Noelle shrugged.
"Maybe the recipe was so secret even the Heroes guarded it carefully."
Anita took a huge bite and closed her eyes in bliss.
"With the sausage, the cheese, the mushrooms… and the crust brushed with garlic… even the Goddess would moan from this."
Floralys turned to Young Wolf with interest.
"And where did you get the recipe, Young Wolf?"
Andras answered with perfect seriousness:
"It was hidden in a secret chamber inside Wolfwood Castle. The entrance was concealed with an illusion. Inside was a magical treasure chest whose seal protected the recipe for a thousand years. Breaking that seal wasn't easy."
Everyone listened in awe.
Meanwhile, Andras smiled inwardly.
"Yeah, right. It's just food from Earth. Though it's true — the Heroes there loved pizza."
Christina leaned forward, eyes sparkling.
"You really have hidden rooms like that in your castle? Maybe our castle has some too!"
Andras pointed at Floralys.
"Floralys would probably find illusion‑hidden rooms faster than anyone."
Floralys shook her head.
"I'm an Earth Mage. Illusion isn't my specialty."
Andras smiled.
"Then the Silverwood secret may stay hidden for another thousand years."
Christina let out a desperate sigh.
"Oh, come on! Isn't there any way for us to find it too?"
Floralys turned to Ironclaw.
"Ironclaw, could you sniff it out?"
Ironclaw puffed out her chest proudly.
"Stone has no scent. Illusion has no scent.
If you hid pizza in your castle, I'd find it instantly.
But a treasure chest? Impossible."
Christina looked at Andrea, who was calmly working on her fourth slice.
"No wonder you've become so strong, Andrea. You've been eating the Heroes' food all this time in Wolfwood."
Andrea only replied, mouth full:
"Hm."
The room filled with laughter, warmth, and the smell of freshly baked pizza.
The Wolf Knights, the Silver Knights, and the Battle Maids ate together, laughed together, and enjoyed a peaceful evening.
The evening passed pleasantly at Wolfwood's lodging. The smell of freshly baked pizza filled the house, and everyone ate with cheerful enthusiasm. The atmosphere felt like a big family gathering — even if a few guests had come for… other reasons.
Andrea was working on her fifth slice when she spoke up:
"Just thinking about how neither Eris nor the Princess has ever tasted pizza… it makes this dish even better."
Anita burst out laughing — then let out a massive burp.
"You're right! Hahaha!"
Andras examined the crust thoughtfully.
"It's good like this, but this isn't its final form."
Floralys turned toward him with interest.
"What do you mean, Young Wolf?"
Noelle set her plate down.
"I'll explain. I used pork lard for the dough, but originally it should be made with olive oil."
Andras nodded.
"Yeah, but there are no olives in the Kingdom."
Floralys tilted her head.
"If you want olives, they grow in the forest where I lived as a child."
She paused.
"The only problem is… that forest belongs to the Fire Dragons."
Christina's eyes widened.
"So that's why the Heroes guarded the pizza recipe so carefully? Only Heroes are strong enough to get olives from Fire Dragon territory."
Floralys nodded.
"Exactly. If adventurers tried to enter the Dragons' land, the death toll would be enormous. Nobles would pay a fortune for olives… and a bunch of foolish adventurers would run straight to their deaths."
Christina added:
"And if too many people wandered into Fire Dragon territory, they might lure a Dragon into the Kingdom while being chased."
Floralys smiled.
"Yes. The risk would be far too high. The Heroes even accounted for that. They were truly remarkable people."
Andras nodded with satisfaction.
"Exactly. Very clever of you two to figure it out, Christina, Floralys."
"Honestly, even I couldn't have come up with a better alibi for pizza." he thought.
Christina straightened proudly.
"Well, as you can see, you can always count on a Silverwood woman, Young Wolf."
Floralys added with a playful smile:
"And you can count on me for a thousand years — and on our children for even longer, my wolf."
Ironclaw burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! You're both idiots. Everyone knows our little wolf cubs will only come from me and Young Wolf together."
Andras stared at his slice, then spoke thoughtfully:
"Maybe we should sneak into the Fire Dragons' forest… just to get some olives."
Noelle nodded.
"Hm… I think you, me, and Ironclaw could slip in quickly and quietly."
Andras smiled.
"Yeah. And with Ironclaw's nose, we could avoid the Dragons too."
Christina slammed her slice down in outrage.
"Are you even listening to me, Young Wolf?!"
Floralys patted Christina's shoulder, laughing.
"That's how it is, Christina. Olives interest him more than you. Hahaha!"
The room filled with laughter.
The pizza was gone, but the good mood lingered.
In three days, the finals awaited them.
But tonight… they were simply friends sharing a table, laughing together.
Christina, however, wasn't done.
"If you're such a big girl, why don't you go fetch a few olives from your old forest yourself?" she asked Floralys.
Floralys went pale.
"There isn't a Goddess alive who could make me go near a Fire Dragon again."
Christina immediately backed down.
"Ah… sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."
"It's fine," Floralys waved it off. "But Young Wolf, if you really plan to go into that forest, take the Hero with you. Just to be safe."
Andras thought for a moment.
"Hm… I'll think about it.
Actually, Christina, I have a request for you."
Christina's eyes lit up.
"You want me to spend the night with you?"
Andras didn't even blink.
"We have three days until the finals.
I want you and Anita to train Andrea together — two against one."
Christina blinked a few times.
"Well… I don't mind.
If Andrea uses Feral Mode, she can probably handle both of us attacking at once."
Andras nodded.
"Without Feral Mode.
And without using your elements.
You'll train her with wooden practice swords."
He leaned forward slightly.
"In three days, we can't improve her magic.
But we can sharpen her swordsmanship — and you're the best partner for that.
If she has to fight both you and Anita at the same time, she'll develop the reaction speed she needs against the Hero."
Christina smiled.
"I understand. I'll help.
I still have plenty to learn myself.
These three days will be good training for me too."
Andras leaned back and let out a massive burp.
"Then it's settled.
I can't eat another slice."
The room burst into laughter again.
The three days of preparation passed in a blur, as if they had been a single long moment. Christina, Anita, and Noelle trained Andrea tirelessly: two against one, wooden swords only, no elements, pure technique.
Andrea grew faster each day.
Sharper each day.
Closer each day to becoming a worthy opponent for the Hero.
And now… the day of the finals had arrived.
The capital's streets were overflowing with people. Crowds surged around the Arena, and fights even broke out among those who couldn't get in. The guests in the royal box were the same as during the semifinals — everyone was waiting for the clash between the two greatest swordswomen of the Kingdom.
There were still thirty minutes until the start.
In the Royal Knights' changing room, Captain John Scarlett was speaking with his daughter. The air was tense — not with fear, but with anticipation.
John smiled with satisfaction.
"This Knight Tournament turned out better than I ever expected."
Eris nodded.
"Yes… it exceeded even my expectations."
John folded his arms.
"We've found an uncut diamond in Andrea Wolf — someone who surpassed even Christina Silverwood."
Eris grinned.
"And surpassed you too, hahaha!"
John laughed.
"Now I almost regret not entering the tournament myself."
"Young Wolf didn't enter either," Eris noted. "Probably because he knew how strong his Wolf Knights are."
John nodded.
"And now it's clear why Arpad Wolf didn't compete either. He wanted the Kingdom to see his granddaughter. Hahaha! In that, he and I are alike. I wouldn't have wanted to duel you either, Eris."
Eris took a deep breath.
"Until now, I've entered every duel knowing I would win. But for the first time… I have doubts. This fight won't be easy. I'll have to give it everything I have."