Hell Inn: Rebirth - I Became a Chef in Hell

Chapter 39 Negotiating Terms (The Original Little Devil Version)

"So, ma'am, you mean... to continue having us act as bodyguards for Getty... cough, Miss Viya? While you continue your travels?"

The seemingly most agreeable white-haired little devil stepped forward and said with a hint of suspicion.

"And what does it mean to become one of our prisoners?"

"The kind with shackles? Damn, they're really going all out. I like it!"

Billy, who clearly had his mind wandering elsewhere, looked on with intrigued interest for some reason.

you:"?"

"I don't think that's what this young lady meant."

Perhaps because he saw your expression go blank for a moment, Moses awkwardly retorted with this comment.

After he said that, Billies, who had just seemed quite excited, said "Oh," and then deflated listlessly, like a punctured balloon.

you:"……"

"Of course, we don't mean you can just swagger around next to us as bodyguards."

Seeing the two little devils disagreeing, the Eastern Sinner, whose thoughts were unclear, laughed again.

She stood with her hands behind her back, her posture upright, but she didn't seem to have any condescending attitude—perhaps because her tone was always gentle and consultative.

But perhaps "guiding patiently" would be a more appropriate term.

"After all, you guys are following us around so casually... Well, think about it, if you were out having fun and had a bunch of bodyguards walking around you looking fierce, you'd be safe, but you'd definitely feel uncomfortable, right?"

When he said this, there was a hint of cunning in the tone of the Eastern Sinner's voice.

"Oh, so you won't let us go home, nor will you let us 'swagger around' as bodyguards around you. What do you want us to do, become invisible?"

Seeing you wandering around here again, the hot-tempered Billy tapped his shoulder with his weapon and clicked his tongue.

"Correct, spot on."

Upon hearing that the other party had revealed your ultimate goal, you chuckled mockingly, and then immediately used your tail to swiftly and unexpectedly ensnare Moses, who was closest to you.

This time, it was Billies' turn to have a blank expression.

To be honest, you didn't use too much speed in this surprise attack, but the demons standing around you still couldn't see what you did in those few seconds.

Strangely, after you wrapped yourself around Moses, accompanied by a scream, the little red devil disappeared without a trace from your tail.

"...Oh crap! What are you doing!? Where did you put Moses!?"

"baby!"

After realizing what you had done, Billies and Millie's expressions immediately changed.

After you got rid of Moses, the two little devils who seemed to be very affectionate immediately turned to you menacingly, their relaxed posture turning into a tense, battle-ready look.

Because the imps are short, even though they have their own attack methods, Billies and Millie still look to you like two wildcats with their backs arched and teeth bared at you.

Despite the wariness of the two primal little devils, you remained standing still the entire time.

"I'm fine! I'm fine! Sir, Millie, can't you see me?"

The female sinner, whose thoughts were incomprehensible but who exuded an aura of mystery and danger, remained unmoved, and all that could be heard was a familiar voice coming from her tail.

"...My Satan, you've turned my employees into your tails!?"

Billy, seemingly still not quite grasping the situation and possessing a touch of comedic talent, rubbed his forehead and stared incredulously at the tail swaying leisurely behind you.

"Are you out of your mind?!"

you:"……"

No, how does this little devil's brain work?

Having already been rendered speechless by Billies's thought process several times, you couldn't help but twitch your lips.

"Baby! Baby? Where are you? Are you alright?"

Perhaps it was because Moses' tone sounded more like the delight of discovering a toy than panic. Millie, who had just seemed so enraged that she was about to fight you to the death, started looking you up and down at your most striking feature: your long, eye-catching tail.

And just as Millie touched the scales on your tail, Millie suddenly disappeared.

Startled, Billy exclaimed, "What?! What the heck?"

Slightly surprised after seeing all this, Viya asked, "...So you used magic?"

"Sir, can't you see Millie and me?"

Wow! This is amazing!

Seeing you standing there motionless, even looking quite interested, Billy, the only one left behind, had a strange, childish anger on his face, like, "You guys went out to play and dared to leave your boss behind."

Millie and Moses' voices kept coming from your tail. Billy's suspicious expression, which could only be described as "facial expression," began to develop in a direction that could only be described as "expressional."

"Damn it, I want to see what's going on! What, did you eat all my employees with your tails?"

There was only one small, but rather shabby, Billy, who circled around you.

However, you didn't answer his question, you just lazily wagged your big tail.

Your expression seemed to be silently saying, "Why don't you try and see?" But to Billies, your expression was a blatant provocation of his courage.

As the saying goes, it's better to let these little guys, who seem too lazy to listen to anything you say, experience it for themselves than to give a long and tedious explanation.

Especially when the other party is already showing signs of eagerness.

"You better not have done anything to my employees... cough, did you hear me?"

Before touching your tail, Billiz, who seemed to be bluffing, squinted and pointed at you. He didn't seem worried that your tail, which could make other demons disappear, was in any danger.

Before he could flick the middle finger at you, Billy was pulled into the stealth field you'd set up on his tail by one of his employees.

The little devil was so light that even with three of them and their weapons wrapped around it, it still didn't feel anything. At most, it could feel like three small animals were curiously running around on its long tail.

"Um... what did you do? May I ask?"

Seeing that IMP, who had just been spouting nonsense in front of you, had completely disappeared after touching your tail, Viya, looking confused, leaned close to you and asked in a drawn-out tone.

Perhaps because most of the creatures of the native hell also use magic, the abilities you displayed seem to have piqued Viya's interest.

Are you curious?

You raise one eyebrow and ask her this in a slightly playful tone.

"..."

When you made that expression, Viya, who was momentarily stunned as if you had casually blew her a charming kiss, was taken aback, and a soft "coo" sound came from her throat.

"I'm a little curious, I guess? I haven't learned this level of magic yet... or rather, I've never seen an invisibility spell that can hide one's presence so well. I thought you teleported all those noisy little devils somewhere."

"Hey, young lady, watch your words, we're all listening!"

Just then, Billiz suddenly poked his red head with large horns out of your magic range.

You glanced at the little devil, whose face was full of smugness and pride, but said nothing.

If Billiz can move freely within your invisibility spell, then it proves that the magic you cast on the tail was not hostile—of course, this was also for Viya's father's benefit.

The sudden disappearance of IMP's little devils might have seemed a bit abrupt to the demon lurking in the shadows. You said that so that the one in the distance could understand the current situation...

So as not to make the other person think you've taken their lover to some dangerous place.

If that native nobleman from hell develops a bad impression of you, it will only do you harm and not benefit your inn business, or even Shirley's.

Hmm... You don't want to get into trouble for the little princess's Hell Inn before everyone else, after all, the noble status in Hell seems to be quite high.

Moreover, it is said that the native demons of Hell do not acknowledge the existence of the Lord of Sin, not even the lesser demons.

"Then, I'll answer Ms. Viya's question first."

As you slowly turn around, along with the shift of your tail, you hear several little devils, as if they're treating your tail like a playground, making sounds of excitement, joy, or terror.

“You’re right, this is indeed a spell for invisibility. But it’s different from simple invisibility—because I’ve fixed this spell to my tail, rather than deliberately applying it to anyone, it’s more stable and can do more.”

"Like... focusing on one thing, so you can do more?"

Viya smiled, surprised that she could learn about practical magic from places other than school and her father.

"Yes, you are really very smart."

The Eastern sinner said, pleased that the other party understood his meaning so quickly.

"Those who are enchanted with invisibility spells are usually quite agile, but this limits the power of the spell. This makes targets under such spells easily detectable when facing stronger opponents or attacks from others."

"However, if you use your tail as a 'fulcrum,' you can establish a fixed position on it, and then you can do more things within it..."

Viya, who quickly guessed that you were using magical principles, continued your conversation like this.

"However, I guess it's because you yourself have considerable strength that this invisibility spell achieves an effect far exceeding that of ordinary invisibility spells, right?"

"...A brilliant explanation, Viya. It's so easy and enjoyable to be friends with smart people."

Seeing that the other person understood quickly after you only gave a few pointers, you smiled and raised your eyebrows without making any further explanations.

"You might need this if you have any exams in the future?"

You were joking with her.

"...Haha, those boring exams won't test this kind of thing...■■■, you're so cool."

Having her attention diverted, Viya seemed to have returned to her previous good mood. The female demon, still speaking in her own tone, lightly punched your arm with her fist, and a low, gurgling laugh resonated in her chest.

"The three of you from IMP, while acting as bodyguards, please do not stray more than four meters from my tail's range, otherwise your invisibility will disappear... Also, Viya and I cannot hear your conversations."

Before heading to the Torture Museum with Viya, you casually add a note to the little devil who seems to have already rested on your tail.

"During our trip, it's perfectly acceptable for you bodyguards to launch any kind of attack on my tail, so you can do whatever you want from now on."

"Fantastic! We've been going to listen to this pedantic lady and teenager ramble on about nonsense we don't understand the whole way. I really have to thank you, damn Stowe..."

Despite being extremely dissatisfied with this bodyguard assignment, the little devil still accepted it, grumbling behind your back.

"Alright! Let's hurry up and go! I heard the torture museum has an opening period... We at least need to make the ticket price worthwhile, right?"

But before Billies could finish saying the name, Viya suddenly pushed you forward two steps.

You naturally know that Viya, who deliberately conceals her identity, doesn't want to reveal too much that she is a native noble demon of the Arrogant Ring.

After all, primal demons don't really like sinners, and she could almost imagine the attitude of the noble demons of the Pride Ring towards sinners... Otherwise, that one wouldn't have sent his own bodyguards after his daughter went out to meet someone.

Although you've pretty much figured out Viya's identity... for now, you should just play dumb.

Thinking this, you helplessly let Viya push you toward the Torture Museum.