83 First, cooking.

So you challenged the Purple Demon Lord to a fight.

No, sorry, I couldn't resist.

The others looked at me with great reluctance.

You can see the smirk on Marito's face as he listens to the report.

I should blame him for this, but I think Marito was hoping for this kind of development.

"Didn't you think you'd be killed right there?

I trusted Exoik there.

"Huh.

The purple demon lord was in a state of shock.

The Purple Demon King parted ways with them right then and there, saying he was going back to the inn and leaving.

At that time, I set some minimum rules, one of which was, of course, the prohibition of the use of the power of caging.

Secondly, no attacks on unrelated third parties, which also applies here.

Although the Purple Demon Lord had ordered the demons deployed in the mountains to be lowered, they were still hiding in the untamed forests of the Tarz territory.

If we break the rules, a war between humans and demon lords will surely start.

The rule that the other side has proposed is that I must accept the Purple Demon Lord's request.

Of course, it's not a direct request to become his property, but to accept the Purple Demon Lord's trickery in order to do so.

The Purple Demon Lord's offer of compulsory participation in the game was the element of the deal to accept our request.

I agreed to it, and here we are.

I think it's great that the Purple Demon King is willing to do this and that the Taze people have been spared any harm for now.　Are you saying that you will continue to be romantically approached by the Purple Demon Lord?

No, I don't think so.

Oh, why is that?

I'm not sure that the Purple Demon Lord has ever had a real relationship, and he knows that nothing he does as an amateur is going to move people's hearts. What he's asking for is a game on equal terms.

The Purple Demon Lord's possible action is not to cajole people with color tricks.

He will probably offer you a game that you will take, and ask you to bet on me for the prize.

This is a method of proving his power by defeating us without relying on the power of the cage.

If that's the case, she who has lived as an immortal Demon Lord for so many years has a chance to win.

There is no absurdity in it, because relying on absurdity is directly related to lowering the value of 'me'.

The other side may have disadvantageous conditions, but it's basically a game of equals, and the reward for victory that they can offer is, well, the devil's stock.

Where things are headed, it's not bad for the country, but it leaves us who care about you behind.

I'm sorry, but I don't want to live in a world where I have to tolerate the suffering of those around me after they've been treated like valuables.

So you're willing to live a life of torment as long as those around you live in peace?

No. Eventually, I'll be able to live my own life in peace.

That's selfish.

Why don't you just let it go?

You really think I'm going to let you go now?

The next day, the only person who showed up at the trading post was the Purple Demon King.

There is no need to use the cover of Tort-san anymore.

We just meet each other of our own will, that's all.

Though, I'm tempted to worry about Torto-san.

He'll be fine.　He used to be a merchant in Quama. He'll be better off if he's left alone.

Well, that's good. ...... And you?

In the corner of the Purple Demon King, there is a man in menswear.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

His bodyguard, Exoik, is already in a state of readiness to move, without hiding his chains, as if he is aware that he is a tricky opponent.

"Since you always have guards with you, I thought I'd at least show you one.　I'll give you permission to come forward, okay?

"Thank goodness, my name is Duvraeus. My name is Duvraeus, and I am your faithful servant.

"Duvvléory... you mean to say that you are Duvvléory the Great?

Did your guards know who I was?

You're not allowed to say who you are, are you?

I'm sorry, sir.

Duvraeori bowed to the Purple Demon King and took a few steps back.

I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it.

The Purple Demon Lord said that he would show at least one of them, which implied that there were other great demons in Taze.

He said that there are already great demons in the country that can run rampant at any time, and that this country will become a battlefield if they don't fight fair now that they have won the game.

"Really, demons are so assertive and despicable, aren't they?　But Duvraeus is still better than that, you know?　He's a loyal vassal who answered my call once, didn't he?

By the looks of it, there are other great demons coming from Mejlis?

Yes, I've brought them all.　I now have eleven of them in my possession.

It's not hard to see why, with a demon of the same caliber as his father, Beguragud, whom he had always considered to be a great man, in this land.

You reveal your hand so easily.

"I thought I'd use them as pawns in a game I'm about to play, and these are the demons I'm betting on.

What's the bet?

I'll propose a game, and you'll bet on yourself in it.　If I win, you're mine. If you win, I'll give you a fair fight with these demons.

"Do I have to win to finally get the right to challenge you?

If you win, I'll give you a fair fight against those demons.　Why don't you give him that opportunity?

So this is the life of the Purple Demon Lord, a game of 11 great demons.

It is true that the existence of the Great Demon is the reason why the Medisworld still exists as the world's largest and most dangerous demonworld for mankind.

In order for the clergy to challenge the Great Demon, they must advance into the demon world, exterminate countless demons, and head for their respective strongholds.

Only the lucky ones, like Lakra, can accomplish this.

If the Great Demon can be eliminated, the Mejis demon world will become a region where only small fishes without leadership gather without even a unique one.

This would be a great advantage for humanity.

On the other hand, this is a single person's bet, which is unbelievable to say the least, but there is no end in sight.

I'm not sure what to say, but if you're using yourself as a betting tool to get one person, the Great Demons are going to hate you.

In the eyes of the world, you are a citizen of the same planet as the brave Yugra, and your value is equal to that of the brave.　I'm sure you're not the only one.

"I guess you could say that.

Once we decide on the game, we have three days to prepare, and then the game?

I have no objection. By the way, do you have a right of refusal on the subject of the game?

Well, basically no, but if you can make it clear that the game is unfair, you can add or change the rules.　I'll also allow you to refuse if I deem it unfair?　

By the way, can we choose who we want to fight the Great Demon?　I have no fighting skills.

As long as that person agrees to fight.

So, what's the first game?

The Purple Demon King comes out of nowhere and lays out geometric cards on the table.

There are eleven of them.

"Now, choose your fate, will you?

You're leaving me to my own fate. ...... Some of these games are going to be brutal.

If the game is easy to win, that's fine. .......

I turned the card over on a hunch, and on it was written in this world's script: " 'Cooking Showdown'.

"...... 'Cooking Showdown'?

I'll explain the details.　You and I will both cook using the same main ingredients, and the one that tastes better wins.　The judges will be you, me, and one great demon.

I was momentarily taken aback, but that was very bad.

I don't think it's fair to say that there are two people in your camp and one in ours.

Don't worry, I'll judge honestly, and I'll order the Great Satan not to tell lies, okay?

This is a ...... game, and before you say it, it's about how much we can trust the Purple Demon King.

In the event that you're not sure what to do, you'll be able to find out how to do it.

You can change the rules if you insist on it, but it also implicitly declares that you cannot be trusted.

It's a test of our resolve to offer the game.

"Okay, I'll take it.

"I'm glad to hear that.　You and I will be the only ones cooking, no help allowed.　The ingredients are from ...... Duvraeoli, show him what you have.

I'm sure you'll be glad to hear that," he said, stepping forward and placing an ingredient on the table.

It's a potato, a relatively common potato in the Medis.

It is the same kind of potato that was first used to make the fries and chips in Godz's "Dog Bone".

I was wondering what I would do if I was served food from the demon world, but it looks like I don't have to worry about that.

"It might be difficult for you to use too many high quality ingredients, so I chose simple ingredients to make it more equal.

"I'm sure you've used a few of these, but can demons eat this kind of food?

Well?　I don't know what the devil likes to eat.　Why would I want to know?

What?　I don't even know what demons like to eat.

I can't read Duvvleor's expression at this point, which is very worrisome, and I wonder what he's really thinking.

"But you're going to let me be a judge, aren't you?

"Yes, I'm going to feed you.　Yes, I'm going to feed you, raw or not.

Oh my god, demons don't have rights.

I wonder if the Purple Demon Lord is genuinely planning to offer her a cooking contest.

If he actually has unusually high cooking skills, or if he has spent his boring life cooking, that would be unexpected.

It would be a tough challenge for a professional chef.

"As an aside, do you have any cooking experience?

"No, but I bought an introductory cooking book at the bookstore this morning, so you should be fine.

This is a beginner's situation, and in many ways, I can't lose.

I can't lose to a beginner as I'm the one who makes the Iliad family's table colorful.

Thus, the game was decided, and it was to be played three days later.

I'm sure you'll be able to find something that you like.　There are still places in town I can show you, right?

"...... Oh, yes.

I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea.

It seems that he still doesn't hate me, which makes me happy and complicated.

I'm not sure what to make of this, but I think it's a good idea.

I'm not going to let you get away with this, so I'll make it a condition that you show up every day.

We can have the demon watch him, as long as he doesn't harm anyone in the country.

No. How can I trust a demon to watch over me?　I want to look at you with my own eyes.

"Do you want to ......?

I'm sure you'll agree that this is a great idea.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

If you think about it, there is no reason to hate the Purple Demon Lord.

If you continue to win the game, you will be deceived by her charm in the long run.

...... You're right, there's no reason to dislike her in the first place.

For the people of this world, she must be a hateful demon king who has created many victims.

But that has nothing to do with me, an earthling.

I think it's safe to say that there's almost no harm done to us since we came to this world.

Of course, if things continue as they are, there will eventually be a cause for a collision.

It might be easier if we accept the Purple Demon King before that happens.

--No, we've only just begun, and we're about to be caged in.

I'm not sure what to do.

It's a good idea to take a look at the website and see if you can find anything of interest.

"What?　What's the matter?

Nothing, I'm just a little dazzled by you.

"Hmm, you can dazzle me as much as you want, okay?

The purple demon king laughs softly, I didn't know that carefree smile could be so troublesome.

When I get home, I need to see how corrupt Lakra is and come back to reality.