212. Three-Hour Cooking with the Demon Lord
Arrived in the city.
That was acceptable. However, the Vampire Child’s skill had not progressed significantly during the journey.
The title "Wicked Eater" had been acquired, but skill growth remained underwhelming.
After all, it was merely movement. Skills do not expand so easily.
Upon arrival, headed straight to an inn.
The Vampire Child looked on the verge of death. Needed rest.
Mmm.
Perhaps I overdid the poison?
I’ve already secured the title. I can return to normal meals now.
Besides, I myself am ready for proper food.
While the Vampire Child was poisoned, I was forced to consume the same tainted meals.
The Demon Lord claimed I should be given poison-free food, yet insisted that was unfair and made me eat poisoned dishes too.
But that ends here.
I shall ensure the agreement with the Demon Lord is fulfilled—granting me delicious food to eat.
First, the inn.
I shall locate the finest inn in this town and enter without hesitation.
The Demon Lord provides a generous tip, securing the best room.
Leaving the ill Vampire Child and Melah behind, I and the Demon Lord depart for shopping.
As a guard, I summon three simulacra based on the spider child collected earlier.
Unlike the Baybies left in the Elro Great Labyrinth, the collected spider children have not yet developed self-awareness. I absorb them directly, using them as extensions.
Individually, their strength is negligible. But with three, they should be capable of repelling a dragon-class entity.
The people at the inn are under the demon lord’s pressure, so they won’t do anything reckless. But humans, when they see gold, can’t be trusted.
So, shopping.
Mainly food supplies.
High-grade ingredients, bought without hesitation.
Demon lord’s rich, huh.
Yet those stares are irritating me.
Since entering the city, I’ve been stared at nonstop.
I’m not a spectacle.
Ugh, this is frustrating.
I feel like killing them all.
…But killing everyone is out of the question. Selective elimination works better.
From the directed stares, I detect the corrupt ones.
While the demon lord is distracted by shopping, I slip into an alleyway, evading the source of those glances.
I saunter past shops in the alley, casually moving toward a less populated area.
As if lost in an unfamiliar town.
Emerging into a place utterly devoid of people, I was attacked in silence.
At the same instant, the assailant’s head detached.
A mere flick of the blade thread—yet the attacker offered no resistance, dying instantly.
Too sudden to be satisfying. Did not relieve irritation.
Whatever purpose this one had in attacking me—selling me as a slave, taking me hostage to threaten the Demon King, using me as a release for lust—was irrelevant.
A useless piece of trash, unhelpful even as stress relief. Still, since I’m here, I’ll collect its blood.
It’s for Melah. Soon, I’ll have to stop doing it for her and make her gather it herself.
The Demon King likes it. I’m merely keeping an eye on the Vampire Child as a favor. Frankly, I have no interest in her.
Quickly finishing the task, I tossed the corpse into the stored dimensional space where severed parts were kept.
Returned to the Demon King’s side upon sensing the severed body beginning to consume the corpse in the otherworld.
But this must be resolved sooner rather than later.
Simply being in a place crowded with people provokes irritation to such a degree that no one can predict when it will erupt.
There are black days too—enduring mass slaughter is manageable, but the mood is at its worst.
"Phew, got it, got it."
While wasting time, the Demon King’s shopping appeared to have concluded.
"End?"
Yeah. That’s enough for today, right?
What good is buying ingredients alone?
"Hmm? I'm the one doing the cooking?"
What?
I thought for sure you’d summon a top chef from this city to prepare the meal—yet the Demon Lord is doing it himself?
Fufufu. Not living this long for nothing. Let me be clear—my cooking skills are leagues above those of ordinary chefs.
Hmm.
Very well.
Then, let me see that arm, shall I?
The demon returned to the inn and claimed the kitchen for himself, beginning to cook.
I returned to my room beforehand and waited, impatiently, for the meal to finish.
It took three hours.
Three hours after the demon had the inn staff assist him, the dish was brought to my room.
I waited.
I waited for a long time.
I am truly impressive for enduring this.
The Vampire Child, who had been sleeping, awoke at the scent and joined everyone at the table.
"Then, I'm eating."
" " "I'm eating." " "
We finally touched the meal we had waited so long for.
First, the fish.
!?
W—wonderful!
The rich sauce spread across my tongue the moment it was eaten.
It resembled mayonnaise, yet was more refined and smoother in taste.
Despite its richness, the natural umami of the fish was clearly present, blending seamlessly with the sauce.
This is the first time I've ever eaten something this delicious.
Ah... now that I think about it, I've never actually tasted ordinary food before.
The only things I've ever received as offerings were fruits or sweets.
To eat a proper meal, free of poison, truly for the first time in my life.
Thinking about it like that, I started crying.
I ate each bite slowly, savoring it.
Felt a little salty, as if from tears, but that made the alcohol go down easier.
Good morning.
Huh?
When did I build this makeshift home?
I was surrounded by a white cocoon centered on the bed.
Or rather, when did I fall asleep?
Hmm?
My memory's gone.
I remember being moved by the demon lord's cooking and eating it, but I have no recollection from that point onward.
Probably passed out from drinking too much.
Anyway, I should get up.
Emerging from the简易home, the Demon King greeted me with an unusually pleasant smile.
"Shiro-chan. Activate the Lightning Mechanism!"
The Demon King began to glow faintly white.
Simultaneously, a series of punches lashed out, piercing my body repeatedly.
"Brace yourself!"
Goff!?
Ah—what's with this, already in the morning?
Gak.