readsfreenovel Chapter 23 The anxiety that had been hanging in the air finally died.
Chapter 23 The anxiety that had been hanging in the air finally died.
You are someone who is very afraid of awkward situations, so if Shirley starts playing her little games about trust at some point in the day, you will make an excuse to say that you need to make some snacks for everyone in order to escape the situation.
This excuse always works.
And, although you're glad that Princess Morning Star mercifully let you go to the kitchen, your fried spring rolls couldn't escape Alastor's clutches.
Just like you said before, the broadcast demon perfectly replicated what you said before—it really is true that you fry one and he eats one. Sometimes, looking at the empty plate, you might even doubt whether you actually fry it.
Every time you fry one and put it on a plate, when you turn around, you can see Alastor sitting in a chair holding a half-eaten one.
The elegant Wendigo will always comment on whether your spring rolls are fried properly when you turn your head. Although most of his comments are complimentary, you still feel uncomfortable all over.
"Hey! Angel and Pantheon are going to perform the script I just wrote! I even wrote roles for you and Alastor! Come on, come on! It's your turn to go on stage!"
Just as you were cooking porridge for a midnight snack, Shirley suddenly ran over and excitedly waved to you and Alastor from the kitchen doorway.
Perhaps because Shirley's arrival was so sudden, the two demons, who were usually quite calm, both widened their eyes and showed slightly surprised expressions.
At this moment, the neat and clean kitchen contains only you and Alastor, the two demons.
Shirley was slightly surprised to see you and someone else still hanging out together after exchanging insults.
She almost reflexively glanced around the kitchen, and for a moment she was at a loss for words.
The kitchen inside the Hell Inn was actually quite dilapidated before you checked in, and it even had hellish rats inside.
But later, while Vicky and Shirley were out looking for sinners who wanted to go to heaven, the volunteer chef silently hired a renovation company from hell to thoroughly renovate the kitchen, which originally looked like a place no one wanted to enter.
Although the kitchen is still pink after the renovation... at least I don't really want to go in.
But so much time has passed, and she seems to have gotten a little used to the hellish aesthetic... At least her perfect inn kitchen doesn't smell as bad as the main street outside the Pride Ring.
A kitchen with [unclear] is always filled with the aroma of delicious food.
The smell could come from stew, a dish, dessert, or coffee.
In some ways, ■■■ herself may not be entirely clear, but the kitchen is definitely the place most demons in most inns would like to visit.
Who wouldn't love to be fed the delicious food they're making or experimenting with by a quiet but always good-tempered demon who never even swears?
Angel has even uttered "Mommy" on his lips.
Unfortunately, after Alastor arrived at the Hell Inn, the only one left in the kitchen was Alastor himself, a demon who inexplicably exuded a dangerous aura.
This sinner lord wouldn't actually drive people away; he wouldn't stoop to such a thing... However, aside from himself who was cooking and the hotel owner, Shirley, the other demons remaining here would only be driven away by the broadcast demon's venomous and mocking remarks.
...Most importantly, you can't beat him!
Angel, who loved to stay in the kitchen waiting to be fed before Alastor arrived, was the first to express strong condemnation.
But because the only one who could somewhat restrain the broadcast demon, a certain little spider, had to go to work, the matter was eventually dropped...
Right now, although the two of you don't get along, the aloof Eastern sinner is wearing a pink apron and making late-night snacks for everyone in the hotel, while the broadcasting demon is sitting quietly drinking coffee in a chair to the side. The whole scene is so harmonious it's almost eerily unsettling.
The little princess of hell, whose mouth seemed to be in arrears for a moment, finally fixed her helpless gaze on the stew pot that looked strangely similar to her.
In the round, adorable stew pot that looks much like Xia Li, a beautifully colored meat porridge is simmering.
The meat porridge looked like a midnight snack prepared by [unclear] for all the demons who get hungry at night.
Milky white steam enveloped the slightly surprised face of the Eastern sinner—in fact, Shirley had already smelled the aroma of food when she reached the door.
Even if she wasn't starving, she would still be willing to have a bowl of this oriental delicacy after smelling the aroma of ■■■'s cooking.
But what truly made Shirley happy was that the gifts she and Vicky had given her actually worked.
Earlier, to thank... or rather encourage ■■■ for repairing the kitchen, at ■■■'s strong request, the two female demons, including the demon, gave her a kitchen utensil.
Shirley gave her a stew pot in her own image, while Vicky gave her a kettle with a pink lid and handle and an overall purple and white color.
According to Shirley, the two gifts were actually drawn by the two of them, stroke by stroke.
Although it wasn't anything particularly valuable, both Shirley and Vicky could tell that ■■■ really liked and cherished the gift they received.
"Oh, what a beautiful scene... cough, no... anyway, are you and Alastor coming?"
When Shirley saw you using the things she gave you to cook, her eyes first lit up with emotion, and then she repeated why she came here.
Although it's quite bizarre that ■■■ can get along well with the Broadcast Demon right now, for Shirley, who hopes everyone can love each other, as long as the two of you can live well at the inn, even if it's bizarre, it's a good thing.
Shirley's words left no room for refusal. You, holding a spoon, glanced at the blonde witch who looked particularly happy and excited, and a hint of helplessness appeared on your face: "What, is your little game of getting to know each other over?"
After you spoke, Alastor put down his coffee cup and looked at Shirley at the kitchen door with you.
"Yes! I just wrote a short script! At first, I only wrote the storyline for Angel and Sir Pensius, but then I realized that you and Alastor were also suitable for the roles, so I included both of you!"
The little princess walked in through the door with an excited look on her face, her eyes shining with anticipation.
She gripped the script in both hands, her shoulders hunched with joy, and bent slightly before slipping the small notebook into your hands.
You, who have lost the right to refuse: "..."
"...Do me a favor, use the part of your normal sense of taste that you don't eat human flesh to taste the saltiness of the porridge."
You take the script from your hand and hand the spoon to the elegant Wendigo next to you, who has droopy eyelids and looks bored.
Upon seeing your request, the broadcasting demon, who hadn't said anything, first raised an eyebrow in surprise, then stood up and readily accepted the things from your hands, obediently tasting the porridge you made.
"The saltiness is just right, I guess there shouldn't be any problem."
Alastor quickly offered his fair assessment.
After each meal, the broadcast demon's temper would suddenly become very good.
After he's had a full meal, he's even willing to help you with some things.
This is one of the reasons why you were willing to let Alastor stay in the kitchen.
Sometimes you might think of the broadcast demon as a beast whose ferocity is determined by its hunger.
When he is hungry or not full, he becomes particularly sarcastic and loves to mock people.
But when he's full, he transforms into a gentleman who is consistent inside and out, gentle and obedient—at least to women.
Like now.
While you were reading the script, Alastor thoughtfully stood behind you and untied the knot in your apron, and also turned the fire in the porridge pot down to a low simmer.
The male criminal's entire set of movements was fluid, natural, and so familiar that it seemed as if he had done it for you a thousand times before.
"Shirley, what do you mean I'm 'the ultimate boss of a ruthless drug dealer who catches kids and sells them cocaine, but who eventually reformed under Officer Alastor's guidance and led his gang to turn over a new leaf'?"
Completely oblivious to what Alastor was doing, you stared wide-eyed at the script in your hands.
“That’s what it means literally.”
"..."
Seeing Shirley's expectant face, you immediately felt dizzy and your vision went black.
"...Then why is the officer Alastor? Does he seem like the kind of devil who would willingly become a lackey of the system?"
The voice on your tablet even sounded doubtful when it asked that question.
"That's your stereotype! My dear! While I certainly have no interest in being a cop, arresting you is more than enough to make up for the time I wasted playing a cop."
Alastor slowly guided your apron, which you had taken off, toward the coat rack with his cane beside you.
damn it.
Seeing the radio demon's perpetually smiling expression, you silently cursed him, attributing all his emotions to mockery.
“…Shirley, look at him, look at this guy.”
The thought of being "arrested" by Alastor made you feel like you were going to have a nightmare, and you twitched your lips, trying to complain.
"Please, please~ I'm mainly worried that if you don't participate, when Alastor and Angel act together... well, you know."
Perhaps sensing your reluctance, as she said this, Shirley, knowing you would never refuse her requests, cupped her face in her hands and acted coquettishly towards you, while subtly gesturing to you with a meaningful expression.
You notice that after hearing what Shirley said, Alastor's lower eyelids, which had been smiling, suddenly twitched uncontrollably.
……
Okay, okay... the things Shirley is worried about aren't impossible.
If Alastor and Angel were to act together, even in a script for Shirley that's suitable for all ages, Angel's performance would probably be so bad that it wouldn't pass censorship at all.
You've even come up with an ending for Hell Inn—the broadcast demon, enraged by X's harassment, blows up the inn, forcing Shirley to start anew with the other surviving demons...
You glanced at the radio demon who looked completely unconcerned, elegantly admiring his own nails, and then at the little princess in front of you whose eyes were sparkling.
Unable to accept the current situation, you remained silent for a long while before finally accepting reality with a pained expression.
"...Fine, even if it's just for you, I'll take it..."
"...Yay!!!"