The Dungeon's Delicacy
Monsters were running for their lives. It seemed instinct came first for them too. Lucy let out a small snort of laughter at the sight.
"What is this, how boring. They didn't even greet me."
The path she walked was a literal red carpet. The monsters didn't just clear the way—they prostrated themselves on both sides like subjects bowing before a king's procession. I trailed behind her, scurrying to pick up the items they dropped.
Acquired Rusted Dagger.
Acquired Goblin's Belt.
Acquired Low-grade Magic Stone.
So this was what riding the bus felt like? Even without lifting a finger to hunt, experience points trickled in. It was indirect party EXP from the monsters that had been crushed to death under Lucy's overwhelming presence.
"Whoa... this is straight-up broken."
The exclamation slipped out before I could stop myself. It was on a completely different level from the boredom I used to feel organizing Excel files at the district office. Right then, a whisper arrived from Black Flame Dragon.
I glanced at Lucy. Fortunately she was happily kicking the head of a prostrated goblin.
"Hey, you ugly things. Where's the good food around here?"
"Kieek! (W-we're sorry!)"
"Can't even understand what I'm saying. Useless."
Thud! With a light kick from her, an orc was slammed into the wall and vanished. I hurriedly stopped her.
"Lucy! If you use your strength here the cave will collapse! Please hold back!"
"Ugh, fine. Tsk. This place is so cramped."
We arrived at the center of the dungeon, in front of the boss room. A massive iron door blocked our path. A skull pattern was engraved on it, and a heavy vibration could be felt from within.
"Is this it?" Lucy asked, jerking her chin toward the door.
"Yes. The main dish... is inside."
"The smell isn't bad. There's less rot than I expected."
She reached out and crumpled the iron door like a sheet of paper.
Boom—!
With a thunderous roar the door flew away, revealing the boss room. Inside sat a gigantic 'Ogre Mage.' It was twice the size of a normal ogre and had two heads. In one hand it held a massive club, in the other a magic staff.
"Grrraaaah! Who dares disturb my sleep!"
It let out a majestic roar befitting a boss. But the roar cracked after just one second.
"Grrra... huh?"
All four of the Ogre Mage's eyes locked onto Lucy. And I saw it—the giant monster's face turning deathly pale in an instant. I never knew ogres could go pale.
Lucy strolled gracefully into the boss room.
"Are you the main dish?"
She tilted her head.
"You look terrible."
"H-hiiik...!"
The Ogre Mage stumbled backward, scratching desperately at the wall in an attempt to flee. A boss trying to run away.
"Daon. Is this even edible? It looks tough."
"Ah, well... the real thing is inside the treasure chest that guy's guarding! He's basically just the wrapping paper!"
I made up an excuse to save the ogre—mostly because I didn't want to cook something like that.
"Move."
At Lucy's single word, the Ogre Mage nimbly stepped aside despite its size. It even knelt politely. Any dignity a boss might have had was long gone.
Behind where the ogre had been standing was an old treasure chest. At its center, the dungeon's core—a red crystal—glowed brightly.
Lucy approached the crystal.
"This is rather pretty. Is it candy?"
She grabbed the dungeon core with her hand.
Dungeon Core reacting to powerful external magic.
Dungeon ownership is being transferred.
Previous Owner: Ogre Mage → New Owner: Demon King Lucy & Contractor Kim Daon
Conquering the Dungeon for Free
Reward: Administrator rights acquired for the dungeon 'Forgotten Abandoned Mine'
The entire dungeon suddenly rumbled as the ominous red lighting shifted to a blue hue—the color of Lucy's magic power. The gloomy atmosphere transformed in an instant; the dungeon began remodeling itself into something resembling the elegant corridors of a Demon King's castle.
"Huh...?"
I stared blankly at the changed walls. This was allowed? I just walked in and the dungeon was mine? With a luxury renovation thrown in for free?
Lucy licked the dungeon core in her hand.
"Ptooey. It doesn't taste like anything."
She tossed the core to me. I fumbled to catch it.
"There. Now we have a house. It's better than that smelly cave."
In the center of the boss room, an ornate chair had appeared. The stone chair the ogre once sat on had transformed into a velvet sofa. Lucy crossed her legs and sat upon the throne, then looked at me with a bright smile.
That smile was breathtakingly beautiful. At the same time, it sent chills down my spine.
"So, Daon." She tapped her lips with a finger. "Housewarming is over. When are you giving me something delicious?"
Her crimson eyes followed me with relentless intensity.
"You weren't lying, were you? Right?"
I tightened my grip on the dungeon core. Black Flame Dragon, Joo-ddak, someone help me! I'd taken the dungeon, but now I actually had to cook. The only ingredients were monsters—what the hell was I supposed to make with them?
That was when the Ogre Mage crept forward, reading the room. It was holding something in its hands—mushrooms that grew in the dungeon corners and some wild boar meat. The creature had instinctively understood that its new master desired a 'meal.'
"C-cough... (Please... take this...)"
The ogre handed the ingredients to me. Our eyes met. Its gaze was practically screaming, You figure out the cooking. I want to live a long life.
In that brief, suffocating moment of eye contact with the ogre, I sighed and pulled the 'Rusted Dagger' from my inventory. Then I posted on the gallery.
Magic seasoning? I hurriedly opened my skill window. It was really there.
Consumes magic power to generate a powder that enhances the flavor of food.
Caution: May be more addictive than MSG.
"Ha... I'm saved."
I accepted the boar meat the ogre offered and looked at Lucy with a solemn expression.
"Please wait, Master. I shall serve you 'Hell's Barbecue,' something you've never tasted before."
Lucy rested her chin on her hand, eyes sparkling with interest.
"I'm looking forward to it, my cute little conman."
Her gaze lingered on my neck.
The sound of meat sizzling on a heated stone plate always sounded sacred no matter how many times you heard it.
"Master, please enjoy. Cooked well-done."
Sweating profusely, I offered her the plate—or rather, the flat stone the ogre used to use. On it lay a wild boar hind leg steak, steaming hot. The outside was seared crispy while the inside trapped all the juices—the perfect 'crispy outside, tender inside.' I'd generously sprinkled it with the unidentified magic powder (which tasted exactly like MSG) created through Taste of Magic.
Instead of a fork, Lucy used a sharp thorn made of magic power to pierce a piece of meat and brought it to her mouth.
Gulp.
Both I and the Ogre Mage—who had been cleaning in the corner—swallowed nervously at the same time. If this tasted bad, we were dead.
Chew chew.
Lucy's brows furrowed. Was it over?
"......!"
But then her eyes flew wide open.
"What is this? It just melts in your mouth?"
"Phew..."
"Can beast meat really be this tender? And what is this salty, savory powder? It keeps clinging to my tongue!"
"It's a secret technique from my homeland called 'Magic Powder.' I'm glad it suits your taste."
Lucy devoured the entire chunk of meat in moments. She licked the grease from the corner of her mouth and smiled with satisfaction.
"Passed. From now on, you'll be solely in charge of my meals."
Demon King 'Lucy's' favorability has increased.
Survival rights within the dungeon have been extended by 24 hours.
And so my life as a dungeon chef began. But peace never lasted long. If the cooking ever failed, things would surely get boring. For the sake of survival, I resolved to research cooking from this other world.
For a celebration of becoming the dungeon's master, it was an incredibly desperate barbecue party.