Chapter 344

Chapter 344

At that moment, Soldera, who was having a similar thought to Sion, asked warily.

“A dinner proposal from your side, how unexpected.”

“Thinking about it, I don’t think there’s any need for us to be this wary of each other. There must be areas where we can help one another.”

Hearing those words, Sion’s and Soldera’s eyes widened at the same time.

‘As expected, Roan has amazing tolerance…!’

Sion was moved by Roan’s willingness to embrace even an enemy first, and Soldera also changed her mind about him slightly.

[Master, you are amazing!]

Bel also fluttered his wings, admiring his master’s wonderful appearance.

Of course, in reality, Roan:

‘If I go with her, she’ll distract Demona’s attention on her own.’

Was looking ahead to places they hadn’t even thought of.

Roan asked Demona.

“Demona, would that be okay with you?”

“Huh? Of course it’s fine with me~ But what are we going to eat?”

At Demona’s question about the dinner menu, Roan smirked.

Chill—

The atmosphere freezing instantly!

‘‘ ?’’

Sion and Soldera warily watched his reaction with anxious expressions.

Roan spoke in a somehow gloomy voice.

“I know of a place you will like very much. Follow me closely.”

Wooong—

[Even from my perspective, the vibe looks like one where you absolutely shouldn’t follow…]

The false divinity sighed at Roan’s expression, which was enough to make even heaven look dangerous.

Indeed, even if one really died and ascended to heaven, if Roan welcomed them first with such an expression, there would probably be at least one person who died once more from shock.

* * *

Somewhere in Acherandir.

Unbefitting Acherandir, the Empire’s greatest Holy Academy, the atmosphere there was a pitch-black secret chamber where not a single ray of sunlight entered.

Shiver, shiver—

The table bore marks of a red liquid scattered messily, and upon it, three thick, half-burnt candles were gathered to light the darkness.

Around it sat four people, and:

Kyaooon—!

A black dragon letting out a ferocious roar.

“Bel, you must be quiet in public places.”

[S-Sorry, I felt like I had to do it because of the atmosphere…]

Bel grew quiet again after being cautioned by Roan.

The four people gathered around the table were Roan, Sion, Demona, and Soldera.

Soldera asked Roan with a slight frown.

“You brought me… to a place like this…?”

Perhaps due to the interior atmosphere, a cold vibe flowed between the two once more.

Creak──

Just then, the unpleasant hinge sound unique to old doors echoed, and:

Thud— thud— thud—

Someone wearing thick leather boots walked over.

Bright red skin.

Scars all over his body.

Glaring eyes and dark-red nostrils.

Along with two goat horns growing from a shaved head.

A man whose image made anyone think, ‘Honestly, isn’t that a devil?’

Had Roan really brought the three to a place adjacent to the Demon Realm, a place ruled by devils?

“Ack! It’s a devil ghost!”

Demona, startled upon seeing the man’s appearance, threw both arms in the air and shouted.

“If it’s a devil, it’s a devil, and if it’s a ghost, it’s a ghost. What is a devil ghost?”

When Roan asked, Demona went, ‘Ah, is that so?’ and quietly lowered her arms again.

It was certainly an appearance that would startle innocent citizens of the Empire.

Meanwhile, the man approached the table and spoke in a gloomy voice:

─ I shall… punish… the intruders who dare set foot in this place…

A pressure that made it feel as though he might pierce someone with a metal skewer at any moment!

‘As expected, it’s exactly as I saw in God & Devil.’

Roan looked up at the man, feeling fascinated anew.

Flinch—

At that, the man in the devil getup took a step back, rendering his terrifying threats useless.

‘Is t-this guy really here to administer punishment?’

That was because Roan’s gloomy impression made it look like a metal skewer could easily be pulled from his chest even without him saying a word.

However, the man, belatedly recalling his concept, soon set down the tray he was holding in one hand.

─ I shall make you regret coming to eat the food of hell without knowing your place…

“Heek! Don’t tell me this is a stew boiled with human eyeballs and fingers, or a whole roast of spiritual beast tongue seasoned with blood?!”

Demona asked in surprise.

“Hyaaa…! Stupid Demona, don’t say such scary things!”

“Brother Demona, you shouldn’t say such things!”

─ Customer, we do not sell things like that! We’d get in huge trouble!

“““……???”””

─ Ah, sorry… Even in hell, such food is not handled… you sinner…

Although the man had quite a bit of experience working here, he acted as if he had never encountered such customers before.

Normally, customers who came here knew how to be moderately scared and fit into the atmosphere.

“Tsk, tsk.”

Roan clicked his tongue quietly, disappointed by the employee whose ability to maintain the concept was weaker than in God & Devil.

Because the room was so quiet, the soft sound was heard clearly by everyone.

─ Then… t-taste the terror of hell desperately…

For some reason, his tone sounded even more hushed than before.

Then, he also gave food to the gathered divine and spiritual beasts.

─ To the sinner’s lackeys… I shall give this…

Kyaooon—!

[I am not a lackey! No, well I am, but… anyway! How is it? I’m scary too, right?]

─ H-heek! A dragon!

When Bel spread his wings and let out a roar at the employee putting down the food, he jumped back in fright.

Roan warned him again.

“Bel, that person isn’t trying to play with you, he’s acting. Don’t startle him and stay still.”

[Ah, was that it?]

Bel, perhaps feeling awkward, gently scratched the back of his head with his wing and sat down to prepare to eat.

─ U-Uwaah!

But the employee, whose concept was thoroughly shattered, left the room in tears, perhaps because his pride would not allow him to stay.

Whoosh—

Still, his professional spirit was sound, as he faithfully turned on the hellfire-shaped lighting that was activated after the food was served.

As the dark-red lights rose along the edges of the room, a level of brightness sufficient for dining was secured.

Roan shook his head and spoke.

“I could do a much better job than that.”

“““…….”””

At that, the three stared blankly at Roan with expressions as if they had heard something they shouldn’t have.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Um… Roan, I think it’s better if you don’t get a job here.”

“I think so too.”

Sion and Soldera dissuaded him to prevent any potential mishap (?).

“No, I’m not saying I will.”

“Of course! You hold a grand purpose of reconstructing your family!”

“With your abilities, there are many places where they can be used far more valuably.”

The two praised him while barely listening to Roan’s words.

Demona also chimed in.

“What they say is right. Do you want to give someone a heart attack and kill them, Roan?”

“…….”

Chill—

‘‘ !’’

Sion and Soldera glared at Demona at the same time.

“D-did I say anything wrong…?”

Demona pouted and shrugged.

Roan spoke coldly, his complexion close to leaden.

“I said I have no intention of working here.”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

“Ah, okay…”

The three nodded, completely dispirited.

‘I look decent enough, everyone is exaggerating.’

Roan thought of his appearance as seen in the mirror and thought.

For some reason, the two authorities were quiet.

‘Why are they not saying anything?’

Wooong—

[You’re going to think whatever you want anyway. It’s annoying.]

‘…’

Roan grumbled internally and lifted the cover that had been covering the food.

Beneath it was food that was still steaming.

Naturally, it wasn’t an eyeball and finger stew or a roasted tongue as Demona had guessed.

Surprisingly, it was tteokbokki, a dish commonly seen on Earth.

Of course, fitting the name ‘Hell’s Tteokbokki,’ the seasoning, which was almost black in color, was a bit unfamiliar to the citizens of the Empire who were not used to such food.

Sion’s and Soldera’s eyes trembled slightly.

Gulp—

“T-this is Hell’s Tteokbokki…”

The setting of Hell’s Tteokbokki was ‘the dream food of Acherandir’s female students’.

This was because, not only did it have a rumored excellent taste, but it wasn’t a dish one could simply go eat just because they wanted to.

Just before entering the Hell’s Tteokbokki restaurant, Sion recalled the event in the commercial district.

─ Roan, where shall we have dinner?

─ Have you heard of Hell’s Tteokbokki?

─ Yes? Hell’s Tteokbokki?!

A menu selection that surprised not only Sion but also Soldera, who had lived in the commercial district for a long time.

─ But isn’t Hell’s Tteokbokki known to be edible only by the chosen ones?

─ Indeed.

─ But how do we get there?

─ Like this.

Tap— Wooong───!!!

─ ???!?!?!!

When Roan tapped a flyer posted on the wall with his staff, a portal that allowed them to enter Hell’s Tteokbokki opened!

Naturally, Sion and Soldera were shocked to the point of nearly fainting.

─ As expected of Roan~ He even knows how to enter the place called Demon Realm Tteokbokki or Hell’s Tteokbokki.

Demona, admiring Roan’s greatness which did not deviate from expectations, entered the shop hum-de-dum.

─ Ack! They’re hell ghosts!!! Run awayyyy!!!

Although she ran back out not long after entering.

Anyway, since they were facing the legendary Hell’s Tteokbokki, Sion and Soldera were deeply moved.

It seemed that just sharing this story with other female students would make them instantly popular without any trouble.

Sion, who had picked up a rice cake with her fork as if possessed, suddenly asked Roan.

“By the way, Roan.”

“What is it?”

“You said the flyers that allow entry here are posted in different locations and in different shapes every day.”

“Yes.”

Roan thought she would ask, ‘Then how did you know and enter?’ as usual.

“Why would they make people enter in such a troublesome way?”

But Sion had also grown to the point where she would not ask such questions over ordinary matters anymore.

Roan looked at Sion with a proud expression.

“T-this isn’t even a grand question.”

“No, it is sufficiently grand.”

“You’ve been showering me with praise since earlier…”

Sion rolled her eyes and avoided his gaze, seemingly embarrassed.

Roan calmly answered the question.

“Because its name is Hell’s Tteokbokki.”

“Why is that a problem? It seems they named it Hell on purpose instead of the Demon Realm.”

Sion tilted her head.

Certainly, ‘Hell’ and ‘Demon Realm’ appeared to be similar expressions, but their meanings were completely different in the Empire.

Unlike Hell, which was a concept where sinners went to repent of their sins, the Demon Realm was a concept of true heretics where demons and demonic beasts swarmed.

In that sense, the name ‘Hell’s Tteokbokki’ itself wasn’t much of a problem, but.

“Look at the employees from earlier. Dressing up as devils is not something that would be okay.”

“Even if it is just a costume, why?”

“Indeed, why?”

Even with Roan’s explanation, Sion and Soldera still wore expressions of not quite understanding.

Roan was dumbfounded, seeing that they really did not know.

‘This is why pampered, well-fed kids are hopeless!’

How could those who had never seriously contemplated life understand his deep anguish!