For that very reason, the mercenaries were intently scrutinizing Deimon's cooking process at that moment. It was out of worry
that he might add strange ingredients should the opportunity arise.
‘We have to watch closely. A black mage’s palate is truly grotesque…….’
‘No matter how hungry I am, I can’t eat centipedes or maggots.’
But Deimon, absorbed in cooking, failed to notice their vigilance. A short while later,
having finished cooking, Deimon set down the pan with a triumphant air. Though he had used extremely ordinary ingredients and
seasonings, the difference in cooking method caused the dish to emit an appetizing aroma. Savoring the fragrance, Deimon picked up a plate.
“It’s done. Come and serve yourselves.”
The mercenaries crept forward one by one and picked up plates. It was rather pitiful to see them groaning as they lifted their utensils.
Deimon paid them no mind and began to eat.
“Kya! As expected, when it comes to cooking, nothing can match the Central Plains’ cuisine…….”
Murmuring exclamations of admiration, Deimon emptied his plate in an instant. But the mercenaries did not readily bring the food to
their mouths. Each and every one of them was using their forks to poke at the dish in their bowls. It was as though they were trying to find something hidden in the food. Quick-witted
Deimon soon realized the reason.
‘These guys?’
He well understood why they were doing it, but he still couldn’t suppress the rising anger. The thought that they dared slight his cooking was intolerable. In the end,
Deimon rearranged his mana in a fit of pique.
“You don’t want to eat it? Fine.”
With a quick wave of his hand, the food in the pan transformed in an instant. It was no different from what they had seen in the Sebain Cave. What had been meat and vegetables just moments ago changed into squirming bugs and snakes and the like. The perfectly normal dishes had transformed in the blink of an eye into a sight so revolting it made one’s gorge rise. The startled
mercenaries gasped in shock.
“Huk.”
“What?”
Yulriana, who had a weak stomach, even dry-heaved, so one could well imagine what the dish looked like. Having vented his spite, Deimon scrunched up his face and rose to his feet.
“Don’t ever ask me to cook for you again…….”
Deimon spat coldly and vanished without a trace. The remaining mercenaries were all at a loss, unable to hide their bewilderment. They realized it was an illusion created by magic, but they simply could not bring themselves to look at the dish. The only thing left to them was the small amount of food they had scooped into their bowls. That alone had not changed in appearance.
In the end, the mercenaries had to turn away and carefully put only the food in their bowls into their mouths. They were simply too hungry; they had to satisfy their hunger immediately. But.
“Huh?”
The moment Kasim put a piece of meat into his mouth, his eyes went wide. The sensation transmitted through his tongue was simply too profound. The meat melted in the blink of an eye,
sliding down his throat. Yet its flavor left a deep aftertaste on his tongue. A taste so rapturous it could only be described as ecstasy. Without a second thought, Kasim plunged his face into his bowl.
Munch, munch.
The food in the bowl was gone in an instant, revealing the bottom. It was such superb cooking that one couldn’t even tell how he had eaten it. Kasim had never tasted such delicious food before. Kasim, who had been rather indifferent to culinary pleasures, had fallen for it completely.
Having licked the sauce from the bowl without leaving a drop, Kasim turned his head with a start. To his amazement, the other mercenaries all wore strikingly similar expressions. They looked as though half their souls had left their bodies. Anyone could tell at a glance that they were completely captivated by the dish.
“It’s really delicious.”
“H-How can it taste like this?”
“C-Could he have used magic?”
The mercenaries’ gazes, murmuring one word at a time, all turned without exception to the dish in the pan. Their eyes, filled with greed, fixed upon the food. But the moment they looked at the dish, they felt something rising from within.
“Ugh.”
Though they knew full well it was a magical illusion, the appearance of the dish was utterly gruesome. Maggots and snakes writhed incessantly as if not yet dead, and yellow fluid flowed from the ruptured belly of the insects. It was a scene no sane person could bear to look at.
But the mercenaries, enthralled by the taste, couldn’t tear their eyes away from it. They couldn’t bring themselves to scoop up any more, yet the aroma wafting under their noses was irresistibly alluring.
In the end, Kasim, unable to endure it, was the first to act. Clenching his eyes shut as though trying to hypnotize himself, he muttered incessantly and cautiously extended his fork toward the dish.
“It’s fake. It’s nothing but a magical illusion.”
The moment something stuck to his fork, Kasim quickly shoved it into his mouth.
Munch.
The profound taste passed through his tongue without fail. The instant it matched the flavor he had tasted moments ago, Kasim finally lost all reason. Dashing to the pan, he buried his face directly into the dish. In that state, he devoured the food mindlessly.
Chomp, chomp.
Seeing that, the other mercenaries also lost their self-control. Like Kasim, they clenched their eyes shut and charged toward the dish.
“That’s not fair, Captain.”
“Let’s eat together.”
The place soon became a scene of utter chaos. A struggle ensued to get even a little more of the food. The dish was so exquisite that the mercenaries forgot all sense of dignity, quite literally fighting for their lives. And unsurprisingly, Yulriana and Michel were caught up in the frenzy too.
The food in the pan was gone in an instant, revealing the bottom. The pan and bowls were wiped so clean there was no need to wash them. Having licked every last piece of meat and drop of broth from their bowls, the mercenaries put on deeply regretful expressions. It had been so delicious that they couldn’t help but feel lingering attachment.
They hadn’t expected to regret their earlier actions so much. The mercenaries couldn’t help but lament that their prejudices had offended a top-class chef.
‘Well, seeing that reaction, it’s no wonder his pride was hurt.’
‘I made a huge mistake. A master has his own pride, after all.’
Just thinking that they might never taste such magnificent cooking again filled them with regret that flooded in like a tidal wave. They had already taken their first steps down the path of gastronomy. Never before had they imagined that the joy of taste could be so rapturous.
‘This won’t do.’
‘I have to win him back somehow. Only then can I occasionally get to eat his cooking.’
The mercenaries’ eyes were now united as one. They all shared the same thought: they had to soothe Deimon’s temper and get him to cook for them again. Had they never tasted it, they could have let it go, but having sampled it once, they simply couldn’t resist the temptation. The dish was truly that outstanding. Kasim shook his head as though he couldn’t believe it.
“Hu. Truly unbelievable. To think my heart would waver over mere cooking…….”
But Deimon’s cooking, once tasted, was like an irresistible drug to the mercenaries. Thus, they soon entered into consultation… for the purpose of placating Deimon…….
“What should we do? I suppose we all agree we need to appease him.”
“Of course.”
The mercenaries nodded as though there was nothing to think about. Michel and Yulriana were no exceptions.
“Does anyone have a good idea?”
The moment Kasim spoke, the mercenaries’ gazes turned in unison toward one person. It was Yulriana, who was still licking her lips. As their eyes focused on her, she became utterly flustered.
“Why are you all looking at me?”
Kasim looked at her with a broad smile.
“I believe Your Highness is the only one among us who can soothe Deimon’s temper. If anyone else steps forward, I’m afraid it might only backfire.”
Yulriana felt as though the hairs on her head were standing on end. Of course, she agreed that Deimon needed to be appeased, but she had absolutely no desire to step up herself.
“N-No way. Are you telling me to act cute to that man when I don’t even mean it?”
Yulriana shook her head repeatedly and stepped back. But the gazes of Kasim and the other mercenaries showed no signs of leaving her face.
“Are you fine with never tasting that cooking again?”
“………”
“We would do anything if we could, but unfortunately, we lack the ability. That ability belongs solely to Your Highness…….”
“B-But…….”
Now even Michel was siding with the mercenaries. He was pressuring Yulriana fiercely, taking their side.
“You’re perfectly capable of it, aren’t you? If you kiss his cheek and call him ‘Mister’ while acting cute like last time, wouldn’t the black mage fall for it completely?”
“What?”
Yulriana’s eyes suddenly turned fierce. She could tolerate the mercenaries, but she simply could not overlook Michel joining in. Was he not her escort knight, for all intents and purposes? Yulriana placed her hand on her hip and glared sharply at Michel.
“Whose side are you on? Don’t tell me you latched onto the black mage because of the armor and sword?”
“Th-that’s not it, but.”
Michel felt a chill run down his spine reflexively and took a step back. At that moment, Yulriana suddenly stared behind Michel with a startled expression.
“Oh my. Look at that!”
Michel turned around instinctively. But there was nothing behind him. The moment he confirmed this, Michel felt a sudden chill creep up his spine.
‘N-No way…….’
Before he could even finish the thought, excruciating pain welled up from his left armpit.
“Keueok.”
Michel’s breath caught in his throat. Realizing he had been had, he slumped heavily to the spot. He had fallen hook, line, and sinker for Yulriana’s ruse. Tears began to stream down his face unwittingly. Face covered in tears and snot, Michel began to groan in pain.
It was truly an unbearable pain, so Michel couldn’t help but curse Deimon endlessly for teaching her his vital points.
“You little punk. Getting cocky.”
Yulriana shook her fist with a triumphant air. She had struck Michel’s Axillary Acupoint exactly as Deimon had taught her. Tricking Michel was as easy as eating cold porridge. She had pranked him countless times until now.
“Does anyone else have something to say to me?”
Yulriana turned her head with a sly smile. The mercenaries all covered their armpits and shuffled backward. Their faces were visibly drained of color. To them, Yulriana’s smile was no different from a witch’s smile.
“N-No.”
“Nothing at all.”
Watching the mercenaries retreat repeatedly, Yulriana nodded in satisfaction and began to walk away.
“Watch carefully how I handle this.”
At her words, the mercenaries’ gazes focused on her once more, but not a single one dared open their mouth.