Chapter 8: Food Enthusiasts Recognize Each Other

“Mr. Ira, about the food in Demon King City…”

As Celina, who was leading the way, said this, her tail swung behind her as she said, “Mr. Rhyme is in charge. He and his slimes are also the only chefs in the Demon King City. If the food is not to your liking, please forgive him.”

It sounded like Celina did not want Ira to have any conflict with the chef called Rhyme.

“It’s no longer a problem of my liking. Your chef… doesn’t seem to have the ability to choose ingredients at all.”

As he spoke, Ira made up his mind to have a good chat with the chef of Demon King City and discuss the problem of food. However, this name… Could Rhyme be a slime?

Slime? Let a slime without a sense of taste be a chef?!

With this in mind, Ira followed Celina around corridor after corridor. On the way, they encountered some maids who all looked at him and Celina curiously.

After taking a few turns and walking down a flight of steps, the two of them arrived at their destination.

In the kitchen was a group of small green slimes washing the pot and stove. The one commanding the small slime to work was a green gel-like humanoid creature. Because it had no facial features or physical characteristics, he could not tell the gender.

The human-shaped slime with the chef hat noticed Celina and Ira who had arrived. He turned to look at the two of them. After nodding slightly, he greeted them in a blurry voice that could not be heard clearly, “Good evening, Miss Celina… and this person.”

It seemed that he did not know Ira…

“I want to talk to you about your banquet today.”

Ira, who was more serious about food, said. No matter what, he did not feel that this banquet was passable. He said, “Firstly, there’s the salad. Thread grass and snake fruit are a classic combination, but…”

Before Ira could finish, the slime man called Rhyme knew what Ira wanted to say before he picked out the problem. He said, “But the grass is not fresh enough, and the snake fruit is too sour… I’m very sorry. I’ll do better next time.”

Looking at Rhyme, who admitted his mistake very decisively, Ira was stunned. He said, “That’s indeed the case. It’s good that you can understand. This is very important because the grass itself…”

Then, before Ira could finish, Rhyme interrupted him again and said simply, “Because the sweetness of the grass itself is only obvious when it’s fresh. If the snake fruit is overly sour, the entire salad will only taste like the snake fruit.”

“…”

Didn’t he understand very well?

“Apart from that…”

Ira opened his mouth and was about to point out other mistakes…

“Apart from that, I didn’t choose the blue mushrooms of good quality. I also chose the mountain sheep with relatively poor meat for the steak, not the usual rock antelope. The steak doesn’t go well with blueberry jam.”

Rhyme rambled on. Although he knew that Ira was here to pick on him, he did not show any displeasure. He kept talking under the gaze of the puzzled Ira, almost chattering.

“The meat of the goose is also low quality and isn’t seasoned with sage. In addition, the fruits were not seasoned. Instead, we’re eating raw fruits like commoners, and…”

“…”

Listening to Rhyme, who continuously pointed out his own problems, Ira stopped him in a dilemma and said, “Wait, enough, enough… There’s no need to continue.”

It looked like Ira was a little embarrassed.

“Pfft ~ Hahaha… Cough, cough, cough, I’m sorry.”

Celina, who could not help but laugh because of Ira’s posture, accompanied her gorgeous smile. Her heart skipped a beat, then she calmed down under Ira and Rhyme’s helpless gazes.

“Since you know, then…”

Regarding Ira’s question, Rhyme still chose to answer before she could completely ask. He said, “The conditions don’t allow it. In other words, there’s no opportunity in Demon King City to guarantee quality food… To a chef, this is a humiliation.”

Rhyme’s tone was filled with helplessness. The little slimes in the kitchen seemed to sense this frustration and no longer jumped around. Instead, they hid behind the cabinet and pot and revealed half their heads to peep at Ira communicating with Rhyme.

“In most cities, we no longer trade or accept offerings according to tradition. With just the resources of a city, we’re not qualified to be too picky about the ingredients.”

As he spoke, Rhyme displayed the shelf behind him. He introduced, “This is the place to store spices. There are 21 spices and seasonings. Now, there are only 17 types left in Demon King City. If you enter the cellar through the door over there…”

After pointing at a wooden door behind him, Rhyme thought for a moment and thought of how he should describe it. He said, “There are very few ingredients and empty shelves. They’re as eye-catching as the World Tree standing in the mangrove forest.”

It was a very beautiful adjective, but this proved that the current situation of Demon King City was not beautiful, although it did not have much to do with Ira.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be in such a hurry to question you.”

In this way, Ira apologized sincerely to Rhyme. He looked at this chef who knew the problem with the food very well and said in admiration, “You’re already very great to be able to do this.”

However, as a true chef, there was no need for this level of praise.

“There’s no need to be sorry. You seem to be someone who loves cooking. I can feel the heat in our souls resonating.”

“No, actually, I don’t like cooking very much… I’m only better at eating, and if there are enough ingredients and conditions, your cooking will probably be very delicious.”

“Thank you. If possible… I hope you can taste my true culinary skills after I can show them properly!”

“I’m looking forward to that day too.”

In response, Ira nodded seriously and retracted his respectful gaze from Rhyme. He was the first to turn around and walk out of the kitchen… Celina, who was sighing at the sudden unfolding, followed behind Ira in confusion.

“Mr. Ira… why… did you and Mr. Rhyme become best friends at once?”

Ira did not answer Celina’s question. Instead, he walked up the stairs here and walked to an open platform. He turned to look at Celina and replied, “Because only delicious food needs to be treated carefully in the world…”

“Thank you for your hospitality. If you need my help in the future, ask as soon as possible.”

As he spoke, Ira turned his back to Celina. The cold wind blew his clothes. He looked at the stars in the sky… The direction of the Silver Moon Tree Court was in the west. If he flew along the river there, he could go to the Elf Kingdom.

After that, he would live in the Silver Moon Tree Court.

However, just as Ira thought this and was about to take off…

“Minister Ira, the favor you mentioned… can I use it now?”

Vera’s voice sounded from behind.

“…”

Every time he wanted to say goodbye, he would encounter accidents?!

Ira had a feeling that the promise he had made earlier would be the most regretful promise he had made in his life… If he had known, he would have added some prerequisites!