After Being Sold Out By The Empire, I Decide To Assist The Demon King Chapter 8 - 7 Mutual Recognition Among Food Enthusiasts

"Mr. Yila, about the food issues in Demon King City..."

Hilena, who led the way, said this as her tail swayed back and forth behind her, "It's handled by Mr. Li. He and his slis are the only chefs in Demon King City. If the food doesn't suit your taste, please be accommodating."

It seed Hilena hoped that Yila wouldn't have any conflicts with the chef nad Li.

"It's not just about suiting my taste anymore; your chef... seems to have no ability to choose ingredients properly."

Yila, determined to have a conversation with the royal chef in Demon King City, wondered if Li could actually be a sli?

A sli? Letting a sli without a sense of taste be a chef?!

Thinking this, Yila followed Hilena around corridor after corridor, where they encountered so maids who cast curious glances at him and Hilena.

After a few turns and down so steps, they reached their destination.

In the kitchen, a group of small green slis was cleaning pots and stoves, directed by a humanoid green gel-like creature that lacked facial features or distinct characteristics, making it impossible to determine its gender.

The humanoid sli wearing a chef's hat noticed Hilena and Yila's arrival. It turned its head to look at them, lightly nodded, and greeted them with a voice that was hard to distinguish between male or female, saying, "Good evening, Ms. Hilena... and this gentleman."

It seed it didn't recognize Yila...

"I want to talk to you about tonight's banquet."

Yila, serious when it ca to food, said, feeling that tonight's banquet was passable, "Firstly, as for the salad, Sis Grass and snake fruit are a typical pairing, but..."

Before Yila could finish, the sli person nad [Li] seed to know what Yila was going to say before he pointed out the problems. He said, "The Sis Grass wasn't fresh enough, and the snake fruit was too sour... I'm very sorry. I'll do better next ti."

Seeing Li decisively acknowledge his mistakes, Yila was stunned and said, "Indeed, as long as you understand, that's what matters. Because Sis Grass itself..."

Then, before Yila could finish, Li interrupted him again, simply saying, "Because the sweetness of Sis Grass is only noticeable when tender, and if the snake fruit is too sour, then the entire salad is overwheld by the taste of the snake fruit."

"..."

This isn't just understanding, is it?

"Besides..."

Yila opened his mouth to point out other mistakes...

"Besides, the quality of the blue star mushrooms wasn't good enough, the sauce on the at steak used a poorer quality mountain goat instead of the usual Rock Antelope, and the steak wasn't paired with blueberry sauce."

Li rattled off a series of points, aware that Yila was here to pick faults but showed no hint of displeasure. He continued to talk incessantly under Yila's puzzled gaze:

"The goose at was also tough, and no sage was used for seasoning. Additionally, the fruit wasn't flavored and was served raw, as if to be consud like a civilian, and..."

"..."

Listening to Li constantly point out his own problems, Yila felt conflicted and spoke up to stop him, saying, "Wait, that's enough... you don't need to continue."

It seed Yila felt a bit awkward.

"Pfft~ Hahaha... cough cough, sorry."

Unable to resist laughing at Yila's deanor, Hilena laughed rrily, her heart leaping as she watched, then she resud a calm deanor under Yila and Li's helpless gazes.

"Since you know, then..."

Regarding Yila's inquiry, Li again chose to answer before Yila could finish, saying, "The conditions don't allow it. In other words, within Demon King City, there's no leisure to ensure food perfection... for a chef, this is a disgrace."

Li's voice was filled with helplessness, and the tiny slis in the kitchen seed to sense this dejected mood, ceasing their hopping and hiding behind cupboards and pots, peeking at Yila and Li's interaction from behind.

"With most cities now paying lip service and no longer conducting trade or tributes as usual, relying solely on the resources of one city, we cannot afford to be too picky with ingredients."

As Li spoke, he gestured towards the shelves behind him, introducing, "This is where spices are kept. Of the twenty-one spices and seasonings, only seventeen are left in Demon King City. If you go through that door into the cellar..."

Pointing at a wooden door behind him, Li thought for a mont on how to describe it, saying, "The scant ingredients and empty shelves are as conspicuous as the World Tree standing in the Red Mangroves."

A beautiful taphor, but it proved that the current state of Demon King City was not "beautiful," even though it didn't relate much to Yila.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have been so hasty in questioning you."

Yila said sincerely, apologizing to Li, looking at this chef who clearly understood the food issues, speaking sowhat admiringly, "Being able to achieve this much is already impressive."

But for a true chef, such praise wasn't necessary.

"No need to apologize. You seem to love cooking, I can feel it. The passion in our souls is resonating."

"No, it's not that I particularly love cooking... I'm just quite good at eating, and if there were enough ingredients and conditions, I'm sure your cooking would be delicious."

"Thank you. If possible... I hope you get to taste my true culinary skills once I'm free to fully showcase them!"

"I'm looking forward to that day."

Responding, Yila nodded seriously, retracting his respectful gaze from Li, and turned to leave the kitchen first... while Hilena, baffled by the sudden turn of events, followed behind Yila.

"Mr. Yila... why did you and Mr. Li suddenly beco close friends?"

To Hilena's question, Yila didn't answer but walked up the stairs to an open platform, turned to glance at Hilena, and responded, "Because only delicious food and the anger in one's heart need to be treated with care..."

"Thank you for your hospitality; if you need my help in the future, do not hesitate to ask."

Yila said, turning his back to Hilena, the cool wind ruffling his clothes as he looked at the stars in the sky... The bright constellation of Mistletoe was in the west, and following the river towards it would lead to the land of the elves.

The coming days would be spent at the [Silver Moon Tree Court].

But just as Yila was thinking this and preparing to take flight...

"Lord Yila~ could you fulfill that favor you ntioned now?"

Vera's voice rang out from behind.

"..."

Is it always this unexpected when trying to say goodbye?!

Yila had a premonition that the "I owe you a favor" promise he made earlier would be the most regrettable promise he'd ever made in his lifeti... If only he had set so conditions beforehand!