018 Cornelia is Helpful
Dekan truly needed a scapegoat to test the mechanism.
Thus, Dekan and Cornelia stood on either side, leading the demon student forward toward the classroom at the end of the corridor.
It felt somewhat like escorting a condemned prisoner to the execution ground.
They pushed open the intricately carved doors, which were akin to works of art.
A scene, splendid like a masterpiece, immediately caught their eyes.
This classroom resembled a banquet hall more than a cooking classroom or kitchen, its style similar to the corridor outside, giving it a grand evening banquet ambiance.
The bright lamps were warm and gentle, the silver candlesticks and crystalline chandeliers shimmering under the firelight.
The carvings on the walls were opulent, a grand Baroque-style long table standing in the center of the room.
“Welcome to the cooking classroom. I am your teacher, Baron Bachel. I sincerely invite you to my banquet!”
A deep voice reverberated through the classroom, and instantly the large doors slammed shut.
Banquet?
Does the Demon Academy conduct its classes at night?
Dekan followed the source of the sound.
At the far end of the classroom stood a male demon with a shadowy visage, dressed in an elegant black suit.
He graciously bowed to the three guests and then, with a graceful turn of his wrist palm-up, pointed toward the oak carved chairs beside the long table, inviting them to sit.
He exhibited none of the expected teacherly decorum.
Though his words and demeanor were rather amiable, Dekan knew it was all false.
For the malice in Baron Bachel’s eyes was unhidden.
The demon student, brought along by Cornelia, had already begun to tremble uncontrollably, instinctively fearing Baron Bachel.
Signaling with a glance from Dekan, Cornelia led the demon student to sit on the left side of the table.
Dekan then sat at the right side, directly opposite Cornelia.
Upon seeing the three students seated, Baron Bachel displayed a contented smile.
He turned, walked to the back of the classroom, and slowly pushed out a silver cart.
On the cart were three plates covered with silver food domes.
“Today’s lesson is: Gourmet Appreciation.”
“The food for your meal has already been prepared by me, and I hope you will find it satisfactory.”
Baron Bachel, like a butler, pushed the cart to the edge of the long table, lifting one of the plates.
“However,”
The tone of Baron Bachel’s voice suddenly changed, becoming slightly more excited, just like a proud yet neurotic artist.
“After you enjoy your dinner, you must answer me about the ingredients and seasonings used in the dinner.”
“This is precisely the question of today’s cooking class.”
“An excellent chef is one who can resonate with a gourmand.”
“If you can answer correctly more than 80%, it proves that you are my esteemed guest, and also outstanding students in the cooking class.”
“But if you perform terribly, I will be very sad.”
“I will have no choice but to give you the corresponding punishment… ”
By the time he finished speaking, Baron Bachel could no longer contain his smile.
The desire to kill was almost openly displayed on his face.
“…”
Listening to him, Dekan almost wanted to slap him!
Here he was showing the true colors of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
If it weren’t for the fact that he couldn’t defeat Baron Bachel at the moment, Dekan would have enlisted Cornelia to deal with him already.
“Then, which of you three would like to go first?”
Baron Bachel scanned the three students beside the table, a somewhat wicked smile on his face.
The vast classroom was dead silent.
After coming out of the examination room, even Cornelia had already understood that these demons’ games were full of danger…
This was not a harmonious candlelight dinner; it was a banquet of slaughter at the edge of a precipice!
Thus, the silence lingered for a few seconds.
“No volunteers? Then I will designate someone.”
Baron Bachel seemed somewhat impatient, frowning and saying this.
But just as his words echoed,
The demon student beside Cornelia slowly raised his hand.
This made Baron Bachel’s expression turn delighted.
The demon student, however, was wide-eyed, incredulously looking at Cornelia nearby.
His eyes were full of suspicion.
Cornelia grabbed his elbow, forcibly raising his arm!
Cold sweat poured from his forehead, and he glanced at Baron Bachel.
Baron Bachel’s gaze had already locked onto him.
It was almost a verdict on his death.
He then glared with bitterness at Dekan sitting diagonally opposite.
If he was dying, he wanted to die clearly.
Though this girl was terrifying, her intentions were not so nefarious.
It must have been that vile person across from her who gave her the signal!
Dekan averted his gaze, puckering his lips and whistling lightly.
Indeed, he had signaled Cornelia with his eyes: he had repeatedly glanced at Cornelia and the demon student’s elbow, and Cornelia quickly understood Dekan’s intent.
You bastard!
The demon student despaired in his heart.
He was agonized, bitter, but utterly powerless. All he had left was fear.
“So, it will be you!”
Baron Bachel seemed quite pleased with the student who had finally stepped forward on his own initiative.
He quickly walked to the demon student, placed the dish before him, and uncovered it.
A plate of stewed meat, wafting with the aroma of melon, lemon, and a hint of smoked flavor, accompanied by a small amount of seasonal vegetables, appeared before the demon student’s eyes.
“Come on, please eat.”
Baron Bachel stepped back, giving the demon student a relatively comfortable space.
Upon hearing this,
The demon student, trembling all over, picked up the knife and fork, cutting the meat into very small pieces. Then, he slowly forked a piece and brought it to his mouth.
The closer it got to his mouth, the more violently his hands trembled, unable to reach his mouth accurately.
However, Baron Bachel made no efforts to urge the student.
Baron Bachel seemed to thoroughly enjoy observing the demon student’s condition.
Thus, the demon student kept delaying, occasionally stealing glances at Baron Bachel.
By the time fifteen minutes had passed, this small plate of exquisite and luxurious food had already been consumed more than halfway.
“Alright, it’s time to answer the questions.”
Baron Bachel, smiling, spoke as though he had just initiated the demon student’s countdown to death.
“…”
“There… there are onions, carrots, bay leaves, thyme, red wine, black pepper…”
The demon student shakily answered, painfully recalling the taste he had just experienced.
The taste was too complicated.
Each bite was an extreme delicacy.
But this meal would not bring any happiness; instead, it was filled with endless despair and fear.
It was as if this was what Baron Bachel truly wanted him to taste.
By the end, he started to rely increasingly on guessing, but the more he guessed, the more he realized he was straying from the correct answers.
Baron Bachel’s smile grew increasingly unrestrained, his lips curling into a terrifying arc.
“What a pity, you’ve only answered 37% correctly. You’re not a true gourmet.”
A pleased verdict rang out in the classroom.
As soon as the words were spoken, Baron Bachel’s neck suddenly stretched long.
His skin tore easily, like a package, revealing the green phosphorescent scales beneath, reverting him to his monstrous form.
The neatly dressed baron began to sway his grotesquely long neck, sneering disdainfully at the demon student who had already turned as pale as death.
Finally, it seemed Baron Bachel had admired the demon student’s despair long enough.
His head grew enormous, and like a bolt of lightning, he opened his enormous blood-red mouth, swallowing the demon student in one gulp.
In one bite!
The demon student was completely swallowed by Baron Bachel!
With no resistance whatsoever.
“Crunch, crunch.”
Baron Bachel chewed with evident enjoyment for a few mouthfuls, then swallowed the whole meal.
After a thoroughly satisfying swallow, Baron Bachel seemed to have reached a peak of pleasure, his eyes even slightly rolling upwards. Laughing heartily, he retracted his long neck.
From the very beginning he had said it.
This was his banquet.
…
In the brief period that Baron Bachel was savoring his wonderful dinner,
Though Cornelia maintained a poker face,
She started to feel a flicker of anxiety inside.
She was somewhat certain she couldn’t defeat Baron Bachel.
If she couldn’t identify the ingredients later, she wondered if she and Dekan combined could hold Baron Bachel at bay.
She looked at Dekan.
Their eyes met.
She noticed Dekan still retained his unchanged expression, leaning back against the chair, steady as a chess piece.
This calmed Cornelia.
Dekan must have already had a plan.
