After the welcome greetings concluded and before moving to the magnificent banquet hall.
Queen Gloriana had invited Kay and his party alone to the inner sanctum of the palace.
On the emerald terrace bathed in soft sunlight, crystal tables crafted by the earthbound clan artisans were laid out with subtly fragrant tea and delicacies of mysterious hues.
"Before the formal feast begins, I wished to speak with you. Please, make yourself comfortable."
Gloriana poured tea herself and offered it. Britomart sat with a hint of tension, perfectly poised, while Caster maintained a strangely confident smile even before the Fairy Kingdom's queen.
The Servants Tamamo, Medusa, and Jeanne Alter likewise savored their tea in their own ways, all eyes on the queen.
And at the center was Kay, sniffing the aroma of his tea cup and crossing one leg over the other with ease.
"A private conversation, huh? Sounds good. I actually have a few questions after coming here. Besides Caster and Morgan le Fay, I've only met two fairies, so it's my first time seeing such a variety of clans living together."
At Kay's candid words, Gloriana smiled warmly.
"Britomart told me that you were curious about Lady Vivian and the Caster on your side."
The queen's gaze turned to Caster. In those eyes shone the insight of a ruler and a deep compassion that seemed to pierce the distant, mystical world before her.
"Indeed, the two of them are fundamentally different from us in every way."
"That much?"
At Caster's question, Gloriana nodded with a somewhat regretful expression.
"Both of them belong to the Pendragon bloodline. The Pendragons are the most special lineage in all of Britain. They are born, generation after generation, as the rightful rulers of Britain."
"Rulers?"
Kay murmured to himself, chin in hand, as if recalling something he'd once heard from Scáthach.
"Yes. Of course, the surname Pendragon hasn't been used for very long. Originally, surnames didn't exist in Britain—this was more like an epithet. Uther's predecessor, the former king, had the name Pendragon itself, and since then the epithet was set. In the distant past, from the dawn of human history, the Pendragon line was born in Britain. They've changed their names over time, but the line continues to this day."
"So being the island's ruler is that special?"
Jeanne Alter, being a medieval woman herself, asked as if she couldn't grasp the concept. Gloriana simply smiled and answered.
"Yes. The Pendragon line is born with an inherently extraordinary power—the very mystery of Britain. Thus they are born the strongest humans on the island. That is the true symbol of Britain's rulers. Why do you think the will to destroy Bagoteng Island originated from the Pendragon house? Because their lineage is unique."
"Then what about my sisters...?"
"…It's a bit complicated to say it's completely the same. Fundamentally, the Artoria sisters could not inherit Britain's mystery. Originally, Britain was destined to perish, and that mystery should have ended with King Uther. However…"
"It didn't end, indeed."
Caster took a sip of tea as she spoke, as though she already knew this.
"It should have, but an exceptionally remarkable being was born—Morgan le Fay. The goddess born into the Pendragon family as a fairy. And, of all things, her very mission was…"
"Her mission was that?"
"Mission? What is that?"
Medusa seemed to understand everything, but at Kay's question, Medusa—familiar with nymphs, similar divine beings—answered.
"A fairy's mission is the reason and purpose of their existence granted at birth. For example, fairies do not reproduce, but if their mission is to drink water, then they must drink water. If they fail to fulfill it, they go mad, become evil spirits, or die. In the worst case, they cannot bear successors."
"Huh… That sounds pretty serious. Wait, does that mean…"
"Exactly, brother. Morgan's obsession with the throne is because it is her mission: to be Britain's ruler, to be king. But tragically, the world refuses it. Britain is fated to fall, so Mordred must never become king, as Merlin informed her."
At Caster's words, Gloriana nodded sadly.
"It is indeed cruel. The deterrence power—the world's fate—cursed her. Vivian was once a pure, benevolent, beautiful lake fairy. Special as she was a Pendragon, she became leader of the Veil Clan, living harmoniously with countless fairies. But the moment King Uther chose a successor…"
"Strictly speaking, the moment she became Merlin's disciple."
At Caster's biting comment, Gloriana sighed.
"Yes. After becoming Merlin's disciple and experiencing her first heartbreak through his prank, her mission was denied by her father, King Uther. Every time she pressed her claim to the throne, Uther and Merlin branded her as a witch. Today's infamy of Lady Vivian stems not only from her supposed misdeeds but from the perception they created."
"And they—the villains outside like Bagoteng and the villain inside like Morgan le Fay—are just tools to make the true successor shine. Clever bastards."
Kay understood why they made Morgan the villain: to spotlight the younger siblings, the true heirs.
They used an external villain, Bagoteng, and an internal villain, Morgan le Fay—a scheme to elevate the protagonist.
"Sir Kay, Lady Vivian was not always like she is now. But she had no choice. Failing her mission drove her mad, and as fairies who bear the fairy realm, witnessing humans' negative hearts daily is sheer agony."
"So both are scoundrels?"
"Hahaha… Those born with Britain's mystery see the world differently. They are born to be ideal rulers. Yet King Uther, perhaps being the last king, was born as a non-human akin to Merlin. As a king he excelled, but as a human he committed atrocities that would horrify even the gods. We fairies despise King Uther. His essence was monstrous."
"So Bagoteng gets reevaluated… Good riddance."
"Yes. It's fortunate we never have to see that father's face again."
Even the fairy queen judged Uther's inhumanity harshly—so much so that even her daughter, Caster, cursed him.
"In that sense, Lady Vivian is truly pitiful. She was once Britain's finest fairy. Sir Kay, I have one favor to ask."
"?"
"In the future, Lady Vivian will approach you. When that happens, will you accept her?"
"I'm not sure what you mean with such vague grammar."
"You will understand when the time comes. In short, you are the hope that can change Britain's fate."
"You flatter me…"
"No."
Gloriana shook her head firmly.
"Your influence on Britain's history surpasses any deity or heroic spirit. You taught those bound by Merlin to the throne about happiness and love. Without your compassionate and steadfast guidance, Britain's history might have long ago devolved into a horrible slaughter."
The queen's sincere praise.
At her words, the Servants smiled happily, and Caster blushed as she rested her head lightly against Kay's arm.
"Well, it sounds grand… I just wanted to live peacefully, keep my sisters and lovers fed, and share warm meals."
Kay's matter-of-fact simplicity. Gloriana burst into laughter at his unadorned truth.
"Hohoho. Indeed, your nonchalance has set countless cogs in the right direction. Very well, Sir Kay. It is our infinite honor to have someone like you in the Fairy Kingdom."
Gloriana rose gracefully from her seat.
"Now, let us end this private talk. My attendants outside tell me the banquet is ready. It is time to fill the stomachs of hungry heroes. Please, indulge in the Fairy Kingdom of Cleopolis's pride—centuries of legendary cuisine."
Kay's eyes burned with excitement. Legendary dishes, the Fairy Kingdom's age-old delicacies.
As a cook himself, Kay's heart pounded as he followed the queen's lead, swallowing hard and moving toward the grand banquet hall.
The Fairy Kingdom of Cleopolis's grand banquet hall was literally a fantasy come to life.
Below crystal chandeliers glowing with mana, oak tables stretched as far as the eye could see, laden with dozens, even hundreds, of bizarre dishes.
"Wow… even the smell is no joke."
Kay couldn't stop marveling as he surveyed the table.
Rainbow-hued roasted mythical beast meat, transparent fruit jelly gleaming like emeralds, a colossal fish grilled with a sprinkling of golden dust, and nectar infused with soft starlight.
The overwhelming sight and scent felt like the perfect gourmet culmination Kay had never seen in any past or present life.
"Sir Kay! Please, don't be shy—dig in. This is a traditional Wind Clan dish: rainbow stag herb roast!"
Britomart proudly carved a huge slice of meat onto Kay's plate. The outside looked crispy, the inside moist, and the rainbow juices dripped from the cut.
"Ooh… the visuals are insane. Thank you!!"
Kay, brimming with anticipation, cut a large portion and clenched his teeth as he bit in.
Crunch
And the next moment, Kay's face paled as the smile of joy vanished completely.
"…?"
Kay felt his thought processes halt at the bizarre sensation lingering in his mouth.
He had chewed meat; the texture was definitely meat. But… the taste was not meat at all.
'…Sweet. Sweet enough to melt my tongue. No, it's only sweet! Where's the salt, the umami, the spice? It's like chewing on a chunk of sugar molded into meat form?!'
Kay swallowed with difficulty and desperately moved his fork to the next dish: golden-dusted fish, emerald jelly, dew-kissed fantastical salad.
Crunch, gulp… nom nom… ugh!
"…"
Kay slowly set his fork down on the table.
He looked as pale as a condemned man and his fists trembled.
'How… how is this possible? Can you even call this cooking?'
Kay's despairing realization of the truth behind Fairy Kingdom cuisine:
It was all about extreme showmanship and sugar overload.
Fairies had a fundamentally different concept of taste than humans. For them, cooking was not an act of survival to fill the belly and absorb nutrients. Fairies could live on mana alone.
Therefore, cooking in the Fairy Kingdom was merely an art form that pursued visual beauty and extreme tongue stimulation.
There was no balance of savory salt, meaty richness, or umami broth—just giant sugar sculptures cleverly disguised as food.
After all, it was a culture born from humanity. Even gods looked to human customs and developed their own in turn. Everything began with humanity.
"Hey, brother? Why the face? Is it bad?"
Caster looked at Kay with worried eyes. The Servants had also tried a bite and put down their forks with inscrutable expressions.
"Ugh, did someone soak fish in sugar water?"
Jeanne Alter complained openly.
"…Sir Britomart."
Kay bowed his head deeply and asked in a voice that seemed to crawl out of hell.
"Yes? Sir Kay! Does the meat suit your taste?"
"…How have you been eating until now?"
"Ah, I've only ever eaten Fairy Kingdom food since I was young. On my journeys I lived on preserved rations. When you cooked, I filled in with those."
The sound of reason snapping could be heard in Kay's mind.
Even when researching with that terrible demonic beast meat in the demon realm, he had never seen such an assault on ingredients—turning them into nothing but sugar facades was pure sacrilege.
Thump!!
Kay swept the chair aside and stood up. His eyes blazed more fiercely than any warrior heading into battle.
"Sir Kay? Is something the matter…?"
The queen asked in alarm.
"Your Majesty, Lady Britomart, I sincerely appreciate your hospitality but…"
Striding toward the great kitchens of the Fairy Kingdom in a chillingly fierce voice, he declared:
"I cannot bear the sight of calling these sugar lumps 'cuisine.' I hereby seize your kitchen for one day. I will carve into the tongues of these pampered fairies the true meaning of cooking."
The chef Kay.
Following the tyrant of Ireland, he now proclaimed a new holy war to punish the decayed taste ecology of the Fairy Kingdom.
As he left the banquet hall and headed to the kitchens, the fairies looked on in confusion. Thanks to Caster's magic guard, they could not see Kay's true intent and had no idea what was wrong.
And among them, one fairy was staring intently.
"Hmm… so this man is the one the queen honored. He looks pretty strong."
The leader of the Black Dog and king of the Fang Clan.
"He seems… delicious."
It was Bagest.