Episode 3: Ingredients rather than Cooking

“If you save my life in exchange, that’s fine with me.”

“Protect me?”

The Demon Lord chuckled dismissively. Viola hurriedly waved her hand to stop the man, who began to concentrate magic in his hand as if it were a waste of time.

“You should listen to the whole story. Hey, Demon Lord, aren’t you known for being impatient?”

“Get to the point quickly. Or do you intend to prolong your final moments?”

“Well, it can’t be helped. I’ll tell you then. Have you heard of a hero?”

“I asked for nothing. For the time you’ve taken from me, I’ll make sure to cherish it thoroughly.”

“Don’t you believe me?”

That nonchalant tone

Without any implications, the Demon Lord furrowed his brow slightly and stopped moving.

“If you’re the Demon Lord, I thought you would have known by now. Surprisingly, your information network is narrow.”

“If you have time to spout nonsense that rubs people the wrong way, you should cherish the time your head is connected to your body.”

“If you have time to threaten people, shouldn’t you seriously consider the hero?”

Picking up the fallen robe from the ground, Viola dusted it off and put it on. It had been cold for a while now. All thanks to the man in front of her, who scattered cold air.

“The hero does exist. I’ve talked to one.”

“If you think I’ll trust those words, you’re quite fortunate.”

“If you don’t believe it, you can do as you please. But haven’t you ever wondered? Why has the demon king subjugation suddenly become active in the last decade when the demons haven’t done anything?”

“… ”

“I’ve thought about it too. But those who can use magic to some extent will never have trouble finding employment for their entire lives. That’s why His Majesty is gathering personnel for demon king subjugation. It’s because there’s a certain chance of success, don’t you think?”

Viola spun around on the spot. The expanded white robe displayed the royal crest embroidered in gold thread. It was proof that she was a member of the official demon king subjugation force.

“All of this is because a hero, the only one who can kill the Demon Lord, has appeared. Isn’t it a logical story? That’s why…”

“So what?”

“Well, aren’t you afraid of dying?”

“Me?”

“Yes. No matter how much you say, Demon Lord, you don’t know what will happen when facing the hero.”

So Viola laughed.

“I’ll go to the Demon King’s castle and protect you. Because, you know, Demon Lord, you don’t know the hero’s face, right? Once I’ve seen the Demon Lord’s face, you probably won’t return me to my original place anyway, so I thought I’d settle down in the Demon King’s castle. How about it?”

The hero is someone I once met and exchanged words with for a brief period of time.

Using the hero, Leon, doesn’t come without guilt, but the Demon King’s castle is renowned for being impregnable. Honestly, the current war between humans and demons has spared destruction on the demon side due to the demons not having any intention to attack. However, the situation is overwhelmingly in favor of humans.

It’s inconceivable for Leon to come all the way to the Demon King’s castle. They probably don’t even remember Viola, so she hopes they can forgive her for using the name like this.

Viola nodded and repeated it once more.

“Preparing for the hero wouldn’t hurt, right? It’s not a bad idea, is it?”

“I see.”

Without warning, the Demon King closed the distance between him and Viola.

The Demon King’s hand moved with intent. One hand to Viola’s waist, wrapping around as if to make sure she wouldn’t escape, exerting force.

“Well, I can’t help it. I’ll save your life.”

“I appreciate it.”

“In exchange, though.”

The other hand went to her throat. Sharply pointed claws pressed against her exposed white throat.

tingling pain.

“When the hero you mentioned visits the Demon King’s castle, die protecting me. It’s an honorable thing, right?”

Viola momentarily faltered, not because of the terms of the deal but because of the atmosphere surrounding the Demon King. It was an air that seemed to permeate with something beyond the intimidating pressure—something strangely emotional.

“…Alright, the deal is made.”

To the Demon King, who raised his eyebrows in surprise, Viola smiled.

“Surprised? But either way, from the moment I was caught by the Demon Lord, my death was already decided.”

Grasping the hand pressed against her throat with both hands, Viola declared,

“So I’ll embrace it and enjoy myself to the fullest from now on!”

She almost burst into laughter at the faintly widened crimson eyes.

—At this moment, Viola is unaware that the regular army of the capital, led by Hero Leon, is slowly but surely approaching the Demon King’s castle.

◇

“Woman!”

“Shut up, Ignatz.”

“What’s with that way of talking? Who do you think I am?!”

“Sure, sure, you’re the Demon King’s right-hand man… no, the second stalker, Ignatz.”

“What do you mean by stalker’?”

Demon King’s castle, the kitchen

In the dim light of early morning, despite it being bright outside, Ignatz raised his voice.

Truly energetic from the morning.

Viola sighed, ignoring Ignatz’s commotion, and continued working with her hands.

Ignoring Ignatz, who was making a fuss beside her, Viola searched through the ingredients piled up on the kitchen platform. Ignatz shouted at her,

“Don’t ignore me! What are you doing?!”

“Cooking, obviously.”

“Cooking, you say?”

“Wow, a genuinely bewildered expression. I knew it when all the meals that came out were basically just ingredients, but you really don’t cook here, do you?”

When she first arrived at the Demon King’s castle, Viola had some expectations. After all, it was the Demon King’s castle. She came with a mix of excitement and curiosity about what kind of place it would be. However, those feelings dissipated on the evening of that day.

Beef on a plate. It was cooked.

Lettuce on a plate It was washed. Onions. They were boiled.

Bread on a plate. At least there was bread.

That was it. Dinner.

Lunch and breakfast were the same.

Viola lost it. The joy of having three meals a day This was no way to live.

So, she finally woke up early and slipped into the kitchen. However, she was immediately found by Ignatz, the annoying right-hand man of the Demon King, or rather, the second stalker.

“Cooking, you say?”

Looking at Ignatz, who raised his eyebrows in complete confusion, Viola continued working with her hands.

Ignatz is the right-hand man of the Demon King, a magnificent and well-built handsome man with crimson hair. The wings growing from his back are splendid, resembling those of a dragon. When she first met him, she was on guard, thinking she might be killed, but it seems he’s devoted to the Demon King, and he doesn’t try to harm Viola.

It seems that Ignatz has been instructed to take care of Viola, and as they meet every day, it becomes clear. Ignatz, the so-called right-hand man of the Demon King, is not a cruel and ruthless demon as rumored, but rather just a noisy man loyal to the Demon King.

Nevertheless, Ignatz is Viola’s guardian. She didn’t expect to be discovered early in the morning, but she felt reluctant to kick him out, and that’s how it has continued.

“Cooking is something only humans do!”

“Sure, sure, but I am human. Is it okay if I use the kitchen? The Demon King said, I can use it as I please.”

“Yeah, woman! How did you manage to get close to that dignified, great Demon King of the night?!”

“Digni…what?”

Even while arguing with Ignatz, Viola’s hands never stop.

Swiftly tearing lettuce and sandwiching it between the piles of bread in the kitchen. She doesn’t know if it’s okay to use them, but she can’t endure such a meal anymore. Besides, there’s plenty, and taking one or two won’t be noticed.

For now, she takes out a small bottle she was carrying. It’s high-quality oil.

Taking out a small, dusty frying pan and quickly coating it with oil, Viola looks back at the apples piled on the platform in the kitchen. She reaches out to them.

Peeling them quickly, chopping them finely, and throwing them into the frying pan with the remaining oil and meat juices. She really wants butter, but she has no idea where it might be stored, and it would be too much to take without permission.

As the meat begins to emit a savory smell, Viola picks it up from the frying pan and casually stacks it on top of the vegetables. Viola then returns her gaze to the remaining oil and reaches for the apples hanging in the kitchen.

After cooking them until they turn golden brown, she pours them over the meat and vegetables. The impromptu breakfast is ready.

After wrapping the finished breakfast for two in a cloth, Viola stands up.

“Wait! Where are you going?!”

“Ignatz, guide me to the Demon King.”

“You’re not planning to offer that suspicious thing to the Demon King, are you?”

“Yes.”

“What are you planning to do?!”

“It’s gratitude, gratitude. Since I’ve been assured of clothing and housing—well, maybe just clothing and housing—I should at least express my thanks.”

“Stop it!”

In response to Ignatz’s tremendous shouting, the air quivered. Unable to cover her ears with both hands, Viola, who was overwhelmed by the noise, looked up at Ignatz resentfully.

“Don’t offer such a suspicious thing to the Demon King without even tasting it! Don’t say such absurd things!”

“Do you want a taste? You want to eat it that badly? If you just asked, I would give it to you without being so indirect.”

“That’s not it!”

“So noisy.”

To silence Ignatz, who was making a fuss, Viola tore off a piece of lettuce, slipped it on the frying pan, mixed it with the sauce, and forcefully thrust it into Ignaz’s mouth.

“Mmgh!? Hey, sthob it!”

“There is a taste test.”

At first, Ignatz looked down at Viola with a disgusted expression, but he didn’t spit it out. He silently chewed on the offered food, and Viola stared at him intently.