Hell Inn: Rebirth - I Became a Chef in Hell

Chapter 103 "He can't even do such a small thing right."

"...What I mean is, Your Highness, if you agree with my underlying logic, then what you just said contains a great and very strange ambiguity."

Having promptly retracted your dangerous thoughts, you extend a hand and patiently explain to the petite King of Hell before you with a helpless expression.

"Although these uninvited guests were brought by Miss Mimz, it should be common knowledge that this inn is the property of the Hell Princess... yet they still barged in."

“They made outrageous remarks about what might be Shirley’s customers, and even vandalized royal property without permission.”

"Let's put aside the demons' contempt for the dignity of the Hell royal family. What if they actually harm Shirley?"

You said this seriously to Lucifer, who had a half-understanding expression on his face.

"I don't know what Your Highness is worried about that might harm Shirley, but right now, isn't the demon who truly despises the royal family and has the potential to harm Shirley right before our eyes?"

“Since you also know what sinners and native creatures of hell are like, Shirley is your daughter, you should know what kind of personality she has. She is a kind and good princess who is so good that she is bullied and looked down upon, and she never uses her privileges.”

"So now these demons have attacked Shirley's property, interrupted your meeting with your daughter, and are even shouting and cursing at the door..."

You, who are best at escalating questions, softened your tone and a cryptic smile appeared on your face.

"Where exactly do they place your Morning Star family? Or is it because this is hell, so the title of Royal is just an ordinary name, and you are no different from the demons on the street, or even easier to bully because of your personalities?"

"...What!? Of course not! What are you talking about!"

Perhaps because you suddenly raised the issue to a new level, Lucifer's expression immediately turned extremely ugly, even though he didn't seem to understand everything you said, but at least he caught a few key words.

The petite fallen angel seemed to want to say something, but he twisted his handsome face and stammered for a long time without managing to utter anything coherent.

Looks clumsy.

“……■■■?”

Perhaps not expecting the situation to be so serious, Xia Li, who had been looking aggrieved, was momentarily stunned.

……

The silly girl and the King of Hell are indeed biological father and daughter.

Looking at the expressions on the father and daughter's faces—"Isn't this a bit too much?" and "They wouldn't dare!"—you seriously suspect that the royal family's dignity has been worn down by these two.

"These disrespectful and rude people have come to our doorstep. We were simply acting in self-defense... We haven't even established our authority yet. Why do you, Your Highness, think that the Broadcast Demon's actions are 'violent and cunning,' and that redeeming him is meaningless?"

With a slightly sad tone, you looked at Lucifer, who was speechless after you said those few words, with a slightly sorrowful but loving gaze.

"Do you really prefer to see Shirley's ideals and herself harmed rather than see a demon who has been helping Shirley take action to protect Shirley's ideals and Shirley herself?"

You said this in a nonchalant tone, directly placing Alastor in the position of a victim.

Although I wanted to refute the second half of your statement, Lucifer seemed to be speechless at your words.

“I know that as Shirley’s father, you must love Shirley very much.”

"But you can't judge everything about your daughter based on your own fearful past... You are the King of Hell, don't you have the ability to let your daughter fly free and then protect her when she gets hurt?"

"And how do you know that Shirley will definitely go down the same path as you? Is it because you have the ability to foresee the future?"

You sighed, even though you didn't intend to teach Lucifer's parenting methods.

“…Your Highness, Shirley is an independent individual. You can certainly worry about her being hurt…but certainly not in this way, because if you do, then the harm Shirley suffers will not come from what you are worried about, but from yourself.”

“She can get hurt, she can regret, she can cry, she can fail, but it’s her own choice. But if even her closest family isn’t willing to support her… have you really considered Shirley’s feelings?”

"In short, Your Highness Lucifer, you can't have it all."

Shirley's mother disappeared for seven years. It's hard to imagine how Shirley survived those years when her mother was gone and even her own father didn't support her dreams.

Despite the princess's near-dead wish, she did not give up but kept searching for a solution.

You admire Shirley's unwavering, even reckless, courage and extraordinary perseverance.

Since she has accomplished something that most people cannot, you hope that you can also contribute your own small share to her cause.

"……I……"

The confident expression on Lucifer's face, which had been rendered speechless by your words, vanished.

Lucifer, who seemed to still be able to hear what you were saying, looked at Shirley like a child who had made a mistake.

Clearly, no demon had ever said such a thing to him before.

While it wasn't exactly an eye-opener, Lucifer was still largely confused by most of what you said.

Perhaps he needs some time to think about and process what you said.

As for you...

Since you chose to get involved in Shirley's family affairs, even at the cost of your own reputation, you might as well go all the way—

Well, the main reason is probably because, as a Chinese person, you feel that Lucifer's views are inherently problematic, but you hope to persuade him through reasoning.

Although you feel that Lucifer only listened to half of your reasoned and emotional appeals.

But whether these demons in hell want to pay their debts is one thing, and whether they come to attack the inn of the Hell Princess is another.

Moreover, if demons in hell can habitually be rude to members of the royal family, then why should you treat them with kindness?

Didn't he say he loved his daughter? Although Lucifer might have gotten used to these things to some extent, it doesn't mean he can apply his past to Shirley's present and future, nor can he conflate the demons who attacked Shirley with those who helped her when such things happen, and use this as a symbol of his victory.

—A bunch of clowns are practically shitting on your head. Even if Alastor doesn't lift a finger, you should still beat these cowardly bullies to a pulp.

“...■■■ is right, Dad.”

Immediately understanding that you were helping her, Xia Li gave you a grateful look, and then quickly accepted the opportunity you gave her.

This isn't the first time you two have done this.

Shirley is responsible for providing you with the concepts, and you are responsible for explaining the reasons to others.

You build a staircase for the little princess, and all she has to do is go down one step at a time.

"...She's right, I just didn't want you to get hurt."

"Shirley, you are now the only person I can protect."

Surprisingly, the King of Hell listened to what you said. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke softly in a sorrowful tone.

Lucifer's voice had a noticeably nasal quality.

When you look at him, the fallen angel, who suddenly appears incredibly thin, stands still, his blood-red pupils shimmering and trembling.

Unlike Lucifer, who is a six-winged fallen angel, you were once human, and the reason you went to Hell is unknown. This may be the reason why you and he have such different ways of looking at things.

You don't know what kind of harm he has suffered, but it is wrong to reject other people's ideas based on your own past experiences.

Because no one can see the future, the future holds infinite possibilities.

All the cold reality and the self-justifying nonsense uttered by others, which they call "truth," will succumb to absolute power and perseverance.

You don't believe in fate, the future, or the rules set by others.

You only believe in yourself.

You help Shirley because you trust her.

You can understand Lucifer's fear that his daughter, deprived of the ability to see the good in others, might be destroyed by an unfortunate future like his own, but you want to tell Lucifer that Shirley is not alone now.

Although you believe that Shirley and Lucifer can communicate well even without your interference. After all, you trust that Shirley, who grew up in love, is capable of communicating effectively with her father—

But she looks like she needs help.

Although meddling in other people's family affairs isn't really your style, you at least want Shirley to feel that she's not alone.

After Lucifer said those two sentences, Shirley went up to her thin father, who seemed lost in memories, and gently said something to him.

And you, standing quietly behind her, observe.

You recklessly lectured someone's father, but you haven't gone so far as to interfere in their family relationship... huh?

"Shirley! Watch out...! ■■■!"

Vicky's voice will abruptly wake you from the warmth and affection you're enjoying with others.

Unexpectedly, you managed to break through Alastor's encirclement alone, and almost instinctively drew your sword and rushed towards Shirley and Lucifer.

Your sword-wielding movements were clean and swift, so fast that even Lucifer, the king of hell, was momentarily stunned.

That was truly a beautiful strike, so sharp it seemed capable of cleaving through space and even stars.

Perhaps having you protect Shirley is indeed the right choice.

Until you are soaked through by the seawater hidden inside the split boulder.

It only lasted a moment.

You stared wide-eyed, and your breath seemed to stop.

So, the moment you're completely soaked by the seawater, you start hearing that sound again.

—You hear that voice you haven't heard for over a year.

……

'...'

'It's pathetic that you can't even do something as simple as this right.'

'……ha.'

……

"...Ugh...Pah! What is this? An attack mixed with seawater and holy water!?...Oh...these sinners' attack methods are getting more and more creative!"

Lucifer, covered in seawater, complained and disgustedly dried himself off.

The King of Hell, forced to awaken from a moment of enjoying family time with his daughter, looked so angry that his expression was contorted.

"This is great... Your friend is right, I should have gotten rid of these damn guys...!"

"No...no no no! ■■■!!"

Shirley's screams, more panicked than ever before, jolted Lucifer awake from his daze, who hadn't yet realized what was happening.

He turned his head in confusion to look at his daughter, who was still soaking wet and was kneeling on the ground in a panic, checking on the condition of the Eastern criminal.

His daughter kept brushing aside the strange-looking female demon's bangs, her voice trembling.

Is it because the holy water has some side effects on her?

This was Lucifer's first thought, despite his strange expression.

But this eloquent stranger with mysterious powers didn't show any negative reactions like ordinary demons when he came into contact with the holy water.

Or rather, a sinner powerful enough to be like her shouldn't be afraid of holy water, something used to fool children.

The King of Hell frowned in surprise and reached out to separate the seawater that had soaked his daughter from her.

Strangely, his magic seemed to have no effect on this strange sinner named ■■■…

Or perhaps it only worked halfway?

His ability only separated the holy water from the stranger's body; the seawater part, on the other hand, was as stubborn as if it had grown onto her body.

"……Um?"

Lucifer, who was finally willing to get a little closer, let out a questioning nasal sound.

Putting aside the reaction of the sinner from the East, his daughter's obviously excessive anxiety also puzzled him.

"...■■■!■■■! Look at me! Look at me! It's okay! Please...!"

Like a sinner from the East, Shirley lay sprawled on the ground and tried to cup the face of the female demon in front of her, but upon touching her, the blonde demon was quickly startled by her almost icy body temperature.

Faced with a concern whose recipient was no longer clear, the once-effortless Eastern sinner struggled to brush away the other's hand, then collapsed to the ground, panting in pain.

She seemed to be muttering something.

Completely frantic and at her wits' end, Shirley tried to call for help, but out of concern for [the situation], she resolutely bent down, forcing herself to listen to what [the person], curled up on the ground, pale-faced and drenched in sweat, was saying—

"..."

"……Walk……"

"No...you..."

"...Get away..."

"Get away!!"

"Stay away from me!!"

Before Xia Li could even speak, she was pulled into someone's arms after finally hearing what the Eastern sinner, who always unconditionally stood by her side, had said.

"...Shirley, stay away from her!"

Before Lucifer's warning words had even finished, the chilling sounds of bones breaking, muscles tearing, and writhing erupted all at once.

With a crisp "rip" sound as the clothes were torn, a massive, dark body, as large as a mountain peak, suddenly and without warning squeezed out from ■■■'s body, which was soaked with seawater!

The demones' originally tall and slender bodies could not withstand the changes that exceeded the limits of their bodies, and in an instant, they were torn apart like a useless piece of paper.

Blood mist gushed forth from the broken spine of ■■■, the flowers of red bone and flesh stained with blood like a gift offered to something to come.

Like a whirlwind of sharp blades, it swept up from a bloody, indistinct mass of flesh and familiar fabric, while the scent of the ocean surged and roared outwards from the Hell Inn as its center.

Protected by Lucifer within his six wings, Shirley could barely keep her balance with his support.

Amidst the flying sand and swirling stones, accompanied by a deafening, mournful dragon's roar, a colossal black beast, its body seemingly endless, crowded around the inn.

The blonde demoness, who was trapped inside the colossal creature's body along with her father, stared wide-eyed in disbelief. She looked at the black dragon that had suddenly appeared before her, and then watched helplessly as the familiar creature rubbed and rubbed the bones and bodies that once belonged to the Black Dragon on the ground into a mess.

The broken spine fragments and bits of flesh of the Eastern sinner were squeezed and scattered all over the ground by the familiar fabric, and then rubbed into the mud by the dragon's belly, mixing haphazardly with the sinners killed by the demons that had been broadcast earlier.

They lay prostrate on the ground like withered flowers, their eerie, deeper red blood spreading and spreading across the ground like plant roots, steaming and emitting bursts of heat.

Seeing the scene suddenly take a turn for the worse, Xia Li, whose face seemed even paler than usual, gripped her father's hand and opened her mouth—

But in the end, she was unable to say anything.