The Demon’s Menu

“Welcome,”

Guided by the waiter, Jason and Taniel entered the restaurant.

Just as they had seen from the outside, the entire restaurant was elegant and comfortable without crowded tables, just sporadic arrangements, with green plants used as screens that provided the right amount of concealment for the patrons.

It was neither deliberate nor embarrassing.

Two musicians were playing the violin.

Under the melodious music, Jason felt a sense of expectation for the ‘Starry Sky’ he was about to taste.

Taniel had undoubtedly done a lot of homework before coming.

After sitting down, the young teacher from Deer Academy said in a low voice,

“It is said that this dish was created to commemorate a great captain!”

“During the season when storms raged, everyone on the island was starving, and it was this captain who braved the sea to catch fish that could be eaten by all.”

“There were seven kinds.”

“Starry Sky is also made with these seven kinds of fish as the main ingredients.”

Seven kinds of fish?

The overlapping flavors of different fish types.

Combined with different seasonings.

If the cooking techniques are varied, it must be quite delicious!

Jason’s expectations were growing in his heart.

After all, to skillfully apply a variety of cooking techniques such as frying, boiling, and baking into one dish, one must possess truly proficient culinary skills.

Otherwise, one wouldn’t be able to open such a restaurant.

“What about the ‘Eel Jelly’?”

Jason asked about another dish.

“‘Eel Jelly’ is made in the most simple and natural way.”

“Without any additives.”

“Natural is its characteristic,”

Taniel replied.

Natural, huh?

Pure wild eel!

Large, rich in flesh, and nutritious!

Jason thought subconsciously.

But Taniel seemed to be reminded of something and let out a sigh of regret.

“Starry Sky’ and ‘Eel Jelly’ have now become very famous!”

“But compared to ‘Haggis’, they still fall short.”

“Jason, do you know ‘Haggis’?”

Taniel asked.

“‘Haggis’?”

Jason shook his head.

“It’s also a kind of delicious food.”

“Legend has it that it’s a sheep meat dish with a very long history.”

“It’s a pity…”

“These new restaurants simply don’t make it; you can only find it in some of the older restaurants.”

“And Lorde is just an emerging city, full of vigor and opportunity, but it is destined not to have such restaurants with long history and heritage.”

There was a tone of helplessness in Taniel’s words.

However, the next moment, the young teacher from Deer Academy had excitement on his face.

“Do you have time at the end of winter?”

“I will have a three-week winter break.”

“I think we can go to Tert to take a look, there must be such restaurants there.”

Taniel invited Jason.

“We’ll see at that time,”

Jason really wanted to agree.

But he was leaving in a little over a day and simply couldn’t make a promise.

Such an answer naturally left Taniel somewhat disappointed.

But very quickly, as the waiters carrying the silver platters appeared, Taniel’s attention was wholly captured.

In the light, the silver platters and covers sparkled with a soft glow.

Two large and two small platters were placed in front of Jason and Taniel.

Jason and Taniel looked expectantly at the food covered in front of them.

“Please enjoy.”

As the waiter spoke, the covers were lifted, and Jason and Taniel’s anticipation reached its peak, and then…

Fish, sunken into pies, appeared in front of them.

The fish were defiant!

Even as part of the dish, they held their heads high, thrusting straight up as if to express their indomitable spirit.

But,

this is what’s known as ‘dying with your eyes open’, isn’t it?!

Look at those hollow eyes of the fish after being baked!

Where is the ‘starry sky’ in that?

Could the ‘stars’ be referring to the pattern in the middle of the pie?

Isn’t that a bit too perfunctory?

And those standing fish tails, do they imply being stuck deep in the mud?

Jason silently set down his knife and fork and quietly looked at Taniel.

Taniel was also dumbfounded.

“This is ‘Starry Sky’?!”

It was completely different from what he had imagined!

However, now was not the time to delve into these issues; he had to appease Jason.

The acutely perceptive Taniel could clearly sense that Jason had become dangerous at this moment.

“There’s also ‘Eel Jello’!”

Taniel pointed to the side, all the while feeling lucky about his own fortune.

Thank goodness he had added ‘Eel Jello’; otherwise, he was done for now.

Jason adjusted his breathing and was about to lift the small cover.

But just as a crack appeared, an indescribably foul, fishy stench assaulted them.

Slap!

Jason’s hands pressed down on the cover hard, the silver lid creaking and beginning to deform.

“Is this ‘Eel Jello’?”

Jason asked.

“It, it should be.”

Taniel’s speech was utterly stammered now.

He too was frightened by that smell.

The odor was more terrifying than the time he accidentally mixed a fart beetle into the herring sauce.

But what was even more terrifying was…

Jason!

Taniel looked at Jason, who stood up quietly, and raised his hands as he shouted:

“I didn’t know.”

“I only heard it from others.”

“I’m a victim too.”

Taniel’s voice was almost filled with a sobbing tone.

But to Taniel’s surprise, the standing Jason did not aim that large-caliber hunting… no, the shotgun at his forehead; he turned and walked outside instead.

What happened?

Am I saved?

Did Jason let me go?

Taniel, puzzled, watched Jason’s retreating figure and absurdly asked:

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

Jason paused, turned his head, and said word by word—

“A gentleman can be killed, but not insulted!”

…

Jason walked out of the ‘Starry Sky’ restaurant, his head not turning back as he got straight onto the carriage.

Taniel followed a step behind.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw two people standing at the entrance of the restaurant.

If he wasn’t mistaken, one of them was a customer who had just been inside the restaurant.

Obviously, the person had left before they did.

“How was ‘Starry Sky’ restaurant?”

“How was that signature dish ‘Starry Sky’?””

The new customer, who clearly hadn’t been to ‘Starry Sky’ yet, asked the returning patron.

“Very good.”

“Especially ‘Starry Sky’, fantastic!”

The returning patron extolled with an exaggerated expression.

“Really?”

The new customer hesitated a bit.

“Of course.”

“Look, there are so many good reviews!”

These words convinced the new customer, and as they went to make a reservation at the restaurant, the returning patron’s face turned expressionless, and they quickly disappeared at the end of the street.

“Is this how ‘fame’ starts?!”

Taniel watched all this in a daze.

Then, he walked towards the carriage full of guilt.

He prepared to sincerely apologize to Jason.

But just then, a gun barrel silently pressed against his back.

Taniel’s face stiffened, and he immediately raised his hands.

“My wallet is in the upper pocket on the left side of my coat.”

“The revolver I carry is on my right side at the waist.”

“The most valuable potion is in the leather pouch on the left.”

Without hesitation, Taniel confessed everything.

A slight chuckle followed.

“You misunderstand, Mr. Taniel.”

“We mean no harm!”

“We just want to have a good talk with your friend, Lord Jason.”

As these words fell, several figures surrounded the carriage.

And the person holding the gun prodded Taniel with the muzzle, signaling him to move forward.

Taniel walked towards the carriage with a look of despondency.

The person with the gun, trailing a step behind, wore a confident smile, feigned politeness, and started speaking calmly and methodically:

“Greetings, Lord Jason, I…”

Bang!