"Sorry, everyone. That was an oversight on our part."
Oz flew over after receiving the Medical Raven's complaint.
By then, Thor and the others had already washed the wounds with clean water and finished bandaging them.
Hogun's upper body had been wrapped in layer after layer. Although the medical supplies were a mess, at least there was plenty of gauze and clean water.
And, miraculously, Hogun, who had been half dead, recovered his spirits after only a brief rest once he was bandaged.
"Since the Night Ravens don't normally get injured, our medical equipment isn't very comprehensive."
Oz explained.
Looking at Hogun, who had become a mummy, Oz said with a smile:
"The Holy Kingdom Satin really does work wonders."
Gauze = Holy Kingdom Satin?
"Ah, right. I need to apologize to that Night Raven lady from earlier. I misunderstood her."
Sif hurried to apologize. Since she had wrongly blamed someone, a sincere apology was the proper thing to offer.
"I will convey your apology to her, madam."
Oz smiled. "Actually, she wasn't all that angry. She merely took some of her frustration over cleaning the hall out on you."
Huh?
Where did that come from?
"After all, the young lady had just cleaned the floor before you arrived. She barely had time to rest before Mr. Hogun came along and dirtied it again."
"Her Highness Fischl even cleans the floors? Does she cherish her subjects that much?"
As the leader of a nation, she actually handled even the cleaning herself. Such generosity and kindness were truly admirable, and such noble character deserved praise.
Sif couldn't help applauding Fischl's kindness and dedication.
Oz paused, then smiled:
"Ah, although what you said is true, that isn't why the young lady does it herself."
*??*
Sif was a little bewildered.
"After all..."
Oz quickly shook his full, feathered wings and said with a smile:
"Asking a raven to hold a mop with its wings really is asking a bit too much."
The others: "..."
We fell for the same thing twice?
(Meanwhile, the Prinzessin was busily mopping the hall: "Heave-ho, heave-ho!")
Sif recalled the area and sheer size of Immernachtreich they had seen on their way in.
If the Night Ravens couldn't clean, and Fischl had to do it all alone...
Such a huge castle...
For once, Thor's thoughts aligned with Sif's, and both fell silent.
Sif: "She cherishes her subjects!"
Thor: "A role model for us all!"
Loki: "..."
Volstagg: When do we get the free food? I'm a little hungry...
Hogun: Why are you still thinking about that?!
But as their host, Her Highness the Prinzessin would never let her friends go hungry.
Oz had come to deliver that very message.
Fischl declared with haughty reluctance, "I bestow upon you the honor of sharing afternoon tea with this Prinzessin."
That sentence needed no translation from Oz. Even Volstagg understood it.
The chance for a free meal had arrived.
"Ah~ Although food merely replenishes the energy this mortal vessel requires, only 'Sinner's Tears' and 'Tongue of Lies' are worthy of this Prinzessin."
"As for you mortals of flesh and blood, only the 'Consecrated Symphony' can cleanse the sins within."
Fischl spoke from the head of the long dining table.
Oz stood beside her:
"Oh? Aren't these the Long Night Summer Palace Honey Toast you often make, my lady, and your specialty, the Cold Cut Platter?"
Fischl nodded slightly, reserved yet proud:
"Hmph, rejoice, all of you. These supremely exquisite delicacies are but the work of this Prinzessin's passing fancy."
She even cooked them herself?
Although Her Highness Fischl's words were obscure and difficult to understand, the fact that she had cooked for them was truly touching.
Kindness and sincerity had always been the surest way to move people's hearts. Sif felt she had begun to grasp the trick to communicating with the Prinzessin.
"Thank you, Your Highness Fischl."
She speared a piece of cold meat... no, a piece of Consecrated Symphony, and put it into her mouth.
"Delicious!"
Its distinctive flavor lingered on her tongue.
Sif's eyes sparkled.
Thor grabbed the 'Sinner's Tears' and 'Tongue of Lies,' stuffing them into his mouth one piece at a time:
"Ah! Delicious! So good... they taste sweet."
Loki elegantly raised his fork, and the moment the food entered his mouth, a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes too.
...It really is quite good.
"Hogun, cut it out! There's so much food, and I haven't finished yet. What are you, a patient, fighting me for it for?!"
Volstagg had his arms around Hogun's waist, tugging wildly at his comrade, who had stretched an arm out to meddle with the food on his plate.
"I'm a patient. What's wrong with eating a little more to replenish my vitamins? Come on, don't be so stingy."
"Leave some for me! Just one bite!!"
"..."
Rumble!!
A sudden roar rang out, and those eating felt the sky outside abruptly darken.
Fischl calmly set down her utensils, elegantly wiped her mouth, and looked coolly toward the sky.
"Who dares challenge the authority of the Prinzessin der Verurteilung!"
Rumble!
Another peal of thunder sounded outside.
"My beloved familiar, it seems I must entrust you with discerning the truth beyond the mist."
Fischl spoke with a grave expression.
Oz: "Ah, understood. My turn to run errands."
"As everyone knows, the young lady won't move herself."
"Everyone, please wait a moment."
Fischl smiled faintly and turned. Oz spread his wings and instantly soared into the air.
The girl at the table vanished as well.
Violet lightning flickered all over Oz as he flew out of the hall and soared through the heavens.
Outside the gates of Immernachtreich, a pillar of rainbow light appeared.
Fischl stroked her faintly aching left eye, her voice ringing throughout Immernachtreich.
"The Eye of Condemnation has already beheld eternal victory."
The person outside the gates was an old man with white hair, riding a winged white horse.
Oz drew a little closer, allowing Fischl to make out the visitor's appearance. The old man wore an eyepatch too.
This astonished her.
"Impossible. The Eye of Condemnation belongs to this Prinzessin alone."
"Declare your name, insolent intruder beyond the gates."
The old man, who had been waiting for some time, naturally saw the Night Raven in the air. Having failed twice to breach the castle's defenses, he put aside his contempt for this talking Night Raven.
Clad in golden armor, the old man spoke in a deep voice filled with authority:
"I am the All-Father, Odin, ruler of Asgard."
"Who are you, little girl?"
"Me?"
Amid a flash of lightning, Fischl landed atop the castle wall. She smiled and lightly rested a hand against her forehead:
"There is no harm in telling you. When heaven and earth were created, Eden was divided among its rulers-I am Fischl, the Prinzessin der Verurteilung, who judges all sins of this world and perceives all truths within it."
"State your purpose!"
Confusion flickered through the old man's eyes before he bellowed:
"Hand over the people inside!"
At his words, countless fierce bolts of lightning descended from the sky, seemingly ready to tear this space apart.
Fischl froze, startled:
"W-why... why are you shouting so loudly!"
Oz gently reminded her, "My lady, mind your words."
"Oh! Ahem."
Fischl cleared her throat. Rather than retreat, she puffed out her chest:
"Taking anyone from this Prinzessin's hands is impossible!"
"Fate brought me into this world, and causality arranged for me to meet and know them. This Prinzessin shall protect the friends she has acknowledged. So it is proclaimed in the Apocalypse of Fate!"
"Old man! Draw your sword!"
"Taste this Prinzessin's Thundering Retribution!!"
A curved bow appeared in Fischl's hand. She drew the string and aimed at the old man below.
Battle was poised to erupt.
Looking at the fearless girl, the old man also understood what her extravagant string of words actually meant.
Admiration appeared in his eyes.
"Your name is Fischl, is it? Hmm... you're a good child."
"..."
"Flattery won't work. If you dare take another step forward, this Prinzessin will stop respecting her elders!"
Oz circled around the castle wall and loudly translated for the old man:
"What the young lady means is that, although she's happy to be praised, she's a teensy bit scared. She hopes you'll take her youth into account and go easy on her when you hit her."
Fischl: "Oz!!!"
"Haha."
The old man laughed heartily. It had been a long time since he had laughed so freely, without a care.
Much of the anger sparked by his troublesome children running off to cause trouble at his sworn enemy's home subsided as well.
He paid no heed to Fischl, whose face had flushed with embarrassment.
Instead, he raised the long halberd in his hand, thrust it toward the sky, and shouted:
"Thor! Loki! Get out here, you two brats!"
Thor, who was still feasting, shuddered.
"I think I heard Father's voice."
"I heard it too."
"Did you hear it?"
"Don't use this chance to steal my meat!"
Loki's eyes shifted as he said to Thor:
"Her Highness Fischl has been gone for quite a while. Perhaps she's run into some trouble. Thor, we've eaten so much of her food. Shouldn't we go help her?"
"Good point."
Thor stuffed all the remaining food on his plate into his mouth.
He picked up his hammer and whirled it around.
"I'll fly out and take a look."
With a push of his legs, he shot into the sky.
Boom, boom, boom!
Explosions rang through the sky again, like thunderclaps.
Before long, Thor's hair was standing on end, his body was filthy, and his face had turned red.
He came running back, covering his face in dejection.
"Let's go, brother. Father wants us home for dinner."
Having watched the entire process of Odin disciplining his disobedient son.
Fischl awkwardly put away her bow and arrows, jumped down from the castle wall, opened the gates of Immernachtreich, and welcomed Odin inside.
"Ahahaha, um... well..."
"Hello, Grandpa."
This was far too embarrassing.