Cherry Blossoms Scatter in the Empire

"Would you like to go?"

"Huh? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Ah, no. I mean... I was just looking around..."

"Let's go, Baron. I actually need to pick up a new kitchen knife myself."

I took Baron by the arm and stepped into the weapon shop. Inside, sharp blades of every kind gleamed on display. Baron's eyes changed in an instant. They were no longer the eyes of a chef, but those of a battle-hardened warrior.

"This is a fine blade... The balance is perfect."

She lifted one of the swords and let out an admiring sigh.

"Baron."

"Yeah?"

"How about this one?"

I picked up a dagger tucked away in the corner of a display case. It gave off a subtle blue glow—a top-grade mithril knife that could handle everything from delicate ingredient work to self-defense.

"This... has to be pretty expensive, right?"

"Consider it a gift for all your hard work. Use it when you're breaking down meat. Oh, and..."

I lowered my voice.

"Feel free to flash it at especially obnoxious customers when they need a little intimidation."

Baron let out a small snort of laughter. A faint blush colored her boyish cheeks.

"Thanks, boss. I'll use it gratefully for the rest of my life... No, even after I die again. Until my bones wear down to nothing."

Marie, who loved flowers. Baron, who loved blades. Lucy, who loved anything edible. It seemed like our peaceful vacation would continue as we fulfilled each of their wishes.

But the protagonist's vacation is never allowed to stay ordinary.

"Oh, I'll take this one too!"

Whether I knew what was coming or not, I naturally ended up buying a decent-looking kitchen ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠knife from the weapon shop as well.

By evening, the imperial streets were lit up with lanterns. We secured seats at a famous high-end restaurant called the Moonlight Garden. The plan was to enjoy dinner on the second-floor terrace while taking in the cherry blossom night view.

"They say the sake here is legendary."

Marie was excitedly reading the menu when—

"Wait... over there..."

Vargas frowned as he looked out past the railing.

"I sense a familiar presence. And it's incredibly... exhausted and heavy."

"What?"

I peered down as well. Four women in deeply pulled hoods were walking through the crowd. Their steps were heavy, and a gloomy aura clung to them that felt completely out of place amid the festival atmosphere. A glimpse of golden hair peeked from beneath one hood. Beside her was a girl with silver hair.

"Huh? Karina? Elin?"

I called out without thinking. The hooded women flinched at my voice and looked up. Their hoods slipped back, revealing faces I knew well. It was definitely the hero party known as Avalon's Flower. But they looked nothing like the people I remembered.

Karina's golden hair was dull and lifeless, with heavy dark circles under her eyes. Elin, who was always bright and cheerful, looked like she might burst into tears at any moment. Seria and Luna were covered in injuries.

"D-Daon?"

Karina looked up at me in disbelief.

"How are you here..."

A short while later, we had the hero party join us at our table. Lucy grumbled, "It's cramped. They smell," but after seeing how serious Karina looked, she quietly went back to tearing apart chicken wings.

"Good grief... What happened to all of you? Did something go wrong?"

I asked as I passed them water glasses.

Karina downed the water in one gulp and let out a deep sigh.

"We were on our way home. To the Avalon Islands."

The Avalon Islands. An archipelago south of the empire and the known homeland of hero Karina and Saintess Elin.

"Weren't you going on vacation?"

"We were, at first..."

Seria adjusted her glasses and answered in her place.

"But we received a message on the way. The Avalon Islands... have been sealed off."

"Sealed off?"

"Demons," Karina's voice trembled. "Not ordinary ones. High-ranking demons at the level of the 'Lord of the Deep Sea' from ancient records. They broke through the barrier and occupied the islands. Even the imperial navy can't get close."

"My family... all my friends are still there..."

Elin finally broke down crying. Marie quietly moved over and hugged her.

"We were rushing there as fast as we could, but we're out of supplies... and we're not even sure we can handle it on our own..."

To see the world-famous hero party looking this vulnerable—the situation had to be dire.

Karina lifted her head and looked straight at me. Desperation filled her blue eyes.

"Daon."

She suddenly grabbed my hand. The calloused palm was trembling slightly.

"Please help us."

"......"

"I know. You're just a cook and a dungeon manager. I shouldn't be dragging you into something this dangerous."

She bit her lip.

"But... those strange dishes of yours. The power that holds both curses and blessings. And..."

Her gaze shifted to Lucy, who was still tearing into chicken wings.

"That cat over there."

Lucy froze.

"We've known from the beginning that she's no ordinary being. If it's the two of you... you might be able to save our homeland."

Karina stood up and looked ready to kneel. The hero of the empire, kneeling before a simple restaurant owner. And before the king of the very demons who had conquered her home. It was the equivalent of asking barbarians to fight barbarians, but they had no other choice.

Above all, they seemed to only know that Lucy possessed immense power—they hadn't realized she was a demon. Much less the Demon King herself.

"I'm begging you. I'll give any reward you want. My entire fortune, or even my title if you desire it. So please..."

Tap.

I placed my hands on Karina's shoulders and gently lifted her up.

"Please sit, hero. You don't kneel while people are trying to eat."

"But..."

I opened the gallery window.

The gallery members' advice was extremely realistic and downright materialistic. But that somehow made it more reassuring.

I looked at Lucy.

"Lucy."

"What?"

"Do you know what the Avalon Islands are famous for?"

"What?"

"Blue marlin steak and the legendary seafood jjambbong. But it sounds like those demon bastards are about to ruin the taste forever."

Lucy's eyes flashed open.

"What? They dared to touch my jjambbong? Those sons of bitches...!"

Lucy wiped the sauce from the corner of her mouth and stood up.

"Unforgivable. Anyone who cuts off my food ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠supply deserves to die."

Permission granted.

I grinned at Karina.

"You heard her. Our representative has given her approval."

"Daon..."

"However, there are conditions."

"Anything! I'll do whatever you want!"

"Once this is over, grant our restaurant exclusive supply rights to all of Avalon Islands' specialty ingredients. And..."

I gestured to the reliable staff standing behind me—Marie, Baron, the Ogre Mage, and Vargas.

"You'll need to cover our employees' travel expenses and hazard pay. It won't be cheap."

Tears streamed down Karina's face. She smiled brightly and nodded.

"Yes! Of course! I'll repay you for the rest of my life!"

"Good. Then let's depart immediately. Vacation is officially canceled, everyone!"

My decision and Lucy's were met with full support from the staff.

"Yes, boss!"

Marie actually seemed more motivated than any of us. She really does love the Empire of Flowers.

"It's a fight! I'll cut them all down!"

Baron pulled out her greatsword, visibly excited.

"Time for heresy judgment!"

Vargas gripped his mace, looking ready to charge at any moment.

"Gwoooooar—! (I'll carry the luggage!)"

The ogre couldn't speak human words, but his fighting spirit burned just as brightly.

Cherry blossoms danced through the imperial night. We set aside our gourmet journey and boarded a ship bound for the battlefield. And the star dish of this expedition... was going to be demonic seafood hell-broth.

The ship cut through the darkness, heading for the southern seas. Beside me stood a reliable Demon King, loyal employees who trusted me, and heroes who had finally found hope.

The isekai black mage. It was now his turn to become a savior.