.
Medusa, too, sliced her meat with graceful movements and slipped it into her mouth before letting out a small exclamation.
"…Amazing. This isn't merely a meal for survival. I can feel the warm sincerity of someone who truly considered the eater. Your elder sister… no, your younger sisters are fortunate to have enjoyed meals like this daily."
Beside her, Tamamo sampled the mushroom-and-greens garnish, her expression blissful.
"Mmm~ Truly an exquisite taste☆! I sense a thrilling edge I've never felt with Kiyohime's cuisine. Crafting such a nutritionally balanced meal in massive quantities… this Tamamo must strive even harder!"
Kay served out each dish in turn, and five people gathered around the table.
Glasses clinked, and the atmosphere warmed. Scáthach, wearing a contented smile, enjoyed the feast prepared by her little cook.
"So, Master. Since you called us here, do you have some grand purpose in mind?"
Tamamo asked, her cheeks flushed as she tilted her glass. A summoning of Heroic Spirits naturally requires a fitting cause, after all.
"No, nothing that grand."
Kay set the bone aside, stared at the crackling campfire, and began speaking calmly.
"For the past decade or so, I've been in Britain looking after my siblings and cooking their meals. I was more like a nanny than a knight. Then that damned demon bastard stabbed me in the back and dropped me into this Shadow Realm. My purpose is simple."
He clenched his fist tightly.
"I'll build my strength here and return to Britain. To go back to my little nephew and my siblings who are waiting for me. To protect the everyday life where they can be safe and smiling. That's it—that's all."
Not a hint of heroic bravado or exaggerated drama touched Kay's voice.
Only the weighty sense of responsibility of a man and his deep longing for family filled it.
"And as a bonus, I'll pluck every last hair from that half-demon bastard who kicked me down here."
As Kay ground his teeth and added that, the tension in the air eased slightly.
"Oh my, Master. It's so simple it actually tugs at my heartstrings. Such a warm wish… This Tamamo will remain by your side as a devoted, virtuous consort until the day you return to Britain and punish that demon spawn, mikong!"
Tears glimmered in Tamamo's eyes as she threw her arms through Kay's and pressed her chest close to him as if deeply moved.
Medusa quietly raised her glass to her lips and, beyond her blindfold, fixed a deep gaze on Kay.
"A fight to protect your family, huh? ...If it's that kind of fight, I won't lose to anyone. I, too, have given everything to protect my sisters. If someone like you has such a wish, I will help."
Jeanne Alter spoke gruffly, a bone still clamped in her teeth.
"Hmph, pathetic. Revenge, you say? Pulling out hair? If it were me, I'd tie that demon bastard to a stake and burn him. Well, if that's your wish, I'll personally turn him to ash. I suppose I do like you to some extent—being good at cooking and all."
She continued to grumble, but it wasn't out of real disdain for Kay.
Kay smiled wryly at the three Servants' very different reactions.
Each had their own strong personality, but all were undoubtedly determined to help him.
"I don't care if you kill or spare that demon bastard, but if any of you want to return me to Britain, you'll have to land a second solid blow on me first."
Scáthach interjected, crossing her arms. The stern gaze of a strict instructor returned to her eyes.
"Don't get cocky just because you summoned Servants. If your own strength is lacking, you'll simply fall behind. For roughly the next two years, I'll push you even harder than now, so be ready."
"Ah, yes, yes. As you command, Your Majesty. My bones might not survive this~"
Kay let out an exaggerated sigh, but he secretly looked forward to the hellish training ahead with such reliable allies at his side.
Harsh and grueling though it would be, it was nonetheless a task of true meaning.
After the three Servants joined him, the once-quiet daily life in the Shadow Realm became that much more bustling and vibrant.
A curious aura formed around Kay in particular, centered on self-proclaimed virtuous consort Tamamo-no-Mae and the mistress of the Shadow Realm, Scáthach.
The spark was trivial. It happened when a grueling morning training session ended and Kay, drenched in sweat, slumped down.
"Oh my, Master! Look at how much you're sweating! This Tamamo will wipe you off."
Tamamo darted in from somewhere with a fragrant towel and hurried to wipe Kay's face and nape. Her lush tail curled around his leg as she showered him with affectionate gestures.
smack.
But before the towel even touched Kay's face, a cool hand snapped out and grabbed Tamamo's wrist.
It was Scáthach.
"...What do you think you're doing, fox?"
Scáthach's voice was low, but it carried an aura that could freeze the surrounding air.
"Oh? As you can see, I'm tending to Master. Isn't it a wife's duty?"
Tamamo didn't back down, smiling sweetly in reply, yet even behind that smile tension crackled.
"Don't be mistaken. Caring for Kay after training is my responsibility. It's been that way for the past three years, and it will remain so."
Scáthach roughly pushed Tamamo's hand away and, with her own sleeve, wiped the sweat from Kay's brow.
"And… don't touch his body without permission. Not without my consent."
It was a clear declaration of territory—and a silent warning: he's mine, so hands off.
But Tamamo-no-Mae, the legendary nine-tailed fox's spirit avatar, did not step back meekly. Her fox ears twitched indignantly and stood on end.
"Hoh? Asking for my permission—aren't you going too far? Master is not an object. And love knows no borders or first-come, first-served!"
Behind Tamamo, azure foxfire began to flicker.
"Hmph. Love? What a joke. How long have you spent with him to speak of love? I've watched him from his lowest lows to his growth. We've already shared body and heart."
Scáthach did not yield, releasing a swirl of crimson mana. The tip of her Gáe Bolg trembled subtly, exuding lethal intent.
"You… shared your body?"
Tamamo looked at Kay in shock. He winced and averted his gaze.
"Hmm, I see."
"?"
"But I'm not even betrothed to the Master. At your age, some experience is only natural. But I'm no unicorn, you see? Even if you're not pure, that's okay. Love exists on a higher plane. Unless it's a betrothed relationship where cheating on your fiancée is uncool—unlike Kiyohime, I can be flexible."
"Who's she?"
"She was the one who, after confessing unrequitedly and being rejected, torched that man and killed herself in the flames. Honestly, it seemed like a mental illness, which is tragic. But anyway, I mean it's fine even if Master has plenty of experience with women."
"No, the only one I've done that with is Scáthach."
Hearing Kay's objection, Tamamo smiled broadly.
"Oh my~ That's wonderful news. It must be about time you're getting tired of her, don't you think? And you don't seem to have married her or anything. Do you think… I could visit Master's bed tonight~?"
"Wake up from that dream. Kay's bed is in my room. There's no room for you there."
"Oh heavens, a threesome is out of the question from the start..."
"I suppose you're a goddess, so even your spirit avatar isn't sane."
"You people massacred gods and got exiled yourself, how can you talk?"
The two locked in a savage war of nerves. Though Tamamo was significantly weaker than Scáthach, observers could tell that...
This was a match where whoever physically struck first would lose. No matter how skilled a Celtic strategist might be, a mental defeat was something their pride could not accept.
Medusa and Jeanne Alter, standing a short distance away and watching that ferocious scene, let out deep sighs.
"...Sigh. Shouldn't we stop them?"
"Let them be. Intervening in that kind of fight will just be tiresome. Besides, I feel sorry for Master. He might end up like Zeus, tormented by Hera someday."
"No, that's a bit harsh, calling him Zeus..."
In the meantime, Kay argued with Medusa's comment, but her assessment was spot on.
After all, he'd basically assumed the role of a husband being nagged by his wife.
Of course, unlike Zeus, Kay hadn't really done anything wrong, yet it seemed destined to turn out that way.
"But isn't she a bit too quick to fall in love?"
"She lived alone in life, so that could be it. And since his spirit is supposedly handsome—guess it's Tamamo's type."
"Hmmm... tricky. Master, let's just eat already."
"Yeah... let's go."
Kay felt an odd sense that the next two years would be exhausting. Yet somehow, he felt more at ease with Jeanne Alter—perhaps because she reminded him of Alter herself—and she seemed closer to him than Scáthach ever was.
And Scáthach and Tamamo watched Kay's back as he walked off amicably to the dining hall with her, trying to remain calm.
"There's an Eastern proverb that says the quiet cat is the first to climb onto the hearth, you know."
"Yes, that's right. Maybe it's because Master is so natural that such naturalness works on him."
It seemed that, after all, his competitors weren't just the two of them.