The Demon King’s pupils rolled around restlessly.
The girl didn’t understand.
“What in the world is ‘food torture’?”
He wore an extremely wicked expression and chuckled, “Kukuku.” That laugh, combined with the knife he was holding, created a synergy.
How to put it…
“This guy really seems like a bad person…”
Even the Demon King, who had only been around for a few weeks, could tell. He was actually a pretty decent person. Sure, he occasionally did things that made no sense…
“So…what are you trying to do?”
“Food torture.”
“And exactly what is that-”
“Noah, can you help out a bit?”
“With what?”
“I feel like having it again after so long.”
“That… alright. Can you prepare something else while I handle this?”
“Okay~”
Noah picked up a knife and joined in on the so-called “food torture.”
“What…what are you doing?”
“Tch, why would I cook something delicious for someone who isn’t even cute?”
“Oh, come on. While you’re at it, we’ll just eat together.”
Noah sighed and glanced back. He saw the Demon King sitting there, fidgeting with his fingers, looking unsure of what to do.
“But since it brings back old memories, I’ll go this far for him.”
“So what exactly is food torture!?”
“Wait.”
“Kk…”
The Demon King quietly closed his mouth and sat down on the couch, prompting Noah to stick out his tongue and refocus on cutting.
To be honest, Noah was quite surprised.
“Why does he listen to you so well?”
Noah, who had worn a mascot costume several times for part-time jobs, knew how unruly kids that age could be.
“He’s actually a pretty good kid.”
“Even though he’s the Demon King?”
“It must have been unavoidable. What could a seven-year-old child do when their parents told them to?”
Noah sighed.
Who were the Demon King’s parents anyway?
“Are his parents really that bad?”
“I don’t know. How can we possibly understand someone’s heart?”
“Yeah, that makes sense.”
Noah decided to stop overthinking and started slicing kimchi instead.
‘This kid seems to think too much.’
He definitely looked troubled.
It couldn’t be helped.
Shin Hyun glanced at the quiet Noah and clicked his tongue.
‘The kid is good-hearted, but why are his parents like that?’
The more he thought about it, the sadder he felt for the children. After all, they’d been played with from the very beginning.
‘I should take good care of him too.’
With that thought, Shin Hyun kept his hands busy, skillfully cracking eggs and chopping various vegetables.
As colorful vegetables were added, the egg mixture began to look more impressive.
“Should we start frying now?”
He heated up the frying pan, coated it with cooking oil, and poured in the egg mixture once it was ready.
The distinct aroma of eggs and the savory smell of kimchi stew began to fill the house, prompting the Demon King to get up from the couch.
It was understandable.
“Uncle, did this guy grow up eating proper meals?”
“Yeah, he mostly survived on snacks.”
“…That’s ridiculous.”
As a joke, humans are sometimes referred to as “livestock” who eat feed. Of course, humans are supposed to eat proper meals, not feed.
The Demon King, feeling sorry for him, busied his hands. It seemed he was genuinely putting effort into it.
“I can’t lose.”
Shin Hyun headed toward the refrigerator.
“Uncle? Do you need anything else?”
“Let’s try adding something special today.”
“Something special?”
“Just wait and see. You’ll eat soon enough.”
Shin Hyun opened the fridge.
‘This is my first time trying this.’
He pulled out something white, long, and hard.
Without cutting it, he pushed it into the layers of the egg roll.
‘I wonder if this will work. Well, the Demon King will taste it and give feedback, I guess.’
After a little more time passed, the rice cooker announced the meal was ready.
“Special omelet complete.”
He confidently sliced the omelet. A sticky, creamy white substance flowed out from between the layers of egg.
“It worked.”
Shin Hyun grinned with satisfaction.
‘I’m curious to see what the Demon King will think of this.’
He couldn’t suppress his laughter.
+++++
‘What is all of this? Torture?’
The Demon King blinked.
This was the first time he’d seen such a table. Yes, this was called a feast, wasn’t it? The girl’s table used to consist only of cereal and milk, but today, vitality and warmth returned to her dining experience.
Life had returned to this table.
“Hey, you!”
“…”
“Hey! Demon King!”
“Eeek!? Don’t shout suddenly! You insolent brat!”
“Insolent? Ha, you’re the one clinging to someone else’s house. What insolence?”
“Huh…!”
“Here, take this.”
“What is this?”
The Demon King took the object handed to him.
The round thing was a spoon—something he was familiar with since he often used it for cereal.
But the purpose of the long wooden stick was unclear. Was it firewood?
“You use it to eat rice.”
“For eating rice?”
“Yeah. One spoon and two chopsticks! Got it? Let’s start!”
Unable to withstand Noah’s pressure, the Demon King began setting up.
‘So these are chopsticks. I’ve never seen them up close before.’
One spoon and two chopsticks. As he placed them awkwardly, something was set down in front of him.
“Our Demon King is being diligent~ placing the utensils properly?”
“Utensils…whatever they are, yes! The Demon King is diligent!”
“Heh… If only you’d share more information, you’d be even more diligent.”
“Th-that’s for your own good! Knowing too much might make me responsible!”
“Hmm, let’s see if you can still say that later.”
He gestured while pulling out a chair.
“Sit there and wait.”
“Understood, older brother. I’ll wait.”
The Demon King hopped onto the chair.
More side dishes were added in front of the girl.
“Is this not the end?”
A golden square something and a bubbling red liquid.
Their commonality? They all smelled incredibly appetizing.
“Alright, let’s eat.”
“I hope we eat well.”
“…”
“Huh? Why aren’t you eating?”
“Can I…really eat?”
“Of course. This was made for all of us to enjoy together.”
“But…you said torture…”
“Don’t worry. I’ll leisurely torture you all day today.”
“Ugh…so this is my last supper…”
The Demon King picked up the spoon hesitantly as Shin Hyun watched and chuckled.
Seeing this, Noah muttered to himself.
‘Idiots.’
Whether they heard or not, the Demon King still trembled as he held the spoon.
‘This looks much tastier than those snacks… Older Brother…is this some kind of nostalgia?’
The Demon King ladled a spoonful of the red soup, the strong aroma snapping him back to reality.
Normally, he wouldn’t have given this a second glance.
‘Why does my mouth keep watering?’
The Demon King drooled. He wanted to try everything. He couldn’t waste too much time on this red thing though.
“I shall eat well…”
“Huff huff.”
“Haap-”
“…”
“Huh? How is it? Isn’t Noah’s kimchi stew amazing?”
“W-wow…”
The Demon King’s small cheeks turned pink.
“Try it this way.”
Shin Hyun placed a piece of pork and some chopped kimchi on top of a bowl of white rice.
“Come on, open up~”
“A-A…”
The Demon King obediently took a big bite and chewed.
“How is it? Is it deliciou-”
“Sniff…sniff…”
Suddenly, tears began streaming down his face.
‘Why is he crying?’
Shin Hyun was confused. He hadn’t threatened or tortured the Demon King at all; he’d simply fed him something tasty.
“I…what am I going to endure next?”
“Huh?”
“I was prepared…but this food torture is truly terrifying…aren’t you planning to instill despair after feeding me something so delicious?”
“Not really.”
“Then at least let me eat this golden thing!”
“Huh?”
“The one that’s been giving off a wonderful aroma since earlier! Please, let me eat it! You can fry or boil me afterward, I don’t care!”
Ah, I see.
‘Was this supposed to be torture?’
He just found the reaction amusing, so he continued.
“Alright, eat it.”
“Uh…thank you, older brother. I shall eat well-”
“Hold on.”
“Yes?”
“It’s ketchup. Demon King, dip it and eat.”
Upon seeing the small bowl of red sauce, the Demon King swallowed his saliva.
“Older Brother…would it explode if I shake it?”
“…You’d get scolded.”
“Understood, I’ll just eat it then.”
The Demon King licked his lips.
Truthfully, it had been bugging him since earlier. The white substance flowing from the golden item paired with the red sauce.
‘Truly beautiful…’
After hesitating for a while, the Demon King finally took a bite.
“Whooaaah…”
He sighed in bliss.
The warm golden flavor wrapped around him, perfectly complemented by the tangy red sauce.
And this…
“Cheese…right?”
“You remember?”
“Didn’t Older Brother secretly give me this as a snack once? It was so delicious that I remembered it.”
So cheese could turn out like this.
The cheese he’d eaten before was tasty but slightly hard, but melting it like this made it taste even better.
At that moment, the Demon King had a thought.
What if he ate this golden thing with rice and paired it with that lava-like liquid?
The Demon King took another hearty bite following this idea.
“…Huff…huff…”
He began shedding tears again.
“It’s delicious…too delicious!!”
“Eat your fill.”
“What terrible torture do you plan to subject me to that you’re treating me this well!? Don’t! Rather, make me lick spilled milk off the floor!”
“What should I do? We haven’t even started yet.”
“Sob…what do you plan to do with this body of mine…”
“Hehehehe. Get ready. I’ll make you taste it all day today.”
“Whiiiine…!”
“…Haa…idiots.”
