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It seemed like my unyielding appetite had finally been defeated.

Everyone’s expressions looked better than I expected.

I was casually eating the deadly mushroom soup mixed with the brain matter of a demon realm ghoul and a succubus’ saliva, which I couldn’t even touch.

“Mushroom soup is one thing, but how do you even eat ghoul brain matter…?”

“Earth has similar dishes, you know. Why are you acting so surprised?”

Park Seol-hwa, as if it was no big deal, scooped a large spoonful and ate it in front of me.

“…?”

If the Gourmet Club’s instructor Kim Gae-soo heard that such things exist on Earth, he’d probably be thrilled.

“Ah, Gyeoul might not know, but in southern China, they eat monkey brain dishes. It’s similar to that.”

…Comparing monkey brain dishes to ghoul brain dishes?

Thinking about it, it wasn’t that different, which made it even more unsettling.

“Sister, why on earth did you eat something like that?”

“I once visited China on an invitation from the Chairman and was served a course meal called Manhanjeonseok.”

Manhanjeonseok.

A bizarre course meal featuring over 180 dishes.

I recall it being served at grand banquets in the palace.

I remember it caused a stir when it was sold for 55 million won…

‘So, she’s been treated to such things…’

I go to America and fight with the CIA and FBI, while Park Seol-hwa goes to China and gets treated to 55 million won meals.

Is this relative deprivation for real? I feel inferior and miserable.

Next to her, Jeong Ha-yul was devouring sashimi made from hydra torso decorated with hydra teeth.

It wasn’t inedible, but the color was mint chocolate.

Just looking at it made my appetite shrink, yet she was eating it with gusto.

Thinking about it, Jeong Ha-yul was the founding member of the Gourmet Club.

Park Seol-hwa and Jeong Ha-yul are one thing.

But what about Lee Ha-yoon?

Why is a 14-year-old following such a diet?

We were both from the Gourmet Club, but she adapted to real bizarre dishes, while I only adapted to monster dishes.

Am I the only one who can’t eat this, the top authority on mukbang among acquaintances? I looked around.

Lin Hazel was frowning and couldn’t even touch it.

Kim Yu-shin was hesitating, picking at it.

Just looking at the image, it seemed normal for Kim Yu-shin to eat with his hands while others couldn’t even touch it.

‘Preconceptions…’

Anyway, I only ate what I could.

It was a bit uncomfortable being stared at by the three who were eating real bizarre dishes, but the meal itself wasn’t that bad.

But we didn’t come here to eat.

“By the way, where is Satan now?”

“He went to conquer Belphegor’s territory. He’s achieving great feats.”

“But why are you here?”

Jeong Ha-yul, while eating brain matter, gave a subtle hint, but I ignored it.

It was a bit scary being glared at with blue liquid dripping from her mouth, but I have to speak my mind!

“If we attack from Asmodeus’ territory, it’s dangerous, so I had no choice but to stay behind.”

The Satan Army went on an expedition to Belphegor’s territory (though I don’t know where that is) and couldn’t catch a snake?

‘This… makes me doubt Satan’s abilities.’

A Satan who can’t even conquer a tiny country (which might actually be bigger than Satan’s territory), when will he ever unify the demon realm and invade the middle world?

I’m not doubting Serena’s prophecy, but maybe the situation she saw isn’t the one we’re worried about.

You know how it is. Oracles are open to interpretation.

But… a memory suddenly came to me.

-Is Asmodeus, the demon, strong?

-In terms of actual combat ability, I’m a bit stronger.

-Then why…?

During the conversation, I saw Satan’s head turn ever so slightly towards Dantalion.

Not that Dantalion is a trash that anyone can trample.

It just means Asmodeus has many excellent subordinates.

“But… you’re supposed to be Satan’s closest aide, yet you were left behind. Were you discarded as useless?”

“…What do you take me for! I was left behind because he trusts me!”

I thought of him as crap, but saying that outright would get me scolded by Jeong Ha-yul again.

‘Why is she eating brain matter so passionately…’

It’s starting to get scary.

“Anyway, in this situation, we have no choice but to go to Belphegor’s territory.”

“To meet Satan right away?”

“Yeah, we promised to meet the lord first if we ever came back to the demon realm.”

I didn’t really intend to keep that promise.

But rather than getting lost in another lord’s territory, heading straight for Satan seemed the best option.

If we go to another lord’s territory, we’d have to go on our own, but if we head for Satan, we can ask Dantalion for a guide, right?

Getting here was a miracle, not my ability at all.

I’m tired of wandering.

I confidently demanded, looking at Dantalian who was watching our conversation.

“We’re going to Satan, so give us a guide.”

“Belphegor’s territory is just across a dark valley north of Satan’s castle. Do you really need a guide?”

Can we even find Satan’s castle?

Typical of demons, no consideration at all.

But I, Jeong Gyeoul, found Dantalian’s castle in one go, erasing my history of being bad with directions in real-time.

I had to come up with a reason why even someone who knows the way needs a guide.

Fortunately, my 14-year-old brain quickly generated an excuse.

“If we go alone, we’ll run into trouble. Just assign us one intimidating subordinate.”

It seemed like a valid reason.

For a hastily made excuse, it was pretty good.

When wandering the demon realm, I’ve heard enough about humans being insignificant, foolish, useless, just humans, human women.

To the point of developing a neurosis, so using the excuse that humans traveling together would be a burden, I requested a demon who looked intimidating, not one who looked shabby like Heukgu and Heukrang.

“…Then I’ll assign the guard captain to you.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Fortunately, my plan worked, and Dantalian agreed to assign a subordinate.

The expedition members didn’t seem to suspect anything.

At least he assigned someone familiar. Unexpectedly, demons can be nice, huh?

The fluctuating evaluation isn’t my fault.

It’s the demons who keep changing.

***

While Jeong Gyeoul’s demon realm expedition team was resting in the room after the meal.

Dantalian summoned his subordinate, Guard Captain Viktor.

The guard captain, who had come in expecting a reward for perfectly handling the initial response to the disaster named Jeong Gyeoul, immediately turned pale.

“Since it’s come to this, you’ll have to guide them to Satan’s army’s base in Belphegor’s territory.”

“…Are you selling me out like this!”

“Who’s selling you out!”

Dantalian’s face turned red as he tried to maintain an authoritative expression in front of his subordinate.

He had mentioned the guard captain because he was afraid Jeong Gyeoul might drag him along, hitting the nail on the head.

Dantalian, who becomes foolish when entangled with Jeong Gyeoul, wasn’t actually a foolish demon.

In fact, he was considered a genius within the demon realm.

Controlling subordinates was no problem for him.

“Only you, who knows Jeong Gyeoul well, can handle this task.”

“…?”

“Think about it, if we assign someone else and they cause trouble by looking down on humans…”

“That… would be a real disaster. If only that guy dies, but if that woman holds a grudge against us… ugh… we might all end up in heaven.”

In fact, everyone had seen Dantalian personally serving her. No subordinate would dare oppose such a human.

Especially since Dantalian himself had ordered the guide.

The guard captain, overwhelmed by the fear of Jeong Gyeoul, couldn’t think of the obvious.

Completely swayed, the guard captain made a resolute expression, determined to accomplish the task of a lifetime.

“I will protect this city, and even Satan’s army. Please watch over me!”

“…Yes, you’re the only one I can trust. I’m sorry to burden you with such a harsh task.”

Dantalian had thought of dozens of reasons why the guard captain had to go, but it ended before it even started.

Looking at his naive subordinate with pity.

He vowed to give many rewards if he returned safely.

Despite his resolute determination, the guard captain’s limbs were trembling, but Dantalian pretended not to notice.

‘I can’t go myself…’

Thus, Viktor became the guide for Jeong Gyeoul’s demon realm expedition team.

Within less than an hour of departure, he could feel his homing instincts stimulating his entire body.

“Excuse me, can I collect some skin tissue and blood samples?”

“Ah, Miss Hazel. Could you collect enough for me too, please?”

“Of course.”

Lin Hazel and Park Seol-hwa, intending to collect Viktor’s flesh… tissue samples.

“Be honest. You brought him along because you thought we’d get lost, right?”

“…Why do you keep saying that since we left? Are you mad at me?”

“Mad, who’s mad? I’m not the type to get mad just because a friend quit being an instructor and never visited the academy again.”

“…How kind of you to explain the reason.”

Jeong Gyeoul and Lee Ha-yon bickered at the front, leaving the guide to the two mad scientists.

And at the back, Jeong Ha-yul and Kim Yu-shin watched the expedition team with satisfaction.

It was chaos.

 

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