The Store Manager Who Became a Hero, and the Exclusive Contract

"Daon, move aside."

Lucy stepped forward. "I'll kill that thing. And I'll make it suffer."

But I blocked her path. "Lady Lucy. Please calm down."

"I said move."

"That thing is far too filthy for you to touch directly. Besides..." I pointed at the mouth on its belly. "Doesn't that stomach look familiar?"

"What about it?"

"It resembles anglerfish, one of the finest ingredients. Its liver is incredibly rich."

Lucy paused. "Liver? Rich?"

"Yes. I'll catch it and prepare the most delicious 'anglerfish stew'... or rather, 'demon stew' for you."

Lucy pondered for a moment, then grinned. "Fine. You have ten minutes. If you can't cook it by then, I'll steam you along with it."

The cooking began.

"Lady Karina, Sister Baron! Grab its legs from both sides!"

At my request, Baron swung her mithril blade toward Gluttony. "Arrogant insect!"

The ground split and buildings crumbled.

"Lady Karina! Please tank it!"

"Got it! Shield Bash!"

Karina charged forward with her shield, blocking Gluttony's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blade. BOOM! Her feet sank into the earth, but she didn't budge.

"Now! Baron!"

"On it! Achilles tendon incoming!"

Baron circled behind and slashed its ankle with her greatsword. SLASH! Thick hide tore open, and the creature staggered.

"GRAAAAAH—!"

"Ceria! Luna! Aim for the eyes!"

At the same time, Ceria's magic missiles and Luna's throwing daggers obscured its vision.

"Guh! My eyes!"

While it flailed, I tore the Fly scroll Black Flame Dragon had sent me. My body rose into the air. The cooking knife Gwigok in my hand vibrated wildly.

(Delicious! That massive lump of mana! I want to devour it all!)

"Yeah, I'll let you eat your fill, you bastard."

I dove straight toward the massive mouth on its belly—its weak point.

"This is a chef's knife work!"

SHHHHHHHK—!

My blade pierced through its abdominal hide. It wasn't just cutting. I infused mana along the grain of bone and flesh, forcibly separating them.

(KYAAAAAH—! Delicious! The blood is sweet!)

The cooking knife greedily devoured its mana like a storm. Gluttony's body began to shrivel instantly.

"Kuh... Kuaaah! My power... my appetite...!"

"Spit out everything you've eaten."

I twisted the blade, aiming for the core inside its body. Then the final strike.

THUD!

With the sound of an enormous mana stone embedded in the core shattering, Gluttony let out a massive scream and collapsed.

BOOM! The entire island trembled.

I landed on its corpse and caught my breath. The cooking knife Gwigok let out a satisfied burp (?) and fell silent.

"I did it..."

The hero party and my staff cheered and rushed over. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Just then, Lucy approached. She clicked her tongue at the fallen Gluttony.

"Tch. It's all dried up and shriveled. How am I supposed to make stew with this?"

"Ah... I'm sorry. The knife ate too much..."

"Whatever. Instead..." Lucy grabbed my chin and turned my face toward her. "You've become delicious."

"Excuse me?"

"Your level went up. Your mana has thickened too. You'll be useful now, Daon."

She licked her lips while staring intently at my neck. Ah, mountains beyond mountains.

***

After the battle ended, the Avalon Islands quickly returned to peace. With the demons gone, the hidden residents emerged and cheered. Karina and the hero party shared tearful reunions with their families.

A few days later, at the imperial capital, Kyow. The audience chamber of the imperial palace.

"I commend your achievements."

The emperor spoke solemnly from his throne. "Especially... Chef Daon. I hear you defeated the demon by cooking it?"

I bowed respectfully. "You flatter me, Your Majesty. It was thanks to my excellent staff and the heroes."

"Indeed. Humble, just as I heard. As promised, I shall grant you rewards."

The emperor proclaimed:

1. Permanent imperial protection for Demon King's Table.

2. Exclusive supply contract for Avalon Islands specialties.

3. Designation as official imperial purveyor with ingredient support.

It was an enormous privilege. With this, ingredient costs were no longer a concern. In fact, I was about to become incredibly wealthy.

"And..." Karina stepped forward. She was in full armor and saluted me. "Mr. Daon. No, Hero Daon."

"Hero? That's a bit much."

"I'll keep my promise. All seafood from the Avalon Islands will be sent to your store first. At cost price."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. And... this is a personal gift."

Karina blushed shyly and held out a small box. Inside was a Hero's Calling Whistle.

"If you blow this... no matter where you are, I'll come running. Not just for meals, but to protect you."

"Ooh~"

Ceria and Luna whistled from the side. Elin puffed her cheeks in jealousy.

"Me too! I'll protect you too! I'll fill you with holy power!"

Receiving such passionate courtship from the heroes, I smiled awkwardly. Just then, the red-haired woman standing behind me cleared her throat.

"Ahem."

It was Lucy. She had dressed neatly in a dress today, pretending to be well-behaved, but her eyes were murderous.

"Heroes. You should be standing way at the back of the line. This man is my exclusive ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠chef, butler, and... anyway, he's mine!"

Lucy linked her arm tightly with mine. A bizarre situation where the Demon King asserted ownership in front of the emperor. The emperor merely chuckled.

"Good, good. The young ones get along well."

Thinking back, Lucy's help had been crucial this time too. Even though she seemed to watch leisurely from afar, her mana had supported me, allowing me to wield the cooking knife freely and use Deboning Slash. Without the Demon King's subtle mana support, the cooking knife would have devoured me long ago. After all, I was never someone who could fight back-to-back with heroes on equal footing.

At first glance she seemed only gluttonous and indifferent, but in reality, she was my greatest tsundere ally, diligently protecting my life from beside me.

***

After all the ceremonies ended, we returned to the dungeon. Demon King's Table was no longer just a dungeon restaurant. It had become the continent's hottest spot, recognized by the empire, loved by the heroes, and protected by the Demon King.

A line of customers waiting to enter stretched beyond the hill in front of the store.

"Manager! Ingredients have arrived!"

Baron walked in carrying a fresh tuna shipped directly from Avalon over her shoulder.

"Mr. Daon! Reservation inquiries are flooding in! Black Flame Dragon opened another communication line with spatial magic!"

Marie screamed while holding the magic receiver.

"Heretics! Heretics standing in line! I'll judge anyone who cuts in!"

Vargas was maintaining order outside like a security guard. She had become a perfect hall manager.

And...

"Daon. Food."

Lucy, seated at her private table, called me while tapping her tail.

"Yes, yes, coming right away, boss."

I adjusted my apron. In the kitchen, Kastab was simmering broth. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠In the hall, the gallery veterans were chatting. The heroes came to eat. My chaotic, dangerous, and noisy daily life.

But...

I chuckled at the comments. Then I shouted toward the kitchen.

"Alright, let's run again today! Orders incoming!"

Thus, my new family and perfect nest in this other world were complete.

"Welcome to Demon King's Table!"

***

And the next day.

"Daon, are you ready?"

At the store entrance, the 7th Circle Archmage—Elena, her real name—elegantly waved her fan and asked. She wasn't wearing her usual comfortable robe, but a formal uniform embroidered with intricate patterns signifying her high rank in the Magic Tower. She exuded an intellectual yet overwhelming presence.