Hell Inn: Rebirth - I Became a Chef in Hell

Chapter 45 When you can skip the process and directly know the answer, belike

It turns out there was another restaurant that went out of business across the street from this one.

Standing behind Viya, protecting her as she goes, you cross your arms and stare blankly at the building opposite SFDD (It's so fucking delicious Diner).

SFDD's location is not bad. Although it is not as close to the city center as some large restaurants, it is still in the middle of the first district of the Pride Ring.

The commercial buildings, each with its own unique shape, are all adorned with neon lights of dazzling colors.

SFDD has a huge sign that looks very expensive. In addition to the very stylish cursive lettering, there is also a small figure holding a knife and fork that looks like it is dead.

Is this mostly echoing the idea that it's "delicious to death"?

...That's really a twisted sense of humor.

You, who have never appreciated hellish aesthetics, have shifted your focus.

Just like all trendy restaurants, the long queues outside SFDD are so ridiculous they make you want to roll your eyes.

Although you're not an impatient person, after all, you've survived the hardships of being with a demon like Alastor.

But if it weren't for the fact that you wanted to see this famous "celebrity-sponsored" restaurant with Viya, you really wouldn't want to waste your time in a restaurant that relies on "others' reputations" to become famous.

"The team is still some distance away, let's rest for a while."

Perhaps because you noticed that Viya's expression was gradually turning impatient, you quietly held your tail behind Viya's back.

"Oh... thank you, you're so thoughtful."

Having roughly figured out your personality, Viya turned and looked at you with a look of relief mixed with a strange sense of expectation.

But after sitting on your tail, which is more stable and softer than a public bench, Viya, who posted a few photos of us going out on social media, noticed that your gaze seemed to be fixed on a shop in the distance that looked abandoned.

"...So...is there something wrong with that store?"

Sitting on your tail, imitating you by crossing her arms, Viya crossed her legs and glanced back at you.

"She's been staring at that shop ever since she started queuing. I really don't understand what you mysterious guy are thinking about all day long."

Billy muttered something as he sat on your shoulders playing the game console you brought back from Earth.

When it comes to finding you mysterious, Viya and Billies can agree on the same point.

Because you are usually very silent, so much so that people don't know what you're thinking.

Sometimes your overly calm and occasionally unfocused gaze can make people think you're daydreaming, but when they ask you questions, you can calmly and eloquently provide the correct answers and your own insights...

It's incomprehensible, and you can't blame it.

Was that restaurant across the street driven out of business by "So Delicious It's Dead"?

Moses, sitting on the other side of your shoulder, obediently nestled against your face, then followed your gaze with great interest.

"How pitiful... But since the stars are personally involved, it's normal that they can't beat someone who's so delicious they'll die!"

Millie, perched on your head, first expressed her sympathy with a regretful tone, but when she finally said that this situation was normal, her naive cruelty was also real.

Upon hearing this, you squinted, tilted your head, and continued to scrutinize the conspicuously closed restaurant across from SFDD without making any comment.

But you may not know that right now, the one who really stands out is yourself.

Because you, as a sinner in the eyes of the public, agreed to let three little devils stay on you in such an rude manner.

Therefore, the demons in front of you and behind you will always cast strange glances at you. In addition, there will occasionally be whispers of discussion coming from your surroundings.

However, you didn't seem to care much about the gossip of the demons around you. Some of the demons seemed to have become more restrained after being scolded by Billy.

Viya knows you don't care, so she doesn't care either.

“I think what ■■■ cares about is not just that. I guess what really caught her attention is—why hasn’t this store been demolished even though it looks like it has already closed down.”

Viya, who has always understood you and is very smart, explained things to a few little devils who probably missed the point.

"It's really suspicious... Although this isn't the most prime location in the Pride Ring, it's not bad either. There's even a super popular restaurant called 'So Delicious It' right across the street... If the owner of that restaurant across the street had any brains, he would know that selling it off as soon as possible would be the right choice."

The female demon, who seemed to sense that something was amiss, rested her chin on her hand and narrowed her eyes.

"...Hmph, dirty business warfare, just capitalists' little tricks."

As the owner of IMP, Billy, seemingly reminded of some old story by the scene before him, muttered a disgruntled curse.

"But even in the city center of Arrogance Ring Road... there are more and more blind idiots. I thought it would be a little better if it was closer to the city center."

Without even looking up, Billy impatiently raised his gun and blew the head off the strange little devil assassin who was attacking you.

Perhaps because Billies dealt with the opponent's attack too brutally, the sinners around you, keeping their eyes closed and their minds at ease, created a vacuum for your seemingly strange little group.

"Excuse me, could you please move aside?"

While you, who don't like to speak up, were quietly listening to Viya and the little devils of IMP chatting, a standard-looking cleaner in overalls walked past you with a mop.

Perhaps because the other person was unusually polite, you unconsciously glanced at them again.

But the aroma of food on the other person and the familiar calluses on their hands caught your attention.

Although you ended up going to the trendy restaurant instead of your original plan, you still wanted to see what this "celebrity guest" who frequents SFDD and is even willing to sit in for him looks like.

But... there seems to be something even more interesting happening right now.

After noticing something amiss, the ever-sensitive female demon's casual glance at the cleaner turned into a prolonged stare.

You didn't withdraw your gaze until the cleaner carrying the bucket walked through the gate of SFDD.

"...Wow, so SFDD has become so extravagant that they can use cooks as cleaners?"

The Eastern sinner, whose expression revealed no emotion, flicked his tail and muttered something meaningful.

You always speak in a very soft tone, and your voice is always indifferent. In this hellish place where everyone speaks loudly and in a flirtatious way, your calm voice is all the more eye-catching.

"what?"

For a moment, Viya, sitting on your tail, was confused and replied.

She always pays close attention to every time you speak, so she's the first one to hear you say those words.

"...The cleaner who just went in smelled of grease."

You, who swore in your past and present lives never to be a riddle teller, finally let out a sigh of relief and openly told Viya about your discovery.

"Uh, so what? What else could a restaurant cleaner smell like besides grease?"

Perhaps it's because they've discovered you're indeed a devil with an exceptionally keen eye for certain things, but now even Billy, who used to be rude and disdainful of everything, has started taking your every word to heart...

However, it's also possible that only half of it was put in.

Because after he said that, his attention immediately returned to the game console you gave him.

"Although I would like to give you a lot of reasons, such as the smell on his body not belonging to a chef, it is meaningless to talk too much about professional matters."

Seeing that the little demoness was interested in his discovery, the Eastern sinner, who didn't mince words, bent down slightly and patiently explained to the teenager in front of him.

"But all you need to know is that this person shouldn't be a cleaner, but a chef..."

……

Viya didn't seem to understand why you were so sure, but she didn't doubt you either.

After receiving your explanation, the female demon rested her chin on one hand and began to think.

You didn't say anything more, but continued to quietly look at the seemingly closed and dilapidated restaurant across from SFDD.

And your certainty about your guess is certainly not without basis.

The reason you can say this with such certainty is mainly because you possess an extremely powerful and bizarre force that ranks among the top in the entire hell.

—'Able to look directly into the soul'

This is actually one of the more convenient and useful of the various bug-like abilities you would have after going to hell.

Generally speaking, different souls have different forms, but what you can see is not just the form.

You can learn the "answer" and a person's state through their soul.

When facing most beings, you can know their identities like an observer of the entire world.

In fact, when you meet Viya, you can skip guessing her identity, because the soul of a native noble from hell is absolutely different from other beings and has noble characteristics.

Different sizes, different colors, different shapes, and different spiritual energies they contain.

In addition to being able to identify what kind of being a creature is through its soul, you can also discern what they have done, their current emotions, and whether they have been harmed by observing the state of their soul.

Everything will be exposed when you activate your power, even Shirley, the princess of Hell.

You know that Hesker and Nifferty's souls belong to Alastor, and you know that Angel Dester's soul belongs to his boss—

Similarly, you even know that even a sinner lord like Alastor, who possesses tens of thousands of souls, is currently under the control of a powerful figure you have yet to meet.