The Chef Doesn't Discriminate

I turned to Baron and Marie, issuing my orders with the confidence of a seasoned commander.

"Operation name is 'Fishing for Demons: The Grand Feast.' Baron, set up the largest cauldron at the harbor entrance and start grilling the meat. Make sure the smoke spreads across the entire island."

"Got it. I'll whip up a scent so good it'll knock them out."

"Marie, sprinkle the 'Temptation Sugar' that drives anyone crazy the moment they catch its sweet aroma."

"Yes, boss!"

After that, I gave commands to the members of Avalon's Flower as naturally as if I'd been leading them for years.

"As for Lady Karina and the hero party... when those things catch the scent and come swarming, strike from behind and rescue the hostages."

"What about you, Daon?"

"Me..."

I casually stroked the demonic blade Ghost Cry hanging at my waist.

"I'm the head chef, so I have to take care of the most difficult customers myself."

The sword let out a delighted shriek. Me, the black mage Kim Daon. At this point my identity as a chef, swordsman, or black mage had become completely blurred, but who cared? Anyone who caused trouble in front of me wasn't getting off easy. With the Demon King, a demonic blade, and the hero party all on my side, I was just going to smash everything in my path.

"Alright, let's open for business right away!"

Baron lit the massive grill. Sizzle—! The smell of grilling pork belly—no, the smell of grilling demonic beast meat—rode the sea breeze and began spreading across the entire island.

"Krng? What's that smell?"

"It smells delicious!"

The demon soldiers standing guard at the harbor all turned their heads toward us at once.

"Welcome! This is the Demon King's Table Avalon pop-up store!"

I activated amplification magic and shouted.

"First 100 customers eat free! Come now and we'll separate the bones from the flesh for you!"

War? No, this was one-sided hunting and cooking. And standing right beside me was the real ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Demon King, Lucy, her red eyes gleaming as she licked her lips.

"Daon, that flying stingray demon over there. Steam it for me."

"Yes, yes. Order received."

And so the curtain rose on the Avalon reclamation battle.

"Boss! The knife is crying! Let me cut!" Baron shouted from beside me.

"Graaaah! Meat! Fresh meat!"

The horde of demons filling the harbor plaza charged like starving beasts. Their eyes were glued to the meat sizzling on the barbecue grill.

"Come on in! Demon King's Table, Avalon branch!"

I canceled the amplification magic, drew Ghost Cry from my waist, and raised it high.

"Everyone to your positions! Time to greet our guests!"

At my shout, the aces of our shop burst forward.

[1] Meat Preparation: Baron

The first to leap into enemy lines was Baron. Her short bob fluttered as she swung her butcher's greatsword—nearly as tall as she was—like a windmill.

"Line up properly! Anyone who cuts in line loses their hands!"

Shluk! Slice! Baron's blade was pure art. She targeted only the joints where bone met flesh between the scales of charging fishmen. Worth every penny of that expensive mithril upgrade.

"This one's sirloin! These are ribs! Oh, this is a premium cut!"

Every swing of her sword expertly 'disassembled' the demons, leaving them scattered across the ground. Blood sprayed everywhere, yet her apron stayed spotless. A true master's knife work never splatters.

"Hahaha! This is it! The thrill of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠carving! I'd forgotten how good this feels!"

A butcher's soul-infused sword dance. The demons recoiled in terror.

[2] Hall Service & Pastry: Marie & Ogre Mage

From the rear, Marie provided support fire. She held a massive piping bag magic tool.

"Dear guests~ You mustn't get too excited~ Let me calm you down with something sweet!"

When Marie squeezed the bag, a sticky pink liquid shot out under high pressure. The syrup that hit the ground hardened in seconds, trapping the charging demons' feet.

"Grrgh? (My feet won't move!)"

"Graaah! (I wanna run! But I can't!)"

The monsters the demons had brought along froze in place.

"Ogre sir! Now!"

At Marie's signal, the carrier Ogre Mage stepped up. He swung the massive rolling pin in his hands like a baseball bat.

"GROOOAR! (Don't! Come into! Our kitchen! You bastards!)"

Thwack! Wham! The syrup-trapped monsters flew away like bowling pins under the Ogre's club. It was a perfect combination.

[3] Purification Duty(?): Inquisitor Vargas

And weaving between them all was a flash of white light. Vargas kept shouting "Filthy! Impure!" while swinging her mace.

"Flies in the dining hall! That's a deduction on the hygiene score!"

Crunch! Holy power infused her mace with every strike. Any undead-type demons disintegrated into ash the moment they were touched.

"Oh Lord! Purify these filthy ingredients! Holy Smash!"

Even in battle, she couldn't shake her professional habits.

[4] Avalon's Flower — Karina and the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Hero Party

"We can't fall behind either."

Karina drew her sword. Her golden hair danced in the battlefield wind.

"Avalon's Flower, charge!"

The hero party's movements were textbook clean, completely different from our staff's style. As a Swordmaster, Karina served as both tank and damage dealer.

"Sword of Light!"

A golden aura burst from her blade. She drew the enemies' aggro from the front line and delivered heavy, decisive cuts. The demons' attacks bounced harmlessly off her armor.

Seria was the mage.

"The syrup Marie sprayed... it's flammable, right?"

She pushed up her glasses and chanted a fire spell.

"Fireball."

The moment the small spark landed in the syrup field, a massive pillar of flame erupted.

"Kyaaaaah—!"

The demons burned like caramel, giving off a sweet aroma.

Elin was the healer and buffer.

"Bestow the Goddess's protection on everyone! Mass Heal! And Blessing!"

Her holy power granted vitality to allies and agony to demons. She stayed in the back, protecting Marie while scattering heals.

Lastly, Luna was the assassin. Hidden in the shadows, she slipped behind enemy lines. Her daggers silently slit the throats of the demon commanders.

"...Cleanup complete."

[5] The Demon King and Black Magic Swordsman Combo

While the battlefield turned into complete chaos, I danced across the field with Ghost Cry in hand. Honestly, it felt less like I was moving the sword and more like the sword was dragging me along.

(Blood! More blood! That guy's neck looks tasty!)

"I get it! Calm down, you crazy bastard!"

I used Shadow Step to appear behind an enemy, then thrust the blade in. But this wasn't a simple stab.

The instant the black blade sank into the demon's body, the curse spread and began draining its power.

"Urk... my strength...!"

I took advantage of the staggering demon and sliced off its head.

As expected, nothing beats real combat. My level shot up rapidly.

At that moment, a red flash of light descended from the sky.

Kwaaaaaang—!

It was Lucy. She landed gracefully in the middle of the battlefield, still wearing her elegant dress. Demons were sent flying around her like a swarm of flies.

"Ah, so noisy."

Lucy picked at her ear and snapped her fingers.

"Blood Magic, Blood Explosion."

With a single gesture, the bodies of the low-ranking demons around her swelled up like balloons before exploding with a pop! It was overwhelming. No technique or skill needed—just pure difference in power.

"Daon."

Lucy walked across the pool of blood and called out to me.

"Those ones look disgusting. They smell rotten."

"Right? I don't want to prepare them either."

"The real one's over there."

Lucy jerked her chin toward the central hill of the island. A massive vibration that shook the ground was approaching from that direction.

"Who... dares interrupt my meal..."

A gravelly, hideous voice. What descended from the hill was a monstrous creature that looked like a giant toad crossed with a shark. It had an enormous extra mouth on its belly and carried butcher knives the size of houses in both hands.

The mastermind behind this whole incident. Its identity was the high-ranking demon, Lord of Gluttony, Gluttony.

"I smell it... such a delicious aroma..."

The mouth on Gluttony's belly opened wide, drooling profusely. Its gaze first locked onto the barbecue grill Baron was tending, then shifted to Lucy.

"Oh? That red woman... she'd be quite the delicacy. Packed full of mana."

The air on the battlefield suddenly turned ice-cold.

"...Excuse me?"

Lucy's red eyes narrowed to slits.

"Who the hell is trying to eat who? Has this crazy toad bastard lost its mind?"

The killing intent radiating from Lucy's body engulfed the entire island. It was so oppressive that even our allies in the hero party were gasping for breath.